The sun was setting by the time Eren, Liora, and Kael left the Temple of Ardyn behind them. The sky was streaked with gold and crimson, the land below basking in a soft, forgiving light. The air was clear, free of the suffocating tension that had gripped it since Malrik's rise.
But even as peace returned to the world, a sense of quiet uncertainty lingered. The fragments were sealed, their whispers silenced, but the journey had changed them all.
---
A Quiet Resolve
The group made their way through a forest path, its trees alive with birdsong. The scene was serene, yet none of them spoke for a long time, lost in their thoughts.
It was Kael who broke the silence. "So... what now?"
Eren looked up at the question, his face shadowed by the fading light. "We go back," he said simply. "To the lives we left behind."
Liora frowned, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Can we? After everything we've seen, everything we've done... can we really go back to being who we were?"
Kael shrugged. "We can try. Maybe that's what the world needs from us now—to live, to rebuild."
Eren didn't respond, his thoughts distant. The weight of their journey lingered on his shoulders, even with the fragments gone.
---
Returning to Oridia
The trio reached the outskirts of Oridia, their home and the heart of the resistance against Malrik. The village was already stirring with life. Farmers tended to their fields, merchants haggled in the market, and children laughed as they played in the streets.
As they entered the village square, a cheer erupted. People gathered around them, their faces alight with hope and gratitude.
"You did it!" someone shouted. "The storm is gone!"
An elder stepped forward, her hands trembling as she reached for Eren's. "The darkness has lifted. Thank you, all of you, for bringing the light back to our world."
Eren nodded, accepting the thanks with a humility that contrasted sharply with the fiery determination that had driven him throughout their journey.
Kael grinned, clapping Eren on the back. "See? They're ready to move on. Maybe we should be too."
Liora smiled faintly but said nothing, her thoughts elsewhere.
---
A Private Conversation
Later that evening, as the village celebrated, Liora found Eren sitting alone by a small creek on the village's edge. The sound of water rushing over stones was soothing, but his expression was heavy.
"You're not enjoying the celebration," she said, sitting beside him.
Eren shook his head. "It's not that. I just... I don't know what to do now. For so long, everything was about stopping Malrik, destroying the fragments. Now that it's done..."
"You feel lost," Liora finished, her voice gentle.
He nodded. "Yeah."
Liora hesitated, then placed a hand on his arm. "You're not the only one. None of us are the same as we were when this started. But maybe that's okay. Maybe we're not supposed to go back to who we were. We can be something new."
Eren looked at her, a flicker of something softer in his eyes. "And what about you? What will you do?"
Liora smiled faintly. "I think I'll stay here, at least for a while. Help rebuild, help people remember what peace feels like."
Eren nodded. "That sounds... good."
---
Kael's Farewell
The next morning, Kael stood at the edge of the village with a pack slung over his shoulder.
"You're leaving?" Liora asked, surprised.
Kael grinned. "I've never been much for staying in one place. Besides, there are still places out there that need help, people who need protection. I think I can do some good."
Eren stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "You're sure about this?"
Kael clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Besides, you've got plenty to do here without me getting in the way."
Liora hugged him tightly, her eyes glistening. "Take care of yourself, Kael. And don't forget to visit."
Kael winked. "You won't get rid of me that easily."
---
The Dawn of a New Era
As Kael disappeared down the road, Eren and Liora stood together, watching until he was out of sight.
"What about you?" Liora asked after a long silence.
Eren looked toward the horizon, where the ruins of their journey lay behind them. "I'll stay for now," he said finally. "But I don't think I'll stay forever. There's a world out there that's still healing. I want to see it, maybe help it along the way."
Liora smiled, a mix of sadness and understanding. "When you go, don't forget to say goodbye."
"I won't," Eren promised.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, its light bathing the village in warmth, the two turned back toward Oridia, ready to face whatever came next.