Valoon — Guest Room Balcony
Yamato and Isaac stood out on the balcony. The palace behind them was quiet. The night air was cold enough to bite, but Isaac didn’t move. He just stared at the stars like they could answer him.
Yamato let out a slow breath.
Yamato: “I owe you an apology, Isaac. For what you had to see in there… and for the fact you had to swallow it.”
Isaac didn’t look at him.
Isaac: “Why did Aiko marry him?”
Yamato’s jaw tightened. He looked away for a second, like the words tasted bad.
Yamato: “Ryujiro is the eldest son of an old friend. And I’m getting old, Isaac. I needed more family. More blood in this house. More heirs.”
He paused, then admitted the part he hated.
Yamato: “Aiko is all I have.”
Isaac’s eyes stayed on the sky.
Yamato: “We thought you were truly dead after that battle. I made the decision with a grave already in my head.”
He let out a bitter laugh that wasn’t really a laugh.
Yamato: “A foolish choice.”
Isaac nodded once.
Isaac: “I understand.”
A silence passed. Wind slid across the balcony rails.
Isaac’s voice dropped.
Isaac: “How is she?”
Yamato glanced at him, then answered without flinching.
Yamato: “She’ll be fine. Aiko is strong.”
He hesitated, and his eyes hardened.
Yamato: “She’s survived worse.”
Isaac finally lowered his gaze, like that line hit deeper than it should’ve.
Yamato’s tone changed—sharper.
Yamato: “And Ryu… he will pay for disrespecting my guest of honor. Believe that. He owes you an apology.”
Isaac turned his head just enough to meet Yamato’s eyes.
Isaac: “I don’t want anything from him.”
A beat.
Isaac: “I’m past it.”
Yamato studied him like he didn’t fully believe that was possible… then accepted it anyway.
Yamato: “Alright.”
He leaned his elbows on the rail, looking up with Isaac now.
Yamato: “Where do you go after you leave here?”
Isaac: “Feralium. Tomorrow morning.”
He exhaled through his nose.
Isaac: “I want to get back to my land.”
Yamato looked at him—quiet, fatherly, heavy.
Yamato: “When you finish your journey, come back. Everyone here wants to see you succeed. I’ll throw a feast for you.”
He nudged Isaac with his shoulder like old times.
Yamato: “We still need to drink together the way we used to.”
Isaac’s mouth twitched.
Isaac: “Fine. Before I return to Olympia… I’ll pass through.”
Yamato’s eyes softened for a moment.
Yamato: “Good.”
Then he remembered something and his face went serious again.
Yamato: “One more thing. Before you go to Feralium… see Yuno.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
He shook his head slightly.
Yamato: “She asked to speak with you.”
Isaac frowned.
Isaac: “About what?”
Yamato: “I don’t know.”
He looked Isaac straight in the eyes.
Yamato: “But she needs your help, son.”
Isaac stayed quiet, processing.
Yamato finally stepped back.
Yamato: “I should go. Good night, Isaac.”
He placed a hand on Isaac’s shoulder—firm, respectful—then turned and left.
Isaac watched him disappear down the corridor, then went back inside. The room was dim. Yu was curled up on the bed, asleep, hair messy, breathing slow like nothing in the world could reach her.
Isaac couldn’t stop a small smile.
He started to turn—
KNOCK. KNOCK.
Isaac froze.
His first thought was Yamato again.
He walked to the door, opened it—
And stopped.
Aiko stood there in pajamas, eyes gentle and shining like she’d been holding herself together for hours.
Aiko: “Isaac… hi.”
Isaac blinked, caught off guard.
Isaac: “Aiko… hey.”
They held eye contact a second too long.
Aiko swallowed.
Aiko: “Can I come in?”
Isaac hesitated—just long enough to be honest—then opened the door wider.
She stepped inside quietly.
Isaac lowered his voice instinctively.
Isaac: “Let’s go to the balcony. I don’t want to wake Yu.”
