The departure from Therasia was as silent as the mourning kingdom itself. King Fenrir accompanied us to the city gates, his posture still regal, but his eyes telling a different story—the story of a father who had lost everything twice.
"Take this," he said, handing me not only the map of the Sky Ruins but also a small fox-shaped pendant that had belonged to Lyra. "She would have wanted you to have this."
The silver piece was simple but finely crafted, still holding the warmth of the one who had worn it for so long. My chest tightened as I held it. "Your Majesty, I…"
"No words are necessary, Takumi," Fenrir interrupted gently. "I saw how she looked at you. And I see how you honor her." He then turned to the group. "All of you. The kingdom of Therasia will always be open to you. Not as heroes… but as family."
Liriel, unexpectedly, gave a slight bow—a gesture of genuine respect. "Your daughter taught an old, bitter goddess the meaning of true love. That is a gift I can never repay."
Vespera surprised everyone by approaching the king and briefly embracing him. "She was the best of us," she whispered, her voice unusually soft.
Elara simply took the king's hand and squeezed it, her silent tears saying more than any words could.
When we finally turned to leave, the people of Therasia had quietly gathered along the road. There were no speeches or applause, only a gentle shower of blue petals—the color of Lyra—falling along our path. It was the most moving farewell we had ever received.
The first night camped outside the borders of Therasia was the quietest of our journey. The fire crackled softly, illuminating faces lost in thought. It was Elara who finally broke the silence.
"She really changed all of us, didn't she?" she said, watching the flames.
Vespera, carefully sharpening her arrows with unusual attention, nodded. "I always laughed at the idea of 'living by others' example.' But she… she showed me that some people are truly worth it."
Liriel took a sip of wine—not the usual cynical sip, but a contemplative gesture. "In millennia of existence, I have met countless heroes, kings, and demigods. But I have never met anyone with the purity of heart that little fox princess had."
Everyone looked at me, and I understood it was my turn to speak. "I… I don't know what to say. Part of me feels guilty. For having known her so briefly, for not protecting her better…"
"Idiot," Vespera said, but without her usual sharpness. "She made her choice. And it was the right one. If we keep blaming ourselves, we dishonor her memory."
Elara moved to sit beside me. "She showed us what really matters. It's not treasures or fame… but the connections we make. The lives we touch."
It was then that Liriel did something extraordinary. She knelt before the three of us, her face serious in the firelight. "I have been… less than ideal. Arrogant, self-centered, and completely focused on my own problems." She took a deep breath. "Lyra showed me that even a goddess can learn from mortals. And I want to learn. I want to be… better."
The silence that followed was broken by Vespera. "Well, about being better…" She looked at Elara and me. "I think we all have something to say."
Elara took my hand. "Takumi, Vespera and I talked. And… we both like you. A lot. But after everything that happened… we don't want to compete. We want… to figure this out together."
Vespera nodded, her face unusually serious. "Life is too short for games. Lyra showed us that. So… how about we try something different? The three of us, together?"
I was speechless, looking from one to the other. "I… don't know what to say."
"Say yes," Liriel interjected, a genuine smile touching her lips for the first time. "Or say no. But decide quickly, because I'm getting bored of all this emotional drama."
I looked at Elara—sweet, powerful Elara, who had always been by my side. And at Vespera—wild, unpredictable Vespera, who had always challenged me to be better. And surprisingly, it made sense.
"Yes," I said, and then, more firmly: "Yes. Let's try."
Elara smiled through her tears, while Vespera let out a whoop of joy before pulling both of us into a clumsy hug.
"Excellent," Liriel said, standing up. "Now that you've sorted out your love triangle turned… whatever this is, we can focus on more important matters." She pointed at the map. "The Sky Ruins. Zephyron mentioned them for a reason."
I studied the ancient map. The ruins were located atop the Twilight Mountains, a place even Liriel admitted was dangerous.
"What do you expect to find there?" I asked.
"Answers," Liriel replied. "Zephyron was the seventh general. Six remain. We need to discover what the Demon King is planning before it's too late."
Vespera picked up the fox pendant I had dropped. "And Lyra gave us the key. Literally." She pointed to the pendant—in the firelight, we could see it had tiny inscriptions matching some on the map.
"She… she was guiding us even after death," Elara whispered, awestruck.
Liriel studied the pendant. "Clever. Very clever. The pendant isn't just a symbol—it's a magical key. Without it, the Sky Ruins are inaccessible."
That night, under a starry sky that seemed to witness our rebirth, we made a silent pact. We would no longer be just a group of misfit adventurers united by chance. We would be a family—imperfect, unconventional, but loyal.
"For Lyra," I said, raising my mug.
"For Lyra," they replied, and for the first time, the words didn't sound like a farewell, but like an oath.
The next morning, we set out toward the Twilight Mountains. The air was cold, but the sun rose behind us, illuminating the path ahead. Elara walked to my left, her hand occasionally brushing mine. Vespera was on my right, her mischievous smile back, but now with a depth that hadn't been there before. And Liriel led the way, her posture different—less that of a bored goddess, more that of a determined leader.
I looked back one last time toward Therasia. The kingdom was fading into the morning mist, but we carried its spirit with us. Lyra's sacrifice would not be in vain. Debts had been forgiven, broken hearts were beginning to heal, and a new determination united us.
Therasia had ended, but our journey was far from over. And for the first time, I knew that no matter what the future held, we would not face it alone.