The first light of dawn washed over the world, a quiet tribute to hard-won peace.
Erebus felt the ache of victory in every fiber of his body.
His arm throbbed with a persistent, searing pain. Fragments of shattered armor were still lodged deep in his skin, and the limb now hung at his side, nearly useless. A faint breeze fluttered through his long hair, now reaching once again to his lower back, streaked with ash and blood.
It was cool in the highlands, far above the plains of war.
As the sun rose over Olympus, he looked upon the fabled city—Amanécer in its untouched glory. The realm of divine grace and ancient majesty. This was the city as it should be: unmarred by war, unmarred by death.
His soldiers stood in awe, surrounded by towering statues carved into the cliffs, faces weathered but regal, their solemn gazes heavy with judgment. The white marble buildings stood proud, their pillars adorned with jade and gold. Fragrant gardens spilled across the terraces, glimmering under the sun with an almost mystical allure.
"Are we in paradise?" Lu Yin asked, eyes wide as he surveyed the locals.
"Her look. Those gals," Alessio nudged him, nodding at a pair of Amanécerian women gliding past with water pitchers, their golden hair catching the light.
Lu Yin smacked him on the back of the head. "Stop it. You're ruining the army's discipline."
"Can't we have a little eye candy?" Alessio muttered—until he met Erebus's piercing gaze. He snapped to attention.
"Told you," Lu Yin whispered.
"The general's too strict when it comes to us having women during campaign."
"I think he's right. Especially for fools like you," Lu Yin scoffed, as Alessio flushed beet red.
Cries echoed from the steps of the great temple as the Amanécerian crowd chanted: "Hail His Majesty the Emperor!"
But not all voices were welcoming.
Zeraf's lips curled. "This treatment. I don't like it."
Alessio and Amenhotep nodded, the latter struggling to speak the common tongue: "No… like."
Erebus said nothing. All eyes were on him. In his black, battle-worn armor and cloak, he looked like a creature of nightmare—and his beast, the mount beside him, did little to ease the tension.
"I thought the war was over," someone whispered loudly. "Why have demons entered the sacred realm?"
He ignored them. His thoughts were elsewhere—on Luciana.
Each step toward her increased the knot in his chest. It was like ascending a mountain with broken bones.
They reached the stables, but the keepers hesitated to touch his beast. The creature snarled low, disturbed by the purity of the place.
"I'll handle it," Erebus said curtly, tying it to a post himself. He stroked its muzzle gently.
"Be good. Don't scare them."
The beast grunted in reply.
He gave a sharp warning to the keepers. "Don't show fear. It feeds on dreams."
Helios approached. "Let your men rest. The temple has food, clothing, and care. Hospices too. Let them recover."
Erebus nodded and relayed the command. The soldiers dispersed.
Helios boarded a chariot with Rudolph, who clung to him in his weakened state. Erebus prepared to fly—but his wings, injured and depleted, would not carry him far.
He accepted a chariot. Lu Yin refused to leave his side.
"At least one of us should go," the young warrior insisted.
Erebus nodded once.
Drawn by twin white pegasi, they ascended the mountain path, behind Helios's chariot. The Imperial Villa revealed itself—larger than most palaces, a crown atop the world.
Lu Yin was stunned. "Is this what the Emperor meant? This isn't a villa—it's a kingdom in itself."
Palace guards awaited. Their wary expressions faded to deference as Helios approached. They saluted in the traditional Amanécerian style. Erebus nodded in return, though he could still sense the unease.
Inside, word of the Emperor's return spread like wildfire. Luciana was in the royal nursery, tending to Hades. Her morning meetings with the alchemist tower were yet to begin when she had recieved news of the Emperor's return. But Hades wouldn't let her go.
"My baby… why are you so fussy today?" she cooed, taking him from Leila.
"He's been unsettled all morning, Your Highness," Leila said, concerned.
"Apollonia was like this too, wasn't she?"
"Yes, she's teething."
"Perhaps my little prince is as well." Luciana slipped a clean finger into Hades's mouth—he bit down, hard.
"Ow!" she winced, then smiled. "Oh goodness. You're right."
Hades drifted to sleep soon after. Relieved, Luciana gave Leila a grateful nod.
"Watch over them, please. The Emperor's returned. I must ensure he's safe."
Leila bowed. "Of course, Your Highness."
"Mama, I want to go too," Nemesis said, tugging at her hand. "I want to see Grandda!"
"Later, my love. He's tired. Go with Tiberius for practice after breakfast." She kissed him and turned away, gathering her robes.
Her heart was racing.
Was he alright? Was he wounded? Had he returned in one piece?
---
In the council hall, the meeting concluded swiftly. Helios managed every affair with commanding grace. Erebus,came out after the wary ministers left. Though wounded, stood like an unmoving shadow. He had been allowed his stay in the imperial villa by Helios. The servants still on guard around him guided him to guest quarters.
His eyes swept the hall—searching.
But Luciana was not there.
His expression faltered, though others mistook it for a glare. He had no idea how intimidating he looked. His thoughts were tangled with hope, dread, and something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in months: longing.
Luciana exited the hall through the east wing.
Erebus turned down the west corridor, guided toward the inner courtyards.
And then—at the corner where two wings met—they stopped.
Time froze.
Luciana stood at the edge of the courtyard, dressed in imperial silk, framed by marble columns and the golden light of day that gave her ethereal look as her white hair glowed like silk under ther sun. Her eyes met his, wide with disbelief.
Erebus dropped all pretense of restraint. In three long strides, he was before her. The servants panicked.
"Your Highness! Step away! He—"
"No, wait—!" Luciana raised a hand, but they had already scattered.
She turned back—just in time to be caught in his arms.
He wrapped her in a trembling, crushing embrace. He held her as if she were a dying flame and he the wind desperate to keep it alive. Her breath caught.
"Erebus?" Her voice was a ghost, fragile and trembling.
She didn't struggle. She couldn't. She was still awestruck.
He smelled of blood, ash, and earth. Of war. But beneath it all—there he was. The man who once haunted her,…and the man who once sacrificed everything for her.
The man she had believed lost to the ocean's depths.
"Erebus," she whispered again, breathless.
"Please…" she said softly, seeing the guards hurry towards them. "Please, release me. They might misunderstand."
But he did not let go. His arms only tightened.
He was trembling. Shaking like a man who'd crossed the gates of hell only to find heaven waiting at the end.
And in that moment, Luciana understood—he wasn't the wild creature who had once defied the gods.
He was the man who had walked through ruin just to find her again.