The night sky above Kael'Ar had finally returned to normal.
Arata Kurogane stood atop a restored mountain peak, his hands resting casually in his pockets as he gazed across the vast ocean below. The moon hung high above the horizon, illuminating the waves with a pale silver glow. Countless stars shimmered across the heavens, their reflections scattered over the surface of the water.
Only a short while ago, much of this world had been reduced to fragments. Mountains had disappeared, oceans had been torn apart, and celestial bodies that had existed for billions of years had been erased from the universe.
Now, everything was back where it belonged.
Arata tilted his head upward.
Far beyond the atmosphere, the celestial bodies he had destroyed during his battle with Kitakim had returned to their original positions. Stars burned in their familiar constellations, planets revolved along their established paths, and the distant galaxies continued their silent journeys through space.
He had even restored the subtle laws that governed their movements.
After all, there was no reason to leave the universe in a worse condition simply because he had been involved in a fight.
Honestly, I should start charging people for the repairs I have to make after these things. A faint smile appeared on his face. Behind him, footsteps approached.
Sirius Augustus Vos came to a stop beside him, her long white hair flowing gently in the ocean breeze. The golden light in her eyes reflected the stars above, making it difficult to tell whether she was looking at the heavens or at something much farther away.
For several moments, neither spoke. Then, without turning his head, Arata broke the silence. "So, what exactly is your purpose for coming here, Sirius?"
She continued looking at the ocean. "I came to find you."
Arata's expression remained unchanged, although his attention sharpened slightly. "Me?"
"The only reason Kitakim and the others hit here first was because I was far away from this multiverse." She paused, allowing the wind to carry her words across the mountain. "I had been searching for a long time before I finally arrived."
Arata turned his head toward her. "And what is your goal?" Sirius raised her gaze toward the stars. "I'm not from this multiverse, Arata. I come from a different one." That earned her his full attention.
He had already suspected that her existence was unusual. The Pen of Creation was not an ordinary circuit, and the sensation he had experienced when she appeared before him was unlike anything he could easily explain.
But hearing her confirm that she came from another multiverse gave him something concrete to consider.
Sirius continued. "The moment I awakened my circuit, I heard a voice. It told me to search for the user of the Soul Circuit." She paused. "That was all it said. No explanation. No instructions about what I was supposed to do after finding you. Nothing about who the voice belonged to or why it had chosen me."
Arata placed his right index finger against his chin. Another multiverse. The Pen of Creation. A voice that appeared when she awakened her circuit and directed her toward me. "How wonderfully inconvenient."
He had spent considerable time considering the Great Circuit after his battle with Kitakim. Its infinite possibilities, its relationship with the various circuits, and the possibility that there were entire layers of existence he had yet to discover had given him more than enough reasons to investigate.
And now someone from another multiverse had appeared, claiming that she had been guided toward him from the moment she awakened. There were too many coincidences here for him to dismiss them outright. Sirius lowered her gaze toward him.
"When I heard you say that you would pursue the Great Circuit, something changed. I can't properly explain it, but I felt as though that was my purpose too. As though finding you was only the beginning."
Arata fell silent. For a brief moment, his thoughts returned to an ancient history he had only recently begun to understand.
Evion and Semaki. The first users of the Soul Circuit and the Pen of Creation.
According to the history he had uncovered, those two had traveled together, venturing beyond the boundaries of their known world. They had reached the forty-fifth dimension before turning back, and whatever they had encountered there had remained largely unexplained.
After their return, the First Circuit War began.
Fear of the Soul Circuit spread among the First Circuit Beings. That fear became a justification for conflict, and conflict became history. Generations passed, yet the same fear continued to influence those who inherited the circuits of the ancient era.
Kitakim had been one of its victims.
He had inherited the Constellation Circuit, but he had also inherited the terror surrounding the Soul Circuit. Rather than deciding for himself what Arata represented, he had allowed the past to determine his future.
And so history had nearly repeated itself.
Evion and Semaki traveled together. They reached the forty-fifth dimension, then returned. After that, the first circuit war began. Now Sirius, the user of the Pen of Creation, has appeared before me from another multiverse and she feels the same inexplicable pull toward the Great Circuit that I do. Arata's lips curved into a small smile. "Interesting." Sirius glanced at him.
"What's interesting?"
"Just thinking about how ridiculous the timing is." He looked back toward the stars. "The moment I decide to investigate the Great Circuit, you suddenly appear before me. And apparently, our predecessors were doing something similar long before either of us existed."
