Kim returned.
Not with an explosion.
Nor with a torn gate.
But with a single step.
The air changed around him…
The ground felt him.
Beath was the first to see him.
He was standing at the edge of the ruins, watching the horizon, when he suddenly froze.
One step.
Then a second.
Then a third.
Kim was walking calmly.
And beside him…
someone.
Beath blinked once.
Then twice.
His voice came out in a whisper:
"…Nir?"
Nir raised his hand with slight shyness.
"Did you miss me?"
Beath did not speak.
He ran.
He stopped in front of them.
He did not touch Nir at first…
He looked at him as if afraid he would disappear.
Then he laughed a broken laugh.
"You're alive…"
Kim said nothing.
He only stood.
Tired.
But standing.
A Moment of Silence
They sat on the remains of a shattered stone.
No war.
No screams.
A light breeze passing between them.
Beath said quietly:
"I knew… you wouldn't leave him."
Nir looked at Kim.
"He didn't leave me…"
Then he fell silent for a moment.
And added in a deeper voice:
"He paid the price."
Beath turned quickly.
He looked at Kim.
For the first time he noticed…
that his shadow was no longer as heavy as before.
That the air around him no longer bent.
That his body… was more human.
Beath said, "Kim… you—"
Kim interrupted calmly:
"I fulfilled my promise."
Silence.
Then he said in a low voice:
"But the world is not over yet."
Nir looked at him.
"How many remain?"
Kim lifted his eyes to the sky.
He felt them.
Not as a direct threat.
But like distant stars… watching.
He said:
"The Ruler of War is finished."
"The Ruler of Hope… is finished."
"The Ruler of Mind… is finished."
"The Ruler of Continuity… is finished."
Beath swallowed.
"Then…?"
Kim replied:
"The rest… are not hiding."
A moment of silence.
Then he continued:
"They are… allying against me."
Nir understood immediately.
"They want you."
Kim nodded slowly.
"Not out of fear."
"But acknowledgment."
Elsewhere
The void cracked.
Three thrones remained.
The Ruler of Guilt.
The Ruler of Erasure.
And the last… whose name has not yet been revealed.
A cold voice said:
"He chose mortality."
Another replied:
"Then we shall grant it to him."
But the third…
smiled.
"No."
"We will wait."
"Now… he is breakable."
Beneath the Sky
Beath suddenly said:
"You are different."
Kim did not deny it.
Nir looked at him and said quietly:
"You've become… alive."
Kim closed his eyes for a moment.
Then he said:
"For the first time… I feel fear."
Beath smiled.
"That's good."
Nir added:
"Fear means you have something to lose. And that you have a reason to protect it."
Kim looked at them.
He did not smile.
But his voice was calmer than it had ever been:
"I will not attack them."
Beath was startled.
"What?"
Kim said:
"Let them come."
"This time… I will not be the one who begins."
The breeze passed between them.
A brief moment of peace.
But deep within the sky…
something was moving.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Waiting for the right moment to descend.