Chapter 36 – A Promise in Motion
As they walked through the quiet city streets, Adrian glanced at Cordelia beside him. The neighborhood was calm, almost too calm, as if the world had forgotten the chaos hidden just beneath its surface.
"Cordelia," he said, his voice breaking the silence between them, "seeing the world like this again… normal, peaceful… after everything we went through… doesn't it feel strange to you?"
Cordelia followed his gaze. Children were walking home from school, laughing and playing. Adults hurried by with briefcases and coffee cups, already deep in their routines. Cars passed, birds chirped, and the breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass and spring flowers. It was the kind of scene that might have once brought comfort. But now, it felt distant—like something from a life that wasn't theirs anymore.
She remained silent for a moment, letting the contrast settle in her heart. The memories of the divine domain still burned vividly in her mind: the monsters, the danger, the power that had surged through her veins. None of it belonged to this world.
"Yes," she finally said, her voice soft. "Getting used to this kind of life again… it feels impossible."
Adrian nodded slowly. "Yeah. Once we gained these powers… our lives could never go back to being normal."
Cordelia turned her head toward him, her expression unreadable. "Do you regret it?"
Adrian opened his mouth to answer, but his attention was suddenly drawn away. Up ahead, near the entrance of a small alley, a commotion caught his eye.
A group of older teenagers—clearly delinquents—were crowding around a younger boy, shoving him, laughing cruelly. The boy, no older than ten, was on the ground, trying to shield himself from the blows.
Adrian didn't hesitate. His body moved on instinct.
"Hey!" he shouted, sprinting forward.
The group barely had time to react before Adrian appeared in front of them, his presence cutting through their arrogance like a blade. Without needing to summon any divine energy, he moved with precision and strength. In seconds, the delinquents were overwhelmed—disarmed, disoriented, and backing away in fear. Adrian didn't even need to hurt them seriously; his skill was enough to terrify and scatter them.
As the last one ran off, Adrian turned back to the boy on the ground. He knelt down, offering a hand.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
The boy hesitated, eyes wide, but then reached out and took Adrian's hand. With a small effort, Adrian helped him to his feet.
"Yeah… I'm okay," the boy said, brushing dust off his clothes. "My name's Leo. Thank you so much for helping me."
Adrian smiled warmly. "You're welcome, Leo. Are you sure you don't need anything else?"
Leo shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I need to get home—my family's probably worried. But… really, thank you."
"You take care, alright?" Adrian said.
Leo nodded and ran off, glancing back only once with a grateful smile before disappearing down the street.
Adrian walked back toward Cordelia, who had watched the entire scene in silence. As he approached, he answered the question she had asked earlier.
"No," he said quietly. "I don't regret any of it. Because now… I finally have the power to protect the things I care about."
Cordelia looked at him, her eyes softening.
"You're right," she replied. "Now we can protect the people we love."
They continued walking, the city slowly shifting around them as they made their way through residential blocks and quiet avenues. The world looked so normal on the outside, but both of them knew how fragile that peace truly was.
Eventually, they stopped in front of a modest, middle-class house. The garden was tidy, the windows clean, and a bike lay on its side near the porch. It looked like a place where an ordinary family lived—people who had no idea of the war raging beyond the veil of their reality.
Adrian glanced at Cordelia. "Is this the place?"
She took out the worn, hand-drawn map from her coat and looked at it carefully, then at the house.
"Yes," she confirmed. "This is it."
The moment felt heavier now. This was the final wish of the man who had helped them escape the broken divine domain. A letter of apology. A promise Adrian had made—to carry his final words home.
He stepped forward and reached for the envelope inside his jacket, feeling its weight not just in grams, but in emotion.
The moment of truth had arrived.
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