A week had quietly passed since Aizen and Lyra escaped the Trial Dungeon.
The once terrifying battle against Garroth had finally come to an end, and for the first time in many years, the two young adventurers were no longer surrounded by monsters, blood, or the constant pressure of surviving another floor.
Instead...
A peaceful silence filled the small wooden cabin hidden deep within the Ancient Forest.
Birds chirped softly outside. A gentle breeze brushed against the leaves, causing the surrounding trees to sway peacefully. Sunlight slipped through the windows, casting warm rays across the wooden floor.
Yet despite the peaceful atmosphere...
A loud explosion suddenly echoed from the kitchen.
BOOM!
"..."
A strange black smoke drifted through the hallway.
Another loud noise followed.
Bang!
Then another.
Crash!
Inside one of the bedrooms, Lyra slowly opened her silver eyes.
"..."
She blinked several times, still feeling slightly dizzy.
Her head felt lighter than before, but her body was no longer as exhausted as it had been after the battle on the thirtieth floor.
The first thing she noticed was the unfamiliar ceiling above her.
The second...
"...What's that smell...?"
A strange mixture of burned meat, herbs, smoke, and something she couldn't even identify drifted into the room.
Another explosion echoed throughout the cabin.
BOOM!
Lyra immediately sat upright.
"Aizen..."
She hurriedly stood from the bed that had been carefully prepared for her.
The blanket folded neatly beside her.
The room itself was spotless.
Someone had swept the floor.
The windows had been cleaned.
Fresh flowers rested inside a wooden vase near the bedside.
Even her equipment had been arranged neatly beside the wall.
Everything looked incredibly organized...
Except for whatever was happening in the kitchen.
Lyra slowly walked toward the door before opening it.
The moment she stepped into the hallway...
She froze.
The cabin was unbelievably clean.
Every shelf had been dusted.
Every chair was perfectly aligned.
Fresh water had been prepared inside clay jars.
Extra blankets were folded neatly.
Someone had obviously spent days taking care of the place.
"...Aizen did all this?"
She quietly whispered to herself.
Before she could admire the cabin any longer—
"Ow!"
A familiar voice cried out.
Another loud crash followed.
Curious, Lyra hurried toward the kitchen.
The moment she arrived...
She completely froze.
"..."
"..."
The kitchen looked like a battlefield.
The walls were covered with black stains.
Unknown green liquid dripped from one side of the room.
Pieces of vegetables were somehow stuck to the ceiling.
A cooking pot had completely melted.
Several broken wooden spoons lay scattered across the floor.
A black cloud slowly rose from a pan that no longer looked usable.
Standing in the middle of the disaster...
Was Aizen.
His face was covered in flour.
His hair was messy.
His clothes were stained with ash, herbs, and cooking oil.
Yet despite looking completely exhausted...
The moment he noticed Lyra standing at the doorway, his golden eyes lit up with relief.
"Lyra!"
He immediately rushed toward her with a huge smile.
"You're awake!"
He looked happier than he had ever been.
"You've been asleep for a whole week! I kept worrying that you might wake up hungry, so I tried cooking every single day!"
His ears twitched happily behind his hair.
"I wanted you to have something warm waiting when you woke up."
Lyra stared silently at him.
Then...
She slowly looked past him toward the destroyed kitchen.
Then back at Aizen.
"..."
"..."
"A week?"
Her expression softened.
"So you've really been taking care of everything by yourself..."
Aizen scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Yeah..."
"I cleaned the whole cabin."
"I explored around the forest."
"I gathered firewood."
"I washed our clothes."
"I searched for useful items."
"I even organized every room."
"And..."
He proudly puffed out his chest.
"I practiced cooking."
Lyra slowly glanced around the ruined kitchen once more.
"...Practiced?"
Aizen nodded enthusiastically.
"Many times!"
Another small puff of smoke escaped from the pot behind him.
Lyra couldn't help letting out a small sigh.
"Aizen..."
"You've really been awake this entire week, haven't you?"
He smiled innocently.
"Yeah."
"I didn't really feel sleepy."
"My body just... wouldn't get tired."
He gently placed his hand over his chest.
"Ever since I awakened the Golden Heart..."
"It feels different."
