Later, Lusian escorted Emily to the Carter residence.
The carriage came to a halt, and as she stepped down, she looked at him with unmistakable resolve. This time, she did not hesitate.
She stepped closer.Took his face in her hands.And kissed him.
It was brief at first.
Until he caught her by the waist and the kiss deepened.
The light of sunset painted their silhouettes in gold. Emily, flustered, was the first to pull away. She lowered her gaze, murmured a shy "See you soon…," and hurried into the palace, her heart racing wildly.
Inside her chamber, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, struggling to breathe.
Lusian remained still for several seconds, watching her retreat. Confused—and faintly regretful for having let himself be carried away by the moment. Not because of the kiss… but because of what he had felt.
Only then did he notice the presence of the Counts Carter, who had witnessed everything from the entrance. They offered a discreet, respectful bow before withdrawing without a word.
With the echo of that moment still lingering in his mind, Lusian stepped into the carriage reserved for him.
That was when Adela entered without announcement.
She inclined her head slightly and, with a silk handkerchief, gently wiped away the trace of another woman's kiss.
Then, without a word, she kissed him.
Not tenderly—
But with desire sharpened by restrained jealousy.
He caught her this time by the nape of her neck and returned the kiss without reserve. It lingered longer than it should have, until both were left breathless.
Adela trembled—but not from fear.
"That audacity…" Lusian murmured, his voice low and firm as his dark eyes traced her features. "You'll pay for it tonight."
She merely nodded, cheeks flushed.
The carriage departed toward the Douglas palace.
Upon arrival, Lusian walked directly to his chambers, Adela at his side.
There, in the dim light of the room, Isabella was waiting.
"I thought you'd be staying with your parents," he remarked, mildly surprised.
Isabella approached without haste, slipped her arms around Lusian's neck, and looked at him with quiet determination.
"I can't remain there. This is my home now," she said, casting Adela a challenging glance. "And tonight, I have duties to fulfill with my lord…"
"No," Adela interrupted coolly. "Tonight is mine."
Lusian cleared his throat, uninterested in prolonging the dispute.
"Isabella, we'll speak tomorrow."
She did not insist. She smiled.
She knew tomorrow would come.
That night…
The sky fractured.
Not with light.Not with fire.
But with absolute silence.
A silence so oppressive that birds fell from trees as though they had forgotten how to fly.Priests collapsed to their knees, weeping without understanding why.Mages felt mana vibrate within them, as though a foreign gaze were examining them… soul by soul.
And then the veil of night tore open.
The Heralds descended.
In different kingdoms.Across distant lands.Yet under a single mandate.
Tall. Imposing. Clad in armor that did not reflect light—
It reflected memories.
Ancient blades burdened with wars no historian had recorded.Scars not carved into flesh, but into the very fabric of reality around them.Floating crowns sustained not by magic… but by fractured will alone.
They were not angels.They were not saviors.
They were heroes.
Heroes from other worlds.Taken. Emptied. Refined by suffering and chained into obedience.
Some bore eyes heavy with sorrow so vast it seemed endless.Others burned with fervent fanaticism, like living torches of blind faith.And a few…
…whispered voiceless pleas no one could hear.
Yet all moved under an inevitable force:
The command of their gods.
But the people did not see that.
They saw miracles.
And then the world heard a voice.
It did not come from the sky.Nor from the earth.
But from somewhere so deep it seemed to rise within the soul itself.
"Beloved children…We have seen your pain.Felt your fear.Darkness has devoured your hopes, and your strength wanes."
"Therefore, we gods have chosen to descend our will.Through these vessels, our light, our fire, our strength, our storm… shall manifest."
"Draw near to our temples.Receive our blessings.Raise your weapons, confront the calamity,and overcome this trial."
"For you are not alone."
In the kingdom, the Herald of Fire descended upon the temple like a king reclaiming his throne.The Herald of Light landed amid prayers, and the sick rose believing themselves healed.The God of Strength cracked marble beneath his arrival.And the Herald of Lightning illuminated the entire plaza as if heralding the dawn of a new era.
And so, in every kingdom—across the empire, in cities and forgotten fortresses—
Hope emerged.
The people hailed their arrival as salvation.Nobles swore loyalty.Armies renewed their morale.
No one understood what had truly happened.
That the world was no longer master of its own fate.That the gods had moved the first piece.
And that the true crisis…
…had not even begun.