The air was thick with the scent of dust and decay. The battlefield lay silent, the war at last coming to an end.

Sora knelt on the cold, fractured ground, cradling Kael in her arms. His once-powerful form was now limp, his body battered and bleeding. His breathing was shallow, weak—on the brink of fading away entirely.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto his face as she held him closer.

"Kael, you promised me… you promised!" she sobbed, shaking him gently, desperately trying to keep him awake. "You can’t leave me… not after everything… please!"

Kael could barely hear her. His vision blurred, his world fading into darkness. But through the haze, he saw her face—beautiful even in sorrow. He longed to hold her, to wipe away her tears, but his body no longer obeyed him.

"I love you," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "And… I will miss you."
Then—darkness.

Far away, standing at the edge of the battlefield, a lone figure watched from the shadows. A silhouette in the mist. A figure that bore the likeness of a Sailor Scout—but from neither the Main Realm nor the Mirror Realm.

She turned, her expression unreadable, before disappearing into the abyss.

Soft light filtered through the hospital room window. The rhythmic beeping of a monitor echoed in the silence.

Kael’s eyes fluttered open.

For a moment, he thought he was still dreaming—until he saw Sora sitting beside him, clutching his hand, her eyes red from crying.

"Kael…?" Sora’s voice trembled as she realized he was awake.

At once, relief washed over her, followed by Usagi, Minako, Makoto, and Rei rushing forward in excitement.

"You’re awake!" Minako cheered.

"Oh, thank the stars!" Makoto sighed.

"How do you feel?" Rei asked, her usual composure faltering.

Kael blinked, taking a moment to gather his senses. His body felt… lighter than it should have.

"I…" He looked down at himself, the wounds he was sure had been fatal now nothing more than healing scars. "I feel… better."

Before he could say more, the nurse entered the room. She had a tray of medicine and a glass of water, but the moment Kael's gaze met hers—she froze.

Her face immediately turned red.

"I… um… I brought your medicine…" she stammered, her fingers trembling as she set the tray down.

For a few agonizing seconds, she stood completely still, staring at Kael like she had just seen a prince from a fantasy novel. Then, as if realizing she was still in the room—she spun around and fled.

Everyone in the room turned to stare at Kael. 

Sora (narrowing her eyes): "What was that about?"

Minako (whispering to Makoto): "…Did she just panic because Kael looked at her?"

Makoto (nodding slowly): "I think we just witnessed something dangerous."

Kael had no idea what just happened.

A few days later, after his release from the hospital, Kael found himself sitting on a ditch near the city’s man-made waterway, staring at the flowing water. The cool breeze kissed his skin as he gazed at his reflection.

He should have died. His wounds were fatal—he had felt the life leaving him.

"How did I survive…?" he murmured.

Yet, what weighed on him more was not his survival—but everything he had lost.

His home. His people. His world.

As the wind blew through his hair, a familiar voice called out to him.

Kael’s breath hitched. His eyes widened.

Standing before him was a ghostly vision of his father—Septimus Valerian, the Guardian of Mars in the Mirror Realm.

"Father…?" Kael whispered, his voice breaking.

Septimus stood tall, his eyes filled with pride but laced with sorrow.

"I'm sorry, Father… I couldn’t save you. I couldn’t save the realm… our people…" Kael clenched his fists, his heart shattering. "They all died because of me."

Then, one by one—they appeared.

King Alden.

The Nobles of the Eight Clans.

The people of the Bright Moon Kingdom.

They all stood before him. Silent. Watching.

Kael fell to his knees, his hands shaking. Tears slid down his face.

"Fate allowed our destruction for the greater good," Septimus said softly. "But our people still live, my son."

Kael lifted his head.

Kael clenched his jaw, his breath uneven.

"Kael," his father continued, "I know you have found it. The thing you are willing to fight for."

Kael’s mind flashed to her—to Sora.

He closed his eyes, smiling through the tears.

Septimus smiled in return. Beside him, Kael's mother appeared, her gaze filled with warmth.

"Kael," she said softly, "After all you’ve endured… your heart deserves to rest."

Kael's breath hitched as he realized their message. 

Then—one by one, they began to fade.

Kael's eyes lingered on them until the last of their forms vanished into the wind.

And then— he felt a soft, warm touch on his hand.

Kael turned—and Sora was standing beside him.

She had seen it all. She had heard everything.

Tears brimming in her eyes, she gently squeezed his hand.

For the first time since the fall of the Mirror Realm… Kael felt redemption.