The group walked through the streets of Requiem Prime, taking in the towering buildings and bustling crowds.
Unlike the smaller villages they had passed through, this was a true metropolis.
Massive holographic billboards projected news updates, advertisements, and Arcana-based announcements.
The roads were filled with vehicles hovering above the ground, and Veilgates shimmered in multiple locations, allowing instant transport across the city.
It was a place that had embraced technology and Arcana alike.
But as they walked deeper into the heart of the city—
They reached the center of Requiem Prime.
And there—stood a statue.
A massive monument of Hugo… and Cosmos.
Hugo's likeness was carved in stone, standing tall with Cosmos in hand, its blade aimed toward the sky.
It was a depiction of him at his peak—The Hero of the Eclipse.
The group stopped in their tracks.
Darius' jaw dropped. "Are you serious?!"
Ethan took a step forward, eyes wide. "They built a freaking statue of you?"
Lena crossed her arms. "I guess 'almost First Councilor' wasn't the only thing they offered you."
Stella, having expected this, just glanced at Hugo.
Meanwhile, Hugo stared up at the statue, his white eyes unreadable.
Then—he finally spoke.
"…They got my eyes wrong."
The group blinked.
Hugo tilted his head slightly. "They're too wide."
A pause.
Then—Cosmos hummed.
"Oh yes, that is the most pressing issue here."
The group stood in front of the massive statue, the weight of history looming over them.
But before they could move on—whispers began to spread.
Pedestrians passing by slowed their pace, their gazes flickering between the statue… and Hugo.
Someone muttered, "Wait… is that—?"
Another voice followed, "That guy… he looks just like the statue."
A few stopped walking entirely, staring.
Then—the murmurs grew.
"No way. That can't be him."
"He disappeared a long time ago, right?"
"But he looks exactly like the Hero of the Eclipse…"
Darius noticed the sudden shift in the air. "Uh, Boss? We've got an audience."
Ethan grinned. "I think they're figuring it out."
Lena sighed. "Of course this would happen."
Stella, however, just watched Hugo.
And Hugo?
He remained completely unfazed.
He simply turned away from the statue and started walking.
"Let's go."
The group quickly followed, slipping into the crowded streets before the whispers could turn into a full scene.
But even as they walked away—the murmurs remained.
People were starting to realize.
The Hero of the Eclipse had returned.
As they walked through the bustling streets of Requiem Prime, the grand Council Hall loomed in the distance.
Their destination was clear.
But—Lena suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, before we go to the Chancellor… why don't we look around first?"
Hugo raised an eyebrow. "Look around?"
Lena gestured to the city. "Come on, we're in one of the biggest cities in the world! We should take a moment to actually see it."
Ethan nodded excitedly. "Yeah! I mean, we just got here. It'd be a waste to rush straight to business."
Stella glanced at Hugo. "Well?"
Hugo sighed. He wasn't exactly interested in sightseeing.
But then—his stomach growled.
The group paused.
Hugo exhaled.
"…I could use a bowl of ramen."
Silence.
Then—Stella smirked.
"Of course. We're in the most advanced city in the Republic, and all you care about is ramen."
Hugo shrugged. "It's reliable."
Darius grinned. "You do eat that a lot, Boss."
Lena chuckled. "Alright, ramen first, then sightseeing."
Ethan pumped his fist. "Let's find the best bowl in the city!"
And just like that—the Council Hall could wait.
The ramen shop was quiet, aside from the occasional clatter of chopsticks and the bubbling of broth.
Hugo picked up his chopsticks, eyes locked on his steaming bowl.
Without hesitation—he took the first bite.
The world around him ceased to exist.
The stress of the tournament. The weight of his past. The looming meeting with the Chancellor.
None of it mattered.
Because right now—he had ramen.
And then—
He smiled.
A genuine, content smile.
The group immediately noticed.
Ethan almost dropped his chopsticks. "Wait. He's smiling."
Darius, mouth full, nodded. "Mhm. The real deal."
Stella smirked, leaning on the counter. "And there it is. The only thing that actually makes Hugo happy."
Lena chuckled. "At this point, I'm starting to think he fights just to afford more ramen."
Then—a soft hum filled Hugo's mind.
Cosmos.
"Ah, so the great Hero of the Eclipse does know joy."
Hugo didn't react. He simply took another bite.
Cosmos hummed again.
"Pity. If only the world were made of noodles."
Hugo paused for half a second.
Then, quietly, he muttered—"That'd be nice."
The group stared.
Darius leaned in. "Boss, did you just—"
Hugo grabbed his bowl and kept eating.
The conversation was over.
For a little while—everything was peaceful.
With their bowls empty and stomachs full, the group stepped out of the ramen shop.
Lena stretched. "Alright, since we're sightseeing, I say we go shopping next."
Stella nodded. "I wouldn't mind seeing what this city has to offer."
Darius raised an eyebrow. "Shopping? Boring."
Ethan grinned. "Yeah, we should go somewhere cooler—like the history museum!"
Darius snapped his fingers. "Now you're talking!"
Lena sighed. "Of course you two would pick that."
Ethan crossed his arms. "Come on, it's Requiem Prime! The history museum here has relics from the Eclipse War! And actual artifacts from Hugo's era!"
Darius grinned. "Maybe they even have a whole section about Boss."
Hugo, who had just been quietly listening, exhaled. "I don't see the point in visiting a museum when I already lived through half of it."
Ethan and Darius ignored him.
Lena smirked. "Alright, you three go geek out over history. We'll meet up later."
With that, the group split up.
Lena and Stella went shopping.
