The afternoon sun filtered gently through the broad branches of the towering trees surrounding Tessandra's estate. Their shade offered a welcome escape from the heat, and beneath them, Kaelen and Jess sat quietly beside one another, gazing toward the endless blue sky.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable.
It was peaceful.
Kaelen rested his arms behind him before glancing sideways at Jess.
"Hey Jess… when are you going to tell me about yourself?"
Jess turned toward him with a faint smile.
"You didn't ask."
Kaelen looked directly into her eyes.
"Tell me about yourself."
Jess stared into the distance again.
Her smile slowly faded.
"Well… you already know my name…"
She took a slow breath.
"Growing up… I never got the life a normal child would have. My family was ordinary… but inexpressive. I had parents… but they were always distant. They didn't treat me badly or anything…I was just pushed away from the love of my parents."
Her voice grew quieter.
"So… I ran away one day. I was seven years old. It was winter. There was snow everywhere. But I still went out. I thought no one would care if I went missing…So I left and went into the forest."
She lowered her eyes.
"But I didn't get very far. Because of the cold… I passed out."
A faint breeze rustled the leaves overhead.
Jess continued.
"When I opened my eyes… I was back in the house. They were both there… yelling at me. But…I could see they had been crying."
She looked down at her arm unconsciously.
"I looked at my arm and saw it wrapped in bandages. When I fell unconscious…My arm froze. The temperature dried out my skin until it became so cold that my hand started forming small cuts."
She clenched her fingers.
"The drops of blood…They led a monster to our house."
Kaelen quietly listened without interrupting.
"They fought it off…My mother was killed. My father killed the monster…before dying himself."
Silence settled once more.
Jess struggled to keep her composure.
Her eyes shimmered.
Kaelen gently reached over…and hugged her.
He didn't say anything.He simply held her.
Jess slowly closed her eyes.
"My aunt took me in. She cared for me for eight years. Then my circuit awakened. I started doing dungeon raids…until I met June Augustus."
Kaelen slowly nodded.
"I'm sorry."
Jess inhaled deeply before wiping away the moisture gathering in her eyes.
"It's fine."
After another quiet moment, Kaelen leaned back and smiled faintly.
"My family is humble. My mother is a user of the Chrono Circuit. My father is a user of the Gravity Circuit."
"So…I had a good childhood. I always wanted to become someone who could protect humanity. A hero everyone could look up to. So I walked my own path. And somehow…It led me to you guys. I'm grateful for that."
His smile softened.
"But while I was out there alone…Fighting with my life on the line to protect humanity…All I could think about was…What if I fail?"
He looked toward the endless horizon.
"Will my training…And all the power I worked for…Be enough to stop this threat?"
A calm determination entered his voice.
"But after so many battles…and so many trials. I realized something…If your will is strong enough…You could hold up this universe by yourself."
He turned toward Jess.
"Those innocent People wouldn't have lived if I had given up. I would've died. I wouldn't be a hero. I wouldn't have met you all…Or my master."
He gently took Jess's hand into his own.
"So the path may be hard..,It may be harsh. But if you trust yourself and your will is strong enough…You can make it through anything."
Jess looked into Kaelen's ocean-blue eyes.
For the first time since telling her story…She smiled without forcing it.
Just then Kaelven glanced over from where he and Kimotsu had been talking.
A mischievous grin spread across his face.
He nudged Kimotsu with his elbow.
"Watch those love birds."
Without hesitation, he cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Bro! You want a room? I'll ask Tessandra for you!"
Kaelen immediately waved one hand.
An overwhelming force of gravity suddenly crashed down upon Kaelven.
The ground beneath him cracked.
Kaelven grunted before planting his feet firmly into the earth.
"…Seriously?"
He forced himself upright.
Muscles tightened.
With a burst of strength, he shattered the gravity surrounding him.
Kimotsu laughed quietly before walking over toward the sleeping Gene.
The swordsman effortlessly lifted the sleeping dreamer onto his shoulder.
"Come on. You'll sleep better inside."
Jess stood alongside Kaelen. The two quietly walked toward the mansion together.
Everyone entered the house after removing their shoes.
The spacious living room stretched farther than most houses.
Elegant furniture, polished wooden floors, towering windows, and warm decorations made the entire estate feel welcoming.
Denma slowly looked around in amazement.
"This place is impressive…It's huge."
His eyes landed on Tessandra.
"Ms. Tessandra."
Tessandra turned toward him.
"Yes?"
Denma scratched the back of his head.
"Are you rich?"
Tessandra sighed.
"Yes. I'm from the Liones family."
Faith's eyes sparkled like stars.
"Wow!"
"So you're one of the daughters of Sir Gillian Liones! That's so cool!"
Alzwalt burst into laughter.
"Yo, sis. You're a celebrity now. You have a lot of fans."
Tessandra immediately became irritated.
Britanya folded her arms with an amused smile.
"Babe…You sure know how to irritate people."
John stood from his chair.
"Hey. At least you see it, sis."
Alzwalt blinked.
"Bro! That's not fair! Why are you on her side?"
Without another word, John calmly walked upstairs.
Tessandra grabbed a pillow from the couch and threw it directly at Alzwalt.
Thump!
The pillow smacked him squarely in the face.
"Hmph."
She turned and followed John upstairs.
Kaelen looked around at everyone remaining downstairs.
"Guys…You can choose your own rooms."
The heroes nodded.
Kaelven stretched his arms behind his head.
"Finally."
Everyone dispersed toward their chosen rooms.
Soon, only Alzwalt and Britanya remained sitting together in the quiet living room.
For several moments…Neither of them spoke.
Britanya slowly stood.
Then…Without saying anything…She quietly sat down on Alzwalt's lap. Wrapping both arms around him, she hugged him tightly. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"You better not die in this war."
Alzwalt gently wrapped his arms around her.
Leaning back against the couch, he looked calmly toward the ceiling.
A confident smile slowly appeared across his face.
"Even death dares not think about such a thing."
He closed his eyes.
"After all…I am The Archangel Alzwalt Light…the Sole Candidate of the God of Heavens— Divine Light."
Britanya smiled quietly as she rested her head against his chest.
Outside…The evening sky slowly darkened.
And across the silent universe…Twelve ancient beings continued their approach toward Planet Kael'Ar.