He gave a quiet laugh. "I guess this unexplainable connection I feel toward you might have something to do with the past." Sirius gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It seems so." Neither of them knew what that connection truly meant.
It was not merely familiarity, nor was it the ordinary recognition that came from sharing a similar purpose. There was something deeper, something that seemed to exist independently of their memories or experiences.
They had met only moments ago. Yet some part of them seemed to recognize the other. Arata found the sensation intriguing.
Sirius, meanwhile, seemed content to accept that there were questions they could not yet answer. Unfortunately, their peaceful moment did not last. A circular portal opened behind them, its edges shimmering with spatial energy. "Am I interrupting you, Creator?"
Arata turned.
John Merciless stepped through the portal first, his familiar regal bearing accompanied by an expression of mild amusement. Behind him came Lord Zenith and Queen Nullis, followed by Tessandra, Britanya, Kaelen, Kaelven, Kimotsu, Jessica, Faith, Denma, Gene, Joatsu, and Reinhart.
For a moment, Arata simply looked at them. Then he smiled. "Right. I forgot about you guys for a moment."
Kaelen immediately grinned.
"You were having a moment, weren't you?" A fist struck him on the head. "Shut up, Kaelen," Jessica said. "Ow! What was that for?"
"Because you were about to say something stupid."
"I hadn't even finished!"
Kaelen rubbed his head while Jessica walked past him, entirely satisfied with her decision. Kimotsu quietly looked away, trying to conceal his amusement, while Denma sighed as though he had witnessed this exact scene far too many times.
Nearby, Joatsu and Reinhart stepped forward. Both men lowered themselves onto one knee before Sirius.
"Welcome, Princess Vos." Sirius turned toward them, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "Drop the formality, guys. We're not in Xylanthia anymore." Joatsu rose first, followed by Reinhart. "As you wish, Princess."
"That still sounds like formality," Sirius replied. Reinhart smiled. "Old habits."
Arata watched the exchange with mild interest. He had already noticed that Joatsu and Reinhart treated Sirius differently from everyone else, and their choice of title suggested a connection to a place or hierarchy beyond the world they currently occupied.
He made a mental note to ask about it later. There were more pressing things to consider. His gaze moved toward the six young heroes standing together: Kaelen, Jessica, Denma, Gene, Kimotsu, and Faith.
They had changed.
Not in their appearances, but in the way they carried themselves. Their eyes were clearer, their postures steadier, and the uncertainty that had once accompanied their decisions had been replaced by something firmer.
They had experienced war firsthand. They had witnessed people they cared about suffer, faced enemies beyond their former understanding, and continued fighting even when the outcome was uncertain. Some of them had nearly lost everything. Yet they were still standing. Arata studied them for a moment before turning toward John. "It seems we were right after all, John." John raised an eyebrow.
"About what, exactly?"
"War changes people. For better or worse, it forces them to confront parts of themselves they might otherwise spend their entire lives avoiding." Arata looked toward the six heroes again. "But it changed these kids for the better. Look at them." His smile became slightly more pronounced. "I like how determined they are now."
John followed his gaze.
Kaelen stood with his arms crossed, Jessica beside him. Denma appeared composed as usual, while Faith watched the restored night sky with quiet relief. Kimotsu seemed to be thinking about something, and Gene had the unmistakable expression of someone who would rather be asleep but was determined not to miss anything important.
John nodded faintly.
"They've earned the right to stand where they are."
"Indeed."
Tessandra moved to stand beside John, slipping her hand into his. He glanced at her, and she returned his look with a warm smile.
For all his arrogance, John did not pull away.
Meanwhile, Britanya stood a little apart from the others. Her attention had been fixed on the heavens ever since she stepped through the portal. The stars were beautiful, but she seemed to be searching for someone among them. Arata noticed. Of course, he noticed. He closed his eyes for a moment, then tilted his face toward the heavens.
"Oi, Alzwalt. How long are you going to make her wait?"
In the thirty-sixth dimension, Heaven stood beneath an endless expanse of golden light.
Its magnificent palaces and celestial structures stretched across a realm untouched by ordinary time. Rivers of luminous energy flowed between floating islands, while countless angels moved through the heavens, their wings illuminating the surrounding architecture.
At the center of this divine realm stood its newest ruler.
