"Maria," she called.

Maria rushed in, holding the soul orb. She handed it over without hesitation.

Without uttering a word, Naraka accepted it—and everyone in the room, already aware of what was happening, silently vacated the chamber.

With a single motion of her finger, Naraka cleared the room of everything.

> She summoned a workspace so ancient, it dated back to the days when she was still human—at the very dawn of the universe—and placed it in the throne room.

Then, she sealed the room completely from all outside sound and began her work.

For seven days straight, she didn't leave.

News of Mitra's actions quickly spread. 

> Though forbidden from abandoning their posts, every soldier who was granted leave used that time not for rest—but to pray.

They gathered at the gates of Shiora, offering their prayers to Naraka, to Shiora, and to Nujah—for strength, for light, and for forgiveness.

Countless blue roses were laid before the gates—so many that the petals formed rivers of color across the sacred stones.

Even the Shinrei siblings, usually exempt from such rites, joined in solemn prayer.

When the seventh day passed within the chamber—where time itself stood still—Naraka finally emerged.

Everyone present knelt in silence. They waited for her words.

Naraka looked at them, sorrow in her eyes.

"…Nujah."

Her face, once heavy with grief, shifted into the radiant joy of a mother reunited with her child.

She shouted his name so powerfully that every being in Shiora—and even the one who had once been sealed in eternal darkness—heard it.

The entire universe began to glow with a brilliance it had never known.

Even the darkest corners of Shiora were lit by that light, if only for a moment.

The Shinrei siblings burst into the air with tears and cheers, thanking their mother.

The rest of the crowd hugged one another. Fireworks painted the sky.

The realm rejoiced.

Just then, a stranger entered—someone perhaps even stronger than Naraka herself.

When Nujah slowly opened his eyes, he found an old, dignified figure sitting beside him.

In a hoarse voice, Nujah said:

"I'm sorry to bring bad news… but unfortunately for you, I'm still breathing. Still…"

He yelled like a child, defiant.

"Still... still... still..."

The old figure coughed, then chuckled.

"I see that," he replied calmly. "Despite our rocky past, I've seen countless lives through to the end. Good ones, evil ones. But even I cannot deny—

You are one of the few who truly deserved to live."

"No matter how much I wish it, neither I nor Serekh ever had the right to end your story."

He stood and smiled gently.

"I made your favorite cake. This time, no curses. I promise."

Nujah, deeply moved, could only whisper:

"Thank you… I won't forget this. Ever. Thank you, Death."

Death smiled.

"Take care, son. And… I hope the next time we meet isn't because I've come to collect you."

With a snap of his fingers, he vanished, leaving behind fluttering black leaves laced with shimmering light.

Just as he disappeared, Naraka entered the room.

The thunderous noise of the outside crowd was overwhelming. She closed the door to block it.

With a smile, she said:

"So, the old man was here, huh? I hope he didn't say anything stupid.

If he did, just say the word. I'll drown him in my light."

Nujah laughed.

"No need, Mother.

Honestly… I've never seen him like that before."

Naraka beamed.

"Well, you didn't just change him," she said.

"Come now—take my hand. Outside, everyone whose heart you've ever touched is waiting. Even the monsters..."

Nujah frowned.

"Who told them?" he muttered, clearly embarrassed.

Naraka grinned playfully.

"Who knows?" she said in a childlike voice.

She gently took his hand, leading him to the doors.

When they opened, a deafening roar echoed through the realm.

Everyone in Shiora cried out his name.

Nujah instinctively tried to hide his face in embarrassment, but Naraka took his hand and raised it high.

The cheers grew a million times louder.

Even though he felt faint, Nujah stood tall—using every bit of strength left in him.

He endured the pain, refusing to fall.

That day, not just Shiora...

Even the darkness smiled.

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