"'Hello, Eiden.
I've heard you returned. Not only that, but I am also hearing that two more members of the Ten Celestials died. And I suspect you are most definitely the one responsible.'"
He paused briefly, then continued.
"'I write this letter because I heard the bodies of both Solmara and Kharos were found in the exact area of Vaelus's cottage. I still assume you killed them, but it's not confirmed yet.'"
Vaelus smirked faintly at the mention of his cottage.
"'And if you did, then you most definitely met up with Vaelus. He probably informed you how Seraphaine was attacked by the Ten Celestials.'"
Iris's breath hitched.
She tilted her head down, closing her eyes.
Is she ok?
She had asked herself...
It was silent for a second.
The sound of the wind wooshing wandered into the room.
Nobody made a sound.
Until Eiden spoke again.
"'Just know she is safe. I saved her. She is currently with us. With me, and Dravien.'"
Vaelus's shoulders loosened.
A small, proud grin tugged at his lips.
I knew it… I knew Morvath had her…
Eiden continued.
"'Currently, we lie in my mansion—yes, I have multiple. But since I write this with ink, I can't get rid of that. So to make it clear, we lie in my mansion, the one behind the invisible barrier. If you don't remember, find and ask Selyndra. She knows.'"
Selyndra didn't turn around, but her eyes narrowed slightly.
"'I hope you get this letter and get a chance to read it.
Please come to us.
We've missed you.
—Morvath.'"
Eiden lowered the letter.
Silence stretched again.
Selyndra stared up at the ceiling, thoughts racing like wildfire.
Iris and Vaelus had their own quiet storms of relief.
Seraphaine… she's alive… she's safe…
Iris's heart fluttered, a soft warmth blooming in her chest.
Vaelus leaned back against the wall, arms crossed.
Morvath saved her. I knew it. I freaking knew it, he muttered under his breath, barely audible.
The room was quiet.
Very quiet.
Eiden finally looked toward Selyndra.
Before he could speak, Dyuke broke the silence.
"Eiden," he said, straightening his posture, "there is one last thing I must say, and then I'll be out of your hair."
Eiden turned his head toward him.
"Go on."
Dyuke exhaled, long and tired.
"As Zanders said… word of your return spread quickly. The world knows you're alive again."
He paused, clicking his tongue in irritation.
"Your mother figured out you were staying here. But since she didn't want to send the letter through someone weak, she sent it to me three days ago. That's why I came to this kingdom in the first place."
Dyuke unhooked his grimoire from his waist and placed it on the table, opened a page, and pulled out a white envelope sealed with white wax.
He placed it on the table and slid it toward Eiden.
Eiden caught it mid‑slide with smooth precision and lifted it to eye level.
"Should I open it—?"
Selyndra groaned loudly, tilting her head back.
"Well obviously! Jeez."
Eiden nodded, channeling aura to his fingertip, shaping it into a blade.
He sliced the seal cleanly, dispelled the aura, and pulled the letter free.
The white envelope joined the black one across the table.
He read silently for a moment… then spoke.
"'Hello, Eiden.
It's me, your mother.
I write this letter because after hearing about your return, I was actually happy… and smiled for the first time in a long while.'"
Eiden stopped.
He blinked.
His mother never smiled.
Not at him.
Not at anyone.
She was harsh, cold, disappointed in weakness — always.
His eyes softened.
A small, involuntary smile tugged at his lips.
He continued.
"'Over the many years, I wanted to check on you. But you traveled constantly with the Great Sages, never staying in one place long enough for me to find you.
And I know you have many enemies — enemies far stronger than Uzak'me — so I want you to come to the village soon.'"
Eiden's grip tightened slightly.
"'You may be strong, but you might not be strong enough.
I want to give you something that will help you — something you left behind many years ago.'"
Selyndra's eyes flicked toward him, curious.
Eiden kept reading.
"'To be clear: I want to give you the other two swords you left here. The two swords you said made you 'too strong" for your enemies.'"
Vaelus raised an eyebrow.
Iris leaned forward slightly.
Eiden's expression darkened with memory.
He continued.
"'But look what happened.
You died.'"
The room tensed.
"'And why did you die?
Because the three swords you wielded were bound to you.
You poured enormous amounts of your mana — your soul — into two of them.
Leaving them here weakened you.
You fought Uzak'me with only the sword that held the smallest fraction of your mana.'"
Selyndra's eyes widened slightly.
Iris covered her mouth.
Vaelus muttered, "Damn…"
Eiden swallowed.
"'You died because you were not at your full potential.
You are an idiot, Eiden.
A real dumbass.'"
Eiden went silent for a moment, eyes tracing the last lines again before he continued reading aloud.
"'So, please come to the village.
I miss you. Your people miss you.
We haven't seen you in over fourteen decades.'"
His voice softened as he read, the room holding its breath.
"'I don't want you going anywhere else but here.
I don't want you fighting anyone else until you get these swords.'"
Selyndra's eyes flicked toward him, a faint tension forming in her jaw.
Eiden swallowed and kept reading.
"'I don't want my son to be found by one of the many, many powerful enemies you have.
But of all of them…
I don't want you fighting someone as powerful as Civilar.'"
The name hit the room like a cold wind.
Eiden's expression shifted — a mix of surprise, confusion, and something almost like guilt.
He read the final line.
"'So please… come home.
—Your mother.'"
He lowered the letter slowly.
The silence that followed was different from the others — heavier, deeper, almost sacred.
No one dared speak.
Not after hearing that from her.
Selyndra's gaze dropped from the ceiling, her expression unreadable.
Iris pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the weight of a mother's fear.
Vaelus looked away, jaw tight, suddenly unsure what to do with the strange ache in his chest.
Dyuke simply watched Eiden — studying the shift in his aura, the quiet storm forming behind his eyes.
Eiden sat there, the letter resting in his hands, his mother's words echoing through him.
Come home.
For the first time in a long time…
He didn't know what to say.