Piana traced runes in the air, and four glowing symbols—Ansuz (ᚨ), Thurisaz (ᚦ), Eiwaz (ᛇ), and Sowilo (ᛋ)—illuminated the dome's north, south, east, and west. The magical energy within the dome trembled before it absorbed the opposing force entirely, without them even realizing it.
…
Laufey stepped out from behind a pillar. The sound of her footsteps made Princess Zan and Tae immediately turn around, raising their weapons. Princess Zan held her sword in a ready stance, while Tae gripped his blade tightly. However, Laufey raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"Please, lower your weapons. There will be no fight," Laufey spoke firmly, her eyes steady. Despite the tense situation, her composed demeanor left everyone uncertain.
Princess Zan narrowed her eyes, her grip on her sword unwavering. "What do you mean?" she asked in a low voice.
"I was under mind control," Laufey stated, her voice carrying both certainty and sorrow. "But my memories have returned..."
Princess Zan's expression remained cautious, though she slowly lowered her weapon. "Then... what will you do about the one below?"
"I will seal it myself," Laufey declared firmly. "But she must lift the runes to restore my power."
Tae, still gripping his sword, hesitated. "Are you sure?" His voice was sharp with doubt. "Why should we trust you?"
"Trust me," Laufey replied with a faint smile, trying to ease their concerns.
Piana, who had been listening carefully, finally spoke with a serious tone. "If we're going to take it down, I have a solid plan."
Everyone turned to her, giving her their full attention. Piana began explaining her strategy.
"First, I'll warp the sacred stone to the city's central gathering point and lift the runes to restore Laufey's power immediately. Then, I'll open a portal for her to descend and handle the demon before it destroys the stone."
"Sounds good," Princess Zan said. "But we must act fast."
"Exactly," Piana nodded confidently. "If we hesitate even for a second, everything could fall apart."
"Then let's do this!" Tae declared with determination, knowing there was no other choice. He focused on Piana, who prepared to execute the plan.
Piana nodded in response before spreading her hands. The air around her trembled slightly as she concentrated on the sacred stone.
Whoosh!
A small portal appeared beneath the sacred stone, and in an instant, it vanished.
The bat demon, momentarily drained of power, turned to where the stone had been, confused. It had no idea the stone had already been moved to the city's gathering point.
Piana looked at Laufey, who was ready. "Are you ready?" she asked in a low voice.
Laufey nodded.
Piana then raised her hands, beginning the spell. As she traced the rune Laguz (ᛚ) in the air, a brilliant green glow filled the space before dispersing into shimmering particles. The magical energy returned to her, and the four runes surrounding the dome faded into nothingness. The portal that had been opened gradually shrank before closing completely.
Piana was about to open the portal for Laufey to descend, but at that very moment—
The vampire prince, hidden in the shadows, swiftly raised a gun and fired at Piana.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed behind them. Everyone's eyes widened. Princess Zan spun around, and Laufey flinched. Piana felt a sharp impact at her side, staggering backward with wide eyes.
The vampire prince stood nearby, the smoke from his gun still curling at the barrel's tip.
"No!!" Tae shouted in horror as Piana fell from the tower, plummeting toward the ground below!
But in the blink of an eye—
Aém swung through the air, shooting a thread of silk to catch Piana just in time!
At the same moment, a deafening explosion erupted below—
The bat demon burst through the walls, its glowing eyes blazing with realization. It now knew where the sacred stone was!
Aém landed near a fountain, carefully setting Piana down. The cool mist of the water clung to her skin, but the pain from her wound burned through her senses. She clutched her side, blood seeping between her fingers, but she remained conscious.
"Are you okay?" Aém asked, his face filled with concern.
Piana panted heavily, her eyes still sharp with determination despite the pain. "I'm fine..." Then, the bullet warped out of her wound, dropping to the ground beside her. She closed her eyes, focusing. A soft glow of healing magic enveloped her.
As the petals of plum blossoms and lotuses drifted through the air, carried by the wind, a moment of quiet serenity settled around them.
…
From a distance, the vampire prince locked eyes with Laufey. His crimson gaze burned with contempt, and a sneer curled on his lips. He slowly raised his gun again, aiming at Laufey.
Bang!
But—
Whoosh! A bright blue nano-shield materialized instantly.
