The nightmare slowly faded.
The darkness surrounding Lyra disappeared first.
The faceless figures...
The strange voices...
The terrifying image of her parents...
Everything slowly dissolved into nothingness.
Lyra's breathing became calmer as she remained asleep.
But while her nightmare was ending...
Aizen's dream was only beginning.
His surroundings suddenly changed.
There was no village.
No inn.
No Lyra.
No Theodore.
No Mikaela.
No Lina.
Instead...
Aizen found himself standing in a place he had never seen before.
Or at least...
He thought he had never seen it.
His golden eyes slowly moved across the strange landscape.
"...What is this now?"
Aizen asked himself.
Something about the place felt wrong.
It wasn't simply unfamiliar.
It felt...
Remembered.
As though some part of his mind recognized it while the rest of him desperately tried to understand what he was seeing.
Then—
Something moved within the darkness.
Aizen's eyes immediately focused on it.
A shadowy figure began crawling slowly out from the darkness and toward a distant source of light.
The figure was difficult to see.
Its body was almost completely covered by shadows.
Yet...
There was something familiar about it.
The shape.
The aura.
The way it moved.
The determination behind every movement.
It reminded Aizen of himself.
Someone who would fight.
Someone who would kill.
Someone who would do anything to protect the people they loved.
Aizen stared at the mysterious figure.
"...Who are you?"
The figure continued crawling.
Closer...
And closer...
Until—
CRACK!!
The light suddenly shattered.
The entire dream trembled.
The mysterious figure began fading away.
Aizen watched in confusion as the world itself seemed to reject the person.
It was as though reality was trying to erase him.
His existence...
His memories...
Everything.
The figure slowly disappeared into nothingness.
"...What is this?"
Aizen shouted.
"Who are you?!"
But before he could get an answer—
A powerful purplish-black aura suddenly appeared.
The pressure was overwhelming.
A second shadowy figure stood within the darkness.
This one...
Was clearly a woman.
Her presence carried the weight of countless battles.
She very felt dangerous.
Familiar.
And yet...
Aizen couldn't remember ever meeting her.
The woman looked toward the fading figure.
Then her voice echoed through the strange dream.
"It's your fault in the first place."
Aizen froze.
The woman's voice carried no hesitation.
"Rules are rules..."
She paused.
Then—
"Azai."
Aizen's eyes widened.
"...What?"
The woman disappeared.
The darkness swallowed her completely.
"Who are you?!"
Aizen desperately tried to move toward her.
"Who is Azai?!"
His voice echoed through the empty dream.
But nobody answered.
There was only silence.
Aizen stood alone.
Confused.
Frustrated.
And strangely unsettled by that single name.
"...Azai."
He repeated quietly.
"Why does that name feel familiar?"
Nothing answered him.
The scenery suddenly changed again.
Aizen found himself somewhere completely different.
There were dark spots scattered across the strange surroundings.
White spots floated throughout the darkness like distant stars.
Yet there was no sky.
No ground.
No horizon.
It was as though he had been placed inside an endless space between memories.
Aizen tried to move.
Nothing.
His body wouldn't respond.
"...What?"
He struggled again.
"Why can't I move?!"
Nothing happened.
He could only look around.
Then—
Click.
Something materialized beneath him.
An elegant chair appeared.
A table followed.
Aizen stared at them in confusion.
"...What?"
The surroundings felt strangely familiar.
Like a distant memory.
But not his memory.
At least...
Not the memories he currently remembered.
Then someone appeared.
A woman.
She stood in front of him.
She wore white.
Her presence was gentle.
Almost comforting.
Yet...
She had no face.
Aizen stared at her.
"...Who are you?"
The woman didn't respond.
Instead, she held something in her hands.
A cake.
A single candle flickered softly on top.
The woman raised it slightly.
Then she began speaking.
Her voice was faint.
Almost impossible to understand.
"Hap..."
Aizen frowned.
"What?"
The woman repeated herself.
"Birth..."
Her voice distorted.
"Hap... birth..."
Aizen leaned forward as much as his immobile body allowed.
"Wh-what are you trying to say, Miss?!"
