The sun slowly descended toward the horizon.
Its warm orange light spread across the peaceful sky, painting the distant clouds with shades of gold, pink, and crimson.
A gentle breeze passed through the enormous flower field, causing thousands of colorful blossoms to sway together like waves upon an endless ocean.
At the center of the field stood the magnificent Jacaranda tree.
Its large branches stretched outward, covering part of the sky above them. Beautiful purple flowers hung from its branches, and whenever the wind passed through them, several delicate petals detached and floated gently toward the ground.
Aizen and Lyra remained beneath the tree.
Neither of them seemed to be in a hurry to leave.
After everything they had experienced together...
After years of traveling...
After countless battles...
After surviving the dangers of the Ancient Forest...
They finally had a moment where neither of them needed to fight.
Neither needed to run.
Neither needed to worry.
They could simply sit together.
And enjoy the sunset.
Lyra slowly leaned against Aizen.
Her silver-white hair gently brushed against his shoulder as she rested her head there.
Aizen looked down at her.
A small smile appeared on his face.
The two of them had changed considerably since the day they first met.
They were no longer the frightened children who had wandered through the Ancient Forest.
They had grown stronger.
They had become more experienced.
And, without either of them realizing it...
They had become much closer.
Aizen Arcime was seventeen years old.
His birthday was November 7th, in the year 10002.
The current year was 10022, February 28th.
Because of the strange time-space phenomenon within the Elven Cabin, only three years had passed for Aizen inside the cabin.
Yet six years had passed outside.
Lyra Subaru was also seventeen years old.
Her birthday was May 2nd, 10002.
Like Aizen, she had experienced only three years within the cabin while six years passed in the outside world.
Time itself had treated their journey differently.
But regardless of how quickly or slowly it passed...
They had continued walking together.
The flowers moved gently beneath the evening wind.
Purple petals slowly fell from the Jacaranda tree.
Lyra quietly watched them.
"Aizen..."
"Hm?"
"This place feels peaceful."
She smiled softly.
"And I want to stay here forever with you..."
"If I could."
Aizen looked toward the sunset.
For a moment, he didn't answer.
Then he smiled.
"Me too."
He looked toward Lyra.
"But we have companions waiting for us at the inn."
"Theodore and Mikaela might be wondering where we are."
"We should probably head back."
He glanced toward the horizon.
"We've already watched the sunset."
Lyra sighed softly.
"You've been sweet-talking me for a while now..."
She smiled.
"And somehow, it keeps putting me at ease."
She slowly stood up.
"Let's go?"
Aizen stood as well.
"Yeah."
"Let's go back."
Their hands met naturally.
Neither of them hesitated.
Aizen gently held Lyra's hand.
Together, they walked through the beautiful flower field.
Purple petals drifted around them as the last light of the sunset disappeared beyond the horizon.
Eventually...
The lights of Mayana Village appeared in the distance.
The peaceful village was beginning to glow beneath the evening sky.
The two travelers continued toward the village.
Toward the inn.
Toward Theodore and Mikaela.
And toward the unexpected future waiting for them.
A Surprise at the Inn
When Aizen and Lyra finally returned to the Silver Maple Inn, something immediately felt different.
The moment they opened the door...
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations, Aizen and Lyra!"
The voices of several people echoed throughout the common room.
Aizen froze.
Lyra froze beside him.
"...Huh?"
The entire room had been decorated.
Small flowers were placed across the tables.
Several candles illuminated the room.
Elena stood proudly behind the counter with a huge smile on her face.
Mikaela and Theodore were standing near the center of the room.
Theodore raised both of his hands excitedly.
"You finally admitted that you like each other!"
Mikaela giggled.
"I knew it!"
Lyra's face immediately became bright red.
"W-Wait!"
"How did everyone know?!"
Elena laughed.
"You two weren't exactly subtle."
Aizen scratched the back of his head.
"...We weren't?"
"Nope."
Elena smiled.
"Not even a little."
Everyone laughed.
Aizen looked toward Lyra.
She was still embarrassed.
But she was smiling.
Aizen smiled too.
For once...
He didn't feel uncomfortable being teased.
After all...
It was true.
He and Lyra had finally admitted their feelings.
They were no longer simply comrades.
They were no longer two travelers who happened to remain together.
They had chosen each other.
And the celebration continued.
Food was placed upon the tables.
Drinks were served.
Theodore and Mikaela happily talked about everything that had happened while Aizen and Lyra were gone.
But among the cheerful crowd...
There was someone Aizen hadn't seen before.
A small figure sat quietly near Theodore.
She was a little cat beastman.
Her hair was yellow.
Her small cat ears rested upon the top of her head.
A yellow tail was curled behind her.
But what immediately caught Aizen's attention were her eyes.
They were a beautiful emerald green.
Almost like the color of a deep forest.
Yet despite her striking appearance...
She looked exhausted.
Her clothes were worn.
Her small body looked thin.
And judging by the way she occasionally glanced toward the food...
