The healers worked through the night.
Lunareth's inner sanctum glowed with soft blue light as dozens of runes floated in the air, gently pulsing over Ariandel's wounded form. Shoko sat at her bedside, hands clasped, watching every rise and fall of her chest.
She breathed steadily.
She would live.
But the memory of her blood hitting the stone would not leave him.
Elyndra entered quietly, carrying a small basin of water. Her hair was tied back, her normally bright expression dimmed. She set the basin down beside him.
"She is stable," Elyndra said. "The healers say the wound missed anything vital."
Shoko nodded without speaking.
Elyndra knelt beside him. "Shoko, you saved her. You saved all of us."
Shoko shook his head. "I lost control. I should have stayed with her. I should have listened."
"She would not be alive if you had done nothing."
He looked at Ariandel, the steady glow of the healing runes reflecting in his purple eyes. "I felt nothing when she fell. Nothing at all. I was just… empty."
Elyndra hesitated. "You were afraid."
"It did not feel like fear," he whispered. "It felt like being dead."
Elyndra placed a hand on his. "But you came back. That is what matters."
He looked at her. "Because of you."
A blush crept up her cheeks, but she smiled softly. "Well. Someone has to keep you from destroying half the kingdom."
Shoko managed a tired laugh.
Ariandel stirred. Her fingers twitched. Her eyes slowly opened.
Shoko leaned forward immediately. "Ariandel. Are you awake?"
Ariandel blinked at the light, then focused on him. "Shoko. You are safe."
He shook his head. "You are the one who is hurt."
Ariandel brushed her hand gently along his cheek. "I told you to stay beside me."
"I know. I am sorry."
She smiled faintly. "You came back. And you protected everyone. That is what makes you strong."
Shoko lowered his head, relief washing over him.
Ariandel exhaled softly. "How badly were you hurt."
"Only my pride," Shoko said.
Elyndra snorted. "He is lying. He was using Forbidden Overlink levels of stamina and nearly passed out afterward."
Shoko shot her a glare. "I did not pass out."
"You nearly fell on your face."
"I stayed conscious."
"Barely."
Ariandel's gentle laugh interrupted them. "You two have not changed at all."
Shoko turned back to her. "The masked figure escaped."
Ariandel's expression darkened. "I could feel it. It is stronger than before."
Elyndra crossed her arms. "Stronger, yes, but not invincible. Shoko really damaged it. I felt its energy signature collapse in on itself."
Shoko shrugged. "It felt different. When I struck it. Almost like it was not made of flesh."
Ariandel nodded slowly. "Whatever it is, it is not alive in the way we are."
Elyndra quietly looked away. "Or perhaps alive in the way we are not."
Shoko looked at her. "What does that mean."
Elyndra froze. "Nothing. Forget I said anything."
Ariandel narrowed her eyes. "You keep slipping. This is the second time."
Elyndra held up her hands defensively. "I did not slip. I am perfectly normal and mysterious in the correct amount."
Shoko stared at her until she sank into her chair. "You saw something again."
"No," Elyndra said quickly.
"Elyndra."
She buried her face in her hands. "Fine. Maybe. Just a little."
Ariandel sighed. "What did you see."
Elyndra peeked over her fingers. "I saw… something like a chapter. A moment that already existed before it happened. And the masked figure was in it."
Shoko's chest tightened. "You are saying the masked figure is part of a future that already exists."
Elyndra nodded slowly. "It feels like reading a page of something already written."
Ariandel frowned. "That makes no sense."
"It is the only way I can describe it."
Shoko leaned back in his chair, overwhelmed. "If it is written… can we change it."
Elyndra hesitated.
Ariandel watched her carefully. "Elyndra. Answer him."
The princess swallowed. "I do not know."
Shoko clenched his hands. The thought of being trapped in someone else's story made him feel sick.
Ariandel placed a hand on his arm. "We will not let fate decide for us."
A horn sounded in the distance.
Queen Seraphielle entered the room, her long white hair flowing behind her. Her armor was polished but scratched from the earlier battle.
"Shoko," she said gently. "When you are ready, the council wishes to speak with you. There is much to decide."
Ariandel tried to sit up. "I can go with him."
Shoko pressed her back down gently. "No. You are resting. I can handle it."
Ariandel looked at him, studying his face. Something had changed in him. He stood straighter. His eyes were steady. Determined.
"You have grown," she said.
Shoko gave her a small smile. "You taught me."
Elyndra stood beside him. "I will go too. Someone must make sure he does not promise to fight five masked figures by himself."
Shoko rolled his eyes. "One is enough."
Ariandel took his hand one more time. "Come back soon."
"I will."
Shoko and Elyndra left the room and walked toward the council chamber. The palace halls were cracked from battle but still shining with moonlight. Guards bowed as they passed.
Elyndra glanced at him. "How are you really feeling."
Shoko looked ahead. "I am scared."
She smiled gently. "Good. It means you are still human."
They stepped into the chamber.
The council waited. The king and queen stood at the center. The air felt heavy with expectation.
King Aesthor spoke first. "Shoko. You showed courage today beyond what anyone expected."
Queen Seraphielle continued. "And you wounded something that has plagued us for centuries."
Elder Virian stepped forward. "We have decided something. The masked being has marked you as its target. You are no longer just a visitor to Lunareth. You are now one of its defenders."
Shoko nodded. "I understand."
King Aesthor nodded approvingly. "We will train. We will prepare new barriers. And when it returns, we will be ready."
Elyndra whispered to Shoko. "See. No one blamed you."
Shoko breathed out slowly.
Then Elder Seris spoke.
"But Shoko. The masked being said something during its approach. Something concerning."
Shoko looked up. "What did it say."
Elder Seris locked eyes with him. "It said your name. As if it knew you long before today."
Shoko's chest tightened.
Elyndra stepped closer to him.
Queen Seraphielle added, "It also said something else before it vanished. Something only you might understand."
Shoko swallowed. "What did it say."
The queen looked troubled.
"It said… you were not meant to be theirs."
The room fell silent.
Shoko felt a cold shiver run through him.
He whispered, "What does that even mean."
Elyndra grabbed his sleeve tight.
Ariandel's warning echoed in his mind.
Do not let it define you.
Shoko straightened. "Whatever it meant, I do not care. I am staying with the people who saved me. And I will fight to protect them."
The council exchanged approving looks.
King Aesthor nodded. "Then Lunareth stands behind you."
Shoko felt something harden inside him. Not coldness. Not emptiness.
Resolve.
Elyndra whispered proudly, "There he is."
Shoko looked toward the tall windows where moonlight shone through the kingdom.
The masked figure would return.
But next time, he would be ready.