"Where am I?!"
The woman continued repeating the same broken words.
"Hap..."
"Birth..."
"Hap..."
"Birth..."
Aizen's confusion deepened.
"Why are you showing me this?"
The woman didn't answer.
She simply stood there.
Holding the cake.
Watching him.
Then—
CRACK.
A thin fracture appeared across her body.
Aizen's eyes widened.
"...What?"
Another crack appeared.
Then another.
The woman shattered like glass.
The cake...
The chair...
The table...
The entire strange world—
Everything broke apart.
Aizen suddenly opened his eyes.
"Urgh!"
He sat upright.
His breathing was slightly heavier than normal.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the ceiling.
"...Weird."
Aizen rubbed his eyes.
"These strange dreams have been trying to get into my head day by day."
He slowly looked around the room.
The inn was quiet.
Everyone else was still asleep.
Aizen reached toward the nearby calendar.
His eyes stopped on the date.
May 2, 10023.
He stared at it for a moment.
Then his expression changed.
"...May 2."
Aizen remembered.
"Lyria's birthday..."
He corrected himself quietly.
"Lyra's birthday was May 2, 10002."
He looked toward where Lyra was sleeping.
"That means..."
"It's her birthday today."
Aizen smiled faintly.
"Maybe that's why that strange dream made me think about her."
He quietly climbed out of bed.
He didn't want to wake Lyra yet.
Instead, he walked over toward the children.
Mikaela was sleeping peacefully.
Theodore was curled up comfortably.
Lina was also fast asleep.
Aizen smiled.
"Alright..."
"I'll wake them quietly."
He gently woke the three children.
One by one, they slowly opened their eyes.
"...Papa?"
Lina rubbed her eyes.
"What's happening?"
Theodore yawned.
Mikaela looked at Aizen sleepily.
Aizen placed a finger against his lips.
"Shhh."
"It's Lyra's birthday."
The three children immediately became more awake.
A short while later, Aizen approached Elena at the reception.
"Elena."
She looked up.
"Oh? Good morning, Aizen."
"Could you help us prepare a surprise for Lyra?"
Elena blinked.
"A surprise?"
Aizen nodded.
"It's her birthday."
Elena's eyes widened.
"Wait..."
"Lyra is turning eighteen?"
She looked at Aizen.
"And you're seventeen?"
Aizen nodded.
Elena stared at them for a moment.
"I thought you two were in your twenties!"
Aizen laughed awkwardly.
"Hahaha..."
Before the conversation could continue—
Captain Roland walked into the reception area.
He overheard the conversation.
"Well then!"
He smiled.
"Let's begin the birthday party for your lover, Aizen."
Aizen looked at him.
"...Right."
"Let's begin."
The preparations didn't take long.
Elena organized the food.
The village workers helped decorate the first floor.
A few adventurers who had heard about Lyra joined in.
Even several knights stopped by.
Theodore and Mikaela helped with the decorations.
Lina carefully placed a small flower beside the celebration table.
Aizen looked around.
"...This is already becoming much bigger than I expected."
Elena laughed.
"You're the ones who saved our village."
"You deserve a celebration."
Aizen smiled.
"Thanks."
While everyone prepared...
Lyra remained asleep upstairs.
Aizen looked toward Theodore.
"Theodore."
The little angel nodded.
"Yes, Papa?"
"Can you wake Lyra up?"
Theodore smiled.
"Leave it to me."
He quietly climbed the stairs.
Lyra slowly opened her eyes.
"...Hmm?"
She looked around.
The room was still dark.
She couldn't see much.
"Theodore?"
The little angel stood beside her.
"Miss Lyra..."
"Can you come downstairs with me?"
Lyra blinked.
"Why?"
Theodore smiled.
"It's a surprise."
Lyra became suspicious.
"...A surprise?"
"Yes."
He grabbed her hand.
"Come on!"
Lyra followed him downstairs.
As she reached the first floor...
Everything remained dark.
She couldn't see the decorations.
She couldn't see the villagers.
She couldn't see Aizen.
Then—
CLICK!
The lights suddenly turned on.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LYRA!"
Everyone shouted together.
