Chapter 43: Return Home

Sometimes, returning doesn’t mean going back to the same place—
but to a completely different one that bears the same name.
After every war, every sacrifice, every decision made in the dark, a single question lingers in the air:
can the world truly be rebuilt with the same hearts that watched it fall?

The journey back to Grek was not merely a trek across desolate roads—
it was a symbolic return.
The blood spilled in Nork, the secrets buried beneath layers of ash and fire,
and the truths that still pulsed beneath the surface followed each of them like an invisible shadow.
No one spoke of it, but everyone felt it:
nothing would ever be the same again.

Amid the fog of uncertainty and the murmurs of forgotten gods,
a new era was slowly taking shape—
nameless, formless…
but carrying a purpose that had begun to beat within their chests.
The home they were returning to was no longer the one they had left—
and those who returned were no longer the same.

The sky still carried traces of extinguished fire.
The clouds, heavy and still, seemed to remain silent in mourning for those who would not return.
Everyone was ready to depart—
but the farewell, as always, refused to be simple.

“Wait!”
Sara’s voice cut through the calm like a blade.

Shu turned, surprised—along with the others.
“Sara? Nai? What are you doing here?” he asked, confused.

Nai stepped forward calmly.
“You can’t leave yet. You’re missing something.”

“Missing something? What are you talking about?”

“There was a war, yes… but you still won the tournament fairly,” said Nai with conviction.
“And there’s one rule that hasn’t been fulfilled yet. Right, Afrodita?”

The goddess nodded, resting a tired hand under her chin with a faint smile.
“Indeed. With all this chaos, we overlooked it. One of the prizes for each round was the right to choose any student from the opposing team—even one who didn’t fight.”

Shu frowned.
“You’re serious?”

“Completely,” said Nai, turning to Sara again.
“But given the circumstances, you’ll have to choose between only two options—Rei or Sara.”

Sara stepped forward with determination, speaking without hesitation.
“I volunteer. I want to join your team.”

A brief silence followed—charged with surprise and respect.

“Then…” Afrodita turned toward Shu. “What do you say? You’re the only remaining student from the team.”

Shu looked at her, then at Sara. His eyes showed no pity—only resolve.
“I accept Sara. She’ll be a great addition to the group.”

Nai nodded softly.
“Then it’s decided. Sara, good luck.”

“Thank you, Nai,” she replied, her voice trembling slightly with both emotion and pride.

Afrodita gave a satisfied nod.
“Good. That means we’re all set. Now we only need to—”

“Where’s Edén?” she interrupted herself, glancing around.

“The pink-haired idiot went to look for him,” said Hades, arms crossed.

“And he’s taking his time…” murmured Afrodita, noticing his absence.

Moments later, Shun appeared—walking alone, his expression dark.
“He’s not there,” he said flatly.

“Not there?” Hades’s voice was a low growl. “What do you mean not there?”

“Exactly that. He’s gone. Vanished without a trace.”

A heavy silence fell over them. Their eyes met, tension thick in the air.

“What if…?”

“Relax,” interrupted Shun, his tone unusually serious. “Black Lights has nothing to do with this.”

“Then you know where he is?” pressed Hades, stepping closer.

Shun sighed.
“I can make a good guess… but this isn’t the place to talk about it.”

Afrodita nodded. It wasn’t the time to push further.
“Understood. Then it’s time to leave. Nai, take care of everyone.”

“Yes… I will.” Nai’s voice wavered for just an instant. “Safe travels… and, Sara…”

Her face lit up, her lips trembling, but her eyes shone with quiet strength.
“I hope to see you soon, Nai.”

Everyone climbed aboard the carriage, and with one last look at what remained of Nork, their journey began.

Halfway through the road, Shun’s voice broke the silence.
“Before anything else, I want to make one thing clear…”
He waited until everyone’s attention was on him.
“The king sent an official decree: everything that happened here… never happened.”

“WHAT?!” several shouted in unison.

But there was no further explanation.
Only the echo of a secret they would now have to carry—
for the rest of their lives.