The bullet struck Tae's nano-shield and shattered into sparks midair. Tae stood his ground firmly, blocking the shot completely. Though he wasn't standing close to Laufey, he was positioned perfectly in front of the portal entrance, intercepting the attack.
"Heh…" The vampire prince lowered his gun slightly, his eyes filled with scorn. "Witch! Are you betraying us?!"
Princess Zan raised her sword. She knew that if she let him charge at Laufey, everything would be over.
Laufey could feel it… She had already prepared magic in her hands.
"In that case, you're of no use anymore. Your uncle wouldn't waste his resources keeping you around for nothing. And as for you two, prepare to—"
Before the vampire prince could finish his sentence, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air—
Thud!
An arrow sliced through the wind and struck the vampire prince's shoulder. His body jolted from the impact, forcing him to stagger backward. Thick black blood seeped from the wound, staining his cloak.
"Urgh…!!"
He clenched his teeth, pain surging through his body as cold sweat formed on his forehead. Vampires were weak against silver—and this arrow was pure silver!
Without hesitation, Tae lunged forward, snapping high-tech magnetic cuffs onto the vampire prince's wrists. The cuffs glowed a bright blue, suppressing his magic and slowing his movements.
Princess Zan turned toward the direction of the arrow.
Max stood at the warp platform, surrounded by ruins. His bow was still in his hands. Though the platform had been damaged earlier, it was still partially functional…
"The warp bracelet still works?" Princess Zan asked, her face full of suspicion.
Max didn't answer—he simply gave a faint smile. A smile that wasn't just confident but carried something deeper, something that made Princess Zan's heart grow inexplicably warm.
He stepped toward Laufey, locking eyes with her before speaking in a firm voice.
"To stop that giant, we have to get ahead of it."
Laufey clenched her fists. She knew time was running out, but she still didn't understand what Max was planning.
"And how exactly do we do that?" she asked, determination in her eyes.
Max didn't reply. Instead, he moved closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, synchronizing their gravitational forces. His firm grip held her steady.
Laufey's eyes widened slightly, her heartbeat quickening—she hadn't expected him to be this close.
Princess Zan watched the scene unfold, her gaze flickering with something she couldn't quite hide. She pressed her lips together but said nothing.
Whoosh!
Max released another arrow. The force of the shot sent a gust of wind past Laufey, making her hair whip back. Their bodies pressed closer as he steadied her.
She could hear it—the steady, unwavering rhythm of his heartbeat. Louder than ever.
The arrow shot forward, racing against the bat demon that was closing in on the sacred stone!
It sliced through the air, cutting through the wind before embedding itself in the city's gathering square—just near the sacred stone.
Whirr!
A blue glow erupted from the arrow's tip. Piana's warp stone had activated.
And in the next instant—
Flash!
Max and Laufey vanished into the light—
A heartbeat later, they reappeared exactly where the arrow had landed.
Laufey quickly pulled away from Max's grasp. She didn't have time to dwell on the sudden teleportation—her magic was already burning inside her.
The bat demon was here!
She raised both hands, heart pounding—
But then, time slowed…
…As if everything had sunk into the depths of an ocean of memories.
"Remember this, my child…"
Her mother's voice echoed in her mind.
"Our duty is to decide when a seal should be broken and when it must be protected."
Laufey closed her eyes. Her mother's voice remained steady in her heart.
"And what if I'm forced to break a dangerous seal?"
Her mother fell silent for a moment, then answered firmly,
"If that happens, you must remember that your role is not just as a releaser of seals, but also as someone who can stop them. Sometimes, sacrificing yourself might be the only way to preserve the world's balance."
…And then the vision shifted—back to that bloodstained day.
She saw herself in the past—
The day she and her mother were attacked by a secret organization.
Before her mother's final breath, she gripped Laufey's hand tightly…
"I love you, Laufey…"
…
Flash!
The sealing magic was complete!
A burst of blue light radiated outward, and the bat demon's shriek echoed through the city.
It didn't want to return there! But it could not defy the laws of the world. Some unseen force was pulling it back—back to the place where it had once been sealed.
Laufey collapsed to the ground, her body turning cold. It felt as if something was slowly draining the life from her.
Max caught her just in time, his strong arms holding her close. But she felt lighter than before—not in weight, but in presence. Her soul was fading.
