Arin remained on his knees.
Breathing felt optional.
Pain felt permanent.
His fingers dug into the marble floor as if confirming it still existed.
He inhaled sharply—
Coughed—
And tried very hard not to faint again.
A slow clap echoed behind him.
Lazy.
Unbothered.
"Well," came a familiar voice, light and theatrical, "congratulations."
Arin didn't turn.
White fabric drifted into view beside him.
Caelum crouched down, resting his chin on his palm as if observing a mildly interesting insect.
"You survived divine demonstration," he said with a small smile. "That's not something many beings can claim."
Arin's voice came out hoarse.
"I thought… I was going to get erased."
Caelum tilted his head.
"But you weren't."
A pause.
"Well," he added casually, "not permanently."
Arin slowly turned his head, eyes hollow.
"You did this intentionally… didn't you?"
Caelum placed a hand over his chest, mock offended.
"Now, now. Let's calm down."
He straightened, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve.
"Look at it objectively. You asked to leave the palace. You impressed her slightly. You survived."
He gestured vaguely.
"Win-win."
Arin stared at him.
"…You're unbelievable."
Caelum smiled pleasantly.
"And yet, effective."
Arin exhaled.
Long.
Resigned.
"Well… whatever. What's done is done."
He pushed himself up with visible effort, still shaky.
"So now," he said flatly, "teach me magic."
Caelum blinked once.
"Of course," he replied smoothly.
Too smoothly.
From thin air, a small white crystal formed in his hand. It glowed softly, pure and translucent.
"Place your hand on it."
Arin swallowed.
After nearly losing his soul five minutes ago, this somehow felt equally dangerous.
He took a deep breath.
Placed his palm on the crystal.
And waited.
He expected—
Light.
Radiance.
Power.
Something dramatic.
Something anime-worthy.
Instead—
A faint flicker.
Barely visible.
A thin strand of dark-colored light shimmered inside the crystal.
Not bright.
Not impressive.
Just…
There.
It pulsed weakly.
And then stopped.
Silence.
Arin slowly lifted his eyes.
"…What is this?" he asked, deadpan.
Caelum examined the crystal.
"It appears," he said carefully, "that you possess very little mana."
A beat.
"And an affinity for dark magic."
Another pause.
"Though… quite weak."
Arin stared at him with completely lifeless eyes.
"You already knew that, didn't you?"
Caelum's expression remained perfectly neutral.
"No, no. What are you saying? I had no idea."
He smiled.
Too calmly.
Arin inhaled slowly.
"…Ah."
He nodded once.
"Well. That aligns perfectly with my legendary luck."
Sarcasm dripped from every syllable.
"Cosmic mistake. One-day progress. Nearly erased. Weak dark magic."
He removed his hand from the crystal.
"Great build so far."
Caelum lightly tossed the crystal away. It dissolved mid-air.
"Dark magic isn't inherently weak," he added casually. "It depends on the wielder."
Arin gave him a sideways look.
"…Let's not overestimate me."
He rolled his shoulders, still slightly trembling.
"Forget it. We have permission, right?"
Caelum straightened.
"Yes."
Arin took a steadying breath.
"Then let's go."
He glanced once toward the throne at the end of the hall.
Just once.
"…Before she changes her mind."
Caelum's lips curved faintly.
And together—
They walked toward the palace gates.
Beyond them…
Heaven waited.
And for the first time since arriving—
Arin was about to see it.