The first light of dawn stretched across the horizon, painting the sky with strokes of orange and gold. The rooftop—once a battlefield of fire and shadow—now lay in ruins, silent except for the soft whistle of the morning breeze.
Kai sat slumped against a broken wall, his fists bloodied, his jacket torn to shreds. Each breath burned like fire in his lungs, yet there was relief in the way his body sank against the cold stone. His crimson aura was gone now, leaving only a faint warmth flickering at his core.
Beside him, Lira rested with her sword planted in the ground, her head tilted back toward the sky. Her hair clung to her face in damp strands, her clothes tattered, but her eyes—silver and sharp—reflected the rising sun.
For a long moment, neither spoke. The silence was not heavy, but freeing. The storm had ended.
Finally, Lira broke it with a faint smile. "We actually survived."
Kai let out a dry laugh, wincing at the pain in his ribs. "Barely. You almost got skewered back there."
She nudged him lightly with her shoulder, the gesture soft but steady. "Says the guy who nearly burned himself alive."
They both chuckled weakly, the sound carrying across the ruins like fragile music.
But as their laughter faded, reality began to settle in. Below them, the city was waking. Fires were dying down, streets filled with scattered citizens slowly crawling out from hiding. The world they had fought to protect was still standing.
Kai exhaled, his eyes narrowing at the horizon. "It's over… at least, for now."
Lira's smile faltered. She followed his gaze, her hand tightening on the hilt of her sword. "Raven might be gone, but his shadows… they'll linger. People like him always leave scars."
Kai turned his head, looking at her. The morning light touched her face, softening her features. Despite the exhaustion etched in her expression, there was strength in her eyes—strength that had carried him through the darkest night.
"Then we'll face those scars together," he said quietly.
Her lips parted, her breath catching. For a second, her silver gaze wavered, as if the words reached deeper than she wanted to admit. She looked away, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "…Together, huh?"
"Always."
The silence stretched again, but this time it was warm. The kind of silence that spoke louder than words.
As the sun climbed higher, the rooftop felt less like a graveyard and more like a beginning. The war against Raven was over, but something new stirred within both of them—a bond tempered by fire and shadow.
They didn't know what awaited them beyond this dawn. But they knew they wouldn't face it alone.
And for now, that was enough.
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