The world was a canvas of white. Snow blanketed the path ahead, and every tree branch was heavy with it. Through this winter landscape, Kayle ran, his destination was the Umgrad city and, within it, Duke Harrison's mansion.
He reached the city gates and passed through without pause, his feet pounding the cobblestone streets on a direct course for the mansion. Within minutes, he stood before its familiar gates. The knights on guard duty immediately moved to stop him, but their expressions changed from vigilance to shock as they recognized his face. This was Kayle, the very boy whose disappearance had earned them a scolding from the Duke every single day.
Waving him through, they watched as he approached the main entrance. The doors swung open before he reached them, pulled by maids who had seen his approach. Kayle stepped into the grand hall, and his eyes fell upon the people waiting for him.
He strode into the grand hall, where he found his friends: James, Latty, Sara, Nana, Rolex, Professor Olivia, Professor Lucy, and Duke Harrison Maklice, all of whom had been waiting for him. David Roxidon had already contacted Harrison, informing him that Kayle had been found and was on his way back.
Kayle stood before them, a silent figure in the center of the hall. His friends and Harrison stared at him, their expressions a mix of surprise, relief, and anger. It had been 17 days since he went missing, and there had been no news of him. The hall was silent, everyone processing the emotions of the moment.
Then, Sara rose from her chair and walked toward him.
BAM!
Without warning, she slammed her fist into his stomach.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
She continued punching him until he fell to the ground.
"Sara... it hurts. Stop it," Kayle said, his voice a pained whisper.
Kayle doubled over, the air driven from his lungs. Before he could recover, she unleashed a frantic, desperate barrage of punches against his chest and shoulders.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
But she didn't stop. Her fists continued to fall, though they began to lose their force, becoming desperate thuds against his chest as her anger dissolved into gut-wrenching sobs.
Sniff... weep...
Kayle looked down to see Sara clinging to him, her face buried in his shoulder, crying uncontrollably. Her small, pained sounds echoed in the silent hall. In that moment, he understood just how deeply he had hurt her. He gently placed a hand on her head.
"Don't touch me, you bastard!" she shouted, her voice thick with tears. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? Do you know what was going through my mind all this time? You just left! A single piece of paper! Did you ever think about how I felt, not being able to stop you, not being able to find you? My heart was aching every second, terrified that something had happened to you in that storm. When Sir David said you were gone... do you know what that felt like?"
Her voice broke. "I thought I'd lost you. I thought I'd never see your face again. Why did you leave me like that, you bastard?" She clung to him, her tears soaking his shirt.
Kayle felt the raw weight of her emotion—her fear, her relief, her pain. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly and rubbing her back.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I know what I did was idiotic. I know it's unforgivable. I made all of you worry, and I hurt you all." He paused, his voice firming. "But if it were you, or any one of my friends in that bed, I would do the exact same thing. For me, you all come first. Everything else is second."
Everyone in the hall listened, moved by his words. They knew Kayle was not a man of empty promises. He held Sara as they both sank to the floor. A few moments later, they helped each other up.
Kayle moved forward to face the others. "I'm sorry," he said, bowing his head. "I should have told you. It's entirely my fault for making you worry. Especially you, Sir Harrison. I ask for your forgiveness. I never should have run away like that."
Harrison's gaze was stern. "Kayle, I thought you were a responsible young man, but what you did was utterly reckless. I know you were trying to save Silvia, but you should have spoken to me. Because of your actions, no one in this mansion has slept a wink. Your friends and professors have been sick with worry."
"I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart, sir," Kayle said, bowing his head.
"Don't say sorry to me," Harrison said. "Say it to your friends and professors."
Kayle turned to Lucy and Olivia. "I'm sorry, professors. Because of my recklessness, you were all troubled by me. I'm really sorry. Please forgive me."
"We'll talk about punishment later," Olivia said, her voice sharp but her eyes soft with relief. "First, tell us. Your little journey... did you find what you were looking for?"
Kayle looked at her, his expression radiating absolute certainty. "Yes. I found a way to heal Silvia."
The atmosphere in the room changed instantly. James, who had been silent until now, rushed forward and grabbed Kayle by the shoulders.
"Are you telling the truth, Kayle?" he asked, his face a mask of desperate hope. "Can Silvia really be saved?"
"Yeah, we can save her, James," Kayle said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Really... she can be saved..." James began to cry, the immense burden he had been carrying finally lifting from his heart.
