There are some evenings, when work at the Investigation Bureau is done, Henry doesn't head straight for his apartment. He goes alone to the military cemetery on the outskirts of Aerion, where his comrades, his brothers in Squad 18, are at rest.

The wind here always blows stronger, carrying a sharp cold and the rustling of dry leaves on the white gravel paths. The solemn silence of the cemetery helped him push away the noise of the outside world and confront the deepest pain in his heart.

He walks between the rows of neatly arranged white marble tombstones. Each grave is a story, a life, an ultimate gift. He stops in front of the graves of Daniel, Lumos, Melly, and Torsan. He pulls out the weeds, wipes the dust from the tombstones, and places fresh, white chrysanthemums on them. But the place he lingers the longest, is always Jacobs' grave.

He stands there, head bowed, letting the memories of his respected captain flood over him. The captain's hearty laugh echoed in his memory, followed by the feeling of a friendly pat on the shoulder, the sting of a strict but caring scolding, and the weight of the invaluable lessons on tactics, courage, and camaraderie he had learned.

"Captain" he murmurs, his voice carried by the wind. "It's been a while, hasn't it? Everything... is alright." He tells Jacobs about the changes in Aerion, about the city's reconstruction efforts, and about his new job at the Investigation Bureau. He spoke with the crisp report of a soldier to his commander, a hard habit to break.

"Laura... she's strong, Captain. She's trying every day. And... the baby is coming soon. I went to visit her. She said if it's a boy, she'll name him Larry, and if it's a girl, she'll call her Jenny." A sad smile crosses Henry's lips.

"You have a child on the way, my brother. A healthy baby." He stops, and the pain rises again.

"I'm sorry... Captain. I have chosen a different path. A path that you probably wouldn't agree with. I will have to leave Aerion, leave Sophia. I know it's cruel and selfish. But I have no other choice."

"Please rest in peace."

"Trust me. I won't let what they gave be in vain." Henry stands there until the last rays of sunlight fade completely, until darkness covers the cemetery.

He turns his back and walks away on the white gravel path, his back lonely, but with a determination. Every time he comes here, the pain in him is stirred up, but at the same time, his resolve becomes stronger.

- -------

Life had to go on, no matter how deep the scars. Henry and Sophia both understood this. They understood that the best way to remember the deceased was not to drown in sorrow, but to continue living and caring for those who are left behind.

One weekend afternoon, when the soft, gentle golden sunlight of autumn filtered through the leaves, creating shimmering streaks of light on Aerion's pavements, Henry and Sophia go to visit Ragley's home. Brena is already there, having arrived a little earlier.

She wore a simple dress, her black hair neatly tied back. She was sitting on the plush white bearskin rug, patiently teaching Luna how to braid the hair on a cloth doll. Brena today is gentler and more reserved.

Luna's cheerful, high-pitched laughter was a happy music that rang out, chasing away some of the heavy, somber atmosphere of the house. "Look, Brena! I braided it pretty, didn't I?" Luna holds up the doll to show her, her big, round, black eyes sparkling with joy.

"It's pretty, my Luna," Brena says with a rare, gentle, and warm smile. Her sea-blue eyes, which are usually sharp, now shine with affection. "You're much more skilled than I am."

Henry and Sophia sit by the tea table, just observing the warm scene. Sophia smiles a serene smile. She is genuinely happy to see Brena and Luna find comfort in each other's company. She also joins in the game, telling Luna fairytales about princesses and brave knights, her gentle voice was a cool, refreshing stream.

Henry doesn't say much. He just sits there, sipping his hot tea, his eyes never leaving the three women gathered together. He looks at Sophia, at how she gently coaxes Luna, and how she shares stories with Brena. He sees in her a compassion, a deep empathy, and a natural, warm motherly instinct.

Then he looks at Brena, at how she patiently plays with Luna, at how the hands that often fight monsters and face the most dangerous criminals are now clumsily, gently fixing the bow on the doll's dress. He sees in her a longing for a family, for a love that she probably didn't have during her tumultuous life.

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And he looks at Luna, an innocent, pure child who has suffered great losses at such a young age. But she is still happy, still optimistic, and still finds joy in the smallest things. But seeing all of that, a hollow ache spread through Henry's chest. He sees a happy future, a cozy family that he and Sophia could build together. A future where they would also have children, and would play and share stories together. But that is a future that he has chosen to give up. He is here now, but his mind is somewhere far away.

He is a liar, living a borrowed life. His smile, his words, are all just a perfect mask hiding the truth. The warmth of the scene only deepened his loneliness and the weight of his guilt. He knows he is stealing these last moments of happiness before he has to leave, has to disappear from Sophia's life.

