A week had passed since the battle beneath Mount Eryndor.
The kingdom had returned to peace.
At least…
On the surface.
The citizens celebrated the disappearance of the Abyss Dragon’s curse, while songs were already spreading about the mysterious young swordsman who had saved the kingdom.
But inside the Royal Academy…
Life slowly returned to normal.
Classes resumed.
Students trained.
And rumors about Kael Ardyn only continued to grow.
Kael stood alone on the academy’s training grounds before sunrise.
The cool morning breeze brushed against his black uniform.
His sword moved smoothly through the air.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
Each movement was simple.
Yet every slash carried absolute precision.
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Aurelius quietly observed.
“You’ve improved.”
Kael lowered his sword.
“I’m still weak.”
“You defeated an Apostle.”
“No.”
Kael shook his head.
“I survived him.”
“I didn’t defeat him.”
Aurelius smiled.
“Good.”
“The day you mistake survival for victory…”
“…is the day you stop growing.”
“Kael!”
A familiar voice echoed across the field.
Lyra jogged toward him, slightly out of breath.
Her silver hair danced behind her in the morning wind.
She stopped in front of him.
“I finally found you.”
Kael smiled.
“Looking for me?”
She nodded.
“The Headmaster gave everyone the day off.”
“So…”
She hesitated.
“I was wondering…”
“…if you’d like to go somewhere.”
Several hours later…
The two quietly walked through the capital.
Neither wore academy uniforms.
Kael wore a simple black coat.
Lyra wore a white dress beneath a light blue cloak.
Without armor.
Without swords drawn.
For the first time…
They looked like ordinary young people.
The bustling streets were alive with merchants, musicians, and children chasing each other through the market.
Lyra looked around with quiet wonder.
“I’ve never walked through the capital like this.”
“You haven’t?”
She shook her head.
“My family only brought me here for political meetings.”
Kael chuckled softly.
“Then today…”
“…let’s forget politics.”
She smiled.
“I’d like that.”
They spent the morning wandering through the city.
They sampled sweet pastries from a street vendor.
They watched a traveling magician entertain children.
A little girl accidentally bumped into Lyra before quickly apologizing.
“I’m sorry, big sister!”
Lyra blinked.
Then laughed.
“It’s alright.”
The little girl smiled brightly before running back to her parents.
Kael watched the scene quietly.
“You’d make a good older sister.”
Lyra looked at him with a teasing smile.
“And what about you?”
“You were smiling at those children.”
“I didn’t know the famous Sword Sovereign liked kids.”
Kael laughed.
“I don’t mind them.”
“I just…”
He looked toward the laughing families nearby.
“In my previous life…”
“…I almost forgot what peaceful days looked like.”
Lyra’s expression softened.
Without saying anything…
Their fingers intertwined naturally.
Neither of them pulled away.
They simply continued walking.
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Scarlet stared.
“…Did they just…”
Nerina happily clapped.
“They’re holding hands!”
Astra smiled warmly.
“It suits them.”
Even Fenrir let out a satisfied huff.
As the afternoon passed…
Kael led Lyra beyond the city walls.
A narrow path wound through green hills covered with wildflowers.
Finally…
The sound of waves reached their ears.
Lyra stopped walking.
Before them stretched an endless blue ocean.
Sunlight danced across the water.
Gentle waves rolled onto the sandy shore.
A cool sea breeze carried the scent of salt through the air.
For several long moments…
She simply stared.
“It’s…”
“…beautiful.”
Kael quietly stood beside her.
“I promised I’d show you the ocean.”
“This time…”
“I kept my promise.”
Tears slowly formed in Lyra’s silver eyes.
“You remembered.”
“I remembered everything.”
The two walked along the shoreline.
Their shoes rested on the sand while cool water washed over their feet.
The world felt impossibly quiet.
No monsters.
No war.
No screams.
Only waves.
Lyra finally spoke.
“Do you know…”
“…what hurt me the most?”