"Didn't I tell you I'd find a way to save Silvia?" Kayle said, a smile finally returning to his face. "Let's go to her room."
They all filed into Silvia's room. It was cold and unnaturally silent. On the bed, Silvia lay motionless. She was like a princess in a frozen fairytale, her face growing paler by the day, her breathing shallow, her body cold to the touch. It was only thanks to the protective necklace Kayle had given her and the residual healing magic from a powerful father harpy that she had held on this long.
Kayle took her hand. It was as cold as ice. He gently lifted her into his arms and pulled a vial from his storage ring.
Tears of Life.
The divine healing potion, for which he had gone to war with two merchant groups and the prince of Ovoris kingdom and faced countless dangers, was finally in his hands. As he pulled it out, a soft, golden light emanated from the bottle, illuminating the entire room.
"What is this? I can't see a thing!" Latty exclaimed, shielding her eyes.
"It's shining like light reflected from a mirror," Nana said, her voice filled with awe.
"Kayle, what is this?" Lucy asked.
Kayle said nothing. He carefully uncorked the bottle and touched it to Silvia's lips, slowly and gently feeding her every last drop. He then laid her back down on the bed. All eyes were fixed on her, waiting.
The room was tense with anxious, nervous silence. Nothing happened. Silvia didn't move.
"Kayle, what's wrong?" James asked, his voice trembling. "Why isn't she waking up?"
Kayle held Silvia's hand tightly, his own confusion mounting into panic.
"Kayle, answer me!" James pleaded.
"Kayle, what's going on?" Olivia asked, her voice laced with renewed fear.
Beads of sweat formed on Kayle's forehead. His eyes widened. "I don't know," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I don't know why it isn't working... I don't fu***** know what's going on!" he shouted, his control finally shattering.
Just as despair began to fill the room, a soft light began to glow from the center of Silvia's chest. They watched, stunned, as the light expanded, enveloping her entire body. Then, she began to float, levitating in the air, her body glowing like a miniature sun.
After a few seconds, the light subsided, and she drifted gently back down. Kayle caught her, his hands trembling as he held her in his arms. He could barely breathe.
Silvia's face twitched. Her eyelids fluttered. Slowly, she opened her eyes. As she did, Kayle's face, tense with worry, was the first thing she saw. She lifted a weak hand and placed it on his cheek.
"Kayle," she whispered, her voice soft. "Do you know, I had a nightmare? In that nightmare, you were shouting my name and trying to wake me up, but I couldn't respond."
The room fell into silence. Latty, Nana, Lucy, and Olivia all began to cry, tears of relief streaming down their faces. James, too, broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.
Kayle, too, lost his composure. He hugged Silvia tightly, burying his face in her shoulder. The tough, composed young man who never faltered... finally broke.
Silvia's eyes widened as she felt his tears. She looked around and saw her friends, her brother, her professors, all weeping. "What's wrong with you guys?" she asked, confused. "Why is everyone crying?"
She heard a sniffle right beside her ear. She turned her head and saw Kayle, his shoulders shaking. "Kayle... you're crying too? What happened? James, what's going on? Tell me who made you cry!"
"I'm sorry, Silvia," Kayle choked out. "I'm so sorry."
"What? Why are you sorry?" Silvia said shockingly.
"Because of me... you were like this for so long. You nearly died because of me."
A flicker of memory crossed her face—the mission, the wolf, Kayle jumping to save her, her own desperate rush into the monster-filled field before everything went dark. Seeing the faces around her, she understood.
She put her hand on the back of his head, her fingers tangling in his hair. "You idiot," she said softly. "Did you forget? I told you I would always protect you. So why are you sorry? For you, Kayle, I'm ready to jump into hell itself."
Kayle looked at her face, and Silvia held his cheeks. He was crying like a child. "Geez, look at you, all messed up like a little baby," she said, gently wiping his tears. "Now, don't cry. I'm alright."
Kayle wiped his tears and nodded. Everyone rushed to Silvia.
"Silvia, how are you feeling? Does anything hurt?" Latty asked.
"Are you alright? Should we get a healer?" James said, fussing over her.
"How are your injuries? Are you in any pain?" Nana added.
"Silvia, my child," Olivia said, her voice still thick with emotion. "Do you need anything? Tell me, and I'll get it for you."
