A year passed since the terrorist attacks on the capital, Aerion. Celestial Accord had also departed. The atmosphere of mourning and ruin still lingered, but life had begun to revive with a strangely resilient strength. The sound of hammers and the lively calls of construction crews echoed through the streets, trying to rebuild what had been destroyed. The people, despite still carrying fear and the pain of loss, had begun to return to their daily lives, trying to find peace in small things.

But to Ragley, this quiet was only a false facade; there were still seeds of evil that needed to be eradicated. In his office at the Central Investigation Bureau, Ragley sat in deep thought, his sharp eyes fixed on the military map of Zephyros spread out on his desk. Reports from the intelligence network were constantly arriving, and they showed an alarming situation.

"Sir," a tense senior investigator rushed in, "we've received intelligence confirmation. The remnants of the Black Societies who survived the Celestial Accord's sweep are regrouping. Their destination is the Manrok Mountains."

Ragley was not surprised. He simply nodded, his finger tapping lightly on the desk. The Manrok Mountains were a notorious stronghold in the West. On their way there, they had been setting up traps and ambushing small reconnaissance teams. Now, with more than 200 of them gathered in one place, they had turned it into a new base.

Ragley spoke, his voice now devoid of hesitation and full of decisiveness. "We cannot allow this seed of evil to continue to exist. If they want a decisive battle, we will give them a decisive battle."

He turned back, with a determined look. "I cannot let our small units risk their lives any further. This time, I will not let a single mistake happen. I will lead the troops myself."

Ragley's order was quickly issued. All twenty-plus members of the East Aerion Investigation Bureau would participate in this mission. Additionally, two elite regiments of the Zephyros army from Aerion, totaling one thousand soldiers, were ordered to march. They were equipped with heavy magic cannons and numerous high-level combat items.

Ragley's experience taught him that when facing a cunning and unpredictable enemy, the best way to foil all their conspiracies and traps was to use overwhelming power. He would not give them any chance to play tricks. This time, he would use an overwhelming force to crush them.

Ragley's firm declaration was a stimulant, igniting the fighting spirit in everyone's heart. But for Henry, it meant something else. When the meeting ended, on his way back to his small apartment, his heart was in turmoil.

This was his chance. A large-scale, chaotic battle. That was the perfect time for him to "die" in everyone's eyes, to leave a fake body and truly disappear. The decision he had made now had a time to be executed. A somber weight settled in his heart. This would be his last night in Aerion, his last night with Sophia.

Henry stood in front of the Estath Cathedral gate, watching people pass by as he waited for Sophia. The church bell chimed, signaling the end of the last prayer. When Sophia came out, her smile was as radiant as the late afternoon sun. She wore a simple cream-colored dress, her soft brown hair gently swaying in the light breeze. Seeing Henry, she hurried over, her warm hand intertwining with his. "Have you been waiting long?"

Henry squeezed her hand, his eyes gentle. "No, I just arrived."

They walked along the familiar streets. A year had passed since the terrible terrorist attacks, and Aerion was slowly coming back to life, but the scars were still there. Every face carried a sense of loss, but their eyes shone with a new hope. He remembered a year ago, this place was just a pile of ruins. The cries of mourning, the haggard faces of people who had lost their loved ones and their homes. But now, before his eyes was a city full of life.

Under their feet, the stone-paved streets had been repaired, with no cracks or fragments from the explosions. The clear laughter of children echoed from a newly built playground, where they were happily running and playing. They walked past the old market, which had been completely destroyed. Now, new stalls had been set up, and laughter and bargaining filled the air again. Sophia pointed to a small stall, where an old man was carving wooden dolls.

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"Look, Henry," she said excitedly, "they look just like us."

On the stall were two small wooden dolls, one a knight with a silver sword and worn armor, the other a girl with long hair and a simple dress. The knight looked brave, and the girl looked gentle and kind. Henry smiled, and bought the two dolls. He gave the knight to Sophia. "Now, besides me, you have another knight to protect you, and this small girl too."

