An unexpected visitor arrived in the North just a few days later. All eyes turned toward the lavish carriage bearing the crest of the nation's most feared and revered warrior.
Selene.
As Selene stepped onto Northern soil, her thoughts swirled with only one name—Aria.That child... she's changed so much, Selene thought, her jaw clenched as cold wind brushed past her cloak. Kaelen hadn't followed her this time. He believed they had to resolve this themselves.
Word of Selene's arrival spread quickly, reaching Aria while she was still in the training grounds.
"Your mother is here," Abigel said, his tone careful.
Aria paused, eyes narrowing. "Mother?" she repeated, a trace of disbelief in her voice.
He nodded. "Don't you think it's better to talk it out?"
In the days they'd spent together, a quiet bond had started to form between Aria and Abigel. They spoke more, trained harder, and though many things remained unspoken
As Aria walked back toward her room, a familiar voice called out softly behind her.
"Aria."
It was Selene.
"Can we talk?" Selene asked, her voice uncertain.
Aria bowed her head slightly, her expression unreadable."Your Grace," she said coldly, "Are we close enough to talk? Just give me your orders. I'll follow them."
Selene winced. "My child... I know I was a coward. But I kept my distance because—because I had to protect you."
Protect?Even though the soul in Aria's body wasn't the original, she could feel the scars left behind. How long had the real Aria yearned for warmth, for her mother's gaze? And all she got... was silence in the name of protection?
"Of course," Aria said with a polite smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I understand, Your Grace."
The smile shattered something in Selene.
"Can... can you come back home?" she asked, her voice almost breaking.
Aria stood taller; her tone resolute."I'm happy here. Isn't that what matters? And besides... how long can you keep protecting me? Sooner or later, I'll have to stand on my own."
She turned to walk away but paused at the door.
"Please don't come here again. It's not easy for the people here to bear your presence."
And with that, Aria disappeared into her room, leaving Selene standing alone in the hallway—heart full of regret, and too late.
As Aria disappeared into her room, the hallway fell quiet—until Theodore stepped beside Selene.
"She'll be fine," he said gently, his gaze following the direction Aria had gone. "Just give her some time."
Selene nodded silently, her composure cracking around the edges.
Theodore looked at his only sister, the one who resembled the late Empress more than anyone else. Not just in appearance—but in presence, in strength, in the way she held the world at arm's length. Selene hadn't always been like this. Once, she laughed easily, loved openly.
But something had changed her.
Fear.
Not of war. Not of pain. But of loss. Of being abandoned. Of watching someone she loved to vanish again and being powerless to stop it.
It was that fear that built her walls, forged her coldness.
And it was that fear that now stood between her and her daughter.
"Why don't we spar?" Theodore suggested suddenly.
It was exactly what Selene needed—an outlet to quiet the storm in her head. They made their way to the now-empty training grounds, cleared specifically for them.
Crimson clashed against silver.
Theodore's deep red aura collided with Selene's argent light, and the arena trembled under their force. They moved like seasoned predators—each hit a message, every dodge a memory.
Eventually, the battle slowed. Theodore stumbled and fell back, breath ragged, skin pale with exertion.
"Theo—are you alright?" Selene rushed to him, concern etching her usually cold face.
He looked up, chuckled, then broke into laughter.
"Why are you laughing, you idiot?" Selene snapped, confused and irritated.
Still catching his breath, Theo smiled at her. "For a moment, I thought your aura burned away your empathy."
Selene sighed. "Everything comes with a price."
Her eyes rested on him, then tilted slightly as a thought crept in. "It's been twenty years since you awakened... hasn't it?"
The shift in her tone was subtle—but Theo knew exactly where this was headed. Before she could press further, he quickly changed the subject.
"Why don't we have dinner together?"
Selene gave him a knowing look but said nothing. She nodded.
Still, something weighed on her heart.
Why does Theo keep his distance from everyone? What is he hiding?
Dinner was unusually quiet.Selene found herself distracted—not by the silence, but by the boy seated beside Theodore. Abigel. He had never sat this close to Theo before. Never fit into the scene of a quiet family dinner. And yet now… he did.But she didn't ask.She couldn't remember the last time they'd shared a meal like this. Had it been years? Before everything fractured?
"I'll be leaving tomorrow," Selene finally said, breaking the silence.
"Is there anything you need before you go?" Theo asked, his voice even.
"I… perhaps a letter," Selene said, her eyes glancing toward Aria.
But Aria didn't even lift her gaze.
Dinner ended just like that. No warmth. No closure.
Later that night, Aria wandered alone through the garden. The moonlight softened the edges of the stone paths, painting shadows across her thoughts. That's when Selene appeared once more, hesitant in her steps.
"I… I know I haven't been a good mother," Selene began, "but may I tell you something?"
Aria nodded silently.
"Be careful when using your aura," Selene warned. "Every aura has its side effects."
"What kind of side effects?" Aria asked, narrowing her eyes.
"It depends on the type of aura… but yours…" Selene hesitated. "Yours might erase your memories if overused. You need to be careful."
"I didn't know that."
"I'm still researching it," Selene continued. "I'll send letters if I find anything useful. And… your father misses you. Even just a message would make him happy."
"I'll write to him," Aria replied.
Selene offered a faint smile, then walked away, her steps echoing in the quiet garden.
Once alone again, Aria called out to the system.
"How much memory did I lose last time?" she asked quietly.
A familiar screen blinked into existence.
{System: 5% loss. System warned you. Didn't you even see it, you stupid girl. — GF}