Vaelus let out an extremely heavy sigh.
"Finally…" he said as he sheathed his blade.
Eiden eyed him.
"You say that like you did anything to help. For someone who's usually very eager to fight, you sure liked missing out on at least trying to kill a Celestial."
"W‑well I mean, they saw you as a higher threat and acknowledged you instead of us, so we just thought we'd sit out?" Vaelus scratched his hair with a smug smirk.
"Hmph. I guess you're right about that, so I won't criticize the both of you for not helping. But I must ask, are either of you wounded?"
Iris brushed her palm along her body.
"Nothing."
Vaelus shrugged.
"I don't feel like checking, but if I do have any, I'll be fine."
Eiden shook his head.
"Whatever. If you end up collapsing from a fatal wound you didn't know you had, that's on you."
Vaelus continued grinning with his sharp teeth.
"We should get out of here," Eiden said.
Iris looked around…
Barely a tree in sight.
Not a single plant or root.
Just dirt… and the two dead Celestials whose bodies no longer resembled bodies at all.
"I know someone we can go to. C'mon," Eiden said as he walked toward the empty horizon.
Hours passed.
Then more.
Until finally, trees.
The forest surrounded them gently, like the world was trying to heal itself.
Packs of bunnies scrambled at their movement.
Fireflies drifted through the air, glowing softly.
The night was quiet.
Until Eiden spoke.
"Iris."
She looked over, her voice soft.
"Yes?"
"I originally came to find you through Vaelus. And now that I have, I must ask you to stop something I'm hearing you're doing."
Iris raised an eyebrow.
"And that is?"
Eiden shifted his gaze from the trees to her eyes.
"I need you to stop killing those 12‑tailed wolves."
"But why?" Iris asked.
"On my journey, I met Bengie, a black dragon. He helped me get shelter. He led me to the Redcrest Clan to retrieve my body and equipment. In return, I told him I'd talk with you about stopping your hunt on the 12‑tailed wolves, the wolves his people feed on for strength."
Iris scoffed.
"Are you serious? The 12‑tailed wolves are a danger to the world. They're the second deadliest beasts alive. They reproduce twelve wolves every twelve days. There could be ten thousand by now. And they're immortal. They age differently... newborns for a month, full adults the next, already mastering psychic abilities."
She sighed, ticking her tongue.
Vaelus spoke next.
"We've seen what powerful creatures do when they reproduce unchecked. They use their numbers to cause havoc. You of all people should understand... the Angel King did the same. Thirty to thirty‑six thousand new angels a year. Same aging pattern. And their light magic surpassed the founder of light magic. We watched that founder die fighting them."
Eiden nodded.
"I get what you mean. But the 12‑tailed wolves stay in the Blue Forest. They don't spread. If they wanted to wage war, they would've left long ago. They haven't. They only defend themselves."
Iris looked down, stepping on leaves.
"…I guess you're right... Fine. I'll stop. I'll trust your judgment."
Eiden cast a soft smile at her before looking ahead.
They walked for another hour.
Then another.
Until they reached a dirt road.
And in the distance.
A kingdom.
A massive one.
"Looks like we found the Zanders Kingdom," Vaelus said.
Eiden raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
Iris chuckled. "The Zanders Kingdom. A new hand of power. King Zanders built it eight years ago. He's one of the 5 Powerful Kings."
Eiden nodded slowly.
Interesting…
"Maybe we should stay there. It's best if Eiden uses their library-"
"Library?" Eiden interrupted, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Yes," Vaelus sighed. "Their library. You can learn what happened these past nineteen years."
"Yes. That's best. And now."
Eiden quickened his pace toward the kingdom.
Iris and Vaelus hurried to keep up.
"You sure love libraries," Iris said.
"Of course I do. They always contain interesting books," Eiden replied with a soft smile.
The gates towered above them, carved with swirling runes and reinforced with shimmering barrier magic. Two lines of armored knights stood guard, their armor polished to a mirror shine.
As Eiden, Iris, and Vaelus approached, the guards stiffened-
not in hostility,
but in awe.
The gates opened.
Inside, the kingdom was alive.
Wealthy nobles in embroidered robes strolled the marble streets.
Mages practiced spells in open courtyards.
Knights marched in formation, armor clanking rhythmically.
Children ran between fountains, laughing.
Merchants shouted prices for potions, enchanted items, rare fruits, and glowing crystals.
Buildings rose tall and wide, nearly the size of castles themselves.
And in the distance.
A massive bridge stretched across a circular lake.
At the center of the water stood a raised island.
And on that island...
A castle.
White stone.
Gold trim.
Blue banners.
Towers spiraling into the sky.
A masterpiece.
As they walked deeper into the kingdom, something shifted.
People began whispering.
Pointing.
Staring.
Not at Iris.
Not at Vaelus.
At Eiden.
And then.
A man turned the corner.
Tall.
Regal.
Wearing a long navy coat lined with silver.
A crown of white metal rested on his head, glinting under the sunlight.
Beside him walked a female elf with long, flowing blond hair, Golden yellow eyes that shimmered like polished amber, light brown skin smooth as marble, a white dress that moved like woven moonlight, a slender sword strapped to her thigh, and a presence so serene she looked sculpted by the gods themselves
She didn't look mortal.
She looked divine.
King Zanders.
He was mid‑conversation with her,
until he saw Eiden.
He froze.
His eyes widened.
Then.
He ran.
Not walked.
Not approached calmly.
He ran toward them, disbelief and excitement flooding his face.
Because he recognized them.
All three of them.
From his textbooks.
From ancient records.
From legends.
The First Divinity.
The Bloodmage.
The Chronomage.
Standing in his kingdom.
Alive.
"By the gods! I never thought I'd live to see The First Divinity in my kingdom!"
Zanders shouted, voice cracking with awe.
Mages in their thirties and forties stopped walking.
Elders paused mid‑step, clutching their partners' arms.
Nobles froze, their laughter dying instantly.
The entire kingdom went silent.
"By the gods! It's truly him! He's come back!" cried a female noble.
Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees, clutching the pearls around her neck.
Her friends knelt beside her, lifting her by the arms.
"Get up, Juliett, you're making yourself look like a damn fool," one of them hissed.
Zanders stood there, breathless, staring at Eiden.
Until the female elf beside him stepped forward.
She walked with a grace that made the air itself seem to part for her.
She stopped directly in front of Eiden.
Her golden eyes softened.
"It's been a while, Eiden."
A while?
Iris and Vaelus exchanged glances.
Then looked at Eiden,
who didn't seem surprised at all.
"Eiden… do you know this woman?" Iris asked.
"You two should know who this is," Eiden replied calmly.
Vaelus blinked.
Iris blinked.
Both confused.
Eiden's voice was steady.
"It's nice to see you, too, Selyndra."
Iris and Vaelus's eyes widened.
THIS was Selyndra?
No…
It couldn't be.
This was the same Selyndra who once had bright white skin, black hair, and dark blue eyes?
The same Selyndra who killed for fun and was always found on battlefields surrounded by bodies?
The same Selyndra who cast dangerous spells on people and killed them simply for talking too much?
The same Selyndra who cast curses on commoners for begging her for food?
The same Selyndra who had an evil glare in her eyes??
They both thought the same thing.
There's no way.
Vaelus snickered.
"Yeah, no way this is Selyndra."
Selyndra lifted a hand, gently tucking her hair behind her ear.
She covered her mouth as she let out a soft, elegant chuckle.
"I promise you," she said, voice like warm sunlight,
"It's me."
She stepped back slightly, her golden aura shimmering faintly.
"Selyndra, The Golden Sage."