Laufey clenched her teeth and shakily extended a small notebook toward him. Her trembling hands revealed the weakness overtaking her.
"You… will face a far greater battle…"
Max furrowed his brows. "What do you mean?"
"My uncle… He will return…"
Her voice was weak and unsteady, yet she still managed a faint smile.
"Goodbye… I'm glad… I met someone like you… Max."
And with that, she took her final breath.
Max didn't say anything. He simply looked down at the lifeless form in his arms.
No tears. No sobs.
Only the unbearable weight pressing down on his chest.
…
The first light of dawn shone over Chopia. The protective barrier that once enclosed the city had faded away, revealing the vast sky, now clear once more.
The remnants of battle still lingered in the streets—walls scarred by explosions, bridges partially destroyed, rooftops damaged in the chaos. Yet, no one lamented. The people rose to their feet, taking up brooms, shovels, and repair tools, working together to restore their home.
Villagers replaced the ruined paper lanterns with new ones, silk curtains embroidered with auspicious patterns were once again hung with care, and the laughter of children echoed through the alleys. The sound of traditional musical instruments began to drift through the air.
In the grand square, a female knight oversaw the preparations for a celebration. The lively chatter of merchants and townsfolk filled the space—as if Chopia had never been a battlefield.
Princess Zan sat at a small oak table, her window overlooking the city's recovery. Her slender hand moved a quill across a parchment, dark ink forming firm, deliberate letters.
- To the Council of the Northern Milky Way,
- I hereby report the events that transpired in Chopia and formally request an official investigation into Prince Garrick of the Dark Continent for his involvement in the attack on this city.
She set down the quill, deep in thought. Garrick remained imprisoned in a hidden cell beneath the city. He was the enemy, yet something about him made her hesitant to let him return to his former power.
Princess Zan folded the letter, sealed it with the royal emblem, and handed it to a soldier for delivery.
Her gaze drifted out the window, watching the golden sunlight bathe Chopia in warmth. The city was at peace once more—perhaps not as it once was, but this was the beginning of a new chapter, one she was determined to protect.
---
The scent of freshly roasted coffee filled the cozy space. The hum of the grinder blended with the soft conversations of patrons. Polished wooden tables were arranged simply, exuding warmth.
At the counter, Nina ran straight into Aém, wrapping her arms around him the moment she saw him. Her face was a mixture of relief and frustration.
"You're insane, you know that?" she muttered, voice thick with emotion.
Aém gave her a small smile, returning the embrace. "I know. But I came back, didn't I?"
At a window-side table, Piana and Tae sipped their coffee, watching the scene unfold. A gentle breeze rustled the sheer curtains, carrying in the crisp scent of the morning.
"Must be nice, coming home to someone who loves you," Tae sighed, staring at his cup.
Piana arched a brow at him. "I thought you'd have a girlfriend by now."
Tae scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "Who would want to date me? Sure, I'm good-looking, rich…"
Piana blinked, then shook her head. "Wow. You're really that full of yourself?"
Tae chuckled before his expression softened. "But the one thing I can't give anyone is time." His voice dropped. "Honestly… being alone isn't so bad."
Piana fell silent for a moment. Tae lifted his cup to take another sip before casually asking,
"What about you and Max? When are you two finally going to start dating?"
Piana choked on her drink, turning to glare at him. "Say that again, and I'll send you on a one-way trip to Mount Atherianos."
Tae raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, relax… But seriously, you two would make a good match."
Piana didn't respond. Instead, her blue eyes wandered toward the window, watching as the late afternoon sun cast long shadows on the street. The city seemed peaceful again, the air crisp from the rain that had passed.
…
A Modern Home on a Hillside,
Max sat on the sofa in his living room, an old journal resting on his lap. The dim glow of a floor lamp cast soft shadows on the plush rug beneath him. He turned a page, his eyes scanning the faded ink.
"I don't remember what my dream was… or if I ever had one to begin with."
A sudden knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts.
Closing the journal, he set it aside and rose to his feet. His footsteps were quiet against the hardwood floor as he made his way down the hall.
When he opened the door, a woman stood before him, dressed in a scientist's uniform.
"We need to talk."
Her gaze locked onto his, unwavering.
Max furrowed his brows.
"Nannerl…?"
THE END?