Once everyone had regained consciousness, I presented the two heads.

  At first, some challenged my authority, but I brought them to heel with ease, thanks to the new power Astra had granted me. My immunity to thirteenth-level magic became undeniable, cementing their fear and respect. I used this to my advantage, imposing a division of the world into three parts to quell the endless wars between the races. Though I knew conflict would never vanish entirely, this separation was necessary to curtail the major disputes. I simply forbade the races from encroaching on each other's lands, preventing disagreements from escalating into world-threatening wars.

  Aurelia added calmly, "Dividing the world wasn't simple, but it was necessary to maintain order. I split it into three territories: one for humans, one for demons, and a third for all other races."

  She paused, letting them absorb this, then continued. "The division was based on population density. Humans and demons outnumbered the others so vastly that each group required its own domain."

  Noticing Hikari's questioning gaze, Aurelia elaborated. "Humans were placed in regions containing dungeons. They need them to grow and evolve, whether for their resources or to strengthen themselves through adventure. Humans have always thrived on challenge. As for the Spirit race, I settled them in the Saera Forest, a place rich in spiritual and natural energy—ideal for them to connect with their essence and enhance their powers. It is also a place where they could live in peace, far from the conflicts of humans and demons."

  She gestured with her hand as if redrawing the map of the world in the air. "The demons were assigned the volcanic and arid wastelands. These harsh environments suit their nature. Their magic resonates with volcanic energy, and the terrain allows them to harness their power without threatening the other races. Over thousands of years, the demons evolved, becoming more civilized, into what they are today."

  "The remaining races—the elves, demi-humans, and dwarves—were placed in diverse territories suited to their needs. The elves, for instance, inhabit deep forests, using nature's resources sustainably. The dwarves reside in mineral-rich mountains, where they can practice their mining and craftsmanship. As for the demi-humans, they are spread across the plains and valleys, adapting and coexisting with various environments."

  "The division wasn't about mere isolation; it was to ensure each race had an environment that would nurture its strengths and maintain its balance. While wars would continue *within* a single race, the great conflicts between races, which had nearly annihilated the world, would cease."

  With that, Aurelia finished her story. Mirai and Hikari remained stunned, trying to process the details. But Hikari still had unanswered questions.

  "And what happened to the hero, Arias, and to Astra?" he asked hesitantly. "What was their fate after all that?"

  Aurelia tilted her head, recalling those days. "They chose to live in a remote, secret place, far from anyone who might discover them. They lived alone, testing their strength and reveling in constant challenge."

  "But they eventually decided to have a child, despite knowing their inevitable fate. They understood their lives would be short because of the Heart-Pact between them, but they wanted to leave a legacy, to see a part of themselves grow."

  "When the child turned eight, they felt it was time to prepare him for a life without them. They didn't reveal all the complex details, but explained simply that they might not always be by his side, and that he had to be strong and brave if the unexpected happened. The words weighed heavily on the boy, yet he instinctively showed a desire to protect those he loved, even if he didn't fully understand why."

  "When the child turned ten, Arias's life ended, and with it, Astra's. They had lived to the fullest, spending their final moments in battle and defiance. I knew where they were, and when the time came, I retrieved the boy and brought him to safety."

  "Instead of taking him to a strange village, I brought him here, to what was also my home. This decision wasn't just to protect him, but to guide him properly. This place is shielded, filled with defensive magic that prevents any force from approaching without my knowledge. I believed it was the most suitable place for the child—isolated and secure, meaning he would face no threats while being under my direct care and supervision."

  "The boy spent his early years here, where I began teaching him the fundamentals of life, wisdom, and compassion. My goal was to channel his power toward good and teach him to use it wisely, not for vengeance or control. I was not a mother to him, but a mentor and a guide. I tried to be his support without replacing his parents; he knew their place was one no one else could ever fill."

  "When he turned sixteen, I thought it best for him to experience the outside world, so I guided him to a small, remote village. It was a place far from conflict, inhabited by simple, peaceful people. I felt this environment would be perfect for him to discover a normal life, free from the pressure of being the son of the strongest human and the strongest demoness. There, he started a new life, integrating with the locals and learning much from them about simplicity and community."

  "Over the years, the boy grew up on the values I had instilled in him. When he matured and married, he chose to remain in the village and raise a family. But the lineage of Astra and Arias was not a large one; it was governed by a strict rule: one child per generation, and every descendant was male. This was no coincidence, but a direct result of their inherited spiritual power."

