The battlefield slowly settled.
Smoke drifted across the horizon. The remains of monsters dissolved into ash. The Kushan army stood in stunned silence, still unable to process what they had witnessed.
Aiya stood between Rin and Enora, both holding onto her arms like she might disappear again.
"You're not leaving again," Rin muttered.
Aiya smiled softly. "I just came back."
Enora leaned forward slightly. "You've changed… your aura… it's so different."
Aiya chuckled. "I guess I did grow a little."
Behind them, Kros stood quietly, black armor still covering his entire body. Lightning flickered faintly across its surface before fading.
The king approached.
"Aiya… you've returned to us… and saved the empire."
He turned his gaze to Kros.
"And your companion… we owe him greatly."
Kros scratched the back of his helmet awkwardly.
"Uh… no problem."
The royal guards exchanged looks. The tone… the casualness… unusual.
But the king simply smiled.
"Return to the palace. We will honor you both properly."
Palace — Later
The sisters refused to separate.
They walked together, talked together, laughed together. Servants watched in relief — the palace felt alive again.
Rin leaned close to Aiya.
"So… that guy."
Aiya blinked. "What about him?"
"You like him."
Aiya froze.
"I do not."
Rin smirked.
"You smiled when he spoke."
"I smile at everyone."
"You didn't smile at the demon."
"That's different!"
Enora giggled quietly.
Rin leaned closer.
"You've been with him for how many years? & … alone… in Kumandell…"
Aiya's face turned slightly red.
"Rin."
"Oh? So you do like him."
"I said stop."
Rin laughed.
"Big sister… finally fell."
Aiya turned away.
"…Idiot."
But she didn't deny it again.
---
Kros — Guest Chambers
Kros sat on the bed, finally alone.
He looked at his armored hand.
"Endolin… release."
The black armor dissolved like dust, retreating into his arm.
He exhaled.
"Man… palace life feels weird."
He walked to the window, staring outside.
Servants passed by. Knights trained below. Nobles conversed.
Peace.
Something he hadn't seen in years.
Moments later—
Servants whispered.
Knights murmured.
"The black armored warrior…"
"He's the young knight?"
"He's just… a man?"
The news spread.
Royal Throne Hall — Ceremony
The hall filled with nobles.
Knights lined the walls.
The king sat upon the throne.
"Aiya. Enora. Rin. Step forward."
They did.
"You defended the empire… and returned hope to Kushan."
He rewarded them with royal honors, titles, and recognition. The crowd applauded.
Then—
"And now… the warrior who aided us."
". Step forward."
He walked forward casually.
No kneeling.
No bow.
Just standing.
The nobles erupted in whispers.
"He didn't kneel."
"How disrespectful."
"Who does he think he is?"
The king watched calmly.
"Your name?"
"Kros."
"…That's it?"
"Yeah."
The king laughed.
"I like you."
But not everyone did.
The Royal Knights shifted.
Their captain stepped forward.
The Right-Hand Sword of the King.
His gaze sharp.
"You stand before His Majesty… and do not kneel?"
Kros tilted his head.
"oh…Was I supposed to?"
Gasps.
The captain's eyes narrowed.
"You insult the throne."
He drew his sword.
Steel rang through the hall.
Knights tensed.
Aiya stepped forward instantly.
"Stop."
The captain ignored her.
"Show respect… or face punishment."
Kros sighed.
"…This escalated fast."
Lightning flickered faintly around his fingers.
The atmosphere tightened.
One wrong move…
And the throne hall would explode.
The captain of the royal knights still held his blade halfway drawn. Nobles whispered. Mana lingered thick in the air like a storm waiting to break.
Then suddenly—
Enora's eyes widened.
Her voice trembled.
"That voice… I recognize it… from two years ago…"
Silence.
She took a step forward, staring at the black armored figure.
"…Mr knight?"
The hall froze.
Kros stiffened.
For a moment, he didn't react. Then slowly… his head turned toward her.
Memory struck.
"…Huh?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"…Hey. You're that little scammer, aren't you?"
Gasps rippled across the nobles.
"…You brought me to this god-forsaken land and abandoned me."
His boots echoed as he began walking toward her.
"…I almost died because of you."
Each step was heavy.
Terrifying.
Enora began to tremble. Her hands shook. The aura from the black armor pressed down on the entire hall.
Rin's expression changed instantly.
Cold.
Sharp.
Protective.
Kros stopped a few steps away.
"I fought to survive for two years… and you were here… enjoying yourself?"
His voice lowered.
"My arm got—"
He stopped.
Silence.