Hugo, Darius, and Ethan made their way to the history museum.
Darius and Ethan, both enthusiastic, led the way—while Hugo simply followed, wondering how he got dragged into this.
The grand Requiem Prime History Museum stood tall, its massive entrance flanked by holographic banners displaying various historical moments.
As they stepped inside, the air was cool and quiet, filled with the soft hum of Arcana-powered displays and the occasional excited chatter of visitors.
Darius and Ethan were already eager to explore.
"Man, look at this place!" Darius whistled, glancing around at the towering exhibits.
Ethan's eyes shone with excitement. "I read about this museum! It has relics from all over the world—including artifacts from the Eclipse War!"
Hugo, hands in his coat pockets, glanced around with mild disinterest.
"Lived through it," he muttered. "Don't need to see it again."
Ethan and Darius ignored him.
Then—they spotted it.
A massive holographic banner hanging in the center of the hall.
"THE HERO OF THE ECLIPSE – HUGO & COSMOS."
Ethan gasped.
Darius grinned. "Oh, we are so going there."
Hugo sighed. "…Of course."
Ethan and Darius moved quickly through the museum, dragging Hugo along as they eagerly explored the exhibits.
Holographic displays showcased ancient Arc-Weapons, Eclipse War relics, and old battlefield maps.
But then—
Ethan stopped.
His eyes were fixed on a large framed painting, encased in glass.
Darius followed his gaze—and his jaw dropped.
"…No way."
It was a detailed oil painting, its colors vivid even after centuries.
The artwork depicted Hugo, standing tall in his old Eclipse War attire—his hand resting on the hilt of Cosmos.
But what caught their attention was the woman standing beside him.
She was elegant and strikingly beautiful, wearing a long, regal outfit with intricate embroidery. Her gaze was gentle but strong, her expression full of warmth.
She was standing close to Hugo. Too close for her to be just another soldier or ally.
Ethan's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Boss… who is she?"
Hugo froze.
For the first time since entering the museum—he looked truly caught off guard.
Darius and Ethan exchanged glances.
They had seen Hugo fight against the strongest warriors. They had seen him take on impossible odds without hesitation.
But now—he looked at this painting like it was a ghost from his past.
And that's when they realized.
Whoever this woman was… she meant something to him.
The air in the museum felt heavier.
Darius and Ethan stared at Hugo, waiting.
He didn't speak at first.
His white eyes remained locked on the painting. On her.
Then, finally—he said it.
"Mina."
Ethan blinked. "Mina?"
Hugo's voice was steady, but distant.
"She was my fiancée."
Darius and Ethan froze.
The words hit harder than they expected.
They had spent weeks traveling with Hugo, fighting alongside him, learning about his past in pieces.
But never—not once—had he mentioned a fiancée.
Darius rubbed the back of his head. "Damn, Boss. You were engaged?"
Hugo didn't answer. He just kept looking at the painting.
Like he was somewhere else entirely.
Darius and Ethan stared at Hugo.
He had just admitted something deeply personal—something they never expected.
But before either of them could press further—
Hugo exhaled and turned away from the painting.
"Enough standing around," he said, voice calm but unreadable. "Keep exploring."
Ethan hesitated. "But, Boss—"
Hugo was already walking ahead.
Darius and Ethan exchanged glances.
It was obvious—Hugo didn't want to talk about it.
At least, not right now.
So, for now—they let it go.
But neither of them would forget that name.
Mina.
Meanwhile, across the city—
Lena and Stella wandered through Requiem Prime's bustling shopping district.
The streets were filled with floating vendor stalls, Arcana-powered fashion boutiques, and market stands selling rare artifacts.
The towering digital billboards displayed advertisements for Arc-Weapons, Veilgate travel deals, and even upcoming tournaments.
Lena grinned. "Now this is what I'm talking about."
Stella glanced around, taking in the scenery. "It's definitely more advanced than the markets back home."
Lena grabbed her wrist. "Come on, let's find something good."
The two began browsing various stores, looking at stylish battle attire, custom Arc-weapon modifications, and accessories infused with elemental properties.
At one point—
Lena held up a sleek black jacket with red accents. "What do you think?"
Stella raised an eyebrow. "It looks exactly like what you're already wearing."
Lena smirked. "Yeah, but this one's new."
Stella sighed. "You just want an excuse to spend money."
Lena shrugged. "And?"
Stella chuckled, shaking her head. "Fine. Buy your jacket."
The two continued their shopping spree, enjoying a rare moment of peace.
For now, at least.
As Lena excitedly browsed through jackets and accessories, Stella wandered off toward a quieter section of the market.
She wasn't really looking for anything specific.
But then—her eyes landed on something.
It was a small, silver pendant.
The design was simple—a crescent moon and sun intertwined, forming a perfect balance between light and dark.
Something about it… reminded her of Hugo.
Maybe it was the way it resembled his Luna and Corona modes.
Or maybe it was because, despite his quiet nature, he carried both light and shadow with him.
Either way—she found herself picking it up.
"See something you like?" Lena's voice came from behind her.
Stella hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah… I think I'll buy this."
Lena raised an eyebrow as Stella handed the vendor her payment.
"…Is that for you?"
Stella glanced at the pendant, then looked away.
"No. It's for Hugo."
Lena blinked.
Then—a smirk slowly spread across her face.
"Interesting."
Stella groaned. "Don't start."
Lena chuckled. "Oh, I'm not saying anything."
But she was clearly thinking something.
Stella ignored her. She pocketed the pendant and turned away.
"Come on, let's find the others."
Lena followed, grinning the entire time.