The streets of Virelia were quiet, but the calm was fragile. Crumbled buildings from the demon incursion still dotted the skyline, smoke lazily curling into the sky from hastily extinguished fires. Among the ruins, Lyra's family home stood intact, though scorched and battered, a small haven amid devastation.
Alzwalt Light arrived just as the morning sun pierced through the haze. He did not announce himself. Instead, golden light shimmered softly around him, enough to make his presence known to those sensitive to circuits, yet not so much to startle the ordinary residents. His six wings, folded elegantly, reflected the first rays, casting faint glimmers across the ruins.
He stepped forward with measured elegance, each footfall deliberate and calm. Lyra sat on the remains of a burned bench, clutching a blanket around herself. Her eyes, wide with lingering fear, reflected the morning light.
"Lyra," Alzwalt said, his voice gentle yet carrying an authority that made her stiffen in awe. "I am Alzwalt Light."
The girl blinked rapidly, confusion and cautious hope mingling in her expression. "Y… you're… you saved me?"
He knelt slightly, allowing his gaze to meet hers directly, the golden aura around him softening to warmth rather than brilliance. "I did. And I will continue to ensure you are safe. Not just you, but this city. I will see it rebuilt, stronger than before."
Her small hands trembled slightly as she looked up at him, clearly overwhelmed. "But… all of this… how can anyone fix it?"
Alzwalt's smile was faint, regal, almost archaic in its calmness. "Patience, precision, and diligence. Destruction is loud; restoration is deliberate. The world can always be rebuilt, Lyra. The key is to survive until that work begins."
He raised a hand, golden energy subtly coalescing, and began healing the minor cuts and bruises along her arms and neck, remnants of the chaos from the previous battles. Lyra gasped as the pain faded, the faint warmth of light spreading across her skin. He did not rush — every movement precise, as though he were both performing a task and teaching her a lesson in the nature of power and care.
"I will remain here until the city stands whole again," he said softly. "You will not need to fear. And I will ensure that nothing like this reaches you again."
Lyra's eyes widened further, tears welling. "You… you really mean it?"
Alzwalt inclined his head slightly. "I do. You are safe. The living deserve protection, and those who survive must learn that hope is not an abstract — it is enforced by those who act when others hesitate."
Behind him, a soft pulse of golden light indicated the presence he left behind in Arkion. His clone, a version of himself made entirely of pure light, watched over Kael as the boy practiced energy manipulation. It was a subtle reminder that his influence spanned continents even when he was absent, ensuring that Arkion remained under his careful guidance while he personally oversaw Virelia's recovery.
He extended a hand to Lyra. "Walk with me. See what must be done. Understand that protection is not passive — it is action. And I will act."
With tentative steps, the girl followed him through the ruined streets, watching as he moved rubble, stabilized weakened structures, and quietly instructed a small contingent of citizens and remaining guardians on how to begin the long process of reconstruction.
At each turn, Alzwalt explained — not in detail, but enough for Lyra to understand the principle. "A wall is not merely stone. It is support, structure, and a line of defense. Each piece matters. Each action matters. And when it comes time to fight again, knowing how to build may save lives as much as knowing how to strike."
By mid-afternoon, Lyra's home had been reinforced, minor repairs underway, and a small contingent of guardians placed strategically to maintain order. Alzwalt paused atop the steps of the house, looking down at the girl. "This is your home. For now. And until it is truly safe, I will remain close enough to ensure no harm reaches it."
Lyra nodded, finally allowing herself a faint smile. "Thank you… Alzwalt Light."
He nodded once, a quiet acknowledgment, before stepping back. "Do not mistake this for gratitude, child. Learn, survive, and when you are strong, understand what it means to protect. That is your gift and your responsibility."
As the golden light around him faded, he turned toward the horizon, scanning the city. "The world will test us," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "But I will meet it on my terms. Every threat, every shadow… I will be the light that confronts it."
And with that, Alzwalt Light departed Virelia temporarily, leaving behind a city on the cusp of recovery, a girl safe under his protection, and the faint pulse of light from his clone in Arkion, ensuring that his presence, though unseen, remained absolute.
The world would heal, but it would not forget.