The palace gates cracked open with a sound like thunder.
Mana flooded forward, it felt clean, cold, and ancient. Elven guards parted in silence as the group rode through, six strong, blood-soaked, battle-scarred.
And one bound devil princess.
I couldn't see more than the dark outlines and pressure signatures around me. But I felt the tension spike the moment the king's aura emerged.
He was waiting in the courtyard.
A tall outline. Sharply contained. So much mana it shimmered like frost around him. King Beren of the Elves. He felt stronger than the last time i was near him. Guess even kings still train hard even with a packed schedule.
William slid off his horse first.
"Father," he said.
His voice cracked.
The outline of the king didn't move. But his mana flared — just once — like a heartbeat pumped with adrenaline.
"William."
That was all he said before stepping forward, pulling his son into a one-armed embrace. Quick. Firm. Like something he wasn't sure he was allowed to do — but had to.
"You're alive," the king said.
"I'm fine," William replied, and then stumbled.
Lumos caught him before he hit the ground. "He's not that fine."
Sir Aethon dismounted with the smooth grace of a man who belonged here. He walked straight to the king and bowed, armor still scorched, sword still blood-wet.
"I return your son, Your Majesty," he said. "As requested."
"You return more than that," King Beren said. "You bring half the firestorm with you."
Aethon actually laughed. "Wouldn't be the first time."
The king's mana pulsed again, this time amused. Then turned sharp.
His gaze swept across the rest of us.
"Of course you two are here," he said, tone drier than stone.
Rōko's outline shrugged. "Can't help it, Your Majesty. Trouble follows us."
I raised a hand weakly. "Technically she followed the trouble this time."
"We will call that progress," he muttered. "Of a sort."
Then another voice broke the silence.
Rough. Raspy. Smiling through blood.
"Don't forget about me, old man."
Salem.
Her outline stumbled forward beside me,! limping, but proud.
King Beren let out a long breath. "If it isn't my favorite demon. Alive but looking like she died three times in the process."
"Disappointed?"
"Relieved," he admitted. "I can't have the scroll tournament most famous fighter die so soon."
"You're welcome."
Then came her.
Still bound.
Still hissing under her breath.
Kali's outline was lit like a broken flame — burning low, but deadly. She sat slouched on Lumos' horse, arms bound twice over, magic sealed, pride shattered.
Lumos pulled her hair again — not gentle. She hissed.
"She's a princess," he said. "And a strong one. Stronger than me, probably. She just wasn't smart enough."
"Yet you brought her back alive."
"I like trophies," Lumos grinned. "And she is a damned work of art, admit it."
Kali snarled something in her that i assume only devil's spoke. It didn't sound polite.
King Beren didn't flinch.
"She was behind the taking of my son?"
"Yes," Lumos confirmed. "Or close enough to it."
"Then do with her as you please," Beren said, turning away. "What do I care. If she's royalty, she might be useful to someone, but I'd recommend having Lincoln put a bond on her. Drain her will. Until then…"
His voice dropped into command.
"Double up on the cuffs. She stays within ten feet of you at all times, Lumos. If she tries to escape, kill her."
Kali's outline twitched.
Lumos just laughed again. "You heard the king, sweetheart. Looks like you're mine for now."
Rōko muttered under her breath, "That's so messed up."
I didn't disagree.
But none of us said anything more.
Not now.
We'd survived Blazewind.
But we'd brought the storm back with us.
The king spoke up one last time.
"Get healed everyone, and rest up, tomorrow i will cal upon some of you for more information on the devils"
We never saw the infirmary.
They patched us up quick and quiet. Magic pressed into ribs, bandages looped around injured skin, a splash of bitter potion on the tongue. But nothing lingered. No ceremony. No comfort.
Elves weren't known for warmth. But they always were very welcoming.
Like this room. It breathed of it. The air carried a low hum — faint mana woven into the walls. A soft outline flickered nearby: Salem, lying back on the bed. Her silhouette no longer trembling, though her mana still dimmed in waves like tidewater drawing out.
I helped her ease down. Her leg moved stiffly. The scars pulsed a dull silver-blue where the cuts had once flared.
"Don't get used to this," she said under her breath. "Next time, ill save you without getting injured."
"There's no next time," I told her.
"You're lying again."
A faint blur through the wall to our right. Two outlines. Sharp. One too bright, too quick — sparking with pressure. The other restrained, wrapped in dark coils. Kali. Lumos. His voice was low, a teasing lilt. I couldn't hear the words, only their shape. She hissed something back. No fire behind it.
I turned back to Salem.
