"How peculiar..." Vahn muttered, sensing the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Her words drew the attention of Jingliu and Alsanna, both of whom turned their gaze toward the figure that had discreetly appeared in the chamber.

Alsanna, with her unrivaled ability to manifest domains within the boundaries of the world using memories, had created a subspace. Yet, this figure had breached it without leaving a trace. The shadow knight stood still, observing the trio with a silent intensity. Alsanna, unfazed by the potential threat, remained seated, having anticipated such an arrival ever since Jingliu delved into the memory realm she had crafted.

Vahn, however, studied the knight with a sharper gaze. The being was sentient, yet its loyalty lay elsewhere. 'A knight, yet dead, acting as a scout, but for whom?' she pondered.

Her instincts screamed a warning as she noticed the knight reaching for its handle. Reacting with the speed and precision of a seasoned warrior, Vahn coated her sword with an aura as white as a blank slate, a symbol of her inner peace, and drew it in a fluid motion.

Swoosh!

The instant she struck, the space before her was obliterated, taking the shadow knight with it.

She sheathed her sword and turned to Alsanna and Jingliu, who were staring at the destruction. Vahn caught Jingliu's intense gaze and followed it back to the scene, noticing the flickering and subsequent disappearance of the shadow on the ground. She returned her attention to Jingliu, recognizing the expression on her face—it was one of familiarity and recognition.

'Something related to her, it seems. Answers will come later,' Vahn thought.

Suddenly, the trio sensed a surge of power that felt both foreign and primal. Alsanna's marbled figure trembled under the weight of this new presence. Jingliu, too, shook, but her expression was tinged with sadness.

'What is this? Why am I feeling this? What's going on?' Jingliu wondered, staring at her shivering hands. The pendant she wore vibrated, its light shifting from pure white to a tinge of black, resembling an impending eclipse.

Vahn observed the state of her companions and understood they were not in the best condition to proceed. The oppressive feeling of the disturbance lingered, even after the knight's vanishing act.

Sensing the danger, Vahn turned to Alsanna and spoke calmly. "Alsanna, I need you to make a gateway to the source."

Alsanna nodded, understanding the gravity of Vahn's request. Trusting her sister's judgment, she created a dimensional glass door. Without hesitation, Vahn stepped through, determined to confront the source of the disturbance.

Left behind, Jingliu clutched her pendant tightly, her thoughts swirling with fragmented memories. The image of a man kept shifting in her mind, but with her power over Fate, she managed to hold on to her sense of self.

In a barely audible whisper, she muttered a name. "Y/N...?"

---

The once mythical forests, teeming with life linked to ancestral beings, now lay partially destroyed, a segment of its vibrancy cut off by the clash of two swords. The sight would sadden the embodiment of Life, yet miraculously, only a fragment of it was obliterated within the confines of the shadow world.

Shadow World—a fitting name for the realm shrouded in darkness, a space blackened and obstructed from the outside view. No light could penetrate as there were no cracks in this mini-world, though it was illuminated by Vahn's brilliant white aura.

Vahn, the strongest among her 'siblings', was an anomaly in strength. With swift movements, she slid off Artorias' sword and stepped back.

"I believe I have not introduced myself to you, young man. Someone of your caliber should've warranted my attention a long time ago, but seeing your eyes... They look old, and yet, young," Vahn said, stabbing her sword into the shadow ground. The specks of her aura fought against the encroaching blackness.

Artorias tilted his head, listening to her and observing her actions. "I, too, have not introduced myself. Forgive me, I didn't mean to antagonize anyone; I've just become 'free' of myself from my own... tragedy, so my mind is not in the right place at the moment."

Following her lead, he gently stabbed the High Abyss into the ground, resting his hands on the pommel as it hummed softly.

Vahn, intrigued, replied, "Your tragedy? That explains the influx of energy inside you. They feel chaotic and in need of rest."

She could sense the tumultuous energies within him, several essences clashing yet somehow harmonized.

"You are rather observant, but yes, you are correct. I should reiterate my words, I have just achieved my freedom as my world is not chained to this universe," Artorias acknowledged.

"Chained, you say? Whatever has transpired, you must have faced something beyond comprehension," Vahn remarked, placing a hand on her hip.

