I told you… I-I'm Seller…"
Weller's voice shook. He kept his gaze low, clinging to the lie as though it might shield him. But his trembling gave him away.
And then—
A single tear fell.
Not from Weller. From the King.
His Majesty, Nolan Kemat, ruler of Doer, a man feared across nations, stood trembling like a father who had just awoken from a nightmare that had lasted five long years.
"…You fool," the King whispered, his voice breaking apart. "Seller isn't a name."
Weller's breath caught. His eyes widened as if the words had pierced through the armor he had built around his heart. Slowly, his lips trembled, and tears began to slip down his scarred cheeks.
The King stepped forward, his expression no longer that of a sovereign, but of a father—desperate, relieved, undone. He pulled the young man into his arms and held him tightly, clutching him as if he would never let go again.
"You're back…" the King whispered, choking on every word. "After all this time… you're back to me."
And for the first time in years, Weller—hardened by battles, defined by scars, shaped by pain—let his tears fall freely. His body shook as the walls he had built crumbled.
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Father," he sobbed. "I tried to come back, I truly did. But I couldn't—I didn't want to come back empty. I wanted to find him… to catch that bastard… to cut him down myself!"
His words burned with sorrow, rage, and frustration all at once.
The King's embrace tightened. "I know… I know, Weller. I know." His tears pressed against Weller's shoulder, his voice rough but full of unshakable love. "But you don't have to anymore. You do not. I'm here. Your sister is here. We are here. That is enough."
"But Fath—"
Before Weller could finish, a softer, quicker presence rushed into him. Princess Alena, her long hair flying, threw herself into her brother's arms.
"I missed you!" she cried, her voice breaking into sobs. "I missed you, I truly did…"
Her tears dampened Weller's chest as she clung to him with all her strength.
"I know," Weller whispered, his own eyes swollen. "I'm sorry. I truly am. I left you alone, and for that… I can never forgive myself."
"No," Alena said, shaking her head as she wept against him. "You're here now. That's all I wanted."
For a moment, the throne room was filled with nothing but the sound of a family finding itself again.
---
When the tears had quieted, King Nolan turned, his gaze falling upon Hakari, Kage, and Yushi. His shoulders straightened, but the softness in his eyes did not fade.
"Thank you," the King said solemnly, his voice echoing across the marble chamber. "Thank you for bringing my son home. You have returned to me what I thought lost forever."
Hakari stepped forward, lowering his head. "No, it wasn't us, not truly. It was him." He turned to Yushi and pointed. "Yushi was the one."
The King's stern face softened again, this time with both humility and peace. looking directly at the young man.
"Then I am truly grateful," Nolan said. "Yushi… is that your name? I am sorry—and I thank you. Not just I, but the Kingdom of Doer will always be in your debt."
The courtiers gasped softly at such words. A king bowing to a stranger? A ruler lowering himself to a youth? Whispers spread quickly.
But Yushi, wide-eyed, quickly bowed his head. "No, no, really—no need for that. Just… promise me one thing."
The chamber fell still. Even the guards froze at the audacity of the request.
A nobody, asking a king for a promise?
"Silence!" Nolan thundered when the whispers rose too loud. "He has earned his right. And I, Nolan Kemat, King of Doer, promise you, Yushi, whatever you ask for."
Yushi swallowed hard. His hands shook, but he found his courage. "I ask… for Weller's safety. For his lifetime safety."
The King stared at him. Then, slowly, a smile widened across his face—warm, proud, certain.
"Of course," Nolan said. "Of course I promise. In fact…" His voice carried power again. "I appoint you, Yushi, as his bodyguard."
Yushi's jaw nearly dropped. "So that means… I've got a job? I can earn?"
The King chuckled, wiping the last of his tears. "Yes, you have work. But you will not simply earn…"
Yushi hesitated. "So… so that means… no pay?"
Laughter rippled lightly across the chamber. The King placed a hand on his shoulder. "You will have riches for a lifetime. Everything this country—this world—can offer. After all, Doer is the richest nation on earth."
Yushi's eyes nearly bulged out. "Wh-what? Th-that's… thank you, my King! Thank you!"
"Then it is decided," the Minister declared. "The chamber is adjourned. Audience may leave."
---
As the court emptied, Hakari and Kage began to step away.
"Wait," Princess Alena's voice called softly. She stepped forward, her cheeks tinged with shy warmth. "You… you may stay here. In the palace. At least for tonight."
Hakari shook his head. "No, Princess. We cannot impose. We still have far to go, and—"
"Can we?" Kage interrupted, his tone calm but firm.
Hakari turned, frowning. "Kage, we have to leave. Koha still waits."
