The family dinner ended peacefully as evening settled over Astoria.
Caelus and Sylvia thanked Victor and Elena for their hospitality. Elena repeatedly reminded them to visit again soon, her hands still holding Sylvia's warmly as they stood by the door.
Victor jokingly told Caelus not to keep such a wonderful girlfriend waiting too long before proposing, making Sylvia smile shyly while Caelus laughed helplessly.
They waved goodbye before leaving the house together, the warm glow from the windows following them down the street.
On the taxi ride back toward Long Island City, New York looked different after the Rift invasion.
Construction drones and workers were clearing debris from collapsed buildings, while military vehicles slowly withdrew from several streets where their presence was no longer needed.
Although traces of destruction remained visible everywhere, the city was steadily returning to normal after the chaos.