Lyra froze.
Her eyes widened.
A large sign reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY hung above the room.
Flowers decorated the tables.
Candles illuminated the celebration.
The entire inn was filled with smiling faces.
Lyra covered her mouth.
"...What?"
Aizen stepped forward with a smile.
"Happy birthday, Lyra."
Her expression softened.
"...Aizen."
Mikaela quickly ran toward her.
"Happy birthday, Lyra!"
She hugged her.
Theodore followed.
"Happy birthday!"
Lina shyly approached afterward.
She held out the little flower she had prepared.
"...Happy birthday, Mama."
Lyra's eyes softened immediately.
She crouched down and gently accepted it.
"Thank you, Lina."
Lina smiled.
Mikaela grinned.
"We're all your family now!"
Theodore nodded enthusiastically.
"So your birthday should be everyone's celebration!"
Lyra laughed softly.
"You three..."
Aizen watched them with a warm smile.
Then Elena stepped forward.
"Happy birthday, Lyra."
The village residents followed.
"Happy birthday!"
The adventurers raised their cups.
"Happy birthday!"
Several knights smiled and joined in.
"Happy birthday, Lady Lyra!"
Lyra looked around the room.
So many people.
So many smiles.
She had once believed she would have to walk alone.
Yet now...
She had people surrounding her.
People who cared about her.
People she could call family.
And standing at the center of it all...
Was Aizen.
Lyra's smile became brighter.
"...Thank you."
She quietly wiped away a small tear.
"I really mean it."
Aizen walked closer.
"Today is your day."
"So..."
"Let's make it a good one."
Lyra smiled.
"Yeah."
And for a while...
There were no wars.
No Dragon Empire.
No enemies.
No mysterious dreams.
No forgotten memories.
Only laughter.
Only family.
And one peaceful birthday in Mayana Village.
But somewhere deep within Aizen's mind...
That mysterious name still remained.
Azai.
The birthday celebration continued throughout the morning.
The tables were filled with food, freshly baked bread, fruit, warm soup, and several small cakes that Elena had prepared especially for Lyra.
For someone who had expected nothing more than an ordinary morning...
Lyra couldn't stop smiling.
Mikaela was already enjoying herself.
Theodore was happily eating beside her.
And Lina remained close to Lyra, occasionally looking at the decorations with a quiet smile.
Aizen stood nearby, watching everyone.
For once...
He felt completely at ease.
No enemies.
No battles.
No need to keep his spear within reach.
Just people he cared about.
Lyra eventually sat beside him.
"Aizen."
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
Aizen looked at her.
"For what?"
"For remembering."
She smiled.
"My birthday isn't something I usually celebrate."
Aizen smiled back.
"Then we'll celebrate it properly from now on."
Lyra's cheeks became slightly pink.
"...I'd like that."
Mikaela immediately noticed.
"Hehehe..."
Lyra glanced at her.
"What?"
Mikaela covered her mouth while giggling.
"Nothing."
Theodore looked between them.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because Mama and Papa are acting cute again."
Aizen nearly choked on his drink.
"Wha—"
Lyra's face became bright red.
"Theodore!"
Lina quietly giggled.
The peaceful celebration continued.
Two Years Later.
Time passed much faster than anyone expected.
The days became weeks.
The weeks became months.
And eventually...
Years.
Aizen is 19, Years old, turning 20.
Lyra is 20, years old.
Mikaela and Theodore are 8 years old.
Lina is now 7 years old.
Aizen and Lyra's journey continued.
Their bond grew stronger.
So did their family.
Mikaela and Theodore became more comfortable around everyone.
Lina, despite being born into a fallen royal Beastman family, slowly stopped worrying about her former status.
To Aizen...
She was simply Lina.
His daughter.
And to Lina...
He was simply Papa.
The same was true for Theodore and Mikaela.
The five of them had become a family.
Not because of blood.
But because they had chosen one another.
And now...
It was late at night.
November 6, 10025.
Only a few hours remained before the calendar reached November 7.
Aizen was outside the inn.
Training.
His body moved through the darkness with incredible speed.
