Kent’s fists clenched as he stared into the radiant figure of the Goddess of Life. Her serene yet unyielding presence blocked his path forward.
The golden aura surrounding her was a stark contrast to the blood-soaked chaos he had just wrought on the battlefield.
“I don’t need your grace,” Kent said, his voice heavy with bitterness. His tone quivered with suppressed rage and pain. “Let me take my revenge.”
The goddess remained calm, her radiant form unwavering. “Not so fast. Don’t let your emotions control you. They will lead you down a path of destruction you cannot return from.” She said in a warning tone.
Kent’s eyes burned with anguish as he stepped closer to her. “I couldn’t keep my promise! I failed as a man! I failed the Fire Kirin! Rather than living with this shame… taking vengeance or dying in the process is the only thing left for me now.” His voice cracked, his chest heaving as the weight of his guilt bore down on him.
The goddess’s expression softened, “You carry a burden that no mortal should bear alone. But if you stop now, I will give you whatever you desire. Tell me, Kent, what do you wish for? Divine weapons? Asthras? Treasures? Potions of immortality? Sacred scriptures of the gods? I can grant them all to you.”
Kent’s eyes narrowed. “Except for vengeance, I need nothing. I won’t stop until I’ve annihilated the last demon in this world.” He turned his back on her and began to walk away.
The goddess’s melodic laughter echoed across the mountaintop. Its sound, light and lilting, was so unexpected that Kent froze mid-step.
He turned, his anger flaring anew. “Do I look like a joke to you?”
Her laughter subsided into a wry smile. “No, You look like an idiot to me,” she replied, her voice tinged with playful rebuke. “Here I stand, the Goddess of Life, offering you anything your heart desires, and all you can think of is vengeance? This is why I told you not to let your emotions control you.”
Kent’s gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. “You dare mock my pain?”
The goddess raised a hand, her golden eyes glinting with mischief. “No, I don’t mock it—I seek to end it.” With a single snap of her fingers, a blinding light engulfed the mountaintop.
The light wrapped itself around the battlefield, blinding everyone. Jabil roared in confusion, his fiery breath extinguishing in shock. Ruby froze mid-attack, her sharp claws still extended. Even the baby dragon stopped its relentless firestorm and tilted its head in curiosity.
Then, from the heart of the radiance, a sound emerged—a deep, labored breath.
Kent’s heart skipped a beat as his eyes widened. His breath hitched as he turned toward the source of the sound. There, lying where Kavi’s lifeless body had been, was a stirring figure.
With an audible gasp, Ruby’s voice broke the silence. “Master… it’s her… it’s Kavi!”
The baby dragon let out a high-pitched trill of excitement, rushing toward her with unsteady steps, its tail swishing furiously. Jabil, despite his usual stoic demeanor, let out a deep, resonant growl that vibrated with relief and joy.
Kavi’s body shimmered with renewed vitality. Her once-withered form now glowed with life, her fiery mane brighter than ever. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around with wonder before rising to her feet like a phoenix reborn.
“Kavi!” Kent’s voice cracked with raw emotion. Ignoring the goddess entirely, he sprinted toward her, his golden aura dimming with each step as his beastly form receded. He fell to his knees before her, his hands trembling as they reached for her face.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I failed to protect you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I failed as your master. I failed as your friend. I… I’m so sorry.”
Kavi’s gaze softened as she looked into Kent’s tear-filled eyes. She leaned into his trembling hands, her fiery mane gently brushing against his skin. “Master, I’m alive because of you,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the overwhelming moment. “You don’t need to blame yourself. You’ve always been there for me. Always.”
Kent’s tears fell freely now, his head bowing as he rested it against hers. The tension in his body, the fury that had driven him moments ago, began to fade as her warmth soothed his soul.
While the reunion unfolded, Sage Paras’s joy was quickly replaced with confusion and concern. He moved toward the Goddess of Life, his brows furrowed in disbelief.
“Great Goddess,” Paras began hesitantly, bowing slightly, “I mean no disrespect, but how could you break the natural order by bringing a life back? Death is sacred, and once a soul leaves, it is meant to rest. To intervene in such a way…”
The goddess turned to Paras, her serene smile intact but her tone sharp enough to silence him. “Do you presume to question me, Paras?”
Paras immediately dropped to his knees, trembling. “No, no! I only seek to understand!”
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The goddess sighed, her radiant glow softening slightly. “Kavi’s death was never meant to be,” she explained. “Her soul was not destined to leave this realm. I have been watching this conflict from the beginning, and I held her soul until the time was right. This is not an act of defiance against the natural order—it is a correction of it.”
Paras blinked, his confusion giving way to awe. “I… I see. Forgive my ignorance, great one.”
The goddess stepped closer to Kent and Kavi, her gaze settling on Kent. “Paras,” she said without looking back, “The boy before you bears the potential to shape realms, but he lacks wisdom. Pass on your knowledge to him. Teach him what he must know to wield his power wisely.”
Paras lowered his head in acceptance. “As you command, great goddess.”
The goddess then looked at Kent, who had finally stood up, his hands still on Kavi’s shoulders as if afraid to let go. She smiled softly. “Do you see now? Life is more than vengeance. Your path is not over—it has only just begun.”
Kent stared at her, the turmoil in his heart slowly giving way to clarity. His lips parted, but no words came. Instead, he bowed his head deeply, his silent gratitude shining through his gesture.
Ignira, standing in the background, watched the entire exchange with wide eyes. Her gaze lingered on Kent, her heart fluttering as she saw his raw vulnerability. She clenched her fists, trying to suppress the strange emotions welling up inside her.