The gentle breeze continued to sweep through the royal gardens.
Flowers swayed peacefully beneath the morning sunlight as Lucas carried Bereshith through the stone pathways, surrounded by everyone else.
Before long...
The group arrived at the source of the earlier commotion.
Renasu.
Still arguing with the energetic princess who refused to let go of his arm.
The moment Renasu noticed them approaching...
Everyone's attention immediately shifted to the royal princess.
Without hesitation, they all bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Your Royal Highness, Princess Verleen."
Their greetings were orderly and dignified.
Princess Verleen cheerfully waved her free hand.
"Oh~! Hi there, everyone!"
Her cheerful eyes wandered across the group until they briefly stopped on Bereshith.
She tilted her head curiously for only a second before immediately looking toward Cyse, Cyte, and Lexy.
"By the way..."
"Do you mind if I borrow Renasu once again?"
Without even looking at one another...
Cyse, Cyte, and Lexy answered perfectly in sync.
"Sure, Your Royal Highness."
"Please take him."
"And do whatever you please."
The three of them had sold their friend without the slightest hesitation.
Princess Verleen's smile immediately brightened.
"Thank you so much!"
Meanwhile...
Renasu's eyes widened in horror.
"You bastards!"
"I'll never forgive this betrayal!"
Before another word could escape his mouth—
Princess Verleen smiled sweetly.
"Sorry."
Her tiny fist suddenly became enveloped in shimmering magical light.
A powerful physical enhancement spell wrapped around her arm.
THUD!
Her punch landed squarely on Renasu's stomach.
"...Gh...!"
His eyes rolled upward.
Every ounce of strength left his body instantly.
He collapsed face-first onto the stone pavement.
Silence.
Cyte slowly folded his arms.
"...That looked painful."
Cyse nodded.
"Very."
Princess Verleen casually grabbed the unconscious Renasu beneath both arms.
With surprising ease...
She began dragging him away across the palace garden.
"Come on, Renasu!"
"We're going horseback riding again!"
The unconscious young man bounced slightly against the stone path with every step.
"I'll never let you escape!"
The cheerful princess disappeared into the distance.
Dragging her unfortunate companion behind her.
The group quietly watched them go.
Bereshith blinked several times.
Then looked toward everyone else.
"...Guys."
"Is..."
"...Renasu going to be alright with Her Royal Highness?"
Cyte answered honestly.
"...Probably."
Cyse casually shrugged.
"Relax."
"He's probably just going horseback racing with Her Highness again."
Lexy crossed her arms.
"That lucky idiot."
"I honestly don't understand why he keeps rejecting Princess Verleen's offer to become her personal servant."
Cyte and Cyse exchanged glances.
Both of them shared exactly the same thought.
"Maybe..."
"Because the very idiot you're talking about..."
"Is still hopelessly in love with you."
Neither of them dared say it aloud.
Instead...
They simply nodded awkwardly.
"...Yeah."
Lexy remained completely oblivious.
After watching the unusual pair disappear into the distance...
The group continued their leisurely walk through the palace gardens.
The atmosphere became peaceful once more.
Birds chirped among the trees.
The fountains sparkled beneath the sunlight.
For a while...
No one spoke.
Until Bereshith quietly broke the silence.
"...Father."
Lucas looked down.
"Yes?"
"Have you..."
"...found out who attacked us that day?"
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Everyone's footsteps slowed.
Princess Inoha visibly flinched.
Unlike everyone else...
She stopped walking altogether.
Her hands slowly clenched.
After gathering every bit of courage she could...
She stepped forward.
"...It's my fault."
Bereshith turned toward the voice.
"...?"
Princess Inoha walked until she stood directly in front of Lucas and Bereshith.
Without hesitation...
She lowered herself into a respectful bow.
Her forehead nearly touched the ground.
"I'm sorry."
Her voice trembled.
"It was..."
"...my father who ordered the attack that day."
"I'm truly..."
"...truly sorry."
Silence.
Bereshith instinctively looked toward Lucas.
Lucas's expression remained calm.
But beneath that calm...
There was something else.
The pain of nearly losing his son.
The guilt.
The anger.
The lingering resentment.
He had forgiven much...
Yet the memory still remained.
Bereshith quietly noticed it.
He gently turned back toward Princess Inoha.