Alzwalt Light, Supreme Light and God of Heaven, had been examining the foundations of his dominion when he heard a familiar voice. It reached him across the dimensions without passing through any conventional channel of communication. "Oi, Alzwalt. How long are you going to make her wait?"
Alzwalt froze. For a second, he stared into the distance. Then he straightened himself and rose from his throne.
"...Creator."
The angels surrounding him immediately noticed the change in their ruler's demeanor. Eight guardians, stationed throughout the heavenly palace, turned toward him in unison. Alzwalt's expression softened.
He had ascended to Heaven only recently. The power of Supreme Light had transformed him into something that could no longer exist comfortably within the lower dimensions. His very presence carried enough divine energy to threaten the stability of entire star systems.
That was why he had remained in Heaven… Arata had called for him and Britanya was waiting.
Alzwalt spread his eight golden wings. "Prepare the descent." The guardians exchanged glances before taking their positions. Eight trumpets sounded.
Their music reverberated throughout Heaven, reaching the farthest reaches of the divine realm. Golden clouds gathered above the heavenly palace, and a vast opening appeared in the sky, connecting the thirty-sixth dimension to the world below.
A pillar of light descended through the opening and within it, Alzwalt began his descent. Back on the mountain, Arata looked upward. The sky above the ocean opened.
Eight guardians appeared within the golden radiance, each carrying a trumpet that shone with divine brilliance. Their presence caused the surrounding air to tremble, but the energy was carefully contained. Then the light intensified. A majestic figure emerged from the heavens.
Alzwalt descended with eight golden wings spread behind him and a golden halo floating above his head. His tall figure was clothed in radiant garments, and his golden hair moved gently in the wind. His eyes held the calm authority of a being who had inherited dominion over Heaven itself.
The instant his feet touched the mountain peak, the surrounding golden light receded. Alzwalt approached Arata and bowed slightly. "Creator." Arata looked him over. "So you've finally arrived."
"I apologize for the delay. Controlling my power has proven more difficult than I anticipated."
"No kidding. Your presence was practically threatening to burn a hole through the dimensions."
Alzwalt gave an apologetic smile. Arata waved a hand dismissively. "Whatever. Come here." He raised his right hand. The space around Alzwalt began to shimmer.
A complex pattern of possibilities unfolded through Arata's perception. He examined the structure of Alzwalt's existence, the divine energy that now composed his being, and the relationship between his consciousness and the Supreme Light he wielded.
The problem was simple. Alzwalt's power had surpassed the limitations of his former body.
His ascension had not merely increased his strength. It had changed the fundamental nature of his existence. His old body could no longer contain Supreme Light without placing tremendous strain on the surrounding world.
Arata could have suppressed the power.
He could have sealed portions of it, restricted its output, or forced Alzwalt to remain in Heaven until he learned complete control but those solutions were inconvenient and Arata disliked inconvenient solutions when better ones were available.
"If the problem is that his body can't withstand his power, then the obvious answer is to give him a body that can."
"Honestly, why complicate something so simple
Arata imagined a new body. Not an imitation of Alzwalt's former vessel, but a body specifically designed to accommodate the full nature of Supreme Light. Its structure would remain stable beneath the pressure of divine energy, its existence would be compatible with the power of Heaven, and its presence would no longer threaten the surrounding dimensions simply because Alzwalt happened to stand in the same place.
The Soul Circuit responded.
Possibility became reality.
Golden light gathered around Alzwalt, surrounding him from head to toe. For a brief moment, his silhouette disappeared within the radiance. Then the light faded, revealing his restored physical form. His tall golden hair fell naturally around his face. His golden eyes shone with a controlled brilliance, and his regal presence remained as overwhelming as ever.
Yet the world no longer trembled beneath it. Alzwalt looked down at his hands. He flexed his fingers, then spread his wings slightly. Supreme Light flowed through his body without destabilizing the mountain, the atmosphere, or the space around him.
For the first time since his ascension, he could stand in the lower dimensions without endangering everything nearby. He looked up at Arata. "Thank you, Creator." Arata slipped his hand back into his pocket. "Don't mention it. Just make sure you don't destroy the solar system."
"I shall exercise the utmost caution."
Arata gave him a flat look. "You better. If you destroy it, I'm going to beat you." Alzwalt's smile stiffened. "...Understood." John turned his face away, shoulders moving with a barely restrained laugh.
Tessandra elbowed him lightly. "Don't start."
John: "I haven't said anything."
Tessandra: "You don't have to."
