The thunders moved like beasts.

They spun in wide arcs around Ren's floating body, spiraling across the black sky and crashing down upon the dark sea. Each strike of lightning twisted and split, curling like tendrils before slowly being drawn inward.

One by one, the storms entered his body.

His arms hung limp. His eyes remained closed. But the air around him crackled louder with every second. The veins in his skin pulsed faintly, glowing for moments before vanishing again.

Then came silence.

The last strand of thunder vanished into his chest. His body stopped glowing. His eyes opened slowly.

Ren floated above the black sea, staring up at a sky where no stars shone.

He breathed out.

★★★

From a nearby stretch of air, Nyxa witnessed everything. She stepped towards the Ren.

She didn't ripple into view. She didn't walk. One moment she stood miles away, and the next, she was there. She teleported their after one step.

Ren saw her approach.

"What happened to me?" he asked, his voice still weak.

Nyxa's bare feet hovered just above the water. She didn't answer right away. Instead, she studied him carefully, her silver eyes flicking from his chest to his hands.

"Not much," she said softly. "You were became unconscious after the fight with Vael. I am trying hard to wake up you but I failed. You didn't wake up."

"Hmmm... Than what next? Mean how you wake up me?" Ren asked.

"It's a long story. I will tell you but before that tell me, how are you now?"

"Hmm... I am alright. Nothing feel unusual just headache happen."

Nyxa checked his body and she found nothing unusual. Then...

Ren lowered himself gently, landing on the black water without a sound. It didn't ripple. It felt like standing on glass.

He looked down at his own reflection. Then up again.

"What happened out there?" he asked. "The battle. What did I miss? They all okay or not? Probably I should have to go their. Vael is still alive or not?"

Nyxa tilted her head.

"Si much happened," she said. Then she spoked everything about battle. When Ren was became unconscious to Vael's death. After that arrival of vestiges to their leave.

Ren frowned.

"But why would they retreat? We didn't win. We were barely surviving. If they want they can kill us easily. Why they didn't doing that?"

She folded her arms and turned away, her cloak fluttering despite the stillness of the air.

"It wasn't a retreat," she said. "It was a pause. The king of the Vestiges gave the command himself. Your world was spared… not saved. After 10 years they will arrive and this time they will destroy Qiyun. "

Ren looked up at the sky again.

"Hmm... it's sounds like they give us threat and order at a same time."

Nyxa turned back to him. "Yes, their intentions looked like that. Something that more important is that origin core."

Ren blinked.

She continued, "The Origin Core… the one locked beneath the ocean of your world… it was never meant to stay sealed forever. The moment a living being from Qiyun reached the level of a planet-born mage, the seal cracked."

Ren's mind began to race.

" what is that origin core by the way. And also someone have power to trigger it? Like they can broke that seal by him/herself?" he asked.

"Yes," she said. "And the Vestige King sensed it. That's why he called off the attack. Not out of mercy. But preparation. The origin core is the pure energy made during the creation of the cosmos. It is the purest and most powerful source of energy. Not all planet have that core but some planets have it. But they are rare. Like life. And usually core are found in that planets where life is exist."

Ren didn't respond. He amazed. Then after a pause he spoked...

"So you mean, In the other parts of the universe life present. Like aliens." Ren said. He was amazed.

"Yes, life exists not only in this planet but in many other parts of the universe." Nyxa replied.

"That's interesting." Ren spoked. After that...

She walked toward him. The black sea rippled beneath her steps, only slightly.

"Okk," she said. "It times to wake up in real world. Evryone worry about you. Go there master."

Ren lowered his head. "Yaah, you are right. But when you will tell me how you wake up me?"

Nyxa lost in thoughts.

"I will tell you master. Before that it's important to go there. So go there."

"Okk..." Ren replied.

Ren vanished from mana sea with his black blue mana.

Nyxa saw him until he was not leaved.

Then in the outside world. We saw...

Ren's body hung limply over Seroi's right shoulder, motionless and heavy with movement. His arms dangled at Seroi's side, fingers slack, swinging slightly with each step. Blood had dried in streaks across the back of his torn cloak, the color dark against the pale fabric. His hair was matted and stiff from the dust and blood of battle. One boot had nearly come off, the laces frayed, the heel dragging with every sway.

His face was turned to the side, partially visible over Seroi's back. Eyes closed. Lips slightly parted. There was no peace in his expression, only the stillness of someone who had gone too soon. His body bore the weight of his final stand, but in Seroi's grip, he looked strangely small.

And yet, Seroi held him with steady arms. The pain that had once racked his body was dulled now, buried beneath something heavier. He did not falter.

They were going home. Not to victory, but to memory. To Elaris City. To Arkenhall.

To whatever remained.

They started to teleport towards the Arkenhall. Remained mages, council members, and dead bodies of the brave mages. They carried all dead bodies for last good bye of their loved ones. For dead's family members, their parents, their loved ones.

Some of them weeped. Some angered. Some stood emotionless. No one was happy. How they were be happy. Their was no reason. They lost everything. They had no hope. They didn't knew what they will do in the future to stop Vestiges.

Slowly slowly everyone started to teleport. First mages. Than counsiling members. Than at last Seroi stood with Ren's body. He told them before to them that he wanted to spend some time alone. He said too...

"Don't worry, I will take care of Ren's body. You all go I want some time to heal."

"Okk, but take care your too. We don't want to loose anyone now."

Lark nodded. He gave permission to him. After all among them Lark remained the strongest one after Mage King.

After that they all leaved the battlefield.

Seroi stood alone. Holded Ren's body. He was near to weep. But he knew someone was watching him. He knew his daughter was still here.

"Elara. I know you are here. Come here. I want to talk with you." He shouted. Not in anger but to call someone.

Then, after a few moments, a faint light shimmered across the dark sea.

Elara appeared in silence. Her figure materialized through a soft golden ripple, her boots landing gently beside Ren and Seroi. She stood, but her shoulders were tight with tension.

Seroi was already there, his arms crossed as he watched her arrive.

Their eyes met.

Then, finally, Seroi broke the silence.

"I understand," he said, his voice low but steady. "You must have had your reasons. I'm not raising questions against you. But I want the truth."

He stepped forward.

"Why didn't you come to help everyone? Who stopped you? What made you hold back?"

His words were calm, but his eyes burned. Each sentence came sharper than the last.

Like any father, he began with reassurance then unleashed the questions he had buried too long.

Elara didn't flinch. She met his gaze with a calm expression. But behind her eyes, something stirred.

She knew this feeling. That warmth hidden inside his frustration. It was the fatherly concern she had longed for.

But this was not the time to smile.

She hid the emotion, smoothed her face into stillness, and answered coldly.

"I won't tell you," she said. "But I had my reasons."

Her voice was flat, but not cruel.

Seroi's jaw tightened.

"Elara…"

She looked away. "If I could have helped, I would have. But the truth is. If I had moved, none of us would be standing here now. Especially not him."

She tilted her head slightly toward Ren.

Seroi narrowed her eyes, but said nothing. After a pause...

Seroi frowned. "You mean… your actions were killed everyone?"

"Yes," Elara said. "And if I explain more, the ones who watch from beyond will intervene."

That silenced him.

Seroi stepped forward. "So you were being watched?"

Elara looked at him. "We all were. But only I remembered. Only I know. And also Ren too."

Seroi didn't press further. But the look in his eyes had changed. He understood something he didn't before.

Seroi turned his back and took a deep breath.

"I don't like this," he muttered. "But I believe you."

Elara nodded slightly. "Thank you."

They both stood quietly again. The broken field below, the red sky above, and a thousand things left unsaid between them.

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