"I know," Kage replied. "But one night won't hurt. Let's take rest, just this once."
Hakari sighed heavily. "…As you wish."
The servants guided them to their chambers, each separate, each spacious. Both Kage and Hakari collapsed onto their beds, but neither found peace. Their hearts carried too much.
Almost at once, both spoke.
"I have to tell you something," they said together.
They paused, then chuckled faintly.
"You first," Kage muttered.
"No—you. What is it?" Hakari pressed.
Kage exhaled. "It's… frustrating. To search for something so long, only for it to be gone completely."
But Hakari's eyes sharpened. "No, Kage. It's not gone. It's still there."
Kage frowned. "What are you talking about? I wasn't in the cave when it collapsed, but I saw what happened. It was destroyed."
"Yes," Hakari said. "But it can restore itself. The cave will always return, so long as the Crystal Stone remains within the square cube. It is bound to it. Even if shattered to dust, the cave will rebuild itself… forever."
Kage sat up, stunned. "So… it will come back again?"
"Exactly," Hakari nodded. "But this time, we won't make the same mistake. This time, we take the whole cube."
Kage's brows knit. "But how? It's impossible even to tilt it, let alone carry it."
Hakari's eyes gleamed. "I have a plan."
The maiden suddenly knocked on the door.
"You may come," Hakari said, his voice calm but curious.
The door creaked open and the maiden bowed. "Forgive me for disturbing you, my lord, but the king wishes to have a conversation with you."
"Me?" Hakari asked, his brows knitting. He hadn't expected a summons this late.
"Yes," the maiden replied softly. "You."
Hakari exhaled slowly, rubbing his neck. "Alright then." He rose, straightened his clothes, and left the room, his mind already wondering what the king could want at this hour.
---
Meanwhile, Kage sat alone, staring at the flickering candlelight on his desk. He had been replaying the events in the cave over and over in his head — the shadows, the stones, the unbearable pressure of the unknown. His thoughts tangled like threads he couldn't untie.
Suddenly, another knock broke the silence.
"Who is it?" Kage called, his voice a little sharper than he intended.
Another knock followed.
"You may come," Kage said, clearing his throat.
The door opened slowly, and Princess Alena stepped inside. Her figure was framed by the golden lamplight, her presence soft yet commanding.
Kage's jaw dropped. He scrambled to his feet, words spilling out in fragments.
"S–so… sorry, I… I mean, what… I… uh… g–gggg… if I may—what are you doing here?"
Princess Alena covered her lips, unable to hold back her laughter. It rang like windchimes, light and genuine.
"I'm here to thank you," she said once her laughter settled, her eyes shimmering with amusement.
"M–me? For what?"
"For informing us about the cave. Even if it happened by accident, you saved my brother. So… thank you."
Kage shook his head vigorously, his face burning. "No, no, thank you. You… you helped, you trusted me. I mean—just—thank you. I'm sorry, but you are… an amazing person."
Princess Alena tilted her head, her smile softening into something gentler, almost searching. She stepped closer, her hands folded gracefully in front of her.
"Can we talk outside?" she asked, nodding toward the balcony.
Kage swallowed hard, forcing himself not to look away from her gaze. "Y–yes… of course."
.
---
Elsewhere, Yushi explored the palace alongside Weller, marveling at the tapestries and treasures, while Alena found herself on a quiet balcony with Kage.
"Princess," Kage said, bowing slightly, "thank you. For everything you've done for us."
Alena smiled faintly, shaking her head. "I don't see it as something to be thanked for. Not helping someone—but finding someone. Recognizing them. That is all."
Her words lingered in Kage's chest long after.
---
That night, Hakari met with King Nolan privately. Torches burned low, shadows licking the stone walls.
Hakari's face was grave. "Your Majesty… the cave can be destroyed, yes. But never permanently. It restores itself endlessly. And the Stones—" he paused, voice tightening—"they are beyond what I thought. To an ordinary man, they are harmless to touch. But when I touched it… I felt everything. The energy of the Code Crystal Stone. Its sheer immensity."
The King leaned forward, unease in his eyes. "And?"
Hakari's gaze darkened. "And something far worse. High above, beyond the clouds, where the world's breath thins , lies an ocean of thunder. Not ordinary lightning—millions of strikes, waiting. And above them, something greater still. Cataclysmic strikes that could split the sky itself."
The King's face paled. "Are you saying… these Stones are connected to that storm?"
"Yes," Hakari said. "And if unleashed… they could burn this world."
The King gripped his throne tightly, the weight of his crown heavier than ever.
And in the silence that followed, both men realized: this was only the beginning.