Kirito: Limitless Data Across Infinite Worlds

That night, the four human empires of the Underworld were conquered unexpectedly.

The silent web woven by Kirito and his allies activated flawlessly.

In every corner, stealth was the sword.

Strategy was the victory.

And the truth… the final punishment.

Thanks to his personal transport network—a precise and silent creation—Kirito was able to move swiftly between the hidden bastions of each emperor.

Each arrival was a strategic fracture: the golem spiders, invisible in the darkness, dismantled defense systems, opened sealed routes, and sowed chaos without making a sound.

Simultaneously, from the skies, multiple squadrons of mecha-dragons executed tactical attacks with precision.

Although many contributed to the aerial offensive, it was Vaelinne and Lyrielle who led the operation from the front, coordinating every trajectory, every descent, and every blockade of hostile routes.

Under their command, the units intercepted airborne reinforcements, disabled weapon systems before they could synchronize their defenses, and neutralized any attempt at aerial counterattack from the imperial bastions.

Their reaction capacity, combined with absolute mastery over combat formations, allowed them to disable even thermal shields and automated platforms before they could activate, just at the moment when systems began to fail.

Without them—and without the squadrons of mecha-dragons they commanded—the skies would have represented a chaotic and unpredictable threat.

But that night... they remained under absolute control.

Kirito prevented the emperors from communicating with each other, sealing all channels of assistance before they even realized they were under attack.

Thus, none of them were alert when the time came to be invaded and conquered… that very night.

Agmar was the first. The only one who, at the moment of his defeat, tried to take his own life, confronting Kirito with uncontrolled fury and absolute despair.

The three others, Kirito located in their respective fortresses, each confident in their strategic isolation.

He confronted them directly, one by one, without avoiding physical combat… but revealing his presence only at the last moment.

The battle was never fair.

Kirito moved with surgical precision, dodging every attack, responding with measured force, breaking tactics before they could be executed.

Every step he took disarmed the will of his enemies more than their weapons.

And the most shocking thing: he never wounded them. He didn't need to do so.

He simply showed them, with every movement, that there was no escape.

Every movement was cold, calculated, and definitive.

As the emperors tried to react, they discovered that their attacks were futile, their defenses vulnerable, their strategies already anticipated.

And slowly, fear turned into resignation.

Not from a fatal blow… but from the absolute certainty that they were facing someone they could not defeat.

It was then that, without the need for more violence, their minds began to yield.

Defeat did not come from strength… it came from understanding.

And in that moment…

Kirito implanted a golden sphere in the center of the forehead of each one.

The artifact he had perfected after years of study in the Hidden Library.

A tiny sphere, designed to force the mind to speak for itself: without lying, without silence, without distortion.

It was a tool to safeguard justice. Not out of hatred, but out of prevention. And most importantly: none of them could reveal who the real executor was.

Kirito had kept his identity completely hidden during each confrontation, covered from head to toe in his dark suit, moving like an Integrity knight, leaving no traces or personal signals.

In the eyes of the fallen, he was a nameless shadow.

A perfect strategy to ensure that when it was all over, not even the defeated knew whom they feared.

Meanwhile, the ground forces of the Kingdom—previously distributed in each imperial bastion—executed their part of the plan with relentless precision and silent discipline.

They were not fast units like the mecha-dragons that soared through the sky, but their intervention was equally decisive: they took control of hidden fortresses, blocked internal routes, intercepted reinforcements on the ground, and secured access before the emperors had a chance to resist, either physically or morally.

In the days prior, they had stealthily infiltrated key regions, waiting for the right moment: the failure of systems, the roar above from the mecha-dragons… and finally, the opening of the internal doors caused by the enigmatic infiltrator.

That was the agreed moment.

And when the troops entered… it was already too late for resistance.

The emperors were unconscious. Captured.

None could move.

None could order.

In all cases, the real confrontation… had happened earlier.

Silent. Precise. Irreversible.

And the one responsible—the one who defeated and disappeared without leaving traces—was never there when the soldiers arrived.

That only fueled the doubts.

The figure of the infiltrator, already mentioned in tactical reports, began to turn into a myth among the troops.

Who could move between empires in a single night?

Who could defeat militarily trained leaders without leaving traces or witnesses?

The soldiers, although confused, fulfilled their duty without hesitation.

They could not wait for answers.

They could only advance, secure the bastions… and acknowledge that that night

the Kingdom had conquered the unconquerable.

What would have been a catastrophic war transformed into a surgical operation.

A single night… was enough to change everything.

*****

Several days had passed since the night the four human empires of the Underworld were conquered.

The echo of that operation still resonated in the halls of the Kingdom, but now, the focus was on the public trials held against the captured emperors.

The interrogations, conducted under strict supervision, left no room for doubt.

The confessions were clear, direct… and disturbing.

Each of the four leaders admitted their involvement in conspiracies, sabotage, and coup plans against the Kingdom, confessing in clear detail that could only be extracted from the deepest recesses of their minds.

They even revealed that, on the planet Admina—thanks to the support of their allies—they had established an almost complete experimental base, intended to carry out hidden developments, offensive preparations against the Kingdom, and systems designed to manipulate and control the technological growth of their civilization.

The strange thing— the unsettling thing—was that none could resist.

There were no screams.

There were no denials.

Just words pouring out as if they were being torn from them by an invisible force.

Before being sentenced, their faces showed a mix of helplessness and bewilderment.

Some tried to blame the interrogators, accusing them of having manipulated their minds.

Others simply repeated that they did not understand how they had said what they said from the moment they regained consciousness.

It was as if the words had been spoken without their control… as if their minds had revealed more than they wished to remember.

But when all four coincided in describing the same individual—a hooded figure, dressed in black, with an impossible-to-ignore presence—the Kingdom understood that this infiltrator was not a simple spy.

He was someone who had achieved the unthinkable.

Someone who had defeated all four without being recognized.

Someone who had made the truth reveal itself without violence… but without an option for escape.

At the start of the operation, the high command of the Kingdom received reports indicating the presence of at least one infiltrator in each fortress where the emperors were hiding.

But the truth was revealed by lips that could not lie:

there were not four infiltrators... but only one.

One with such power that, according to the emperors themselves, surpassed any Integrity Knight ever recorded in history.

As for the sentencing of the emperors and their allies, it was inevitable.

The crimes were too grave.

The peace that had reigned for years had been put at risk by their hidden conspiracies, sabotage, and plans for domination.

The Kingdom could not afford leniency or exceptions.

They were publicly condemned, and their names were marked as traitors to the stability of the human world.

However, the most important promise—not to harm the innocent families related to the traitors—was fulfilled without fail.

No collective reprisals were carried out, nor was the punishment allowed to extend beyond what was just.

That gesture showed not only the dominance of the Kingdom but also its mercy.

And with that, it earned the respect of both its citizens and former allies watching from afar.