- ---------

Life must go on, no matter how deep the scars in one's heart are. Henry and Sophia understand this. They know that the best way to remember the deceased is not to be lost in sorrow, but to continue living and caring for those who are left. They often visit Laura, not just to fulfill their promise to the fallen, but also because of their genuine bond, the connection of a family that had lost its pillar of strength.

Jacobs' small house, once filled with laughter, is now quieter. The warmth of a life growing day by day in Laura's belly brings a small but resilient hope. One afternoon, when Henry is helping Laura fix a wobbly wooden fence after a big storm, and Sophia is in the kitchen preparing a nutritious meal for the pregnant woman, Laura suddenly winces, her hands clutching her belly, a groan escaping her pale lips.

"Laura! What's wrong?" Sophia rushes out, her face showing clear worry. Henry also drops his hammer and runs to help her. "Is it... time?" Laura nods with difficulty, her forehead beaded with sweat. "I... I think so... The pain... it's here..."

Without a moment of panic, Sophia quickly helps Laura into the bedroom, which has been ready for weeks. "Henry, go get the midwife! Hurry!" she orders urgently. Henry shot out of the room. In that moment, all thoughts of Beleth and the Sanctuary Enclave vanish. The only thought in his head is to ensure the safety of Laura and Jacobs' child.

The birth is not easy. Laura's painful screams are mixed with the encouragement of the midwife and Sophia. Henry paces anxiously in the living room, his heart on fire. He walks back and forth, occasionally pressing his ear to the wooden door, listening worriedly.

He thinks of Jacobs. He wishes his respected captain could be here, right now, to hold his wife's hand, to give her strength in the most important moment of their lives. He feels the helplessness and torment of a soldier who could not protect his commander, and now has to watch his family face a life-or-death challenge. A heavy burden of responsibility weighs on his shoulders.

After many hours of tense waiting, the clear cry of a newborn baby rings out, shattering the suffocating atmosphere, a welcome ray of sunlight after a long storm. Henry stops dead, his heart skipping a beat. Then, a boundless joy and relief flood his heart. The bedroom door opens. The midwife smiles, her gentle face etched with fatigue but also full of happiness.

"Congratulations. The mother and baby are both well. It's a healthy, chubby baby boy!"

Henry and Sophia walk into the room. Laura is lying on the bed, her face pale and covered in sweat, but her eyes shine with boundless happiness and a love that is beyond compare. In her arms, a small, red baby is crying, its tiny voice greeting the world. Sophia can't hold back her tears. She cries tears of joy, of emotion, and of sorrow for the older brother who didn't get to witness this sacred moment.

Henry walks to the side of the bed. He looks at the baby. A complex, indescribable emotion rises in his heart. The baby has a tuft of black hair just like Jacobs, and its eyes, though still closed, have a familiar, determined look. This is Jacobs' son - the continuation, the legacy, the hope of the fallen captain. Henry gently touches the baby's tiny hand with his finger. The baby instinctively grasps his finger tightly. A bond of kinship, a sacred responsibility, is passed through that touch.

"Welcome, Larry," Henry managed, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I am Henry, your father's comrade. You have a great father."

-------

In Socrost's Spiritual Domain, Will's white light appears with its familiar stillness, and an idea is placed in the space.

"About the girl's dreams," Will lightly sways, posing a question to Socrost's Spiritual Domain. "Did you influence them?"

"Not at all," Socrost replies, his gentle smile appearing through the light. "I wanted to see her most genuine reactions, and they are truly fascinating. Her love and resolve are amazing. It was no wonder Henry was so torn."

Will is a little curious. "Henry has clearly decided to leave. Wasn't your suggestion to show him those assumptions a bit redundant? The Socrost I know wouldn't do something like that."

"No," Socrost replies with a decisive tone. "I am still the most loyal member of the Sanctuary Enclave. That action was also for our sake alone."

"So you believe that Henry is "the last one"?" Will asks again, his voice carrying a rare seriousness.

Socrost replies, "I do, and perhaps Lord Bahm and Laurent also believe this. Because the one who wrote them, something about him makes everyone always believe in these prophecies. You have seen for yourself, my current state was achieved thanks to a prophecy made just for me."

Socrost continues, his spiritual voice filled with conviction. "Henry will not feel betrayed. He will not turn his back on us, but will become a trusted ally, especially after all that we have done and will do to protect him and the people he loves."

"But we have already done so many extreme things, Socrost," Will says, his white light swaying slightly. "I wonder, would Henry accept being our ally if he knew everything?"

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