Ben crossed his arms.

  “For now, both of you take a break.”

  Zaraf blinked. “But I had a break yesterday.”

  Gray turned to him. “What? Then why didn’t you come meet me?”

  Ben narrowed his eyes. “Did you really rest during your break?”

  Zaraf looked away.

  “…I did. But I wanted to—”

  Ben cut him off gently. “Don’t worry. Your training is coming to an end soon.”

  Zaraf froze. “?!!”

  Gray smirked. “It’s true.”

  Ben nodded. “Now go take some rest.”

  Zaraf sighed. “Okay.”

  Gray stretched. “Why don’t we go check on Abeth?”

  Zaraf nodded. “Yeah… it’s been a while.”

  Ben turned away. “I’m heading back to the guild.”

  They walked toward the training grounds.

  Abeth was training nearby with Alaika.

  Zaraf noticed them laughing together.

  “They’ve become good friends,” Zaraf said.

  Gray smirked. “They look cute together, don’t they?”

  Zaraf nodded casually. “Yeah.”

  Gray paused. “Huh?”

  Zaraf looked confused. “What?”

  Gray shook his head. “Nothing…”

  Abeth noticed them.

  The moment her eyes landed on Zaraf, her face lit up with a bright smile.

  She ran toward him.

  “You came!”

  “I had the day off,” Zaraf replied. “So I thought I’d visit.”

  Alaika waved. “Hello, Zaraf… and hello, pervert.”

  Gray choked. “W-what?! Pervert?!”

  Abeth crossed her arms. “If Zaraf keeps hanging around you, he might get corrupted too.”

  Zaraf shrugged. “Don’t worry. Only really strong influences can affect me.”

  Gray pointed at him. “Are you talking about our match? Just so you know—”

  Abeth interrupted. “How’s your training going?”

  “It’s ending soon,” Zaraf answered.

  Gray groaned. “Hey! Don’t ignore me!”

  Abeth smiled. “That’s good. Once my training finishes, we’ll go, right?”

  Zaraf tilted his head. “Did Shin say something?”

  “Yes. He said I’m improving. Alaika too.”

  Alaika stretched. “I’m going to take a bath. Bye, boys.”

  Gray’s eyes widened. “B-bath?”

  Abeth glared at him. “Look at that perverted face!”

  Gray scoffed. “What perverted face? I’m godly handsome!”

  Abeth smirked. “Maybe. But Zaraf is more handsome than you. Don’t forget that.”

  Zaraf raised both hands. “Hey, don’t drag me into your fight.”

  Later, they went to meet Shin.

  Shin was in the garden with Lusy.

  “Ah, you’re here,” Shin said. “Is your training over?”

  “Not yet,” Zaraf replied.

  Gray looked around mischievously. “So… what are you two doing here alone?”

  Lusy smiled softly. “This brings back memories.”

  Zaraf bowed slightly. “Hello, Miss Lusy.”

  She waved her hand. “Don’t call me ‘Miss.’ It makes me feel old. Call me sister… or just Lusy.”

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  “…Okay,” Zaraf said shyly.

  Shin asked, “How’s Ben doing?”

  “He’s fine,” Zaraf answered.

  Gray looked at Lusy. “So, sis… how long have you been here?”

  “Since the meeting.”

  Gray blinked. “Wait… you’ve been here for a month without going home?”

  Lusy tilted her head.

  “Home?”

  Zaraf and Gray looked confused.

  Shin sighed. “You should explain.”

  Lusy looked at them seriously.

  “Tell me… what is a home?”

  Gray answered first. “It’s a place where we live freely. Our own space.”

  Lusy shook her head. “That’s good… but not enough.”

  She turned to Zaraf.

  “What do you think?”

  Zaraf froze.

  (Home…)

  He remembered Ben’s house. The dinner table. The warmth.

  “…I think home is a place where blood doesn’t matter. A place where you feel needed.”

  Lusy smiled gently.

  “That’s closer.”

  She looked at both of them.

  “Listen carefully. Home is where you love and want to stay. Where people welcome you. Where the people you care about live. That becomes your home without you even noticing.”

  Zaraf’s eyes widened slightly.

  (Where people welcome you…)

  Shin cleared his throat. “Anyway, are you guys on a day off?”

  “Yes,” Zaraf said. “We just came to meet Abeth… and thought we should see you too. Did we disturb you?”

  Shin smiled. “Not at all. You can come anytime. I’ll always help you however I can.”

  Lusy added warmly, “Not just him. All of us.”

  Zaraf looked at them.

  “…Then I’ll count on you if I ever need help.”

  Gray laughed. “Don’t forget me. I’ll help too!”

  Later, Zaraf went alone to Makima’s house.

  He hesitated before knocking.

  Makima opened the door.

  She immediately noticed his slightly sad expression.

  Without asking questions, she smiled gently and welcomed him inside.

  The moment Zaraf saw her smile—

  His sadness faded.

  Inside, Ben and Auntie were sitting at the dinner table.

  Auntie called him warmly. “Come sit and eat.”

  During dinner, she asked about his day.

  Zaraf told them most of it.

  Not everything.

  That night—

  He understood the feeling of something like home.

  One Month Later

  After intense training, Zaraf lay on the ground at night, exhausted.

  Ben walked toward him.

  After a moment of silence, Ben said, “You’re awake.”

  Zaraf opened his eyes. He was injured, but still conscious.

  He slowly stood up.

