In the darkness, endless seconds passed in complete silence.

   “So this is it...", I said, finally relaxing my muscles for the first time since the beginning of this hell.

   “After all... I tried... with everything I had" - I no longer felt pain - “I struggled... for nothing?... Is this the moment I should call out to God?”, I let out a small laugh at the words that felt so distant to me.

   “It’s dark... I feel cold... maybe... I shouldn’t have gone after him... maybe I should have given up back then... maybe... mayb... ma...", I felt sleepy, while the memories of my family came back to torment me.

“I really should be dead... shouldn’t I... mother?”

   I closed my eyes and tried to rest my mind.

   “I wanted... to feel the warmth of a real embrace... to smile honestly... I wish I hadn’t become the monster that I am... I wanted... to love someone..".

   My body trembled then, with a feeling I had not experienced in years. Something warm once again flowed down my face, though I did not notice it.

   “There’s no reason for me to worry", I affirmed, trying to control my heart, which pounded in panic.

   “How could anyone ever get close to someone like me?”, I shouted, between desperate laughs, and at last, with no path left toward redemption... I collapsed.

   “Even that girl... SHE GAVE UP BECAUSE SHE KNEW I WAS WEAK...", I screamed through sobs and tears that only grew heavier.

   And then... silence.

   “I’m sorry, miss... I can no longer keep the promise we made".

   I could see a bright light, and thinking it was my final breath... I allowed my consciousness to be consumed.

   I felt an annoyance on my face, followed by a strong light that pulled me from a deep sleep.

   Opening my eyes, I saw a place that felt detached from reality when compared to the crimson desert where the demon stood.

   We were in a vast green field, decorated with flowers of countless colors. At the center, there was a long river cutting through the entire landscape around us.

   Great mountains with snowy peaks stood in the distance, but what truly captured my attention was a majestic castle of phenomenal proportions, carrying with it a past forgotten by humanity.

   At the top of a mountain range, it maintained all of its nobility despite the geography that seemed determined to tear it down.

   For a moment, I wondered... what kind of person would live in such a lonely place.

It was a landscape similar to my world, yet somehow, it carried the feeling of peace... of home.

   After my brief trance, I felt pressure in my chest and an overwhelming weakness when trying to sit up, falling backward with force.

   At that instant, I realized the comforting sensation embracing my soul.

   After searching for so long, crossing a portal into another world, and facing an ancient demon... I was lying on Fyie’s lap.

   I immediately gave up trying to get up and closed my eyes again, pretending to still be asleep so I could enjoy the moment a little longer.

   The beautiful silver-haired girl touched my cheek and asked:

   “You’re awake, aren’t you?... You can’t pretend with me".

   I smiled in relief, knowing I had finally found her again, but the expression quickly faded as I remembered everything I had seen... and everything I had done.

   Trying to push through the painful silence between us, I began again:

   “I... missed you... I thought I’d never see you again... I’m... sor..".

   I tried to explain myself before she interrupted me.

   “I’ve heard how worried you were... and how hard you tried... You don’t need to apologize, I-I’m happy you came for me", she finished, blushing with an adorable smile.

   “You’ve heard?... Then... you managed to meet Anne?”, I asked in confusion.

   “Anne?... Let’s just say I met another creature...", she replied, thinking about how to explain the situation.

   “Another?... An ally this time?” - I asked - “But what happened, and where did he go?... I don’t see him here", I continued, anxious about the answer and not even giving her time to respond.

   “Well... when the demon used his power, both of us lost consciousness. The one I met claims to have helped us defeat the enemy, but when I woke up, the battle was already over".

   “And where is this ‘creature’?”, I asked, not seeing him anywhere nearby.

   “He said he would return once you woke up", she answered.

   “So... we wait?”, I asked again.

   “I... think so", she confirmed.

   Silence surrounded us, and while comfortably lying on her lap, I adjusted myself slightly so I could observe her face more clearly.

   I looked away several times, pretending to be distracted by the scenery, but all I was really doing... was loving her with all my heart.

   “Your eyes... what happened?”, I asked, noticing that instead of their usual white color, they now carried multicolored irises.

   “I don’t know. Are they different from normal?” Fyie asked worriedly.

   “They’re... colorful?” I answered, still confused by the situation.

   The moment I spoke, a portal opened a few meters away from us.

   Its appearance was also different from the others we had encountered, which only increased my suspicion.

   Instead of the usual rounded shape, it looked like a tear in the air itself, with glowing edges contrasting against the environment and a dark interior that released purple lightning around it. From within, a different kind of “creature” emerged.

   A towering man, nearly three meters tall, wearing white garments with golden details that carried an image of superior nobility... almost divine.

   He had long white hair and angelic a presence, together with his posture, gave him a celestial appearance. His mysterious eyes, however, remained closed all the time.

   “You... were the one who saved us?”, I asked, expecting the same story Fyie had told me.

   The man opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but hesitated. Then he smiled faintly before finally beginning his explanation.

   “It is a pleasure to meet you, Kyros. I am a pillar... some call me author, founder, even creator... I have many names from which you may choose. Well... we still have much to discuss".

   “You... are God?”, I asked in complete disbelief.

   “That is what they say", he replied with a loud laugh.