Melodía in Astralith...
Inside a room adorned with intricate golden engravings, Melodía sat before a grand window.
Moonlight bathed her silhouette, highlighting the serene stillness on her face as her fingers traced the edge of a parchment yet to be sent.
The room was immaculate… too perfect.
Every corner seemed designed to impress, not to be lived in. The velvet curtains blocked all light save for the moon's glow, and the furniture, though exquisitely carved, lacked any warmth.
It was a room worthy of an ambassador but not of Melodía.
Her room back at Yuna's house had been different: fluffy plushies, doodles she once tried to draw, and an old fashion book she kept like a treasure.
There, Melodía could exist without expectations.
Here, she was only Aurelius Luminis's daughter, trapped in protocol.
The magical nightingale Simmone had given her fluttered through the room, trying to fill the void with its small presence. At times, it perched on the back of a chair or the window ledge, quietly watching.
Melodía reached out to pet it, her gaze reflecting a weariness that had nothing to do with sleep.
—When all this is over, I promise we'll go on an adventure… just the two of us, —she whispered, brushing her fingers across its feathers.
The nightingale tilted its head and chirped softly. A faint smile touched her lips.
She picked up the pen with deliberate grace and began to write:
I hope you're all well. Everything in Astralith looks perfect on the outside, but the air is filled with tension I can't ignore.
I haven't been able to resolve the issues with my father, and he says he might remove me from the ambassador post.
I'm not too worried… but I doubt my mother will sit idly by.
All that's left is to wait for her return…
The pen stopped.
Her thoughts drifted to the group she'd left behind—
Haruto, with his clumsy optimism.
Yuna, her serene anchor.
Simmone, a mix of wisdom and quiet tenderness.
And Thalindra, her fire-forged sister-in-arms.
—I wonder if they're okay... —she murmured.
Then, a soft glow on her right hand caught her eye. The bond mark with Haruto shimmered faintly.
Even from afar, that light reminded her she was still part of something greater.
—They'll have to be. Haruto never gives up.
With renewed determination, she finished the letter, rolled it up, and tied it with a red ribbon around the nightingale's leg.
The bird took flight and vanished into the stars.
Melodía stood by the window, and in her reflection, she saw something unfamiliar in her eyes, a vulnerability she could only admit in absolute solitude.
—We'll see each other again… I promise.
A Stranger in the Forest...
The Mythara Forest was alive, but restless.
The usual sounds of night vanished with each step that figure took. Its mere presence disrupted the natural balance.
It stopped under the moonlight.
Scaly skin shimmered faintly. Yellow eyes scanned the landscape with a predator's gaze. Every movement was precise. Inhuman.
It growled low, and its long, muscular tail slammed the earth in agitation.
A scent lingered in the air—familiar.
—Food… —it murmured, its deep, guttural voice breaking the silence.
It moved swiftly, vanishing into the shadows.
From the safety of the trees, it watched a nearby village. Lights flickered like fireflies in the dark. A distant bleat of livestock made its eyes narrow.
But it wasn't just hunger that moved it.
Something else stirred within—an instinct… a compulsion it didn't fully understand.
With one last glance, it melted back into the foliage, leaving behind only faint tracks in the damp earth.
In Stonehollow...
The entrance to Stonehollow was calm—a stark contrast to the group's last visit.
No guards blocked the gate this time. The tension was gone, as if something unseen had cleared the way for them.
When Haruto and his companions reached the guild, Ludmila greeted them with her usual professional air.
As soon as they walked in, Ludmila let a scroll fall onto the counter with a casual flair—one that felt effortless, yet was clearly intentional.
—Oh, look who's back, —she said with a barely-there smile, sliding the document toward them—. I don't know why, but it always seems like you lot bring more trouble than answers.
Haruto picked up the scroll with a slight bow.
Ludmila's eyes lingered on him for a moment, her curiosity unmistakable.
—And the raven? I don't see it anymore. Got tired of following you around? —she asked, letting the implication hang in the air.
Simmone, almost instinctively, tightened her grip on Haruto's arm.
Her umbrella lifted slightly, a defensive reflex—as if trying to shield herself from Ludmila's gaze.
The gesture was small, but it spoke volumes.
—What are you afraid of? —Haruto asked with a warm smile, trying to ease the tension.
—That woman… her eyes are uncomfortable, —Simmone replied, her tone neutral, though her firm grip said otherwise.
Haruto gently patted her head, a soft laugh escaping him.
—Don't worry. I'm here. We all are. And we always will be.
—I hope so… —she murmured, loosening her grip slightly and retreating once again under her umbrella.
Ludmila watched them a moment longer, a spark of interest flashing in her eyes before she let out a resigned sigh.
—I have direct orders from Solis to let you pass without questions.
—So I guess this is all even weirder than I expected, —she added, returning to her desk—. Here are your passes. I don't care what's really going on… just don't do anything that'll get me in trouble, alright?
The group nodded, and Haruto chuckled at her dry tone.
As they walked away through the bustling streets of Stonehollow, the air felt charged with more than just the usual noise.
As if some invisible thread of fate had begun to tighten… weaving their steps into something greater.
And though no one could sense it yet… those threads were already being guided.
With divine precision.
✦ Author's Note ✦
I want to sincerely thank every single reader who made it this far. I'm incredibly excited about this story… I know it's not perfect, but I've truly enjoyed every moment of creating this world.
I always imagined Haruto as an unconventional character—someone who does things his own way, slowly learning to trust again and leaning on his companions. Because at the end of the day, true strength isn't about being the most powerful. It's about learning to trust once more, even when betrayal leaves deep scars.
To put it simply:
Even if the world turns against you—
even if people take advantage of your kindness—
that's no reason to become someone cold, emotionless, or filled with hate.
Be happy.
And don't let anyone ruin your day.
I truly hope to walk this journey with you until the end of this story…
or at least, to the end of the Mythara Arc! (haha)
Thank you for reading Volume 2.
I can't wait to see you again in the next one.
From the bottom of my heart…
thank you for being here.