His spear struck the air.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The wind surrounding him violently scattered the leaves across the ground.
WHOOSH!
Aizen stopped.
His breathing was steady.
Sweat rolled down his face.
He looked toward the night sky.
"...Not enough."
He tightened his grip.
Then continued training.
He had become far stronger than the young boy who had first arrived in Mayana Village.
His body had grown.
His muscles had developed.
His movements had become sharper.
His perception had become frighteningly precise.
Yet Aizen still wasn't satisfied.
There was always something beyond his current strength.
Something waiting for him.
Something he could feel but couldn't explain.
After several more hours...
Aizen finally returned to the inn.
Everyone was asleep.
Lyra.
Mikaela.
Theodore.
Lina.
Aizen quietly checked each room.
Once he was certain everyone was safe, he finally allowed himself to rest.
Tomorrow would be November 7.
His birthday.
He closed his eyes.
And eventually...
He fell asleep.
Then.
Darkness.
Aizen opened his eyes.
"...Again?"
He tried moving.
Nothing.
His body refused to respond.
He could only watch.
The strange dream had returned.
Broken memories floated around him.
Pieces of places he had never visited.
Faces he couldn't remember.
Events that felt impossibly old.
Aizen's expression became serious.
"Why does this keep happening?"
Suddenly...
He felt himself moving.
Not by his own will.
Something was controlling his movements.
He was walking.
Beside him...
Was the mysterious woman in white.
The same woman from his previous dream.
Aizen couldn't see her face.
But somehow...
Her presence felt strangely comforting.
She walked beside him through a beautiful garden.
The flowers were everywhere.
The air was peaceful.
The world seemed almost perfect.
Aizen stared at the scenery.
"This..."
"It feels different."
The mysterious woman gently held his hand.
Aizen couldn't pull away.
He could only continue walking beside her.
Then—
Something changed.
The flowers began turning black.
The beautiful garden slowly became corrupted.
The sky darkened.
The trees burned.
The peaceful atmosphere disappeared.
Everything began breaking apart.
Aizen's eyes widened.
"What is happening?"
The woman in white suddenly disappeared from his side.
Aizen looked around.
"Wait!"
"Where did you go?!"
There was no answer.
The garden continued collapsing.
White became black.
Beauty became destruction.
And once again...
The dream transferred into something else.
Aizen stood alone.
"...This keeps happening."
"One thing turns into another, and then it immediately transfers into a new dream."
He looked at his surroundings.
"Earlier, everything was soft and comfortable."
"It felt peaceful."
"Then everything turned corrupted..."
"And destroyed."
Aizen lowered his head.
"When will this end?"
Silence.
Then—
A powerful aura appeared behind him.
Aizen immediately recognized it.
The purplish-black aura.
The same aura from before.
His eyes widened.
"...You."
The mysterious woman appeared.
She was the one who had called him Azai.
The one who had told him—
Rules are rules.
Aizen stared at her.
He wanted answers.
He wanted to move.
He wanted to confront her.
But his body remained frozen.
The woman suddenly raised her hand.
A white spear materialized.
Aizen's eyes widened.
"Wait—"
She attacked.
The spear shot directly toward his chest.
But before it could reach him—
The mysterious woman in white suddenly appeared.
She threw herself between them.
Aizen couldn't understand what was happening.
"Wait!"
The spear continued forward.
SHNK!
The white spear pierced through them both.
Aizen felt no physical pain.
But the tension surrounding the two figures was overwhelming.
He desperately tried to move.
"Who are you?!"
"Why are you doing this?!"
But neither woman answered.
The entire world suddenly fractured.
CRACK.
Aizen's eyes widened.
"No..."
CRAAAAACK!
Everything shattered.
The garden.
The women.
The spear.
The darkness.
Everything.
Aizen suddenly woke up.
"HAH!"
He sat upright.
His breathing was heavy.
He looked around the room.
Empty.
"...Lyra?"
No answer.
Aizen immediately looked toward the other beds.
Nobody.
He stood.
"Mikaela?"
Nothing.
"Theodore?"
Silence.
"Lina?"
Still nothing.
Aizen's expression slowly changed.