Overwhelmed by the sudden flood of questions, Silvia simply smiled. "One at a time, everyone. Don't worry. I'm alright now."
Silvia quickly became the center of attention as her friends and family crowded around her bed.
"Silvia," James said, his voice thick with emotion.
She looked at her brother. His clothes were a mess and his hair was unkempt, but his face was filled with pure, unadulterated relief. Silvia took his hand, and he immediately pulled her into a hug.
"Thank God you're safe," James whispered. "I was so worried. The priest said there was nothing more he could do."
"I'm sorry, brother," she replied, her voice muffled by his shoulder. "I caused you all so much trouble."
"Don't you ever say that," he said, pulling back to look her in the eyes. "You are my only family, Silvia. Your problems are my problems.
Your pain is my pain. And thanks to Kayle, you're here with us now."
"Silvia, how are you feeling?" Professor Lucy asked, her tone clinical but her eyes filled with warmth. "How is your heart? Are you feeling any pain, anywhere at all?"
"No, Professor. Actually, I feel incredibly light and energetic," Silvia said, looking at her own hands in wonder. "It feels like I'm fully charged, like I could run for kilometers without a break. And my mana... my mana capacity has increased immensely. I can feel the power flowing through me."
"Truly? No pain in your heart?" Lucy pressed.
"None at all. Why do you ask? What happened to me?"
"Silvia, you may not realize it," Olivia explained gently, "but during the mission, when you pushed your limits to save Kayle, you experienced a double awakening. The sheer amount of mana flowing through your body caused catastrophic internal injuries. Your heart was on the verge of exploding from the strain."
Silvia's eyes went wide. "What? A double awakening? You mean... I'm a seventh-circle mage?"
"Yes, Silvia," Lucy confirmed with a proud smile. "You are the first person in the history of the continent to become a seventh-circle mage at the age of twenty."
"That's why I feel so powerful..." Silvia murmured in awe. "James, did you hear that? I'm a seventh-circle mage!"
"I heard," he said, smiling. "But you should be thanking Kayle. He's the reason you're alive to enjoy it."
Silvia's gaze shifted to Kayle, who was sitting quietly beside her bed. "Thank you, Kayle," she said softly.
"You don't need to thank me," he replied. "I just did what had to be done."
"But Kayle," Nana piped up, "what was that healing potion? I've never even heard of a potion powerful enough to save someone on the brink of death."
Every eye in the room turned to Kayle, waiting for his answer.
"It was a divine-grade healing potion," he said calmly. "It's said that it can even bring the dead back to life."
A stunned silence fell over the room.
"Kayle, are you joking with us?" Olivia asked, breaking the silence.
Kayle simply looked at her. "You saw its effects with your own eyes."
No one could argue with that. They had all witnessed the miracle.
"But how did you even know such a thing existed?" Lucy asked. "Even I have never heard of it."
"In the academy's library," Kayle explained, "on the third floor, there is a section for books thousands of years old. It's restricted to faculty members only. I read about it there."
"You mean the old archives?" Olivia asked.
"How did you get in there? No student is allowed."
"During our research two years ago, Headmaster Elizabeth granted me special access. That's where I learned about it."
"I never knew our academy possessed the recipe for a divine-grade healing potion," Sara said, impressed.
"It doesn't," Kayle corrected her. "I never said it was a recipe."
"Then what was it?"
"It was a history of the mythical gods," Kayle said, his tone turning serious. "A book about the forgotten gods who were once cherished, but slowly lost their followers and their power. I asked for help from one of them."
"Wait a minute," Olivia said, holding up a hand. "You're saying you actually sought help from a forgotten god? Are you being serious?"
"Yes. The book said that while they've lost most of their power, they still exist. They watch humanity in their sleep and sometimes meet them in dreams. They listen to prayers, and they will grant a wish, but they always ask for something of equal value in return."
The room was filled with a sense of wonder and disbelief as they processed this hidden chapter of history.
"Then what did this god ask of you," Lucy asked, her voice laced with suspicion, "in exchange for the potion?"
"It doesn't matter what he asked," Kayle said dismissively, "as long as Silvia is safe."
"Tell us, Kayle," James insisted. "What did you give that god?"
"Yes, what did he ask for?" Silvia added, her gaze intensifying.
"Kayle, what are you hiding?" Sara demanded.
As everyone began to question him, Duke Harrison strode forward, grabbed Kayle by the collar, and pulled him to his feet.
