"You survived a realm trial that Rahul himself failed. And you're worried about hugging your sister?"
— Olivia, to Kaien
Scene 1: Return to the Citadel
After the Trial of the Heirs, the Five split to recover.
Kaien returned home.
He expected silence.
Instead?
"SURPRISE YOU DIDN'T DIE" PARTY.
Balloons.
Sparklers.
One cake floating upside down from a faulty gravity rune.
Aeyra: "You survived emotional trauma! You get cake!"
Aren: "I invented a candle that sings! Also, explodes!"
Kaien: "...I am regretting this instantly."
Scene 2: The Party Chaos
Valenya didn't attend the party at first. She watched from the hallway, arms crossed.
Kaien noticed.
But he didn't go to her yet.
Instead, he let himself laugh — just a little.
Aeyra told the entire story of the trial with puppets made of toast Aren rigged the confetti to scream "KAIIIIIIIIEN" every time he blinked Olivia helped with the food… until she accidentally poured Void Nectar into the stew
Olivia: "This tastes like regret."
Kaien: "It tastes like my childhood."
Olivia: "...I'm so sorry."
Scene 3: Kaien & Valenya — The Talk
Later, Kaien found Valenya on the training balcony.
She spoke first.
"You passed a test even Rahul didn't."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Kaien: "Because I didn't want to win something that cost you peace."
She finally looked at him.
"You think protecting us is your purpose."
"But what happens when we're the ones protecting you?"
Kaien didn't answer.
Valenya stepped forward and — without warning — hugged him.
"You don't have to carry all of him," she whispered.
"Just carry yourself."
Scene 4: Olivia's Blush (Almost Explodes Reality)
Kaien sat beside Olivia later that night on the stairs.
Kaien: "Thank you… for seeing me when I didn't want to be seen."
Olivia: "You saved me before you even knew who you were."
"I don't care what title you wear."
There was a long pause.
Then Kaien brushed a leaf off her shoulder.
Olivia's face went atomic star-core pink.
Aeyra from the hallway: "KISS HER ALREADY."
Kaien + Olivia: "AEYRA!!!"
Scene 5: An Unexpected Visitor
The front gate of the Citadel opened on its own.
A figure stood — graceful, ancient, terrifying.
Vaelin Marr — the 6th of the Seven.
The Dream-Drinker.
A being who speaks only in riddles… and rarely appears outside a crisis.
Vaelin: "I smelled tea."
Valenya: "…We have tea?"
He sat at the table. Sipped from a floral mug.
Then casually said:
"The Seventh God-Tier is missing."
Everyone froze.
"And something old… is waking up in their place."
Final Scene: The Flame Answers
As the family gathered around Kaien, Olivia, and the Five began returning one by one…
The Citadel's central flame pulsed.
It recognized Kaien.
It welcomed him.
And it whispered:
"The heir has found his heart.
Now comes the war that breaks the stars."