"Yes... and I fear that I have not finished my journey, for I have questions that need answering," Artorias mused, looking around the Shadow World he created. His journey here followed a pattern: seeking answers, meeting an Aeon, and leaving with more questions. It felt as though a piece of the puzzle was missing.

His eyes grew tired, the Abyssal hue fading into a clear purple-black, something Vahn noticed.

"It seems some questions are better left unanswered. Take it from a woman who has experienced such things in her life... Ah, I forgot to introduce myself," Vahn said, adopting Artorias' stance.

"I am Vahn, the oldest of my family."

Artorias slightly closed his eyes, feeling a twinge of recognition at the name. He pushed the thought aside, focusing on his introduction. "I am... Artorias."

Vahn noted the hesitation in his voice. "Hesitation is defeat, and you have not found yourself, or rather, you are at the cusp of your own foundation. Maybe I am simply overlooking you, but that's what I feel."

Artorias only nodded. She was perceptive, but... "Duly noted, though you got some things wrong—no, more like you missed some things."

He released his hand from the pommel and clutched his pendant. "There are some things I would like to delve into with you, but I need to find... someone, first. She means a lot to me."

Vahn's eyes widened as she saw the pendant he wore, a shadow pearl contrasting Jingliu's moon-like pendant.

'Ah, I see. You are 'him'.' Vahn smiled, understanding his noble goal and the struggle he endured to reach this point.

With a smile still on her face, she spoke. "I know the feeling of missing your loved ones. Reminiscing for their presence to be by your side as you wake up, I know it all too well. Many people are lucky that they get to experience that, but they are not so lucky to experience severity."

She gripped her sword and pulled it from the ground. "And you are burdened by two, though luckily, you get to see that end."

Artorias watched her, realizing she might hold the answers he sought. "You... you have answers that I seek. The way you explained it, you know, don't you?"

Vahn nodded and pointed her blade at him. "Yes... how about we wager a fight, reap some rewards from the two of us?"

Artorias smiled lightly and pointed his sword at her. "How about we clash blades first, then talk?"

Vahn laughed, her warrior spirit igniting. "Hahahaha! A man after my own heart! If only you weren't taken, I would surely take you for myself."

Her remark confirmed something for Artorias, and hope began to beat within his Black Heart.

Artorias jested, "I'd take you up on that offer, but I don't think my heart is capable of loving more than one woman."

Vahn made a stance, her sword poised in a manner reminiscent of an iai stance. "And I don't think she'll like that either."

A burst of white aura unfurled behind her like a cape, and in an instant, she appeared in front of him. Artorias, now ascended, had senses heightened to such an incomprehensible level that mortals would seem like ants to him. With a casual move, he raised his sword and defended himself, clashing against Vahn's strike.

The Shadow World quivered under the pressure of their combined might.

"You are strong, and yet you are holding back immensely," Artorias observed, sensing her restraint.

"Yes, and so are you. I believe, at a time like this, the adversary would like to test something? Go on, give it your best shot. I will be your model, your blackboard," Vahn responded, pushing her sword against his with added strength. Artorias matched her effort, their swords locked in a test of power.

"You are very courageous, but that will backfire soon enough," Artorias mused, pushing her back with a sudden surge of strength. Vahn blanketed herself in aura and landed gracefully, but Artorias was already moving, his cape-like robes flowing behind him.

He adapted quickly to the encumbrance of his attire, making precise cuts in the air. His sword shrouded its edges in the Abyss as he imagined the perfect strike.

Swing! Swing!

Vahn felt the sting of invisible cuts, the marks of sword slashes appearing on her body, blood spewing from the wounds.

"Perfect," Artorias complimented himself, his technique succeeding. He had incorporated Akivili's blessing into his swordsmanship, imagining his blade slicing through the air to cut his opponent.

Dismantle, he called it.

He continued the assault, slightly moving his sword as more cuts appeared on Vahn. She moved in a zigzag pattern, trying to avoid the invisible slashes, but Dismantle's slow pace provided her an opening.

"You... manipulated space and cut the air with it," Vahn observed, her aura healing the wounds. "You need a catalyst, and that is to use your sword for your technique to work. If you were to fight my siblings, they'd surely die. But I'm different."

