Starglade Kingdom.
"Ah, so Aiko is returning home, huh," Jack said as the group wandered through the academy halls.
"Yes," Celeste replied with tears in her eyes.
"It's all right," Lumine said gently, patting her back. "We can visit her once the war is over."
"By the way… is Rethrus not coming back?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, actually," Leo responded.
"I wonder what he's doing now…" the group fell into a moment of quiet thought.
Suddenly, a noble-looking couple approached them from across the courtyard. Their presence was commanding, dressed in fine attire with elegant poise.
"Pardon the interruption," the man spoke with a calm but dignified tone. "Might we have a word with the one called Aethra?"
The group stood frozen in awe. They parted instinctively, and Aethra stepped forward, curious but cautious.
The lady's eyes glistened. Without warning, she stepped forward and embraced him.
"You resemble her so perfectly," she whispered. "Your mother…"
Aethra's body tensed. He didn't know how to respond.
Inside the Marbled Dining Hall…
The three sat around a lavish table. Aethra's hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Silence reigned, heavy and uncertain.
Finally, the man spoke, his voice formal but not cold.
"Ahem. I am Osric Ferrowin, your uncle… by law, though blood may bind us still."
Aethra stared, his brows furrowing. He had always believed he was alone—that he had no family.
The lady smiled warmly, her eyes never leaving his.
"And I… am Lady Adeline. Your aunt," she said, her voice carrying the grace of nobility. "From the moment I saw your image in the newspaper, I knew. You bear the face of my sister—gods, it is like seeing her again."
She reached across the table, as if trying to bridge a lifetime of distance.
"Oh, Aethra… I've searched for so long. And now here you are. You are our family."
Aethra didn't know how to respond. His fingers gripped his sword just slightly. His eyes shifted between the two, unsure if this was real—or another illusion.
He was in shock. 'Why now?' he thought. 'Why appear only when I've made a name for myself?'
A bitter silence passed through him.
"…I don't know where this is going," he finally said, his voice low, guarded.
"Oh, Aethra," Lady Adeline reached out, her expression aching. "It means you don't have to live as an orphan anymore. You have a family now. A noble one. You can carry our name with pride."
Lord Osric gave a knowing smile, leaning forward slightly.
"And you'll have a proper chance with the Princess. You know how it is—only nobles may court her. With your power, your looks, and soon, our name… every girl in the kingdom would fall at your feet."
That was the moment it clicked.
Aethra's expression didn't change, but something inside him stilled. The warmth faded from their words, replaced by cold, calculated ambition.
They weren't here for him.
They were here for what he had become.
He stood up slowly, calmly, without a hint of anger—only resolve.
"…I appreciate the gesture," he said, "but I'm fine now. I no longer need anyone's help."
He turned toward the door, but paused briefly.
"And I'm not planning to marry A beautiful girl."
Without another glance, he walked away.
"Aethra…!" Adeline called, tears in her voice. "At least come visit us… just once…"
He stopped for a second.
But said nothing.
And kept walking.
While walking, Aethra's thoughts were a storm.
'I don't need their help. I'll make my name with my own hands. I won't be anyone's puppet—noble or not.'
In the palace courtyard...
"Princess Elaina—wait up!" Jasper called, jogging behind her.
Elaina stopped, glancing over her shoulder with a raised brow. "Yes, Jasper? You've been following me all day."
"I just… you know why I'm here. To court you."
"I'm aware," she replied with a calm smile. "So what exactly are you doing to win me over?"
"Ah, well—uh…"
She sighed. 'Why does Father keep approving suitors younger than me? This is just exhausting.'
Later, in her personal lounge...
Her cousins from House Starling had arrived—bright, fashionable, and loud in the best way.
"You look like you just survived a war," one cousin teased, flopping beside her on the couch.
Elaina let her head fall back. "It feels like I did."
"Let me guess. Another suitor with no flirting skills?"
"And no spine," Elaina added with a smirk. "They think just because they're tall, muscular, and dressed in silk, they're my perfect match."
Her cousins laughed.
"So what's the checklist again? Enlighten us."
"Well, bare minimum—tall, strong, intelligent, and good-looking. I mean, that's standard, right?"
They all nodded dramatically.
"But more than that…" She twirled a lock of her hair, thoughtful. "I want someone who doesn't see me as a trophy. Someone who knows I can fight just as hard as he can. And respects that."
"Oof. So none of the current ones?"
"Not even close," Elaina said, grabbing a pillow and hugging it. "One called me 'delicate.' Another tried to flex by punching a tree."
Her cousins burst into laughter.
"Don't worry," one of them said with a wink. "The right idiot will come along. Strong, smart—and dumb enough to fall for your chaos."
Elaina smirked. "Let's hope he exists."
Back in Aurelia
Rethrus moved swiftly through the chaos, his steps sharp and deliberate as he helped the city watch rescue trapped civilians. With every motion, his shadow hands extended from his body, lifting debris, shielding people from falling rubble, and clearing paths no one else could reach.
The city watch stared in disbelief, their exhaustion fading for a moment as they watched him work.
"Wow," one of them muttered. "I can't believe it. The rumors were true. Look how he moves... like it's nothing."
"If I could just afford a camera, I'd take a picture with him," another said, leaning on his weapon.
The first laughed. "What, are you in love with him now?"
"No," the other replied quickly. "But just look at him. Look how powerful and kind he is."
"Yeah… some people are just god's chosen, I guess."
Rethrus didn't respond to the praise or even acknowledge it. His focus stayed on the people. He lifted a heavy stone slab with one flick of his shadow hand—his shadows responding instantly—and revealed a young mother holding her crying baby underneath. He helped her out gently, guiding her to the medics nearby.
"Thank you, Mr. Rethrus!" a small boy called as Rethrus carried him across the street. "When I grow up, I wanna be like you!"
Rethrus gave him a small smile and tapped the boy's head lightly. "Sure you will," he said.
'Be better than me,' he thought.
He didn't look back. The thanks, the admiration… none of it washed away the truth that lingered in his chest. These people didn't know he was part of the reason they were suffering. They saw a savior. But behind that image was a man tied to darkness and secrets.
Still, he kept moving. The shadow hands followed. There were more people to save.