When the gilded gates of the kingdom opened, there was silence inside.
Zero and Lyria walked in slowly. Although their tiredness was obvious, their faces held a deep calmness.
The grand dining hall of the palace was illuminated by crystal chandeliers.
Silver plates, hot food, shining goblets… But more powerful than anything were the eyes sitting at the table.
The king sat solemnly in the seat of honor.
Around him were five princesses: Venya, Aurora, Ignis, Volt, and Nxy.
Each of them looked at Zero with different emotions—some curious, some admiring, some suspicious.
Lyria nodded slightly as she took her place.
Zero looked into the king's eyes and bowed briefly.
"We survived the attack. But this is only the beginning."
The king nodded.
"I trust you and your powers. But the shadows are growing, Zero."
Venya took a delicate bite before speaking:
"The curse within you… is it really under your control?"
Zero narrowed his eyes.
"Maybe not. But now I am inside it. We are walking together."
Volt laughed softly.
"Instead of philosophical answers… would you like to fight us one-on-one one day?"
Lyria interjected, smiling:
"Zero still hasn't recovered from the last battle. A little patience."
Ignis raised his glass.
"Zero's survival is not just about his ice power, but something else inside him… Luck? Feeling? Or… something darker?"
Zero didn't answer. His face became serious.
At that moment, he instinctively looked to a corner of the hall—his sixth sense had awakened again.
But there was no threat. Only… shadows.
Aurora observed silently. Her eyes swept over Zero.
"Your eyes… have seen battle. But they still hold hope."
At perhaps the strangest table in the history of the kingdom, silence fell once more.
Only the sound of knives and forks, the clashing of glasses... and the mingling of hearts could be heard.
Zero raised his head and looked into the king's eyes.
"What would you like me to do next?"
The king took a deep breath.
"First, get better. Then... I will send you somewhere else. This time, it's not just about the kingdom, but about the entire continent."
Zero narrowed his eyes.
"Like what?"
The king smiled.
"We'll talk after that meal."
The night had deepened in the palace's backyard.
Stars were scattered across the sky, and the sound of the wind echoed off the stone floors.
Zero and Lyria were sitting by the small pool in the garden.
The lights were dim, and the place was quiet.
Zero's gaze was fixated on the reflections of the stars falling into the water.
Lyria leaned her head on Zero's shoulder.
"Sometimes...just being able to hug you in the middle of all this fighting feels like a miracle."
Zero closed his eyes.
"You are the most precious thing I have in this world. Wars end, enemies perish… but if you stay, so do I."
Lyria lifted her head slightly, looking into Zero's eyes.
There was no distance between them anymore.
Just the sound of their heartbeats…
And then… the gentle contact of their lips.
The night continued with a closeness that felt brief but endless.
But morning… called for a fight again.