A systematic cleansing was carried out throughout the territory,

a deep restructuring that, while leaving scars, brought with it a new balance…

and a different peace, more conscious, more difficult to break.

Shortly after the execution of the traitors and the structural cleansing throughout the territory, the Kingdom initiated a process of formal recognition.

All involved in the nighttime operation—those who risked their lives to prevent a mistake from turning success into a prolonged war—were rewarded.

They received medals, salary increases, promotions, and prestige for their families.

Those with more modest desires were granted personalized benefits: access to improved weaponry, technical authorizations, or logistical privileges.

Additionally, everyone gained the right to take breaks when deemed necessary, as long as internal order was coordinated to ensure the smooth functioning of the Kingdom.

The squadrons of mecha-dragons—especially the Integrity pilots who led the aerial offensive—were publicly honored.

Like the ground units, whose strategic operators consolidated the victory on imperial soil with exemplary discipline.

But there was one exception.

A name that was never mentioned, nor recognized.

One that, in fact, was prohibited from being named in official records, as it was under investigation and scrutiny: The Dark Infiltrator.

The one who moved like a ghost.

The one who shaped the plan, executed the sabotage network, and disappeared without a trace.

No one knew it was Kirito.

And the Kingdom… feared what it did not understand.

Fear can blind.

For although there were those who tried to defend him and speak of the fact that he also deserved merit and recognition, there were more who opposed than those who agreed on it. In the end, those who did not want to give him that credit won.

And that fear led to rejecting all merit, ignoring the sacrifice, and avoiding even mentioning his existence.

Vaelinne and Lyrielle, although they were rewarded as expected, were also watched like never before.

They were the only ones who had direct contact with the Dark Infiltrator.

From him, they received strategic plans, key documents, and instructions to execute the nighttime strike.

All of this, combined with their outstanding capabilities and revolutionary ideas—many of which benefited the Kingdom and the development of Admina—began to raise suspicions.

What once seemed brilliant…

now was viewed with distrust.

Not for what they did.

But for whom they did it with…

Unbeknownst to all scrutinizing eyes, that figure was finalizing the last details of his next plan.

Not by mandate. Not by duty.

But by his own decision.

The most difficult he would take… In all his life... Until now.

*****

A large part of the Hidden Library was silent…

**Tsssss… chik-chik…**

**Krrrk… tink!**

But in the center of it, right where Kirito had set up his workstation, there was a faint, constant buzzing, a subtle sound but full of purpose.

**Tsssss… chik-chik…**

**Krrrk… tink!**

The only noise that broke the stillness was the tool Kirito held between his fingers: a precision pen, thin and metallic, with a lit tip that emitted a sharp white light, like an energy needle.

**Bzzzzzz… Bzzzzzz…**

The faint buzzing it emitted mingled with the whisper of energy processed by the test battery resting beside him.

Kirito was sitting in a low support chair, with a firm back and a metal structure, designed for long hours of work.

In front of him, a wide and robust workbench, originally intended for reading, but now transformed into an improvised laboratory.

Its metallic surface was covered with tools, plates, cables, and components arranged with meticulous order.

He wore a slightly wrinkled blue shirt with oil and dust stains on the edges.

His dark, durable, and functional pants showed signs of wear at the knees.

His sturdy-soled shoes were stained with welding residue and metal particles.

It was evident that he had been working for hours, perhaps days, without rest.

On the table, held by an articulated metal base, were the two golem hands.

Each was raised in a semi-fallen position, with five fingers extended at natural angles.

Although they were made of non-organic materials, they displayed an unexpected splendor and delicacy that defied mechanical logic.

Their size corresponded to that of an average human hand, and especially the fingers — due to their meticulous design, precise curves, and realistic proportions — seemed molded from a living figure.

The entire structure spoke of the effort invested, of countless hours of study and refinement.

Anyone who saw them at a glance… might think they were human.

The first one was already finished:

its joints were smooth, its grooves defined, and its texture mimicked human skin with surprising realism.

The second, still in process, received all of Kirito's attention.

**Tsssss… chik-chik…**

**Krrrk… tink!**

Kirito moved the tool with a firm and controlled pulse, like a surgeon in the middle of an operation.

Each time he brought it closer to the surface of the golem hand, a soft crackling could be heard, like the brush of electricity over treated metal.

**Tsssss... Chik-chik… krrrk…**

His wrist turned delicately, tracing curved lines over the thumb joint, then slowly descending towards the index finger, where he carved a connection channel with short, precise movements.

Each gesture was measured: there were no tremors, no doubts.

Only absolute concentration.

**Clink…Shff…**

From time to time, he would slightly tilt his head, adjusting the angle of his magnifying glasses, which allowed him to see the finest details of the work.

It was not a microscopic job, but it was meticulous, like someone intervening in delicate tissues.

His blue eyes followed each stroke with intensity, and his lips moved barely, as if murmuring calculations or recalling memorized patterns.

**Tink!**

**Fsshhh… Fsshhh…**

Each stroke of the illuminated pen opened fine channels on the surface of the hand, allowing the internal sensors to align with the response circuits.

Around the hands, distributed in a semicircle on the table, were connection plates.

Each had a different shape: some rectangular, others curved, others with irregular edges.

They were made of various materials — metal, glass, thermal polymers — and showed areas of condensation, overheating points, and transmission lines that glowed faintly.

Each plate served a specific function: some processed signals, others distributed energy, and others took care of translating gestures into commands.

**Click… click… whirr…**

Kirito extended his left hand to adjust one of the plates, turning a small dial that regulated the temperature of a thermal section.

**Tsssss… krrrk…**

Then he returned to the golem hand, lowering the tool with millimeter precision, and traced a line connecting two more response nodes.

**Bzzzz… pip… pip… pip…**

To his left, the test battery emitted rhythmic pulses, sending energy through the cables connected to the plates distributed on the table.

**Hummm…**

The sound was an electric whisper, constant, like an artificial breath keeping the system alive.

It was not the definitive source, but it served to simulate the real behavior of the system.

From it, thin cables extended to the plates, and from the plates to the golem hands, forming a complex yet perfectly organized network.

To Kirito's right, on an elevated platform, rested a crown-shaped sensor.

Its structure was lightweight, with flexible filaments that adjusted to the head.

In the center, a circular slot allowed the insertion of a sphere — a memory stone — that, when activated, connected with the plates distributed on the table.

The sensor could be placed on the head, and then disconnected, allowing the gestures imagined by the user to be translated into movement patterns for the golem hands.

The entire system was interconnected:

The crown to the sensor.

The sensor to the plates.

The plates to the hands.

The battery to everything.

It was a work of advanced engineering, built in a world where technology of that level was either non-existent or ignored.

Each component, each adjustment, each decision… was the result of years of work, study, and adaptation.

Kirito was not seeking recognition.

He only wanted it to work.

