The ruins stood silent around them, carrying the weight of centuries. John looked at the fallen stones, the vines that had claimed the once-proud towers. Everything bore the touch of time.
He didn't know how long it had been since he last set foot here. But he did know one thing—time flowed differently between worlds.
One month in the Marvel world… six months in this one.
By that calculation, years must have already passed here. Maybe decades. Maybe more. He could not be sure.
His lips pressed into a thin line. He had made a promise—to Yumina, the princess with kind eyes that held both wisdom and innocence, and to Alsie, the brave, headstrong girl. He had promised that if they still loved him when he returned, he would take them away with him.
That promise had carried him here.
Slowly, John's gaze softened. A faint warmth lit his expression, but beneath it lingered a quiet worry. Would they even remember me?
Beside him, Nyx stood silently. The dragon in human form tilted her head, studying him curiously. She could sense the shift in his aura—something deep and personal weighed on him. But she didn't ask.
John raised his hand to hold Nyx's and activated the teleportation rune within his spiritual sea.
He thought about the bustling streets of the capital city—and in an instant, they both vanished.
The world shimmered. Light swallowed them whole, and when it cleared, the forest and ruins were gone.
Instead, they stood in the middle of a busy capital street. John looked around for a moment and immediately noticed the differences from before.
What was once a typical medieval-style city had changed drastically. The clothes people wore were different, some carrying strange devices like phones. Shops lined the streets, selling goods both familiar and foreign. And towering above all, massive mechas walked calmly through the marketplace. Strangely, no one reacted—they moved as if it were an everyday sight.
As for the city walls, they remained magnificent. White-stone battlements rose high, banners rippling gently in the breeze. The city pulsed with life—merchants shouting from stalls, carriages clattering over cobblestones, guards patrolling with polished spears in hand.
And at the heart of it all, rising like a crown above the city, stood the palace. Its spires gleamed in the afternoon light, a reminder of the kingdom's enduring power.
John exhaled softly. The sight stirred old memories.
This was where Yumina lived.
"Nyx," he said quietly, turning to her, "we cannot enter as we are."
The dragon-woman frowned, puzzled. "Why not? You are strong. None could deny you entry."
John's lips curved faintly. "Because this is not about strength. It is about keeping a promise. And I want to surprise her. Going directly would ruin the moment."
Before Nyx could question further, John's form began to shift. His height shortened slightly, his features blurred, and in moments he appeared as another man entirely—a palace attendant, dressed in simple yet neat clothing. His face was unremarkable, the kind that vanished easily in a crowd.
Nyx blinked in surprise, her amethyst eyes widening. Then, after a pause, a small smile touched her lips. "Master is clever."
Without hesitation, she followed his lead. Her own figure rippled and changed, her beauty dimming into a plainer form. In seconds, she appeared as a palace maid, blending seamlessly into the role.
John was surprised for a moment. He hadn't known Nyx could do that, but he was pleased nonetheless.
He glanced at her, his eyes warm with approval. "Good. Stay close. Let no one suspect us."
Nyx nodded, her expression calm, though inside she was still wondering what exactly her master was planning. The only thing she was certain of: wherever he went, she would follow.
Together, the disguised John and Nyx walked toward the palace gates. The sun dipped low in the sky, painting the city in shades of gold.
Somehow, they managed to slip inside the palace. But the area where Yumina stayed was off-limits. Helpless, John took Nyx's hand and activated an invisibility rune. Together, they vanished from sight. Now, no one would be able to find them, no matter where they went.
After walking for ten minutes, they arrived at a secluded garden. And there—after so long—they saw Yumina.
Yumina now looked to be in the bloom of her early twenties, carrying an aura that felt otherworldly, almost divine. Her beauty was not loud but refined and flawless, as if sculpted by heaven itself.
Her hair, long and silken, spilled like golden waves, each strand catching the sunlight as though spun from pure radiance. When she moved, it shimmered with an ethereal glow. But what truly set her apart were her eyes—one a clear, oceanic blue, calm and endless, the other glimmering like molten gold, radiant and mesmerizing. It was new, something different about her—as if the heavens themselves had left their mark.
Her figure was graceful and elegant, soft curves complementing her youthful vitality and strength. Slender yet full of life, every movement flowed like a dance. She carried herself with poise, her presence gentle yet commanding, as though she were not of this world, but sent from above.
Altogether, she was the vision of an angel—radiant, mysterious, breathtaking. A being who could silence the world with her presence alone.
"Yumina… she's changed so much."
Seeing her again, after all this time, stirred John's emotions into turmoil. But then his gaze shifted—and his heart tightened.
Playing beside her was a boy, about five years old. His features bore a striking resemblance to Yumina.
For a moment, John felt suffocated.
When they had parted, Yumina was still young, and his feelings for her had been more promise than passion. It was their love and determination that had carried him back. But seeing this now… he realized he had lost something dear.
As his emotions churned, a hand on his shoulder pulled him back to reality.
Shaking his head, John turned, ready to leave. But a voice rang out behind them.
"Who are you? Who allowed you both in here?" A maid shouted, her tone sharp with vigilance.
Unbeknownst to John, his earlier emotional turmoil had caused his invisibility rune to falter. The maid could see them clearly.
But John didn't answer. "Let's go, Nyx," he muttered quietly.
Seeing him like this, Nyx felt a pang of sadness. She could feel his low mood, the weight in his heart. So she only nodded slightly in response.
Looking at Yumina one last time, John closed his eyes and whispered to himself.
"Sorry, Yumina… I let you down."