Chapter 56 : Home

The air in Central Geneva was heavy with silence. Dust and shattered crystal glittered on the streets, catching the light of a pale morning sun. The echoes of the battle still lingered — broken walls, scorched earth, and the faint hum of residual mana from the Obelisk.
Ryo walked slowly, shoulders hunched, the absence of his beast leaving an ache in his chest that no amount of relief could fill. Around him, the couriers and healers tended the wounded, their faces pale but determined. The city had survived, but the cost was written in every scar on its stones and in the weary eyes of its people.
Eryndor carried the prince gently, checking his vitals as they moved toward the palace. Despite exhaustion, the young heir’s eyes reflected a glimmer of life, and a faint smile formed on his lips.
“We… we made it,” Eryndor whispered, voice hoarse.

Gordon walked beside them, hammer still in hand, eyes scanning for any lingering threat. Even in the calm, his body remained tense, ready to strike.
Aldah, Kael, and Vix moved in a tight formation, surveying the aftermath. Each of them bore the weight of the battle — bruises, burns, and the memories of what had been lost.
At the palace balcony, Lara stood alone, overlooking her city. Her hands rested on the railing, gaze distant yet piercing.
“Central Geneva,” she murmured, voice steady despite the tremor of exhaustion. “We have survived the nightmare.
Her eyes swept across the city below, lingering on every street, every building, every life that had been touched by the chaos.
“I was your princess, too weak to fight, too young to understand” she continued, a quiet fierceness in her tone. “ I am back”
The wind carried her words across the city like a promise, lifting the hearts of those who listened. Shards of violet crystal still glimmered faintly in the sunlight, reminders of the nightmare they had faced — and survived.
Ryo paused beside Lara, looking up at her with a mixture of reverence and sorrow.
 “It’s the end, you will stay here” he said quietly.
Lara nodded, eyes glistening.
“Yes…”
---
Ryo lowered his head. First the Beast… and now her.
In the afterlife, the situation had settled.Yel’mor was now sealed inside a crystal, guarded by winged sentinels who passed by his cell from time to time.
A noise echoed.
Alerted, the guards rushed away from the cell to check.
Someone slipped in through the window.
The Beast — in his human form — landed inside, hands in his pockets.
“Well damn,” he whistled. “Nice place you’ve got here.”
“What are you doing here?” Yel’mor asked from within the crystal.
“I came to visit. We’re both dead after all.”
The Beast sat casually on a floating chair.
“Whose fault is that?”
“I wasn’t about to let those kids die with us. They’re young — full of hope. I never had that. I just… existed. When I infected that Ryo, I saw his past. Unlike me, he had chances to aim high — he just never knew where to look. This second life was his chance to rise. To live.”
He looked up at the celestial paintings carved into the ceiling of the spirit realm.
“I’ll miss that human.”

---
The group brought Thalen back to East Geneva.He was seated in the Grand Hall, assuming his position.
The council chairs were empty.
The delivery paper was finally signed.
The mission — complete.
They left the prince and his right-hand man behind…
… and walked away not as couriers.
But as legends.

---
A few months later
Ryo and Norton were on delivery duty. Since Lara had stayed at the Amethyst Obelisk to rebuild her kingdom, Norton was officially assigned as Ryo’s new partner. Gordon wasn’t exactly thrilled, but he had no say in it.
“So, you’ve already replaced me?” said a voice Ryo would recognize anywhere.
“Lara!”
He ran to her without hesitation and pulled her into his arms.
“I’m allowed to take missions — as long as I also help distribute everything my father once worked on. So finish your delivery…
… and meet me at the pub.”
She took off running. Ryo noticed the back of her dress — open, by design. Not by accident.
She wasn’t hiding anymore.
She had chosen how to be seen.
Ryo smiled.
He was proud of her.

---
After completing the mission, he pushed open the pub door.
They were all there.
Lara, Aldah, Vix, Kael — now with his new healer, Andy — Storm, Roseille, Mira, and Stellar.
Ryo closed the door softly… then sprinted straight to their table.
Ready for another adventure

The End.