  "The 'Heart-Pact' between Astra and Arias didn't just leave a spiritual imprint on their offspring; it permanently altered the lineage's genetic code. This immense energy, passed down through the generations, became a dominant hereditary trait. And due to its unique nature, tied to Arias's human composition, it was biologically compatible only with male embryos. Any other fetus could not withstand such overwhelming power and thus would not come to term. It became a rigid bio-magical law: this power could only be carried and inherited by a single male in each generation."

  "Furthermore, carrying a child of this bloodline was nearly impossible. The fetus, bearing such immense spiritual power, would consume a tremendous amount of the mother's life force, making the entire pregnancy fraught with grave danger. For this reason, enduring this burden once was the absolute most any woman's body could handle, cementing the one-child rule not as tradition, but as a harsh necessity to ensure the mother's survival and avoid tragedy."

  "With each new generation, the fathers took on the responsibility of raising their children in the same way I had raised the first. They taught them wisdom, restraint, and how to use their powers with caution and responsibility. They sought to guide each new generation to bear the burden of this great power without slipping into darkness. Wisdom was the cornerstone of each child's education, and the fathers had to instill these values in their sons' hearts to ensure that power was used only for good and to protect those they loved."

  "As time passed, it became clear that the descendants of Astra and Arias never fully realized the true extent of the power they possessed. The quiet life led by the previous generations kept these powers dormant. Neutras's ancestors never faced any great challenges or life-threatening dangers that would have demanded they unleash their tremendous abilities. They lived peaceful lives, building relationships based on cooperation, far from the grand conflicts that might have pushed them to discover their true potential."

  "But Neutras was not so fortunate. During the Great War in the demon kingdoms, the army reached his village, causing widespread destruction. In that moment, his father was struck down by a sudden, swift attack from one of the army's commanders—an unexpected blow that gave him no chance to defend himself. A single strike was enough to end his life instantly, right before the eyes of Neutras, who was helpless to save him. Even his mother died before his very eyes."

  "This is what deepened Neutras's trauma. One moment turned his life upside down. This feeling of helplessness and sudden loss awakened his latent energy. In a fit of overwhelming rage and grief, he confronted the army that had destroyed everything he knew and fought them for days until he had annihilated them completely. Exhausted, he collapsed. As luck would have it, a girl his age from his village had survived. She found him and cared for him."

  "When Neutras awoke, he understood the extent of his power and resolved to become stronger, not just for himself, but to ensure that no one he loved would ever face such a moment again. He began his arduous training, dedicating every moment to honing his abilities. He spent years studying ancient spells, developing both his magical and spiritual energy."

  "It was a long and painful process. Neutras spent years trying to control his power and discover its limits. He wasn't entirely alone; the girl who survived shared his harsh journey, helping him bear a burden no one could carry by themselves. With her there, Neutras felt a glimmer of hope that pushed him to find new ways to harness his immense energy, inventing spells that meticulously combined magical and spiritual power."

  "After years of intense training and relentless effort, Neutras finally discovered the 'Annihilation' spell—the only fourteenth-level spell in existence, and one that is impossible to stop. This discovery wasn't just a step toward power; it was a pivotal moment in his life. He realized then what his power could achieve and the danger it held. It was not just a tool for fighting, but a double-edged sword that could bring about great good or unleash endless destruction."

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  "Discovering the spell wasn't the end of the journey, but the beginning of new questions. Neutras realized that possessing such immense power required more than just a strong will; it demanded wisdom, balance, and the ability to make difficult decisions for the greater good. Every moment of his training became a dedication to this delicate balance, lest his power turn into a curse."

  "During his many battles with different armies, the fighting was never just a military confrontation for Neutras; it was a test of his principles and his self-control. Through these battles, he realized the importance of uniting hearts and efforts rather than dominating them, and a new dream began to form clearly in his mind: a place where demons could live in freedom, away from internal strife."

  "And so, instead of seeking absolute power, Neutras chose to build something that would immortalize the principles he had learned: the kingdom of 'Equalia.' A kingdom founded on balance, unity, and mutual respect. He knew that absolute power was a great danger, and that such power should not be a tool for domination, but for protecting what mattered. He knew his death would create a vacuum no one else could easily fill, so he sought a more sustainable solution. The answer wasn't to control others, but to create a society that could stand on its own."

