The battlefield was quiet.
Too quiet.
Cassiel stood motionless, staring at Sebastian's lifeless body.
There was no triumph in his eyes.
Only something unfamiliar.
A tremor.
Diana approached from behind.
"My Lord?"
Cassiel didn't look at her.
"For the first time…" he said slowly, "I felt fear."
Diana's eyes widened.
"Fear?"
Cassiel clenched his fist slightly.
"He was dying… yet he did not break. Even at the edge of death… he was not afraid."
A pause.
"He scared me."
Without another word, Cassiel turned and walked away.
The Arrival
Footsteps.
Fast.
Desperate.
"Asher— wait!"
But Asher was already ahead of the others.
He saw him.
Sebastian.
Still.
Silent.
Gone.
"No…"
Asher's voice cracked.
He dropped to his knees beside him.
His hands trembled as he lifted Sebastian's head gently.
There was no warmth left.
Asher broke.
Tears streamed uncontrollably.
"You were there… even when I was at my weakest."
His voice shattered.
"In my hardest moments… you stood beside me."
A breath.
"In my best moments… you were there too."
His tears fell onto Sebastian's unmoving face.
"And most of all… you were a father to me."
Silence answered him.
Headquarters
Sebastian's body was carried back to WHU.
No one spoke.
Inside the headquarters—
People cried openly.
Soldiers. Analysts. Fighters.
Even the strongest among them could not hold it in.
Asher walked past them quietly.
He didn't stop.
He didn't look at anyone.
He climbed the stairs.
Slowly.
For someone who didn't know yet.
He stood before the door.
His hand hesitated.
Then he knocked.
"Come in."
He entered.
Ella was sitting on the bed.
Agatha in her arms.
She was smiling.
Playing softly with her daughter's tiny fingers.
For a moment—
Asher couldn't speak.
He looked down.
Then he forced the words out.
"Sebastian… didn't give up."
Ella's smile slowly faded.
"He fought until his last breath."
Silence.
"He did everything he could…"
Asher lowered his head.
"He passed away."
The words shattered the room.
At that exact moment—
Little Agatha began to cry.
Ella froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"No…"
She shook her head.
"No… no… no…"
She looked at Asher, tears already forming.
"That's not possible…"
Her voice broke into a scream.
"ASHER!"
She cried.
She cried until her body trembled.
Until her voice cracked.
Until the pain became too heavy for sound.
When would it end?
When would the suffering stop?
The Funeral
Rain fell from a gray sky.
Sebastian was buried with honor.
Everyone stood in silence.
No speeches could match what he was.
One by one, they left.
Until only Asher remained.
Rain soaked his hair.
His clothes.
His face.
He raised his hand slowly.
Closed it into a fist.
And whispered,
"We will avenge you, Sebastian."
Thunder rolled in the distance.
The Return
Back at headquarters—
The main hall was filled.
There was a presence in the room.
A man few had seen in years.
Henry Jones.
The head of WHU.
Asher hadn't seen him since his first day.
Henry stepped forward.
His voice was calm.
But heavy.
"I have known Sebastian since he was a child."
The room fell into complete silence.
"He grew up within these walls."
A faint smile crossed Henry's face.
"As a child… and as a man… he was extraordinary."
A pause.
"Even in his final moments… he thought of us."
Henry's voice deepened.
"He was not just a hero."
"He was a legend."
Silence filled the room like weight.
Then Henry continued.
"Before the battle began… he came to me."
Asher slowly lifted his head.
"He said—"
"If I fall… appoint Asher Ashborne as the new captain."
Asher's eyes widened.
Henry looked directly at him.
"He may be young."
"But without a doubt…"
"He will surpass even me."
The room was frozen.
All eyes turned to Asher.
Rain continued outside.
The era of Sebastian had ended.
A new one had just begun.