"That energy surge… it felt familiar… Could it be…" Savior muttered, his expression slowly tensing.
He fell silent, trying to piece together fragments of foggy memories—but before he could form a conclusion—
"You talking to yourself? Are you drunk or something?" Nari's voice cut in, as casually annoying as always.
Savior turned quickly, only to find the fairy standing far too close, wearing her trademark mischievous grin. He growled in annoyance, hating that his privacy had been breached—especially by a creature as noisy as Nari.
Instead of backing off, Nari grinned wider.
"Aww, does our dear savior need a nap? Or maybe… some extra attention?" she teased.
The two started throwing barbed words at each other again. The kitchen heated up like a playground squabble—neither one willing to back down.
Suddenly—
"Can you two just shut up already?" a deep voice came from the door.
Arion was awake. He stared at the two of them with a blank expression, then slowly turned his gaze sideways—to Aria, who still lay unconscious on the nearby bed.
The moment Nari saw Arion awake, she rushed over to him. But Savior—spotting an opportunity—immediately swung a quick jab at her.
"HEY!" Nari yelped, dodging the strike with an effortless hop.
The blow missed. Savior's eyes widened.
He couldn't believe he missed—again.
"I'm not some cheap fairy you can smack around whenever you want!" Nari shouted, dashing out of the house, with Savior now chasing her like he'd forgotten he was supposed to be a noble savior of the people.
Meanwhile, Arion sat in silence.
His eyes were locked on Gavrilo—now back in its smaller, dormant form.
He stared at it for a long time.
I… I don't even remember anything after the armor fused with me.
His thoughts spiraled into confusion.
Why did I run?
Where was I even trying to go?
Was this all just… some empty escape?
One by one, the questions hung in the air.
Unanswered. Heavy.
His thoughts scattered when Aria stirred beside him. She slowly sat up, still weak, but her eyes fully open.
"Aria?" Arion called gently.
Without a word, Aria rose to her feet and walked toward the door. She froze in the doorway, her whole body stiffening at the sight before her.
The villagers—who had once been on the brink of death—were walking again. Laughing. Healed.
Her tears fell. She wept, quietly but deeply.
"Thank you… thank you for saving them…" she whispered, eyes fixed on Arion.
He simply gave a small smile.
But before they could fully take in the peace—
BRUUUMMMMMMM!!!!!
Another explosion of energy rocked the village.
This time, it was much stronger.
The ground trembled, the air grew heavy, and the sky above the village momentarily blackened.
From the western forest, a pillar of crimson light shot into the air.
This source of power was far greater than the one that awakened Gavrilo.
Everyone turned.
Arion felt something deep in his chest—Gavrilo, still in its compact form, began to tremble violently.
Savior came to a halt. His smile vanished.
"…That's not ordinary energy," he whispered.
"We've just opened the door… to something far worse."