In the heart of the Lunar World, where the moon hung low like a silent guardian and stars watched from beyond, a strange energy crackled in the air.
Eva, Han Jin Hyuk, Jin's parents, Arden, Kaelros, Lysander, Rin, Chris, Lia, Lillian, Athena, and Nyreth —
everyone who had long awaited Jin's return — were present, each carrying heavy hopes in their hearts.
Suddenly, without warning, the very fabric of space tore open with a deafening roar.
A massive portal—a swirling vortex of blood-red, deep blue, and shimmering gold—opened in the sky.
Everyone immediately looked up, hearts thundering.
"Is that...?" Eva gasped, hands clenching her chest.
"Could it be him...?" Chris breathed, eyes wide with hope.
"Finally..." whispered Arden, instinctively tightening his grip on his sword.
From within the roaring portal, a majestic figure emerged —
A gigantic dragon, Nyxses, his scales glowing a molten crimson-red, as if the essence of flame itself had birthed him.
Upon his mighty back, poised like a queen, sat a young woman — Velka.
Cradled in Velka's arms was a small but striking creature:
Eres — a crimson-pink hybrid cub, a fusion of lion and dinosaur, radiating both adorable innocence and terrifying power.
The entire valley fell silent.
Everyone stared in shock.
Kaelros muttered under his breath, "A red dragon? A pink lion-dino...? What is this madness?"
Lysander blinked hard, whispering, "Am I dreaming...? No... this aura... it's real."
Rin clutched Lillian's sleeve, her voice quivering, "They're... they're so beautiful... but terrifying too..."
Even Athena's brows furrowed slightly —
this was not something they could have ever predicted.
Nyreth, calm as ever, stepped forward, his voice carrying firm authority.
"Do not be afraid. They are familiars of my master—Jin Shang."
A wave of astonishment ran through everyone.
"Familiars? Jin has familiars now?" Arden frowned.
"Since when...?" Han Jin Hyuk's face darkened, a flicker of unease crossing his features.
Velka gently descended from Nyxses, landing gracefully with the sleeping Eres still safely in her arms.
Standing tall before them, her golden hair fluttering under the starlit winds, she faced the gathered crowd — unflinching, unwavering.
Her voice, calm and filled with pride, rang out:
"I am Velka. The partner of Jin Shang."
Silence.
The air cracked like thin ice under the weight of her words.
For a full heartbeat, no one moved.
Then the reactions exploded—
"Partner...??" Chris blurted out, disbelief plain in his voice.
"No way. Jin has a partner... a woman...?!" Rin gasped, her face turning red with shock.
"Tch..." Arden clicked his tongue, his eyes narrowing.
He couldn't decide if he should be suspicious... or envious.
Kaelros folded his arms tightly, muttering, "Partner... That word isn't used lightly."
Lysander's expression darkened. "If she dares to claim that... then she must be someone extremely important to Jin..."
Even Eva — who had always seen Jin like her little child— felt her heart tighten.
"Partner... not ally, not comrade... but partner?"
Lillian leaned closer to Lia, whispering worriedly, "Lia... are you okay...?"
But Lia didn't answer.
She stood frozen.
Her eyes wide.
Her chest heaving lightly, but no sound leaving her lips.
The word "partner" echoed endlessly in her mind —
shattering all her hopes, all the silent dreams she had dared to keep alive.
She clutched at the front of her dress, fingers trembling.
"No..." she thought.
"He promised... he fought for me... he lived for me... then why...?"
Athena, watching closely, caught the slight, almost invisible tremble in Lia's hands.
Her gaze hardened — this turn of events could fracture everything.
Han Jin Hyuk scowled, turning away as if unable to process what he just heard.
"Damn it... Jin, what the hell happened to you out there...?"
The air felt heavier now.
Velka, sensing the weight of her words, continued calmly:
"I have sworn loyalty, life, and soul to Jin Shang. He is not just my master — he is my equal. My other half in this world."
Another wave of silence swept across them.
Kaelros' expression darkened further, as he muttered, "It's deeper than we thought..."
Athena's eyes narrowed slightly —
the consequences of this 'bond' would ripple across more than just relationships —
it would reshape Jin's entire destiny.
After the declaration, the vast hall of Lunar Castle buzzed quietly, filled with a mixture of confusion, curiosity, and hidden worry.
At the center of it all sat the people closest to Jin Shang—
Eva, Han Jin Hyuk, Lillian, Chris, Arden, Kaelros, Lysander, Rin, Athena, Lia.
They were still absorbing Velka's earlier declaration:
"I am Velka. The partner of Jin Shang."
The words echoed in their minds, causing waves of whispers and intense discussion.
Athena crossed her arms, her golden eyes narrowing.
"I still can't understand. Partner? In what sense? Is it spiritual? Combat? Or something... deeper?"
Chris chuckled awkwardly, trying to lighten the mood.
"Maybe it's like… travel companions? Like old adventure tales?"
Lillian shook her head quickly, her voice tight with concern.
