Now in an open field far from the castle, Vetra stood at the center of a wide clearing, the others positioned at a safe distance as they prepared to test his new upgrades. Clover stepped forward, carefully adjusting the mechanical arm where it connected to his shoulder.
"How does it feel?" she asked, eyes sharp with focus. "Any discomfort at all?"
"None, my princess," Vetra replied immediately, flexing the fingers. "It feels as though I never lost an arm to begin with—and it's so light. Truly incredible."
The awe in his voice was unmistakable, his smile impossible to suppress.
"Excellent," Clover said with satisfaction. She then handed him the soul gun. "Take this as well."
Vetra accepted it reverently. Clover stepped back beside the others and raised a hand, signaling for him to begin.
Taking a deep breath, Vetra raised the gun and aimed into the distance.
He fired.
BOOM!
A compressed, spherical blast of wind tore out of the barrel, screaming through the air before slamming into a distant tree. The impact shattered it instantly—wood splintering in all directions—before the wind detonated like a bomb, carving out and devastating nearly two percent of the surrounding terrain.
The shockwave rushed back toward them, forcing everyone to shield their faces until the air finally settled.
When they looked again, the destruction was unmistakable.
Vetra stared at the result, momentarily speechless.
After a few seconds, he exhaled slowly and raised his left arm, ready for the real test.
The others instinctively retreated farther back. After what the soul gun had done, no one was eager to take chances with the arm.
Vetra steadied himself, focusing deeply as he lifted the mechanical limb.
"Soul Casting…" he called out, voice firm.
"Storm Strike."
The wind around them surged violently.
His arm began to glow, brilliant and intense, as the air spiraled faster and faster. The pressure became overwhelming—Jericho quickly formed a thick rope of mercury, anchoring everyone in place so they wouldn't be swept off their feet.
The storm condensed around Vetra's arm.
Then he thrust it upward.
The attack tore into the sky, vanishing into the clouds.
A heartbeat later—
Lightning descended from that same point with catastrophic force.
The bolt struck the ground like divine judgment, shaking the earth and obliterating everything nearby. The resulting shockwave roared toward them, and Jericho instantly raised a wall of mercury. The impact slammed into it with terrifying power, but the barrier held.
Dust, wind, and debris flooded the air.
When it finally cleared, Vetra stood frozen in place, staring at the devastation he had unleashed. Then his strength gave out, and he dropped to one knee, gasping for breath—the strain of releasing such an enormous amount of soul energy for the first time overwhelming his body.
"…Wow," Jericho muttered, clearly impressed. "That was massive. I've never seen a wind user like that before. I always thought wind was the weakest of the four core elements—but I guess he just proved me wrong."
Jericho glanced toward Vetra, admiration evident.
"Jericho," Erica said calmly, arms crossed, "you of all people should know none of nature's elements are weak. It's always about how they're used."
"…True," Jericho admitted with a nod.
"S-so… is he alright?" Rose asked anxiously, eyes locked on Vetra. "He's been down there for a while now."
"He'll be fine," Jericho said reassuringly. "This is his first time releasing soul energy directly from his body. Fatigue like this is normal. Just give him a moment."
"O-oh… okay," Rose replied, visibly relieved.
Clover tilted her head, studying Rose with a knowing smile.
"You've been acting strange lately, Rose—especially when it comes to Vetra. You worry about him an awful lot." Her grin turned mischievous. "Is it what I think it is, my dear assistant?"
Jericho and Erica immediately turned their attention to Rose.
Rose panicked.
"N-no! Of course not, my princess!" she stammered, shaking her head rapidly with a nervous laugh. "Your imagination is running wild again! I just feel bad for him, that's all. He's been through so much already—I don't want more misfortune to fall on him. That's it. Nothing romantic. I promise!"
"I never said anything about romance, dear Rose."
Her flustered expression only made things worse.
Jericho and Erica couldn't help but laugh.
A moment later, Vetra pushed himself up and walked toward them, a wide, satisfied smile on his face despite his exhaustion.
"So?" Jericho asked. "How was it?"
Vetra's smile widened even further.
"It was incredible, Lord Jericho," he said earnestly. "The feeling of the energy flowing through me… releasing it… I'll never forget it. But I clearly still need to work on my control. Thank you for the training."
He bowed deeply.
"No," Jericho replied, smiling warmly. "That power was yours. Every bit of it."
Clover stepped closer, eyes fixed on the mechanical arm.
"And the arm?" she asked. "Anything feel off after using it?"
"Not at all, my princess," Vetra replied confidently. "No temperature fluctuations, no instability. It remained perfectly stable."
Clover nodded, satisfied.
"Good. Still, you'll report in once a month for maintenance so I can keep it in top condition. And if anything ever feels strange—even slightly—you come to me immediately. Understood?"
Vetra nodded and bowed again.
"Of course. Thank you, my princess."
With that, the group began their return to the castle—one step closer to the future they were preparing to face.
⸻
Four more days passed, and the academy's blueprint was finally complete.
