The Time Reaper slammed Alvan forcefully into the ground, the impact so brutal that blood immediately spilled from his mouth. Pain seared through Alvan’s body, and for a moment, the world blurred around him. The Time Reaper loomed over him, ready to deliver another crushing blow. But then, from high above, a deafening roar shattered the tense silence. The sound was raw and primal, echoing across the battlefield with such intensity that the Time Reaper instinctively staggered back, creating a crucial gap between itself and the fallen Alvan.

  In that fleeting pause, a brilliant purple beam erupted from the sky, freezing Alvan in place. His eyes widened in disbelief as he realized—against all odds—that the Light Snatcher was still alive. The beam struck the land with tremendous force, drilling deep into the ground and leaving behind a vast, smoking crater. Dust and debris swirled in the air, marking the arrival of The Light Snatcher.

  The Light Snatcher descended, its landing sending tremors through the Land. The dragon’s massive form radiated raw strength, but despite its imposing presence, a dark streak of blood trickled from one of its eyes. The wound was fresh, a reminder of the fierce battle it had just endured against the Time Reaper. Alvan’s gaze locked onto the injured eye, curiosity and concern filling his mind. If the dragon could heal a sliced hand with ease, why hadn’t this wound closed? Was this injury somehow different, or was the dragon’s power not as limitless as it seemed?

  Lost in his thoughts, Alvan barely had time to react before the Time Reaper recovered its composure. With a snarl of rage, it lunged toward the Light Snatcher, ready to strike once more. The clash between these titanic forces was far from over, and Alvan knew that the outcome of this battle would shape the fate of them all.

  "ésàlf"

  Kaede chanted softly as he landed in front of the Light Snatcher, his palm pressing firmly against the ground. Instantly, the earth beneath the colossal dragon turned an ominous black, spreading like a shadow that slowly began to consume the beast. The dragon’s massive form trembled as the dark energy crept upward, threatening to swallow it whole.

  Kaede then turned his piercing gaze toward Alvan. The intensity in Kaede’s eyes made Alvan falter. A sudden wave of weakness washed over him, and he dropped to his knees, his wings folding painfully into his body. “No, I can’t let this happen... I have to stay in control,” Alvan muttered, struggling to resist the overwhelming force pressing down on him. But his efforts were futile. The entity that had once controlled him slipped away, leaving Alvan fully in command of himself—yet feeling more vulnerable than ever.

  “Damn it, Jaha,” Alvan hissed through clenched teeth, rising to fight. “You may have hidden Jaha away, but I’m not going down without a fight.” His eyes burned with a fierce anger as he glared at Kaede, defiance shining even in his weakened state.

  Kaede said nothing. He simply watched Alvan’s desperate struggle with a cold, unreadable expression. Then, without warning, Kaede’s attention shifted to where the Time Reaper had been—but it had vanished. “Oh well,” Kaede said casually, his voice sending an unsettling shiver down Alvan’s spine.

  “How?” Alvan gasped, confusion and disbelief mixing with his anger. “How are you here, Kaede? Didn’t Ezekiel strip you of your power and banish you?”

  Kaede remained silent for a moment, then finally replied, “Yes, Lord Ezekiel did. But banishment doesn’t mean death, does it?”

  Alvan’s eyes narrowed. “No, it doesn’t... but your powers? Why do you still have them? And more importantly, why are you here?”

  Kaede didn’t answer. Instead, without warning, he slammed Alvan violently to the ground. Before Alvan could react, Kaede’s hand pressed down hard on his back. Alvan struggled, trying to pull Kaede’s grip free, but his strength was fading fast.

  Kaede began to draw out every ounce of Mana from Alvan, the life force that sustained him. Alvan’s body grew paler by the second, his strength draining away like water slipping through fingers. The pain was unbearable, but worse was the helplessness—the sense of being utterly powerless against the dark force that was consuming him. As the last trace of Mana was stolen, Alvan’s eyes fluttered closed, and he slipped into death.

