Inside the guest room that had officially become his room from that night onward, Arceus lay on the bed.
The mattress was soft.
The blanket smelled faintly of fresh linen.
The room was warm and safe.
And still, sleep would not come.
The events of the night played in his mind one after another.
His father's cold eyes.
His mother's helpless cries.
The silent journey to the cliff.
Kiara's sudden appearance.
The warmth in her voice.
The proposal beneath the moon.
And finally, his return to this place.
A tear escaped his eye.
He covered his eyes with his arm as he murmured in a whisper, "Father, Mother… I am truly sorry for not becoming the son you wanted me to be."
**
Meanwhile, in her own room, Kiara was experiencing the exact opposite of sorrow.
She sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes shining with anticipation, and opened the weapon gallery.
The details of her newly unlocked rewards unfolded before her like a treasure map.
[Panzerkampfwagen IV]