She was hungry.
Aizen's golden eyes remained on her for several seconds.
"...Who's that?"
Lyra followed his gaze.
"Hm?"
Aizen quietly pointed toward the child.
"That little cat girl."
Lyra looked over.
She hadn't noticed her before.
The little girl was sitting beside Theodore.
The angel boy seemed to be talking to her gently, trying to make her feel comfortable.
Aizen's expression softened.
Something about the girl's appearance bothered him.
Not because she looked dangerous.
Quite the opposite.
She looked like someone who had nowhere else to go.
Aizen walked toward the room where Theodore, Mikaela, and the little cat girl were staying.
Lyra followed him.
When they entered...
Theodore immediately turned around.
"Mister Aizen!"
He smiled.
Then he noticed that Aizen wasn't looking at him.
He was looking at the frightened cat girl.
The little girl immediately became nervous.
Her ears lowered.
Her tail curled tightly around her body.
Theodore noticed her fear.
He gently moved closer to her.
"It's okay."
"Mister Aizen isn't going to hurt you."
But the little cat girl still looked frightened.
Especially because Aizen was a much larger beastman than she was.
Aizen noticed her expression and immediately softened his posture.
He lowered himself slightly so that he wouldn't appear as intimidating.
"Hello, little one."
The girl remained silent.
Aizen smiled gently.
"What's your name?"
"And..."
"Why aren't you with your parents?"
The little cat girl lowered her head.
"..."
She didn't answer immediately.
Her tiny hands clenched against her clothes.
Then, after several seconds...
"I'm Lina Taileon."
Her voice was quiet.
Almost a whisper.
"My mother gave me that name..."
Aizen blinked.
But the sadness in her voice was unmistakable.
Lyra stepped into the room.
"Lina Taileon..."
The moment Lyra heard the name...
Her expression changed.
Her eyes widened.
"What..."
"What did you say your name was?"
Lina looked up.
"..."
"Lina Taileon."
Lyra stared at her.
Aizen immediately noticed her reaction.
"Huh?"
"Is something wrong, Lyra?"
Lyra slowly shook her head.
"No..."
"It's just..."
She placed a hand against her chin.
"Something clicked in my mind."
"As if I've heard that name before."
Lina's ears suddenly perked up.
"Yes!"
"It's Lina Taileon!"
Lyra stared at her.
She carefully examined the little girl.
Yellow hair.
Emerald-green eyes.
Cat ears.
Cat tail.
A small body that clearly belonged to a child.
Then Lyra remembered the history surrounding the name.
The Taileon family.
One of the royal beastman families of the Green Continent.
A family that had once stood close to the Dragon Kingdom.
A family that had been destroyed after the Dragon King changed his mind about them.
They had refused to allow the Dragon King to take ten of their cat beastman women as his companions.
That refusal had eventually contributed to their downfall.
Lyra's expression became serious.
"How old are you, Lina?"
"I'm five years old."
She hesitated.
"My mother said I was born on September 22nd, 10017."
Lyra's eyes widened.
"Five years old..."
"Yellow hair..."
"Emerald-like eyes..."
"A Cat Thiren..."
There was no doubt.
Lyra slowly looked toward Aizen.
"She's one of the fallen royal beastmen."
Everyone in the room fell silent.
Aizen looked at the small girl.
Lina lowered her head.
She seemed worried that everyone would suddenly treat her differently.
But Theodore immediately broke the silence.
"Don't worry, Lina."
Everyone looked at him.
"Even if you're from a higher status..."
"We wouldn't change how we talk to you."
Theodore smiled.
"I'm Theodore Ivalisk."
Mikaela raised her hand proudly.
"And I'm Mikaela Ivalisk!"
Aizen smiled.
"I'm Aizen Arcime."
Lyra then knelt beside Lina.
"And I'm Lyra Subaru."
She smiled warmly.
"If you want..."
"You could become our foster daughter."
Lina's eyes widened.
"...Really?"
Then she looked at Lyra's horns.
"But..."
"I'm a cat."
"And you're a dragoness."
Lyra smiled.
She pointed toward Aizen.
"Well..."
"If you look at Aizen closely..."
"He's also a cat."
Lina looked at Aizen.
"...A very big cat."
Aizen blinked.
"Hey."
Theodore giggled.
Mikaela laughed.
Even Lina gave a tiny smile.
Then Mikaela suddenly crossed her arms.
"Huh?"
"You're adopting Lina and not us?"
Lyra looked at her in disbelief.
"What are you talking about?"
"The two of you were already adopted by me and Aizen weeks ago!"
Mikaela froze.
"...Oh."
Theodore suddenly smiled.
"Then we're all different breeds..."
"But we're family!"
He turned toward Lina.
"That means we can all live together!"
Lina's eyes slowly became watery.
She looked at everyone around her.
For so long...
She had been alone.
She had lost her mother.
She had nowhere to go.
And now...
People were asking her to become part of their family.
