Dawn crept quietly over Delcra's Castle.
The first light of sunrise had not yet broken the horizon when Kael opened his eyes. He lay still for a moment, listening—to the distant call of birds, to the faint rustle of banners beyond the window, to his own steady breathing.
The exhaustion from the village was gone.
Not dulled. Not suppressed.
Gone.
His body felt light, rested, as if the night had finally allowed him to breathe without pain or poison clawing through his veins.
Kael rose from the bed carefully and dressed without sound. Before leaving the bedroom, his gaze flicked briefly to the other side of the bed—Elric sleeping peacefully, her expression unguarded in a way few ever saw.
Yesterday evening, he had ordered the documents retrieved from the orphanage ruins to be placed in the small study adjoining his bedroom.
Now, he intended to read them properly.
Kael entered the study and lit a candle. The flame flickered, casting warm light over stacks of aged papers, cracked leather bindings, and brittle records stained with time.
He sat.
This time, he did not skim.
He read.
Page by page. Name by name.
The records were clinical—numbers instead of lives, notes instead of memories. Children catalogued by origin, by condition, by usefulness. Kael paused often, fingers resting against the page longer than necessary.
Thirty-eight children.
Including himself.
He noted which churches they had been abandoned at, which villages had "volunteered" their cursed newborns, which names vanished abruptly from the records without explanation. He wrote short notes in the margins—simple, precise. Locations. Dates. Gaps.
This was not a report.
It was a promise.
Behind him, the bed rustled softly.
Elric stirred.
She frowned slightly when she felt the space beside her empty. Sitting up, she noticed the faint glow coming from the adjoining room.
The study light.
She sighed quietly, unsurprised.
Wrapping a robe around herself, she rose and stepped toward the open door. Inside, Kael was already at the desk, pen in hand, several sheets neatly organized beside him.
He had written notes.
Elric smiled despite herself.
"You wake up early," she said, her voice still heavy with sleep.
Kael turned, startled. He hadn't realized she was awake.
"You just got back," she added gently, walking closer. "And you're already working this early in the morning…"
She stopped behind him and placed her hands on his shoulders, kneading lightly. Kael leaned back into the chair, releasing a quiet breath, and reached up to pull one of her hands into his own.
"I've had enough rest," he said softly, his voice low—meant only for her.
Elric glanced down at the documents spread across the desk.
"This will be a long journey," she said honestly. "You know the information here isn't enough."
Kael followed her gaze back to the papers.
"…I know," he replied. "But I still need to find them. That's the least I can do."
There was sadness in his voice—not despair, but something quieter. Something settled.
Elric leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her cheek briefly against his head.
"You'll find them," she said with quiet certainty. "I know you will… because you're a Hero."
She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
Kael tightened his grip on her hand and closed his eyes. Even now, memories of the village, of John, of the children who waited in vain lingered at the edge of his thoughts.
Then Elric straightened slightly, remembering something.
She released him slowly.
"Kael," she said carefully, choosing her words with precision. "What if… while you're searching for their parents… you find a trace of yours instead?"
There was hesitation in her tone.
Kael looked up at her.
He didn't ask her to explain.
He didn't answer right away.
His eyes alone were enough to tell her he understood what she meant.
Elric smiled awkwardly, trying to soften the weight of the question.
"Well… maybe you do want to know who your parents really are," she said gently. "You were chosen as a Hero at such a young age. Everyone in this world knows you. They must be proud of you."
Kael blinked.
He lifted a finger to his chin, thoughtful—not confused, but reflective. He had asked Elric once, long ago, about his parents. But the question had never truly stayed with him.
Now, he looked at her again.
Elric flinched slightly, bracing herself for his answer.
"I don't really want to know about them," Kael said.
There was no hesitation.
And to Elric's surprise—no emotion.
"If they wanted to meet me," he continued calmly, "they would have searched for me a long time ago. Especially after I was chosen as a Hero."
Elric froze.
For a moment, this side of him was unfamiliar—not cold, but distant. Not angry, but disappointed in a way that had long since settled into acceptance.
She studied him carefully.
Then she smiled.
Slowly, she took both of his hands and guided him to face her. Kael remained seated, watching her in quiet surprise as she knelt in front of him.
"If that's how you feel," she said gently, "then I understand."
She squeezed his hands firmly.
"For now… me, Robert, and everyone else—we're your family." Her voice was steady, sincere. "We will never abandon you."