The atmosphere was almost sacred.

Each movement had a purpose.

Each sound was part of a silent symphony of engineering.

And in the midst of that wide space, surrounded by distant shelves and technology that seemed out of place in that world…

Kirito worked.

With precision.

With patience.

With purpose.

It was not a mechanical job.

It was an extension of his thought.

A way to prepare for what was coming very soon... His Escape.

(—"It's almost Ready.")

**Zzt… Wuhhhm… Blink!**

As he meditated, a familiar sound resonated in the air: the access portal.

Kirito did not stop.

He didn't even glance up.

That energetic pulse — that cutting vibration in the atmosphere — was something he knew well.

He had heard it too many times.

He knew how to distinguish it...

And now, that specific fluctuation… told him it was them: Vaelinne and Lyrielle.

(—"So they are here...")

Kirito thought with a slight smile...

But he was in the middle of a critical point.

The line he was carving had to close in harmony with the internal nodes.

A minimal error would be enough to compromise the total response of the system.

Besides, he hadn't expected them.

In previous days he had calculated the probable moment they could arrive.

But they didn't show up.

He had to continue with his routine, preparing the final details for his plan, not knowing when he would see them again.

Now… they had arrived.

**Fwooshhh**

The buzzing of the portal faded, like a breath that goes out.

**Tsssss… krrrk…**

Kirito was still tracing the last connection, but in that moment, he heard from afar:

—"Kiritoooo? Where are you?!"

Vaelinne's strong voice echoed through the hallways.

—"Here!"

He replied without lifting his gaze, but projecting his voice firmly so they could hear him from where they were.

—"Ah! Are you at the workbench?!"

Soon he received Vaelinne's response, who didn't mind shouting enthusiastically, unlike Lyrielle...

—"Yes!"

Kirito gave a very short reply again.

—"We're on our way, Kirito!"

Her cheerful voice returned...

With that, Kirito refocused on his work ahead.

**Tap... tap... tap...**

**Tap... tap... tap...**

**Fsshhh… Fsshhh…**

Kirito finished the last line on the golem wrist, while he listened to the soft but heavy footsteps of the girls approaching.

Even before their figures became fully visible in the entrance hallway, Vaelinne's voice broke the calm like lightning among clouds.

—"I swear if they looked at me one more time like I was a suspect..."

—"Shhhhs... Vaelinne… silence."

Lyrielle interrupted her the moment she saw Kirito so focused on the golem hands.

With a slight gesture of her eyes, she indicated the reason.

Vaelinne followed the direction of her gaze, understood immediately, and said nothing more.

(—"I understand.")

**Shff... tap... tap... tap...**

**Shff... tap... tap... tap...**

She nodded and began to walk more carefully.

Both wore their standard ground pilot uniforms, a usual requirement to avoid suspicion when leaving the surveillance perimeter.

Vaelinne wore her red suit, with white lateral lines marking her rank and characteristic style.

Lyrielle wore her blue one, sober and fitted, also with white details on the edges of the torso and sleeves, showing a discreet elegance and authority.

**Rustle… thump… clink-clink…**

**Rustle-rustle… bump… clink… thmp-thmp…**

Each carried a reinforced fabric bag, full of provisions.

It was normal to bring something every time they came, but this time they had brought more than usual.

**Tsssss… tink…**

Kirito, still not looking up, made the last adjustment on the golem wrist circuit.

**Zzzzip… hum…**

The channel glowed softly upon completing its internal connection.

From his profile, he effortlessly recognized the sound of footsteps, the rustling of bags, the brushing of fabric, and the contact of soles against the metal floor.

He didn't need to see them to know they had arrived.

—"Welcome, girls. Give me a moment... We'll be able to talk normally soon."

He said in a calm voice, still not turning, keeping his pulse completely steady.

The stability was not casual… it was the result of so many years of silent practice.

**Rustle… thmp… mmh…**

Vaelinne, with a contained smile, murmured as she set her bag aside, in a corner of the table:

—"Take it easy. We're not here to interrupt you… for now."

Lyrielle watched him closely before silently nodding.

**Rustle… thmp… mmh…**

She placed her bag next to the other and replied:

—"Thanks, but it's fine."

**Thmp… rustle…**

The girls took a seat on the low benches next to the workbench.

—"Haaaah…"

Vaelinne let out a long sigh, as if she could finally breathe easy after so long.

**Shff… tap… mmh…**

Lyrielle crossed one leg over the other and lowered her gaze, allowing the environment to speak for itself.

(—"This looks amazing...")

(—"Fantastic.")

Although both remained silent, their thoughts were very different. However, the origin of each was right in front of them.

It was a landscape they had never seen before: a space full of components, connected plates, pieces distributed with intent, and an atmosphere of precision hard to ignore.

And the creator of all this was Kirito.

Over the years, he had told them very little about his escape plans and the technology he would use to make it a reality.

He always told them that knowing more than necessary could affect the outcome.

That's why seeing him now fully at work, without hiding it, was a rarity.

A moment they did not intend to waste.

**Tsssss… tink…**

The material reacted with a faint flash, signaling that the energy flow had closed correctly.

**Hummm… tik… ssssrrrk…**

**Whrrrr… tap-tap…**

And as if the hand had a life of its own, it moved slightly upon finishing the union of its complex system.

The gesture was sudden, involuntary… but completely real.

—"!..."

—"!..."

The girls jumped, caught by the surprise of seeing something so advanced react on its own.

An unplanned reflex.

An indication that what they were witnessing was not just a set of pieces… but something that was beginning to come to life on its own.

—"Done, it's finished..."

Kirito said softly.

Unlike their reaction to what had happened, he simply smiled with satisfaction upon seeing that he had managed to complete it.

He knew that this reaction was more than a random movement.

It was a good sign.

The synchronization between components had reached its stable point.

The connection was alive.

**Clink... slide... tssshhh…**

Kirito finally lifted his gaze from his work and carefully removed his magnifying glasses from his eyes, placing them on the table. A serene smile crossed his face. Upon seeing them, the tension surrounding him seemed to dissipate for a second.

—"How are you? It's been longer than usual since the last time you were here."

—"Well, you're right... we're exhausted, but we're fine."

Lyrielle replied calmly, nodding. Fatigue was evident on her face.

—"Don't remind me how hard it was to get here, Kirito."

Vaelinne made a displeased face thinking about everything they had gone through.

—"Is that so? Well, I'll wait for you to tell me about it later..."

Kirito didn't continue on that topic. When Vaelinne responded, Lyrielle subtly tensed.

It was something that would have escaped the notice of others... but not him, who knew her very well.

Despite the greeting, both were still observing the golem hands, the plates, the sensors, the tools neatly arranged on the table.

It was like looking at a living map of logic and precision.

Vaelinne, noticing that Kirito had caught the curiosity in her expression, averted her gaze with a slight uncomfortable gesture.

