The gentle stillness of Arinay's royal chambers was disrupted by a soft tap—firm and resolute.Not just any knock. Familiar. Assertive. Intimate.
The doors creaked open, and in stepped a tall woman dressed in a breathtaking gown of black and violet silk that shimmered like stardust under moonlight. It was the first time in a long while that she had set aside her battle-worn armor for something this elegant.
Her silver hair flowed gracefully down her back, and her violet eyes gleamed with confidence, mischief, and a spark of something deeper. Every step she took echoed with power, and yet tonight, there was an air of enchantment around her.
Valtheria—Second Commander of Mytheria, the only warrior whose swordsmanship surpassed even Arinay's own. She was the second strongest in the realm, second only to Arinay himself. What she lacked in magic, she more than made up for in pure instinct, speed, and flawless technique. Her blade had silenced threats even sorcery couldn't touch.
But beyond the battlefield, Valtheria was known across dimensions not just for her strength—but for her beauty. She was one of the most mesmerizing women in the entire cosmos. Poets wrote about her, kings sought her hand, and warriors clashed just for a moment of her attention. Yet, she had rejected them all—every single one.
Because her heart was set elsewhere.
"Still brooding by the balcony while the world prepares to honor you?" she asked, voice soft yet sultry. "Or were you just waiting for me to show up in a dress?"
Arinay turned from the moonlit window, genuinely surprised."That's... not what I expected you to wear."
Valtheria twirled gracefully, the hem of her dress catching the moonlight."Figured I'd remind you I'm more than just your best blade. Besides... even I want to feel beautiful on your birthday."
"You don't need a dress for that," Arinay replied smoothly. "You've always been."
She approached him slowly, a teasing smirk forming on her lips."Careful. Flatter me too much and I might propose again."
He chuckled."You've rejected every suitor who's come your way. Why is that, Valtheria? Still holding out for someone?"
Her eyes gleamed playfully as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper."Hmm... depends. Will you marry me?"
Arinay blinked, lips parting, but before he could respond, she laughed softly and tapped his chest."See? Still can't handle me."
He sighed with a small smile."You always do this."
"And you always react," she replied, winking. "That's what makes it fun."
She took a step back, admiring him from head to toe."You're glowing tonight, my King. Though I must say, I've seen better looks on you. Should I help you fix your hair again like I used to?"
"You mean like when you used to tie it too tight on purpose?"
"Exactly. You looked adorable suffering through formal events."
He rolled his eyes with a chuckle."I can't believe the second strongest warrior in Mytheria has time to tease me."
Valtheria's tone softened as she straightened his collar."For you? I always have time."
There was a pause. Her hand lingered near his chest, and for a brief second, her playful mask gave way to something tender.
"I've known you longer than anyone else," she said gently. "From the time you couldn't even wield a sword. From the days you dreamed of changing the world. And you did, Arinay. You created Mytheria, a realm of peace in a shattered cosmos. You made them believe in hope again."
"You've been by my side through all of it," Arinay replied, his voice equally soft.
"I always will be," she said.
Their eyes met—years of trust, friendship, and something unspoken passing between them.Then, just as quickly, Valtheria stepped back, returning to her teasing self.
"Well, your majesty, clean up and come downstairs. People are starting to wonder if their perfect King is fashionably late—or just scared of crowds."
With a mischievous wink and a graceful wave, she turned and left, her violet dress shimmering behind her like a comet's tail. The door closed with a soft click.
Silence returned. But it was no longer empty. It pulsed with purpose.
Arinay stood still for a moment, then turned toward the far corner of his chamber—to the crystal vault that towered like a sealed shrine of history.
Its divine seals glowed faintly, humming with memories.
This vault held relics from countless battles: blades that felled god-kings, orbs that once held the thoughts of stars, cloaks of fallen emperors. Each item carried a weight. A story.
Arinay approached and raised his hand. With a whisper of his power, the seal melted away.
The vault opened, revealing its glimmering interior.Jewels, scrolls, armor pieces, and ancient artifacts lined the shelves—symbols of victory, of pain, of growth.
And then—clink.
A small object tumbled from a velvet pedestal.A ring.
Arinay knelt down, picking it up carefully.A simple silver-black band, glowing faintly with blue flame.
"The Ring of Rebirth..."
A deep hum echoed within it.
It had once belonged to Zelroth, the Undying Emperor. A ruler of the sixth dimension: Space of Power, a being cursed with infinite lives. Arinay had battled him in a war that tore through galaxies, chasing him across time loops, through flaming storms and collapsing dimensions.
It was his hardest battle. One he barely survived.
In the end, Arinay had imprisoned Zelroth's soul using forbidden rites. And this ring—the symbol of Zelroth's eternal rebirth—had been locked away ever since.
Yet now, here it was.
He stared at the ring in thought. And then, a memory surfaced.
Nelyssia. One of his wives. Zelroth's only daughter.A woman who had walked away from her cursed bloodline to be with Arinay.
Perhaps... she had placed it here?As a gift? A sign of trust?Or fate?
The ring pulsed gently in his hand.And then—he slipped it on.
A surge of energy ran through him.Not violent. Not chaotic.
Welcoming.
Like the ring had chosen him willingly this time.
He stood there quietly, bathed in the silver light of the twin moons outside. The air shimmered faintly. The relics glowed as if acknowledging the ring's presence.
Somewhere deep within, something ancient stirred.Something that had once lived through eternity...
And now watched again.