"My heart keeps beating strongly."
"I don't feel exhausted anymore."
"I thought I should use that time to prepare everything while you rested."
Lyra looked at him quietly.
Although he was smiling...
Dark circles had begun forming beneath his eyes.
His movements were energetic, but they weren't natural.
It wasn't excitement.
It was as if his body simply refused to sleep.
"...You idiot."
She whispered softly.
Aizen tilted his head.
"Hm?"
"You spent an entire week worrying about me..."
"...without resting yourself."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
The silence between them felt peaceful.
After everything they had experienced inside the dungeon...
Moments like this felt strangely precious.
Then Aizen suddenly remembered something.
"Oh!"
"I almost forgot!"
He hurried back toward the kitchen before carefully carrying a large wooden plate.
Steam still rose from it.
"I finally finished today's meal!"
He proudly presented it in front of Lyra.
"I think this one turned out really well!"
From Aizen's perspective...
It looked delicious.
Perfectly grilled meat.
A rich herbal aroma.
Golden-colored vegetables.
A thick soup.
He even believed it smelled wonderful.
Lyra slowly looked down.
"..."
"..."
Her expression immediately froze.
The meat was almost completely black.
The soup had turned an unnatural shade of purple.
Several unknown mushrooms floated on the surface.
The vegetables looked as though they had been boiled for several hours too long.
Somehow...
The meal was quietly bubbling.
Without anyone touching it.
"..."
"You call..."
"...this..."
"...cooking?"
Aizen blinked.
"...Yeah?"
"It took me dozens of tries."
"I think this one's my best."
Lyra slowly looked at the bubbling soup.
"...Aizen."
"...Was that strange smell..."
"...your cooking?"
He proudly nodded.
"Yep!"
"I've been improving every day!"
She looked horrified.
"..."
"...What exactly..."
"...did you eat this entire week?"
Aizen began counting on his fingers.
"Mostly the food I cooked."
"Sometimes wild fruit."
"A little bit of meat."
"I think I accidentally poisoned myself once..."
"But I'm okay now."
He smiled confidently.
"See?"
Lyra covered her face with one hand.
"You..."
"...accidentally poisoned yourself?"
"I think so."
"But my stomach stopped hurting after a while."
"I guess I adapted."
Lyra slowly lowered her hand.
"Aizen..."
"We're different species."
"I'm from the Royal Dragon Family."
"And you're..."
She looked directly into his glowing golden eyes.
"A Legendary Black Lion."
"You've already awakened the Golden Heart."
"Your body is changing faster than either of us understands."
"You might already be resistant to poisons..."
"...without even realizing it."
She gently took the wooden plate from his hands.
"I'm taking over the cooking."
Immediately.
"No arguments."
Aizen scratched his cheek.
"...Alright."
"I was just worried you'd wake up hungry."
"I know."
Lyra smiled warmly.
"And I appreciate it."
"But..."
She lifted the bubbling soup.
"This thing is not food."
"It's a biological weapon."
Aizen blinked.
"...Really?"
"Really."
She immediately carried the plate back toward the kitchen.
"I'm throwing this away."
"And while I cook..."
She pointed toward the hallway.
"You."
"Take a bath."
Aizen looked down at himself.
Only then did he notice...
He still smelled like smoke.
Burned herbs.
Cooking oil.
Cow meat.
Ash.
And several things he couldn't even identify anymore.
"...Oh."
"I guess I do smell a little."
"A little?"
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"You smell like you've been living inside the dungeon again."
Aizen laughed awkwardly.
"Sorry."
Then he suddenly remembered something.
"Oh!"
"You should take a bath too."
"I never cleaned you while you were asleep."
"I didn't know how."
"I only know how to wash myself."
Lyra's cheeks turned slightly pink.
"...Good."
"I'm glad you didn't."
She let out a small sigh.
"It's probably been since the thirtieth floor that either of us has properly bathed."
Aizen nodded.
"I found a beautiful lake behind the cabin."
"And..."
"There's also a hot spring."
Lyra blinked.
"...A hot spring?"
"Yeah."
"It looks amazing."
"I'll go first."
"You cook."
"I'll be quick."
He smiled before walking toward the door.
"See you in a bit."