After careful review, it was approved by both Jericho and Clover. The next phase began immediately—securing the materials needed for construction. Jericho proposed using the Luxton Star as the core of the academy's foundation. With so many students drawing on Soul Energy—sometimes simultaneously—the structure would need to withstand immense pressure.
The suggestion was met with overwhelming approval from the architects, the council, and King Leohart himself.
However, the plan hinged on one critical condition.
Jericho's success at the Mist Mountains.
A mission he promised—without hesitation—to complete.
King Leohart still insisted Jericho build a city too, not just the academy, a request Jericho thought they had forgotten, but he really did own the land now, and they was no backing from creating his own city or nation.
⸻
Soon after, Jericho and Erica were formally introduced to the people of Warmark as the nation's saviors. The response was overwhelming. A grand parade was held in their honor, stretching through the capital and far beyond. Jericho had never expected such recognition.
By the end of the celebration, there wasn't a single corner of Warmark where their names weren't known.
⸻
When the time finally came for Jericho and Erica to return to Righteous and prepare for the Mist Mountain expedition, farewells were exchanged.
"Uncle Leo," Jericho said, bowing deeply. "Thank you for your warmth and hospitality. You truly made me feel like family during my time here. I'm grateful I could see you again—and I promise it won't be the last."
King Leohart smiled proudly.
Jericho turned next to the duke. "Duke Konrad, it was a pleasure seeing you again. Please continue looking after my uncle, as you always have."
"Of course, Lord Jericho," Konrad replied with a respectful nod.
Jericho then faced Clover's siblings.
"Princess—I mean, Diamond," he corrected himself with a smile. "It was an honor meeting such a promising future ruler. Keep practicing the fundamentals of Soul Energy."
He turned to the twins.
"And Spade, Ace—protect your family."
Diamond stepped forward and hugged Erica. "You two better take care of yourselves."
"Don't worry, Teacher!" Spade said confidently. "We're super strong now—no one can beat us!"
"Come back soon!" Ace added.
Jericho smiled and nodded.
"Vetra," he said, meeting the knight's eyes, "it'll be an honor to fight beside you again. Keep surpassing your limits."
Vetra bowed deeply.
Finally, Jericho stood before Clover.
"For you…" He paused, searching for words. "I honestly don't have enough. The world would've been lost without you. Just promise me one thing—don't overwork yourself. Your health matters more than anything."
Before anyone could react, Clover stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.
The sudden embrace stunned everyone—Jericho most of all.
"Please come back to me," she whispered shakily. "I don't want to lose you a second time."
Jericho's expression softened. He awkwardly hugged her back, with a genuine smile.
"I'm not going anywhere, Clover," he whispered. "I promise. I'll see you again."
Relief flooded through her, and she smiled as she slowly stepped back, her composure returning.
"Rose," Jericho said gently, "keep an eye on Clover for me. She tends to push herself too hard."
"You can count on me, Lord Jericho," Rose replied with a firm nod.
"Alright then," Jericho said, turning to everyone. "We're off. Take care—we'll be back soon."
"Jericho," Clover called out suddenly.
He turned. "Yes?"
"I have something for you."
A strange vehicle rolled into view—smooth, compact, and unlike any carriage or coach they had ever seen.
"Clover… what is this?" Jericho asked, stunned.
"This is the third generation of transport I'm currently developing for the world," Clover said, her hand resting lightly on the machine. "I call it a soul vehicle—because it operates using soul energy."
She took a slow breath, her eyes gleaming with pride.
"I've been working on this concept for a long time. The previous results never matched what I envisioned, which is why I refused to distribute it to the masses. The energy source was unstable—unreliable. But with soul energy…" She smiled. "Every idea I had for its true design finally came to life."
She gestured toward the vehicle.
"This is the result. I plan to distribute it first to the rulers of the Three Powers and our allied nations, then to the nobility—and eventually, to the people themselves. But for now…" Her gaze settled on Jericho. "This one is yours. You will officially be the first person to use a third-generation model."
They all fell silent.
Some stared in utter disbelief. Others looked on with open respect and awe.
"You're telling me you've already mastered soul control to such a degree that you can implement it directly into your research?" Jericho asked, his smile growing wider by the second. He couldn't hide his admiration.
"This is incredible," Erica added softly.
"Yes," Clover replied. "Using soul energy in my work became my greatest motivation. And when I'm motivated…" She paused, then shrugged lightly. "I'm not sure there's much in this world I can't do. No offense—I'm not trying to brag."
Jericho chuckled as he stepped closer, examining the vehicle from every angle. "So… how does it work?"
"As the name suggests, it runs on soul energy," Clover explained. "And the best part is—it requires very little to operate. It also creates new jobs. If a noble or merchant lacks the ability to use it, they can hire someone who can—drivers, escorts, transport specialists."
She pointed to different components as she spoke.
"There's a button to start it. Once activated, you channel a small amount of soul energy into the core. After that, you choose your speed. Direction is controlled by the wheels. To stop, there are two mechanisms—one brake that cuts the soul-energy flow gradually, slowing it safely… and another that expels the energy instantly, bringing it to a complete stop."
