Alter Returns?! Love confession!

Scene: The Dragon Descends – Alter's Return to the Warfront

The mana in the air was chaos incarnate—a miasma of demon curses, firestorm residue, and screaming leyline interference. Alter stood beneath the fractured sky, one hand braced against the rough stone of Fort Mythral's interior chamber. His expression was still. Focused.

"I can't sense their markers. Too far. Too much interference," he muttered.

But then his eyes narrowed.

A faint glimmer sparked within his palm—the residual imprint left by his Mirror Blade.

"...Takayoshi left one behind."

Without hesitation, Alter activated the Teleportation Marker and vanished from Terravane.

FORT MYTHRAL – EASTERN FRONT, CONTINENT OF SERAVETH

The stillness shattered with a flash of silver light. Alter materialized in a secluded stone corridor deep within the rear of Fort Mythral. The moment he appeared, the air bent under the pressure of his presence.

Clad in his full mythic draconic armor, blackened crimson and gilded in celestial veins, Alter stepped forward. His mantle of dragon-scale fibers shimmered like embers. Astral Requiem, sealed in its sheath, radiated a low hum.

He walked in silence through the inner gate and ascended the wall.

Gasps erupted.

"Wh-where did he come from—?!"

"Who is that—?!"

"...He's not one of ours!"

Soldiers shrank back, weapons half-raised—but none dared move.

The figure now standing atop the wall radiated a mythic presence. Silent. Ominous. Divine.

He looked out over the battlefield. The frontline was broken. Fires danced across trenches. The army below was in full retreat—dozens, hundreds fleeing. In the distance, two towering Demon Generals began their chase, their laughter like grinding bones.

Alter turned his head slightly to the two shocked Celestian Generals nearby.

"Report."

Still recovering from awe, one of them snapped to attention.

"T-the 12 Commanders and main force engaged the enemy... but they were overwhelmed. They're retreating now, but at this rate, they'll be caught."

Alter turned his gaze forward again, voice calm but thunderous.

"Open the gates. Gather the healers."

The soldiers hesitated.

And then—boom.

He jumped from the wall.

A deafening shockwave thundered outward as Alter rocketed through the air, breaking the sound barrier. Wind exploded. Dust clouds whipped back. Dozens were knocked to the ground. Even the Demon Generals halted mid-stride, shielding themselves instinctively.

The Celestian generals stared, stunned.

"...Get those gates open!! NOW!! Prepare all healers!! That's... that's a hero descended from the stars!!"

THE FIELD OF FIRE

The wind screamed around Alter as he blinked forward, vanishing and reappearing mid-run every few seconds—his movement faster than sight. Each step ruptured the earth, blasting craters of dust and debris into the sky.

He raised his hand—mana surged.

"Elemental Convergence: Chain Arc – Thunderfall Array."

Above him, 54 bolts of lightning formed, orbiting him in fractal rings before launching forward. They arced upward like summoned comets—then curved down with eerie precision.

From a distance, the retreating Mythral Dawn and Celestian soldiers saw the sky shimmer.

"L-lightning...?"

"Those aren't falling at us…"

Selene, running at the rear, glanced up—then froze.

"Above the demons…"

The sky cracked.

BOOM.

The bolts struck down like divine punishment. Entire demon formations were engulfed in blinding explosions, their bodies evaporated mid-scream. Both demon generals were knocked back, their monstrous frames slammed to the ground under the sheer impact.

ON THE RETREAT LINE

"Keep running!! Don't look back!!" Selene cried, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Suddenly, a blur of motion passed her. She turned instinctively.

Time seemed to slow.

A figure passed beside her—draconic helm gleaming, crimson-black armor alight with divine energy. Astral Requiem resting upon his back, humming in recognition.

Her eyes widened.

"...Master?"

In that suspended heartbeat, Alter turned his head. Behind the helm, their eyes met.

"Keep running to the fort."

His voice was inside her mind—clear, calm, absolute.

Time snapped back.