Lyra watched him leave before quietly smiling to herself.
"...Honestly..."
"He's hopeless."
Yet despite saying those words...
She couldn't stop herself from smiling.
Because she knew one thing.
Everything Aizen had done...
The cleaning.
The exploring.
The cooking.
The sleepless nights.
Every bit of it...
Had been for her.
Aizen quietly stepped outside the wooden cabin, gently closing the door behind him.
The cool morning air brushed against his face.
For the first time in what felt like forever...
He finally allowed himself to breathe.
"..."
The sounds of Lyra moving around inside the kitchen echoed faintly through the wooden walls.
She had finally awakened.
Aizen smiled unconsciously.
"...Thank goodness."
The worry that had weighed on him for an entire week finally disappeared.
He had spent every single day wondering if she would wake up.
Every meal he ruined.
Every room he cleaned.
Every piece of firewood he gathered.
Everything had been done with one thought in mind.
"What if Lyra wakes up hungry?"
Now...
He no longer needed to worry.
He slowly walked around the side of the cabin.
As the thick trees parted, the scenery before him once again stole his breath.
Behind the cabin rested a beautiful lake unlike anything he had ever seen.
Its crystal-clear water reflected the blue sky so perfectly that it looked like a giant sapphire embedded into the earth.
Gentle ripples danced across the surface whenever the wind passed by.
Small silver fish could be seen swimming peacefully beneath the water.
The lake itself emitted a faint light-blue glow.
It wasn't bright enough to hurt the eyes.
Instead...
It felt calming.
Almost magical.
Aizen slowly knelt beside the water.
He dipped his hand into it.
"...Warm?"
He had expected icy mountain water.
Instead...
The lake felt perfectly comfortable.
Not cold.
Not hot.
Almost as if the water adjusted itself to whoever touched it.
"Amazing..."
He quietly whispered.
Just beside the lake...
Steam slowly drifted into the air.
A natural hot spring rested beneath several ancient stone formations.
The water shimmered with faint magical particles.
White flowers surrounded the edge of the spring, while moss covered the nearby rocks.
Birds perched quietly on tree branches overhead.
The entire place felt untouched by time.
"...It's beautiful."
Aizen looked around once more.
"This place..."
"It doesn't feel like it belongs inside the Ancient Forest."
He glanced back toward the cabin.
"Almost everything here feels prepared."
"There are enough clothes for both of us."
"Unlimited food."
"Fresh water."
"Cooking supplies."
"Beds."
"A magical lake."
"A hot spring."
"And even the cabin itself looks well maintained..."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Who actually built this place?"
He still remembered the strange symbols carved around the area.
He couldn't read them.
Nor did he recognize the language.
"It almost feels..."
"...like someone expected us to arrive."
That thought lingered inside his mind.
It made him uncomfortable.
Ever since Garroth betrayed them...
Aizen found himself questioning everything.
He slowly shook his head.
"No."
"I'll figure that out later."
"Right now..."
He looked toward the glowing lake.
"I seriously need a bath."
He removed the clothes he had worn throughout the entire week.
His shirt was stained with dirt, smoke, dried blood, herbs, and soot from countless failed attempts at cooking.
"...No wonder Lyra said I smell."
He laughed softly.
Stepping into the lake, he immediately felt his entire body relax.
The water wasn't ordinary.
The fatigue hidden deep within his muscles slowly disappeared.
His wounds no longer ached.
Even the faint scars left behind by the dungeon seemed lighter.
"...This water..."
"It heals..."
Not completely.
But enough to soothe both body and mind.
Aizen submerged himself completely.
For several peaceful minutes...
He simply floated there.
No monsters.
No dungeon.
No battles.
No fear.
Only silence.
After washing himself thoroughly, he climbed out of the lake.
His wet black hair rested against his shoulders.
The golden streaks within his eyes reflected beautifully beneath the morning sunlight.
He looked healthier than he had in years.
Returning to the cabin, he found several wardrobes filled with neatly folded clothing.
"...These weren't here before..."
Or perhaps...
He simply hadn't noticed them.
He opened one of the cabinets.
Inside were dozens of outfits.
Some suited for adventurers.
Others resembled noble clothing.
Even winter attire rested neatly folded.