Then—
Aiya stepped in front of Enora.
Her voice was sharp. Cold.
"…Kros. Control yourself."
He froze.
For a moment, the anger flickered… then something else replaced it.
He thought.
"…Wait a minute."
He looked at Enora.
Then at Aiya.
"If she's the princess…"
"And you called her your younger sister…"
His voice dropped.
"…Then that means… you're the first born daughter of Kushan… aren't you?"
Aiya's shoulders stiffened.
"…I told you everything."
Silence deepened.
"…and you knew… but stayed quiet?"
Her expression fell.
She avoided his gaze.
"…You're overreacting, Kros." she said quietly.
Eyes lowered.
Her arm crossed her stomach, holding the other.
She couldn't look at him.
"…Endolin. Release."
The words were soft.
Disappointed.
The black armor dissolved.
Like dark dust.
Like nanobots dispersing into the air.
Piece by piece, it vanished — revealing Kros beneath.
The throne hall saw him for the first time.
Messy dark hair.
Tired eyes.
Scarred neck.
But his expression…
It wasn't anger.
It was pain.
Raw.
Quiet.
Like something inside him had cracked.
Not because of Enora.
But because of Aiya.
Because he told her everything.
Trusted her.
Relied on her.
And for two years… she stayed silent.
The entire throne room didn't move.
No knight stepped in.
No noble whispered.
This was no longer political.
This was personal.
Aiya slowly tilted her eyes toward him.
And froze.
Her pupils widened.
It hit her.
The same look.
The same helplessness.
The same expression he had two years ago… when she first found him.
Powerless.
Broken.
Except this time…
She caused it.
Her fingers tightened against her arm.
Guilt crushed her chest.
Kros spoke quietly.
"…Why?"
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Silence.
"…Why did you stay quiet?"
Her lips trembled.
Still nothing.
He waited.
She failed to answer.
He looked down.
"…What was I expecting…"
"…Endolin."
The armor surged back onto him.
Black.
Cold.
Complete.
He turned around.
And began walking toward the exit.
Aiya tried to move.
Her body wouldn't respond.
Her hand lifted slightly.
"…Kr—"
He turned the hallway corner.
Gone.
The throne hall remained silent.
Enora covered her mouth.
Guilt flooding her eyes.
Rin suddenly sprinted.
Past Aiya.
Past the nobles.
Toward Kros.
She found him standing by the balcony.
Black armor.
Staring at the sky.
Still.
Unmoving.
"…Hi…" Rin said softly from behind.
No response.
She stepped closer.
"I… I know you're hurting."
Silence.
She swallowed.
"My older sister… disappeared six years ago…"
"She protected us… always."
"She stopped smiling when she came back…"
"She carries everything alone…"
"She didn't tell you… but she trusted you."
Still nothing.
"…Standing up for Enora… was the right thing."
She paused.
"…But she didn't want to hurt you."
Kros slowly lifted from the ground.
Floating.
Rin's eyes widened.
Wind began pulling inward.
Mana distorted.
He spoke quietly.
A foreign language.
"Ghehduuisbxbzhusidjdbdhudbshhsuwjebbe9nfbbuddhejnbdudhhbeejxxidbhue."
The air twisted.
A black hole formed.
Space collapsed inward.
Rin stepped back in fear.
Meanwhile—
Aiya snapped back to reality.
Her eyes widened.
No.
No no no—
She sprinted.
"KROS!"
Through the hallways.
Guards moved aside.
Her heartbeat thundered.
"KROS!!"
She reached the balcony—
Too late.
The black hole collapsed.
Kros disappeared.
Only Rin remained.
Tears streaming down her face.
She turned slowly.
"…I'm sorry… sis…"
Her voice broke.
Aiya's world shattered.
Her knees gave out.
She dropped to the ground.
Empty.
Broken.
Enora stood behind her.
Silent.
Guilt crushing her chest.
She couldn't speak.
Couldn't move.
The throne hall gathered behind them.
The king.
Garforth.
Knights.
Nobles.
No one spoke.
The king walked forward slowly.
He understood.
He saw it.
His daughter…
Loved that man.
He knelt beside her.
Placed a hand on her shoulder.
"…Aiya."
She didn't respond.
"…Come."
He helped her stand.
Led her away.
To her chambers.
When he turned to leave—
She grabbed his clothes.
Tightly.
Her shoulders shook.
And for the first time in six years—
Aiya cried.
Uncontrollably.
Like a child.
Her father stayed.
Saying nothing.
Just holding her.
While outside…
The sky remained silent.
And the man in black armor was gone.