Selene staggered, breath caught. She clenched her fist and shouted.

"DO NOT STOP! PUSH TO THE FORT! GO!!"

Behind them, the ground shattered again as a series of detonation arcs lit the battlefield anew. Explosions tore through demon ranks. Fire, wind, and lightning painted the sky.

Selene looked over her shoulder one last time.

The demons had stopped chasing them.

Because now—they were being hunted.

And the hunter wore dragon's armor.

Scene: One-Man Army – The Battlefield Cleansing Begins

The fortress trembled not from demon siege—but from the sheer scale of the devastation unfurling outside its walls.

The soldiers who'd just barely retreated turned to witness something they would never forget.

Out there, in the field of broken stone and ash, a single warrior danced with the storm.

Alter moved like a phantom—his body flickering from one position to the next. One moment he was slashing through demon lines with Astral Requiem, its void-slick blade ripping flesh and soul alike. The next, he disappeared in a pulse of light and smoke, only to reappear on the other side of the battlefield.

SLASH—!!

A demon commander's head was severed before the beast even noticed his presence.

Then—

Boom.

An Elemental Runic Marker detonated behind him, engulfing an entire platoon of demon foot soldiers in a torrent of searing flame and thunder.

He reappeared again—midair this time—arms crossed and inverted as he dove down with terrifying precision.

"Demon God Killing Martial Art – 5th Strike: Dragon Heart Palm."

His palm glowed crimson. When it struck the ground, a ripple of internal concussive force exploded outward, caving in skulls and shattering ribcages from the inside out. Ten demons died before they even hit the floor.

Then—

Blink.

Gone again.

In the northwestern flank, a battalion of winged demons took flight, aiming to reposition behind Fort Mythral.

They never got the chance.

"Wind Sigil: Skyfall Storm."

A rune burst into the air with a hiss.

From the skies, blades of compressed air came raining down like guillotine feathers, each one severing wings, heads, or limbs.

In less than four minutes, Alter had planted dozens of runic markers across the battlefield—each one laced with precise elemental signatures. Earth to collapse terrain. Water to drown clustered enemies. Lightning for wide arcs. Fire for entrapment. Wind to shred mid-charge formations.

And when the battlefield reached peak chaos—

snap

With a single gesture, he triggered them all.

A chain reaction of catastrophic detonations lit up the plains.

Firestorm geysers erupted beneath charging hordes.

Lightning arcs carved through the demon air cavalry.

Earth spikes impaled armored beasts.

Wind blades tore through the rear lines.

Flood runes exploded near trenches, washing hundreds into compressed death traps.

Within moments… silence.

The plains once teeming with howling demonspawn were now reduced to craters, ash, and burning corpses.

All that remained were the two Demon Generals, now forced to halt their advance entirely.

One snarled.

The other stepped forward, eyes narrowing at the lone figure walking through the smoke.

From behind the helm, Alter's voice boomed, carried by mana.

"I've cleared the noise. Now, you two are mine."

He drew Astral Requiem in a single motion—its obsidian edge humming with anticipation, the world around it warping ever so slightly.

Scene: Provocation Before Annihilation – Alter vs. The Demon Generals

The field crackled with residual energy, lightning still dancing in the air and fires casting flickering shadows across broken stone.

Two towering Demon Generals stood in the aftermath—hulking figures wreathed in black armor and demonic flame. Their eyes locked onto the lone warrior walking through the storm like death incarnate.

One of them sneered, blood still fresh on his claws.

"You think you can handle us both? Foolish human… We've already crushed one stronger than you."

The other laughed, a deep, monstrous sound that echoed like a death knell.

"That insect called himself Takayoshi. He fought well, but in the end… he was broken beneath our boots."

Alter halted mid-step, eyes narrowing behind his helmet.

He said nothing for a moment.

Then, with an exhale of mocking amusement, he lifted his head.

"Takayoshi? Oh… you mean the weakened clone I tossed here while I handled a real fight?"

His voice cut like frost-tipped steel.

