Dawn and Imperial's battle reached its climax as their final attacks, Aqua Tempest and Volt Crash, collided with explosive force, shaking the river and splitting the sky. As the mist cleared, only silence remained, signaling the end of their intense confrontation.
As the mist cleared, both stood panting, weapons lowered.
Dawn exhaled, a grin tugging at her lips. "I guess… I surrender."
Imperial, still catching his breath, nodded with a faint smile. "Same here. You're stronger than I thought."
With a quiet chuckle, Dawn lowered her weapon completely, conceding.
Dawn sat quietly by the riverbank, gazing into the flowing water, lost in thought. The golden hues of the setting sun reflected off the ripples, creating a peaceful yet melancholic atmosphere. Ari and Tracey, still somewhat bouncy, waved at Imperial from a distance, urging him to come over.
"Come here, Imperial!" Ari called out, her voice a mix of excitement and frustration.
Imperial walked over, raising an eyebrow at their odd behavior. The moment he reached them, Ari and Tracey, with exaggerated pouty faces, immediately turned to him with a request that seemed strange given their earlier conversation.
"Please, Imperial, can you ask Dawn to join us?" Tracey pleaded, though the act of asking was clearly more for show than anything else.
Imperial paused, his lips curling into a slight smirk. He had just overheard them decide not to bring it up, but now they were acting as if they had no other choice.
"I can't ask her," Imperial said, shaking his head. "And you two don't! ,Understand. She has her own reasons." His tone was firm but not unkind.
Ari's and Tracey's faces fell, the joy they had just shared now replaced by confusion and frustration. The change in their demeanor was almost comical, making Imperial chuckle inwardly.
"You're heartless," Ari muttered as she turned away, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"Yeah," Tracey added with a grimace. "More like a monster. Did you see how easily he killed that captain? Like it was nothing. I don't know... Dawn was right. He's possessed by something now."
Imperial stood there, watching as they walked off, their words echoing in his mind. "They're just kids," he muttered under his breath, a tinge of regret flickering in his chest. "What am I supposed to do with them?"
He turned and walked back toward the river where Dawn was still sitting, staring at the sunset. As he approached, Dawn glanced up, her sharp eyes meeting his. The weight of their conversation was clear in the silence that followed.
"They're just acting like kids," Imperial said, brushing off the tension from the earlier encounter.
Dawn nodded slightly, a soft smile playing on her lips. "You've got some good friends."
Imperial's expression softened. "Yeah, I know." He sat beside her, his gaze drifting to the fading light. After a moment of silence, dawn asked, "You're leaving tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah," imperial replied quietly.
Imperial then ask "are you coming with us?"
Dawn's gaze shifted to the ground, her fingers brushing the soft earth "But I have to look after my parents, and there's not much in the way of real fighting in the village. I can't just leave them without someone to watch over them."
"If you did join, I'm sure Ari and Tracey would be happy. But I'm not going to force you for their sake." Imperial ask.
Dawn gave him a soft smile. "Thanks for asking, Imperial. I really appreciate it. But I can't just leave my parents and the village behind. It's not that simple
Dawn turned to Imperial and said, "It's impressive how well you've kept your power hidden—even while taking part in both of those intense battles."
Imperial shrugged slightly. "It's not a big deal. I can do that easily."
Dawn raised an eyebrow. "Then why didn't you hide it when we met in the forest?"
Imperial's expression turned serious. "In the forest, I couldn't afford to take any chances. I had to stay on guard the whole time."
He tilted his head slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "But how did you notice it so clearly? I tried to hide it back then… maybe not completely, since I still don't have full control over it. But I did everything I could to keep it suppressed. No one else noticed—except Ari. And that's only because I used it a few times near her. I've stopped since then. I didn't want to raise suspicion. Still, it's strange..."
Dawn nodded thoughtfully. "It's a mystery to me too. Just like the books... and the gaps in our history."
Imperial paused, letting her words sink in. "I guess... everyone's chasing answers in this world—trying to solve their own mysteries and question of life ."
Dawn nodded a distant look in her eyes. "Yeah… like they say around here, 'The river has long memories, and it remembers him. In the deep, even silence speaks his name.'"
Imperial raised an eyebrow. "Where did that come from?"
"The villagers said it. It's the last line an elder spoke before he died in that incident."
A gentle breeze passed between them as the village came into view. The quiet moments gave way to bustling activity as they returned. That evening, as the sun dipped low, they explored the village with Dawn, talking and laughing to the best of their abilities.
