The battle was over. The grueling fights the heroes had endured, the stress and the events they had overcome over the past few weeks, had exhausted them tremendously — both mentally and physically — as if every atom of their being was crying out in pain.
Waking in a large hall that resembled an infirmary, Nozomi, after a full week of complete unconsciousness, slowly opened his eyes once more. His face showed the exhaustion he felt deeply, his features hollowed by forced rest. Furthermore, his body ached terribly, every movement a battle against pain.
But he had no time to take in the situation before he heard a voice coming from his right — a voice filled with relief and emotion.
"Nozomi! You're finally opening your eyes."
He saw Aria and Shinrei at his bedside, looking at him with eyes full of tears. And further along, in the two beds beside his, Kael and Harris — awake, watching him with a renewed intensity. Their faces were marked by wounds but lit up with joy.
Relief was clearly written across their faces, and a few tears fell. Aria in particular could not contain her emotions. She murmured between tears, her voice trembling. "We all survived. We're all back alive. I'm so relieved."
Shinrei rose from his chair, saying with urgency: "I'll go find the doctor and let her know."
He left immediately, his footsteps echoing through the white marble corridors.
With the fatigue and exhaustion, Nozomi felt he could barely move or speak, his body still too weak to obey his will. Nevertheless, he made the effort to sit up from his bed with Aria's help, his muscles trembling under the strain. He tried to speak, and in a weak, halting voice, he asked: "What happened?"
Aria decided to explain everything that had taken place after the battle. Following Nozomi and Nyx's victory over Draka, Nozomi had fallen unconscious and had been caught mid-air by Nyx, who had saved him from plummeting endlessly. A few minutes later, guards had arrived and brought them to the kingdom. The king had been kind enough to take care of them and take responsibility for their presence in the kingdom. After that, all five of them had received emergency treatment.
Nozomi, having lost consciousness, had been drained of all strength and his physical condition was deeply alarming — on the very edge of the point of no return. The same could be said for Kael and Harris. As for Kael, he had been pierced by claws that had needed to be quickly closed and carefully treated. Harris, meanwhile, had multiple broken ribs and bones, his muscles torn. Aria had simply been exhausted, having reached her absolute limits — she needed a great deal of rest to recover her strength. Finally, Shinrei, who had not participated directly in the combat, had come out of it luckier than his brothers and sister. However, he had a broken arm resulting from the tension that had unfolded during the negotiations with the king — a fine but painful fracture. Since the victory, a full week had passed.
Having received the explanations, Nozomi felt contradictory emotions battling within him. He was both relieved and happy that everything had ended well and that they were still alive — but sad and disheartened to see that his brothers and sister had been left in such a state.
After that, a white dragoness with azure eyes shimmering like crystals entered the hall, accompanied by Shinrei. She approached Nozomi's bed with grace and, with an air of relief, said to him: "I'm glad you've woken up. Your condition worried me enormously when you arrived."
She paused before continuing, her gaze gentle but professional. "Now that you're awake, I'll be able to treat you fully."
Nozomi, too tired to speak, said nothing and let her do what was needed. Suddenly, Nozomi began to float and white particles appeared all around him, glowing like miniature stars. He began to spiral upward and downward, faster and faster, creating a luminous whirlwind. After a few minutes, the particles faded and Nozomi was gently set back down on his bed.
He opened his eyes and sat up, his movements becoming more fluid. The fatigue and exhaustion he had felt just moments before had vanished as if by magic, and the pain throughout his body had disappeared with it. The dragoness had worked a miracle. He looked at her and said with gratitude: "Thank you..." His expression made it clear he did not know how to address her — a visible hesitation in his eyes.
She understood and told him with a warm smile: "You can call me Sylphine."
An expression of genuine gratitude appeared on Nozomi's face — sincere and deep.
After a few moments of exchange among the Yuutaka, Sylphine looked at Nozomi with a serious and concerned gaze and said to him: "Tell me, Nozomi — are you aware of the extent of the damage to your body?"
Nozomi shook his head to indicate that he was unaware of his body's suffering and its exact physical state.
With a grave look and a serious voice that resonated through the hall: "When you arrived, at first glance you seemed fine. But when I looked more closely, I was terrified. All of your aetherium veins were damaged — and unstable on top of that. A single destroyed aetherium vein and you could never heal it again. Fortunately, they were not damaged enough and I was able to treat them."
She paused, letting the weight of her words settle.
"But that was only the physical. Mentally, you were in very poor shape and suffering tremendously on the inside. I was able to ease your suffering, but there was a possibility you could have lost your mind — or never been the same as before. Fortunately, you managed to overcome that trial on your own."
Concern appeared on everyone's faces following the revelation of Nozomi's more-than-critical condition. A heavy silence fell over the room, each of them realizing just how close to the edge Nozomi had come.
"I have come to understand that you seek power and wish to grow stronger," Sylphine continued, her tone growing softer. "Let me give you a lesson, Nozomi."