"No… the way she said it… it sounded way more serious than that."
Kaelros leaned back on the chair, his silver hair shining under the moonlight.
"Maybe... she's talking about an oath or soul bond."
Arden, ever the skeptic, frowned and muttered,
"Partner... doesn't sound like mere comradeship. There's trust... closeness."
Rin looked down at her hands, whispering,
"But Jin... he was always so distant with people before... how could he..."
Lia, silent all this time, clutched her chest tightly, her mind a mess.
Partner... no way... Jin... you...
The discussion was growing heavier when suddenly—
An overwhelming presence washed over the castle.
It was warm, yet immense, like a forgotten memory coming back to life.
Everyone froze.
Every heartbeat seemed to scream one word:
"Jin."
Without another thought, they bolted toward the source — the Lunar Lake, glimmering like a portal to another world.
There, under the ethereal starlight—
a lone figure sat by the lake, one knee drawn up casually.
His long, snowy white hair cascaded down his back, catching the moonlight.
His black robe, stitched with patterns of stars and flowing constellations, moved with the gentle night breeze.
He was facing the lake, back toward them.
The sight was breathtaking — both beautiful and otherworldly.
"Is that...?" Lillian's voice cracked.
No one dared to move.
Then —
The figure slowly turned his head.
Red eyes.
Deep and ancient, glowing softly like twin rubies.
Yet even with their intimidating beauty, those eyes were overflowing with familiar warmth.
He smiled —
the same soft, genuine smile that had been etched into their memories for centuries.
"How are you, everyone?"
"I know I am late."
Shock.
Absolute shock froze the air.
Athena gasped audibly,
"His hair… and his eyes...!"
Chris stumbled back a step,
"That's... that's Jin?!"
Kaelros whispered under his breath,
"How can a man look like... different?"
Lysander blinked rapidly, his voice shaking,
"Red eyes… just like the stories say…"
Rin wiped tears forming at the edge of her eyes,
"He's changed… but it's really him…"
Arden clenched his jaw, staring as if trying to see through an illusion.
"He lived…"
Lia—
Lia could only stare, her heart pounding so hard it drowned out everything else.
"Jin... it's really you…
Velka and Nyreth remained calm, knowing this was destined.
Jin rose slowly to his feet, his robe trailing behind him like a flowing shadow.
Then — before anyone could react —
he knelt down on one knee, bowing his head low to the ground.
"I have been waiting for you... for 433 years."
"And now… you're back."
The weight of his words slammed into everyone's hearts like a tidal wave.
Eva dropped to her knees, covering her mouth in shock. Actually she had lost all memories of statue goddess and temple after she vanished. So this was natural for her to become shock.
Han Jin Hyuk's hands trembled at his sides.
Lillian clutched Chris's sleeve tightly, tears falling freely.
Even Arden's expression cracked, disbelief painting his face.
Athena whispered under her breath,
"Four hundred… and thirty-three years..."
Kaelros muttered,
"He waited… without giving up..."
Chris wiped his eyes furiously, trying to act tough but failing.
"This idiot… he really stayed all this time…"
Rin sobbed softly,
"He waited… for us…"
Lia, trembling, took a shaky step forward.
Eva and Han Jin Hyuk were the first to break.
They rushed forward, pulling Jin up and embracing him tightly.
Eva sobbed,
"My son… my poor son… you're finally home."
Han Jin Hyuk placed his forehead against Jin's, his voice low,
"You made it back... you kept your promise…"
Lillian followed, throwing her arms around Jin,
"You stupid brother! You made yourself wait too long!"
Chris smiled painfully and put a firm hand on Jin's shoulder,
"You're not alone anymore."
Arden, Kaelros, Lysander, and Rin gathered closer, their presence a quiet shield around him.
But Jin only had eyes for one person —
the one who had haunted his every dream for centuries.
Lia.
Their eyes met — and time seemed to stop.
Jin's tears overflowed.
He opened his mouth but no words came out.
Lia shook her head, her own tears falling.
"You don't need to say anything... I know..."
Without hesitation, they both ran —
Ran across the grass like two stars colliding after endless darkness.
They crashed into each other's arms, holding so tightly as if afraid the world would tear them apart again.
Jin buried his face in her hair, breathing her in.
"I missed you… every second... every moment…" he choked.
Lia sobbed against his chest,
"I missed you too... I thought... I thought I'd never see you again…"
They pulled apart just enough to see each other's faces —
and with a trembling laugh, Lia placed her hand on his cheek.
"You idiot… how could you wait alone for so long?"
Jin smiled, even as tears streamed down,
"Because… you were the only light in my darkness."
Their foreheads touched gently, breathing the same air.
And then —
without hesitation, without fear —
they kissed.
It was not desperate — it was pure.
A reunion of two broken halves finally made whole.
The others watched, some crying silently, others smiling through their tears.
Tonight — under the sacred Lunar sky —
Jin Shang had come home.
And for the first time in 433 years,
he was no longer alone.