Carole's body still shimred faintly, her outline flickering like a candle on its final breath.
She sat against the base of a tree, legs stretched out, the golden aura around her slowly fading.
June, Maria, Pierre, and Lei stood quietly nearby. No one spoke right away.
It wasn't a death.
But it felt like one.
Because even though Carole would live—she would wake up on Earth, safe and whole—this part of her journey was over.
She wouldn't return to Trion. Her vessel was spent. Her ti here was done.
And still, her smile didn't falter.
"I'll see you all soon," she said, her voice soft but steady.
June crouched beside her and pulled her into a quick hug, holding her tightly for just a mont before standing again.
Maria looked away.
"We'll see you soon," she said. Her voice trembled slightly.
"Yeah," Lei added, forcing a smile. "Just a few hours away, right? When we log out."
Carole smiled softly. "Exactly. It's not goodbye. Just... until next login. Except this ti, you're the ones who'll be joining ."
Then Arlon stepped forward.
He didn't kneel or offer so grand farewell.
He just stood there, watching her. And then said quietly, "Thank you."
His voice was flat—but full.
Then after a mont, he added, "Keep being like this. Like you are now. Not like when I first t you."
Carole tilted her head. "Oh?"
"You changed. A lot," he said, without hesitation. "In a good way."
That made her smile for real.
"You did too," she said. "Just not that much."
She winked.
Arlon chuckled, then nodded. "Fair." And he added, "I will see you soon," to everyone's surprise.
Arlon had never told them about his information on Earth or accepted any invitation to et outside the ga.
So, his words ant that he would et the others on Earth.
Carole smiled once again and said, "Promise?"
Arlon answered calmly, "Yes."
And then Carole's body pulsed once with light.
Particles began to rise from her skin—glowing softly as they lifted upward, fading into the sky.
She looked peaceful. As if her part had been played, and she was content with her exit.
Arlon stood straight, gaze fixed on where she had been.
He exhaled slowly, then looked toward the others—June, Maria, Pierre, and Lei.
Only the four of them remained now.
"One fight left," Arlon said, more to himself than to them. "Just one."
---
The group reappeared outside Kelta a few minutes later.
Arlon had teleported them far beyond the outer periter—this ti, no dramatic entrances and no alerting Zephyrion.
The sun was low now, dipping toward the horizon. The shadows of the ruined frontlines stretched long across the earth.
They approached the gates slowly, the city looming before them like a mory half-rembered.
No one spoke as they walked through the gates.
It had been a long ti since they'd entered this place together.
Back then, they had been nine.
Now, they were five: Arlon, June, Pierre, Lei, and Maria.
But no one cried. No one lingered on the sadness of it.
They'd made it this far. And the others—they had done their part. There was no sha in logging out. No defeat in returning ho.
Arlon turned to Maria, Pierre, and Lei.
He didn't want to sound cold. He didn't want to sound like he was pushing them away.
But he had to say it to everyone but June.
"You three should stay on Earth," he said quietly.
They blinked.
None of them looked angry. Just… surprised.
"I don't an you can't co back," Arlon continued. "But..."
This 'but' explained everything.
Arlon couldn't openly say it, but what he ant was Your part is done. If I lose, Trion is lost anyway. If I win, it's saved. Either way, this last fight isn't yours.
They understood.
And even though it hurt a little, none of them argued.
Maria gave a soft nod. "So we're just spectators now, huh?" Her usual teasing was still there.
"You were never just anything," Arlon said. "But this is different. You'd only get in the way now."
Lei smirked faintly. "Wow. Thanks for sugarcoating it."
But she wasn't really angry.
It was just the truth.
Pierre's voice was quiet. "We'll be waiting, then."
Together, they walked through the familiar streets—places they hadn't seen in what felt like forever. The shops were intact, the walls unbroken.
But everything felt different now.
The city hadn't changed.
They had.
They stopped by the old coffee shop they used to visit during their early days in Kelta. The seats were still arranged the sa way.
The light still filtered through the windows in warm, dappled patterns.
They didn't talk much.
There wasn't a need to.
These were all to rember their mories. If Arlon won, they wouldn't be coming here again.
Even if he lost, there wouldn't be a aning to coming back since Kelta would be in ruins by then.
Afterward, they visited the inn they had used when they first arrived in the city. Their old rooms were still available.
One by one, they headed in—offering quiet goodbyes before the log-out ti approached.
Arlon didn't follow.
He had things to do.
And a visitor.
---
Once they were gone, Arlon made his way to the military facility.
Everyone recognized him imdiately. No one stopped him, no one questioned why he was there.
He was given a room without even needing to ask twice.
A small, quiet space.
Empty. Secluded.
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
And finally—he took out The Path to Beauty.
The book Agema had left for him.
He didn't open it right away.
He sat down on the floor, letting the silence settle in around him.
The battle had almost begun.
But for now—he had this.
One last piece of preparation.
One last chance to learn sothing before it was too late.
He set the book in his lap.
And then he turned the first page.
He needed to check everything there before reading the book.
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