Chapter 32

Then ...

A soft thud on her balcony.

Her eyes widened as she turned.

She stood up, and the moment he opened the balcony door - she ran.

With a bright smile, she crashed into him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.

He smiled as he caught her easily, hugging her back as he twirled her in the air.

And then -

Their lips clashed.

There was no hesitation - only urgency. Only desperation.

They kissed as if they had been starved for each other, as if the world itself had been holding them apart for too long.

They only pulled away when they were completely out of breath.

Athy cupped his face, her fingers tracing his sharp features, her thumbs brushing against his cheeks as she smiled through the tears in her eyes.

"Welcome back, Lucas… I missed you."

He exhaled softly, his ruby eyes darkening as he cupped her face in return, wiping away her tears with a frown.

"Yeah… I missed you too. But why are you crying, Sia?"

She froze.

Why was she crying?

She thought about it…

And then it hit her.

He was the only one who made her feel something.

He was the only thing that made her alive.

She missed him. She felt happy because of him.

She loved him.

Her Lucas.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His breath hitched.

It wasn’t the first time she had said it, but every single time, it shook him to his core.

After the confrontation with Ijekiel, he felt… empty.

The burning rage inside him had finally simmered, and the unsettling calm that followed left him feeling lost.

He had never been an emotional person.

But she..

His Sia made him human.

She was the reason he felt anything at all.

Because of her, he had changed—softened. Even enough to spare his mortal enemy.

He scoffed at himself for that.

But then she looked up at him with those bright jewel-like eyes, her lips slightly parted, her gaze filled with him and he knew....

He was hopelessly hers.

He leaned in, his fingers curling gently around her nape, and pressed a slow, lingering kiss against her lips ....

A kiss that spoke of everything he never knew how to say.

Athy melted into him.

They sat together, hands entwined, wrapped in each other's warmth.

They talked - about everything.

About their battles, their burdens, their emotions that they couldn’t fully understand.

The night was long, but they had all the time in the world.

Because in each other’s arms -

They were home.

"A lot of things happened while I was gone, huh?!"

Lucas huffed, crossing his arms.

"Tch, I missed seeing your cool action... Those monster bugs were endless and annoying. They dragged it out for a whole damn week."

Athy chuckled.

"And I heard you pulled a one-man show on the battlefield… I know you're powerful, but at least give others a chance."

Lucas just shrugged, his usual smugness intact, and silence settled between them.

Then—

"Lucas..." she said softly, breaking the calm air.

"I’m really proud of you."

He smirked. "Yeah, yeah… I am great and powerful."

Smack.

"That’s not what I’m talking about!" she huffed, lightly hitting him on the head.

Lucas blinked, rubbing the spot with an exaggerated pout, and she laughed.

"It’s really great of you to save him," she continued, her jewel-like eyes brimming with pride. "You have a good heart, Lucas."

"Ahh… that," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "As if… I think your kindness rubbed off on me. Just like how you saved your cousin… Even I was shocked at myself."

She leaned in and gave him a soft peck on the cheek, and his lips curled into a smile.

"I wonder what made them suddenly remember everything like this," he mumbled.

"I know, right? But whatever it is… I feel like everything is finally coming to an end now," she whispered.

"Yeah. It’s all for the best. And I’m glad you finally decided to take the crown," he said, casually playing with her hair.

Athy sighed. "I was hesitant at first… Why should I take care of these people who once cared nothing about me? But then I realized something. These people… they’re so simple-minded.

They forgot about Jennette in an instant, like she never existed. And now, they sing praises for me. But if things take a turn in the future, they’ll forget about me just as easily…"

Lucas remained quiet, listening.

"But when I saw that innocent child crying over his mother’s death… I felt something. I felt the urge to protect him. And that’s when I knew.

I’ll rule, not for them, but for the next generation. I will raise a smarter, better future than the one we had to suffer through."

Lucas chuckled, leaning in.

"That’s my girl…" he whispered, caressing her face.

"I know you can do it."

She smiled, leaning into his touch.

She knew....

No matter what happened in the future… this man in front of her would always be by her side.

He would always support her.

He would always love her.

They stayed like that, talking through the night, until the first rays of dawn painted the sky in gold.

A bright future awaited Obelia—

Under the reign of Queen Athanasia.

With the most powerful magician in history by her side.

The End.