"...Whoever owns this place..."
"...prepared everything."
After thinking for a moment, Aizen chose a dark blue outfit trimmed with black and silver.
It fit him surprisingly well.
The clothing was simple enough for traveling but elegant enough to resemble something worn by a young noble.
"...Comfortable."
He adjusted the sleeves before looking into the polished bronze mirror hanging beside the wardrobe.
"..."
"...Is that really me?"
The boy staring back no longer looked like the child who had entered the Trial Dungeon.
His shoulders had broadened.
His muscles were more defined.
His face had matured.
Even his posture had changed.
The Golden Heart hadn't merely granted him strength.
It had begun reshaping his entire body.
He quietly placed a hand over his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
His heartbeat echoed powerfully.
Every beat felt steady.
Confident.
Alive.
"...I still don't understand what you really are."
He whispered to the heart within him.
"But..."
"Thank you."
Without it...
Neither he nor Lyra would have escaped Garroth.
Aizen quietly returned to the dining room.
The moment he stepped inside—
A delicious aroma filled the air.
"...!"
His ears perked up immediately.
The smell alone made his stomach growl.
He hurried toward the table.
Several dishes had already been prepared.
The same cow meat Aizen had used...
Now looked completely different.
The meat was beautifully roasted.
Fresh vegetables surrounded it.
A rich brown sauce slowly dripped across the surface.
Warm soup rested beside freshly baked bread.
Even simple herbs had been arranged carefully for decoration.
"..."
"...It's the same ingredients..."
"How..."
He stared in complete disbelief.
"...did she do this?"
Unable to resist...
He carefully cut a small piece of meat.
The moment he placed it into his mouth—
His eyes widened.
"...!"
"It's delicious!"
The meat was incredibly tender.
The herbs enhanced the flavor perfectly.
Even the vegetables tasted sweet.
Aizen immediately compared it to his own cooking from earlier.
"...Mine really was terrible."
He laughed awkwardly.
"Lyra's amazing."
He happily continued eating.
"This is definitely the best meal I've ever had."
Between bites, he stood up and began cleaning the kitchen.
Broken bowls disappeared.
Burned pans were scrubbed clean
The floor was swept once more.
"If Lyra cooked..."
"The least I can do is clean."
Meanwhile...
Lyra quietly walked through the hallway carrying a fresh white dress.
She had brushed her long silver hair, but it still needed washing.
"...Aizen said the lake was behind the cabin."
She softly opened the back door.
The moment she stepped outside...
A gentle breeze lifted several strands of her silver hair.
Her crimson eyes slowly widened.
"...Beautiful..."
The glowing blue lake shimmered beneath the sunlight.
The nearby hot spring released gentle steam into the air.
Colorful flowers surrounded both pools naturally.
Even butterflies fluttered peacefully through the clearing.
"...No wonder he wanted me to see this."
Lyra smiled faintly.
"It really is beautiful."
She slowly walked toward the edge of the lake.
Small blue flowers bloomed beside the shoreline.
Their petals glowed faintly.
"...Spirit Flowers?"
She gently knelt.
"These only grow where magical energy is extremely pure..."
She looked around once more.
"This place really is extraordinary."
After making sure Aizen was nowhere nearby, Lyra quietly entered the water.
The warm lake embraced her gently.
"...Ah..."
The exhaustion lingering inside her body slowly melted away.
She closed her eyes.
For the first time since entering the Trial Dungeon...
She truly relaxed.
Her long silver hair drifted gracefully across the water.
Every strand became cleaner.
Smoother.
Brighter.
When she finally finished bathing, her silver hair shimmered beautifully beneath the sunlight.
She changed into the white dress she had brought with her.
The dress fit perfectly.
Simple.
Elegant.
Comfortable.
Looking down at the water's reflection, she almost didn't recognize herself.
"...It's been a long journey..."
She quietly whispered.
Then, carrying her folded clothes, she began walking back toward the cabin.
As she approached...
She noticed Aizen standing outside.
He wasn't training.
Nor eating.
Instead...
He stood before several ancient stone pillars near the edge of the clearing.
His expression had become unusually serious.
"What are you looking at, Aizen?"
she asked as she approached.
Without looking away from the carvings, Aizen answered quietly.
