Night eventually settled over the mansion. The living room glowed softly with warm lantern light. Everyone sat comfortably on the massive crescent couch, wrapped in blankets, steam rising from their cups of tea. Outside, the hidden sanctuary was silent; only the faint hum of the barrier could be heard.
Eiden had just finished explaining everything he had done over the past months: the villages, the spells, the reincarnation, the new grimoire, the battles, the growth.
Morvath leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes narrowed with curiosity.
Morvath leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Ah, so now you can create things. That's… impressive. Truly impressive."
Dravien's ears perked. "Hold on—create as in literally anything?"
Eiden nodded once. "Yes. I can create anything out of nothing."
Dravien's tail swayed wildly. "That's unreal."
Seraphaine covered her mouth, eyes wide. "Eiden… that's beyond ancient magic."
Morvath let out a low whistle. "You've really gone and surpassed every rule of magic we were taught."
Iris watched him with a quiet, unreadable expression — not surprised, but deeply aware of what that level of power meant.
Selyndra smirked softly, arms crossed. "Told you all he wasn't the same man anymore."
Eiden sat calmly, sipping his tea as though he hadn't just admitted to wielding creation magic itself.
Warmth settled over the room. A sense of safety. A sense of wholeness.
For the first time in nineteen years, the Seven Great Sages sat together again — and one of them had ascended far beyond what he once was.
Midnight settled softly over the mansion.
Selyndra had fallen asleep first, knees tucked up on the couch, the rest of her curled comfortably against Eiden's left shoulder. Her breath was slow and steady, warm against his arm, her silver hair spilling over him like a soft curtain. On his right, Vaelus slept with his mouth slightly open, hair a wild, chaotic mess, leaning so heavily into Eiden that it looked as though he might slide off if Eiden shifted even an inch. Eiden sat perfectly still, posture steady and unmoving, every muscle relaxed yet controlled, making sure neither of them slipped off him.
At the far end of the couch, Iris and Dravien slept tangled together. Iris hugged him like a plush doll, her arms locked around him with surprising strength even in sleep. Dravien's face was completely smothered in her chest, his ears twitching helplessly with every breath she took, his tail flicking faintly whenever she shifted.
Across from them, Morvath sat in a large chair, elbows on his knees, watching the scene with a slow, thoughtful exhale. The lantern light reflected in his eyes, softening the sharpness of his usual expression.
"Eiden," he murmured, voice low so he wouldn't wake the others, "something has changed about you indeed… a lot, actually."
His gaze drifted to Selyndra and Vaelus resting against Eiden.
"This is my first time seeing you let anyone sleep on you. It's like you don't mind."
He paused, rubbing his chin.
"And… I also wondered…" He squinted. "Are you three like… something?"
Eiden blinked once. "No, we aren't. Why do you ask?"
Morvath leaned back, smirking. "Hmmm. Because this is new to me, I've never seen you allow someone to sleep on you. Do you like one of them, perhaps?"
Eiden looked down at Selyndra. Then at Vaelus. Then back at Morvath.
"Well… not exactly," he said softly.
Morvath's eyebrows rose. "Ohhhh hohhh. Interesting."
He leaned forward again. "Well, could you see yourself in a relationship with one of them?"
Eiden turned his head again, taking in Selyndra's peaceful breathing and Vaelus's messy hair brushing his shoulder, then looked back at Morvath.
"They're both good people… I guess I could."
"Hmph." Morvath lowered his hand, a small smile forming. "If you aren't sure, spend more time with them. You'll figure it out."
"Hm… I guess I'll do that," Eiden replied.
"Good," Morvath said, nodding once.
Silence settled again, warm, quiet, safe.
Then Eiden spoke, voice low.
"Morvath. I need you and the others to help me find the remaining four enemies. I must take them down… but if I leave those close to me, they might die to one of them."
Morvath's expression softened.
"Of course," he said. "We'll help you find them. And we'll take small adventures along the way. And we'll help you find the Grimoire of Divinark."
He leaned back, eyes warm.
"Because you, Eiden… have helped us more than anyone else in our lives. Because of you, I mastered black magic. You taught me, Selyndra, and Vaelus how to swing a blade. You taught Vaelus the basics of time magic, which he mastered on his own. You helped Dravien master control magic. You helped Iris master blood magic. You helped Seraphaine learn light magic. You and Selyndra taught us how to fight, how to conceal our aura."