With her hand, she pointed to the bags they had left on the side table, searching for an excuse to justify her earlier gesture.

—"We brought more than usual, as you can see. We want to prepare a victory feast... and celebrate properly."

—"What you did for the kingdom, for us, deserves that and much more, Kirito."

Lyrielle added sincerely at her side.

However, Kirito, while continuing to observe their physiological communication with total concentration, noticed that both were holding something that bothered them inside... in addition to a certain sadness.

("—I shouldn't bring it up... It's better to let them be the ones to do it.")

Kirito thought seriously to himself while responding with a smile on the outside:

—"Thank you very much... but I did it from the heart. It doesn't matter if I receive nothing more than this celebration with you, girls."

He then lowered his gaze to his stained clothes, his fingers still marked by work.

—"I guess I'll have to be the cook for the great victory feast, even if you have to wait for me to bathe... right?"

Vaelinne returned a playful smile. She didn't want to let that comment slip and said:

—"Of course it will be you. Who else? I'm not good at cooking… and my friend here, although better than me by double, knows more theory than practice. Though I must say: we've improved a lot thanks to you."

Lyrielle turned her face and shot Vaelinne a neutral, almost sharp look as she commented:

—"Is that how you thank me, Vaelinne...? After all I did to help you improve in the academy with the theory, you call me mediocre in the kitchen?"

Vaelinne realized her slip. She quickly raised both hands as if confessing the most serious crime.

—"No, no! I didn't mean that, Lyrielle..."

Lyrielle slowly shook her head and replied without raising her tone:

—"Don't worry... it's fine. Although I've certainly improved much more."

Kirito watched them, half amused, half resigned.

—"I'm being honest. You are much better than before... but I don't think I'll get out of this."

—"That's right... It's your turn."

Vaelinne said without any hesitation.

Kirito let out a slight laugh, and Lyrielle, caught up in the moment, smiled while covering her mouth to contain the laughter that was already escaping her. Vaelinne, unable to resist, joined in with her unmistakable laughter, creating a contagious chain that enveloped all three of them.

The laughter they shared didn't arise from the comment itself but from something deeper and older among the three. The girls knew that Kirito's apparent resistance to cooking was just a facade— a habit he used to adopt out of pride or playfulness. In reality, he had felt a true fascination for delicious food many years ago. It wasn't something he discovered while cooking, but much earlier. It was that silent passion, that rooted taste, that led him to take the reins when he noticed that there would be no one else who could prepare it as he imagined.

Thus, he was determined to improve. Not as a competition, but as a logical, almost mathematical progression. Every dish that came from his hands was a sensory experiment and a way to release tensions. Cooking became his refuge—a point of escape from so many uncertain future schemes. There, in front of the ingredients and the heat of the fire, he found himself again. He felt calm, but also purpose.

And although he didn't seek recognition, he genuinely enjoyed when others savored his dishes. That expression of surprise, that brief moment of silence in which the flavor speaks for itself... it was something that generated subtle but profound pleasure. Sometimes, compliments made him uncomfortable, and the girls affectionately criticized him for not celebrating his own improvements. But he had a different way of evaluating: not by flattery, but by precision, by internal perception, by the possibility of doing even better next time.

That's why, when jokes arose about his culinary evolution, he laughed without needing to respond. Because that mix of affection, custom, and complicity was imbued with meaning. Because cooking was not just an activity: it was a small intimate victory he shared with those who understood him the most.

—"Alright, I'll do it..."

**Fssh... Tap**

Kirito slightly raised from his seat and looked at the girls with renewed attention as he placed his left hand on the table.

—"But before we get to that, I'd like to try this... Don't you want to know what it does?"

Both looked at him with evident curiosity.

Vaelinne tilted her head with contained excitement, while Lyrielle, more reserved, scanned the devices on the table with her gaze.

—"If it's something private, as you said before... is it really necessary?"

Lyrielle asked cautiously, trying to contain her curiosity and respect Kirito's possible secrets.

—"It's true, Kirito... We don't want to force you to show us something you'd prefer to keep secret."

Vaelinne added, regaining some composure after hearing her companion.

—"Don't worry."

Kirito replied with a confident but relaxed tone as he pointed to the golem hands.

—"You can see it. In fact... I'll need both of your help for the final test."

The two smiled at the gesture of trust.

**Rustle… Step…**

**Rustle… Step…**

They rose from their chairs and, without touching anything, approached slowly, observing every detail with attention: the connected plates, the tools arranged with precision, the base of the golem hands, the reader, and the crown-shaped sensor. Each element gleamed softly under the workshop light.

Kirito pointed to the crown-shaped sensor, whose fibers extended like branches of an adaptive hive.

—"What does it do exactly?"

Lyrielle asked calmly, but her eyes told another story.

—"It's a very strange crown..."

Vaelinne said, on the verge of jumping in to try it.

—"Well... why don't you see it with your own eyes? Who wants to be the first?"

**Clink…**

Kirito responded with a mysterious smile and, taking it from the table, held it carefully.

To everyone's surprise, including the always effusive Vaelinne, it was Lyrielle who stepped forward with almost scientific determination.

**Swish…**

With a silent movement, she stepped ahead for just a second, gently taking the crown from Kirito's hands.

—"Huh?"

Vaelinne was left with her hands outstretched just where the crown had been and, upon seeing it in Lyrielle's hands, exclaimed:

—"That's not fair, Lyrielle! How did you move faster than me?"

Lyrielle elegantly ignored her and turned to Kirito, who smiled at her playfully.

She asked:

—"What exactly should I do? Just put it on?"

—"Correct. First put it on... Then I'll tell you what to do."

Vaelinne crossed her arms, feeling excluded for not being the first.

—"This is unfair..."

—"Come on, Vaelinne. It's not like you won't get to use it too. You just have to wait a little longer."

Kirito told her compassionately.

She, upon hearing him, smiled and lowered her arms.

—"You're right... Well, whatever. This will allow me to see what will happen when it's my turn."

**shfff… zzzt… click… whummm…**

Meanwhile, Lyrielle placed the crown on her head. The filaments adjusted effortlessly and without pressure. The hive molded gently to her shape as if it recognized her.

—"Wow... It looks good on you."

Vaelinne said, admiringly.

—"You look like a princess... or a queen."

Lyrielle smiled slightly. Looking at Kirito, her eyes conveyed that she was ready for the next step.

—"Well... now we need this..."

**Plink...**

Kirito said as he picked up a small, shiny white sphere.

Its internal facets were polished and flawless.

He placed it in the empty core of the crown, fitting it with a soft sound:

**Klik... Vmmmm...**

**Vwoom...**

The sphere glowed with a deep blue.

**Fwoooosh... Crackle... Shimmer...**

The crown, which until that moment seemed inactive, burst into splendor. Lines with symbols of the same blue began to light up, revealing themselves for the first time.

