After a moment, he leaned back and asked quietly:
"Tell me… where's Lia?"
Niya wiped her tears and nodded, voice soft.
"This way… follow me."
They ran.
Down twisting halls. Through shattered corridors. Past cold stone walls filled with too many memories.
Until—
They stopped.
In front of a plain wooden door, reinforced with steel. The storage room—small, hidden, guarded by silence.
Leo stared at it.
His hand shook.
He hadn't seen his sister in eight years.
Niya placed a hand on his shoulder, steadying him.
"She's inside."
Leo took a breath.
Then… slowly… reached for the handle.
The door creaked open.
The dim light poured into the small storage room, revealing a fragile girl curled on a worn-out bed, a blanket wrapped tightly around her small frame. Her silver hair was messy, her skin pale, and her eyes swollen from crying. She had heard all the chaos—the screams, the clash of blades, and the silence that followed.
Trembling, she peeked from under the blanket as two figures stepped inside.
Her voice came out soft, scared.
"Aunt Niya… who is he?"
Leo stood frozen at the door. His eyes locked onto her—Lia. His little sister. Grown. Scarred. Alive.
He couldn't breathe.
Tears welled up as he took a step forward, voice cracking.
"Lia… thanks for waiting."
She looked up again, this time truly seeing him. Her eyes widened.
The face… the voice… the warmth.
"Big brother… Leo?"
The blanket fell from her hands. She rushed forward and leapt into his arms, crying loudly as years of fear and longing poured out in one desperate embrace.
"Why were you so late?! I waited… every day! I waited, Leo!"
Leo held her tightly, trying to stop his own tears.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, Lia. I couldn't protect you. I failed you. I failed both of you."
He looked at Niya, who gave him a weak but grateful nod, and then back at Lia.
She gripped his sleeve desperately.
"Don't leave me here. Please. Take me with you… I don't want to live here anymore."
Leo wiped her tears gently and whispered with unwavering resolve:
"It's all over now. I couldn't protect you back then… but I swear on my life, I'll protect both of you now—and everyone I care about."
He stood up, holding Lia's hand in one and Niya's in the other.
Then, with a flash of violet light—
They vanished.
Outside the capital.
Lyra was covered in blood and bruises, surrounded by the aftermath of battle. She had led the rebels to evacuate the innocents.
She turned, hearing a soft hum behind her.
A radiant light flared—and then she saw him.
Leo.
Standing tall, dusted in blood, holding Lia's hand. And beside him—Niya.
Her mother.
Lyra's breath caught.
Her legs gave out and tears flooded her face.
"Mom…?"
Niya ran to her, pulling her into a desperate hug.
"I'm sorry, Lyra. I… I'm not a good mother. I wasn't strong. But I never stopped loving you."
Lyra wept in her arms like a child who had waited too long to cry.
Leo stood back, watching with a warm but heavy heart. Then he turned to the rebel fighters nearby.
"Where's Chief Balzock?"
One of them pointed toward the capital's heart.
"He went to fight Kael alone."
Leo's eyes widened.
"What…?" he whispered. And then—
BOOM!
A massive wave of energy and shock hit the area. The air trembled with the clash of overwhelming power.
Leo crouched down beside Lia.
"Lia, stay here with Lyra, alright? My friends need me now."
But just as he stood, Lia grabbed his hand.
Her eyes were pleading.
"Not this time. Please… don't leave me again."
Leo smiled softly, then placed his forehead to hers.
"I promise… this time, I'll come back for you."
Niya and Lyra stood behind her, placing hands gently on her shoulders, nodding at Leo.
Lia sniffled, still gripping his fingers.
"You better come back."
Leo pulled off his black cloak and wrapped it around Lia.
"Take care of this for me."
Then, he turned away.
No more hesitation.
Wearing only a white shirt, black pants, and shoes now soaked in the blood of his enemies—Leo walked toward the center of the capital.