The night had fallen softly over the palace, stars scattered across the velvet sky like scattered diamonds. A faint breeze stirred the lanterns in the courtyard, carrying the scent of blooming flowers.
John and Yumina sat together on a stone bench, away from the noise of the palace, just the two of them under the quiet sky.
For a long while, they spoke gently, sharing what their lives had been like all these years apart. Yumina told him of her endless waiting, of her duties as a princess, and of the loneliness that followed her every day.
John listened carefully, his eyes never leaving her, and in return, he told her of his battles, his struggles, and the strange worlds he had walked through.
But then, as silence wrapped around them once more, Yumina's gaze shifted. Her eyes, sharp yet uncertain, wandered toward the edge of the courtyard.
"John…" she began, her voice quieter now, "that girl… the one who was with you earlier."
John blinked, caught off guard. He turned his head slightly and saw Nyx standing far away, leaning against a pillar, her golden eyes dim but fixed on them. She had not left since the moment he stopped the rune—watching silently, as if protecting him from the shadows.
Yumina's brows furrowed. "Who is she?"
John's heart skipped. He could feel the weight of misunderstanding already taking root, so he acted quickly. He leaned closer, his tone urgent yet gentle.
"Yumina, listen. She's not what you think."
Yumina's lips pressed together, waiting.
"Her name is Nyx," John explained. "She's a Primordial Dragon—one of a kind. I found her in another world. She's powerful… ancient… and she chose to follow me, not as a woman but as a companion, a guardian. She has no ties to me the way you fear."
Yumina's eyes widened, shock flashing across her face. "A… Primordial Dragon?"
"Yes," John nodded firmly. "She has walked since the beginning of time. She owes me her life, and because of that, she stays by my side. That's all."
For a moment, Yumina just stared, struggling to believe. But then, almost unconsciously, she let out a tiny sigh of relief. She turned her face slightly away so he wouldn't notice, but her shoulders eased.
"I see…" she whispered. "I thought… no, never mind."
John caught the faint softness in her voice and felt a knot loosen in his chest.
But then Yumina's expression grew serious again, curiosity flickering in her mismatched eyes. "Still, John… all these years. Why did it take you so long?"
John hesitated. His gaze lowered to the stone path beneath them. "Because… for me, it hasn't been years."
Yumina tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
John lifted his eyes again, meeting hers with quiet determination. "In the world I was in… time flows differently. One month there… is six months here. For me, it has been only a little more than a year since I left. Not seven and a half."
Her lips parted in shock. "Only… a year?"
"Yes," John said softly. "I wanted to return sooner. I fought for it, I bled for it, but the worlds didn't allow me. I thought of you every day… and to me, it hasn't been that long. Not like what you had to endure."
Yumina's eyes trembled. Her breath caught in her throat. Slowly, a warmth spread through her chest, and she pressed a hand to her heart.
"So… it wasn't because you didn't want to come," she whispered. "It wasn't because you forgot me."
John's lips curved in a small, sad smile. "Never."
Tears shimmered in Yumina's eyes again, but this time they weren't born of anger or pain. They were tears of release, of relief, of a weight finally lifting after so many years. She leaned slightly against him, her voice barely audible.
"Then… I can forgive you."
John's hand gently clasped hers, holding it as if he'd never let go again.
---
The days that followed passed quietly. John remained in the palace for a short while, reuniting with Yumina and spending time with her family.
The king and queen, though wary at first, began to soften after seeing the light in their daughter's eyes return. Every time Yumina laughed, every time her smile returned, they looked at John differently. No longer as a stranger who had abandoned their daughter, but as the man who brought her back to life.
Even little James grew fond of him, sneaking around the palace halls to follow John and bombard him with endless questions. John, though awkward, answered patiently, making the boy laugh with stories of strange beasts and worlds beyond imagination.
For a brief moment, it almost felt like a family again.
But John knew he couldn't stay.
On the morning of the third day, he stood in the grand hall with Yumina at his side. Nyx waited silently in the background, her presence steady as ever.
"Your Majesty," John said respectfully, bowing to the king and queen. "Thank you for your kindness. But it's time for us to leave."
The queen's lips pressed thin, and the king's expression was heavy, but neither objected. They only looked at Yumina, who stepped forward and hugged them both tightly.
"Father, Mother," Yumina said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "I'll come back. I promise. But for now, I must go with him."
Her little brother James clung to her skirts, his small voice breaking. "Sister… don't go…"
Yumina knelt, embracing him tightly. "Be brave, James. Take care of Mother and Father while I'm gone, alright?"
Tears rolled down the boy's cheeks, but he nodded fiercely. "I will."
John stood quietly nearby, watching the farewell with respect. He knew the pain of parting, but he also knew the strength that came with moving forward.
Finally, Yumina turned back to him. Their eyes met, steady and certain.
John extended his hand. She took it without hesitation.
Nyx stepped closer, and in the next breath, a wave of silver light rose around them. The palace, the family, the world itself blurred like ripples on water.
And then—
They vanished.