The morning sun bathed the Aetherion Kingdom

 in soft golden light, casting a gentle warmth

 over its bustling streets. The city, still alive with

 the echoes of the Great Battle Arena

 celebrations, now witnessed a different kind of

 excitement—Team Drakosoul strolling through

 the marketplace with pockets full of gold and

 smiles that hadn’t left their faces since their

 victory.

Garrin held several large bags strapped to his

 back, stuffed with spices, clothes, and tools for 

the villagers.

"Do we really need this much cheese?" he

 asked, eyeing Kaeli who was picking out yet 

another wheel.

“It’s not for us,” Kaeli grinned. “You know the

 kids back in the village love it.”

Lior carried several small crates of herbs and

 healing potions, her eyes focused as she

 carefully selected supplies. “We might not get 

another chance to shop in a place like this. It’s

 better we take home more than we need.”

Raikuro stood a little away from them, watching 

quietly with a faint smile beneath his hood. 

Despite the peace around him, his thoughts 

were already miles away—at a quiet grave

 hidden behind a long-forgotten home.

Master Tenzin approached, handing him a

 pouch. “You’ve earned your share too, Raikuro.

 Don’t just stand there.”

Raikuro gave a small nod. “Thanks, Master.” He

 took the pouch, but slipped it into Lior’s crate. 

“Use this for the village. They’ll need it more 

than I will.”

That evening, the group shared one last dinner

 in the capital. They laughed, teased each other, 

and enjoyed the strange but delicious dishes

 that once seemed so foreign to them. But 

beneath the joy, they all knew the next day 

marked the end of something important.

---

The next morning, the team prepared their

 carriage and supplies. Just as they were

 securing the last bag, a soft voice called from 

behind them.

“Raikuro.”

He turned. Princess Elirya stood there alone, 

dressed simply but still carrying the elegance of

 royalty. Her gaze softened when it met his.

“I… I wanted to see you before you left,” she

 said. “And to say... I’m sorry.”

Raikuro looked at her, silent for a moment. Then

 he nodded. “I know.”

She seemed surprised at the ease of his

 response.

“You’re not angry anymore?” she asked, 

hesitantly.

“I was,” he said, his voice steady. “But I’ve

 moved past it. We all have our reasons. You did

 what you thought was right.”

She looked down, then back up with a hopeful 

but cautious expression. “Will you ever return to 

Aetherion?”

Raikuro’s eyes drifted toward the castle in the 

distance, then toward the mountains beyond. 

“No,” he said simply. “There’s nothing left here

 for me.”

Elirya’s smile faltered, but she didn’t press him. 

She stepped back and nodded. “Then... farewell, 

Raikuro. And thank you—for coming back.”

He gave her a quiet look, then turned and

 climbed onto the carriage.

---

But before they left the kingdom’s border, 

Raikuro asked the others to wait.

He walked alone, the old dirt path guiding him 

through familiar silence. The ruins of his 

childhood home were still half-covered in wild

 plants, the same as he had left them. Behind it,

 beneath a small tree, the earth was still marked 

with two modest stones.

Raikuro knelt and placed a bouquet of fresh 

white lilies on the grave.

“Mom... Dad...” he whispered. “We did it. We’re 

champions now.”

A breeze rustled through the leaves, and for a

 moment, he swore he could hear his mother’s 

laugh in the wind. He closed his eyes, let the

 silence settle around him, then rose.

“Goodbye,” he said.

He turned, walking back toward the waiting

 carriage where his new family—Kaeli, Garrin, 

Lior, and Master Tenzin—were waiting.

The wheels began to turn.the road ahead led

back to Dragon village - the place they had

always called home.with every passing mile,

the wall of Aetherion faded behind them,and

the warmth of familiar memories pulled them 

forward.

Raikuro leaned back, eyes towards the horizon,

finally at peace.