**shfft... zzzrmm... fssssss... tchak!**

—"!..."

Lyrielle was surprised... and also startled. She felt a light presence briefly penetrating her consciousness, although the moment was as fleeting as it was intense.

—"Are you okay, Lyrielle?"

Vaelinne asked, a bit worried upon noticing her reaction.

**Tap… tap…**

Kirito placed his hands on Lyrielle's shoulders and said in a reassuring tone:

—"Don't worry or be afraid, Lyrielle... That feeling is normal. It's necessary for it to work."

He then looked at Vaelinne and added:

—"It's something I've experienced thousands of times... I would never put you at risk with something I haven't tested or that doesn't make me feel secure."

Lyrielle slightly lowered her gaze, but a faint smile appeared on her face, maintaining her calm.

—"We know, Kirito... If you say it's safe, it is."

She then turned to her friend.

—"Thank you for being attentive, Vaelinne. Really."

She said warmly.

—"It was just an intense moment... like a shiver. It caught me by surprise, but nothing serious. It's already passed."

Vaelinne nodded, relieved by the response.

—"That's fine... I'm glad."

A bit embarrassed by her reaction, she looked at Kirito and added:

—"It's just that I worried about the surprise, Kirito... even if it was brief. And I know you're someone to trust."

—"It's normal to feel that way, Vaelinne... so let's not dwell on it."

Kirito raised his right hand in front of them and waved it back and forth, downplaying the matter.

Lyrielle, now with calmer eyes and a confident expression, said to him:

—"Then, let's continue with the test... Just tell me what you need me to do, Kirito."

—"Now... imagine that you're greeting or saying goodbye to someone from a distance. Imagine your hand moving. Nothing more. Just the thought, without actually moving your hand."

**Shhhft... shhhft...**

Kirito indicated, while accompanying his words with a clear gesture of his own hand.

—"I understand..."

Lyrielle said before closing her eyes with serenity.

She visualized the action in detail: her arm extended, the open hand, the gesture of farewell that Kirito had shown her precisely.

Without moving a single muscle, she simply imagined it.

...

But the golem hands did not react.

Not even a small gesture.

Not as they had moments before when Kirito finished assembling them.

Vaelinne frowned, not taking her eyes off the immobile hands.

—"Shouldn't they move?"

Lyrielle slowly opened her eyes, not losing her calm, but with a hint of doubt in her voice.

—"Did it fail...? Or did I do something wrong?"

Kirito gently shook his head.

—"No. It's working. Keep imagining... What works better is using a vivid memory."

Lyrielle closed her eyes again.

This time with more concentration.

The mental image became firmer, more precise... thanks to the memory she used following Kirito's suggestion...

*****

**Thffft... ssshh... pmm-pmm...**

The garden was filled with muted sounds, whispering leaves, and lost footsteps.

Little Lyrielle ran among the paths of the maze, playing with Vaelinne... until she realized she was alone. The green walls seemed to close in.

**Hic... hic... fffsshhh... crk-crk...**

She cried, searching without finding an exit.

Then, from above, she heard his voice:

—"So here you were... Don't worry, Lyrielle. Everything is fine... everyone has been looking for you, especially your mother."

**Fffsssshhhhhh...**

She lifted her eyes. Kirito descended from the sky, like a luminous silhouette amidst the confusion.

**Tap-tap-tap... ffffshfft...**

**Thmm—shhhfft... krrk...**

She ran to him without thinking. He held her firmly.

—"Let's go find her."

—"Hummm..."

She just nodded from her place, leaning against Kirito's chest, as a sign of agreement.

**Ffffsshhhhh... woooosh...**

As they smoothly traversed the air over the garden, Lyrielle spotted the figure of a woman identical to her, worried.

—"Look at her."

Kirito murmured in her ear.

—"Why don't you greet her from here... and show her how you feel?"

**Shhhft... shhhft... shhhft**

Lyrielle, still with wet cheeks, shyly waved her hand, but her smile burst forth with strength. The woman smiled too and returned the gesture.

**Hhfff... tchk... whmm**

In that instant, while embracing Kirito with gratitude, something inside her lit up. That greeting engraved a truth: that someone would always come for her...

*****

**Vmmm…**

The glow of the blue stone on the crown intensified for a moment, as if responding to the weight of the memory.

**Vmmm… vmmm…**

**Whmm... kchhh—glint—tmmm...**

The glow of the blue stone continued to intensify, but suddenly, a tiny point on its surface began to shine differently.

Although the stone was small and polished, this new glow stood out: a firm white light, like a pulse frozen in the center of its core.

**Tmmm... kchhh—etching—whhhss...**

At first glance, it seemed just a reflected fragment, but Kirito and Vaelinne—who were observing from outside—saw how that white point began to draw tiny inscriptions, like symbols embedded within, almost imperceptible.

—"I see something, Kirito!"

Exclaimed Vaelinne, pointing with contained emotion at the small stone.

Upon hearing her, Lyrielle opened her eyes just a little. Her gaze instinctively sought the golem hands, hoping for some mechanical reaction.

...

But there was no movement.

Kirito noticed it immediately.

—"Keep concentrating. What's happening doesn't come from the hands… it's from the stone, above."

He said softly, almost whispering.

Lyrielle nodded without responding, and closed her eyes more firmly, focusing all her thought once again.

Now she understood that the system was not just reactive… it also recorded.

And she knew that when it was Vaelinne's turn, she would see it with her own eyes, as a spectator.

Meanwhile, Vaelinne asked anxiously:

—"What is that...? What is it doing?"

Vaelinne asked, not taking her eyes off the luminous inscription.

Kirito maintained his calm tone, without yielding:

—"Not yet Vaelinne..."

—"What do you mean not yet? Are you going to make me wait right now?"

She insisted, between growing curiosity and a slight playful complaint.

—"Wait your turn. After all, that's what you wanted, right?"

He replied with a half-smile, almost in a playful tone.

—"Haaaah..."

**Hhhfff... shhh**

Vaelinne let out a sigh and crossed her arms in resignation.

—"Okay... I grant you this, but only for this time."

Kirito looked back at Lyrielle, who was maintaining the visualization steadily, her expression more serene than before.

—"You can stop thinking now, Lyrielle. The test is done."

**Fffssh… blink—whmm…**

Just at that moment, the white light faded with a slight flash, and although the stone remained illuminated in its blue hue, the original intensity was no longer there.

It seemed as if the mark had been imprinted, like a code that had stopped transmitting actively.

Lyrielle gently opened her eyes.

**Shffft… clink—hfff...**

With both hands, she carefully removed the crown, as if the artifact could break at the slightest contact —though she knew it was not like that.

She turned her gaze to her friend and elegantly extended the crown to her.

—"Well... now it's your turn."

**Clink... ffffsshh... thmm**

Vaelinne took the crown with a mix of expectation and respect for what she had just seen.