  “…I’m still conscious. Does that mean—”

  “Yes,” Ben said calmly. “Your training as a trainee Creator is complete.”

  Zaraf’s eyes widened.

  “But… I still don’t feel strong enough.”

  Ben nodded. “I trained you to control wind, fight properly, and strengthen your body. Awakening your second level… and mastering new skills… is up to you now.”

  Zaraf stayed silent.

  “…Why did you ask Makima to heal me?”

  Ben frowned. “You’re mistaken.”

  Zaraf blinked.

  “Makima was the one who came to me. She asked to heal you.”

  “…Why?”

  Ben shrugged slightly. “I don’t know. But I know her intentions weren’t bad.”

  Zaraf lowered his head.

  “…Thank you, Master.”

  When they reached the house, Zaraf knocked.

  Makima opened the door quickly.

  She was holding bandages.

  When she saw Zaraf standing healthy in front of her, she quickly hid them behind her back.

  Zaraf noticed.

  But said nothing.

  Makima smiled awkwardly. “Looks like you don’t need these anymore.”

  “…Yeah,” Zaraf said softly. “I finally freed you from extra work, right?”

  Ben coughed. “You two can step aside. It’s not good to block the doorway.”

  Both jumped slightly and moved.

  Inside, Auntie looked at Zaraf carefully.

  “Oh? You’re not in zombie mode today, child?”

  Zaraf smiled. “No. I’m back to normal.”

  Ben stretched. “It’s a good day. Let’s eat.”

  After eating, Auntie asked,

  “Now that your training is complete… what will you do?”

  Zaraf took a deep breath.

  “I think… I’ll go on a journey. To search for the soul fragments of the FMC from my world.”

  Makima’s expression shifted slightly.

  “…When will you be back?”

  Zaraf hesitated.

  “I don’t know. Maybe… not until I find her.”

  Ben looked at him seriously.

  “If you encounter that clock man again… don’t fight him alone. We’ll deal with him together.”

  Zaraf nodded.

  “…I’ll do that.”

  Suddenly—

  A noise came from the backyard.

  A sharp sound. Something breaking.

  Zaraf looked toward the door.

  “What was that?”

  Makima stood up calmly. “You guys stay here. I’ll go check.”

  She stepped into the backyard.

  A flower vase lay shattered on the ground.

  Makima walked closer, kneeling slightly to check if an animal had knocked it over.

  Then—

  She felt it.

  A presence.

  Heavy.

  Cold.

  Someone was standing behind her.

  She slowly stood up, preparing to activate her magic.

  Before she could turn—

  A voice spoke.

  “Hello. Long time no see, Makima.”

  Makima froze.

  Her breathing stopped for a second.

  “…K-Kal?”

  A tall figure stepped forward from the shadows.

  “It feels good to be home,” he said calmly. “Don’t you think so, sis? How’s the Master?”

  Makima’s eyes hardened.

  “Don’t call Father your master!”

  Kal smirked.

  “Oh? Because he chose a new Creator instead of me?”

  “You—”

  Before she could finish—

  Zaraf rushed into the backyard.

  He saw a man standing dangerously close behind Makima.

  Her posture wasn’t relaxed.

  Something was wrong.

  Without hesitation, Zaraf activated wind beneath his feet and dashed forward.

  But in a flash—

  Kal grabbed Makima and pulled her against him, holding her hostage.

  Zaraf stopped instantly.

  The air around him trembled.

  “Who are you?” Zaraf asked coldly. “Let her go.”

  Kal’s eyes shifted toward him.

  “So… you’re the replacement.”

  Hearing the noise, Ben and Auntie rushed outside.

  The moment Ben saw Kal holding Makima—

  Heat erupted around his fists.

  The ground beneath him began to scorch.

  Auntie gently placed her hand over his clenched fist.

  “Calm down.”

  The flames slowly faded.

  Zaraf narrowed his eyes.

  “So you’re the former student of Master.”

  Kal smiled faintly.

  “Yes. But I will be the only one who succeeds him.”

  Zaraf didn’t blink.

  “What do you want?”

  Kal’s expression turned serious.

  “I am the leader of the Visitors.”

  Ben’s eyes sharpened.

  “And we have come to announce something.”

  The air grew heavier.

  “We are declaring war against the Creators.”

  Silence.

  Even the wind stopped.

  Kal continued calmly.

  “At exactly twelve tomorrow. At the starting point.”

  He looked directly at Ben.

  “Prepare to face the power you thought you could control.”

  Then his eyes shifted to Zaraf.

  “And I hope to meet you properly, Master.”

  He pushed Makima forward and stepped backward.

  A dark portal opened behind him.

  He disappeared.

  Zaraf caught Makima before she fell.

  “Are you hurt?”

  She was breathing heavily but shook her head.

  “I’m fine…”

  Her eyes moved toward Ben.

  Ben was looking down.

  Silent.

  Heavy.

  As if he was blaming himself.

  Zaraf didn’t know who the Visitors were.

  He didn’t know Kal’s full history.

  But he understood one thing—

  Now was not the time to ask.

  Zaraf stood straight.

  “Master. Stay here and take care of Makima and Auntie.”

  Ben didn’t look up.

  “…Go.”

  “I’m heading to HQ. Shin needs to know about the war declaration.”

  Ben nodded slowly.

  “Do that.”

  Without another word—

  Zaraf turned and ran into the night.

  Toward headquarters.

  Toward war.