After the events of that day, no one spoke about it again. It was an open wound we all feared to touch. We wanted to hold on to the lie, to pretend that none of it had happened. But the absence weighed on us... We had returned with a void impossible to fill. The group had grown smaller, and with it, our world had too.

  They found Zein unconscious, alone and drained, somewhere on the planet. That... thing had wiped out the entire EDI army in a single night.

  We returned to Earth in one of the transport ships we found on the planet. It was much faster, taking only a few days to arrive. Days that felt endless. Zein remained asleep, trapped in a silence more painful than any scream. Naoko didn’t speak; her world had fallen mute. She would just go to the hospital, sit by his side, and wait… in silence. Miguel, true to his nature, buried himself in work. He would stop by to check on Zein from time to time, but he never spoke to us. It was as if he had left along with Alexander, even though his body was still here.

  Sora stayed to take care of Nanao. No longer bound to his prison sentence, he decided to take over Alexander’s shop. We tried to keep it running, as a tribute… but the place wasn’t the same. It felt cold. Empty.

  Now, on the shelf, there were two framed photographs with black ribbons: Alexander and Mei. Together, at last, though not in the way we had wished. Aiko, with those innocent eyes, would often ask:

  —When is Daddy coming back?

  And my heart broke a little more each time.

  Reconstructing his face for the funeral was taking too long, far too long. And I… I still couldn’t bring myself to tell her the truth. How could I take away her smile? How could I explain that her father would never walk through that door again?

  I visited Zein every day. I would sit beside him and talk. I told him everything: about the shop, the customers, Aiko… how the world seemed to keep spinning while ours had come to a halt. But… was he listening? I didn’t know. And that uncertainty ate away at me.

  I was afraid… afraid that he would never open his eyes again. Afraid that he would become another Lyra, trapped in an eternal sleep.

  And deep down, a cruel truth struck me without mercy: This is all my fault.

  I wasn’t there for him. I didn’t hold him when he needed me the most. I left him alone… and this was the price.

  The shop, despite its emptiness, was filled with love. When customers learned of Alexander’s death, they poured their support into us. Condolences, letters, flowers, small donations… some even offered to work, thinking we would need help. The world seemed to honor him… but nothing could fill his absence.

  Days later, what had happened on the planet became public. The black figure was described as “an unidentified entity,” a shadow that, ironically, had helped liberate a key territory. Humanity had won a new front, but we… we had lost everything.

  Alexander was named a national hero. A symbol. A martyr.

  But to us… he was so much more.

  He wasn’t a hero because of a title. He was a hero because, until the very end, he held us up. He fought. He protected.

  And when the time came… he chose to stay.

  For us.

  The day of the funeral arrived. Alexander’s body lay in a sarcophagus. His face, marked by scars, still preserved the essence of who he was. The reconstruction work had served its purpose: allowing his daughter to see him one last time.

  We were all there. Not just us… Thousands of people attended the funeral, offering their support, staying until the very end. Alexander, once a stranger, had earned a place in the hearts of many. Over time, his story began circulating online—accounts of his feats in the war, gestures that had never been made public before.

  He had led a special battalion, one unlike any other… Soldiers who had never wielded a weapon. Their mission was to help, no matter which side those in need were on. This part of his life had remained hidden. After his nation surrendered midway through the war, he escaped to North America. His journey led him to Mexico, a country that, in the midst of chaos, had become a refuge for thousands. There, among the ruins of a wounded world, he met Mei.

  There, his family was born.

  There, his home was born.

  Alexander never stopped helping, not even when the world was falling apart. After the bombs fell, he volunteered to recover bodies and clean up areas devastated by radiation. He kept giving... He kept holding on.

  He was there for everyone.

  Until the very end.

  —Hey, Kiomi... Why are they burying Dad? —Aiko asked me, her little voice shattering what was left of my strength.

  I watched as the sarcophagus was lowered... and I was left speechless. What could I say to her? There was no answer that could ease this pain.

  —It's so he can rest —I said, lifting her into my arms, feeling her so small, so fragile... just like I felt inside.

  —But why does he want to rest under the ground? —she insisted, with that innocence that hurt more than any truth.

  I swallowed hard.

  —So he can watch over your mom in peace...

  —And me? Can I go with them too?

  My heart stopped. A dry, painful knot lodged in my throat.

  —No… not yet. You need to stay here, with us —I answered, gently running my fingers through her hair—. That’s what your dad would have wanted.

  Aiko fell silent. She simply rested her little head on my shoulder. And I… I held that tiny world in my arms, knowing that if I let go, I would completely fall apart.

  The ceremony ended, and as the sun began to set, a truck arrived at the cemetery. Paul stepped out, accompanied by several workers. They were carrying something… something big.

  Carefully, they set it up near the gravestone. When they removed the cloth covering it, my heart clenched.

  It was a statue. A figure of Alexander, almost life-sized. Imposing and serene. Beautiful… because it was him. Not just his image, but his essence. His presence.