Her shape was softer than the others. Familiar. A glow I could almost lean into without flinching. The slope of her outline, the press of her arm, the flutter of breath in her chest.
"I didn't say it back," I murmured.
"Hm?" she asked.
"On the ridge. You said you loved me. I didn't say it back."
She shifted. A slow flicker of mana moving beneath the blankets.
"You didn't need to," she said gently.
But I did.
I reached out, fingers brushing just above the edge of her outline. Her thigh, wrapped beneath rough fabric. Heat met my skin — solid, steady.
"I love you," I whispered. "More than I love anyone in this world."
She didn't speak for a moment. Just breathed.
Then her mana curled toward mine — soft and full, brushing me like a tide.
"You're an idiot," she said quietly. "But I'm yours."
We lay like that for a long time.
And then — we slept.
⸻
I woke to light against stone. Pale, washed, clean.
Salem stirred beside me. Her breathing was slower now, deeper. No catch, no rasp. Healing had done its work.
"You talk in your sleep," she said suddenly.
My heart skipped.
She didn't sound teasing. Just curious. Careful.
"You kept saying something. Over and over."
A pause.
"'I'm not Griffith.'"
Silence swelled between us.
I sat up slowly. Her silhouette followed the motion.
"Who is that?" she asked.
I didn't answer right away. Just leaned into her warmth.
"Maybe one day..i'll tell you" I said softly. "But not today."
She didn't push. Just let it be. Her arm found mine beneath the blanket.
And for now, that was enough.
Than we were called upon by the king.
The room was colder than it looked — or maybe that was just Salem, sitting next to me, one arm looped gently through mine.
Three seats. One for me. One for Rōko. One for her.
Across from us, King Beren stood tall — calm, but I could feel the tension pulsing under his mana. He hadn't said much since we were called here. Neither had Sir Aethon, who stood like a wall at his right. The faint shimmer of his aura was still slicked with frost, colder than ice, sharper than steel.
And then—
The blur of mana was there.
No flare. No travel signature. Just presence.
A black spike of gravity warped the air.
Lincoln.
Not teleportation. Speed.
"Hands off the princess, Lumos." His voice cut the room in half. "Nobility doesn't get to creep — not even on devils."
Lumos chuckled. Not nervous. Just… amused. "Relax. I'm just dragging my prize."
Kali's outline twisted beside him, flickering with suppressed rage. Still stubborn. Still snarling.
"You were stronger," Lumos said, voice lazy, almost bored. "But you were dumb. That's why you're in chains."
Lincoln didn't blink. Didn't move.
Lumos tilted his head and gave a slow, mocking smile. "You gonna bark orders like a guard dog all day, or actually bite?"
Lincoln stepped forward, calm as stone.
"Please act mature," he said quietly. "You're the second strongest human alive."
He paused.
"Don't forget I'm number one."
Then came the pressure.
It hit like the moment before thunder — when the whole world holds its breath. The room didn't shake, but it wanted to. My stomach dropped. My ears rang.
But only Lumos fell.
His grin faltered. His knees buckled, slamming into the stone. His hands followed, trembling. He looked up through clenched teeth, still trying to smile, but sweat ran down his jaw and his aura flickered like a broken candle.
He was pinned.
And Lincoln hadn't moved.
The pressure wasn't on me — not directly. But I still felt it, just from standing this close. Not like weight. Like inevitability. Like gravity had decided to choose someone.
How do you even aim mana like that?
Mana pressure wasn't supposed to be a beam. You couldn't point it like a weapon.
You weren't supposed to be able to.
Rōko inhaled through her teeth beside me. Her hand hovered near her blade, but she didn't draw. She didn't dare.
Kali stiffened beside Lumos, flickering like a shadow in too much light — but she didn't collapse. Lincoln hadn't aimed at her.
Just him.
Lumos spat on the stone. "Bastard…"
Lincoln's mana flicked to him. Just for a breath.
"I don't enjoy this," he said, voice quiet. "But you needed the reminder. I'm sorry."
Then he turned to the King.
"I'll handle her from here. She's valuable. If her people start a war, she'll be more than leverage."
King Beren gave a single nod. "Do what you must."
Lincoln turned, his outline sharp as broken glass. He approached me and Salem. Close.
When he spoke, his voice wasn't loud — but it hit like a blade to the chest.
"Your bond," he said, "is the most natural I've ever seen."
A pause.
"How much free will does she have now?"
I didn't hesitate. "All of it. I gave her one hundred percent. I trust her more than I trust myself."
No response.
Just gone.
Faster than breath. Faster than thought.
The room stayed silent for a long time after that.