The words settled deep.
Kael stared at her, stunned.
Then, slowly, a faint smile formed on his lips.
Not wide.
Not bright.
But relieved.
"…Thank you," he said quietly.
Outside, the sun finally rose over Delcra's Castle, casting light into the study—illuminating old records, unhealed truths, and a future Kael would face not alone.
-----------------------------------------
The sun had fully risen by the time breakfast ended.
Warm light poured through the tall windows of the dining hall, illuminating polished tables and the quiet satisfaction on the servants' faces. Kael sat in his seat, posture composed, finishing the last of his meal in silence.
Sebastian cleared his throat, unable to hide his excitement any longer.
"My lord," he said, straightening his posture, "since the morning is still young, I would like to suggest that you take a look around the castle."
Kael lifted his gaze slightly.
"We rebuilt Delcra Castle after your departure," Sebastian continued, his voice carrying pride. "Why not take a short walk before the ball tonight? The servants are very eager to see how you feel about their work."
Kael followed Sebastian's line of sight.
Around the hall, the servants stood unnaturally still—trying not to stare, yet unable to hide the light in their eyes. Anticipation. Hope. A quiet desire for acknowledgment.
Elric noticed it too. She turned to Kael with a small smile.
Robert leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Let's go, Master Kael. They've been waiting for your return. They want you to see what they rebuilt."
Kael let out a slow breath.
For a moment, his gaze drifted toward the direction of his study—toward the documents waiting to be reread, the names that still weighed heavily on his mind.
But when he looked back, he saw their faces again.
So he relented.
"Alright. I will take a walk around…"
The reaction was immediate.
Several servants visibly jumped in place, hands clenching in excitement. A few exchanged quick, thrilled glances before hastily composing themselves again.
After breakfast, Sebastian led the way, guiding Kael, Robert, and Elric through the corridors of Delcra Castle.
Kael slowed almost immediately.
Only a month had passed since the Demon Cultists burned the castle down—since flames devoured walls and history alike. Yet now, the halls stood proud once more. Stone polished. Banners restored. Chandeliers rehung with careful precision.
Elric didn't look at the walls.
She watched Kael.
She saw the way his steps paused, how his eyes traced the arches, the carvings restored exactly as they once were. Quiet amazement flickered across his expression, restrained but undeniable.
They reached the front gate leading to the garden.
Everyone stopped.
This place had suffered the worst destruction.
Now—
Butterflies fluttered lazily through the air, more than before, as if the garden itself had breathed back to life. The pond shimmered beneath the sunlight, large lotus flowers floating gently across its surface.
Elric stepped closer to Kael's side, her voice barely above a whisper.
"They really did their best to preserve all of this."
Kael didn't look away.
Of all the reactions they had seen from him since his return, this was the strongest.
Awe.
Robert glanced at Sebastian and subtly raised his thumb in approval.
Sebastian smiled and nodded, relief evident in his eyes.
At that moment, one of the servants approached Sebastian and whispered something into his ear.
Kael noticed the exchange, confusion briefly crossing his face.
Sebastian turned back to him with a knowing smile.
"It seems they've prepared a surprise for you, my lord."
He gestured gently for the servants to lead the way.
They moved deeper into the garden, following a narrow stone path framed by blooming flowers of every color imaginable. The air was fragrant, sunlight filtering softly through leaves and petals.
At the heart of the garden, Kael stopped.
There, standing quietly among the flowers, was a building.
Glass.
Almost entirely made of it.
One of the servants stepped forward, hands clasped nervously.
"We know you love flowers, my lord," he said carefully. "So… we built this for you."
Kael stared.
The structure was elegant—walls of clear glass allowing sunlight to flood the interior. Inside, it resembled a leisure room combined with a small office. Vines and flowers surrounded the space, nature woven seamlessly into its design.
Elric and Robert's eyes widened.
The arrangement was perfect. Thoughtful. Personal.
Kael stepped inside.
His fingers brushed against the furniture—the desk, the shelves, the chair placed near the window overlooking the pond. He moved slowly, as if afraid to disturb the peace of the place.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Not wide.
But real.
For the first time since his return, the weight on his shoulders seemed to ease—just a little.
And in the quiet heart of the garden, surrounded by flowers and light, Kael finally looked at peace.
-----------------------------------------
That night, Delcra Castle glowed with warm light.