  And then… I smiled. A broken, fragile smile… but full of love.

  The tears came. I didn’t try to stop them.

  Because he was there.

  And he always would be.

  Two weeks had passed since that day. I was working at the café with Sora when, suddenly, my phone rang. The moment I answered, I heard Naoko’s breathless voice.

  —Zein woke up!

  The world froze for a second… and in the next, I was already running.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  —Judas, watch the café! —I shouted as I bolted out, but Sora, without hesitation, followed after me—. We’re going together!

  The streets blurred past as I stumbled with every step, my heart pounding wildly—not just from the sprint… but from the overwhelming rush of emotions threatening to spill over.

  We reached the hospital. The same one where Lyra was still hospitalized. The same one where Zein had spent the last two weeks, unmoving.

  It was late. The warm light of the sunset bathed the hallways, casting that golden hue the sky only wears when it’s saying goodbye. And there, in that room, they were all waiting. They had arrived just before me.

  But my eyes only searched for him.

  Zein.

  Lying in bed, dressed in a hospital gown, awake. Alive.

  The knot in my chest unraveled all at once.

  —Zein! —His name left my lips before I could even think.

  I ran to him and, unable to hold back, threw myself onto his chest, wrapping him in a desperate, tight embrace, pouring into it everything I had held back for those two weeks. My tears fell freely, soaking his gown.

  —I’m so glad… so glad you woke up… —my voice trembled—. I was afraid that… that you wouldn’t open your eyes again… that… that I wouldn’t get to see you again…

  And then… I felt his arms wrap around me. His warmth. His heartbeat.

  —Sorry for worrying you —he murmured, his voice so soft… so warm, so gentle… so unmistakably his. A voice I hadn’t heard like that in so long.

  I couldn’t help but hold on tighter.

  —Don’t leave us again… don’t leave me alone… please… —I whispered, almost like a plea.

  We stayed like that. The world shrank, reduced to that embrace, to his breathing, to his presence.

  Until…

  —Ahem… —A deliberate cough interrupted the moment.

  I turned around and saw Miguel, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, with a smirk that was equal parts mischievous and amused.

  —Not sure if this is the right time —he quipped, teasingly.

  Heat rushed to my face in an instant.

  —S-shut up, Miguel! —I pulled away from Zein, feeling my cheeks burn. My heart pounded wildly, and not just from embarrassment.

  Soft laughter filled the room. Naoko, Sora… And Miguel, of course, had that annoying "gotcha" expression that always drove me crazy.

  I glanced at Zein from the corner of my eye… and he was smiling too. A genuine, peaceful smile. And that… that was worth more than anything.

  We spent a long time talking, all together. Zein looked different… more at ease, lighter, as if he had finally shed an unbearable weight.

  When the conversation shifted to Alexander, his expression darkened, and for a moment, I feared that light in his face would disappear. But after a long silence, he looked out the window… and smiled.

  —Alexander… always took care of all of us —he said, his voice soft but steady—. I don’t think he would want us to live this day with sorrow… but with gratitude.

  And in that smile, I saw Zein… I saw that boy who, despite all the pain, still had hope.

  And I felt… that we were finally coming home.

  —To be honest… I was conscious this whole time —Zein said, his voice gentle but weighted—. I just… couldn’t wake up. The exhaustion… and… in a way, I couldn’t bear his death.

  His gaze dropped, as if reliving that pain.

  —But… one day, I dreamed of him. I was able to talk to him… I don’t know if it was really Alexander, but… it felt like our last conversation. And that… calmed me, somehow.

  As he lifted his gaze, his eyes met ours. There was regret in them.

  —I’m sorry, guys… —his voice barely held together—. It was because of my recklessness… because of all my anger that…

  —No —I cut him off, firm—. Don’t apologize. None of this was your fault.

  Zein blinked, surprised, and his expression softened. A quiet sigh escaped his lips, as if releasing an invisible weight.

  We kept talking. For the first time in a long while, I felt that something… something was falling back into place. Like, little by little, our group was recovering that spark we had lost.

  Naoko laughed again, with that big, sincere smile of hers, the kind that was impossible not to catch. Miguel, with his usual laid-back attitude, was cracking jokes, and that teasing smirk I had missed so much lit up his face once more.

  Sora was chatting animatedly, while Nanao and Aiko giggled, their laughter spreading to everyone.

  Yes, there was an emptiness. A deep void that Alexander had left in our hearts. But… together… together we were filling it. We were a team. We were us.

  Between laughter and memories, we talked about everything that had happened.

  —Did you guys know the inhabitants of that planet turned out to be really friendly? —Sora said, excited—. Some of them even traveled to Earth.

  —Yeah —Naoko added—, a group for interplanetary cooperation was formed. Several colonies are working with us now.

  —Seems like Azariel has influence over many nearby systems —Miguel commented, leaning against the wall—. And thanks to that, several worlds reached out to Earth. In the end… something called the ‘Galactic Order’ was established.