Her aura exploded, and she swung her sword with such ferocity that the Shadow World began to unravel. Artorias barely had time to process her words before he was forced on the defensive. The Abyssal Miasma emanating from him manipulated the space around them, creating a magnetic pull that deflected her strikes.

"If we had fought in the real world, planets would have been destroyed. Truly, we are monsters," Artorias remarked, struggling against her strength.

"We are beyond Emanators in power, and thus, it's no surprise they see it that way," Vahn countered, matching his defensive effort.

Artorias's eyes sharpened as he made a decision. Since he could cut space without contact, what if he did the opposite by touching the opponent?

Swish! Swoosh!

Several cuts appeared on Vahn, blunting her sword slightly. The cuts formed a net-like pattern on her skin and armor. Amazed by his ability to transform imagination into reality, Vahn stepped back, letting her aura heal her wounds.

"Amazing... You are truly special. Will you show more? Your potential is incredible!" she exclaimed.

"Thank you. Though this 'spar' feels like training for some reason. Never mind that, how about we opt for pure swordsmanship? No abilities, just our aura," Artorias suggested, longing for the days of straightforward combat.

Vahn didn't hesitate. "You are right. In a world where magic seems to be incorporated into every battle, where elements are manifested in our swords, we lack the war for pure swordsmanship."

She raised her sword to him, and Artorias smiled, recalling his duel with Jingliu in the Sword Champion Ceremony.

"War, huh? I call it fun sports," he said, touching her sword with his.

"Hah! Let's start with round two, shall we?" Vahn's battle lust gleamed in her eyes.

"I'm just getting started," Artorias replied, readying himself for the next bout.

---

Outside the barrier of shadows, the siblings healed themselves with the support of Icaria, who had arrived after sensing the massive outburst of power.

Boras felt a prick as Icaria's flames healed him. "Yowch! Bloody hell, that still hurts. And here I thought I'd grown resistant to nature's elements."

Icaria shook her head as she finished healing him. "Just rest up, will you? Shouting about your ego isn't going to make you better."

She extended her hand, and gentle orange flames appeared around the others, healing them to an extent where they couldn't heal themselves.

With a fizz of the flames, Mono groaned out loud. "RAAAAGH!!! I JUST WANNA REST TODAY!"

Her complaint resonated with everyone. They, too, were tired from Jingliu's ascension and the mysterious man's appearance.

The timing of the man's arrival was either a coincidence or not... The others fell silent, except for Seris, who felt something change inside her after the man's gaze.

The way he looked at her was like the gaze of an Aeon, like her Majesty, Idrila. He peered into her soul, examining it, and ultimately, she assumed, deeming her something else.

It was apparent he was searching for someone—perhaps her appearance was too similar to Jingliu's, and he had mistaken her for Jingliu?

Then it clicked—mistaken her for Jingliu...

"You seem to have answered something, Seris."

Seris looked up to the source of the sound and gazed into Adabas, who tilted her head at her.

The others listened in, though Icaria was too busy tapping on the Shadow World with her fiery, talon-like fingers.

Seris took a deep breath and opened her mouth, but then the world rumbled.

Holos immediately constructed a constellation of armor around them and pushed them aside.

The Shadow World dispersed, and the aura that was kept within it flooded the area, forcing them to kneel under the pressure.

Guh!!!

They all struggled to stand but managed to lift their heads. Their reactions differ as they see Vahn and Artorias, swords clashing, both smiling as if they were having... fun.

The man then punched Vahn away, pushing her back, but she was promptly stopped by an invisible wall.

"Don't worry, Vahn. I made our own temporary barrier to fight in so that the others won't be harmed," the man said. He looked around to see them kneeling. "Ah, I should retract the aura." With a gesture, the pressure stopped as if nothing had happened, and they all stood up, feeling confused.

Who was this man to do whatever he wanted? They all felt a surge of anger as they continued to look at him.

But then Vahn stomped and swung upward at him. He countered with a downward swing. She swung left, and he countered right. The pace increased, their swords moving with speed and dexterity.

In the midst of the battle, Vahn spoke loudly, "Do not worry about us, everyone! He and I are talking with our swords."