"These pillars."
"They've been bothering me since the first day."
"I think they're saying something."
"But..."
"I can't read any of it."
Lyra stepped beside him.
"...Let me see."
She carefully brushed away the moss covering one of the carvings.
The symbols were old.
Extremely old.
Yet strangely familiar.
Her eyes slowly widened.
"...These letters..."
"They're written in the Ancient Language of the Green Continent."
Aizen looked toward her hopefully.
"You can read them?"
She nodded slowly.
"I think so..."
"My father insisted I learn several forgotten languages when I was younger."
"I complained about it back then..."
"But..."
She smiled slightly.
"It looks like those lessons finally became useful."
She placed her fingers gently across the weathered stone.
Then...
She began translating the ancient message aloud.
Silence settled around the ancient stone pillar.
Only the gentle breeze drifting through the forest could be heard.
Lyra continued tracing the weathered letters with the tips of her fingers, carefully reading every faded symbol carved by someone who had lived countless centuries before them.
Her expression slowly became more serious.
Aizen patiently waited.
"So... what does it say?"
Lyra took a slow breath before speaking.
"To those who have entered the Paradise Forest..."
"Know that the gate you have crossed shall remain sealed for three years."
"Time within this sanctuary flows differently."
"One year inside shall become two years beyond the barrier."
"Those who leave before the appointed time shall never find the exit."
"Only when three years have passed may the gate awaken once more."
"And before you may leave..."
"The Guardian of the Sanctuary shall judge whether you are worthy."
The forest became completely silent.
Even the birds seemed to stop singing.
Aizen blinked.
"...Three years?"
Lyra nodded.
"Yes."
She continued reading.
"It also says..."
"While only three years will pass inside this forest..."
"...six years will pass in the outside world."
Aizen froze.
"...Six years?"
His golden eyes widened.
"Wait..."
He scratched the back of his head.
"Doesn't that mean..."
"We're going to be trapped here?"
Lyra nodded again.
"Exactly."
Aizen stared blankly toward the magical cabin.
"..."
"...Are we going to starve?"
Lyra looked at him in complete disbelief.
"..."
She sighed before pointing toward the cabin.
"Aizen."
"You've lived here for an entire week."
"...Didn't you notice?"
Aizen tilted his head.
"Notice what?"
"The food."
She folded her arms.
"Every morning..."
"The pantry is full."
"The vegetables grow back."
"The fruits reappear."
"The meat storage never becomes empty."
"The lake never dries."
"The firewood somehow replenishes itself."
"This entire place..."
"...is sustained by magic."
Aizen slowly looked back toward the cabin.
"...Now that you mention it..."
"I never actually ran out of ingredients..."
Lyra smiled.
"Exactly."
"This sanctuary was built to support whoever lives here."
"There is more than enough food for us."
"So starving is the last thing we need to worry ."
Aizen rubbed the back of his neck.
"...I feel a little stupid now."
"You should."
Lyra answered with a laugh.
The heavy atmosphere from moments earlier disappeared.
Both of them smiled.
For the first time since escaping the dungeon...
They could finally relax.
Lyra looked toward the endless forest stretching beyond the barrier.
"Our journey hasn't even begun yet."
"Our destination is still the Dragon King's Castle."
"It would normally take nearly fifteen years to travel there."
Aizen blinked.
"Fifteen years?"
"The Ancient Forest alone is enormous."
"It stretches nearly two thousand miles across."
"And that's only one region."
She knelt and drew a rough map across the dirt using a small stick.
"This world is called..."
"Tellus."
Aizen quietly watched.
"The Green Continent..."
"...the continent where we're currently standing..."
"is over ninety-five thousand miles wide."
"It contains vast forests, kingdoms, rivers, mountains and dragon territories."
She drew another landmass.
"The Demon Continent lies to the west."
"A land almost completely covered by rocky wastelands."
"Nearly every creature living there is born for battle."
Another.
"The Ice Continent."
"A frozen world where snow never melts."
"Entire kingdoms are carved into glaciers."
Then another.
"The Desert Continent."
"Endless golden sands."
"Only the strongest survive there."
She paused before drawing another enormous continent.
"And lastly..."
"The Blood Continent."