Her tiny hands trembled.
Then she nodded.
"Y-Yes..."
"I'll accept it."
She looked toward Lyra.
"Thank you..."
Her voice trembled.
"Ma-Mama..."
Lyra's eyes widened.
Then she smiled.
"Haha..."
"You can call me Mama or Mother."
"And Aizen..."
She looked toward him.
"Call him Father or Papa."
She smiled mischievously.
"That way, our family will be balanced."
Aizen stared at her.
"...Uh."
He sighed.
"Yeah."
"Call me Father from now on."
Theodore immediately ran toward him.
"Papa!"
He hugged Aizen tightly.
Aizen nearly stumbled.
"Whoa!"
Everyone laughed.
Mikaela joined them.
Lina slowly approached as well.
And for the first time...
The little cat girl smiled without fear.
She had found a new family.
A Night Together
Later that evening...
The children were cleaned and prepared for bed.
Lina, Mikaela, and Lyra washed themselves before changing into fresh sleeping clothes.
Aizen and Theodore did the same.
Afterward, everyone gathered together inside the room.
They talked.
They laughed.
They shared stories.
Theodore talked about his dream of becoming stronger.
Mikaela teased him.
Lina quietly listened at first.
But eventually...
She began talking too.
Her voice became more comfortable.
Her smile became brighter.
The room gradually grew quieter as the children became tired.
One by one...
They fell asleep.
Lyra gently lowered the fire.
The warm glow disappeared.
The room became dark.
She looked toward the beds.
Lina was sleeping peacefully.
Mikaela was already fast asleep.
Theodore had fallen asleep near Aizen.
Lyra smiled.
She gently gave her own bed to Lina.
Then she looked toward Aizen.
"Aizen..."
"Hm?"
"Let's go to sleep."
Aizen nodded.
"Yes."
"Goodnight, Lyra."
"Goodnight, Aizen."
The two quietly settled onto the same bed.
They had already shared sleeping spaces many times during their journey.
But tonight felt different.
Now they had admitted their feelings.
Now they were together.
And now...
They had gained another member of their family.
Aizen slowly closed his eyes.
Lyra did the same.
The room became completely silent.
Everyone slept peacefully.
At least...
Almost everyone.
Several floors above the ground...
Something watched.
A figure stood silently in the darkness.
It wore black armor.
Every part of its body was covered.
No skin could be seen.
No face.
No eyes.
Nothing that revealed who—or what—the figure truly was.
The armor itself possessed strange dragonic features.
Sharp edges.
Dark metallic scales.
A silhouette that looked almost like something born from the shadow of a dragonoid.
The figure stood motionless.
Watching.
But its attention wasn't focused on Aizen.
It was focused on Lyra.
Inside the room...
Lyra suddenly moved.
Her eyebrows tightened.
Her breathing became uneven.
Then—
Her eyes opened.
But she wasn't awake.
She was dreaming.
"Huh...?"
Lyra found herself standing somewhere familiar.
A place she hadn't seen in years.
She looked around.
Then her eyes widened.
"Mother?"
"Father?"
Two figures stood before her.
They were holding each other's hands.
Lyra immediately ran toward them.
"Mother!"
"Father!"
"Are the two of you alright?"
She looked at them desperately.
"Is the curse gone?"
Neither answered.
Lyra slowed down.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Their faces...
There were no faces.
Nothing.
Only empty spaces where their features should have been.
Lyra froze.
"...Mother?"
Her voice trembled.
"Father?"
The two figures slowly turned toward her.
Then—
They reached for her.
Lyra stepped backward.
"W-Wait!"
Suddenly...
Their bodies began dissolving.
Their hands.
Their clothes.
Their entire forms.
Everything turned into nothingness.
"No!"
Lyra reached toward them.
"Mother!"
"Father!"
But there was nothing left.
Only emptiness.
Lyra stood alone.
Her heart pounded.
Then...
The darkness began changing.
The emptiness disappeared.
Flowers appeared around her.
A gentle breeze passed through the field.
The sky became bright.
And suddenly...
She heard familiar voices.
Aizen.
Theodore.
Mikaela.
And now...
Lina.
They were laughing together.
Walking together.
Eating together.
Traveling together.
Aizen was standing beneath the purple Jacaranda tree.
He smiled toward her.
Lyra slowly smiled back.
The nightmare disappeared.
Her breathing became calm.
Her body relaxed.
The dream became peaceful.
And somewhere in the real world...
The mysterious armored figure disappeared.
Without leaving a trace.
No footsteps.
No sound.
Nothing.
As though it had never been there.
Inside the room...
Lyra continued sleeping peacefully beside Aizen.
Unaware that someone had been watching her.
Unaware of what that mysterious figure wanted.
And unaware...
That the arrival of Lina Taileon had quietly changed the path of their journey forever.
For the first time...
Aizen and Lyra were no longer traveling as two.
They were now a family of five.
And their journey...
Was only beginning.
End of Chapter 11