On their way, they stopped by Laura's house. Jacobs's small house was now filled with the cheerful laughter of a child. Laura, with a radiant face full of love, was holding a handsome baby boy with round black eyes and black hair. Henry and Sophia came closer to look at the baby. He had a tuft of black hair just like Jacobs, and his eyes were also similar.

"He looks so much like Jacobs, doesn't he?" Laura smiled, her eyes welling up.

Henry lowered his head, his hand gently touching the baby's tiny hand. A warm feeling rose in his heart. "Jacobs would have been so happy to see his son."

After saying goodbye to Laura and the baby, Henry and Sophia returned to their apartment. That evening, Henry tried to act as normal as possible. He and Sophia prepared a simple but cozy dinner. The candlelight flickered on her delicate face, making all her worries seem to disappear. He listened to her talk about her work at the Cathedral, the orphans she was helping, and how lively baby Larry was becoming. Henry smiled and nodded, occasionally making a gentle joke.

But behind that smile was a painful focus. He was trying to memorize every small detail: from her soft brown hair that fell when she bowed her head, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight, to the corner of her lips when she smiled. He wanted to engrave this image deep in his mind, so it would become a source of strength and warmth for the lonely, dark days ahead.

"What's wrong, Henry?" Sophia asked gently, noticing the strange look in his eyes. "You haven't blinked once today when you look at me."

"Nothing," he quickly replied, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. "I just feel... you are beautiful today." He tried to keep his voice from trembling. "And I feel so lucky to be here, by your side."

Sophia smiled happily, a pure, innocent smile that made Henry's heart break even more. After dinner, he picked her up and held her close, letting her rest her head on his shoulder before they shared a deep kiss. He murmured against her ear, trying to sound like the teasing Henry from before: "Tonight, do you want us to make a little Henry or a little Sophia?".

"Oh, Henry, you're always like this," she replied, wrapping her legs around his waist.

This was the last gift he could offer her: peace. Her happy, unsuspecting smile was both his triumph and his greatest heartbreak that night. Henry said little, choosing to savor these final, precious moments of peace.

In his arms after dinner, she felt absolute warmth and safety. She was completely unaware that for him, every squeeze of her hand and every deep kiss carried the weight of a final goodbye. He wasn't packing for a journey; he was forging a memory, a treasure that would be the only thing to warm him on the dark path ahead. And he accepted it, because it was the price he had to pay for the woman he loved to have one last perfect, peaceful night, untouched by even a cloud of doubt.

At the same time, Brena was visiting Ragley at his private residence. After a long, stressful day of preparing for the upcoming campaign, Ragley was sitting in deep thought in the living room, his eyes following Brena as she played with Luna. The little girl had fallen asleep in Brena's arms, her face held the peace of a small angel. Having gently placed Luna on the bed and carefully tucked her in, Brena returned to Ragley.

"Luna is asleep," she said, a gentle smile on her lips.

Ragley stood up and walked closer to her. "Thank you, Brena," he said, his voice warm and sincere. "For everything you have done for Luna. Since... everything happened, she has had to endure so much. But your presence and your love have helped her get through it. You have given her a home, a second mother. I owe you so much."

Brena shook her head, her eyes a little hesitant. "That is what I should do, sir. Luna is like family to me."

Ragley looked at Brena with a strange look, different from his usual sharp commander's gaze, but one of gratitude and a hint of shyness. "Not only that," he said, his voice deepening as he struggled for the words. "You... you have brought laughter and warmth to this house. You have helped me find peace again, after months of only emptiness and loneliness."

Brena looked down, her face flushed. A shy but happy smile appeared on her lips.

Ragley reached out and gently touched her shoulder. "After everything is over, I want to say a few things to you... A few important things."

Brena looked up, her sea-blue eyes sparkling with a thousand stars. She nodded, with a radiant and hopeful smile. "I do," she replied, "I will wait."

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