"Kayle, take off your clothes," Harrison commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.
"Why, sir?" Kayle asked, feigning ignorance.
"Show us what you're hiding."
"Sir, I'm not hiding anything."
"Don't play dumb with me, boy," Harrison said grimly. "David Roxidon already told me what he saw. Now stop hiding it."
Kayle sighed, realizing he was caught. He slowly took off his coat, then his shirt.
A collective gasp filled the room. The upper half of his body was a grotesque tapestry of wounds. Deep, vicious claw marks raked across his chest, arms, abs, and back, as if he had been mauled by a horde of savage beasts.
Everyone's hands flew to their mouths in shock.
Silvia pushed herself up from the bed, and Sara grabbed Kayle's arm, her fingers tracing a deep gash.
"Kayle, what is this?" Silvia cried. "Who did this to you?"
"Which beast did this?" Sara asked, her voice trembling with rage. "Your entire body is torn apart!"
"Kayle, what in the world did that god make you do?" Latty asked, her face pale with concern.
"You reckless boy!" Olivia seethed. "Tell me who did this to you. I'll make them pay!"
Lucy gripped Kayle's shoulder. "Tell me who did this. Which bastard dared to lay a hand on one of my students?"
"Everyone, calm down," Kayle said, trying to de-escalate the situation. "It's nothing, as long as Silvia is safe."
"What do you mean, 'it's nothing,' you idiot!" Silvia shot back, her voice sharp with fury.
"Look at yourself! Your whole body is a mess!"
"Uncle, call the healer right now!" Sara ordered. "And you, Kayle, lie down on that bed. How can you even be standing in this condition?"
"Don't worry, I received some healing potions from the Roxidon clan. They'll heal me," he said.
But Sara and Silvia ignored him, forcing him onto the bed. "Give us the potions," Silvia demanded.
Kayle quickly pulled the vials from his ring. "Here."
Sara and Silvia uncorked them. "Open your mouth," Silvia commanded.
"I can drink them myself."
"Do as I say," she said, her voice dangerously low as her eyes began to radiate a faint crimson mana. "Don't make me repeat myself."
Kayle wisely shut his mouth and opened it again, allowing them to pour the potions down his throat. As the magic took effect, his wounds began to close, the flesh knitting itself back together. The worst of the injuries faded, though deep scars and a few major wounds remained.
"You will lie there until the healer arrives," Sara ordered.
"Kayle," James said, his voice serious. "Tell us exactly what happened."
Kayle sighed again. "I went to a forest near Quebiton city. I performed a ritual, offering my own flesh and blood to summon a forgotten god. A goddess named 'Piska' appeared. I asked for her help, and she asked what I could offer in return."
"What did you say?" Silvia asked, her knuckles white as she gripped the bedsheets.
"I offered my life." Kayle said.
"You idiot!" Silvia yelled. "Who told you to offer your life for mine?!"
"I just wanted to save you," he said simply. "So I did what I had to. The goddess told me she would accept a different price. I had to bring her the hearts of a Black-Eyed Bear, an Eastern Red Flame Eagle, and a Three-Headed Dark Poison Snake."
Another wave of shock hit the room. They were all five-star risk rated monsters.
"Kayle, had you taken leave of your senses?" Lucy scolded him. "You fought three hideous monsters that could have killed you ten times over at your current level!"
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
"Your 'sorry' won't cut it!" she snapped. "You nearly died! If those monsters had killed you, we would never have even known what happened to you! You have disappointed me, Kayle. When we return to the academy, you and I will be having a long talk about your punishment."
"Yes, Ma'am," he replied meekly.
"So what happened after that?" Latty asked, still trying to process it all.
"I barely managed to kill them," Kayle concluded. "I brought their hearts to her, gave her my blood as a final offering, and she gave me the potion in return."
As he finished his story, he glanced around the room and saw the furious expressions on everyone's faces. The angriest, by far, were Silvia and Sara. It was as if the two of them were ready to beat him themselves. Kayle quickly turned his face to the wall, deciding it was the safest direction to look.
– – –
Night had fallen, and Aeon was finally alone in his room. It had been a massive headache. Both Silvia and Sara had refused to leave his side all day, insisting he rest and do nothing. He was being coddled like a baby, and it was only when he insisted they join the others for dinner that he finally got some peace.