Nearby, Kaelen was staring at Alzwalt's restored body with open amazement. "So he really can just make a body capable of holding that kind of power?"
Denma folded his arms. "The Soul Circuit doesn't seem to recognize many limitations."
"That's one way of putting it," Jessica replied. Arata heard them, naturally, but chose not to respond.
His attention had already shifted elsewhere.
Britanya had been standing still ever since Alzwalt descended. Now, at last, she moved. She crossed the mountain peak in a few swift steps, her expression caught somewhere between relief and irritation. Alzwalt had only just turned toward her when she reached him.
She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Alzwalt's eyes widened. For a moment, the God of Heaven seemed utterly unprepared for the situation. Then his expression softened, and he wrapped his arms around her. "Britanya..." She pressed her face against his chest.
"You idiot." He closed his eyes.
"I know."
"You absolute idiot. You ascended to Heaven without even giving me a proper goodbye."
"I—" She pulled back. Alzwalt barely had time to register the change in her expression before she drew back her fist. Ice covered her knuckles, spreading across her hand in a pale crystalline layer.
Arata's eyebrows rose. John's smile widened. "Oh, this is going to be good."
Britanya punched Alzwalt squarely in the face. The impact cracked the air.
Alzwalt shot sideways across the mountain peak, his golden wings folding instinctively as he crashed into the side of a nearby mountain. The resulting impact sent a cloud of dust rolling down its slopes.
Silence followed. Then Alzwalt's laughter echoed from the mountainside. He emerged from the dust a moment later, rubbing his cheek.
"Perhaps I really deserved that." Britanya folded her arms and turned her head away.
"Hmph."
Arata watched the pair, a faint smile resting on his face.
"Supreme Light, God of Heaven, ruler of the thirty-sixth dimension and he still can't defend himself against his own girlfriend. Truly magnificent."
John leaned slightly toward Arata. "Are you going to help him?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I value my life." John nodded solemnly. "A wise decision."
Britanya heard them. Both men immediately became interested in the stars. The night continued without another battle.
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Kael'Ar could enjoy a peaceful evening without the threat of another catastrophic confrontation hanging over it. Arata eventually turned his attention toward the dimension in which he had placed the planet's civilians. He lifted his right hand.
Space unfolded before him, revealing a separate dimension filled with sleeping inhabitants. They had been kept safe while the battle raged, untouched by the destruction that had torn apart their world.
Now that the danger had passed, there was no reason to keep them there. "Time to put everything back where it belongs." Arata moved his fingers.
The dimension opened wider, and a gentle current of spatial energy spread throughout it. One by one, the civilians were transferred back to Kael'Ar, each returning to the place where they had been before the battle began.
Those who had been in their homes returned to their beds.
Those who had been in the streets reappeared in the same neighborhoods.
Travelers returned to their inns, merchants to their shops, and adventurers to the places where they had last rested. Families who had been separated by the evacuation found themselves beneath the same roofs once more.
No one was left behind.
Arata adjusted their memories and the flow of their immediate experiences just enough to prevent confusion, ensuring that the civilians would not awaken believing they had spent an unexplained stretch of time in an unfamiliar dimension.
He did not rewrite their lives or erase their identities.
He simply returned them to the world they knew. Across the planet, lights glowed in windows. The wind swept through forests, rivers flowed between familiar banks, and the creatures inhabiting Kael'Ar returned to their usual routines.
The world was alive again. Arata lowered his hand. "Done." Sirius stood nearby, watching him with a thoughtful expression.
"You restored an entire world, its celestial surroundings, and everyone living on it."
"And?"
She stared at him for a moment. "Nothing. I was just observing."
"Then observe quietly." Sirius smiled. "I think I'll pass." Arata sighed. "Wonderful. I've acquired a persistent one."
He had the distinct feeling that getting rid of Sirius would be considerably more difficult than restoring a planet. And, judging by her expression, she had no intention of making it easy. As the night deepened, the group gradually went their separate ways.
There were no grand speeches, no elaborate celebrations, and no declarations about the future. They had all endured enough excitement to last a lifetime.
For one night, ordinary life was more than enough.
Alzwalt and Britanya returned to their apartment in Arkion. Their departure was somewhat delayed because Britanya insisted on walking ahead of him while Alzwalt followed, repeatedly attempting to apologize for his abrupt ascension. She did not answer him until they reached their door.
Even then, she only muttered, "You're making dinner tomorrow."
Alzwalt smiled.