“If anyone unauthorized finds out, it’ll be chaos,” continued Shun, his eyes fixed ahead as the carriage rolled down the road.
“This information—if it spreads—would cause an imbalance the king isn’t willing to allow. And Edén’s situation has also been classified… sorry, but since you’re both students, you’re not cleared to know more.”

Shu clenched his fists.
“But—”

Shun cut him off, this time with a softer tone.
“Trust me. Edén is fine. And most likely… he’ll be back soon.”

Shu fell silent, then nodded with reluctant acceptance.
“Alright…”

The journey went on for several days, across mountains eroded by war and fields struggling to turn green again after the disaster.
At last, the carriage touched down gently in the capital of Grek.
When the doors opened, a crowd was waiting—cheering loudly.

“Looks like we’ve arrived,” said Afrodita, stepping down with her usual grace.

One by one, they exited the carriage—met by applause, banners, and shouts of joy.

“What is all this?” asked Shu, astonished by the warm welcome.

“Support,” replied Afrodita. “Seems that, at least for them, we’re still a symbol of hope.”

From within the crowd, Zeus appeared with a wide smile.
“Excellent work, everyone.”

“Thank you, Lord Zeus,” said Shu, bowing slightly.

“It seems there are serious matters you wish to discuss with me. Come to Olympus.”

“Yes,” Afrodita nodded.

But the solemn air didn’t last long.
In an instant, a swarm of girls surrounded Shun, screaming his name, asking for photos, autographs… even proposals.

“H-Help me!!” he shouted as the crowd lifted him up like a celebrity.

“Looks like he’s going to have fun,” murmured Zeus, laughing.

A deep voice interrupted.
“Long time no see, little brother.”

“The king of the underworld,” Zeus replied, turning around. “Well, this is unexpected. If you’re here… something big must’ve happened.”

“Come on. I’ll bring you up to speed,” said Hades, nodding.

Meanwhile, near the city walls, a familiar figure came running.

“Shu!” shouted Yuki, throwing herself into his arms. “You’re alright!”

“Yuki…”

“And the idiot? Where’s Edén?”

Shu hesitated.
“He… went off to train on his own.”

“Train? Huh. Knowing him, that doesn’t surprise me.”
Yuki raised an eyebrow. “And who are you?”

“A pleasure,” said Sara, stepping forward politely. “My name is Sara Blixt. I’m a temporary student of GODS.”

“Temporary student? What did I miss?”

“I’ll explain later,” said Shu with a nervous smile.

From a corner, Yohei watched in silence.
(Thinking) Only Shu came back… Something happened. Something serious in Nork. And the fact they didn’t choose Nai… gives me even more reason to suspect.

Among the crowd stood Lowa, scanning the faces.
(Thinking) Where’s Isaac?

Hours later, Olympus once again echoed with voices and the remnants of war.
The gods had gathered in council.

“So that’s what happened…” repeated Zeus after hearing the full report.

“Yes,” nodded Afrodita. “But there’s still one mystery left—Edén Yomi.”

At that moment, Shun stepped forward—his uniform wrinkled, his hair an absolute mess, and unmistakable lipstick marks on his face.

Afrodita sighed inwardly, half amused, half exasperated.
(Thinking) What could possibly have happened to him in just ten minutes?

Zeus raised an eyebrow.
“So—you’ll be the one solving this mystery?”

“Yes,” replied Shun, straightening his collar.
“It seems Edén received a letter. From someone… among the Revolutionaries.”

A murmur swept through the hall.
“The Revolutionaries?!”

“That’s right,” confirmed Shun. “And from what we’ve learned… Edén left for the Kingdom of Santay, in search of something he lost many years ago.”

“What exactly?” Zeus asked firmly.

Shun lowered his gaze, a faint, bittersweet smile crossing his lips.
“His…”

Cut.
Deep in the jungle, beneath a canopy of ancient roots and leaves, a young man with gray eyes moved through the dense undergrowth.
His steps were steady—but his heart trembled with each beat.

“I swear I’ll find you… no matter what it takes,” whispered Edén, clutching a small, cloth-wrapped object tightly against his chest.