"The homeland of vampires and countless forgotten races."
"It is one of the largest continents in Tellus."
Aizen stared quietly.
"I never knew..."
"...the world was this big."
Lyra smiled.
"And above every continent..."
"There floats another kingdom."
She pointed upward.
"The Heavenly Continent."
"The homeland of angels."
"A floating island larger than most kingdoms."
Aizen slowly raised his head toward the sky.
"So somewhere above us..."
"...there's an entire continent?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"And surrounding everything..."
"...is the Endless Ocean."
"The oceans alone cover over half the world."
Aizen whistled softly.
"...This world is unbelievable."
Lyra laughed.
"You've only seen a dungeon."
"You haven't even begun exploring Tellus."
She erased the map before standing once more.
"If we're truly trapped here for three years..."
"We shouldn't waste the opportunity."
Aizen nodded.
"I agree."
"So..."
"What's the plan?"
Lyra answered almost immediately.
"We train."
"Every day."
"We'll wake up at sunrise."
"Practice swordsmanship."
"Practice magic."
"Eat."
"Rest."
"Then train again."
She smiled confidently.
"When these three years end..."
"We won't leave this sanctuary as children."
"We'll leave as warriors."
Aizen grinned.
"I like that."
He rested his spear across his shoulder.
"Then I'll become strong enough to protect you."
Lyra smiled faintly.
"And I'll become strong enough to protect you too."
The two looked at each other.
Neither of them laughed.
Both understood.
The Trial Dungeon had nearly taken everything from them.
Neither wished to experience that again.
Three Years Later...
Time flowed quietly inside the Paradise Forest.
Morning after morning...
Sunrise after sunrise...
Aizen and Lyra repeated the same routine.
They sparred until sunset.
Practiced magic beneath waterfalls.
Meditated beside the glowing lake.
Studied forgotten books left inside the cabin.
Cooked together.
Argued over meals.
Laughed.
Failed.
Improved.
Every single day strengthened both their bodies and their hearts.
The frightened fourteen-year-old children who had entered the dungeon gradually disappeared.
In their place...
Two young warriors were born.
The calendar reached...
Aetheris Year 10020.
Although only three years had passed inside the sanctuary...
Six entire years had passed beyond the barrier.
Both Aizen and Lyra were now seventeen years old.
Aizen's once-short jet-black hair had grown longer, resting near his shoulders. His bright golden eyes had become calmer, sharper, carrying the confidence of someone who had survived countless battles. His body had grown taller and more muscular, the result of relentless training and the power of the Golden Heart beating within his chest.
Lyra had matured as well.
Her long silver-white hair flowed gracefully down her back, shining like moonlight whenever sunlight touched it. When relaxed, her eyes remained a calm ocean blue. Yet whenever magical energy gathered around her, they shifted into a brilliant crimson red—the unmistakable trait of a daughter of the Royal Dragon Duke.
She stood before the bedroom door.
"Aizen."
"Wake up."
Inside the room, Aizen slowly opened one eye.
"...Morning already?"
Lyra crossed her arms.
"The barrier is collapsing."
"The magical energy protecting this place is disappearing."
"I think..."
"...our three years are finally over."
Aizen sat upright.
His expression immediately turned serious.
"So..."
"It's finally time."
He looked around the room that had become their home.
"...We'll be leaving."
Lyra nodded.
"Yes."
"Our journey..."
"...begins again."
The magical sanctuary that had protected them for three long years was beginning to disappear.
The once-vibrant glow surrounding the cabin had become dim. Tiny particles of light drifted into the air like fading stars, while cracks of blue energy slowly spread across the invisible barrier protecting the clearing.
The forest itself seemed to understand.
Leaves swayed without wind.
The birds had stopped singing.
Even the glowing lake behind the cabin had begun to lose its brilliant blue light.
"It really is ending..."
Lyra whispered softly, watching the sanctuary crumble little by little.
Aizen stood beside her carrying the black spear that had chosen him on the thirtieth floor of the Trial Dungeon. The golden engravings along its shaft shimmered faintly, resonating with the Golden Heart beating inside his chest.
Three years.
Three years of relentless training.
Three years of studying, sparring, learning magic, and strengthening their bodies.