"...Your Highness."
She remained bowed.
He smiled softly.
"It's alright."
"I don't hold you responsible."
"So..."
"Please."
"Raise your head."
Slowly...
Princess Inoha lifted her face.
Bereshith continued.
"I forgive you."
"As long as everyone is safe..."
"That's enough for me."
He laughed awkwardly.
"Besides..."
"If it truly was His Majesty's command..."
"I doubt those soldiers had much choice."
"They were simply following orders."
Princess Inoha stared at him.
Her eyes slowly became moist.
She lowered her gaze again.
Then quietly whispered words that almost no one heard.
"...Don't worry anymore..."
"...Father won't ever touch you again."
"...Not a single hair."
"...Not while I'm here."
For the briefest moment...
Something changed within her eyes.
The warmth disappeared.
Replacing it was something darker.
A frightening mixture of hatred...
Obsession..
And an almost possessive resolve.
It vanished as quickly as it appeared.
When she looked up again...
Her gentle smile had returned.
"Thank you very much..."
"...Sir Bereshith."
She took a deep breath.
"Anyway..."
"You don't have to worry about Father anymore."
"I already dealt with him..."
"...five months ago."
The moment those words left her mouth...
Everyone stopped walking.
"..."
"..."
Even Lucas raised an eyebrow.
Cyse blinked.
"...You..."
"...dealt with His Majesty?"
Levanah slowly looked toward Princess Inoha.
"...What exactly..."
"...do you mean by that?"
The curious silence of the royal garden deepened...
As every pair of eyes turned toward Princess Inoha, waiting for her explanation.
Princess Inoha simply smiled.
"You don't have to worry about that~ Hehehe."
Her playful tone completely ignored everyone's curiosity.
No matter how many questioning glances were directed toward her...
She refused to elaborate.
Cyse scratched his cheek.
"...That's somehow more concerning."
Levanah sighed.
"Forget it. She clearly isn't planning to tell us."
The group exchanged helpless smiles before continuing their stroll through the palace gardens.
The warm afternoon slowly faded into evening.
The sky turned orange...
Then crimson...
Before the first stars quietly appeared overhead.
Eventually...
Everyone returned to their own quarters to change into lighter evening clothes.
Lucas carefully carried Bereshith back to his room.
Once inside...
He gently laid his son upon the soft bed.
Without saying much, Lucas helped remove Bereshith's formal clothing before taking a warm towel.
He carefully wiped away the sweat from Bereshith's face, neck, arms, and shoulders.
His movements were slow.
Gentle.
Like a father caring for a sick child.
Once everything was finished...
Lucas helped Bereshith sit comfortably against the headboard.
The room became quiet.
Outside the window...
The setting sun painted the room in soft golden light.
Bereshith stared toward the horizon.
"...Father."
Lucas was preparing another basin of warm water.
"Hm?"
"How long do you think..."
"...it will take me to recover?"
Lucas thought for a moment.
"If you eat properly..."
"Exercise little by little..."
"And continue training once your body allows it..."
"I'd say..."
"...five to seven months."
Bereshith quietly repeated the number.
"...Five to seven months..."
He gave a bitter smile.
"That's a long time."
"I'll probably be almost two years behind everyone at the academy."
Lucas chuckled.
"What does two years matter?"
He walked over and sat beside Bereshith.
"What matters is that you're alive."
"The academy isn't going anywhere."
"But your body only has one chance to recover properly."
"So..."
"Recover first."
"Worry about everything else later."
Bereshith nodded.
"...You're right."
Lucas smiled.
He stood and walked toward the door.
Before leaving...
He turned around one last time.
"Son."
"Starting tomorrow..."
"Stop worrying about everyone else."
"For now..."
"Just focus on becoming yourself again."
"Leave the rest to us."
Without waiting for a reply...
Lucas quietly closed the door behind him.
Click.
Silence filled the room once more.
Bereshith slowly looked toward the night sky outside his window.
Then folded both hands together.
Closed his eyes.
And prayed.
"My Lord..."
"My God..."
"Our Father..."
As his prayer ended...
A gentle warmth quietly descended upon the room.
Soft white light gathered above him.
A pure white dove formed from radiant light gently landed upon the headboard above his bed.
Its feathers shimmered like morning light.
Its voice was neither male nor female.
