CHAPTER 62: The Sixty-Second Fracture

Saaya layed next to me looking at me trying to reverse tbh Saaya laid next to me, her eyes searching mine, trying to reverse my wounds. I stayed silent, letting her work.

“Why isn’t my power working?! I don’t understand!” she yelled, panic edging her voice.

“I told you, beautiful… Thanatos’s ability transcends cause and effect. His power must have a lingering effect.” I winced, lying broken on the ground. “If that’s the case, I should be fine in a couple of weeks or so.”

“Are you sure?” Saaya asked, gripping my hands tightly.

“No… but only time will tell.”

Alric and Oizys approached, hand in hand. I turned to them and smirked weakly.

“Well, would you look at that… a cute couple.”

Alric arched an eyebrow. “Well, you look like you’re at death’s door.”

Saaya shot him a glare sharp enough to cut steel.

“I’m kidding! Jesus!” he said quickly.

I managed a small smile and turned to Oizys. “Oizys… are you happy? Have you found something to live for now?”

She nodded, eyes softening as they met Alric’s. “Yes… I have.”

“Good. I’m glad,” I said.

Karna looked up at the sky and saw Avalon descending. “Done taking out the trash?” he asked.

Avalon rolled her eyes. “It was child’s play. Honestly, I wanted to fight Thanatos, but Lyra wanted me helping the underclassmen.”

Karna smiled. “Ah… let the kids have their win. They’ll be here longer than us anyway.”

“That’s true,” Avalon said, glancing at me with a small smile.

“Zurvan!” Saaya called out as I turned to see him walking toward us.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“With all the fighting going on, I had to check in. You fought Thanatos and… you won. You’ve mastered your ability to control scalars, Sukara. You’ve come a long way.” He looked to Saaya. “I’m glad to see you’ve grown too… and how you handled that demon.”

“You saw that, Master?” she asked, eyes wide.

“I did,” he replied with a gentle nod.

He turned back to me. “The reason I’m here… now that the gods are gone from the 10th fractal, Simone needs to control the fractal layers above this one. I will do it. This multiverse could use a god who shares compassion and guides people through hardship. We cannot let history repeat itself.”

He glanced at Oizys.

“Don’t worry, Zurvan. I have a new purpose now,” she said, looking at Alric.

Zurvan raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really now?”

I grinned weakly. “So… are you two dating now?”

“NO! WE ARE NOT THERE YET!” Alric shouted, turning to Oizys. “Not yet, anyway.”

Oizys blushed faintly. Avalon and Karna laughed at the display.

Karna stood and walked over. “Let’s get you to a proper bed, Sukara.”

“That would be nice,” I muttered, letting myself be helped up.

Karna guided me to the bed, helping me lie down. Saaya stayed by my side, holding my hand tightly. Her touch was warm, grounding me in a way nothing else could.

“I was so scared,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “I thought… I thought I could lose you.”

I turned my head toward her, meeting her gaze. The worry in her eyes made my chest tighten. “I’m… still here,” I said softly. “And I’m not going anywhere. Not while you’re by my side.”

Saaya’s lips trembled as she smiled, and I reached out to brush a strand of hair from her face. Everything else faded—the chaos, the battles, even the weight of the multiverse. It was just us, here, now.

“Do you… do you feel the same?” she asked, almost breathless.

I nodded, my hand cupping her cheek. “I do. More than anything.”

For a moment, neither of us moved, just letting the words sink in. Then, slowly, gently, our foreheads touched. I could feel her heartbeat racing against mine, and it mirrored my own.

And then, finally, we closed the distance. Our lips met in a kiss that was tender, shaky, and full of everything we’d been holding back—the fear, the relief, the love, the unspoken promises.

It wasn’t flashy or dramatic, just… real. Warm, grounding, and undeniable.

When we pulled back slightly, I rested my forehead against hers. “I… love you, Saaya.”

Her smile broke through, radiant and relieved. “I love you too, Sukara.”

Alric, Oizys, Karna, and Avalon gave a small cheer from the side, but we didn’t care. For the first time in a long time, everything felt right.

And for once, the battles, the gods, the multiverse—they could wait. Because right here, right now, we had each other