She held it for a moment, observing the delicate filaments and the glowing core still lit, although it was beginning to dim from not being connected to anyone.

A smile crossed her face, more emotional than playful.

—"Seeing it was impressive... but feeling it will be another story..."

She said softly, as she placed it on her head with determination.

**shfff… zzzt… click… whummm…**

Without hesitation, she adjusted the crown on her head just as Lyrielle had done.

The filaments adapted again to the contour of her skull, recognizing the new bearer with subtle precision.

**Zzzzt… Vmmm…**

The blue light ignited instantly.

And barely a few seconds passed, a peculiar sensation was born in the center of her mind, as if a mental current had ignited, subtle yet profound.

**shfft... zzzrmm... fssssss... tchak!**

From that point, a gentle shiver ran through her body, like a line of energy descending down her back, causing every fiber to respond to the stimulus without her commanding it.

She knew it was coming; she had seen it...

But feeling it directly from her mind gave her a new perspective: a connection that was not just physical, but internal.

She was not scared.

She just closed her eyes for a moment and murmured, in a tone that mixed wonder and respect:

—"So this is what you meant..."

Vaelinne, still with the crown on, directed her gaze straight at Kirito.

—"Do I have to think of the same thing… greet?"

She asked, albeit with contained curiosity.

Kirito gently shook his head.

—"No. You will think of something different…"

And then he acted as if he were applauding and said,

—"Imagine that you are applauding. That you have just witnessed a performance… something that truly moved you. That moment when your hands want to celebrate… and if it's accompanied by a good memory, even better."

Vaelinne slightly frowned, not out of discomfort, but from surprise at the twist of the instructions. Lyrielle, who remained silent beside Kirito, nodded in agreement with him: it was true.

—"Ah… okay."

She moved her head with a mix of acknowledgment and slight confusion but accepted the challenge.

Just as Lyrielle had done before, she slowly closed her eyes.

She recalled the instructions: do not move the body, just visualize...

So she focused her mind on that moment lost among warm memories.

*****

It was a day of celebration in the kingdom, and Vaelinne, still small, had asked Kirito to carry her on his shoulders.

—"Higher, Kirito, higher! I want to see them up close!"

—"Alright, but don't let go like last time..."

He replied with a mix of joy and resignation.

—"I won't! I'm not scared anymore!"

**Thmm... fffshhh—tap-tap... shffffft...**

With her small hands, she clung to Kirito's hair as if she wanted to touch the sky. From her new height, she could see Asuna below, smiling at her tenderly. Near her were Vaelinne's parents, alongside Lyrielle's, all gathered and attentive to the show. Little Lyrielle, holding her mother's hand, looked up from below with a mix of fascination and silent envy, wishing to be up there too.

The roar approached:

**KRRRRCHHH-VMMMSSHH**

The mecha-dragons soared through the sky in formation, their metal wings reflecting the golden light of noon.

**Clap-clap-clap-clap!**

Vaelinne clapped non-stop from above, her eyes shining with excitement.

—"When I grow up, I will pilot one too!"

She shouted with conviction.

Kirito held her firmly by the ankles and, laughing, said:

—"Well Vaelinne... I hope you support me when that moment comes."

—"Of course!"

She replied enthusiastically, as if that promise were the first step of a great adventure.

*****

**Vmmm… vmmm…**

The glow in the crown intensified again.

**Whmm... kchhh—glint—tmmm...**

The core stone shone brightly… and then another subtle white point appeared, clearly visible.

This new shining point emerged alongside the one that had been born during Lyrielle's test.

But what happened next was different…

**Kchhh—glint**

A line of light, thin and precise, formed between the two points.

Like an energy bridge, an inscription unfolded between them, uniting them with a sequence of brief symbols that reconfigured in real time.

Vaelinne did not see it.

Her eyes remained closed, fully focused.

But Kirito and Lyrielle —who were now looking at the crown from the outside— captured every detail.

This was not just another record…

It was a connection.

A joint response.

(—"I see... That's what they were referring to...")

Lyrielle thought to herself with a hand on her chin and great interest in what was happening in the crown, or rather in the spherical stone that showed a new pattern with a connection to hers.

Kirito beside her smiled with satisfaction, having succeeded once again...

—"You can take off the crown now Vaelinne, it's done."

**Sfffshh... click-click... rrrustle—thff**

Vaelinne opened her eyes all at once upon hearing Kirito and quickly, but carefully, removed it while commenting:

—"I guess this is the part that shows us what those hands over there do."

**Clink… shhhfft—tap... clack**

—"Of course, that's the idea..."

Kirito told her as he took the crown from her hands and carefully placed it on the table.

**Click… kreeenk… shh—tap**

"You just have to wait a moment... And thank you both for your help."

Kirito added as he carefully removed the stone from the core of the crown and turned to them in gratitude.

—"You're welcome..."

—"Rather, we should be thanking you for allowing us to see something never seen before... Right, Lyrielle?"

Lyrielle was the first to briefly comment, but it was her friend Vaelinne who expressed what she truly felt as she glanced at her. This motivated her to nod while saying those words, just as she observed Kirito's back, who was already in the process of activating the hands:

—"That's right... Thank you Kirito."

—"Well, I'm glad you feel that way, girls..."

Kirito said while directing the spherical stone to an empty slot the same size as that of the crown.

**Fsshh… klik…**

The sphere was placed inside a secondary reader, right next to the main plates.

It fit perfectly. And Kirito activated the system on one of the plates.

**Fzzzmmm… tik… shhh—plín**

The runes of the stone glowed more faintly than before, but the first had more strength than the other.

**Zzzzt… Ping!**

The golem hands lit up…

**Khhhrrr... shhhht... krnnn... pssshhh—tok**

Suddenly, both golem hands slowly raised from their motionless position.

Their movement was precise, balanced… as if they were emerging from a deep slumber...

**Sshhhfff… sshhhfff… sshhhfff…**

And one of them raised its palm, more precisely the right hand, making the exact gesture that Lyrielle had imagined. It was soft and calm, like the memory Lyrielle held.

(—"It's the same hand I imagined moving when I thought of it... and it's just like me.")

Lyrielle thought and did not overlook that small detail...

**Fzzzzmm—plin… shhhhhnk**

The second rune in the sphere lit up strongly while the first automatically lost its strength.

**Krrrrnk… tik… shhhhhh—tok**

The hand, in recognition of that change, stopped waving, and in accord with it, the left hand aligned parallel and...

**Clap-clap-clap-clap!**

With great strength and enthusiasm, they began to applaud with the same vigor as if it were the very Vaelinne doing it.

("—It's just like I remember...!")

This time it was Vaelinne who could not compare with her previous thought, with surprise reflected in her eyes...

**Krrrnk… shhht… psshhh—tok**

Soon after, the golem hands stopped and returned to their resting position when Kirito turned off the system and the stone with the runes ceased to shine.