Gentle.
Peaceful.
Yet carrying immeasurable authority.
"My child."
"My son."
"My chosen."
"Why is your heart troubled?"
Bereshith opened his eyes.
Although he could not fully see the dove...
He felt it.
Its peace.
Its holiness.
Its overwhelming love.
He lowered his head respectfully.
"My Lord..."
"My God..."
"Our Father..."
"There is something I wish to ask."
He hesitated.
Then finally spoke.
"If it is Your will..."
"Would You restore my body to its former strength?"
Silence.
Then came the answer.
"I can."
"But I will not."
Bereshith blinked.
"...Why?"
"You possess all power."
"You could restore me in an instant."
The gentle voice replied,
"Yes."
"I could."
"But everything has its appointed purpose."
"If I restore your strength today..."
"What would you learn from weakness?"
Bereshith remained silent.
The dove continued.
"Did I not preserve your life?"
"Did I not return you to those who love you?"
"Did I not answer their cries?"
"My grace has never departed from you."
"But now..."
"You must learn to walk by faith."
"Not by sight."
The room grew even quieter.
The dove spread its radiant wings.
"My child..."
"This visible meeting shall not continue forever."
"For blessed are those who believe..."
"Though they do not see."
"When you pray..."
"You may no longer behold Me with your eyes."
"But never believe..."
"That I have abandoned you."
"I shall be with you..."
"Even when you cannot feel My presence."
The warmth surrounding Bereshith slowly began to fade.
The light diminished little by little.
"My child."
"Trust Me."
"For My strength is made perfect..."
"...through weakness."
The dove dissolved into countless particles of golden light.
The room returned to darkness.
Bereshith instinctively reached forward.
"My Lord..."
"My God..."
"No..."
Only silence answered him.
No warmth.
No visible light.
No voice.
Yet...
Somewhere deep within his heart...
A quiet peace still remained.
Bereshith slowly lowered his trembling hand.
"...Then..."
"I will trust You."
Even if he could no longer see God before him...
He chose to believe that God had never truly left.
Night quietly descended upon the Royal Palace.
After that...
The lively conversations that had filled the palace throughout the day gradually faded into peaceful silence as dinner was served inside the royal dining hall.
Everyone gathered once again around the long table.
Unlike the previous meals filled with worry and uncertainty, tonight laughter echoed from every corner.
Cyte argued with Cyse over which academy instructor was stricter.
Lexy occasionally laughed at their childish arguments.
Princess Inoha kept stealing glances toward Bereshith whenever she thought nobody was looking.
Princess Alesh quietly enjoyed her meal while listening to everyone.
Lucas smiled more than he had in the last nine months.
Ascirick, though maintaining his dignified posture, found himself smiling whenever Bereshith joined the conversation.
For the first time in months...
The dining hall truly felt alive again.
When dinner ended, everyone slowly excused themselves.
Only one person stubbornly remained seated beside Bereshith.
Yareach.
She crossed both arms and puffed her cheeks.
"I'm sleeping with Brother tonight."
Lucas sighed.
"Again?"
"Yes."
"You'll disturb his sleep."
"I won't."
"You kicked him in your sleep before."
"...That only happened once."
"It happened three times."
Yareach immediately looked away.
"...I don't remember."
The room erupted into laughter.
Lucas finally surrendered.
"...Fine."
Yareach raised both fists victoriously.
"Yay!"
That night...
The siblings once again shared the same bed, after Lucas helped him once again to lay on his bed after family dinner.
Neither of them spoke much.
They simply enjoyed each other's company.
Before falling asleep...
Yareach quietly reached for her brother's fragile hand.
She gently held it.
"...I'm glad you're warm again."
Bereshith smiled.
"So am I."
Both siblings slowly drifted to sleep.
The following morning...
Before sunrise...
Lucas had already prepared everything inside Bereshith's room.
A small table was neatly arranged.
Fresh milk.
Warm soup.
Soft-boiled eggs.
Fresh fish.
Thin slices of roasted meat.
Steamed vegetables.
Fresh fruits including bananas, oranges, and berries.
A bowl of warm porridge.
As the smell finaly reach in Bereshith nose, his eyes opens op and turn where that smell coming from only to find out that it came from Lucas who enter the room while both Him and his little sister Yareach asleep.