"Let me guess—you two drooling barn animals think you've achieved something because you beat him at eighty percent strength?"

He started walking again. Calm. Unhurried. Daring.

"Congratulations. You just made yourselves look even more pathetic."

The larger general snarled, stepping forward. "You dare mock us?!"

"Mock?" Alter tilted his head. "No. Disrespect. That's what this is."

He tapped the hilt of Astral Requiem, now humming ominously on his back.

"You're not generals. You're training dummies with oversized egos. I just finished killing another general faster than I can boil water."

A pause.

"And I'm still bored."

Their demonic eyes flared crimson. The ground cracked beneath their feet as they lunged—

"ENOUGH!"

And just like that—

Boom.

The fight erupted into chaos.

Alter became a blur—blinking, flashing, weaving between the two raging generals. Each movement was precise, deliberate. He dodged claws by millimeters, ducked flame blasts, and rode shockwaves without losing rhythm.

"Demon God Killing – 11th Strike: Phantom Dropkick."

A spiraling heel crashed into one general's chest, sending the monster stumbling. But Alter had already vanished again.

As the battle twisted, he began his trap.

A lightning sigil on the back of a kneecap.

A fire rune at the base of a horn.

Earth compression glyphs underfoot.

Air vortex markers wrapped around their limbs.

Water surge runes inside ruptured terrain, hidden.

He placed dozens, flowing like water between the brawling giants.

Neither noticed—too enraged, too slow.

And then—

Silence.

Alter reappeared fifty meters away. Standing atop a ruined statue, he raised his hand.

"By the way—"

"—did I mention I left you both parting gifts?"

Snap.

BOOOOOM—!!!

The entire battlefield detonated.

A symphony of explosions tore through the demon generals—limbs flailing, horns cracking, flames extinguished.

The ground heaved. Shockwaves shattered craters. The sky turned orange under the glow of devastation.

Smoke billowed.

Chunks of broken demonic armor scattered.

But the laughter that followed wasn't theirs.

It was Alter's.

"Now you really look like trash."

From the smoke, the two generals emerged—roaring with rage, half-burned, bleeding, howling.

But before they could lunge—

Scene Shift: Duel of the Awakened – Two Halves, One Soul

A shimmering ripple appeared beside Alter.

And stepping out—

Takayoshi.

Fully materialized. Calm. Untouched.

The air around him pulsed with martial force.

The demon generals froze, now recognizing the presence… twice over.

"W-Who are you!?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Alter replied, cracking his neck.

"I'm just making this fight fair."

He stepped forward, unsheathing Astral Requiem, lightning running along the blade.

Takayoshi nodded beside him.

"I'll take the ugly one."

"They're both ugly."

"Exactly."

They blurred forward.

"Divine Heaven Second Style – Sky Piercer: Zero Distance."

"Demon God Killing – 6th Strike: Tiger Pulse Smash!"

Time collapsed.

The ground tore open.

And the battle—resumed.

Scene: Dual Ascension – Alter vs. Dravok, Takayoshi vs. Kharzun

The battlefield trembled under twin gales of rising power. Dust clouds had barely begun to settle before they were blown away by the roaring charge of two legends.

—One, sheathed in draconic steel, astral sigils flaring like stars.

—The other, clad in black martial silks, bare-handed yet exuding the pressure of a collapsing realm.

Across from them, the two Demon Generals howled.

"I'll reduce you to atoms!" roared General Dravok, his molten axe materializing from raw infernal flame.

"You're just worms with flair!" bellowed General Kharzun, his form mutating with bone spikes and shadow-wreathed muscles.

But Alter and Takayoshi moved like phantoms—two gods of war dancing across death's edge.

🔥 Side A – Alter vs. Dravok

Dravok raised his axe overhead, channeling a volcanic cleave that cracked the earth.

"DIE—"

But Alter was already gone.

BLINK—BOOM!

He reappeared behind the demon's back with Astral Requiem already drawn.

"Sky Piercer – Zero Distance."

