Epilogue

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Years later, the city had a familiar chill, a brisk reminder of the countless moments that had unfolded on its streets, in its cafes, and beneath its neon lights. Jay stood at the edge of the riverbank, her breath visible against the early morning air, watching the sun slowly rise and filter through the fog, casting soft, golden hues across the water. It was quiet here, just the way she liked it—an echo of the solitude she once embraced, yet no longer needed. Today, the solitude felt different. It felt peaceful.A soft vibration in her pocket interrupted her thoughts, and she pulled out her phone. A message from Arion. "Right behind you." She turned, only to find him leaning against a lamppost, a faint smirk on his face, the one that always had the power to make her heart skip just a little. He'd never lost that quiet intensity, nor his sharp, protective gaze, though now it held a warmth that was only for her."Taking a walk down memory lane without me?" he teased, slipping his hands into his pockets as he strolled closer. "Didn't think you'd get sentimental."Jay shrugged, her cheeks flushing. "I just wanted to say goodbye to this spot."They both stood in silence, the weight of unspoken memories settling between them. Ramsey's name drifted through her mind, as it often did. She'd heard from him only sporadically since he'd left to carve out his place on the international stage. But he'd never really left her thoughts. He'd become a memory, a bittersweet chapter of her past that she carried with quiet affection, even as her heart had found its way to Arion."Do you miss him?" Arion's voice was gentle, almost curious.Jay looked at him, a faint smile on her lips. "Not in the way I thought I would. He's... a part of me, of my story. Just like you are."They walked back along the riverbank, and she felt the warmth of his hand wrap around hers, grounding her. The years had softened him too, made him more human in ways neither of them could have foreseen. The ancient arrogance and detachment had melted into something real and raw, a testament to how far they'd come together.A memory of their chaotic beginning—the cosmic prison, the arguments, the uncertainty—flickered through her mind. The journey had tested them in ways that felt almost surreal now. But every moment had led to this one: the quiet, shared acceptance of their pasts, their imperfections, and their deeply entwined futures."I have something for you," Arion murmured, breaking the silence. He pulled a small box from his coat pocket, his expression soft yet intense.Jay looked up at him, a flicker of surprise and warmth filling her chest as he opened the box to reveal a delicate silver chain with a small pendant, etched with a symbol only they would understand—a promise, a remembrance of their journey from different worlds to one they could finally share."Arion..." Her voice caught, her gaze meeting his as the sunlight reflected in his eyes, turning them golden."We've come a long way, Minerva," he whispered, her second name now holding a tender place in his heart. "I don't want a day to pass where I don't remind you of what you've brought to my life."Jay closed her hand around the pendant, feeling its weight against her palm. She didn't need words; her smile said it all. They continued to walk in silence, hand in hand, stepping forward into the morning light, knowing that wherever they went, they would carry the past, but they were finally free to create something new—together.

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