She drew close and gently placed both her claws on Nozomi's forehead. And in a soft but grave voice: "Power is a desire and a possession that many living beings have sought since the dawn of time — perhaps even since the very beginning. But far too often, they are not prepared to bear the responsibility and the weight that power imposes. They end up destroyed and annihilated by the very thing they coveted."
She lowered her claw and turned her back, beginning to leave. "That is a lesson for all five of you. Be careful and stay rational if you do not wish to sink into the abyss. All five of you have talent and a great future ahead of you. So do not squander it because of emotions and futile desires."
They understood that, despite the somewhat harsh words, she genuinely cared for them and was warning them about what lay ahead. She then asked them in a gentle voice: "Come — the king has requested to see you once all five of you have recovered."
They rose and followed Sylphine toward the throne room, walking through the golden corridors of the castle. The massive door swung open, and Sylphine left them alone inside. There were no guards maintaining security. Only the Yuutaka and the king were present — a private meeting.
Once the king caught sight of them, he rose from his throne with dignity and approached them. His presence was imposing but benevolent. He spoke to them in a deep yet warm voice: "I have not yet introduced myself. Pleased to meet you — I am Aurion, King of the Dragons."
He paused, his golden eyes scanning them with respect. "First and foremost, I wish to thank you for what you have done for our world. You have saved us from certain destruction."
They thanked him for his words and for the care they had received. They were all in good spirits before the king — all except Shinrei, who remained silent, his eyes cast downward, his hands trembling slightly.
Aurion addressed Shinrei, his gaze growing more intense: "As was agreed, I kept my promise and brought you my aid. Now it is your turn to honor yours, Shinrei."
The others seemed confused and full of questions. Harris placed his hand on Shinrei's shoulder and asked him with concern: "Shinrei? What promise is he talking about? You haven't seemed right since we entered this hall."
Shinrei took a breath and tried to form a smile to reassure them — but it was a forced one. He stepped toward the king, saying, his voice wavering: "While you were away, a great deal happened — but to put it simply, I gave him my life so that he would agree to help us."
Expressions of terror and shock appeared on the faces of Kael, Aria, Harris, and Nozomi. Their eyes widened, the shock physically visible.
Understanding their reaction, Shinrei continued, trying to reassure them: "Don't worry about me. Since I managed to save you, everything will be fine."
Shinrei stood facing Aurion and took a step forward — but immediately, someone grabbed Shinrei's hand and pushed him back. Aria pulled him into her arms as if to protect him. Before them stood Harris, and further ahead, Kael and Nozomi side by side, standing straight and facing Aurion — their postures defensive and their gazes sharp, ready for a fight.
Kael murmured in a somewhat angry voice, his fists clenching: "As if it's possible we wouldn't worry. Idiot."
Nozomi took over and spoke aloud to Aurion, his voice resonating through the throne room: "Listen — we don't understand what's happening, let alone what was said. And it's true that we are grateful for everything you've done for us."
A moment passed, and as Aria, Harris, and Kael fixed Aurion with piercing, threatening stares, Nozomi continued in a serious and determined voice: "We will not stand by and let you harm our brother."
Silence rang through the hall — heavy and charged with electricity. Shinrei was moved by the devotion of his brothers and sister. His heart swelled with gratitude and fraternal love.
Aurion spoke to them in a calm and soothing voice, a slight smile appearing on his face: "You can stop glaring at me. I had no intention of doing anything to Shinrei."
No one fully understood the situation, but they chose to trust his words. Following that, Aurion recounted what had happened during the negotiation before adding: "Under normal circumstances, I would have taken your life — but you saved us from a great threat. Had the Vorthrax managed to escape, what would have followed was a war between our two peoples, which would have plunged our world into complete chaos."
Out of gratitude, Aurion had decided to spare them for their past crimes and to reward them generously. Shinrei's life was saved. Everyone leapt for joy and embraced one another, their arms filled with absolute relief. They thanked Aurion for his help and of course apologized for the damage, the chaos, and the grief their past actions had caused.
After a few moments, Aurion took on a serious air again and asked Nozomi in a grave voice: "I have a question for you. Are you the Elemental Master?"
Nozomi was surprised that the King of the Dragons knew of this identity and could see through him so easily. He nodded to confirm Aurion's suspicions and asked him how he had discovered it.
Aurion explained, his eyes shining with ancient memories: "During your battle, the aura and aetherium you radiated were identical to those of the Elemental Master. You may not know it, but the third Elemental Master by name grew up in this world alongside us dragons. The last time we saw an Elemental Master was one hundred and twenty-five years ago. Never did I believe I would live to see one again in our world."
With a stunned expression, Nozomi said, his heart quickening: "The third! So I am the fourth? But that means you know my powers."
Nozomi stepped forward and implored him urgently: "Please — train me and help me master my powers."