He gestured gently toward the sleeping group.
"Because of you, every one of us accomplished something. Without you, we wouldn't be who we are. So now it's time we repay you by helping you find the Grimoire of Divinark."
Eiden's eyes softened.
"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you so much."
Morning sunlight spilled softly through the window, warm and golden, painting gentle patterns across the wooden floor.
Vaelus woke in a neatly made bed on the second floor, the sheets still warm from sleep, the air quiet and still in that peaceful way only early morning could manage. His green robe was folded with surprising care on a small table beside his curved sword and boots, each item placed with deliberate precision. He blinked slowly, then looked down at himself.
He was wearing a long shirt and pants, both clearly too big for him — the sleeves hanging past his wrists, the collar loose around his neck.
He tugged the collar closer, brought it to his nose, and inhaled.
"Hmph. I knew it," he muttered, recognizing Eiden's scent instantly — clean, faintly cold, like steel and winter air.
He looked out the window.
Deer rested peacefully in a patch of grass, sunlight warming their backs as they dozed in the quiet sanctuary. The world felt calm, almost unreal, as if danger and chaos were distant memories rather than the life they lived.
After changing into his robe, he headed downstairs.
The living room was empty. The kitchen was empty. The halls were silent, filled only with the soft hum of the barrier outside.
He stepped into the backyard.
There they all were.
Eiden sat in the sun, reading his grimoire, the pages shifting with living symbols and ancient runes. His eyes were calm and focused, the morning light catching the edges of his hair and cloak.
Selyndra, Iris, and Seraphaine sat in a small circle nearby, sharing cherries, strawberries, and blueberries from a silver plate. They giggled softly as they talked, sunlight glinting off their hair and jewelry.
Dravien and Morvath sat on the grass with sketchbooks, each holding a drawing of the other.
"Hmmmm…" Morvath said, studying Dravien's drawing with exaggerated seriousness.
"Hmmmm…" Dravien echoed, ears twitching, tail flicking with irritation as he examined Morvath's.
"This drawing sucks!" Dravien declared, tossing it back.
"What? My drawing looks way better than yours!" Morvath snapped, throwing Dravien's drawing back at him.
"Nuh uh."
"Yuh huh."
Selyndra rolled her eyes. "Children," she muttered — though she and the other two burst into giggles, hands over their mouths as they rocked back and forth.
Dravien's ears perked up suddenly. "He's finally awake!"
Everyone turned toward Vaelus.
"Good morning," Iris said cheerfully, followed by a chorus of greetings.
"Morning," Vaelus replied, scanning for a place to sit before naturally gravitating toward Eiden.
He sat beside him. "Morning, Eiden."
Eiden closed his grimoire and looked at him. "Morning. You sleep well?"
"Yeah, I did. And I wanted to thank you for the clothes."
"Of course."
Silence settled between them — not awkward, just quiet and warm, the kind of silence shared by people who didn't need words to feel comfortable.
Eiden reopened his grimoire.
Vaelus leaned in, reading over his shoulder. "I don't get this stuff. What is Fwu'za? These words are so different I can barely read them."
"It's a spell that projects an ice beam," Eiden explained. "Freezes anything it touches below zero. Kinda cool, right?"
"Yeah, it is," Vaelus said, glancing at the grimoire, then at Eiden's calm face as he flipped to another page.
"Alright, guys!" Morvath announced, standing up. "Today is the day we head out. And the day we go on an adventure to help Eiden find the remaining four of his greatest enemies."
"Could you not with the loudness? It's still morning," Selyndra groaned.
"Ooouuu, an adventure? I'm ready," Iris said, eyes bright.
Eiden closed his grimoire and strapped it to his waist. "When are we going?"
"Now," Morvath said. "So everyone, come on."
He marched off around the mansion, Dravien skipping behind him.
Selyndra stood, brushing her long blond hair with her fingers, adjusting her dress and checking her sword. "Alright, I guess we're moving."
Iris and Seraphaine followed.
Vaelus stood and looked back at Eiden. "C'mon."
Eiden rose, and the two walked side by side, following the others into the start of their next journey.