Lying on his bed, he lost himself in thought. "It was a hassle to deal with Silvia and Sara," he mused. "They didn't listen to a word I said and made me rest in this bedroom. Well, I should have expected that from them."
"I had no choice," he continued, a sigh escaping him. "I couldn't tell anyone about the Tears of Life; it's a huge secret of the elf tribe, and I promised Faereluna I wouldn't reveal the potion's true identity. So I had to make up that story about the mythical gods. Though, everything I said was a lie, except for the part about the forgotten gods—someone in the original story of 'Ash Prince' did ask for their help, and the academy's library really does contain a book about them. So, even if the professors check, there won't be any issues."
"However, what truly helped me were these things," Aeon thought, pulling two necklaces from his neck. He had hidden them with magic. The first was a red diamond necklace he'd acquired in Oklo Village, and the second was a new silver necklace with a green diamond he'd received from Faereluna.
"These two necklaces," he said, his eyes fixed on them. "I got the red one in Oklo Village and this green one from Faereluna. This necklace is also one of the seven pieces, just like the others. I didn't plan on getting it this early, but because of Silvia, I had to go to the Elf Forest much earlier than expected. Still, everything went smoothly, and I got this from Faereluna. I asked for this necklace because I didn't want to reveal the Tears of Life. This one feasts on the life force of all living beings. I used it to create those marks on my body, and the red necklace absorbed my blood, making my wounds as fierce, sharp, and deep as possible, so they would resemble monster attacks. These necklaces are working just as they were described in the novel. Now I just need three more, and I'll be ready."
He placed the necklaces in his storage ring. Just then, Silvia and Sara entered the room, each holding a plate of supper for him.
Silvia and Sara came to him and sat beside Kayle.
"You guys didn't need to bring me dinner," Kayle said.
"You haven't had anything all day, and with these injuries, you can't even move," Sara said, her voice stern. "Did you forget that Father Harpy told you to just rest? Now just shut up and eat."
Silvia then took a spoon and held a bite of food out to him. "Here," she said softly.
"I can eat by myself," Kayle replied.
"Oh, with hands that messed up, you can eat?" Silvia challenged. "Let me check how tough they are."
SLAM!
She slapped his hand playfully but with enough force to sting.
"Ouch! Silvia, that hurts!" Kayle yelped.
"See?" she said, a mischievous grin on her face. "You can't even take a light slap, and you're saying you can eat with those hands."
"If you do it suddenly, it'll hurt, Silvia. Sara, tell her something," Kayle pleaded.
"Kayle, stop acting like a child and just let us feed you," Sara said, her tone fierce and her eyes angry.
"Sara, you too?" Kayle said, defeated.
"What, do you want me to slam you as well?" Sara threatened.
Kayle, utterly defeated by the two of them, simply nodded his head. Both Silvia and Sara began to feed him.
As they were eating, Kayle suddenly remembered Itzayana, the girl he had left in the mansion days ago.
"Oh, yeah, Sara," he said, swallowing a bite. "What happened to the girl we took back with us?"
"You mean Itzayana?" Sara replied.
"Oh, her name is Itzayana. Yeah, that girl from the forest." Kayle said.
"Well, she regained consciousness the day after you left," Sara explained. "She's in the last room on this floor. When she woke up, Uncle Harrison went to interrogate her, but what we heard was shocking. She said she didn't remember anything, as if she had lost her memories."
"Then what did Sir Harrison do?" Kayle asked, his interest piqued.
"Of course, we didn't believe her at first," Sara said. "We assumed she was lying, so Uncle tried to threaten her, but she gave the same answer. Then we called Father Harpy to check her condition, and he found traces of a cursed seal on her head. The seal was broken, and that's when we found out that someone had put a seal on her head. If the seal were ever to break, she would lose her memories."
"And how would her seal have been broken?" Kayle asked, playing along.
"Father Harpy said the seal could have been connected to the caster," Sara explained. "When the caster died, the seal broke on its own."
"I see. So we couldn't find anything," Kayle said. "What about Itzayana? Did she completely lose her memories, or only some of it?"
"She remembers her childhood and her training with the dark mages. Nothing more," Sara explained..
"So what's her background?" Silvia asked, her curiosity evident.
"She's from the Cronos Empire," Sara said. "She's the daughter of Tarzin Meeve and Defila Meeve, renowned researchers of the Cronos Empire. They died 14 years ago, and she was taken away by the black mages. That's all we found out. Uncle had no choice but to believe her, as Father Harpy had already given his report."