  "At that time, I saw glimpses of his future; I saw that he would marry the girl from his village and have a child, but that this child would become a tyrant who would destroy the demon territories. So I decided to visit him and tell him everything about his potential future. I told him the truth of his lineage and what I had seen in my visions. I saw countless paths, and in every single one, his son killed me in cold blood without a second thought and continued his destruction. There was no hope of redeeming him. Fortunately, Neutras was good-hearted enough to understand the gravity of his decision."

  "He chose not to marry and not to have children. It was a difficult choice for him; he wrestled with himself for days, wondering if he could change fate or find another solution. But after all he had been through, he knew he did not want his power to become a curse. And yesterday... the bloodline ended, and we averted a great catastrophe."

  Aurelia fell silent after speaking of Neutras, watching Hikari's and Mirai's reactions. Hikari looked shocked, while Mirai's expression was one of confusion, as if she were trying to piece everything together. The air was heavy with unspoken words and swirling thoughts.

  Mirai was thinking deeply; something still didn't add up. Finally, she asked, "If you wanted Hikari and me to be apart, why did you let us meet in the first place? You could have intervened, prevented our first encounter. You've seen the future for a long time. So why wait?"

  Aurelia looked at Mirai and smiled enigmatically, as if she had been expecting the question. She took a deep breath before answering. "I orchestrated your meeting from the very beginning."

  "Did you truly think you woke up by chance in the forest near Silverine? That meeting the only person capable of healing you was a mere coincidence?"

  Hikari's eyes widened. He stared at Aurelia in stunned silence. Mirai continued to hold her gaze, waiting for more.

  Aurelia went on calmly, "When you were transported while unconscious, you were in a different kingdom. I sent my bird to carry you to that forest. It remained by your side, protecting you from any attack while you were vulnerable."

  Mirai's eyebrows rose slightly, remembering the vision of a golden bird when she had woken up in the woods.

  Then Aurelia turned to Hikari. "And you, Hikari, did you never wonder how your bag suddenly fell in the dungeon? I was there. I deliberately knocked it over so that you wouldn't leave, so you would stay until Mirai saw you. I knew you would never abandon that bag."

  Hikari recalled those moments, then looked at Aurelia with questioning eyes. "Why would you do all that?"

  Aurelia's faint smile returned before her expression grew serious again. "Explaining this is complicated, so I will start with my plan from the beginning. Initially, before the two I told you about appeared, I foresaw a different fate: chaos and war engulfing all lands, just as it was thirty thousand years ago. I tried everything to avoid this path. And I did find a solution: you, Hikari, because your powers are so close to those of Arias. But you had several problems."

  She paused, then looked directly at him. "You were once an incredibly arrogant fool. You wanted no one by your side and respected no one. Your blind faith in yourself would have led to your doom. Despite your absolute power, you died several times due to your own naivety. I found the solution in one of the paths I saw, where you went into the dungeon with the Hydra. Because of the anti-magic barrier, you were killed on that floor. You would have died easily, and the terror on your face when you lost your magic was palpable. So... an idea came to me: I decided to intervene to make you understand how difficult life can be."

  Aurelia sipped her tea and continued. "There was a man who stole powers, and I gave him information about a young man with phoenix wings. Of course, I used the Eye of the Unknown and made sure you wouldn't die. And I didn't tell the man about your parents, so he wouldn't come prepared."

  Hikari was stunned, remembering the man saying, *"That old woman was right."*

  He never would have guessed it had all been a setup. Aurelia continued, "Because of what I did, you realized that your powers are worthless if you don't use your mind. I appeared and gave you Oralis to seal your powers, because even after surviving, you would have reverted to your old self as if nothing had happened. After you lost your powers, I needed someone to protect you for a time. All those I sent were not up to the task. While I was searching for the right person, my eyes fell on you, Mirai. You were perfect. You had the strength, the patience, and most importantly, you needed Hikari to heal you, so you would protect him no matter the cost. Things were going according to plan, and the path began to change. But..."

  Aurelia's tone shifted, becoming more grave. "Suddenly, the path changed unexpectedly. I saw you kill Hikari. Years later, those two appeared and killed everyone in the world. Hikari's death will cause that destruction. I cannot risk you killing him, Mirai."

  A heavy silence fell over the room, as if time had stopped. Aurelia took a deep breath, then said in a low but firm voice, "Thanks to what I've done, Hikari has matured a great deal. He's become cautious and values others. Thank you, Mirai, for protecting him all this time. Now, my plan to avert the chaos is nearly complete. I will separate Oralis from Hikari's soul so he can regain his powers, and after that, you must part ways. Your staying together will lead to ruin."

