PRIMORDIAL FURY

The starlit sky shimmered above them, painted in hues of violet, indigo, and celestial blue. The auroras whispered in silence, dancing across the firmament like ancient spirits.

Lunaria smiled gently, warmth blooming in her eyes as Klaus's conviction surged.

"You truly mean it, don't you… to grow stronger."

Her smile widened — serene, proud.

Without a word, she stepped behind him and gently stretched her hand across his upper back.

Klaus tensed. "What's going on?"

"Think of this as the remaining surge of power you missed," she whispered. "I can alter the way your latent power responds — even here."

A pulse of radiant energy flowed from her fingertips into Klaus's spine. He jolted, breath catching as his body began to hum, shifting — as if something dormant had been kicked awake.

Then — his form began to fade.

Lunaria's expression shifted immediately. "Oh no. Time is up."

Klaus's arms flickered like dust in moonlight. "Time—? What's happening?!"

She held his face with both hands, voice firm but warm."Klaus… rise higher than all who came before you. I believe you will unlock the third node. Just don't stop."

A radiant doorway cracked open behind him, pulling at his essence.

Lunaria hugged him tight — whispering into his ear, "This is a little gift from me…"

As his body began to fade, Klaus gritted his teeth. "Wait—how do I come back here?!"

Lunaria's voice grew distant but clear, laced with a knowing smile.

"Either you unlock the second node... or you die. There's only two ways."

Before Klaus could ask, she pushed him into the light. The door shut.

---

Sparks clashed as Sofie and Kael sparred in the yard, sweat gleaming on their brows. Varion stood nearby, arms folded, quietly observing.

Suddenly, Lady Sera came running — breathless, but smiling.

Kael blinked. "Mother?"

But Sofie already understood.

Her eyes widened, and her gear hit the ground before anyone could speak.

"Klaus…"

She sprinted.

Klaus sat up on the bed, groaning as he rubbed his temple. His body was sore — but charged. Something inside had changed.

Then — SLAM!

The door burst open. A blur of motion — then impact.

"YOU JERK!" Sofie cried, crashing into him and wrapping her arms around his chest. "You were asleep for way too long!! I thought—!"

Tears mixed with laughter as she buried her face into him.

Klaus gave a tired chuckle, hand gently patting her head.

"Yeah… I'm back."

Footsteps approached. Lady Sera entered first, her expression soft and warm.

"Welcome back, Klaus."

Even Kael chimed in with a grin: "I missed you too, but not in a weird way. Maybe just a manly admiration thing."

Then — Varion Ignar stepped forward. The room tensed.

Sofie instinctively slid in front of Klaus, arms out. "Wait, wait! If you're gonna fight him right after waking up—!"

But Varion just squinted and leaned in, examining Klaus's face.

"…You've changed."

Klaus stood, now matching Varion's height.

Sofie's jaw dropped. "Wait—what the hell?! When did he get that tall?!"

Even Lady Sera blinked. "Well that's new."

The two men stared at each other — like two lions testing the wind.

Then, Lady Sera sighed and stepped between them.

"The bath is ready, Klaus," she said kindly. "And I've laid out fresh clothes. We'll dine after you're settled."

"Let's give them some space," she added.

Silence.

Sofie slowly turned toward Klaus, still red-faced, still a little teary.

"…You really came back," she whispered, stepping closer.

Klaus nodded, his voice low. "Wouldn't leave you behind."

She smiled — radiant and trembling. "Good."

The moment the door clicked shut behind the others, Sofie stayed behind, turning to Klaus, arms crossed, her eyes studying him—not just his face, but the full presence of him now.

"…You look different," she said, stepping closer. Her eyes wandered—shoulders broader, posture stronger, presence denser. She tilted her head. "You sure you're still the same idiot?"

Klaus raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin curling up. "You checking me out, Sofie? I'm flattered."

Her eyes widened. Smack! Her palm landed right in his gut—not gently.

"Stop being a perv," she scolded, cheeks pink as she huffed.

Klaus winced, rubbing his stomach with a soft chuckle. "Still hits like a truck…"

They both laughed. The atmosphere lightened.

Sofie pointed toward the door. "Alright, go shower. You stink. Like actually—what even is that smell, tree sap and sweat?"

Klaus raised an eyebrow. "It's the scent of survival. You should try it sometime."

As the door closed behind him, silence returned. Klaus stood alone.

He paused.

His expression softened as he recalled Lunaria's last words: "This is a little gift from me…"

"…What gift?" he whispered to himself.

Steam curled in the air. Klaus stood under the hot water, letting it run across his skin. He looked down.

Something had changed.

His muscles were leaner, sharper. His frame taller—more balanced. Every inch of him felt… reforged.

Towel wrapped around his waist, he moved to the mirror.

The reflection staring back looked like someone in his twenties, not fifteen.

He turned, checking the definition of his back and shoulders. "Okay yeah, Lunaria definitely slipped some ancient cheat code in there."

He dressed in the clean clothes Lady Sera had laid out—an elegant, deep navy tunic with silver accents, fitted pants, and leather boots polished to a shine. For a second, he looked like royalty… if royalty had battle-scarred knuckles.

Klaus stepped out, only to immediately freeze.

"…Where the hell's the dining room?"

He turned left. Then right. Then… up a staircase that led to a hallway filled with paintings of serious-looking Ignar ancestors staring him down.

"…Judging me already. Nice."

