The church was silent, bathed in a pale blue light that filtered through the frosted stained-glass windows. Cold, sacred air brushed over the stone floor, filled with a calm, divine stillness. At the far end of the sanctuary stood the statue—a grand statue of the Ice Goddess.
She was sculpted in pure white crystal, her form tall and graceful, carved to perfection. Her long flowing hair cascaded behind her like frozen waterfalls. Her eyes were closed, as if deep in eternal meditation. A gentle smile graced her lips, serene and unshaken. Around her head, a delicate halo of ice petals circled softly, never melting, glowing with divine magic.
The worshippers were gathered on their knees in neat rows—Leader, Grandma, villager and the other rescued girls, all silently praying. Their heads bowed low, hands pressed together, breaths forming soft clouds in the cold air.
Tetsu Katamaya, the Church Leader, stepped forward with solemn grace.
"O Divine Ice Goddess, keeper of purity and peace," he spoke in a calm, echoing voice, "we thank you for your protection. Let your frozen light continue to guard the innocent, and may your presence bring calm to the chaos of the world."
"Praise be to the Goddess," the congregation said in unison.
The room filled with the soft sound of wind chimes hanging from the ceiling. They swayed gently—though there was no wind.
A soft shimmer of ice magic swirled around the statue as if the goddess had acknowledged their prayers.
Soft rays of sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, scattering pale blue hues across the ancient stone floor. The gentle hum of prayers echoed inside the grand cathedral as dozens knelt quietly in reverence.
At the front, standing beside the altar carved with frost-like patterns, was Tetsu Katamaya, the leader of the Ice Goddess Church. His white robes shimmered faintly in the light, symbolizing purity and peace.
"Thank you, heroes," Tetsu said, his voice calm but full of emotion. "You've not only rescued our daughters, sisters, and friends—you've restored hope to this holy ground."
Sol stood with the others just behind the kneeling crowd, his posture respectful but strong. "It's our job," he replied humbly. "We just did what had to be done."
Tetsu nodded slowly. "We have offered prayers to our Ice Goddess… that she may continue to watch over us. That she may bless the brave souls who carry the burden of protection."
The girls who had been rescued now sat together in front, dressed in clean robes, their eyes filled with silent thanks. A few glanced toward Sol, Shin, Arisu, and the others—heroes who had walked through fire for their freedom.
Tetsu raised his hand. "Let us kneel. Let us pray."
In a soft, unified rustle, everyone in the cathedral sank to their knees. Heads bowed. Hands pressed together. The air turned solemn.
The room was filled with the whispered chant of dozens of voices:
"Oh blessed Ice Goddess… who guards the pure, the lost, and the faithful… keep us safe beneath your frozen light."
The prayer echoed with sincerity, with pain, and with healing.
And somewhere far away, in the heart of ice, the goddess listened.
The sky had begun to dim, painted in hues of violet and gold as the sun dipped beneath the horizon. The group stood near the steps of the old church, a gentle breeze tugging at their clothes. The girls were safe, the prayers had been said, but their hearts remained uneasy.
Sol crossed his arms and looked out toward the road. "We should return to Saori's house. Ryker needs us."
King nodded. "Yeah. He risked everything in that fight. I've never seen him bleed like that before."
"Neither have I," Shin said quietly. "But he stood his ground… like a true leader."
Arisu's eyes narrowed. "Taro wasn't lying about everything, though. He said he acted alone… but it doesn't sit right. No trafficker works without connections."
Jasmine folded her arms. "Agreed. I feel like there's someone behind him. Someone stronger. Smarter."
Sol clenched his fists. "Then we find out who. But first, we protect what we have."
Celica walked forward, her voice calm. "Ryker needs time. And so do the girls. We've won a battle, not the war."
Amelia nodded in agreement. "Let's regroup. Heal. Then investigate."
Yumi glanced back at the church. "The Ice Goddess may have watched over us today… but next time, we might be on our own."
Everyone stood silent for a moment, letting her words sink in.
Then Jasmine turned, her voice sharp and decisive. "Let's go."
The group moved as one, heading back toward Saori's home, the fading sun casting long shadows behind them.
The war wasn't over.
But for now—they had each other
The sun had already begun to dip behind the mountains, casting a warm golden hue over the island village. The streets were quiet—almost too quiet—as the group finally made their way back.
Jasmine walked at the front, her expression composed but tired. Behind her were Sol, King, Shin, Amelia, Hiroshi, Arisu, Mio, Saki, Izumi, and Tasuya—each of them marked with scratches, dust, and the exhaustion of battle.
"We're finally back," Mio whispered, her voice barely above the breeze.
Sol stretched his shoulders, cracking his neck as he looked around. "Feels like we've been gone for weeks."
"Let's head inside before anything else happens," Jasmine said firmly, leading them toward the house.
As they entered the home, the familiar scent of warm soup and herbs drifted through the air. The tension in their bodies eased ever so slightly, but no one truly felt at peace yet. They had won—temporarily—but something about the silence of the island felt... off.
Shin glanced toward the direction of Ryker's room. "I wonder if he's awake."
"We'll check on him after we clean up," Amelia said gently. "He needs rest."
"Yeah," King added, his fists clenched slightly. "After what he went through... I just want to see him alive."
Jasmine stopped in the center of the room and turned toward everyone. "We did what we had to. The girls are safe, Taro is in prison, and the truth is starting to surface."
"But is it the whole truth?" Arisu murmured, almost to himself.
A heavy silence fell among them.
The long wooden table was set with care—miso soup, grilled fish, steamed rice, and side dishes prepared lovingly by Saori and Hizuru. A soft orange light bathed the dining room as everyone gathered, the air filled with quiet chatter and clinking chopsticks.
Celica smiled warmly as she served the final dish. "This is our last dinner together. Tomorrow... we return home."
Hizuru nodded. "It's been an honor having you all here. Eat well tonight. You've earned it."
Everyone murmured thanks and began eating. But tension hung in the air like mist—especially around Ryker.
Sol, seated across from him, glanced up.
"So... what's next?" Sol asked, half-looking at Ryker. "What are we doing after this?"
Ryker didn't respond. He kept his gaze on his bowl, slowly scooping rice without expression.
Sol narrowed his eyes. "What's the matter, Ryker? Are you still mad at me... because I beat you?"
Still, no response. Only the sound of chewing.
"Come on," Sol muttered. "We've all moved on. Everyone said it—'Forgive it.'"
Amelia and King exchanged glances. Saki looked down at her plate.
"But Ryker can't," Shin whispered under his breath.
Sol sighed and leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Be that way."
Jasmine glanced at Ryker, then quietly turned back to her food. The table fell into silence again—only broken by the soft ticking of the wall clock and the distant sound of ocean waves crashing against the island shore.