Velistra Rooftop Nightfall.
The stars drift lazily across the velvet sky. A soft wind brushes past the metallic edges of the towers below, humming like a whisper from the gods.
Flux and Mike sit side by side on the roof, legs dangling off the edge, both gazing up at the endless stars.
---
Flux (quietly): Ummm...
Mike (glancing over): What happened?
Flux: Well… do you remember what we were before all this?
Mike (smirking): You mean… simple high schoolers?
Flux (staring into the night): Yeah. Just two idiots talking about manga, manhwa, anime stuff...
Now we're here giving everything we have just to keep up, to become stronger.
Mike (a small chuckle, then sighs): Yeah. Even now, I can't process it... It's insane.
---
Flashback years ago.
The sun glows over their school courtyard. Mike leans on the railing, a playful grin on his face.
Mike: Hey Flux, if you got a chance to have any superpower what would you choose?
Flux: Hmm... I don't know. What about you?
Mike: Any power. I just want to become stronger. Even if it means suffering for it... even if I have to push myself to the edge.
Flashback fades.
---
Mike (smiling faintly): Heh… That was a weird day.
By the way, what did you even think back then when I asked that?
Flux (hesitating): Me?... Well, I wanted to be
---
Flashback Flux's thoughts from that day.
Flux looks down, a faint warmth in his chest.
Flux (thinking):
If I ever get the chance to choose any power…
I'd choose teleportation.
So that whenever someone I love is in danger, I can be there instantly.
To protect them... no matter what.
Flashback ends.
---
Mike: Oi, why'd you zone out like that?
Flux (snapping back): Oh n-nothing, nothing!
Mike: C'mon, tell me. I wanna know!
Flux (smiling sheepishly): Hmm… well, I think I didn't really want any power at that time.
Mike (mock gasp): Bruh, seriously?!
Flux (grinning, peace sign): Yeah ✌
They both laugh, the sound echoing softly through the night sky. The stars above seem to shimmer brighter as if smiling back.
---
Meanwhile at the White Hall.
Alicia: So… how long till they arrive?
White: They're on their way. Just thirty minutes more.
Thirty minutes later
A blinding light tears open the sky, rippling with pure, divine energy so radiant it turns even shadows into silver glimmers.
As it fades, four figures stand before White and Alicia, their presence shaking the air.
---
Alicia (grinning): Ho~ Ho~! Long time no see, Ophera, Pipolo, Kaigi, Haori! (⌒o⌒)
Kaigi (bowing deeply): The same from us, my lady.
Haori: Indeed. Though… it wasn't anyone's fault. We simply had no choice but to wait.
Ophera: But, Lord
White (raising an eyebrow): Hm?
Pipolo (looking around): Hmm… and who's the new one?
White (smiling slightly): Oh, well
Alicia (playful wink): It's our son… and his best friend! (~_^)
Ophera, Pipolo, Kaigi, Haori (in unison): WHATTTT!? 😳😳😳
---
Kaigi: Lord… are you truly placing him there?
Alicia: Yes.
Haori (hesitant): But if he discovers the truth about
White (cutting her off): It's fine. He'll know soon enough. He deserves to.
Haori (sighing): Very well then...
---
Hidori (whispering): Lord, who are they?
White: Oh, well… they're the only ones who can open the Door of the Cruptle Tower.
Alicia: You've never met them because you teleported directly into the tower before but no one can do that without their permission.
Except for Ixia.
Fruxiya (astonished): Whoaa… You actually achieved something no one else ever could. 😳
Ixia (blushing): H-Hey! It's not because of me it's all thanks to my Lord.
Fruxiya (gently teasing): Heh, maybe so… but even you know you're the only one worthy enough to stand beside him. That's why he chose you.
Ixia (turning red): I-I don't know about that...
---
White (smiling faintly): Alright, everyone go get some rest.
Tomorrow morning… we finally send them off.
The hall falls silent. Outside, the wind carries a distant, almost divine hum
as if even the heavens are holding their breath for what's to come next.