Bereshith stared at the enormous breakfast.
"...Dad."
Lucas crossed his arms proudly.
"Welcome to rehabilitation."
Then The family slowly entered the room.
Maria carried another tray filled with fruit.
Eva brought warm bread and fruits.
Yareach woke up soon later, and immediately sit-up, stood up from the bed then happily carried a small basket from Eva.
"Try some the sweetest apples, too!"
Lucas nodded.
"Good."
He looked at Bereshith seriously.
"Son."
"For the next several months..."
"Food is no longer simply food."
"It's your medicine."
Bereshith blinked.
Lucas continued.
"Your body has spent nine months lying in bed."
"Although you received enough food to survive..."
"Your muscles continued shrinking."
"Your bones became weaker."
"Your balance disappeared."
"Even your heart and lungs became less conditioned."
"You cannot force yourself."
"You must rebuild."
"One meal."
"One step."
"One day at a time."
Bereshith quietly nodded.
"I understand."
Maria smiled warmly.
"We'll begin with smaller meals."
"If you eat too much too quickly after severe malnutrition..."
"Your stomach may struggle."
Eva continued.
"So we'll feed you several balanced meals throughout the day."
"Beef."
"Vegetables."
"Fruit."
"Healthy fats."
"Honey."
"And plenty of water."
Lucas pointed toward the roasted meat.
"Protein rebuilds muscle."
He pointed toward the eggs.
"These help repair your body."
He pointed toward the fruit.
"Vitamins strengthen your recovery."
Then he smiled.
"And everything tastes good."
Yareach raised her spoon.
"I volunteer to help to feed him!"
Lucas chuckled.
"I figured."
Just like yesterday...
Yareach gently fed her older brother.
"Say ah."
"...Ah."
One spoonful.
Another.
Then another.
Nobody rushed him.
Whenever Bereshith became tired chewing...
They simply waited.
Recovery was not a race.
Thus the healing process starts.
Several days passed.
Then...
Lucas decided.
"Today's the day."
Everyone gathered inside the palace rehabilitation garden.
A long stone pathway stretched ahead.
Lucas stood before Bereshith whom sitting on a wooden chair.
"Today..."
"You'll stand."
Bereshith swallowed nervously.
He placed both feet on the ground.
Immediately...
His legs trembled.
His knees shook uncontrollably.
Every muscle protested.
His breathing became uneven.
The simple act of standing felt heavier than lifting a mountain.
Lucas stood directly in front of him holding Bereshith's hand as he assist him from standing up.
"I've got you."
Slowly...
Bereshith pushed himself upward.
His knees nearly collapsed.
Lucas immediately supported his waist.
"Don't lock your knees."
"Breathe."
"Slowly."
"Let your body remember."
Bereshith clenched his teeth.
Sweat formed across his forehead.
Just standing...
Already exhausted him.
"Excellent."
Lucas smiled.
"Now..."
"One step."
Bereshith slowly lifted his right foot.
It barely left the ground.
His leg shook violently before landing only a few inches forward.
Then...
His left leg followed.
The moment he shifted his weight—
His knees buckled.
Lucas immediately caught him.
"No shame."
"Again."
One step.
Rest.
Another step.
Rest.
Three steps.
Then four.
Every few meters...
Bereshith stopped to catch his breath.
His entire body trembled.
His lungs burned.
His heartbeat echoed loudly inside his ears.
Watching from nearby...
Levanah quietly wiped away tears.
"...He trained seven years just to become strong..."
"...and now..."
"...he has to learn how to walk again like baby..."
Cyte lowered his head.
"...It's unfair."
Cyse folded his arms.
"...Maybe."
"...But look at him."
Everyone turned.
Despite shaking...
Despite sweating...
Despite nearly collapsing after every step...
Bereshith smiled.
"I'll walk farther tomorrow."
Lucas couldn't help smiling.
"That's my son."
From that day onward...
Every sunrise began with nourishing meals.
Every afternoon was filled with careful rehabilitation.
Standing became walking.
Walking became longer distances.
Longer distances became gentle exercises.
Little by little...
The child who had once sacrificed himself for everyone...
Was learning how to stand on his own feet once again.
Not through miracles alone...
But through patience...
Love...
Faith...
And the unwavering support of the family who refused to let him walk alone.