The journey back was a stark contrast to their first tense trek through Anandvana. This time, Nero drank in the scenery, savoring the unique flavors of street food and the vibrant colors of the markets. He wore an air of unshakable calm.
"You're being way too relaxed," Eri noted, raising an eyebrow as he bit into a spiced fruit skewer.
"I mean, why not?" he said with a contented sigh. "We achieved a stable Gate 5. That's a real, solid achievement. I feel... grounded."
"It took 170 days," Eri reminded him, her tone pragmatic. "That's not exactly a weekend."
Nero waved a dismissive hand. "Chill. It could have taken decades without proper guidance. We were lucky. So, let's enjoy the luck."
As dusk fell, they settled into a carriage for the night's travel. Mooai took the reins with Eri beside her, while Mani and Nero rested inside. The rhythmic clatter of hooves and the gentle rocking of the carriage lulled everyone into a drowsy peace.
Then, without warning, the carriage passed by the ruins of an ancient, overgrown temple.
A searing, white-hot pain lanced through Nero's skull. He gasped, his body seizing up as a flood of memories that were not his own crashed into his consciousness.
---
A Vision of the Past
He stood on a battlefield, the air thick with ozone and the coppery tang of blood. Before him, a lone warrior, clad in armor that echoed Anandvana's style but from a bygone era, stood defiant against a host of Gate Users. The warrior moved with a grace that made even Nero's skills seem clumsy, effortlessly dismantling his opponents.
"Huh! Is that all you've got?!" the warrior roared, his voice a thunderclap of righteous fury. "You monsters of greed! All you crave is power! And you, Bastard Aekai! I swear, today your head will roll!"
---
The vision shattered and reformed.
Now the same warrior was on his knees, his magnificent armor shattered, blood pouring from a dozen grievous wounds. He struggled to breathe, each inhalation a wet, painful rasp.
"You... are a coward," he spat, glaring at a smirking Aekai, who watched from a safe distance. "Using my own people as your shields... Why don't you face me? A fair fight! One on one!"
Aekai's laugh was a cold, cruel thing. "Everything is fair in war. And besides, your people betrayed you. What was I to do? Refuse their... generous offer?"
"They would NEVER betray me!" the warrior choked out, his body trembling with rage and agony. "You... you manipulated them..."
Aekai turned to his minions, his voice dripping with mock concern. "Oh dear, he's dead. Now, it's time to bring that Eternal Fragment to me."
"Lord Aekai," a minion stammered, "what's happening? The energy—"
Before the minion could finish, the fallen warrior slammed his hands onto the ground. A light, purer and more powerful than anything Nero had ever witnessed, erupted from his body. It expanded in an instant, forming a colossal, shimmering dome of energy that enveloped the entire continent of Anandvana, shielding it from the invaders.
The last thing Nero saw was Aekai, standing outside the barrier, his face contorted in pure, impotent rage. "YOU BAAAASTARD—!"
---
Nero snapped back to the present with a violent gasp. He was lying on the floor of the carriage, which had come to a stop. The air crackled with unstable energy. Outside, he could see Mani and Mooai, their faces strained as they maintained a combined barrier around the vehicle. The landscape around them was scorched and torn, clear evidence of a massive, uncontrolled power surge.
Mani saw him stir and let out a relieved sigh, sweat beading on his forehead. "Oh, you're back to your senses!"
Nero's eyes met Mooai's. Her expression was a storm of fury, her hand gripping the hilt of her sword so tightly her knuckles were white. He could feel the killing intent rolling off her in waves.
"Wait! I can explain!" Nero pleaded, holding up his hands. "It was a vision! A memory, not mine!"
After a tense moment and a lot of frantic explaining, Mooai reluctantly sheathed her sword, though her glare promised severe consequences if it happened again.
---
The Last Goodbye
They finally reached the outskirts of the fallen village. The moment they arrived, the children ran to greet Nero, their faces bright with joy. Takuseki watched from a distance, his expression unreadable.
Once they had a moment of privacy, Takuseki's calm facade broke. "So, you are leaving for real?" he asked, his voice low and angry. "But you promised me! What about Anandvana? What about the destruction you saw?!"
Nero leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Look, I'm not really leaving. This is just to cheat the contract with Mooai."
Takuseki's anger was replaced by confusion. "What?"
"According to the soul contract, I have to leave after my learning is complete," Nero explained, a sly grin on his face. "But there's nothing in the fine print about not coming back. It doesn't specify a one-way trip. So, I'll exit, turn right around, and re-enter. Easy."
A slow smile spread across Takuseki's weathered face. "Ohh, that's how it is. Clever. Then, no problem."
---
A Parting Gift
Standing at the border of Anandvana, Nero created a shimmering portal. He turned to Mooai, his usual levity gone, replaced by a rare seriousness.
"Okay, I'm leaving," he said. "But before I go, I need one last, honest answer from your heart. Will you and the legends of this land truly be able to handle the crisis that's coming?"
Mooai stood tall, her confidence unwavering. "You are talking about the Gate Users after the Eternal Fragment? Do not worry. Up to Gate 5, the masters and legends of this country are more than capable. And masters like the Ancient Lord can even handle Gate 6. Rest assured, we are far more capable than you think."
Nero studied her for a long moment, the image of the fallen guardian from his vision flashing in his mind. Her confidence was admirable, but was it enough?
"Is that so?" he said softly. "Well, still... take this."
He tossed her a small, smooth stone that glowed with a soft, internal light.
Mani leaned in, curious. "A summoning stone?"
Nero nodded, his gaze firm. "You can call me whenever you want my help. No matter where I am."
With that final offer hanging in the air, he gave a two-fingered salute, turned, and stepped through the portal with Eri, leaving the beautiful, doomed land of Anandvana behind—but not for long.