The moment they stepped beyond the tower’s threshold, the night air rushed over them like a forgotten blessing.

For several seconds, no one spoke.

Then Friedrich stretched his arms high above his head and groaned loudly.

“Finally,” he said. “If I had to spend another minute in that place, I swear I would’ve started punching mirrors just for fun.”

“After what felt like an eternity, we actually made it out.” His greatsword clanged softly against the plates of his armor as he tried to shake the stiffness from his limbs.

“You’re telling me,” Erik muttered, dragging a hand through his dark, panther-like ears before ruffling his jet-black hair. “Another hour in that place and I swear I’d have started seeing reflections that weren’t mine.” He shuddered theatrically. “Or worse—turn into one of those nightmare copies.”

Seth chuckled, his golden retriever-like ears twitching as he inhaled deeply. “I’m just glad we can breathe real air again. I was starting to think mirrors were the only scenery left in the world.” He spread his arms wide and took a long breath—only to sneeze violently when a stray leaf drifted straight into his nose. “Ugh—okay, maybe not too much fresh air.”

Erik snorted. “That’s what you get for trying to inhale the entire forest, dog-boy.”

Seth shot him an offended look. “Excuse me for appreciating nature after being trapped in a cursed tower.”

A small ripple of laughter passed through the group. It was brief, but genuine—the first moment of levity since the battle. Above them, the stars glittered like scattered shards of glass, and somewhere deeper in the forest an owl called softly into the night. The world felt alive again, quiet in a way the tower had never allowed.

Siegfried exhaled slowly, resting a hand on the hilt of his sword as he gazed upward. “Strange,” he murmured. “I thought stepping outside would feel more… triumphant.”

Star turned toward him. “You’re thinking about what Alioth said.”

He nodded faintly. “The Abyss. The way he described it… even the Seven Heavens couldn’t stop it. It makes you wonder what we’re really standing against.”

Klara folded her arms, her expression thoughtful. “We’ve learned more about the Abyss than most people in our era ever will,” she said quietly. “And somehow it still feels like we know almost nothing.”

Her gaze drifted briefly to Star.

The warmth of their earlier laughter faded, replaced once again by the quiet weight of uncertainty.

Star lowered her eyes, clenching her fists. “Yeah,” she muttered. “And we don’t even have time to process any of it. We just keep moving.”

They continued walking until the forest canopy thinned and the horizon opened before them. The last light of day spilled across the land in a sweep of amber and gold, painting the distant hills in soft fire.

Alioth slowed, then stopped.

When he turned to face them, there was something different in his posture—something final.

“This is where we part ways,” he said.

Star blinked in disbelief. “Wait—what? Why?” She stepped forward. “We’ve barely started uncovering the truth. Why leave now?”

Alioth met her gaze, his crimson eyes steady. “Because something else requires my attention. The flow of time in Kazegami Province has fractured.”

“Fractured?” Klara repeated, tilting her head.

Alioth nodded. “The sun no longer sets there. Days repeat endlessly. The people wake to the same morning, live the same hours, and fall asleep beneath the same unmoving sky. No one can leave the province—and no one remembers anything beyond the repeating day.”

Seth whistled under his breath. His ears twitched uneasily. “That’s… unsettling. Sounds like the kind of nightmare you can’t wake up from.”

“More than unsettling,” Siegfried said quietly. “That’s terrifying.”

Star stepped forward, determination rising in her voice. “Then we’ll come with you. We’ve been fighting together this whole time.”

Alioth shook his head gently, though a faint smile touched his lips. “This isn’t your battle, Star. Whatever is causing this phenomenon is not a simple anomaly. Something—or someone—is behind it. And I suspect the forces involved may be beyond your reach for now.”

Friedrich frowned. “What exactly do you mean by something?”

Alioth hesitated for a moment, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon.

“I can’t say yet,” he admitted. “But it doesn’t feel natural. It feels… orchestrated. As though someone is deliberately manipulating the flow of time.”

Klara tightened her grip on her catalyst. “And you’re planning to deal with that alone?”

Alioth’s smile widened slightly, though his eyes remained difficult to read. “I’ve faced worse. And this isn’t goodbye. Once I understand what’s happening in Kazegami Province, I’ll return.”

Friedrich scoffed. “Assuming you survive whatever’s waiting there.”

Alioth chuckled softly. “I appreciate the concern. But don’t worry—I’m harder to get rid of than that.”

Seth rubbed the back of his neck. “Still… even you’ve got limits, right? What if this thing is bigger than you think?”

Alioth regarded him thoughtfully. “If it is,” he said calmly, “then I’ll deal with it the best I can.”

Then he turned back toward Star.

“You, on the other hand, have your own path to follow.”

Star frowned. “And where exactly is that supposed to lead?”

Alioth took a moment before answering.

“There’s a grand library in Chandrapura,” he said. “One of the largest repositories of knowledge in this world. Ancient records, forgotten histories, lost research. If you’re searching for answers, you’ll find them there.”

“Chandrapura…” Star repeated slowly. “Erik told me the Riftwalkers have invaded. They’ve brought weapons and technology no one here has ever seen. The people are suffering. Everything there is changing.”

Alioth’s brow furrowed. “Riftwalkers?” he said quietly. “I’ve heard nothing of such an invasion.”

Star blinked. “You haven’t? They came from another dimension. They’re tearing through Chandrapura with machines and weapons unlike anything we’ve ever encountered.”

Alioth’s expression darkened slightly. His thoughts seemed to drift elsewhere.

“Could they be—” he murmured under his breath.

The words trailed off.

Just as quickly, he dismissed the thought with a subtle shake of his head.

“No. It’s nothing.”

He looked back at Star.

“Go to Chandrapura. There is more to that invasion than you realize, but I cannot investigate it myself right now.”

Star studied him carefully. He was hiding something—that much was clear.

She opened her mouth to question him further, but Alioth only gave her a small, knowing smile.

“Trust your instincts,” he said gently. “The road ahead will reveal what you need to see.”

Star hesitated. There were still a thousand questions pressing against her thoughts.

But she already knew he would not answer them tonight.

As Alioth turned to leave, she called out after him.

“Alioth… stay safe. We’ll meet again, right?”

He paused.

For a moment the last rays of sunlight stretched his shadow long across the earth. Then he glanced back over his shoulder, the faintest smile touching his lips.

“If fate brought us together once,” he said quietly, I’m sure our paths will cross again."

His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.

“In the meantime,” he added, “you still have much to uncover in Chandrapura.”

Then he continued walking, his figure gradually dissolving into the fading light of dusk.

Star remained where she stood, watching the empty horizon long after he was gone.

The wind stirred softly through the trees, carrying the last echoes of his departure.

And for the first time since their journey began, the road ahead felt wider than ever.