Kaelen woke with a sharp inhale—heart pounding, body aching, mind buzzing with everything John forced him to face. His eyes unfocused for a moment… then he realized he was lying on a couch with a blanket over him.
John sat on a nearby chair reading.
Alzwalt was asleep upside-down on the other sofa, snoring like a dying tractor.
Kaelen groaned.
Kaelen:
"…Did I die?"
John (without looking up):
"No. If you died, you wouldn't be complaining."
Alzwalt snorted awake.
Alzwalt:
"GOOD MORNING, FAILURE!"
Kaelen threw a pillow at him.
Alzwalt smacked it away like a fly.
The next 48 hours were pure hell.
John handled the mental, technical, and circuit training.
Alzwalt handled… the brutality.
Time compression fields.
Gravity wells.
Hand-to-hand until Kaelen couldn't lift his arms.
Circuit overclock drills until his vision went white.
John crushed him calmly.
Alzwalt crushed him loudly.
But Kaelen adapted.
He grew.
Faster than even they expected.
And on the morning of the third day, John finally nodded.
John:
"You're ready. For now."
Kaelen collapsed again.
Tessandra walked John to the doorway, arms crossed but eyes soft.
Tessandra:
"So you're leaving?"
John:
"For a bit. Astria first… then Karveth. After I oversee a few things, I'll come back."
He brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear.
John:
"And I'll still visit you. Don't think you're getting rid of me."
She smirked.
Tessandra:
"Good. I wasn't planning to."
She leaned in and kissed his cheek.
John gave her that look—half warm, half dangerous—and then walked off with Alzwalt.
Arrival in Astria
Astria—city of glass towers, sky rails, and sprawling districts stretching 34 square miles—buzzed with life.
Alzwalt stopped mid-step.
His eyes narrowed.
Alzwalt:
"Someone's watching us."
John didn't even pause.
John:
"I know. Last building at the far end of the city. Fourth floor window. Strong enough to sense you."
Alzwalt grinned.
Then—
His energy vanished.
Not suppressed. Not lowered.
Gone.
Untraceable.
Unfelt.
Erased from existence.
Cut To: The Eden Forest
At the farthest edge of Astria lay Eden—a luminous emerald forest untouched by pollution or noise.
Beside a crystal-clear pool, a woman sat elegantly, sipping tea from a porcelain cup.
Emerald leaves drifted around her.
She radiated grace—beauty that didn't need to try.
A voice approached from behind.
???:
"Do you like what you see so far… after watching me?"
The woman turned slowly.
Britanya Washington—flawless brown skin, sharp golden eyes, silken black hair that framed her like royalty.
Britanya:
"Alzwalt. It's nice to finally see you in person."
He stepped into view with that signature cocky half-smile.
Alzwalt:
"Well… my reputation precedes me."
She stood, smoothing her dress.
Britanya:
"I am Britanya Washington. Princess of Astria, heir to the Washington family."
She reached into her satchel and pulled out a small, carefully wrapped scroll.
Britanya:
"And… you look better in person."
She handed it to him.
He opened it.
It was a portrait of Alzwalt—drawn in stunning detail—the day he fell from the sky and slaughtered Behemoth and his entire demon legion.
Alzwalt raised an eyebrow.
Alzwalt:
"Don't blame the artist.
Blame my beauty.
It's too compelling."
She smiled, brushing her hair behind her ear.
Britanya:
"Ever since you descended from the heavens…
Ever since you protected this city when we were helpless…
I wanted to meet you."
Her voice softened.
She looked into his eyes—unafraid.
Alzwalt stared back.
Handsome. Radiant. Dangerous.
But not alone.
Alzwalt (stepping closer):
"I am Alzwalt Light…"
He extended a hand slightly, voice dropping into a softer register.
"…let me be the one who brightens your darkness."
A soft laugh echoed.
Because 100 meters away—under a tree—John sat reading a book, as he closed the book and then closed his eyes, he heard Alzwalt.
John (laughing):
"This idiot."
Alzwalt ignored him.
Britanya smiled.
And the scene closed on the spark between them—
two forces who were never meant to meet…
and now couldn't look away.