Night eventually settled over the mansion. The living room glowed softly with warm lantern light. Everyone sat comfortably on the massive crescent couch, wrapped in blankets, steam rising from their cups of tea. Outside, the hidden sanctuary was silent, only the faint hum of the barrier could be heard.
Eiden had just finished explaining everything he had done over the past months, the villages, the spells, the reincarnation, the new grimoire, the battles, the growth.
Morvath leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes narrowed with curiosity.
"Ah, so now you can create things. And you have also done something else… I can sense it, but I cannot tell what. Other than remaking your grimoire and everything, I feel like you did something to your swords. Your whole outfit. Your gloves, cloak, robe, everything." He squinted. "Did you do something you did not tell us about?"
Eiden exhaled softly.
"Hmph. Actually, yes."
Everyone leaned in.
"For my entire outfit and gear," Eiden began, "I bound it to my soul. So if I ever reincarnate again, I will reincarnate with my gear already on me. I will not be a child or a baby anymore. I will return at the same age, same body, same strength. Almost like respawning somewhere."
Dravien's ears perked up.
Seraphaine's eyes widened.
Vaelus nearly choked on his tea.
Eiden continued calmly.
"I also recreated my outfit so nothing can phase through it. Even if someone rearranged atoms or particles, it would not matter. My cloak, boots, gloves, all of it. They cannot be destroyed. I could use my cloak as an unbreakable shield if I wanted."
He tapped the grimoire at his waist.
"My grimoire is the same. Indestructible. And I can teleport it to a dimension I created, one only I can access. I can think of any item inside that dimension and summon it instantly."
He rested a hand on one of his blades.
"As for my swords… I recreated them too. They are indestructible. They can cut through anything, even abilities, without needing magic. They can dispel spells, slice through barriers, and ignore all forms of resistance."
Silence fell.
Not fearful silence.
Not shocked silence.
Reverent silence.
The kind only the Sages shared when one of their own ascended to a new level.
Morvath let out a low whistle.
Seraphaine covered her mouth.
Dravien's tail swayed wildly.
Iris stared like she was seeing Eiden for the first time.
Selyndra smirked knowingly.
Vaelus leaned back, wide eyed.
Eiden sat calmly, sipping his tea.
The room felt warm.
Safe.
Whole.
For the first time in nineteen years, the Seven Great Sages sat together again, and one of them had become something far beyond what he once was.
Midnight settled softly over the mansion.
Selyndra had fallen asleep first, knees tucked up on the couch, the rest of her curled comfortably against Eiden's left shoulder. On his right, Vaelus slept with his mouth slightly open, hair a wild mess, leaning heavily into him. Eiden sat perfectly still, posture steady and unmoving, making sure neither of them slipped off.
At the far end of the couch, Iris and Dravien slept tangled together, Iris hugging him like a plush doll while Dravien's face was completely smothered in her chest, his ears twitching helplessly with every breath.
Across from them, Morvath sat in a large chair, elbows on his knees, watching the scene with a slow, thoughtful exhale.
"Eiden," he murmured, voice low so he wouldn't wake the others, "something has changed about you indeed… a lot, actually."
His eyes drifted to Selyndra and Vaelus resting against Eiden.
"This is my first time seeing you let anyone sleep on you. It's like you don't mind."
He paused, rubbing his chin.
"And… I also wondered…"
He squinted.
"Are you three like… something?"
Eiden blinked once.
"No, we aren't. Why do you ask?"
Morvath leaned back, smirking.
"Hmmm. Because this is new to me. I've never seen you allow someone to sleep on you. Do you like one of them, perhaps?"
Eiden looked down at Selyndra.
Then at Vaelus.
Then back at Morvath.
"Well… not exactly," he said softly.
Morvath's eyebrows rose.
"Ohhhh hohhh. Interesting."
He leaned forward again.
"Well, could you see yourself in a relationship with one of them?"
Eiden turned his head again, taking in Selyndra's peaceful breathing and Vaelus's messy hair brushing his shoulder, then looked back at Morvath.
"They're both good people… I guess I could."
"Hmph." Morvath lowered his hand, a small smile forming.
"If you aren't sure, spend more time with them. You'll figure it out."
"Hm… I guess I'll do that," Eiden replied.
"Good," Morvath said, nodding once.