She glanced back at Jericho, eyes sharp.
"And yes—it's faster than any horse you've ever seen. Far faster than my second-generation model, the self-moving carriage. To put it into perspective: a journey across Warmark normally takes two and a half days—sometimes more. With this…" She tapped the vehicle. "It'll take an hour. Two at most."
She straightened, satisfied.
Jericho laughed. "You've done it again, Clover. Are you sure I can really have this?"
"Absolutely," she said firmly. "And I won't forgive you if you refuse. I even made it in your favorite colors—blue and black."
Erica stiffened.
{How does she even know that…?}
{No… I can't ignore this anymore.}
"Thank you," Jericho said sincerely. "I'll take good care of it."
He climbed in, Erica taking the passenger seat. With a small infusion of Soul Energy, the vehicle hummed to life.
"…How do I do this again?" he muttered.
Moments later, the vehicle glided forward smoothly.
"Oh—wow," Jericho laughed. "This is amazing."
They waved goodbye as they drove off.
⸻
King Leohart smiled warmly and gently patted Clover's head.
"You've outdone yourself, my dear. I'm proud of you."
After everyone returned inside, Clover remained behind, staring in the direction Jericho had left.
"You can't deny it anymore, Tio," Diamond said. "Something happened between you two."
Clover sighed. "…You're right. I told him how I felt."
Diamond froze. "A-and… what did he say?"
"I didn't let him answer," Clover admitted softly. "And… I kissed him."
Diamond nearly screamed.
⸻
"Wow… this vehicle is incredible," Jericho said with a wide grin as the scenery blurred past them. "Look at how much ground we've already covered. At this pace, we'll reach Righteous in just two days."
He was clearly enjoying every moment of the ride.
Erica, however, remained unusually quiet.
Jericho glanced at her. "Hey, Erica… are you alright? You've been strangely silent this whole time. Knowing you, I was expecting at least three attempts to tease me by now."
She hesitated.
"Jericho…" she said softly, avoiding his gaze. "Did something happen between you and Princess Clover?"
The question caught him completely off guard.
The vehicle swerved slightly before Jericho hurriedly brought it to a stop.
"W-What?" He blinked. "Why would you ask that?"
"No big reason," Erica replied, finally turning to face him. "It's just… I noticed how open and bold Clover became around you later on. It was very different from how she acted when she first saw you again after your return. It was suspicious—so much so that I doubt I'm the only one who noticed."
Jericho exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.
He told her everything—their first meeting, how close they had become, and how, after his return, Clover finally confessed the feelings she had hidden for years.
Erica listened calmly, unsurprised. It had been obvious.
That was… until he added one last thing.
"A-And… s-she kissed me. The night before the meeting."
Erica froze.
"…What?"
Her eyes widened in genuine shock.
"Oh my goodness," she muttered. "Who would've thought Clover would be that assertive…"
There was jealousy there—but far more surprise.
⸻
"WHAT?!"
Princess Diamond nearly choked on her own breath.
"Tio… that bold?" she said in disbelief. "I would never have imagined you doing something like that—especially with how devoted you are to your research."
Clover smiled softly.
"But he's the reason I worked so hard," she admitted. "I wanted to finally begin what we talked about years ago. And when I thought I'd lost him…" Her smile turned bittersweet. "I wanted to keep my promise. I wanted to make him proud."
Her expression brightened.
"Now that he's back—safe—I want us to continue from where we left off. To change this world together. I can't wait to see what we'll achieve."
She couldn't stop smiling.
Princess Diamond watched her quietly, then smiled as well. It was an expression she hadn't seen on her sister's face in years—bright, hopeful, alive.
"I wish you all the best, my little sister," Diamond said warmly, patting Clover's head. "You'll do great things together. I'm rooting for you."
⸻
"…Yeah," Jericho said quietly. "It caught me off guard too. I couldn't sleep after that. Needed to clear my head… so I decided to help the army on the front lines."
"S-So…" Erica hesitated. "Did you give her an answer?"
Her chest tightened as she waited.
Relief washed over her when Jericho shook his head.
"No. Or rather… I couldn't." He sighed. "She didn't want an answer yet. And honestly, I still don't know how to respond. I haven't really thought about it since."
He paused.
"I care about Clover. A lot." His voice softened. "But… with everything going on I don't think this is the right time for something like that."
"That's why it's confusing. Complicated. So I decided to focus on my mission and leave that problem for future me."
Erica's heart ached slightly, but she forced a smile.
"Oh my," she laughed. "Now you see why I call you a lady-killer. Lord knows how many innocent women you've trapped with those sweet words. You're a real pervert, Jericho."
Jericho groaned. "Ha. Very funny. I'm glad my emotional crisis amuses you."
He sighed, then restarted the vehicle. "Shall we?"
They set off once more.
{So that's what you meant…} Erica thought quietly. {Declaring me your rival, Clover.}
She smiled.
{Fine. I accept. And I won't lose.}
Her teasing resumed—louder, brighter, more relentless than before—to Jericho's growing despair as he found himself missing the peaceful silence she'd had earlier.