Chapter 1: The World Without Him
The world was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Weeks had passed since the battle at Aetherion.
The sky was clear. The monsters were gone. The darkness that once threatened everything… had vanished like it was never there.
People called it peace.
But to Lyra—
It felt empty.
She stood at the edge of a cliff, the wind gently moving her hair as she stared out at the horizon.
"…You'd hate this," she whispered.
No chaos.No danger.No him.
Behind her, footsteps approached.
"You're here again."
Lyra didn't turn.
"I could say the same to you," she replied softly.
Elira stepped beside her, arms crossed as usual—but her eyes were different now.
Quieter.
"…It's been a month," Elira said.
"I know."
Silence.
Elira exhaled. "…People are starting to move on."
Lyra's expression hardened slightly.
"I'm not."
Elira glanced at her. "…You really think he's alive?"
Lyra didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Elira studied her for a moment.
"…You've changed."
Lyra gave a small, sad smile. "So have you."
Another silence passed between them.
Then—
"…There's something you should see," Elira said.