There was no warning.

No chant.

Just a flash.

A point-blank lightning thrust exploded from Alter's blade—directly into Dravok's spine. The impact rippled across the demon's body, detonating nerves and nerves in arcs of white-hot power.

Dravok screamed.

Alter didn't let up.

"Elemental Sigil – Detonate."

A hidden rune embedded earlier within the demon's armor exploded, sending Dravok flying into the canyon wall with enough force to split the cliffside.

Alter flicked his wrist, spinning Astral Requiem into a reverse grip.

"You wanted a 2v1... now you get 1v1 with a nightmare."

⚔️ Side B – Takayoshi vs. Kharzun

Kharzun charged first—ten tons of corrupted flesh slamming down a crater-forming punch.

Takayoshi didn't move. His eyes narrowed.

"Demon God Killing Martial Arts – 2nd Strike: Earth Pulse Twist."

He turned slightly—

And redirected the punch with one open palm, causing Kharzun to pivot violently into his own attack. His arm twisted at an unnatural angle, bone cracking audibly.

"ARGHHH—!"

"You rely too much on brute force," Takayoshi said flatly.

"Try nuance."

Kharzun lunged again, using a spiked knee strike, but—

"17th Strike: Harmonic Shatter Pulse."

Takayoshi struck the air in front of him with his fingertips—a soundwave burst out, rippling like a bell struck by godsteel.

The demon stopped mid-charge, eyes wide.

Then—

CRACK!

Internal organs ruptured. Blood burst from Kharzun's ears and nose as the vibrational shock tore through his core.

"You hit... without touching...!"

Takayoshi exhaled.

"18th Strike—Convergence Break."

He stepped in, slammed a palm into Kharzun's chest—and every previous strike detonated internally in a chain reaction. Kharzun was blasted backwards, crashing into a fallen demon hulk with a crater forming under him.

🌩️ Side A – Back to Alter

Dravok crawled from the rubble, flames smoldering across his cracked armor.

"You—ghhk—you'll die for that…"

Alter was already above him.

"Divine Heaven Third Style – Helix Sever."

He descended like a comet—Astral Requiem spiraling in a corkscrew slash, condensing wind, lightning, and cutting force into a spiral shockwave.

The moment it struck—

KRA-KA-BOOOOOOOM!

The entire hill collapsed. Dravok was carved into a helix of blood and molten armor, his regeneration failing to keep up.

He never got back up.

⚔️ Side B – Final Clash

Takayoshi, calm but fierce, walked toward the crawling Kharzun.

The demon reached for a last-ditch spell glyph—but Takayoshi snapped his fingers.

"Demon God Killing – 14th Strike: Bind Breaker."

A single punch cracked the glyph—and the demon's skull—clean in half.

🩸 End of the Generals

Both demons fell.

One to the draconic sword.

One to the god-killing palm.

Silence fell.

Then the roar of the Celestian army as they poured from Fort Mythral, emboldened by the victory of two avatars of war.

Selene stood at the gates, breath caught in her throat.

"They won… both of them."

She whispered it aloud, but in her heart, one thought echoed louder:

He came back.

Scene: Storm of Shadows and Flame – The Wolf Cubs Unleashed

The northern front of Terravane had turned into a twisted battlefield of scorched fields, shattered rock, and endless demon corpses. But unlike the chaos on Seraveth, here—victory surged with the rhythm of twin heartbeats.

Because Alter had already slain the Demon General on this front.

And in his wake, he left a battlefield ripe for his successors.

Two streaks of fur and fury tore through the horde.

Finn Whiteshadow, clad in his sleek black wolf pelt, moved like a whisper in the storm. His daggers struck in perfect rhythm—slash, twist, leap, fire—as he alternated between melee combat and precision bursts from the twin rifles mounted at his hips.

Each charged shot roared like a cannon.

BOOM—BOOM!

Two demons disintegrated in simultaneous bursts, chests vaporized.

"Left side, Mira!" he called out.