  The words ignited Mirai's anger. Her features hardened, not because Hikari wouldn't be able to heal her, but because of what was being asked of him. "You want him to sacrifice half his life to protect strangers?" she said coldly. "To fight against his will?"

  "It is my duty, and his," Aurelia replied steadily. "Sometimes we are asked to do things we do not wish to, but we must protect the world from disaster before it strikes."

  That was enough. In a flash, Mirai drew her sword and laid it against Aurelia's neck. But Aurelia didn't flinch; she was calm, indifferent, as if she'd expected it. Her composure only provoked Mirai further, who raised her sword, ready to strike.

  But Hikari intervened, his voice calm and full of a newfound confidence. "Mirai, please. Stop."

  Mirai froze and turned to him. Hikari was looking down, gathering his thoughts. He took a deep breath, then raised his head and looked at Aurelia, his voice sincere and filled with gratitude. "Thank you for sending Oralis to me. Even if it was your manipulation, you were right. I was obsessed with my power. I saw myself as the strongest creature in the world. But that man taught me a lesson I will never forget. When I saw my mother on the verge of death, I realized that power is useless if I can't protect the ones I love."

  He paused, then added with a warm smile and a confident glance at Mirai, "And because of all that, I met Mirai, and I formed a team with her. Mirai will always be by my side, and I trust her to protect me. So I will continue on with her."

  The words moved Mirai, but she remained silent.

  Hikari finished, looking directly at Aurelia. "I refuse to have Oralis separated from me. I will stay by Mirai's side and heal her whenever she is injured, and Mirai will always be by my side to protect me."

  Aurelia looked from Mirai to Hikari. A flicker of hesitation crossed her eyes, but her voice was cool, if slightly less harsh. "Mirai may be the one danger you do not anticipate, Hikari. Fate is complex, and its paths intertwine in ways we don't always understand. If Mirai kills you, no one will be able to stop those two. As it stands, you would be the most powerful person alive if you regained your abilities."

  A confident, almost defiant smile touched Hikari's lips. His voice, when he spoke, was steady, a stark contrast to the ominous weight of Aurelia's prophecy. "It doesn't matter. Aurelia, the paths of the Eye of the Unknown may be laid out, but they are not fixed. They are not carved in stone. Mirai and I will walk our own path, and if fate stands in our way, then we will forge a new one for ourselves."

  Aurelia remained silent for a long, heavy moment, her gaze shifting between Hikari's determined jaw and Mirai's quietly resolute stance. Her expression was an unreadable mask, betraying no anger or frustration. But deep within her ancient eyes, a subtle sorrow flickered—a profound disappointment, not *in* them, but *for* them.

  "As you wish," she said finally, her tone unnervingly calm, like a scientist accepting a flawed hypothesis they know will fail. It was an acceptance that spoke volumes of her knowledge of the consequences they had just chosen. "But you will learn, one way or another. The threads of fate can be stretched, even frayed, but in the end, no one escapes the tapestry."

  Hikari held her gaze for a second longer, then gave a slight nod to Mirai, who stood beside him, united in his decision. No words were needed between them. Aurelia raised a hand serenely, and faint magical inscriptions began to glow in the air around them. In an instant, the world dissolved in a silent flash of light.

  Their senses returned abruptly. They were standing once more in the canyon, under a night sky that was beginning to lose its deepest black to the coming dawn. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and leaves.

  Mirai stood for a moment, absorbing the sudden transition and the weight of Aurelia's final words. She glanced around at the familiar trees and then at Hikari, who was already looking at her. A small, almost wry smile touched her lips before she turned to face him fully.

  "Well..." she began, her voice a low murmur in the quiet of the canyon, "it seems everything we've been through was merely a prelude. This is the beginning of whatever comes next."

  Hikari returned her smile, his own calm and assured. "Whatever we face, we'll overcome it together," he said, his tone firm with certainty. "You are the sword that strikes and the shield that defends. And I will be your sanctuary, protecting you with my barrier and healing any wound you take. We complete each other."

  A genuine warmth spread across Mirai's face, her smile softening as she looked at him. Together, they turned and began the walk back through the canyon, side by side. Before them lay a future fraught with untold confrontations and looming disasters, shadowed by a destiny they were determined to defy. They both knew the road ahead would be anything but easy, but as they took those first steps back, they carried with them the unshakable belief that together, they had the strength to craft a future of their own.

  **(End of Volume One)**