One month later, Kael finally returned to Millbrook.
The village looked different. The attack had left scars—burned buildings, frightened faces. But it was rebuilding. People were resilient like that.
Kael stood at the edge of town, Lyra beside him. The Heart of All Things pulsed quietly within him, contained but never silent. He'd learned to live with it, but it was always there, a constant reminder of what he'd become.
"Are you ready?" Lyra asked.
"No," Kael admitted. "But I need to do this anyway."
They walked into town together, and slowly, people began to notice. At first, no one recognized him—he'd changed too much. The glowing green veins that occasionally showed through his skin. The way his eyes sometimes reflected light that wasn't there. The aura of power that hung around him like a cloak.
But then someone called out: "Kael? Kael Ashford?"
And suddenly, people were running toward him. Questions flying. Embraces and tears and shock.
But Kael only had eyes for two people.
His father stood in the doorway of their rebuilt home, older and more worn than Kael remembered. And beside him, Mira, who'd grown taller in the month he'd been gone.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Then Mira broke and ran, throwing herself into his arms.
"You idiot," she sobbed into his shoulder. "You stupid, brave idiot. You left me. You left us."
"I know," Kael said, his own tears falling. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
His father approached more slowly, his weathered hands reaching out to touch Kael's face as if he couldn't quite believe it was real.
"My son," Marcus said, his voice breaking. "My impossible son. You saved them all, didn't you? Just like they're saying. You saved everyone."
"I tried," Kael said. "I'm still trying."
Marcus's eyes fell on Lyra, who stood a respectful distance away. "And who is this?"
"Father, Mira, this is Lyra Shadowborn. She's from the Seventh Realm. She's... she's the reason I'm still alive. The reason any of this worked." Kael reached out, and Lyra came forward, taking his hand. "She's important to me."
Lyra bowed formally. "It's an honor to meet Kael's family. He spoke of you often. Usually when he was exhausted and delirious, but still."
Mira laughed through her tears. "I like her. Can we keep her?"
"I'm not a pet," Lyra said, but she was smiling.
They went inside, and Kael told them everything. About the Seventh Realm, the Heart of All Things, the choice he'd made. His father listened with pride and heartbreak in his eyes. Mira listened with wonder.
"So you're leaving again," Marcus said when Kael finished. It wasn't a question.
"Yes. There are six more Hearts to find. Six more crises to prevent. I can't... I can't stop now. Not when so much is at stake."
"I know." His father stood, pulled Kael into a tight embrace. "You're not my little boy anymore. You're something greater. Something impossible. And I'm so proud of you, even as it breaks my heart to let you go again."
"I'll come back," Kael promised. "As often as I can. I won't disappear. I won't forget where I came from."
"See that you don't," Mira said fiercely. "Because if you do, I'll come to the Seventh Realm myself and drag you home by your ear."
"I believe you would," Kael said, ruffling her hair like he used to.
They stayed in Millbrook for three days. Three days of normalcy, or as close to normal as Kael could get anymore. He helped rebuild homes. He told stories to the children about the Seventh Realm. He showed them that the scary things in the twilight weren't monsters—they were people, just different.
And he showed Lyra his world. The wheat fields. The sunrise. His sister's laugh. All the beautiful, simple things he'd promised her.
"I see why you wanted to come back," Lyra said on their last night, sitting with him on the roof of his family's house. "It's peaceful here. Safe."
"It was," Kael said. "I don't know if it ever can be again. Not with the realms connected. Not with the Hearts awakening."
"Then we make it safe," Lyra said. "We find the Hearts. We protect both worlds. We do what needs to be done."
"Together?"
"Always."
Kael kissed her then, soft and brief, and it felt like a promise. Like hope.
The next morning, they left. His family stood in the doorway, waving goodbye. Mira didn't cry this time—she was too strong for that now. But her eyes held understanding. She knew this wasn't an ending. Just a pause.
As they walked toward the portal that would take them back to the Seventh Realm, back to the next phase of their quest, Kael felt the Heart pulse within him.
It showed him possibilities. Futures where he succeeded. Futures where he failed. Futures where he lost everything, and futures where he saved it all.
But all those futures had one thing in common.
He wasn't alone.
He had Lyra. He had his allies in the Seventh Realm. He had his family's love and support.
And that was enough.
That would have to be enough.
Because the real adventure was just beginning.