The celebration held for Kael's return was quiet—nothing extravagant, nothing excessive—but it was sincere. Nobles who were responsible for various regions under Delcra's rule gathered in the grand hall, alongside the servants of the castle themselves. At Kael's request, no one was excluded.
He wanted them there.
This was his way of thanking them—for rebuilding the castle, for holding Delcra together while he was gone, for believing he would return.
The ball was modest in size, yet filled with gentle laughter and music. Kael stood near the center, observing quietly. Unlike the palace banquets of the past, no one approached him with hidden agendas or false smiles. These were people who worked for Delcra, who had fought beside him, who rebuilt stone by stone after everything was burned down.
"Most of them are our former comrades," Robert murmured beside him. "You don't need to worry too much."
Kael nodded slightly.
When the music began, the atmosphere softened further. Elric stepped forward, and soon the two of them were dancing at the center of the hall. Their movements were calm, natural—unforced. The nobles and servants alike watched with smiles, cheering lightly as the elegant pair moved in harmony.
For a moment, the weight of war and loss faded.
But the night did not end there.
Later, Kael quietly slipped away from the ballroom and walked toward the garden—the same garden where the servants had built the glass pavilion for him. At night, the scenery transformed completely. Moonlight spilled across the flowers and pond, reflecting softly on the glass walls and the rippling water.
Elric followed him.
"You like their gift?" she asked gently.
Kael didn't answer with words. He simply nodded, his gaze never leaving the garden.
Butterflies fluttered lazily through the air, drawn to the moonlit flowers. One drifted close to Kael. He lifted his hand instinctively, and the butterfly landed delicately on his finger.
Elric stopped breathing for a moment.
The moonlight traced Kael's features—his pale skin, his calm eyes, the quiet smile that curved his lips as he watched the butterfly. For a heartbeat, Elric forgot the world around them.
Kael turned toward her when she didn't speak.
She flinched slightly. "…You're beautiful, Kael."
He let out a faint laugh. "What are you talking about?"
Kael extended his hand toward her, inviting her to walk with him.
Elric took it.
They walked deeper into the garden, until the sound of flowing water reached their ears. An artificial waterfall cascaded gently over stone, lotus flowers floating below, small animals resting near the edges.
They sat at the corner of the waterfall, removing their shoes and letting their bare feet touch the cool water. For a long while, neither of them spoke.
Then Kael broke the silence.
"When will you return to Vaelthorn?"
Elric turned to him. "…Tomorrow. Maybe in the afternoon."
There was a trace of sadness in her voice.
Kael was recovering now. He no longer needed her constant protection. He was capable of standing on his own again.
Elric inhaled slowly. "My mansion isn't very big," she said quietly. "But now that I won't be under the same roof as you… it'll feel much quieter."
Kael remained silent.
"But this isn't goodbye," Elric continued, turning to face him. She reached out and took his hand, her fingers brushing against the ring she had given him. "That's why I gave you this. So you'll remember me when I'm not here."
She smiled.
Kael looked down at their intertwined fingers, then nodded slowly.
He lifted his gaze to her.
Tonight, Elric wore a half-gown paired with tailored pants—elegant, practical, unmistakably her. He realized he couldn't recall seeing her in a full gown, except once, in a quiet moment long ago.
After a moment's hesitation, he spoke.
"Can I ask you something?"
Elric blinked, then tilted her head slightly, smiling. "Of course. Ask me anything."
"Why don't you wear gowns?" Kael asked carefully. "I mean… it's not that you don't look pretty without them."
Elric paused—then laughed softly.
"So… you do think I'm pretty?" she teased.
Kael hesitated, clearly unsure how to answer. Seeing his discomfort, Elric smiled warmly.
"One day," she said quietly, tightening her hold on his finger, "I'll tell you why."
Kael looked at her, sensing something fragile behind her smile.
"But before I tell you," she continued softly, "I hope you can recover all your memories."
Kael stiffened.
"My… memories?"
He realized then—he only remembered fragments of the original Kael's past. And suddenly, something surfaced in his mind.
John.
The night John was killed by Varyn.
Elric noticed the change immediately. "Kael? What's wrong?"
She reached out to touch his shoulder—
But Kael suddenly stood.
"Elric," he said sharply, cutting her off. "That night—do you remember what John's last words were?"
The sound of the waterfall continued to flow.
And the air between them grew heavy once more.