"So, can you tell me why you've been watching me all these years—even sending Velzard to spy on me?"
Akira's words left Veldanava's expression unchanged, while a look of shock flashed across Velgrynd's face as she glared at Velzard and Veldanava with furious eyes.
Veldanava ignored Velgrynd's gaze, while Velzard turned away awkwardly, guilt flickering in her eyes. She had felt remorse for spying on Akira for nearly 300 years.
"Please don't blame Velzard." Veldanava smiled softly, patting Velzard's head beside him. "I was the one who ordered her to watch you. I knew she wouldn't refuse my request, even if she disliked it."
"I know. Our bond runs deeper than something this trivial." Akira's voice rang in Velzard's ears, drawing a small smile from her. "But you still haven't told me why you were observing me."
Veldanava took a deep breath, then glanced at the cup before him, where the fading sunset light from the window danced atop the tea's surface—just like the decades that had passed, wavering between caution and regret.
"I was afraid."
He finally spoke, his voice heavy with remorse. It was clear he, too, had suffered from his choices.
"Afraid of what? Of me?"
Akira's tone wasn't angry, but sharp—transparent as a blade's edge.
"Of the unknown you represent..."
Veldanava lowered his head slightly, then continued quietly:
"Though I glimpsed fragments of your existence when I still possessed my Ultimate Skill, I couldn't see everything about you. That made me hesitate to relinquish my power… but in the end, I chose to abandon it, allowing the universe I created to evolve naturally. Yet when you arrived in this timeline, a fragment of my Ultimate Skill began resonating with you—even merging with you, enabling your evolution into the Apocalypse Dragon."
"When I learned you'd become the Apocalypse Dragon, I regretted abandoning my power. I wanted to eliminate you before you fully evolved… but I couldn't. An unknown force protected you. So I waited, watched, and even sent Velzard to get close to you—to monitor and influence you, to erase any desire to destroy the world if it existed. But despite all this, I remained afraid… wary. I couldn't allow you to destroy the universe I'd poured my entire being into creating."
A heavy silence fell, as if time itself paused in respect for his words.
Velgrynd's heart raced wildly—not from fear, but fury… a quiet pain seeping between the lines. She stared at her elder brother, who now seemed human to her for the first time—fragile.
Akira, meanwhile, stood motionless, his unreadable gaze fixed on Veldanava, as if his earlier words were merely a pebble dropped into the depths of his soul.
Then he spoke, his low voice piercing the room like a dagger:
"You betrayed me."
He lifted his eyes—cold as ice, dark as a storm.
"You watched me, feared my potential, denied me my choices… yet speak of the universe as its merciful father. How can the creator of life fear its own creation?"
Velzard's hands trembled slightly, but she stayed silent. Velgrynd, however, stepped forward, her voice frayed with confusion:
"Was everything we lived… every moment we shared, just an act?"
But Veldanava didn't look at her. His eyes remained locked on Akira as the latter continued:
"If you were honest, you'd have come to me directly—not sent eyes to lurk behind curtains."
Veldanava sighed, this time with profound sorrow. Finally, he met Akira's gaze, his eyes reflecting eons of wisdom and doubt.
"I was afraid, yes… but not just of you. Of myself. Of my capacity to err… again."
"I created this universe out of love. You, Akira, aren't merely a powerful being… you're my mirror. Watching you evolve was like witnessing a new possibility—the birth of a new god. It made me consider the worst: that you might be a being who'd destroy the universe I built with love."
Another weighted silence followed, thick with unspoken emotions.
Then Veldanava added, his voice fractured:
"But I admit my mistake. Despite being the Apocalypse Dragon, you weren't a being of indiscriminate destruction."
"Good that you understand." Akira nodded indifferently, the tense atmosphere around him dissolving. He didn't truly care about Veldanava's opinion—he'd only wanted the truth.
Turning to the window, Akira watched the sunset fading behind the capital's towers, then spoke with a tone blending nostalgia and resolve:
"I've decided to leave this timeline… I made a promise, and I intend to keep it."
The others exchanged glances, but no one interrupted.
"I'll go… but not alone."
He faced them, his eyes like a sky before a storm:
"If you wish to stay, I'll respect that. If you choose to accompany me… prepare for what comes next."
Rian and Misery shared a look before bowing respectfully.
"Wherever you go… we're with you, Master."
Honoka followed quietly:
"And I as well."
Velgrynd studied her brother for a moment, then declared firmly:
"I've waited for this decision for ages."
As for Velzard… she smiled at last, genuinely:
"I'll go too. Your company is always… entertaining."
Akira gave a slight nod and returned to his seat.
"I see. So you'll return to your timeline. But I'd ask you to wait a little longer before leaving."
Veldanava smiled that same soft smile—though gentler now.
"I'm getting married in a few days. I'd like you all to attend. In fact, I came here to invite you."
A different kind of silence followed—not accusatory, but stunned.
"Marriage?" Akira repeated the word quietly, as if tasting it for the first time. "I didn't know you practiced this human custom."
Veldanava smiled, the calm expression of one who'd finally made peace with himself.
"Perhaps because I've finally found something worth holding onto… after all these centuries."
Velgrynd stared at her brother before sighing in exasperation.
"At least… you're no longer just watching the world from above."
Velzard nodded silently. Words weren't needed—the old sorrow in her eyes had begun to fade, if only slightly.
Akira remained still, observing the scene with an impassive gaze. Then he said:
"Fine. Since you've invited me, I'll attend. It'd be rude to refuse after all this."
Veldanava laughed lightly, his voice carrying the weight of eternity:
"I expected nothing less from you."
Then he turned to the others.
"And you?"
Rian nodded.
"If Master is going, of course we'll be there."
"Me too," Misery added with a quiet smile.
"Honestly, I'm curious about the Creator's wedding," Honoka chimed in, clasping her hands behind her back.
Velgrynd didn't mince words, looking straight at Veldanava:
"I'm still angry at what you did… but I can't miss my elder brother's wedding."
Veldanava smiled gratefully, then rose slowly to leave.
"In three days, at the Heavenly Star Palace. I'll come to escort you there. I hope everyone can attend."
...
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