Amethyst's eyes widen in horror. "Crystal!"
He dashes off at full speed through the ruins. The group follows him to a small cabin hidden in the far corner of the city—somehow untouched.
Inside, on a thin blanket, lies a fragile little girl with soft pink hair and gentle red eyes.
"Brother?" she whispers weakly.
Amethyst kneels beside her. "I'm here. You're safe now."
The sight softens even Aizen's hardened face. Lyra kneels beside Crystal, placing a warm hand on the girl's forehead. "We'll take care of you."
Mikaela hugs Theodore tightly, crying and laughing at once. "Don't ever disappear again, dummy!"
"I-I'm sorry," Theodore says through tears. "I just... I just wanted to help."
Then, as the dust settles and the stars begin to peek through the cracked ceiling above the ruins, Lyra turns to Aizen and sighs.
"You really were going to destroy the whole city, weren't you?"
"She was mine to protect," Aizen mutters.
"You used too much magical energy! You could collapse next time!" she scolds, arms crossed, tail twitching in annoyance.
"I only used 1%, not 90%," Aizen smirks. "I'm not that careless."
Lyra looks at him in disbelief... then laughs quietly. "Idiot."
And then she steps close—too close.
"I was really worried."
"So was I."
Their faces draw nearer until finally—after everything—they share a long, deep kiss beneath the stars. It's slow. Tender. Warmth rises in their cheeks, but they don't pull away.
When it ends, Lyra's face is pink, her lips slightly parted. "You're mine, storm boy. Don't forget it."
Aizen chuckles, resting his forehead against hers. "Then don't ever run off without me again, dragon girl."
They kiss again—this time, with no words needed.
(END of Chapter 21)