"Of course."
"And you're not going anywhere without telling me again." His smile softened. "I promise."
Inside, their apartment welcomed them with familiar silence. For Alzwalt, who had spent his first days as God of Heaven surrounded by an endless realm of divine responsibilities, the modest rooms felt strangely precious. He had all of Heaven at his command. Yet tonight, he was exactly where he wanted to be.
Meanwhile, Kael, as always, was asleep in his room. Whatever thoughts might have occupied his mind earlier in the day had apparently lost their battle against exhaustion. His room was quiet, and the young man remained blissfully unaware of the number of extraordinary events that had taken place around him.
In Norn, Kaelen brought Jessica to his home to meet his parents.
He had spent much of the journey explaining why she was coming, although Jessica suspected that half of his explanations were unnecessary and the other half were probably inaccurate. Still, when they arrived, Kaelen's nervousness became unmistakable.
"Just act normal," Jessica told him. "I am acting normal." Kaelen remarked.
"You've adjusted your collar six times."
"It's an important occasion."
Jessica replied and saying…"You nearly fought a man who could destroy stars without blinking, but meeting your parents with me is what makes you nervous?" Kaelen opened his mouth. Then closed it. Jessica smiled. "Thought so."
In Karveth, Kaelven took Kimotsu to the Kurogami organization, which was led by John himself.
The organization had grown considerably since its earliest days. Its members operated beneath a strict hierarchy, with soldiers, masters, and the elders' council serving beneath the ten Kings and Queens. At the summit stood John Merciless, whose authority over Black Haven remained absolute.
Kaelven introduced Kimotsu to the organization, and Kimotsu found himself observing everything with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The people here were strong. More importantly, they carried themselves like people who understood the consequences of their decisions. John's influence was evident everywhere.
Elsewhere, Denma and Faith went for a walk together.
They moved through a quiet street beneath the stars, talking about the battles they had survived and the people they had met along the way. Their conversation wandered between serious reflections and ordinary matters, neither feeling any need to hurry back. For once, Faith was not healing anyone and Denma was not preparing for another fight. They simply walked.
Joatsu and Reinhart, meanwhile, roamed the world, familiarizing themselves with the restored lands. The two eventually arrived at the Sky Islands, where floating landmasses drifted beneath the moonlit heavens.
They stopped at the edge of one island and looked out across the endless expanse. "So this is Kael'Ar," Joatsu remarked. Reinhart rested his hands behind his head.
"Not a bad place."
"You say that about everywhere."
"Because I have excellent taste." Joatsu glanced at him. "Your taste is questionable."
Reinhart laughed, and the two continued walking beneath the stars. Tessandra returned home with John. Their journey was quiet, and once they were away from the others, the confident expression she had maintained throughout the evening softened.
John noticed, as he always did.
"You're tired." Tessandra replied…"A little."
"You should rest."
She looked at him. "And what about you?"
"I have work to do."
"John."
He met her eyes. For a moment, the familiar arrogance in his expression gave way to something more sincere. "I'll rest too." Tessandra smiled and took his hand. "Good." He allowed her to lead him inside.
For tonight, even John Merciless could postpone his plans. Arkion was quiet when Arata returned. He appeared outside his restaurant with one hand in his pocket, standing beneath the familiar sign as he looked over the building.
The restaurant had survived the battle untouched, just as he had intended. Its walls were intact, the windows were unbroken, and the interior remained exactly as he remembered it. For several seconds, he simply stared at it.
Then he spoke without turning his head. "Will you follow me everywhere I go?" A familiar presence appeared beside him. Sirius stood with her hands loosely clasped behind her back, her long white hair falling over her shoulders.
"It's my choice." Arata closed his eyes and sighed. "Of course it is." He opened the door and walked inside. Sirius followed. The first thing Arata did was head upstairs to check on the children.
Rei, Nax, Mitsuki, and Asar were all safe. They had been resting in their rooms, entirely unaware of the battle that had nearly destroyed the world outside. Arata checked each room carefully. Rei was sleeping peacefully.
Nax had somehow managed to occupy more space than his bed seemed designed to accommodate, with his blanket pushed halfway onto the floor. Mitsuki was curled comfortably beneath her covers. Asar, meanwhile, appeared to have fallen asleep while reading, an open book resting beside him.
Arata looked at the four children in turn. "Good. At least somebody around here knows how to have a normal night." He adjusted Asar's book so it would not fall, straightened Nax's blanket, and quietly left the upstairs rooms.