"You are mistaken, Nozomi Yuutaka. You are the fifth Elemental Master the world has known — not the fourth," said Aurion solemnly, gently correcting Nozomi. "In homage to the third, it would be an honor for us dragons to help you — fifth Elemental Master by name."
At once, Kael called out to Nozomi, concerned: "Wait!"
Once he had captured Nozomi's attention, he continued, his tone growing urgent: "It's been several months since we arrived here. It's time we found a way to get back home." He paused, the reality of the danger resurfacing. "There can't be much time left before Reimu invades the earth."
Aurion, having listened to Kael's words, said: "If you are looking for a portal to return home, we have one in our kingdom that you may use whenever you wish."
After a few moments of reflection, Nozomi turned to Kael and looked him straight in the eyes with a new clarity: "Listen — I know our time is limited, but surely we must have another week or two left. You saw the state we ended up in. We're not ready yet to face Reimu and his army."
His voice was calm but firm: "Remember what Sylphine told us."
Harris spoke up, rising to support Nozomi: "Nozomi is right. The key to our victory against Reimu is clearly Nozomi and his elemental power — that's the very reason we came here in the first place. But in his current state, he still doesn't have full control over his power and won't last long against Reimu and his strength."
Aria continued, adding with a gaze shining with strategic intelligence: "Now, Nozomi has the opportunity to train alongside the dragons who knew and shaped the third Elemental Master by name. This is the best instruction he can receive to prepare himself in the best possible way. And on our end, we'll be able to train alongside the dragons and grow stronger."
Shinrei addressed everyone with logic: "There must be about a month and a half left before Reimu invades the earth. So if we stay for three weeks, we should be back before he arrives."
Faced with the words and arguments of his brothers and sister, Kael resigned himself — seeing the wisdom in their words. He turned to Aurion to ask him a sincere favor, his voice respectful: "Your Majesty, would you be willing, over the three weeks that follow, to train and shape my family and me?"
"Of course — it is the least I can do for the saviors of our world and for the family of the Elemental Master," answered Aurion warmly.
Following this conversation heavy with consequence, the three weeks that followed were extremely demanding for the Yuutaka. They undertook a rigorous and grueling training regimen to prepare themselves in the best way possible for facing an entire army.
Their combat experience, their endurance, their techniques, their fighting style — on every front, they had improved enormously in just three weeks. The progress was exponential, forging increasingly formidable warriors. Nozomi, for his part, had received special training directly from Aurion, who had done his best to instruct him in mastering the five elements — no longer instinctively, but with complete control over his actions and thoughts.
Between training sessions, they spent time together over meals as they had at the beginning of their journey — talking, laughing, rediscovering a semblance of normalcy. Nozomi had been reunited with Nyx just after their conversation with the king. Nyx had been very worried and looked poorly, but the moment he saw that Nozomi was alright, his face lit up and he leapt onto Nozomi without hesitation, his wings beating joyfully. Nozomi staggered under the affectionate weight, laughing despite his tiredness, stroking the smooth scales of his friend. A warm reunion between two deeply close companions.
After that, Nozomi had introduced Nyx to his family in the castle gardens — a lush space with shimmering fountains and flowers that glowed beneath the sun of Drakaryon. Nyx had been cautious at first, wary of strangers, but his heart had quickly been won over. He had very swiftly gotten along well with the others.
The phenomenon that had occurred between Nozomi and Nyx — that superhuman synchronization and the green light — remained a mystery to them. Each evening, lying beneath the stars above the castle, Nozomi wondered what it meant and why he and Nyx shared such a profound connection. Aurion had promised to speak to them about it on the day of their departure, but not before. They had no choice but to wait and wonder.
The days during those three weeks were a symphony of contrasts. Between the intense training that pushed them to the limits of their abilities and the rides on the backs of majestic dragons through the skies of Drakaryon, they found a fragile equilibrium. Flying high above the world, they saw the landscape transformed by golden light — the craters of the battle becoming beautiful valleys, the shattered mountains standing proud once more.
Calm and serenity reigned despite the difficult weeks they had all endured. Each member of the group felt — without ever speaking of it openly — that these three weeks were a gift. A temporary, precarious gift — but a gift nonetheless.
Nyx stayed glued to Nozomi at every possible moment, refusing to stray far, his claws gripping gently whenever fear took hold. Aria and Sylphine spent hours together in the gardens, exchanging soothing words. Kael and Aurion worked side by side, the king sharing his secrets of power with the young warrior. Harris explored the sky with the winged dragons, discovering techniques he would bring home with him. And Shinrei, observing all of this, realized that they had found something precious in this world — not only strength, but precious moments they would never forget.
And then the day of departure arrived. Dawn broke over the castle. The moment to bid farewell to this peaceful daily life had come — a moment heavy with unspoken words, heavy with promises still to keep, heavy with the uncertainty of the future. But also heavy with the friendship forged through fire and suffering. They all gathered before the portal, waiting only for it to open.