... ...

The two remained in absolute silence... Still processing the experiment.

The impact was evident. She knew they would move, but the way they did so naturally and fluidly, as if they were human hands without the slightest delay, was something worthy of recognition.

Moreover, this was not simply mental reading.

It was something more.

—"How is it possible?"

It was Lyrielle who asked the question while looking at Kirito... He understood what she was referring to and began to explain.

—"It's a transfer of intention..."

Kirito said calmly.

—"The stone does not move the hands directly. What it does is capture the thought and store it in the form of a rune. Only then does the system interpret it, validate it… and finally execute it."

**Cling—hum… tok**

Lyrielle lightly touched the edges of the crown, still on the table as she listened to him.

—"It's impressive."

—"You can be more detailed about it, Kirito."

Said Vaelinne, who was now looking with her arms crossed and struggled a bit to understand its complexity.

**Klik… tzz… shhh…**

Kirito nodded in acknowledgment and said while leaning on the table and touching the reader and the spherical stone inside it:

—"Use your memories as a base..."

Kirito explained in a firm voice.

—"Surely you felt that your memories were easier to imagine... and felt a bit more in sync with them. Or am I wrong?"

The girls nodded softly.

—"Yes..."

Lyrielle replied, her voice low but clear.

—"It was like... seeing something from the outside, but feeling it from the inside..."

Vaelinne exchanged glances with Lyrielle and nodded as well. Then she began to explain her own experience:

—"I thought it was just me, that my mind was playing a more vivid illusion on me... but no. It was different. Feeling it this way… so real, even if only for moments, is something else."

Kirito responded without showing surprise, in a calm and pedagogical tone, after listening to them:

—"That's completely normal. That is precisely the function of the crown. It is designed as a sensor that, along with the spherical stone, facilitates tuning into the memories of the bearer..."

Placing one hand on his forehead and another on the nape, he added something more to what he had said.

—"That was also the cause of the sudden shiver in your minds that you experienced when you first put it on."

Kirito first pointed to the crown —the sensor— on the table, and then to the spherical stone as he said:

—"It's not just about remembering. It's about connecting. The crown amplifies the emotional signal and the sphere stabilizes it. It's a system designed to facilitate the essence of that memory to be imprinted… in the stone in the form of a rune..."

Kirito paused, allowing a moment of silence to observe, attentively, how they absorbed what he said while looking at the crown.

...

...Then, a faint silence settled between them.

—"..."

—"..."

**Tk-tk… plffff… clssssh**

**Fsshhh… mmmhhh—tk**

The girls stood in silence. Lyrielle, noticing the slight tremor in her hand, discreetly held it with the other, trying to stop it without it being noticeable. Vaelinne, on the other hand, lowered her gaze slightly and bit her lower lip softly...

Kirito noticed the gestures of both but chose not to mention them. He granted them space to assimilate what had been said, allowing them to breathe amid the revelation.

Without making any comments, Kirito simply continued with the explanation.

—"The human body performs thousands of automatic gestures every day. We don't think about them... we just do them."

He said while intertwining his fingers, as if sculpting invisible ideas in the air.

—"I'm applying that principle here. Gestures that are repeated so much, that remain rooted in your bodily memory. They don't require direct consciousness... just intention. And that intention, when it's clear enough and emotionally defined, can be interpreted, processed, replicated."

Kirito's eyes shone with conviction.

—"For years I studied how motor thought forms, the relationship between what is imagined and what the nervous system activates. Our brain creates movement maps. They are neural networks that store common patterns. Applauding, greeting, turning the wrist… they are not just actions, they are codes."

He pointed to the crown again.

—"This device scans cognitive activity and synchronizes it with a database of gestures it carries... It doesn't translate words, but impulses shaped by emotional intention and repetition."

Now he looked at the golem hands, still inert.

—"It's like teaching an artificial system to recognize the energetic signature of a memory… and reproduce it without needing physical commands. As long as there is space on the special stone, it captures the signal and converts it into coded information in the form of a rune, which the golem hands can interpret."

He turned towards them with a half-smile.

—"Thus, they don't just imitate the gesture… they execute it as you would. With your rhythm. Your strength. Your style. Just as you just saw."

... ...

Silence seized the workshop again.

After Kirito's explanation, neither Lyrielle nor Vaelinne spoke a word immediately.

He did not interrupt them; he observed them attentively, knowing that there was much at stake beyond the technical.

Then he noticed that Vaelinne had fixed her gaze, with growing intensity, on the spherical stone inserted in the reader.

Her reddish eyes seemed to seek not light or reaction but something deeper.

She murmured softly, almost inaudibly… but not to him.

—"…Memories… Mind..."

Kirito turned his face slightly, without saying anything.

**Crssshh… tap… clack**

Vaelinne lightly pressed a hand against her thigh and bit her lower lip harder than before... as if trying to hold back something she shouldn't say now.

—"Hhhhkk—hhhaaa…"

Her breathing became tenser, as if an ancient wound had been activated.

Lyrielle noticed it.

With a contained gesture, she tried to take her hand…

But before she could, Vaelinne spoke with a firmer tone.

—"You lied to us, right, Kirito?"

Lyrielle's eyes widened at the direct question.

**Crssh… thmmm—tk**

This time, with a serious expression, she gently held her companion's arm and said in a lower but firm voice:

—"We agreed not to talk about this, Vaelinne…"

Vaelinne closed her eyes, as if that warning were a storm she could not stop.

—"I know… but I can't help it..."

She turned her face toward Kirito.

Her eyes did not judge him, but were filled with a mix of pain and conviction.

—"You lied to us… and you did not keep your promise to us. You said you wouldn't use memories… that you wouldn't manipulate them against anyone. But you did. You did it against the emperors... and you didn't even have the decency to tell us."

Lyrielle lowered her head in resignation.

She knew she could not stop the conversation.

But still, her words came out like a sigh:

—"I understand you, Vaelinne… but why didn't you leave it like that?"

Vaelinne continued, without aggression, but with the firmness of someone who protects her loyalty:

—"Kirito… there has to be trust in a friendship.

And the fact that you have hidden this until now… is not right."

—"Haaaah."

Kirito closed his eyes for a moment… then sighed audibly.

**Tssk… hmm…**

He crossed his arms over his chest and said, in a contained voice:

—"I knew this moment would come… no matter how much I tried to avoid it."

He looked at them clearly and with great sincerity as he told them:

—"To be honest, I regret it. I apologize for not having told you the truth from the beginning... but it was something that happened at the last moment. And there were reasons for not telling you anything..."

Lyrielle raised her gaze calmly. Now that everything was out in the open, nothing prevented her from being part of the conversation.

—"What do you mean by 'last moment'?"

Vaelinne supported her, not losing the tension in her voice.

—"And what were those reasons?"

