Seren woke up to find herself playing on a beach, wearing a bikini, along with Launcent, Irene, Taki, Maria, and Sein.
"What's wrong?" Taki asked.
"Sorry, I think I had a bad dream," Seren replied.
Launcent approached Seren, saying, "Hey, sexy lady."
"Oh, here comes the handsome gentleman," Seren teased back.
"Heh, so you two have pet names for each other now?" Taki chimed in.
The three laughed together in the late afternoon sunlight. They watched Irene playing with Maria and Sein near the water.
"Hm… This brings back memories. Seeing them like that reminds me of when Seren was little," Taki remarked.
"I'm curious—what was little Seren like?" Launcent asked.
"Troublesome… very troublesome," Taki answered with a deadpan expression.
"Heehee, kids will be kids, Sis," Seren replied, her face flushing with embarrassment.
"Hahaha, now I'm wondering what little Taki was like," Launcent said with a grin.
"Bossy… very bossy," Seren answered before Taki could.
"Well, as an older sister, you have to be strict and mature," Taki said defensively.
"Considering you're an elf, shouldn't you technically still be a kid, given how long elves live?" Launcent teased.
"If you've forgotten, I'm half-elf, Launcent," Taki shot back.
"Oh… so that means Taki is alrea—" Launcent began, only to be interrupted as Taki pinched his lips shut.
"Be careful with your words; they might be your last," Taki warned, finally letting go of his lips.
The three burst out laughing.
"It seems like it's getting late," Taki said, noticing the setting sun.
"Yeah… I think it's time to wrap up this little vacation," Launcent replied.
"Let's make sure to gather like this again sometime, just like we used to, like always," Seren said, her gaze shifting toward Launcent and Taki, who now wore melancholic expressions.
Seren woke up, bound to a pole in the town hall. Her armor had been removed, and her mouth was gagged with cloth. She struggled, trying to break free from her restraints, but her body was too weak from the earlier battle.
All around her, the citizens and soldiers of the Balrog Empire surrounded her—hundreds, maybe thousands, encircling Seren, who was tied to the pole. King Okazar and Queen Delaijah stood before them, accompanied by the princes.
Seren continued to try and free herself, but it was futile. Then, her tears fell as she saw Launcent's lifeless body before her.
King Okazar removed the gag from Seren's mouth, gripping her chin firmly before releasing her. Dark thoughts clouded Seren's mind. She tried to gather her strength and calm herself, but she couldn't stop thinking about her worry for Irene.
"Irene is okay, right? Taki is okay, right?" Seren thought desperately.
Before Seren could speak, before a single word left her mouth, Queen Delaijah whipped Seren across the mouth, causing blood to pour from her lips. Without pause, the queen continued to lash at Seren until her entire body was covered in blood, her clothes torn and barely hanging on her, leaving her exposed in front of the crowd.
The citizens cheered for their queen. "Kill the slut!" some yelled.
"She killed our prince!"
"Finish her!"
"Avenger our children!"
The angry shouts rang out, but despite them, Seren refused to give them the satisfaction. She kept her mouth shut, enduring the pain without screaming. No matter how much they tortured her, Seren didn't cry out, though her strength began to wane. She coughed up blood, silently weeping in agony. Her silence finally broke when she saw Prince Delmas dragging the severely injured Irene, bloodied and broken, through the crowd.
The people and soldiers parted for them as Irene screamed in pain, her fingers shattered and bleeding, her body covered in deep cuts.
"I...Irene!!!" Seren screamed, breaking her silence. She struggled with all her might to break free from her bindings.
To her surprise, King Okazar cut all the restraints holding her. Seren fell to the ground and tried to crawl toward Irene, but suddenly, Queen Delaijah thrust a spear into Seren's thigh. She screamed in agony.
The moment Seren screamed, the crowd cheered. A sinister grin spread across Queen Delaijah's face.
Prince Delmas threw Irene to the ground and stomped on her leg, crushing it instantly. Irene cried out loudly, her voice filled with pain. "Sister... please help me... save me..." Irene sobbed.
Seren tried desperately to crawl toward her, but she collapsed before Queen Delaijah's feet. "P...please... l... let Irene go..." Seren, struggling to speak, begged while crying before the queen.
Queen Delaijah seized the moment, stepping on Seren's head with pleasure. She was delighted to see the person who had killed both her sons lying helpless and begging before her.
Seren continued to cry, begging for mercy, but suddenly, King Okazar pulled her by the leg.
Seren shouted Irene's name as she was dragged by Okazar. Then, a loud explosion shook the entire area, stunning everyone. A herd of elephants, their tusks burning, stormed into the town hall.
This surprised everyone. Behind the elephants, a horse could be seen running through the herd, with Taki riding it, heading straight toward the town hall.
The guards immediately launched attacks toward Taki, both magical and physical, including artillery and arrows. One of the arrows hit Taki's horse, causing it to fall.
Taki, undeterred, jumped off the horse and kept running, ignoring the arrow sticking in her shoulder. She reached the town hall and passed by Seren.
