Flashback

  “Shura,” Ruka said softly, sitting beside him under the night sky.

  “Did you know… I love stars?”

  Young Shura tilted his head.

  “Why, Mom?”

  Ruka smiled at the sky.

  “Because the night reminds me of someone you love. One day… you’ll meet people like that.”

  Shura thought for a moment.

  “Mom… who do you remember when you look at them?”

  Ruka’s smile thinned — just slightly.

  “A friend,” she said. “Someone I lost.”

  Shura blinked.

  “You don’t remember Father?”

  Ruka looked at him — surprised.

  “You’re very sharp-minded, Shura,” she said gently.

  “I’m glad I’m with you.”

  The stars shimmered.

  Present — Festival

  Shura stared at the artificial night sky Orin created.

  The stars.

  The darkness.

  The feeling.

  His eyes filled.

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  Orin elbowed him.

  “Hey, hey! It’s just a normal arrow shot. I’ll show you even better techniques later.”

  Ren punched Orin lightly in the shoulder.

  “That’s not the point, idiot.”

  Orin blinked.

  “Oh.”

  Juro clapped his hands.

  “Well! Since everyone is emotional — I brought food.”

  The tension snapped.

  Elsewhere

  Far from the lights—

  A chained figure stood in shadow.

  Long hair covering part of his face.

  Wrists bound in heavy metal.

  He watched the sky projection quietly.

  A calm smile touched his lips.

  For a brief second — his eyes softened.

  Back at the Lake

  The group finally sat together.

  For the first time in days — no fighting.

  No collapsing arena.

  No relic chaos.

  Just calm.

  Shura inhaled slowly.

  “C-Can I ask something?”

  Zenkyou narrowed her eyes.

  Juro raised a hand lightly.

  “Hey, hey. Let him.”

  Shura looked at the glowing city.

  “It’s actually… really well managed. A world without a sky.”

  He looked around at the people laughing.

  “I love the people here. The landscape. Everything is… good.”

  Juro watched him closely.

  “I’ve trained many people,” Juro said.

  “They all screamed the same thing: ‘Train me. Make me stronger.’”

  Zenkyou gave Juro a sharp look.

  “…Why do I feel like you’re trolling me?”

  Juro coughed lightly.

  Everyone laughed again.

  Zenkyou folded her arms.

  “What if I throw all of you into the lake?”

  “Please don’t,” Orin muttered.

  Juro turned back to Shura.

  “Go on.”

  Shura’s voice steadied.

  “I’m not driven by desperation for strength. I do have a purpose… but before power, I want understanding.”

  He looked up at the stars.

  “When I finally stand at the peak… I don’t want to look back at a training arc.”

  He smiled faintly.

  “I want to carry the memories of the journey itself.”

  Silence.

  Not awkward.

  Just heavy.

  Ren’s expression softened.

  Yura watched Shura differently now.

  Even Zenkyou said nothing.

  Juro placed a hand on Shura’s head.

  “I’ve trained many people,” he said quietly.

  “But I never expected those words from a child.”

  A small smile appeared.

  "Let’s head back to the Inn for now."

  — Yun Shi & Rose

  They stepped away from the crowd.

  Rose stretched her leg.

  “You’re actually good at dancing.”

  Yun Shi smirked.

  “I’m good at many things.”

  Rose suddenly winced.

  “Oh—”

  Cramp.

  Yun Shi immediately steadied her.

  “Let me take you back to the palace.”

  “I can walk,” she insisted.

  She took one step.

  Stopped.

  “…Never mind.”

  Yun Shi lifted her easily.

  “You look heavy, but you’re not.”

  Rose froze.

  “…Did you just call me fat?”

  “No,” Yun Shi replied calmly.

  “You’re perfect.”

  Rose flushed slightly.

  “Your personality is completely different during meetings,” she muttered.

  “If someone compared both versions of you, no one would believe you’re the same person.”

  Yun Shi smiled faintly.

  “Is that a compliment?”

  Rose looked away.

  “Undecided.”

  — Dante & Jiyan

  Jiyan glanced at their reflection in the lake.

  “We actually look like a couple, don’t we?”

  Dante’s expression darkened.

  “It’s already bad enough I turned into a girl. And you’re still like this.”

  Jiyan leaned closer.

  “If someone that attractive stands beside me? I’ll sacrifice my pride.”

  He began to kneel dramatically.

  Dante grabbed him by the collar.

  “Try it.”

  Jiyan laughed and hugged her instead.

  “Why not?”

  “You creep. Leave me alone.”

  But she didn’t push him away immediately.

  Final Image

  The artificial stars slowly dimmed.

  The golden beams pulsed softly.

  For one night—

  No one fought.

  No one screamed.

  They simply existed.

  Under a borrowed sky.