Mira Whiteshadow, a flash of white lightning and laughter, cartwheeled into a spinning strike, slicing across a demon's throat with her white fang daggers, then flipped back—grabbing both rifles with a gleam in her eye.

"Got it, Big Wolf~!"

She fired straight into the eyes of a towering demon brute—two glowing bullets of crackling energy piercing through and causing it to collapse like a falling tower.

The battlefield screamed around them—but they didn't break rhythm.

They were miniature Alters—not in name, but in how they fought. Precision. Adaptability. Relentless pressure.

"Keen Senses, now!"

"Right behind you!"

Their synergy had become near-telepathic. Each strike anticipated. Each dodge mirrored. A deadly dance passed down from their master.

And above them, descended the guardian of flame—

Blazebloom, no longer a beast but a radiant humanoid figure cloaked in embers and divine heat. Horns of light curled behind his head, and his burning mane flowed like a living sunfire cloak.

"Supporting barrage."

He raised one clawed hand—and the sky broke open.

Seven fire lances fell like meteorites, piercing the advancing lines of demons and exploding in volcanic arcs. Flames danced harmlessly around Finn and Mira but devoured everything else.

A wave of burning mana rippled outward, and Blazebloom exhaled softly.

"Clearing path."

He stepped forward, his body radiating celestial heat, each step turning blackened soil into glowing glass.

Mira jumped onto his back mid-fight, laughing as she used him as a launchpad.

"Whee~ Thanks, Blazey!"

She launched into the air and rained down daggers from above like a living storm.

"You're too reckless," Finn muttered—but covered her from below anyway, emptying a clip into a charging demon captain.

Status Update – Battlefront: Terravane

Demon Forces: Thinning rapidly. No remaining generals.

Blazebloom: Celestial Avatar Form sustained. Mana reserves: High.

The tide had turned.

But they didn't let up.

"Let's push to the ravine! Last horde is gathering there," Finn said.

Mira grinned, reloading mid-sprint.

"Race you!"

Blazebloom snorted.

"You're both slow."

Scene: Ravine's End – The Last Howl of Terravane

The air turned thick as they neared the edge of the Ravine of Ashspire, a jagged, hundred-foot drop into smoke-veiled depths. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the final horde of demons converged like a black tide.

At the cliff's edge stood their commander—a towering, bone-plated demon brute with six arms and a face carved in molten agony. Around it, over three hundred demons clustered—howling, twitching, ready to leap into bloodlust.

Finn, Mira, and Blazebloom halted atop a ridge overlooking the field.

"That's their last stronghold," Finn said, eyes narrowing.

"Tsk. Big ugly has too many arms," Mira muttered. "Guess we break a few."

Blazebloom didn't speak. His eyes glowed gold, reading the ley lines and residual mana. His flames pulsed in a rhythmic charge.

"I'll clear the vanguard. You two eliminate the commander."

Finn and Mira glanced at each other.

"Combination Attack?"

"You're thinking what I'm thinking?"

They grinned—mirror images of ruthless precision and childish thrill.

Phase One – Blazebloom's Purge

Blazebloom slammed his claw into the earth.

"Sunflare Cataclysm."

Pillars of fire erupted in a circular dome around the ravine's entrance, boxing the demons in like prey caught in a celestial oven. The ground cracked, magma veins laced through the terrain like glowing scars.

Demons screamed and scattered—some incinerated outright by the pure celestial blaze.

Blazebloom rose into the air, his body radiant, as wings of molten flame unfurled behind him. He launched dozens of fire-infused lances, homing in on packs of clustered foes. Each lance struck like a divine verdict—no recoil, no mercy.

Phase Two – Whiteshadow Assault

"Initiate stealth!"

"Burst convergence—3, 2, 1—go!"

Finn vanished, his figure melting into shadow.

Mira spun into wind-infused motion, her white scarf trailing behind her like a comet's tail.

At the same moment, both activated their Arcstep Boost enchantments—launching forward at breakneck speed.

