The battlefield had fallen quiet.
Soldiers moved. Orders were given. Fires were extinguished. The wounded were carried away.
Yet… it felt silent.
Kros stood beside Aiya, both staring across the ruined battlefield. Smoke drifted into the grey sky. Broken weapons lay scattered. The ground still smelled of iron and ash.
Behind them, Rin struggled to stand, one hand clutching her bicep. Enora supported her, arm wrapped gently around her shoulders. They walked slowly, exhausted.
Laken stood further back.
Watching.
Not the battlefield.
But them.
An awkward silence lingered. No one knew what to say.
Then—
Commander Fugiri approached, soldiers behind him. They all bowed.
"Forgive me, Your Royal Highness…"
Aiya blinked, as though returning from somewhere far away.
"Oh…"
She inhaled softly.
"How many casualties?"
Fugiri lowered his gaze.
"I'm afraid we've suffered a loss no reinforcement can undo… My men died defending this city."
He turned to Kros.
"If not for this knight… I doubt any of us would have survived."
Cries echoed from afar.
Soldiers mourning.
Families weeping.
Children calling names that would never answer.
Silence returned.
They walked toward the city.
The streets were worse.
Burned homes. Collapsed walls. Citizens returning in disbelief. Mothers crying. Fathers searching. Children clinging to torn clothing.
Pain filled the air.
Aiya walked slowly.
Her hand wrapped around Kros'.
Majestically.
Silently.
Behind them, Rin and Enora followed.
Further back…
Laken.
Walking alone.
Not broken by battle…
But by something deeper.
"Excuse me, sir."
A knight approached him.
"Aren't you the hero of the front lines? It's an honor to meet you."
Laken forced a faint smile.
"The honor… is mine."
"If you don't mind… would you grace my unit with your presence?"
Laken nodded.
"Of course."
And just like that—
He separated from them.
They reached the commander's mansion.
Plans were discussed.
Reconstruction began.
Aiya promised:
100,000 soldiers to rebuild
Gold for restoration
75,000 to reinforce the city army
Commander Fugiri bowed deeply in gratitude.
Days passed.
Rebuilding began.
Life slowly returned.
Then…
The day came.
To honor the fallen.
Rows of graves stretched across the field.
Flags planted beside each.
Aiya stepped forward and gave her speech.
Then Fugiri.
Then—
"Laken, hero of the front lines…"
He stepped forward.
The wind moved softly.
He looked at the graves.
Then began.
Laken's Speech
"I have stood on many battlefields."
"I have watched soldiers rise… and fall."
"I have seen victory… and defeat."
"But never…"
He paused.
"...never like this."
He looked at the graves.
"These were not just soldiers."
"They were fathers."
"Brothers."
"Sons."
"Friends."
"They laughed… they argued… they dreamed."
"And yet… they stood."
"When the flames came… they stood."
"When fear took hold… they stood."
"When death stared them in the eyes…"
His voice trembled.
"...they still stood."
He inhaled slowly.
"We who remain… carry their unfinished dreams."
"We breathe… because they didn't."
"We stand… because they fell."
He looked at the crowd.
"So do not mourn them as lost."
"Mourn them as heroes."
"As guardians."
"As the shield that saved this city."
He placed his hand over his chest.
"To those who fell…"
"Depart in peace."
"You are not forgotten."
"You are not alone."
"You live… within us."
Silence filled the air.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Days later…
It was time to leave.
Kros stood outside the gates.
Armor still on.
Silent.
Aiya approached slowly.
Her horse waited behind her.
Commander Fugiri held the reins.
She stopped before Kros.
"...Take off your mask."
"Endolin."
The mask dissolved.
His eyes looked distant.
Even reunited…
He felt far away.
She stepped closer.
"I don't want to separate from you again…"
Her voice was soft.
"...Please don't leave."
She looked fragile.
Weak.
Vulnerable.
Kros' eyes widened.
He realized it.
She loved him.
He pulled her closer.
"Shall we ride together then…"
"...like old times, partner?"
Her eyes widened.
She hugged him tightly.
He held her back.
Then—
She leaned in.
And kissed him.
Kros froze.
Then slowly…
He closed his eyes.
They kissed.
Two lost hearts…
Finally meeting.
Laken watched from his horse.
Silently.
His gaze lowered.
Rin covered her mouth.
Enora looked away.
Guilt filled her chest.
Commander Fugiri smiled warmly, unaware.
Kros mounted his horse.
A powerful black stallion.
He placed his hand on its neck.
"Lith."
The horse lifted its front legs proudly.
Accepting the name.
Aiya laughed softly.
"It's like you two were meant to be."
He extended his hand.
She placed hers in his.
He pulled her onto the horse.
They rode together.
Majestically.
Soldiers lined the road.
Children threw flowers.
Citizens cheered.
They rode out of the city.
Stories began spreading.
Some called it:
"Tales of a Broken Knight."
Others called it:
"The Dark Savior's Last Stand."
Some whispered:
"A moment brought by the heavens."
But they didn't know—
The sacrifices Aiya made.
The pain Laken buried.
And inside the Dark Knight…
A heart still haunted.
Shennel.
Laken.
Unfinished.
Unspoken.
End of Vol 2