Neither of them resembled the frightened children who had barely escaped Garroth's betrayal.
They had become true adventurers.
Aizen adjusted the strap of his storage ring before looking around the cabin one final time.
"...This place saved our lives."
Lyra nodded.
"It did."
She smiled faintly.
"I'll miss it."
"So will I."
For a brief moment...
Neither of them spoke.
The cabin had become more than a shelter.
It had become their home.
It was where Lyra recovered from death's doorstep.
Where Aizen learned to cook—though not very successfully.
Where they laughed, argued, trained, and slowly rebuilt the trust that Garroth had nearly destroyed.
Aizen smiled.
"...Let's leave before I get sentimental."
Lyra laughed quietly.
"I was about to say the same thing."
Both walked toward the ancient stone pillars standing at the edge of the clearing.
The runes carved into them were glowing once more.
This time...
The symbols shone with a brilliant emerald light.
"It must be opening."
Lyra placed a hand against one of the pillars.
The instant Aizen did the same—
A deep vibration echoed through the sanctuary.
BOOOOOOM—
The ground trembled.
The magical cabin disappeared behind them.
The lake dissolved into countless blue lights.
The flowers scattered into glowing particles.
Everything slowly faded away.
The sanctuary had fulfilled its purpose.
A massive circle of light appeared beneath their feet.
"This is teleportation magic."
Lyra observed.
"But..."
"It feels far older than anything I've studied."
Aizen tightened his grip on his spear.
"Whatever waits beyond..."
"We're ready."
The light swallowed them.
When the brilliance disappeared...
They found themselves standing inside an enormous cavern.
Cold air rushed through the underground chamber.
Ancient stone pillars supported the ceiling hundreds of feet overhead.
Countless cracks covered the walls.
At the opposite end of the cavern stood a gigantic stone gate.
It was easily fifty meters tall.
Sunlight seeped through the tiny openings beneath it.
Beyond those doors...
The outside world awaited.
But something blocked the exit.
Standing silently before the gate was a colossal stone giant.
Nearly twelve meters tall.
Its body resembled carved granite covered in moss and ancient vines.
A gigantic battle axe rested upon its shoulder.
Its eyes remained closed.
"...So that's the Guardian."
Aizen murmured.
Lyra slowly gripped her newly acquired staff.
The polished wooden staff ended in a circular frame of white and emerald crystal, constantly releasing gentle waves of mana.
"It certainly looks like one."
The cavern suddenly shook.
CRACK...
CRACK...
The giant's stone fingers twitched.
Dust fell from its shoulders.
Its glowing blue eyes slowly opened.
The entire cave trembled.
Its voice echoed like rolling thunder.
"Those who seek freedom..."
"...must first prove their worth."
Aizen instinctively stepped in front of Lyra.
The giant looked toward both of them before speaking again.
"The laws of this sanctuary permit only one challenger."
"Should another interfere..."
"...the sanctuary itself shall erase both participants."
A transparent barrier instantly surrounded Lyra.
She reached forward.
"Aizen!"
Her hand struck an invisible wall.
"...I can't get through."
The Guardian continued.
"This shall be..."
"...a Death Duel."
Silence filled the cavern.
Aizen slowly twirled his spear once before resting it across his shoulder.
He smiled.
"So..."
"It's just me and you."
The Guardian lifted its enormous axe.
"Come."
"Aizen."
Lyra called softly from behind the barrier.
"Don't underestimate him."
He looked back.
His golden eyes met her ocean-blue ones.
"I won't."
He smiled confidently.
"I promised we'd leave together."
"So..."
"I'm keeping that promise."
Lyra nodded.
"I'll be waiting."
The Guardian swung first.
Its gigantic axe descended like a collapsing mountain.
BOOOOOOOM!!
The cavern exploded as the blade struck the ground.
Stone shattered.
Dust engulfed everything.
Yet...
The Guardian's eyes narrowed.
"..."
Its attack had missed.
High above—
Aizen had already leapt into the air.
His spear pointed downward.
"Swirling Tornado!"
The wind around him erupted.
A violent spiral descended toward the Guardian, forming a roaring cyclone that tore massive chunks of stone from the cavern floor.
The Guardian planted its feet.
The tornado struck head-on.
BOOOOM!!