Talking with swords... This was Vahn's nature when it came to sincere communication. Despite her wisdom, she lacked the confidence to talk about mundane things.

Everyone eased up, trusting their eldest sister's words, but the animosity remained.

Vahn jumped and performed a technique. "Pestilence."

With a whisper, her sword dimmed with a silver aura. The world suddenly turned hot, increasing in temperature, feeling like they were close to the embodiment of Fire.

Vahn thrust her sword at Artorias, blinding him with a flash of white, pushing him to the ground. The scalding heat of her aura ate both shadows and the ground, continuing to press Artorias down.

But then another build-up happened, and Vahn's eyes widened.

The black aura covering Artorias coated his sword, and he performed a technique inspired by Jingliu's thrusts and stabs.

Using his other hand, he punched Vahn, sending her flying above and out of the deep circle they made. He then thrust his sword upwards, the aura ejecting like a spear flying towards Vahn at top speed.

Soul Spear, he called it.

The Soul Spear reached Vahn, clashing and exploding into a silent bomb. Vahn, though enhanced and protected by her aura, felt the damage but quickly healed.

She coughed up blood and landed near her siblings.

Icaria saw this and ran towards her. "Eldest sister!"

The Phoenix kneeled beside her and began healing. Vahn looked at her appreciatively.

But then an aura erupted from the circle, shadows spreading around them.

From the silky sea of black, Artorias emerged, covering his sword behind his cape.

He wanted to speak, but the siblings gained their courage and summoned their weapons back. Artorias raised his hand.

It had been a while since he had spoken and interacted with anyone alive, making him a bit of an introvert.

Mustered confidence, he spoke. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt any of you, especially Vahn." The woman smiled at his comment. "But I was in a rush to find something. Forgive me."

Artorias bowed deeply, his robe cape covering almost everything around him.

The others were dumbfounded and dropped their stances, though their weapons remained.

They all had questions, but Seris spoke first, looking at her oldest sister. "Sister Vahn... is he...?"

Vahn took the opportunity to answer. "Friendly? Don't worry about him; I can guarantee his innocence. Both parties here acted accordingly, and it is wholly justified."

If Vahn said so, they could trust the man in front of them, who had risen from his bow.

"I see... then who are you?" Seris asked, her eyes softening.

He opened his mouth. "Artorias. No last name. I came from the world within."

World within? Then they saw him clutching a pendant, taking time to process, except for Boras, who admired its craftsmanship.

A shadow pearl, like a black sun, made them think of Jingliu's pendant.

Oh. No, surely it is just a coincidence.

The pendant's color grew with white light, and Artorias noted the change.

He spoke, cutting their thoughts. "Vahn."

Vahn looked up. "Is this about our duel? It is your win and my loss, for I have been treated by a party outside our fight. Take it as you will, with honor, of course."

Artorias nodded. "If you say so..." He looked at the siblings. "So, they are your brothers and sisters? They don't feel related to you, and to the majority of their kin."

Vahn stood, Icaria's healing doing wonders. "It is rather complicated."

Artorias understood. "Complicated. Since when has anything been simple?"

"Hahahaha!"

They laughed together. To the others, Vahn and Artorias seemed like best friends, but they had just met.

Vahn looked at Artorias mischievously. "I assume what I had in mind about your identity is true?"

Artorias didn't react, though internally, he was surprised by her observation. Was he really an open book?

No, perhaps the strong recognize the strong.

No use hiding things; he wanted to drop the animosity.

With a sigh, he spoke. "Yes, though I do not know what you know of me to a certain extent."

Adabas raised her hand like a student, and Artorias nodded at her. "Your pendant reminds me of Jingliu's. Are you perhaps... Y/N?"

The question was a gamble. By saying Jingliu's name, they made her a target. But the others anticipated an answer, and he gave it.

"Formerly, yes. That is me... As for Jingliu, she is a friend of mine." Artorias said, uttering her name raised the beating of his Black Heart.

Myriad reactions occurred—surprise, satisfaction, happiness.

Artorias sensed the dominant feeling and pondered why.

Mono then asked for her turn. "My turn!" She walked towards him, but the Abyssal Miasma stopped her a few feet away, making her shiver.

