Far away, in the grandeur of the floating Valhalla, Percival sat upon his immense golden throne. Feeling the surge of power from Xavier, he smiled to himself. "Ah, it seems the Visor of Time couldn't suppress the power of Xavier's Eyes of New Genesis."
"What an interesting boy that Astrion Vessel is."
One of his loyal henchmen, Sage, approached and bowed deeply. "My Lord, forgive my impertinence, but why didn't you kill Aleksander when you had the chance?"
Percival raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
Sage hesitated before replying, "You once said Aleksander was the most dangerous being alive, with the potential to disrupt your plans. If he reaches his full power and removes the limiters, he could become an unstoppable force."
Percival chuckled. "You're not wrong, Sage. Aleksander's potential is... vast. If he ever fully awakens it, he could easily surpass even the Seven Heroes, becoming the most powerful Herrscher in history—second only to Grand Emperor Julius."
"But I'm not concerned," he continued with a smirk. "I have my own way of dealing with that boy. Besides, wouldn't it be far more satisfying to break him first—destroy him from the inside out before I end him?"
He leaned back on his throne. "Killing him outright would be boring. Breaking him will be... much more fun."
Pointing a finger at Sage, Percival teased, "You should learn to play with your food before devouring it."
Sage smirked and bowed his head. "Understood, my Lord. I'll set aside my concerns about Aleksander."
"I trust completely in your judgment, Lord Percival."
Percival chuckled, pleased. "That's the spirit!"
———————————
The scene opened gently upon a sky of blinding brilliance, vast and endless, yet untouched by any visible sun. Light existed here as a presence rather than a source—warm, all‑embracing, and impossibly serene. High above, immense silhouettes moved through the heavens, their forms reminiscent of dragons gliding in slow, graceful arcs. Below, the air itself carried sound: the distant laughter of children, light and carefree, echoing like a spring breeze across the land.
This world shone with a radiance beyond holiness, not overwhelming, but reassuring—like being wrapped in a memory of warmth long forgotten. Across rolling fields and ancient trees wandered countless beings: elves with eyes like dawn, dragon‑kin whose scales reflected the sky, vampires untouched by shadow, and many other forms unknown to humankind. Mountains rose in the distance, so breathtaking in their beauty that merely gazing upon them felt like surrendering to peace.
Jonathan awoke within a field of lush grass and vibrant flowers, their colors deeper and more alive than any he remembered. The ground beneath him was soft, comforting, as though it welcomed his presence. He lay there for a moment, confused—but not afraid. There was no pain in his body, no weight upon his chest, no lingering ache of regret. Only calm.
As he slowly sat up, a familiar presence stirred the air.
A figure stood before him, looking down with a smile so gentle it stole the breath from his lungs.
Fyodora.
She appeared just as she had in his fondest memories—unchanged by time, her eyes filled with warmth and quiet love. For a heartbeat, Jonathan wondered if this was a dream born from longing.
"Long time, no see, darling," Fyodora said softly, her voice carrying the warmth of home. "How have you been?"
Jonathan's lips parted, yet no words came. His hands trembled as he reached for her, and in the next instant he pulled her into a sudden, desperate embrace, as though afraid she might vanish if he let go. Fyodora gasped softly, startled, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
"I missed you so much," Jonathan whispered, his voice breaking as he held her tighter, burying his face against her shoulder.
Fyodora's expression softened, her hand resting gently against his back. "You've been in so much pain, my love," she said quietly. "But it's over now. You did everything you could—for them. For our children."
Jonathan's arms tightened, emotion finally spilling free. "I tried," he murmured. "I tried so hard."
She smiled, a smile full of pride and forgiveness. "And it was enough. More than enough. It's time for you to rest now. Everything will be alright."
For a moment, Jonathan simply held her, breathing her in, letting the truth of her presence sink into his soul. Slowly, gently, Fyodora wrapped her arms around him in return, her embrace warm and unyielding.
"And…" she whispered.
Jonathan felt her breath against his ear.
"I missed you too, darling."
And so, within that boundless world beyond sorrow and fear, the two loving souls stood together once more—finally at peace, finally home.