Only after confirming that everyone was safe did he return downstairs. The restaurant was silent. Sirius had settled into the dining area, apparently making herself comfortable without asking permission. Arata glanced at her once, then decided that arguing would accomplish nothing.
He headed into the kitchen. "If you're going to stay, you might as well eat."
Sirius looked up. "You're cooking?"
"No. I'm going to stand in the kitchen and admire the ingredients."
She smiled. "That sounds like something you'd do." Arata gave her a flat look before turning toward the counter.
"Already getting comfortable, huh?" He rolled up his sleeves and began preparing the meal.
The quiet rhythm of cooking soon filled the restaurant. Knives tapped against the cutting board, water simmered in a pot, and the fragrant smell of freshly prepared food gradually spread through the room.
Arata worked without rushing.
He had spent the day fighting a being who wielded the power of constellations, destroying stars, manipulating possibilities, and bringing an ancient conflict to its conclusion. He had restored an entire planet and its surroundings, then reunited its inhabitants with their homes.
Yet preparing a late-night meal in his own restaurant felt more satisfying than any of those accomplishments. There was something comforting about doing a simple task that required no cosmic authority. Eventually, the food was ready. Arata prepared two generous plates and carried them out of the kitchen.
He expected Sirius to be waiting at the table. Instead, he found her sitting beside the window he always chose whenever he wanted to eat in peace.
The moonlight illuminated her long white hair as she looked out over the quiet streets of Arkion and in her arms rested Veyra. The small creature was perfectly comfortable, nestled against Sirius as though she had known her for years. Veyra showed no sign of resistance or discomfort. If anything, she seemed unusually content.
Arata stopped. He looked at Sirius. Then at Veyra. Then back at Sirius.
"...You're getting along rather quickly." Sirius glanced down at Veyra and gently stroked her.
"She's adorable." Veyra made a small, contented sound. Arata narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I see how it is"
He had spent enough time around Veyra to know that she did not simply accept everyone who approached her. Yet here she was, resting comfortably in the arms of someone she had met only recently.
Sirius seemed to sense his suspicion. "Is there a problem?" "No." Arata replied.
"You're looking at me as though I've committed a crime."
"I'm considering the possibility."
She laughed softly. Arata walked over and placed the two plates on the table. He set one in front of Sirius, then took the seat opposite her, the same seat he had occupied countless times before.
For a little while, neither spoke. The food was still warm, and the restaurant was peaceful. Outside the window, Arkion stretched beneath the night sky, its streets illuminated by lamps and the occasional passing carriage.
Sirius looked at the plate before her.
"You made all this yourself?"
"Yes."
"For both of us?"
Arata picked up his utensils. "Unless you intend to eat both plates." She smiled and began eating. The food was excellent.
Of course, she said nothing about that immediately. She simply took another bite, then another, her expression gradually becoming more relaxed.
Arata noticed. "Well?"
Sirius looked at him. "Well, what?" Arata replied "You're eating as though you're trying to solve a mathematical problem. Is it good or not?" She covered a small laugh with her hand. "It's delicious."
"Obviously."
"You could at least pretend to be humble."
"Why would I do that? It would be dishonest."
Sirius shook her head, still smiling, and returned to her meal.
Arata leaned back slightly in his chair.
For the first time since the battle ended, there were no enemies to anticipate, no world to repair, and no decisions that required his immediate attention. There was only the quiet restaurant, the food on the table, Veyra resting in Sirius's arms, and the distant sound of Arkion settling into the night.
Arata glanced toward the window. The stars were shining exactly as they should.
He had decided to pursue the Great Circuit, and he had no intention of allowing the history of the First Circuit era to dictate how he went about it. If there were answers hidden beyond the known dimensions, he would find them. If the Great Circuit contained possibilities that no one had ever explored, he would explore them himself.
He would do it on his own terms and if Sirius truly intended to accompany him, then eventually he would discover why their paths had crossed. Until then, there was no reason to rush. Arata picked up another bite of food.
Across the table, Sirius watched him for a moment before returning her attention to Veyra. Neither of them noticed the faint shimmer that briefly passed across the surface of the window. It lasted less than a second.
No sound accompanied it. No energy could be detected, and no ordinary perception would have registered its presence. Then it disappeared. The night remained peaceful and somewhere beyond the stars, beyond the dimensions Arata had explored, something had acknowledged that the two of them had finally met.