The six-armed demon commander snapped its gaze upward—too late.

FLASH—

Finn reappeared beneath it, plunging his black fang daggers into the demon's knees—crippling its stance.

BLAST—

Mira appeared above, spinning and releasing two electrified daggers that struck its eyes.

"NOW!"

Together, they somersaulted back—drawing both rifles from their hips.

In perfect synchronization, they fired—sixteen consecutive mana-infused charged rounds, alternating shots with rhythmic precision, forming a twin spiral of destruction.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!

The commander staggered, two arms blasted off, one eye destroyed, blood pouring in jets of molten corruption.

Final Phase – Cross Fang Execution

Finn and Mira ran past each other, each leaving behind a trail of mana spikes. As they crossed again—the spell activated.

"Cross Fang—Severance Shot!"

A radiant X-shape burst into life, striking the demon from four angles at once—its legs, remaining arms, and chest.

The explosion sent it reeling off the edge of the ravine.

But it wasn't over.

From the ravine's depths, the commander rose once more, wings unfurling, blood-soaked but enraged.

"Tch," Finn muttered. "Persistent."

"Blazey," Mira called, "Ready the big one."

Blazebloom touched down between them. His voice was calm.

"Confirmed."

He raised his hand to the sky.

"Solar Crown: Burnt Eclipse."

The world dimmed. For one second, all color vanished.

Then the sky ignited.

A miniature sun bloomed above the ravine.

The last thing the demon commander saw was three silhouettes silhouetted in gold—and then—

BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

The ravine collapsed. Fire, smoke, and fractured stone blasted into the air as the final wave was vaporized. Silence followed.

The three stood atop the shattered cliff, wind sweeping their cloaks and fur-lined mantles.

"Well," Finn said, exhaling. "That's that."

"I'm hungry," Mira sighed.

"I made stew earlier," Blazebloom replied.

The camera pans upward—over the burning horizon of Terravane, now cleared of demon presence.

Scene: Return to Fort Mythral – The Wolf Revealed

The twin gates of Fort Mythral creaked open as the dust of battle settled across the northern plains. Smoke still rose from the torn battlefield behind them, but in its place, the golden light of dusk spilled through—soft and victorious.

Two figures emerged from the haze.

Alter, in his full draconic battle armor, his helm now removed to reveal his calm yet weary gaze. Takayoshi was no longer beside him.

But they all knew.

The soldiers on the walls froze—then one by one, like falling dominos of realization, cheers erupted.

"HE'S BACK!!"

"HE SURVIVED!"

"THE DRAGON LORD RETURNS!!"

Dozens of troops stormed the courtyard as the 12 Commanders ran ahead.

Selene's eyes were wide, shimmering with emotion. Her lips trembled, and she took a half step forward—but it was another who reached him first.

"MAAAAAASSSTEEEERRRR!!!"

Thorne Ironstride, boulder of a dwarf and commander of heavy infantry, barreled forward and wrapped Alter in a crushing bear hug, lifting him off the ground entirely.

"I KNEW YE WEREN'T DEAD! You bastard! You glorious, invincible bastard!"

"Urgh—ribs—ribs cracking—" Alter grunted, twitching slightly.

Next came a flood of the Commanders. Mira Snowveil wiped her eyes and muttered, "You idiot... we thought—". Cidros Vane placed a hand on Alter's shoulder, nodding. Sorei Windshaper actually saluted before breaking into a grin.

And Selene, eyes shimmering, stepped forward. Her breath caught.

"Master…"

She lunged forward and hugged him tightly. No words—just emotion. Alter's hand slowly reached up and rested on her head.

The noise settled when Revyn Mistclaw finally asked the question on everyone's mind.

"But… what about Takayoshi? We saw him get buried by Dravok. There was no movement…"

The others fell silent.

Alter slowly turned toward Revyn, his face hardening.

"Don't speak so lightly of death," he said, his voice firm and sharp. "He's alive."

They blinked.

