The cool night wrapped around them like an old, gentle friend.
The soft murmur of the Lunar Lake brushed their ears, and the silver grass shimmered under the night sky.
Everyone had finally settled around a large circular stone table near the lake.
The stars above twinkled brightly, almost as if the heavens themselves were watching this reunion.
Jin sat quietly in the center, a gentle smile on his lips.
Lia sat beside him, never straying more than a few inches away.
Eva and Han Jin Hyuk sat opposite, while Lillian leaned against Chris, still sniffing from earlier tears.
Arden, Kaelros, Lysander, Rin, Athena, Velka, Nyreth — all gathered close, forming a warm circle around him.
Eres, the adorable crimson-pink hybrid cub, pounced playfully onto Jin's lap with a tiny, happy chirp.
Jin chuckled, patting her soft fur lovingly.
"You're getting heavy, little one," he teased softly.
Eres only purred louder and curled into his lap proudly, nuzzling against his chest.
Just then—
Nyxses, the massive red dragon, in his shrunken playful form, shuffled forward awkwardly.
He nudged Jin's arm with his scaled head.
Jin laughed under his breath, eyes soft.
"You too, huh?"
With a smile, he reached out and brushed Nyxses's crimson mane, running his fingers through the silky scales.
Nyxses rumbled low, closing his golden eyes, utterly content.
Everyone around them started to laugh.
Lillian giggled,
"I can't believe it. Jin used to be so scary... Now he's getting cuddled like a giant plush toy."
Chris smirked,
"I'm a little jealous honestly. Even the dragon gets pampered."
Arden leaned back, a rare soft smile on his lips.
"Guess even dragons know loyalty when they see it."
Rin wiped her eyes again, smiling brightly,
"He deserves it… After waiting alone for so long."
Eva rested her hand over her heart.
"My little boy… is loved by so many…"
Han Jin Hyuk nodded firmly, pride burning in his eyes.
Jin looked at all of them, his chest tight with emotions he could barely control.
Finally, he spoke — his voice low but steady.
"After you disappeared…"
"I should have died too. But... I didn't."
"I was found — no, chosen — by someone ancient."
Everyone leaned closer, breathless.
Jin's hand brushed gently over Eres's fur, his eyes distant, recalling the impossible.
"His name was Aurelion."
"He was the Sovereign of the Lunar World. The one who ruled its ancient cycle of purification , Light and rebirths."
"He found me at the edge of death. He gave me… a second life."
Athena's lips parted in awe.
"Aurelion... the legendary Dream Sovereign?"
Jin nodded.
"Through his power… I was reborn. Changed."
"And now… after all the trials, the wars, the awakenings... I am the Sovereign."
Everyone stared, the meaning of his words sinking in like slow thunder.
"The Lunar World…"
"The Dream Realm…"
"The Soul Realm…"
"And the True Chaos."
"I now protect them all."
Silence fell, heavy and sacred.
Kaelros whistled under his breath.
"You really became something beyond imagination."
Lysander smiled wide,
"You're not just our Jin anymore… You're something far greater."
Arden chuckled dryly,
"And yet... you're still letting cubs sit on your lap."
Everyone laughed again, the tension melting away.
Jin smiled warmly, brushing Eres's ear lightly.
"No matter what I become… I'll always be Jin to you."
"Family first. Always."
The laughter slowly faded into a bittersweet stillness.
Han Jin Hyuk finally asked the painful question.
"What happened to our world, Jin?"
The smile faded from Jin's face, and the night seemed colder for a moment.
His voice lowered.
"Zhel-Vorah."
"That Monarch of Endless Change… he consumed our universe."
"I couldn't stop it. I wasn't strong enough then."
Eva clutched Han Jin Hyuk's hand tightly, tears falling silently.
Chris muttered under his breath,
"Our world… gone…"
Arden clenched his fists but said nothing, his jaw tight.
Rin sobbed softly into Lysander's shoulder.
Kaelros closed his eyes briefly, murmuring,
"We're all that's left…"
Jin reached out across the table, his hand trembling slightly.
"But we're here."
"We survived."
"And together... we'll build something new."
His words wrapped around them like a shield against the darkness.
Just then, Velka stepped forward, her golden hair shining like stardust under the moon.
She crossed her arms and smirked lightly.
"You're forgetting something, Sovereign."
"You didn't save them alone. I helped too."
Jin chuckled, finally smiling brightly.
"Yes, yes. Velka is my greatest ally."
"I owe her more than words can say."
Velka tilted her chin proudly, causing a few laughs to ripple again.
Athena smiled fondly at the scene.
"I guess… this is how it was meant to be."
Lillian teased lightly,
"So, Jin… will you add 'dragon tamer' and 'cub father' to your titles too?"
Everyone laughed harder this time, and even Jin couldn't resist.
He looked at them — truly looked —
and for the first time in 433 years, he didn't feel the crushing loneliness anymore.
He was home.
He was loved.
And this time — he would protect them all