Ari, meanwhile, had pulled out a crystal and called Imperial's mother, Lyra. The conversation was brief but filled with the care of a mother checking on her son. When the call ended, Lyra asked Ari to give the crystal to imperial and then some words exchange between mother and son.
Later, as the group sat around the fire, dinner was served. As they ate, Imperial quietly handed a small pouch of gold coins to Dawn's parents. They looked at the coins, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.
"You have to accept it," Imperial said, his voice calm but firm. "I'm royalty from the Central Empire. My name is Imperial Alden."
Dawn's parents stared at him in disbelief. Even Dawn herself looked stunned, having never known the truth about his identity. The revelation hung in the air, heavy with implications.
"I also give some of these to the village leader," Imperial continued, "so they can continue their daily lives help in village growth and development. After all, that captain's pocketing the money anyway. It should go to where it's needed."
The parents hesitated, shaking their heads. "We can't accept this," they said, but imperial's resolve was unwavering.
"I believe it's the responsibility of a royal to help those in need," Imperial replied. "That's why we have wealth and high positions — to aid others."
After a long pause, Dawn's parents, though reluctant, accepted the coins with deep gratitude. The night fell into a quiet lull as the group finally settled in, knowing they would leave the village by morning.
As the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, the group gathered to depart. Imperial sat cross-legged in quiet meditation, the morning calm wrapping around him. Moments later, Ari and Tracey approached. Tracey raised her hand and summoned the beast, its powerful form materializing beside them.
Imperial stood and climbed onto its back without a word. Ari and Tracey followed suit, ready for the journey. But despite their readiness, a quiet sorrow lingered—they had hoped Dawn would come with them. Leaving without her felt like leaving a page unturned.
"Let's go," Imperial said briskly. "We don't have time to waste."
Ari and Tracey glanced to imperial
Ari and Tracey remained on the ground, still scanning the distance.
"Think she'll come out?" Tracey asked, her voice soft.
"She has to. She wouldn't let us leave without saying goodbye," Ari replied.
Moments later, Dawn appeared. A bag was slung over her shoulder, and she walked with quiet purpose toward the gathering crowd. Her parents met her halfway. She hugged them tightly, whispering something only they could hear. They nodded, smiling warmly, and gave her their best wishes for the journey.
Ari and Tracey smiled at the scene—until confusion slowly crept into their expressions.
"Wait…" Tracey said, blinking. "She's got a bag."
"why she is saying goodbye to her parents ?" Ari added, eyes narrowing.
They both looked at each other, confusion written all over their faces.
"Is she… coming with us?" Tracey asked, her brow furrowed.
Ari glanced back at Dawn, then nodded slowly, still trying to process it. "She has a bag… and her parents just gave her travel blessings…"
They exchanged another glance, the question still hanging in the air—until it finally clicked.
"She's coming with us," they both said, almost in disbelief.
The villagers had already gathered, their faces warm and kind as Dawn's parents stepped forward. Dawn, a travel bag slung over her shoulder, wrapped them in a tight embrace. After a few quiet words, they released her with smiles and soft wishes for her safety.
Seeing her walk toward them, Ari and Tracey grinned in relief.
As Dawn approached, Tracey nudged her playfully. "You didn't have to ask permission, you know."
Ari added with a teasing smile, "Yeah, especially not from that heartless monster."
They both laughed, glancing at Imperial.
He raised an eyebrow but said nothing, mounting the beast with practiced ease—though the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
With the village slowly disappearing behind them, Imperial turned to Dawn. "How are you going to cross the boulders? We don't have extra Common Association cards."
Dawn smirked. "I have one."
Ari blinked. "How? You?"
Dawn nodded. "I'm a member of the Common Association too. That captain's been skimming money off the villagers, we tell this to common association (CA) so they said that they will only protect the village if something happen.
Ari ask "only?"
"Because," Dawn explained, "the Association doesn't care about the library or its contents. The higher-ups believe no one in the village knows what's written in the book. It's not worth protecting. The CA said but still we ask for them to add few of us and they did.
But now that I'm joining you, I'm going to find out what's in that book. And why they're so afraid of it that they decide to kill our peoples. I also bring that book with me because maybe we can find someone in the journey who can decode this or maybe ari learn to read it by getting experience."
Her gaze shifted toward Imperial as she finished her sentence. "And also… one more personal reason."
Imperial is just looking to the way that they are in moving.
As they neared the border, Ari spoke again.
Then dawn asks what you guys give the reason to the board guard about why you are going there?
"We told the guards we have business with a member of the Solaria Empire's Common Association."
And so, with the journey ahead of them, they moved toward the unknown, each step taking them closer to answers — and to their fates.