Night settled gently over the Nasarik estate, the kind of quiet that only came when the world itself seemed to be holding its breath.
Eryndor lay beside Lyanna, her warmth pressed into his side, her breathing slow and steady. Moonlight slipped through the curtains, painting silver lines across her hair and the curve of her shoulder. For once, there was no battlefield in his thoughts, no academy politics, no distant realms watching him like predators.
Just her.
Just home.
Lyanna shifted slightly, fingers brushing his chest. "You're leaving again in the morning," she murmured, half-asleep.
Eryndor smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah. Just for a bit."
She opened one eye, smirked faintly. "That's what you always say."
"And I always come back," he replied softly.
She studied him for a moment longer, then leaned in and kissed him—slow, grounding, real. "Give them hell, babe."
His smile widened. "You know me best, hun."
They slept like that, wrapped in each other, as if the future could wait just a little longer.
Morning came too fast.
Aren clung to Eryndor's neck, small fingers gripping his collar like he could anchor his father in place through sheer will.
"Papa…" Aren sniffed, eyes glossy. "Come home soon."
Eryndor felt it then.
Not fear.
Not panic.
A vision.
The sky of Nohr tearing open.
Foreign stars bleeding through.
Armies descending from realms that did not belong.
The Upper Realms.
Watching.
Waiting.
Eryndor didn't flinch.
He knelt, hands firm on Aren's shoulders, eyes level with his son's. "Son," he said gently, voice steady as iron, "if anything were to happen… I will be there. I'll save everyone. Always trust dad. Trust the family. Okay?"
Aren sniffed, wiped his nose on Eryndor's sleeve, then nodded. "Okay, papa."
They hugged again, tighter this time.
Lyanna stood nearby, arms folded, eyes soft but sharp. She met Eryndor's gaze. No fear there. Only faith.
"Don't lose," she said.
Eryndor smirked. "Wasn't planning to."
Aldric arrived just as the sun crested the horizon, a jug of wine slung over his shoulder, expression relaxed in that dangerous way only powerful men ever wore.
"Morning," Aldric said. "Heard you're leaving."
Eryndor nodded. "Back to the academy."
Aldric tossed something through the air without warning.
Eryndor caught it instinctively.
A sword.
Simple in appearance, ancient in presence. The blade hummed faintly, like wind remembering how to scream.
"Give that to Kaelus," Aldric said. "Tell him to stop half-stepping. Accept Azure Tempest fully."
Eryndor raised an eyebrow. "You're really serious about this."
Aldric grinned. "Son… the heat's about to turn up."
Zephyr stepped forward, leaning on his cane, eyes sharp despite his age. "You know what's coming in a month," the old patriarch said calmly.
Eryndor met his gaze. No bravado. No hesitation. "I'll stop them. I promise."
Zephyr studied him, then smiled—slow, proud. "Okay, ka'ir. We'll hold out until you arrive. Though…" his grin turned sly, "…I know you. You just want a piece of the action."
Eryndor laughed. "Caught me."
Aldric paused, then glanced skyward. "You've taken the seat of the Black Sun, haven't you?"
"Yes," Eryndor said simply.
Aldric's smile softened. "Your mother would've been proud. Her bloodline finally awakened."
Zephyr followed his gaze upward. "Krisell… it seems one day you'll be free through your child."
Then, quieter: "Let's just hope those two old bastards in Noxis chose wisely."
The wind stirred.
Eryndor was gone.
Celestia God Academy loomed beneath a clear sky when Eryndor arrived.
Inside the dormitory wing, Kaelus sat cross-legged on his bed, eyes closed, wind whispering around him in restless spirals. Across the room, Darius leaned against the wall, shadows pooling unnaturally at his feet.
Darius opened his eyes first. "He's coming."
A heartbeat later, Eryndor stepped out of Darius's shadow on the wall like it was a doorway.
"Y'all up this early?" Eryndor said casually. "Did I miss the new update?"
Kaelus yelped, grabbed a pillow, and hurled it at his face. "Bro! I was bored to death. Meditation was the only thing keeping me sane."
Eryndor caught the pillow, then tossed the sword Aldric had given him straight at Kaelus.
Kaelus fumbled, nearly dropping it. "Yo—what the hell is this?"
"From my dad," Eryndor said. "He said accept Azure Tempest fully. No more half-measures."
The room went quiet.
The wind around Kaelus stilled.
He stared at the blade, then swallowed. "So it's really time."
Darius stood up, shadows shifting behind him. "Then the Upper Realms move next."
Eryndor nodded. "Not yet. A few months."
Kaelus exhaled slowly, grip tightening on the sword. "Good. Gives me time to lock in."
Eryndor smiled—sharp, confident, dangerous. "Exactly."
Outside, far beyond Nohr, something ancient shifted its attention.
The storm had begun gathering strength.
And this time—
It was coming home.