After wandering into what might've been a storage room and almost walking into a pantry, he finally spotted a maid. She turned—and her breath hitched.

Tall. Sharp-eyed. Presence like a walking storm.

"H-hi! U-um, sir, may I help you?"

"Yeah," Klaus nodded, scratching the back of his neck, "Dinner? I'm kinda lost."

"O-of course!" she squeaked. "R-right this way, please!"

Everyone had already gathered. Kael was halfway through a joke when Klaus walked in behind the maid.

Lady Sera turned to him and smiled warmly. "There you are. My, you're very… handsome, Klaus."

Klaus blinked, froze for a beat, then flushed slightly. "U-uh… thanks?"

Kael and Sofie burst out laughing. Kael elbowed Klaus. "Look at that, the pretty boy's blushing!"

"Shut up," Klaus muttered, hiding his face behind the water glass.

Food was served—roast meat, herb-laced rice, fresh fruit, honeyed bread. Klaus hadn't realized how hungry he was.

As they ate, Lady Sera dabbed her lips, then spoke sweetly, "By the way, it's somebody's birthday in two days…"

Kael immediately turned his head. Varion raised an eyebrow.

Sofie just kept chewing, oblivious.

"…You two gonna stop shoveling food and listen?" Varion asked with a low, amused grunt.

Klaus and Sofie froze, cheeks stuffed.

Varion locked eyes with Sofie. "It's your birthday in two days."

Sofie blinked. "Oh…"

She went quiet. Then her expression softened.

"…I don't even remember the last time I celebrated it," she whispered.

Lady Sera smiled. "Preparations are already underway."

Sofie lit up, smile blooming across her face.

Kael grinned. "Should we get you a crown too? Princess Sofie of Grumpytown?"

Sofie rolled her eyes. "I'll crown you with my fork."

Kael smirked. "Only if you can reach me, shortie—OW!" He yelped as Sofie actually did stab his arm (lightly).

"Still got it," she declared triumphantly.

The dinner had ended in laughter and warmth, and Klaus, still adjusting to the strange comfort of peace, quietly began walking back to his room through the soft-lit hallways of the estate.

But before he could reach the corner, a hand suddenly grabbed his wrist and yanked him back.

"Huh—!?"

Sofie grinned up at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Follow me."

Klaus blinked. "Should I be worried?"

"Shut up and walk," she said with a teasing smirk, tugging him along.

They weaved through corridors, climbed a narrow spiral staircase tucked behind a velvet curtain, and finally emerged at the very top of the estate—onto an open, secluded terrace.

The night opened wide around them.

Above, the sky was painted in deep sapphire and violet. The moon hung heavy and silver, casting its glow across the estate rooftops. Stars shimmered like scattered diamonds, and a soft wind danced through the leaves of the nearby trees, carrying with it the faint scent of lavender and earth.

Sofie sat down gently on the smooth stone, hugging her knees as she looked out over the moonlit hills.

Klaus stood still, watching her in silence.

She didn't say anything at first—just admired the sky.

But Klaus… he didn't care about the moon.

He was looking at her.

The wind caught Sofie's hair and swept it across her face, and in that moment, with the moon behind her and starlight in her eyes, she looked like something pulled from a dream.

Klaus sat beside her quietly.

She smiled, softly. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

His eyes never left her.

"…Yeah," he said quietly. "It is."

The night air was cool and gentle, but Sofie's heart beat with a warmth she could no longer keep hidden.

She turned her head slightly, gazing at Klaus beside her—his features calm but unreadable under the silver light. Her chest rose and fell a little quicker. Her hands curled slightly over her knees.

Then she said it—quietly, almost unsure at first.

"Klaus… I want to say something."

Klaus glanced over, noticing the seriousness in her tone. "Yeah?"

Sofie hesitated. Her cheeks were already flushed. Her lips trembled with both fear and excitement.

"I love you, Klaus."

Klaus froze. Eyes wide. Breath caught.

She waited.

Nothing.

Sofie blinked. "…H-Hello?"

Still nothing. Klaus stood there like a statue.

Sofie's cheeks puffed up,she stood, fists clenched at her sides and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Did you hear what I said?! I LOVE YOU!!!"

Her voice echoed through the vast estate sky, loud enough to probably wake half the guards.

Klaus panicked, hands up in surrender, eyes wide. "Okay okay! I heard you!!" His face was glowing red, and he was desperately trying to turn his head away. "I… I love you too," he mumbled, half-hiding behind his hand.

Sofie's eyes lit up. "You do?!"

"Y-Yeah…"

Overcome with joy, she jumped up and down like a child who had just gotten their favorite dessert. "You know," she grinned playfully, "I read in a book that when a boy and a girl confess their love… they kiss."

Klaus's face went pale. "Wh-What?!"

"Yep!" she said, stepping closer. "That's what it said!"

Klaus looked like he was ready to teleport. "I—I don't even know how that works!"

"I'll show you," she said softly, stepping in again.

Klaus gulped. "You will?"

Sofie nodded, her voice now a whisper. "Mhm."

They stood there, barely inches apart, and suddenly everything else—the wind, the moon, the world—faded into silence.

Their hearts thundered in their chests, so loud it felt like they could hear each other's. Klaus looked into Sofie's shining eyes, and she into his, both trembling, both glowing.

And then…

Slowly…

They leaned in.

Their eyes fluttered closed.

Their lips met.

Time stood still.

In that perfect moment, under the

moonlight, two hearts spoke the language of love without a single word.

Just like the book said.