For a moment, Taki glanced at Seren, and for the last time, she saw her sister's warm smile. Without thinking, Taki immediately picked up Irene and ran as fast as she could, leaving Seren behind.
Irene, realizing what was happening, began to hit Taki's shoulder while crying. "Sister... Taki... Seren is still back there... please, I'm begging you, Seren is still there!" Irene cried out.
However, despite Irene's pleas, Taki continued running. she ran for hours, moving with the speed of lightning, maintaining her incredible pace.
Just before she left the city of Neoth, he heard a whisper—a voice that sounded like Seren's.
"Thank you… Sister… for being a mother to me and Irene." The whisper echoed in her mind, and Taki cried as she carried Irene, continuing their journey.
As they traveled by vehicle, Taki paid no attention to anything around her. Irene looked out and saw the Balrog Empire's forces attacking the Paladins, who were in disarray without any order.
When they finally reached Nazan City, a border town between the Balrog Empire and the Numen Kingdom, Taki fell to the ground in a grassy field. she and Irene cried with all their might. But then, Taki suddenly stood up, spotting several guards from Nazan City approaching them.
Taki, fighting back her tears, spoke to Irene. "Irene… listen to me. Go back home, lock the doors, and seal the house. No matter what happens, don't open the door for anyone until I return," she said, her voice filled with emotion.
"No, please don't leave me,Sister… I'm begging you," Irene cried.
"Please, you have to be strong. Protect Maria and Sein. Seal the mansion, and tell all the guards to stay alert. I don't care who comes—whether it's the Grand Master, the President, or King Zachary himself—don't open the door until I return," Taki urged, her voice trembling with emotion.
Irene, shocked and in tears, nodded silently. She quickly asked the Numen soldiers for help and made her way back to the Eleison residence alone, while Taki continued her journey toward the capital, Neoth.
Irene, severely injured with numerous wounds, was given care by the servants according to Taki's instructions. They immediately sealed the mansion, and Irene stayed to watch over Maria and Sein, struggling to hold back her sorrow.
One day, two days, and then a week passed, yet there was still no word from Taki. Though their food supply was running low, they never opened the mansion doors. Finally, after a month, one of the guards atop the mansion spotted Taki, limping home alone. She appeared to be carrying Launcent's lifeless body on her back.
They opened the door and rushed outside. Irene immediately ran to Taki, who had finally collapsed, and began to cry.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, Seren… Please, forgive me," Taki cried, kneeling to the ground in regret.
Irene jumped to her and embraced her tightly.
Since that day, Taki had been consumed by sorrow and guilt. Despite the loss of many paladins, the Loyal Swords Paladin still stood strong, while the Forgiven Shield Paladin chose a new Grand Master. Boltor, the Grand Master of Blade of Mercy, Lucas Caussade, and General Ticonos managed to survive.
Taki returned as the Grand Master of the Loyal Swords Paladin. So many heroes had fallen that day, and as part of the reform for the Loyal Swords Paladin, Taki moved the main headquarters to the outskirts of Fonta Aria, specifically on a hill that overlooked the Eleison residence. From that moment, Taki swore to protect the Eleison family. she constantly used Rejuvenation and Renewal magic to ensure her body remained fresh.
For years, Taki never slept, haunted by the dreams of what she witnessed when she returned to the Balrog Empire that day. For 30 years, Taki remained awake, never truly resting.
Together with Irene, Taki raised Sein and Maria as their parents. As Maria and Sein grew older, Irene began to age and turned into a grandmother. But Taki never stopped hugging her and kissing her forehead.
Eventually, Maria became the Arch Mage of Fonta Aria, and Sein became a member and the leader of the Twelve Heroes. Both married good, remarkable men—Maria married Seamus, and Sein married Rei Mitzen.
Whenever Maria and Sein traveled outside the city or country, Taki always stayed by Irene's side every day. They maintained a warm bond, and no matter how much time passed, even as Irene became a grandmother, in Taki's eyes, she would always be her sweet little sister.
Eventually, Maria and Sein returned home, bringing their husbands with them. After such a long time, the Eleison house was once again filled with joy and warmth. Maria had two daughters, Jane Eleison and Serana Eleison, and a son, Gilbert Eleison. Meanwhile, Sein had a daughter, Arieta Eleison, and a {redacterd} {redacted} {Redacted}
As time passed, Taki continued to harbor feelings of sadness and regret. She looked out the window while sitting in her office chair. On her desk, there were photos of Taki, Seren, and Irene, along with a photo of them all together with Launcent. Taki was holding a helmet. "If only I had chosen a different path that day, left behind what defined me, would you still be here, Seren? Would you still cheer me up as usual? Would our lives all be different? Losing one family for another, and so on, it's not right, and now it all haunts me. Ever since the Tamura Attack, I've been haunted by this. It's not fair, it's never going to be fair, not until the end of time," said Taki, crying as she held the black helmet adorned with emerald ornaments—a helmet from the Tremor Knight.