Kirito lowered his arms, then pointed with an outstretched hand to all the devices on the table.

—"When I told you that I wouldn't use memory manipulation or mental manipulation that day… I was sincere. At that moment, I had no intention of doing it against anyone. Only against myself. As you have seen in these tests, in these systems."

He turned to them, maintaining control over his words.

—"But as I investigated further… I delved into something much darker. Buried truths. Betrayal. The four emperors… were hiding something deeper... And I discovered that, under certain conditions, it is possible to reveal the truth by weakening a person's will. I saw an opportunity during the operation a few days ago… It was the perfect moment. And I didn't want to let it pass."

Vaelinne slowly shook her head.

—"Even so… you could have told us. Surely we wouldn't have opposed the idea… and we would have understood."

—"..."

Lyrielle nodded gently but remained silent. She was thinking beyond the immediate reaction.

Kirito shook his head again, this time with a grave calmness. He raised a finger, as if marking a key point.

—"That is precisely one of the reasons I didn't."

He looked directly at them, first at Vaelinne, then at Lyrielle.

—"It was something that would put mental pressure on you. And you needed to be completely focused."

His blue eyes remained steady as he laid out what had happened.

—"After that operation… you were interrogated, weren't you? They asked you about what happened. About the emperors. About the mysterious 'infiltrators'... The emperors did not deny anything. They said too much..."

Kirito lowered his gaze to the ground, as if it still affected him.

—"That is one of the reasons why you arrived late here. You are under suspicion. Your families are being watched. And there are eyes searching for the one who altered the minds of the Emperors… the one who caused the change..."

He turned slowly towards them.

—"According to the reports… the emperors gave the same description. The same truth? In the end, it was revealed that it was one and not four infiltrators… How did they react when they asked about me... the one who gave them the stolen documents?"

The girls looked at each other.

**Tkkk… shhhrnk—clak**

—"..."

—"..."

Vaelinne clenched her fist, unable to deny it.

Lyrielle looked around, absorbing every word.

Both knew that Kirito was right.

Kirito looked at them again, this time with a serene but solid conviction.

—"If I'm not mistaken… the kingdom has decided to keep silent about what happened with the infiltrator. There are no official reports. And everyone received their rewards… you were not the exception, right?"

**Shhhht… flk—tkkm…**

**Shhhht… flk—tkkm…**

—"!..."

—"!..."

The girls shuddered at the statement.

**Tkkk—shfff… krnnnk—clak**

Vaelinne tightened her fists even more. Lyrielle held her gaze in silence, clenching her jaw. Both nodded, with barely concealed discomfort.

Kirito continued without taking his eyes off them.

—"Although, to be honest, I don't care about that. If it happens this way… better."

**Krrrnk—plsshh… tump—crkk**

Kirito clenched his hand tightly, as if it pained him too.

—"I knew the consequences. And I was willing to face them, even if it meant remaining silent and breaking my promise to you… because I didn't do it for myself. I did it for the kingdom and for a lasting peace."

...

He remained silent for a few seconds, allowing the truth to settle.

However, he noticed that the girls felt increasingly worse and more ashamed for bringing up such a topic.

The one who suffered the most was Vaelinne, as every word she heard from Kirito was a sharp reminder that the one who had lost the most… was him.

But before they could apologize, Kirito continued speaking.

—"I didn't want to leave matters unresolved… within what I could do. I know problems will arise ahead. No human kingdom is perfect."

And, directing his gaze towards Lyrielle at that moment, he expressed:

—"But I also know that the stability I left… is much greater than the one I found upon arrival, as they told me..."

...

The workshop fell silent again.

The girls averted their gazes at that moment...

Kirito took a deep breath. Then he raised his voice, not harshly, but firmly:

—"Please, girls… look me in the eyes."

Both obeyed without hesitation.

The tension had turned into a mix of respect and contained pain.

—"Be honest with me… If you had been in my shoes… And had to choose between saving an entire kingdom from a tragedy… or fulfilling your promise, even knowing that this promise might bring pain… What would you have done?"

Vaelinne opened her lips. Her reddish eyes trembled.

—"I... I..."

But Lyrielle stepped forward.

With her voice still slightly trembling, but filled with determination, she replied:

—"I would have done it. I would have broken my promise… if that meant saving lives."

Vaelinne glanced at her sideways. That statement gave her strength, and along with it, a tear flowed down her cheek as she said:

—"Yes… it's true. I would have done it too..."

She lowered her gaze for a moment, then added sincerely:

—"I'm sorry… I ask for your forgiveness, Kirito. Maybe it would have been an emotional burden to know everything from the start. We know your intentions were noble. It just… hurt. It hurt us that you didn't say it. But still, I shouldn't have..."

Vaelinne was left speechless as tears began to uncontrollably flow from her eyes. Feeling how her crying wanted to break free, she covered her mouth, trying to hold it back. She could no longer continue speaking.

Lyrielle nodded gently and, picking up the thread where Vaelinne had left off, added her words. A few tears began to slide unconsciously down her cheeks as well.

—"We are not angry with you, Kirito. We know you have done more for this kingdom than we could ever repay you… And also… we feel that the kingdom has not recognized you as you deserve."

Kirito smiled discreetly... It was a sincere smile, although his eyes held a trace of sadness.

—"I know, girls. I forgive you, just as I know you forgive me for breaking my promise… Moreover, I appreciate what you said. But I did what I felt was right… and I didn't want to leave without clarifying this..."

—"Haaah."

A deeper breath preceded it, as if he were preparing to say what now cost him so much to express.

—"This… this could be the last time we meet."

The words fell like a heavy whisper in the air.

—"!..."

—"!..."

Vaelinne looked up abruptly.

—"Do you mean that… you are already ready to leave?"

**Ssshhhhhh—klik… mmnnnk—tk**

Lyrielle, although calmer on the surface, bit her lips. She awaited the answer. She knew what it meant… but she still didn't want to accept it.

Kirito nodded gravely. His voice, although firm, carried an inevitable and sad shadow.

—"Yes. Everything is ready…"

...

There was silence.

One that neither machines nor memories could fill.

Without adding another word, he extended his hand and touched the central reader.

**Vmmm—zzzznnk… krip… fsssshhh**

**Tk—klunnn… shaaaarmm—plin**

The stone reacted instantly.

The connected runes began to glow, as if they were activated not by his gesture, but by the weight of what had already been lived.

—"..."

—"..."

Lyrielle and Vaelinne watched him in silence.

But they could not help but let their emotions flow through their bodies.

It was as if the engraved symbols responded not only to the device… but also to them.

And both knew, with a certainty that felt deeper than any word,

that this day… had inevitably arrived...

And what Kirito said next left no more doubts:

—"The Banquet of Victory... will also be the farewell, Vaelinne and Lyrielle..."

The emotions did not linger in the air. They remained there, in the stone… as if the device could remember what it feels like to lose.