Silence settled again, warm, quiet, safe.
Then Eiden spoke, voice low.
"Morvath. I need you and the others to help me find the remaining four enemies. I must take them down… but if I leave those close to me, they might die to one of them."
Morvath's expression softened.
"Of course," he said. "We'll help you find them. And we'll take small adventures along the way. And we'll help you find the Grimoire of Divinark."
He leaned back, eyes warm.
"Because you, Eiden… have helped us more than anyone else in our lives. Because of you, I mastered black magic. You taught me, Selyndra, and Vaelus how to swing a blade. You taught Vaelus the basics of time magic, which he mastered on his own. You helped Dravien master control magic. You helped Iris master blood magic. You helped Seraphaine learn light magic. You and Selyndra taught us how to fight, how to conceal our aura."
He gestured gently toward the sleeping group.
"Because of you, every one of us accomplished something. Without you, we wouldn't be who we are. So now it's time we repay you by helping you find the Grimoire of Divinark."
Eiden's eyes softened.
"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you so much."
Morning sunlight spilled softly through the window.
Vaelus woke in a neatly made bed on the second floor, the sheets warm, the air quiet. His green robe was folded on a small table beside his curved sword and boots. He blinked, then looked down at himself.
He was wearing a long shirt and pants, both clearly too big for him.
He tugged the collar, brought it to his nose, and inhaled.
"Hmph. I knew it," he muttered, recognizing Eiden's scent instantly.
He looked out the window.
Deer rested peacefully in a patch of grass, sunlight warming their backs.
The world felt calm, almost unreal.
After changing into his robe, he headed downstairs.
The living room was empty.
The kitchen was empty.
The halls were silent.
He stepped outside into the backyard.
There they all were.
Eiden sat in the sun, reading his grimoire, eyes calm and focused as endless spells and knowledge shifted across the pages.
Selyndra, Iris, and Seraphaine sat in a small circle, sharing cherries, strawberries, and blueberries from a silver plate, giggling softly as they talked.
Dravien and Morvath sat on the grass with sketchbooks, each holding a drawing of the other.
"Hmmmm…" Morvath said, studying Dravien's drawing.
"Hmmmm…" Dravien echoed, ears twitching, tail flicking with irritation as he examined Morvath's.
"This drawing sucks!" Dravien declared, tossing it back.
"What? My drawing looks way better than yours!" Morvath snapped, throwing Dravien's drawing back at him.
"Nuh uh."
"Yuh huh."
Selyndra rolled her eyes.
"Children," she muttered, though she and the other two burst into giggles, hands over their mouths as they rocked back and forth.
Dravien's ears perked up suddenly.
"He's finally awake!"
Everyone turned toward Vaelus.
"Good morning," Iris said cheerfully, followed by a chorus of greetings.
"Morning," Vaelus replied, scanning for a place to sit, then naturally gravitating toward Eiden.
He sat beside him.
"Morning, Eiden."
Eiden closed his grimoire and looked at him.
"Morning. You sleep well?"
"Yeah, I did. And I wanted to thank you for the clothes."
"Of course."
Silence settled between them, not awkward, just quiet and warm.
Eiden reopened his grimoire.
Vaelus leaned in, reading over his shoulder.
"I don't get this stuff. What is Fwu'za? These words are so different I can barely read them."
"It's a spell that projects an ice beam," Eiden explained. "Freezes anything it touches below zero. Kinda cool, right?"
"Yeah, it is," Vaelus said, glancing at the grimoire, then at Eiden's calm face as he flipped to another page.
"Alright, guys!" Morvath announced, standing up. "Today is the day we head out. And the day we go on an adventure to help Eiden find the remaining four of his greatest enemies."
"Could you not with the loudness? It's still morning," Selyndra groaned.
"Ooouuu, an adventure? I'm ready," Iris said, eyes bright.
Eiden closed his grimoire and strapped it to his waist.
"When are we going?"
"Now," Morvath said. "So everyone, come on."
He marched off around the mansion, Dravien skipping behind him.
Selyndra stood, brushing her long blond hair with her fingers, adjusting her dress and checking her sword.
"Alright, I guess we're moving."
Iris and Seraphaine followed.
Vaelus stood and looked back at Eiden.
"C'mon."
Eiden rose, and the two walked side by side, following the others into the start of their next journey.