The scene shifts to South Ryehem. After the intense battles and heavy losses on the battlefield, Shang, Ezabela, and Kazuki had finally returned to their homeland. The grand gates of the royal city stood tall and proud, the familiar sight of its bustling streets and watchful guards bringing a strange sense of calm.
Kazuki, for some reason, was smiling to himself as he made his way back to his chamber in the mansion. His expression held a quiet, almost mischievous contentment — though the reason behind that smile remained a mystery. It wasn't something for today's story, but a secret the future would one day reveal. (A thread that would find its place in Volume 2.)
Not long after, Kazuki found himself sitting with Isabela in one of the mansion's sunlit courtyards. The two exchanged stories of the battlefield, and Kazuki eagerly recounted how Shang had fought valiantly, standing tall even when the odds were stacked against them, and how Arthur, with his mastery of Spiritual Manipulation, had turned the tide in their favor countless times.
Ezabela, who had been silently enjoying a lavish meal at a nearby table, raised an eyebrow and spoke with a playful glare."Are you forgetting about me or what?"
Kazuki let out a short laugh, leaning back in his chair."How could I? It's just that your strength is so overwhelming it goes without saying."
Ezabela smirked and continued eating, satisfied with the response.
A little while later, Kazuki and Ezabela decided to visit the landlord of the town — Darius. Though Darius was still recovering from his injuries and illness, his residence remained as grand as ever. As they approached, Darius's loyal servants respectfully bowed, opening the gates to welcome them.
Stepping inside the quiet house, Kazuki was hit by a wave of nostalgia. His mind drifted to the past, when he was just five years old. It had been Darius who took him on the traditional kingdom tour — a rite of passage for all young royals in South Ryehem. He remembered riding alongside Darius on horseback, visiting the marketplaces, observing the bustling docks, and standing atop the royal walls to look out over the endless forests and fields beyond. Those memories felt distant now, but still dear.
Ezabela too found herself lost in her own recollections. She thought back to one of her earliest battles, years ago when she was young and inexperienced. In that moment of terror when enemy soldiers surrounded her, it had been Darius who intervened, cutting down foes and pulling her to safety. It was a debt she never forgot.
After a warm, if brief, conversation with the ailing Darius, Kazuki and Ezabela left his house, making sure to wish him a swift recovery.
As they returned to the mansion, another figure awaited them. It was Sazuki — Kazuki's elder brother and Ezabela's younger brother. A Knight of South Ryehem, Sazuki had received orders to report back to the military camps, but before departing, he had chosen to stop by the mansion to rest and see his family.
Sazuki, clad in the light armor of a traveling knight, stood by the entrance with a calm expression, his sword slung across his back.
Kazuki grinned as he saw him."I was wondering when you'd show up."
"I'm not staying long," Sazuki replied with a half-smile. "But I couldn't leave without seeing you both first."
The chapter would close on that quiet, familiar scene — old bonds rekindled, memories shared, and unspoken promises lingering in the air. The calm before the next storm.