  Zein listened intently, his gaze reflecting curiosity… and hope.

  Then, Naoko, in a more serious tone, broke the conversation:

  —Zein… can I ask you something?

  —Of course —he replied, turning toward her.

  —That thing we… we saw… —Naoko said, a hint of concern in her voice—. What was it? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to…

  Zein remained silent for a few seconds, his gaze darkening briefly before he let out a sigh.

  —It’s fine —he said—. To be honest… I don’t really know either. That thing… —he paused, as if searching for the right words—. It said something about… being the representation of my soul or something like that. But… I didn’t really understand much more.

  There was a moment of silence until a familiar voice spoke up with confidence:

  —Whatever it was —Miguel chimed in, a confident smile on his face—, we’ll make sure something like that never happens again.

  Zein looked at him, surprised… and then smiled.

  —Yeah… —he nodded—. Together.

  And so, between laughter, promises, and companionship, I felt that, at last… after so long… everything was starting to fall into place. As if, after the storm… the light had finally returned.

  The day slowly faded, and almost without realizing it, night had fallen. Time had flown by, but we knew we’d be back soon to visit Zein again.

  I was the last to leave the room. Just as I was about to step out the door, I heard his voice stop me:

  —Kiomi… —he said softly—. Thank you.

  I turned around, slightly surprised.

  —For what? —I asked, curious.

  —For being here… all these days. —His gaze was sincere, deep—. For talking to me… even when I couldn’t answer you.

  My eyes widened slightly. A warmth crept up my cheeks as I realized what his words meant. He… had been listening to me all this time.

  —Y-You’re welcome… —I murmured, my voice barely a whisper, overtaken by embarrassment.

  Zein smiled. A soft, calm smile—one I had rarely seen before… but one I would now treasure in my heart.

  As I stepped out of the hospital, the night unfolded above me, more beautiful than I ever remembered. The stars twinkled as if they were celebrating something. The whole world seemed brighter.

  Was it the night… or was it me?

  I didn’t know. Maybe… it was because I was happy.

  The year passed quickly. A year… of peace.

  The echoes of war seemed to have faded, replaced by something new: hope.

  Several nearby civilizations across the universe reached out to join the Galactic Order. A connected system of nations that, against all odds, brought peace to corners that had only ever known conflict.

  The only strange thing… was the silence.

  The EDI, that ever-present shadow, never launched an offensive. Just small defensive skirmishes from their outposts. No counterattacks, no significant retaliation. Just… silence.

  And so, in September of 2054, humanity achieved the unthinkable.

  A grand gala was held in Dubai: the Arab League was officially joining the New Republic, and for the first time in history…

  Humanity… was one.

  One world. One nation. One voice to represent Earth before the universe.

  The gala was… dazzling. Luxury, music, lights. A spectacle worthy of a historic moment. And yet, sometimes, it was hard to believe we were actually there.

  Zein, who had avoided these kinds of events ever since… Lyra, decided to attend. It was still a painful subject, yes, but… little by little, he seemed to be finding his way.

  And all of us went, together, as always.

  Sora, in particular, stood out. With his new look, he finally appeared in public without fear. No one recognized him as the man he once was…

  Now, he was no longer a conqueror.

  Now, he was… one of us.

  A member of our team.

  The party was a melting pot of cultures. Various beings from different planets filled the hall, some with extravagant appearances, others simply… strange. But that diversity, so vibrant and chaotic, was the very reflection of the new era we were building.

  Over the past year, interstellar travel had become more common. Soon, interplanetary tourism would be a part of daily life, and Earth, with its natural and cultural wealth, was set to become a coveted destination.

  But the illusion shattered in an instant.

  —Evacuate the premises! —a voice screamed, on the edge of panic.

  A council representative burst into the room, sweating and breathless:

  —The EDI is launching a massive attack on all Galactic Order systems… and every single one has fallen! Earth… is the last stronghold!

  The world… froze.

  For a brief moment, there was absolute silence… and then, chaos.

  Screams erupted. Governors were quickly escorted to safe shelters. Despite being the least technologically advanced civilization, Earth was the largest planet in the Order, making it easier to hide thousands of people.

  Zein didn’t hesitate.

  —Move, now! —he commanded, and in a flash of mana, his formal attire vanished, replaced by his combat armor.

  —Ugh… I couldn’t stand this dress any longer —I muttered, doing the same. In the blink of an eye, the elegant outfit was replaced by my battle gear.

  I had always loved this way of using mana. An instant wardrobe change… or the ability to summon any weapon or item stored in your essence. Practical… and stylish.

  But there was no time to think about that.

  A soldier intercepted us.

  —Follow me! There’s a freighter ready to take us. The enemy is descending in the north… and several EDI generals are already on the ground.

  Zein nodded, his gaze burning with determination.

  —Then… let’s go greet them.

  Our eyes met.

  And without saying a word, we knew.

  Together… until the end.