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  Kaede lifted Alvan’s lifeless body with ease and hurled it toward the border. The throw was so powerful it breached the barrier, sending Alvan’s body crashing into the western lands beyond. With his grim task complete, Kaede began to fade, his form dissolving until he was gone as well, leaving only silence and a heavy sense of loss behind.

  The soldiers cautiously emerged from their hiding places, their eyes wide with disbelief as they took in the scene before them. The once-mighty dragon now stood frozen, encased in a swirling black essence that shimmered with an otherworldly power. It was immobilized—no one dared approach, for the energy radiating from the sealed beast was far too immense to confront.

  Above the battlefield, King Derick soared on his dragon, his voice booming across the silent ranks. “My brave soldiers!” he called out, his tone ringing with pride and fierce determination. “Today, we have faced darkness itself and stood unyielding. Against all odds, we have triumphed—not just through strength, but through courage, unity, and unbreakable will!”

  He paused, letting his words sink in, eyes scanning the faces of those who had fought beside him. “Look around you. Every scar, every hardship, every sacrifice led to this moment. This victory belongs to each and every one of you. You are the light that will guide our future, the shield that guards our lands, and the hope that will never be extinguished.”

  Derick’s voice grew louder, filled with unwavering conviction. “Let this day be remembered—not just as the day we won a battle, but as the day we reclaimed our destiny. Stand tall, for we are victorious! We have won!”

  A surge of cheers erupted from the soldiers, their spirits soaring as they rallied behind their king’s stirring words. The battle was over, but the legacy of their courage had only just begun.

  In The West

  The body of Alvan was finally retrieved from near the border, but the West was already engulfed in chaos. With the dwindling mana supplies barely enough to sustain life, the deaths of two of their chosen ones had plunged the region into even deeper turmoil. The leaders and high-ranking officials of the Elven kingdom, once divided by old rivalries and conflicts, now faced a harsh reality that demanded unity. They set aside their past grievances, recognizing that survival depended on cooperation in this desperate hour.

  Before Alvan’s grave stood his young sister, Soha, her eyes filled with tears as she gazed at the simple stone marker. The weight of loss pressed heavily on her heart. A boy her age, Morwen, stepped forward and gently handed her a cloth to wipe away her tears.

  “Don’t cry, Soha,” Morwen said softly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You’re the queen now. It’s your turn to be strong—for the people, for the kingdom.”

  Soha took a shaky breath, the comfort in his words easing her pain just a little. Then Morwen added, “I’m going to seek the Archangels’ help.”

  Her eyes widened with a mixture of hope and fear. “What do you mean? Morwen, what if something happens to you on the way? I can’t afford to lose anyone else I love.”

  Morwen smiled gently, his confidence unwavering. “I won’t fail you. I’ll come back.”

  A flicker of hope sparked within Soha, but she hesitated. “Are you sure? Promise me you’ll come back.”

  “I promise,” he said firmly.

  Later that day, Morwen set off on his mission to seek the Archangels' aid. After that, no one saw or heard from him again. The uncertainty gnawed at Soha’s mind, deepening her sorrow and anxiety. Yet, it was Morwen’s promise that anchored her spirit, giving her the strength to endure.

  “And that’s how the West became Zephyria—the land we know today,” Luan said, pausing to take a deep breath. He glanced to his right, where Alya had already fallen asleep, while I remained awake, listening intently.

  Master Luan ruffled my hair gently and asked with a warm smile, “Do you have any questions, Dliva?”

  I looked up at Master Luan, curiosity shining in my eyes. “Master Luan, how do you know the stories from both sides after the barrier was put up?”

  He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised to hear such a thoughtful question from someone my age. A soft chuckle escaped him before he replied, “Well, I’ve lived for over a hundred years, you know. Over that time, I’ve read countless ancient books and records. That’s how I’ve come to know these stories—through the history preserved in those old texts.”

  He smiled warmly, and I could sense the depth of his experience and wisdom behind those simple words. It was clear that his knowledge wasn’t just from books from just the west but the east too.