"But—how? The crater… the magic—"

Alter reached into his inventory and pulled out a shattered, blackened statue—its form cracked, its magic inert.

"He used this. A one-time-use relic. Ancient and forgotten. It triggered at the moment of death… healed everything. Barely."

He held it aloft. The statue's surface shimmered faintly with residual divine energy.

The room went quiet, everyone gaping. Even Garran, usually skeptical, gave a low whistle.

"That thing… fully restored him?"

"Once," Alter confirmed. "Now it's gone."

No one dared question further.

At last, Thorne let go of Alter, and the man landed back on the ground, straightening his mantle and adjusting Astral Requiem on his back.

"We've won a battle," Alter said, stepping past them. "But not the war."

His gaze swept over the battlements, the troops cheering in the distance, the wounded being carried back to triage tents.

"The demons will return. Stronger. Smarter. And next time, they won't underestimate us."

His voice carried across the courtyard. Every soldier listening fell quiet.

"So stand tall. Fortify. Train harder than ever. Because I promise you…"

His eyes burned with draconic certainty.

"We will not fall. Not while we still draw breath."

Scene: Midnight Truth – Beneath the Moon of Mythral

The night hung soft over Fort Mythral, the stars glinting faintly behind veils of drifting mist. Most of the soldiers had fallen into exhausted slumber, but the torches of the inner courtyard still flickered in defiance of the darkness.

Alter stood atop the outer ramparts, his arms crossed, looking toward the battlefield where corpses still steamed in the cold. He hadn't moved in hours.

Footsteps approached—soft, practiced, but unmistakable.

Selene Virellia, clad in a dark cloak over her armor, her silver-blonde hair glimmering under the moonlight, approached with her gaze steady but her heart wavering.

"You didn't come to the celebration fire," she said softly.

Alter's reply was delayed, his voice low. "Not in the mood to celebrate."

Selene walked beside him in silence. For a long time, they simply stared out at the night.

Then—

"Master," she said, quietly but with resolve, "can I… ask something selfish?"

Alter finally turned toward her.

Selene's lips quivered, her golden eyes shining. "From the moment I met you during Mythral Dawn's formation… I've been drawn to you. At first, I thought it was admiration. Then respect. Then devotion. But…"

Her voice cracked, and she stepped forward.

"After all this time, after watching you fight, lead, sacrifice… I realized the truth. I'm in love with you, Alter."

Alter's eyes widened, breath catching.

Selene looked down, clutching her hands.

"I never said anything. I knew about Lira. I didn't want to interfere. But after all these years… I couldn't keep it buried anymore. I had to tell you."

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head against his chestplate.

"Even if you don't return my feelings. Even if you can't love anyone again… I just wanted you to know."

There was silence.

Alter's heart, for the first time in a long while, wavered.

He thought of Lira… of that night, the vow, the love that burned bright. And then he thought of Selene—the sword disciple who had grown into a pillar beside him. Her loyalty unwavering, her eyes always searching for his.

"Selene…" he whispered, hands hesitating, unsure.

She looked up, teary-eyed but radiant. Her beauty, fierce and soft, felt like it could rewrite the stars.

"I… I don't know what this feeling is," Alter confessed. "But I accept yours. And I won't turn away from it."

Slowly, hesitantly—he embraced her.

The air around them stilled. For just a moment, the war, the world, the pain—it all fell away.

Then—

"AWWWWWWW!"

From the nearby tower window, Mira Snowveil popped her head out.

"She finally did it!"

Behind her, Sorei Windshaper was covering her mouth in gleeful disbelief. "You owe me five silver, Garran!"

Thorne Ironstride grumbled from somewhere below, "Woke me up fer this? I need me beauty sleep!"

Alter twitched. Selene gasped and tried to hide her face in his cloak.

"I-it's not what you think!"

"Oh, it's exactly what we think!" Garran bellowed, laughing. "The storm has finally claimed the dragon's heart!"

Alter sighed deeply.

"This is why I don't show emotion around any of you."

Selene giggled nervously, still clinging to him.