The hidden chamber no longer felt the same.
What once felt mysterious… now felt heavy with truth.
Aerion stood still for a moment, the book "Egg of Calamity" resting firmly in his hands. The faint glow it once carried had completely faded, as if it had said everything it needed to—for now.
Lyria watched him quietly.
"…You're keeping it, right?" she asked.
Aerion glanced at her.
"…Yeah."
There was no hesitation in his voice this time.
He closed the book slowly, almost carefully, as if it wasn't just an object—but something alive… something watching.
"This isn't something we leave behind."
Lyria nodded.
"I wasn't planning to let you."
A small pause followed.
Then she added, with a slight smirk—
"Also, after everything we just went through, I'm not trusting some random hidden room with this level of danger."
Aerion let out a faint breath that almost resembled a chuckle.
"…Fair."
He tucked the book securely inside his cloak, adjusting it so it wouldn't fall or shift.
For a moment—
Both of them looked toward the entrance of the chamber.
Toward the egg.
Silent.
Still.
Waiting.
Lyria crossed her arms lightly.
"…You know, everything we just read—Primordials, calamities, successors…"
She exhaled.
"…and now that thing is sitting in a library like it's normal."
Aerion followed her gaze.
"…Nothing about this is normal anymore."
She didn't argue.
Because deep down—
She agreed.
They stepped out of the hidden chamber.
The library looked the same as before.
Quiet.
Dusty.
Unaware of the truth hidden just behind its walls.
The egg rested where they had left it, faint golden patterns still glowing softly across its surface.
Lyria walked closer to it, studying it again.
"…It looks so calm."
Aerion stood beside her.
"…Yeah."
"But now we know what it really is."
He didn't respond.
Because his thoughts had shifted.
Not fear.
Not confusion.
But responsibility.
After a moment, he carefully picked up the egg again, holding it just as protectively as before.
Lyria noticed.
"…You're already acting like it's yours."
Aerion glanced at her.
"…It is."
She raised an eyebrow.
"That confident?"
He shrugged slightly.
"It chose me, remember?"
She smirked.
"Right… the egg 'found you.'"
There was a teasing tone in her voice now.
Aerion narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Maybe a little."
He sighed softly.
"…Of course you are."
They left the building shortly after.
The outside world felt strangely normal.
The sky was clear.
The city moved as usual.
People walked, talked, laughed—completely unaware that something capable of changing the world was being carried right past them.
Lyria stretched her arms slightly as they stepped into the open.
"…You know what's funny?"
Aerion glanced at her.
"What?"
She pointed casually at the egg.
"We're just walking around with something that could probably start another 'Fire Moon' incident."
Aerion didn't even blink.
"…Don't say that."
She grinned.
"What? It's true."
"…Not helping."
She laughed softly.
The tension between them—after everything—finally began to ease.
The walk back toward the palace felt… lighter.
Not because their situation had improved.
But because they were together.
And somehow—
That made it manageable.
At one point, Lyria walked slightly ahead, turning around to face him while walking backward.
"So…"
Aerion raised a brow.
"That's never a good start."
She ignored that.
"If you're the 'successor of the Sun Primordial'…"
He sighed.
"…Don't start."
"I'm just asking."
"No, you're about to make fun of me."
She smiled innocently.
"Maybe."
Aerion shook his head slightly.
"…Go ahead."
Lyria placed a hand dramatically over her chest.
"Oh great Sun Apostle—"
"…Lyria."
"—when your powers awaken, will you start glowing all the time?"
Aerion stared at her.
"…I'm going to pretend you didn't just say that."
She laughed.
"I'm serious!"
"You don't sound serious."
"What if you accidentally set things on fire?"
"I won't."
"What if you do?"
"I won't."
"What if you sneeze and the palace burns?"
"…That's not how it works."
She tilted her head.
"You don't know that."
He paused.
"…Okay, fair."
She grinned triumphantly.
"See?"
Aerion shook his head again, but this time—
There was a faint smile.
As they reached closer to the palace gates, the guards immediately straightened.
"Princess Lyria."
Their eyes briefly flickered toward Aerion—
Then to the egg.
They froze.
"…Should we be concerned?" one of them asked carefully.
Lyria didn't even hesitate.
"No."
A short pause.
Then she added casually—
"It's just an egg."
The guard blinked.
"…That big?"
Aerion stepped forward calmly.
"Don't worry about it."
The guards exchanged looks.
Clearly confused.
But they didn't question further.
"…As you say."
Once inside the palace—
Things didn't get any less awkward.
Servants noticed.
Whispers started.
"Is that… an egg?"
"Why is it glowing?"
"Is it safe?"
Lyria leaned slightly toward Aerion as they walked.
"You're attracting attention."
He sighed.
"…I noticed."
"Maybe hide it?"
"…It's too big to hide."
"Then carry it less suspiciously."
"…How do you casually carry a giant glowing egg?"
She paused.
"…Good point."
Eventually, they reached a quieter section of the palace.
The inner garden.
The same place where things had felt normal just a day ago.
Lyria sat down on a bench, watching as Aerion carefully placed the egg beside him.
"…We need a plan," she said.
Aerion nodded.
"…Yeah."
"But for now…"
She leaned back slightly.
"…Let's just breathe."
He glanced at her.
"…You're surprisingly calm."
She smiled faintly.
"I'm choosing to be."
A small silence followed.
Peaceful.
Real.
Then—
Lyria suddenly leaned forward, staring at the egg again.
"…You know…"
Aerion looked at her.
"What?"
She tapped the surface of the egg lightly.
"…What if it hatches and hates you?"
Aerion blinked.
"…Why would it hate me?"
"I don't know. What if it comes out and is like—'I didn't choose you.'"
"…That's not how this works."
"You don't know that."
"…You said that already."
She laughed.
"And it worked the first time."
He sighed.
"…You're impossible."
She grinned.
"Yet you're still here."
A pause.
Then—
"…Yeah."
The sun slowly began to set.
Golden light filled the garden.
The same color as the faint glow on the egg.
Aerion leaned back slightly, his eyes on the sky.
"…Everything changed today."
Lyria didn't deny it.
"…Yeah."
"But…"
She looked at him.
"…We're still the same."
He glanced at her.
"…Are we?"
She smiled softly.
"Of course."
A small silence followed.
Then she added—
"You're still the same Aerion who gets serious too fast."
"And you're still the same Lyria who doesn't take anything seriously enough."
She smirked.
"Balance."
He almost laughed.
The egg pulsed faintly beside them.
Quiet.
Waiting.
And for now—
So were they.
Not afraid.
Not running.
Just… preparing.
Together.