After the crucial assistance from Regalia, Alex found himself faced with a decision that would define his destiny. Regalia's collaboration had been essential for Aeloria's recovery, but the threat of the demon king still loomed, a danger too great to ignore.
"I must head to Regalia," declared Alex, his voice firm yet betraying the emotional weight of his determination. "It is vital to seek the king's support. Only then can we properly prepare for the inevitable confrontation that awaits us."
Lyria, whose skills in both magic and combat had significantly increased, found herself at a similar crossroads. Despite her desire to accompany Alex, she recognized the need to further strengthen herself to rise to the challenge posed by the demon king.
"My wish is to accompany you, Alex," admitted Lyria, her gaze reflecting the storm of emotions within. "But I also understand that I need to gain greater strength to be able to stand by your side against the demon king. I will stay to train with Elren. I promise that when we reunite, I will be ready to fight alongside you against this threat."
Elren, witnessing their conversation, showed his approval with a nod. "You have made a wise decision, Lyria. Together, we will intensify our training. And Alex, rest assured that when the time comes to join forces again in this fight, we will be ready."
The moment of parting was marked by a mix of feelings. Lyria approached Alex and, in a gesture full of promises and hope, kissed him. "Until we meet again," she murmured, infusing those words with a firm and deep commitment.
Moved and strengthened by Lyria's promise, Alex nodded. "We will reunite. And together, we will face the demon king."
With a gesture of gratitude and respect, the king of Aeloria bestowed upon Alex a special gift as a token of appreciation: a dimensional ring, a relic of great power that allowed teleportation to previously visited places. With this gift in his possession, Alex bid farewell to his friends and made his way to the harbor, where a magical portal awaited to take him to the fishing village he had visited before.
Stepping through the portal, Alex found himself once again in the bustling fishing village, where the scent of the sea and the sound of seagulls filled the air. With determination in his heart and the dimensional ring on his finger, he prepared to embark on the next stage of his journey to Regalia.
Meanwhile, Lord Arion received news of Alex's imminent departure. Remembering the duel he had fought with Alex and won, but which had felt like an empty victory as he had done nothing to stop the assault on the kingdom during the fight. Being a noble of Aeloria, Lord Arion felt overwhelmed by a deep remorse that he had been repressing for too long. Recognizing his deep-seated hatred towards humans as a weakness and a mistake, especially after a human had helped him during the assault on the kingdom, he made a solemn promise to himself: to become stronger, not only as an individual but also as a defender of his kingdom. He decided to leave Aeloria and head elsewhere to gain a better understanding of humans, with the determination to make amends for his past mistakes and be a fairer and more compassionate leader. When he finally met Alex again, he hoped to express his remorse and gratitude, and be ready to fulfill any request Alex made in the future. He would no longer allow prejudice and bitterness to blind him, nor would he allow his kingdom to pay the price for his past mistakes. With that in mind, he left Aeloria.