Her mind went blank as she closed in, feeling desolation.

Artorias gazed at her, understanding she was entranced or having her emotions stripped away.

His Abyssal Miasma, inspired by IX, the Aeon of Nihility, made mortals lose all reason and thought.

He retracted the Miasma, and Mono breathed hard.

Artorias asked her, "So... you were saying?"

Mono took another breath and talked. "Phew! You truly are strong, but Jingliu's words really sugarcoated your strength. It felt like I was being gazed at by Nanook again!"

'Nanook? The Aeon of Destruction? How is she connected to THEM?' Artorias thought. Normally, he referred to some Aeons with pronouns of their gender.

Ena with 'she,' Aha with 'he,' alongside Akivili and others, based on their mannerisms, voice, and more.

Unbeknownst to him, THEY interacted with mortals with the subtle sounds of their Paths—a knowledge he lacked, his previous statement being his belief.

But he digressed, asking Mono, "I believe you have a question for me?"

"Ah, right. Hmm~ Nah, it's not really a question. I was just trying to look at you closely, and seeing you now, I can see why Jingliu likes you."

Mono's statement left Artorias closing his eyes to hide his embarrassment. It was something to hear from someone else.

Vahn noticed his mood and prompted everyone to stop for the day. "Everyone, I believe their reunion is delayed by our presence. How about we give them their own space?"

The others nodded, but Boras kept gazing at Artorias' pendant and sword, drooling in admiration.

Artorias sent Vahn a grateful look, which she accepted with a nod.

Vahn telepathically called out Alsanna, who appeared behind her, with sounds of crystals and prisms chiming.

Alsanna gazed at Artorias, her face expressionless, but Artorias gazed into her soul, surprised by what he saw.

It was a mess of... love?

Vahn spoke, "Alsanna, will you do me a favor and conjure a door to Jingliu for him?"

Alsanna nodded and made a dimensional glass door. Artorias felt the air breezing through it, and his pendant glowed more.

Vahn said, "She's waiting for you there."

Artorias walked to the door and stopped, looking back with gratitude.

For people he had just met and vice versa, they were very kind to strangers. Kinder than the people in Xianzhou Luofu.

"Thank you..."

He walked through the door, which disappeared once he fully entered, and the crowd smiled.

It felt like a good ending to their day.

"So... does that mean we'll be uncles and aunts once they have a baby?"

"Mono!"

---

Jingliu looked at the spot where Alsanna had left and wondered where she had gone.

She whispered, "And she didn't need my help..."

Useless, she felt it. What good can she do even after her apparent ascension? Her powers dwarfed the Remembrance, but they didn't need her help.

She continued to clutch her pendant and wondered why she was even here. Is this the ending of her journey after earning recognition from others and the Aeons?

Then she felt a powerful presence and looked back, a glass dimensional door appearing.

Jingliu knew this wasn't Alsanna and summoned her Moonlit Sword, but she felt no danger from it.

Then the being came fully out of the door, and she felt her heart stop.

He was a man with jet black hair, eyes with irises of black-purple, and wearing armor of shadows with a cape that acted like his robes.

The Abyssal Miasma exuding from him was a gentle aura, it looked like smoke from a burning campfire, slowly escaping him.

The pendant in her hand glowed a black color, while his, as she could see, glowed a white color, like hers.

She gazed into his soul and saw it. It was a tired soul, encapsulated by the dark, but ultimately... It felt like him.

"Y/N...?"

She then walked slowly towards him but stopped, her hands shaking.

Please don't be a dream. The world is cruel enough to haunt her with illusions.

But alas, the man spoke, his voice changed, but it had similarities like his.

"Hello Jingliu, I am back."

A simple sentence, and that made Jingliu collapse to her knees, her tears already rolling from her eyes.

Hic! Sniff!

Artorias then approached her and knelt down, hugging her. "I am truly back, Jingliu... I am home."

His words were a confirmation, and she now knew that it was no illusion.

He was truly back, her love was here with her.

The dam opened, and she let out a loud cry, hugging him back. Artorias simply hugged her deeply.

They were truly back together now.

End of Chapter

A/N: THEY'RE BACK, YAY!!!