“I knew you weren’t just another nobleman,” Valeria murmured, her cheek pressed against Javier’s chest. “But I never imagined… this.”Javier remained still for a moment, then stepped back, his golden eyes meeting hers. “Neither did I. I thought I had buried that part of my bloodline with my parents. I was wrong.”Behind them, smoke still curled from scorched earth, the sigils fading slowly, leaving behind deep cracks where the fragment had been sealed. The wedding garden was silent—an audience of powerful elites rendered speechless.The heads of state, foreign dignitaries, and military officials had all been invited to the most powerful political union in modern history: the marriage of President Valeria Solano and Javier Everhart. Instead, they’d witnessed something out of legend.And now, none of them dared speak.It was Chancellor Remiel of the Eastern Coalition who finally cleared his throat. “That woman. That power. Was that… ancient alchemy?”Javier didn’t answer him directly. I

"Impressive," Zephyr sneered as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. "You’re not just a myth after all."Javier stood unfazed amid the cracked stones and scorched earth of the courtyard, his golden eyes glowing faintly, the fire around his body slowly fading. His cloak danced in the remaining sparks."You’re reckless," Javier said, voice low and composed. "You attacked without warning. Without understanding."Zephyr laughed, flicking sparks off his shoulders. "Understanding is for the weak. I came to see who dared call himself Sovereign Alchemist. Now I see why the Vault whispers your name."Valeria descended the steps behind Javier, her eyes sharp, her presence commanding even in the chaos. "Is this how you introduce yourself? By killing our guards?"“They were in the way,” Zephyr replied, grinning.Javier tilted his head. “Then you're lucky you're still breathing.”That shut Zephyr up, if only for a second. But then, from above, the roar of a beast echoed across the ruins of

The light that exploded from Javier was blinding—pure, searing, and ancient. It wasn’t just Vault energy. No. It was something deeper. Something older. Something that made even the strongest Vault Hosts recoil in terror.Lucien’s smirk faltered.The cloaked figure holding Valeria screamed as his flesh burned on contact with the aura. He dropped her instinctively, shielding his face as golden symbols spiraled from Javier's feet, wrapping around him like a celestial armor.Valeria hit the ground hard but rolled to safety. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Javier… what are you?"He didn’t answer.Didn’t blink.Didn’t even look at her.His eyes were locked on Lucien."I was born with blood older than the Vaults," Javier said, his voice like thunder rolled into calm. "Alchemy wasn’t a tool. It was a legacy. One you weren’t worthy of."Lucien stepped back.For the first time, uncertain."I was worthy. Father saw it. He trained me first—""And he banished you," Javier interrupted, voice sharp

Valeria stood still, her breath uneven. “You want to continue with the wedding after all this?”Javier met her gaze. “That’s exactly why we must.”There was no fire in his voice. No dramatic promise. Just resolve. Unshaken, unmoved. That same calm stillness that had made kings underestimate him… and fall.The battlefield behind them smoldered in silence. The scorched cloak of Ambrose fluttered with the wind, like a flag of warning. The remaining soldiers—both of Solano and the allied clans—watched from a distance, unsure whether to step forward or drop to their knees.They had seen enough to understand one thing:Javier Everhart was not to be challenged.Valeria slowly nodded. “You’re right. If we postpone it now… it means Ambrose won.”Javier didn’t respond, but the tightening of his jaw was answer enough. He turned toward the direction of the capital, his long coat flowing behind him like a banner of vengeance.But peace would not come easily.The moment they returned to Solano’s pa

The wedding banquet had reached its peak. Laughter echoed through the grand hall, golden chandeliers bathed the marble floor in soft light, and noblemen from across the realm toasted the union of Javier Everhart and Valeria Halstein. Music flowed, feet danced, and the people of Solano sang praises for the man they now called The Silent Flame—the man who had once been insulted, challenged, and mocked, but now stood above all.But Javier… he wasn’t celebrating.Not truly.From his seat at the head of the hall, his eyes scanned the crowd—calm, sharp, unreadable. He didn’t drink from his goblet. He didn’t join in the laughter. He simply watched.“Still on guard?” Valeria’s voice brushed his ear. Her smile was soft, but her tone carried weight.“Always,” Javier replied.She tilted her head slightly. “You won. The mimic is gone. Drelmar is sealed. Even the council bows to you now.”Javier set his goblet down. “That was just one war.”Valeria paused, following his gaze toward the far corner