"...Where is everyone?"
He could feel magic.
They weren't completely gone.
At least...
He thought they weren't.
He hurried outside.
The streets of Mayana Village were completely empty.
No villagers.
No adventurers.
No knights.
No merchants.
Not even a single animal.
Aizen slowly looked around.
"...What?"
He walked farther.
Nothing.
He continued searching.
Ten minutes.
Thirty minutes.
An hour.
Still nothing.
Not a single soul.
The silence began feeling unnatural.
Aizen clenched his fists.
"This dream..."
"It feels too real."
He punched the wall beside him.
BOOM!
The impact hurt.
Aizen stared at his hand.
"...I can feel it."
"This isn't normal."
He looked back toward the inn.
After another moment...
He returned.
He slowly opened the door.
And—
The entire first floor suddenly exploded with light.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AIZEN!"
Aizen froze.
"...Huh?"
The lights illuminated the entire room.
Decorations covered the walls.
Food covered the tables.
Flowers were everywhere.
And standing in front of him...
Was Lyra.
She smiled brightly.
Behind her stood Mikaela, Theodore, Lina, Elena, Captain Roland, the villagers, adventurers, and knights.
Aizen stared at them.
His mouth slightly opened.
"...You were all here?"
Lyra giggled.
"Of course."
Aizen looked around.
"So the empty village..."
"That was part of the surprise?"
Lyra nodded.
"I used illusion magic."
Aizen stared at her.
"You made the entire village look empty?"
Lyra smiled proudly.
"...Maybe I went a little too far."
Elena laughed.
"She exhausted herself preparing it!"
Lyra quickly looked away.
"I wanted it to be special."
Aizen's expression softened.
"You didn't have to do all this."
"I wanted to."
Lyra smiled.
"Happy birthday, Aizen."
Mikaela ran toward him.
"Happy birthday, Papa!"
Theodore followed.
"Happy birthday!"
Lina approached more quietly.
She held his hand.
"Happy birthday, Papa."
Aizen smiled.
"...Thank you."
Elena stepped forward.
"Happy birthday, Aizen!"
The villagers followed.
"Happy birthday!"
The adventurers raised their voices.
"Happy birthday!"
The knights smiled.
"Happy birthday, Aizen!"
And finally...
Captain Roland stepped forward.
He folded his arms and smiled.
"Happy birthday, Aizen."
Aizen laughed.
"Thanks, Roland."
Roland looked toward the others.
"Looks like you've grown quite a lot since the first time I met you."
Aizen smiled.
Roland chuckled.
"When I first saw you, you were much more scrawny."
"Now you've gained muscles, strength, and quite a reputation."
"If another wild boar attacked you..."
He laughed.
"Maybe you could defeat it yourself this time!"
Aizen paused.
"...Maybe."
Inside his mind, however, another thought appeared.
Roland isn't completely wrong.
But he isn't completely right either.
I've been hiding my true strength.
So has Lyra.
Theodore, Mikaela, and Lina too.
Aizen's eyes narrowed slightly.
If I went all out...
Maybe I could even scratch the Dragon King.
He quickly pushed the thought away.
"Aizen?"
Roland's voice brought him back.
"You're spacing out."
Aizen blinked.
"Oh."
He laughed awkwardly.
"Sorry."
"I was just thinking about how to say goodbye properly."
Roland's expression softened.
"Goodbye?"
Aizen nodded.
"We'll probably be leaving soon."
"Ravaryn City is our next destination."
Roland smiled.
"Then I hope I'll see you again."
"I'll have to return to my knight duties."
Aizen extended his hand.
"Take care, Roland."
Roland shook it.
"You too."
"Bye, Aizen."
"Bye, Roland."
The two smiled at each other.
And as the celebration continued around them...
Aizen looked toward Lyra.
Mikaela.
Theodore.
And Lina.
Their journey was about to continue.
Mayana Village had given them shelter.
Memories.
A family.
And a peaceful place to grow.
But now...
It was time to leave.
Their next destination was waiting.
Ravaryn Kingdom.
And none of them knew...
What awaited them beyond its gates.
End of Chapter 12.