Dawn.
The first light of a new day broke through the trees.
Soft.
Quiet.
Unbothered by everything that had happened.
The group was already awake.
Packed.
Ready.
No long speeches.
No dramatic declarations.
Just movement.
Goro stepped forward first.
"…We leave. Now."
Everyone followed.
No hesitation.
The path ahead was unfamiliar.
Untouched.
Different from the road that led them into war.
Hiroto walked near the front this time.
Not because he was leading But because he wasn't falling behind anymore.
His steps were steady.
Controlled.
Every movement deliberate.
Akari walked beside him.
Silent but present.
Yui followed just behind, her energy lighter than before.
The Enforcer remained relaxed, though his eyes missed nothing.
The Watcher… watched.
And Goro Led.
As they walked Hiroto glanced back.
Just once.
Toward the direction of the valley.
The battlefield.
The war.
Everything they had survived.
"…It's over."
He said quietly.
Goro didn't turn.
"…No."
"…That was just the beginning."
Hiroto didn't argue.
Because now He understood.
High above Beyond sight.
Beyond reach.
Something still lingered.
Watching.
Waiting.
Not acting.
Not yet.
But aware.
Far from the forest Whispers had already begun spreading:
Of a fallen Herald
Of a battle that shouldn't exist
Of a swordsman who survived
The world was changing.
Even if they didn't see it yet.
Hiroto's hand rested lightly on his blade.
Not gripping.
Not tense.
Just ready.
His eyes moved forward.
Calm.
Focused.
No hesitation.
"…Next time…"
He said quietly.
"…I'll be ready."
The group walked into the rising light.
Shadows fading behind them.
The path ahead unknown.
But certain.
The camera of the moment pulls back Higher.
Further.
Until they become small figures within a vast world.
A world that had just begun to shift.
END OF VOLUME 2: WAR OF FAITH ARC