"Does she know about the base of the black mages?" Kayle asked.
"Nope. She only has her childhood memories." Sara replied.
Kayle and Silvia listened intently as Sara finished her explanation.
After a while, dinner was over.
Kayle was finally alone in his room, sitting on his bed. "It's good that Itzayana did what I told her to do," Aeon thought. "With this story, no one will suspect her, and I'll be able to take her with me. I had to change my plan in the middle because of the teleportation array, but it was convenient to leave the traces of a cursed seal on her head so they would believe her. Now, all that's left is for me to return to the academy and complete my graduation."
"But now I don't know how things will change in the future," he continued. "Because of me, so many nobles and officials have lost their power and lives. I'll have to make new plans. I just hope things don't go too far out of the story plot. It's time to move forward."
Just then, the door creaked open, and Silvia and Sara entered the room.
"What now? What are you both doing in my room?" Kayle asked, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Don't you want to sleep?"
Silvia and Sara looked at each other, their expressions sharp, like two cats ready to fight over a fish.
"I came to look after you," Sara said. "You're not in good condition right now, so I'll be staying by your side."
"What do you mean by that?!" Silvia snapped. "I'm more than enough to take care of Kayle, so go back to your room!"
"You mind your own business," Sara retorted. "Kayle is my friend, and why are you getting angry? Are you his wife?"
Silvia blushed at Sara's comment but didn't back down. "Who knows, I might be in the future," she said, showing Sara the ring Aeon had bought for her.
Both girls glared at each other, as if they were ready to eat one another alive.
"Both of you, stop!" Kayle shouted.
They looked at him, their expressions of anger fading slightly.
"I'm not a child, and I can take care of myself," Kayle said. "So both of you return to your rooms at once. Especially you, Silvia. You just recovered from your injuries, so you need to rest more than I do."
"Yes, Kayle is right," Sara said, seizing the opportunity. "You just recovered, so you need to rest. Go back to your room and don't worry about Kayle; I'll take care of him."
"You also go back to your room, Sara," Kayle said firmly.
Both Silvia and Sara listened to Kayle but refused to back down. Silvia went to his bed and sat beside him.
"What are you doing, Silvia? Didn't you hear me?" Kayle asked.
Silvia glared at him, her eyes radiating crimson mana. "Kayle, are you forgetting that I'm a Seventh Circle Mage now?" she whispered through Wind Sonar. "And you have to listen to me, as you've already broken so many promises to me. Or do you want me to break a few bones as well?"
Kayle looked at Silvia, who was smiling at him after giving him a serious threat. He knew he couldn't win this argument, so he gave up. "Okay, you can stay."
"Yes, Kayle understands the situation very well," Silvia said, hugging him. "Now Sara, go back to your room."
Sara, watching Silvia get close to him, refused to back down either. She went to the other side of the bed and sat down. "I'm also staying here," she said defiantly.
"What? Don't you have any shame?" Silvia snapped. "How can a girl stay in a boy's room?"
"Who's talking about shame?" Sara retorted. "Aren't you doing the same?"
"Kayle allowed me to stay, but you just barged in here, and Kayle and I are friends." Silvia justified herself.
"So am I!" Sara said.
And so, they began to argue again, with Kayle caught in the middle of their fight.
After a while, the argument subsided. Both girls settled down in Kayle's room. On his right side was Silvia, and on his left was Sara. Both of them were fast asleep, their heads resting comfortably on his chest. In the middle of it all was Aeon, trying to get some sleep after his adventure.
"How did I end up like this?" Aeon thought, a mix of exasperation and affection in his heart. "They were fighting over who got to take care of me, and now they're sleeping on my chest so comfortably. I can't understand either of them. I can't say no to them, nor can I refuse them. I know they love me—or, I should say, they love Kayle—but I'm not Kayle, and I won't be with them forever. What should I do? I've always kept my distance from relationships, but this is the first time I've been stuck in one. Ugh, what a headache."
He looked at their sleeping faces. Silvia and Sara, beautiful and serene, like fairies. "However," he thought, a gentle smile on his face, "I kind of like it. Both of them are like fairies who can turn a nation upside down with their beauty alone. And here they are, sleeping like children. I don't know what will happen in the future, but for now, I just want to enjoy this moment."
With that final thought, he also fell asleep, a quiet calm settling over the room.