Dust exploded throughout the cave.
For several seconds...
Nothing could be seen.
Then—
A massive rock projectile pierced through the cloud.
"Rock Bullet!"
Lyra instinctively cast the spell before remembering the barrier prevented her attack from reaching the Guardian.
The stone dissolved against the invisible wall.
"...Right..."
She clenched her staff.
"I really can't interfere..."
As the dust cleared...
The Guardian still stood.
Several cracks had appeared across its stone armor.
But it remained standing.
"So you're tougher than you look."
Aizen landed gracefully.
The Guardian finally spoke.
"Impressive."
"Few have ever damaged this body."
It raised its axe again.
"Now..."
"Fight seriously."
Aizen smiled.
"...I was hoping you'd say that."
He placed one hand over his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
The Golden Heart answered.
Brilliant blue lightning erupted around his body.
His jet-black hair lifted as though flowing underwater.
His bright golden eyes blazed like twin suns.
Electricity danced across his black lion ears and tail.
His spear released black mist mixed with brilliant golden light.
"Golden Heart."
The cave shook beneath the pressure of his aura.
Even Lyra couldn't hide her amazement.
"...He's become even stronger..."
The Guardian's grip tightened around its axe.
"Excellent."
"Show me the strength you forged within this sanctuary."
Aizen vanished.
Not merely fast—
He disappeared entirely.
The Guardian reacted instantly, swinging its axe behind itself.
CLANG!!
Sparks erupted.
The tip of Aizen's spear met the massive blade.
The force created a shockwave powerful enough to crack the cavern walls.
"So you can keep up."
Aizen grinned.
"But..."
"I'm still faster."
Before the Guardian could counter—
Aizen disappeared again.
One thrust.
Two.
Five.
Ten.
Dozens of spear strikes rained across the Guardian's body faster than the eye could follow.
Stone armor shattered.
Chunks of granite scattered across the cavern.
The Guardian attempted to regenerate.
The cracks sealed themselves almost instantly.
"...Regeneration."
Aizen observed.
"Then I'll simply destroy you faster than you can heal."
Blue lightning wrapped around the spear.
The golden engravings blazed brilliantly.
For a split second...
The Guardian sensed danger.
Real danger.
It raised its axe defensively.
Too late.
Aizen appeared directly before its chest.
"Black Thunder Spear."
The thrust pierced straight through the Guardian's core.
Silence.
The giant looked down.
A glowing crack spread throughout its entire body.
"...Impossible..."
The Guardian whispered.
Then—
CRAAAAACK!!
Its entire body split apart.
Arms.
Legs.
Torso.
Helmet.
Everything crumbled into thousands of fragments before dissolving into glowing dust.
Only the gigantic axe remained for a brief moment before it too vanished.
The cavern became silent.
The invisible barrier around Lyra disappeared.
She immediately ran toward Aizen.
"You did it!"
Aizen smiled, resting the butt of his spear against the ground.
"It wasn't as difficult as I expected."
Lyra laughed.
"Only you would say defeating an ancient guardian wasn't difficult."
The enormous stone gate slowly began opening.
RUMBLE...
Sunlight poured into the cavern.
Fresh air rushed inside.
Beyond the gate stretched an endless sea of ancient trees.
The Ancient Forest.
Aizen and Lyra stepped through together.
The forest before them felt both familiar and completely different.
The trees towered high into the sky, their emerald canopies filtering streams of golden sunlight onto the forest floor. A cool breeze carried the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth, while distant rivers echoed somewhere beyond the mountains.
Lyra stopped walking.
Her ocean-blue eyes slowly scanned the horizon.
"...I know this place."
Aizen looked at her.
"You do?"
She nodded.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"These mountains..."
"These forests..."
"I've seen them before."
She pointed toward a distant mountain range.
"Beyond those peaks..."
"...lies the territory ruled by my father."
"The domain of Duke Subaru."
"My home."
Aizen quietly looked toward the distant horizon.
Their long journey...
Had finally begun.
Yet neither of them knew that fate had already begun moving once more.
Somewhere within the vast Subaru Domain...
Two Children..
Were about to cross paths with them.
And that single meeting...
Would forever change the destiny of Tellus.
End of chapter 7