A gentle breeze carried the scent of scorched earth and lingering magic across the battlefield. The once-chaotic landscape, torn apart by war, now lay silent under the dim glow of the setting sun.
Kai's eyes fluttered open. His body ached—every muscle screamed in protest—but he was alive.
He sat up slowly, blinking away the haze. Around him, remnants of the final battle remained: scorched craters, shattered weapons, and the fading traces of abyssal corruption. But there was something else, something more powerful than destruction—hope.
Veyrin was gone.
The abyss had been driven back.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, the world was at peace.
A soft laugh brought his attention to his side. Lyra knelt beside him, relief evident in her emerald eyes. "You're awake," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Kai exhaled a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "How long was I out?"
"Two days," Solis answered, standing nearby. His golden armor was battered, his face marked with exhaustion, but he was smiling. "Honestly, we weren't sure you'd wake up."
Kai ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of his exhaustion. "I'd rather not make a habit of passing out after battles."
Lyra smacked his shoulder lightly. "Then stop taking on gods and monsters by yourself."
Despite the ache, Kai chuckled.
Solis crossed his arms. "The remaining forces of the abyss scattered the moment Veyrin fell. The war is over, Kai. We won."
Kai let the words sink in.
We won.
A deep, weary relief settled over him. It had felt impossible. There were times he doubted they would make it. But they had.
He looked at his hands, feeling the faint hum of the artifact within him. The golden dragon was quiet now, its power no longer raging but resting—a reminder of the battle they had fought and the price they had paid.
"What happens now?" he asked, looking between Solis and Lyra.
Solis exhaled, running a hand through his messy hair. "The kingdoms will rebuild. There are alliances to strengthen, broken lands to heal." His expression softened. "And you? You finally get to live, Kai. No more running. No more war."
Kai wasn't sure how to respond.
For so long, his life had been one of conflict—fighting, surviving, protecting. The idea of peace felt foreign.
Lyra nudged him gently. "You could always stay with us." Her voice was quiet, hesitant. "You don't have to wander anymore."
Kai met her gaze, something warm stirring in his chest.
A life without war. A future where he wasn't alone.
For the first time in a long time, it didn't seem so impossible.
He smiled, a real, genuine smile. "Yeah… I think I'd like that."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in hues of gold and crimson, Kai let himself embrace the future—one filled not with battle, but with possibilities.
The war was over.
But his story was just beginning.