Kael looked at her.
“I survived.”
“You didn’t.”
She smiled sadly.
“I spent years wishing…”
“…that it had been me instead.”
Kael immediately shook his head.
“Don’t ever say that.”
“If you had died…”
“I would’ve regretted it for the rest of my life.”
She looked into his eyes.
“You really loved everyone that much.”
Kael smiled faintly.
“No.”
“There was one person…”
“…I wanted to protect more than anyone.”
Lyra’s heartbeat quickened.
“…Who?”
Kael hesitated.
Then laughed softly.
“I suppose…”
“…there’s no point hiding it anymore.”
He looked toward the horizon.
“In my previous life…”
“I fell in love.”
“She was stubborn.”
“She worked harder than anyone.”
“She always pretended to be calm…”
“…even when she was scared.”
Lyra slowly lowered her gaze.
“…She sounds familiar.”
Kael smiled.
“She had silver hair.”
“And eyes that looked like the moon.”
He finally turned toward her.
“That person…”
“…was you.”
Silence.
Only the sound of the waves remained.
Lyra’s lips trembled.
“You…”
“You loved me?”
Kael nodded.
“I wanted to tell you.”
“But before I could…”
“The final battle began.”
“I died without ever saying it.” Get faster updates on g.com.
A single tear rolled down Lyra’s cheek.
“You fool…”
“You absolute fool…”
She laughed through her tears.
“I loved you too.”
“I just…”
“I was too afraid.”
She stepped closer.
“So…”
“This time…”
“I’m not letting fear stop me.”
Kael slowly raised his hand.
He gently brushed away her tears.
“I don’t want another life.”
“I don’t want another chance.”
“I only want this one.”
“With you.”
Lyra smiled through her tears.
“Then…”
“…let’s never waste another day.”
She wrapped her arms around him.
Kael embraced her in return.
For a long time…
Neither of them spoke.
They simply stood together beneath the endless sky.
The ocean breeze surrounded them as though blessing the promise they had finally fulfilled.
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
A brilliant silver-blue light spread through the endless world.
Every Divine Sword began to resonate.
Notifications appeared before Kael.
Bond Confirmed
Soul Resonance Established
Partner Recognized: Lyra Valen
Synchronization Increased
5.0% → 7.5%
Scarlet’s eyes widened.
“…A two-and-a-half percent increase?”
Astra smiled knowingly.
“The heart can strengthen a swordsman as much as any battle.”
Aurelius looked toward the glowing horizon of the Archive.
His eyes softened.
“You succeeded where I failed.”
As the sun began to set…
Kael reached into his coat.
He took out a small silver pendant.
Simple.
Elegant.
At its center was a tiny sapphire gemstone.
“I bought this earlier.”
“I wasn’t sure if…”
Before he could finish—
Lyra smiled warmly.
“I’d love it.”
Kael fastened the pendant around her neck.
The sapphire shimmered beautifully against her silver hair.
Lyra touched it gently.
“I’ll treasure it.”
“Forever.”
She looked into his eyes.
“So…”
“Does this make us official?”
Kael laughed softly.
“I was hoping you’d say yes.”
Lyra leaned forward.
She gently kissed his forehead.
“I love you, Kael.”
Kael smiled.
“I love you too, Lyra.”
The waves crashed softly against the shore.
Far above…
The first stars appeared in the evening sky.
For the first time in two lifetimes…
Kael felt at peace.
Far away…
Inside the Abyss Continent…
Malachar slowly opened his eyes.
He looked toward the kingdom.
“They’ve finally chosen each other.”
A cruel smile spread across his face.
“Good.”
“The brighter the light…”
“…the darker the shadow it casts.”
Behind him…
The crimson sword known as the Thirteenth Sword began laughing.
Its laughter echoed through the darkness like a prophecy.
“The Sovereign has found something precious…”
“Now…”
“…let’s see how long he can protect it.”
End of Chapter 23