Aiko’s expression changed immediately.
Aiko: “Wait.”
Her brows pulled together.
Aiko: “You sleep with Yu?”
There it was—jealousy, raw and childish and real.
Isaac scratched the side of his neck, awkward.
Isaac: “Yeah… she doesn’t like sleeping as a sword.”
He tried to explain without making it worse, then his brain betrayed him.
Isaac: “She says human heat helps—”
Aiko’s face tightened even more.
Isaac caught it and stopped himself, a small laugh escaping despite the tension.
Isaac: “Yeah. Okay. That sounded worse than it is.”
Aiko exhaled through her nose, annoyed, and walked toward the balcony with stiff steps.
Isaac followed.
(Some time later)
Isaac watched Aiko in silence for a moment. The night wind brushed her loose hair, but she still looked tense—like her body hadn’t caught up to the fact she was safe in this moment.
Isaac: “Are you okay?”
Aiko nodded, but it was small.
Aiko: “Yeah… I just… didn’t expect you to see that.”
Her eyes dropped. Her voice got quieter.
Aiko: “I’m sorry…”
Isaac didn’t let her stay there. He stepped in and pulled her into his arms.
Isaac: “Hey. Don’t apologize.”
He held her tighter when he felt her tremble.
Isaac: “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Aiko broke in the hug, crying against his chest. Isaac ran his hand through her hair, slow and steady, trying to calm her breathing.
Isaac: “If anyone owes an apology… it’s me.”
Aiko pulled back just enough to look up at him, tears on her lashes.
Aiko: “Huh…? Why you?”
Isaac swallowed. His voice softened.
Isaac: “Because I left you alone.”
He stared past her for a second, like he was seeing an old battlefield again.
Isaac: “I was arrogant back then. I lost that war. Even when you warned me… even when you tried to pull me onto the right path… I ignored it.”
He looked back at her.
Isaac: “And now everything is like this.”
His shoulders sank.
Isaac: “I’m sorry, Koko.”
Aiko’s expression shifted—sad, but warm. She shook her head and hugged him again, hard, like she was afraid he’d disappear.
Aiko: “Don’t…”
Her voice cracked.
Aiko: “Don’t carry all of it alone.”
They stayed like that for a few seconds.
Isaac slowly pulled back and lifted his hand to her face, careful. Aiko didn’t flinch. She closed her eyes, letting him.
He saw the red marks clearly now.
Isaac’s jaw tightened.
He leaned in and kissed one side of her cheek—right over the mark.
Then the other.
Aiko let out a small breath that sounded like relief.
Aiko: “I know you’re on a mission… for Elara.”
She opened her eyes, looking straight at him.
Aiko: “But I want to go with you when you return to Olympia.”
Isaac hesitated.
Isaac: “Aiko… I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
He exhaled, gaze dropping.
Isaac: “I don’t want him to hit you again.”
Aiko’s fingers touched his chin, lifting his face back up like she refused to let him look away.
She gave him a light kiss—quick, gentle, but certain.
Aiko: “Don’t worry.”
A small smile, but her eyes were serious.
Aiko: “He won’t do it again.”
Isaac didn’t answer right away.
Aiko kept going, steady.
Aiko: “And it’s not just me wanting it. My father ordered it.”
She tilted her head slightly.
Aiko: “I need to speak with the King of Olympia. Build stronger ties. Diplomacy.”
Isaac stared at her, reading her face. Then he nodded once.
Isaac: “Alright.”
He gave a faint smile.
Isaac: “Before I go back to Olympia… I’ll come here and pick you up.”
Aiko’s face lit up instantly.
Aiko: “Really?”
Isaac: “Really.”
She looked almost happy enough to forget the pain in her cheek.
Aiko stepped closer, brushing her fingers along his jaw one last time.
Aiko: “I have to go now…”
She held his gaze.
Aiko: “Isaac… be okay.”
Isaac took her hand from his face and kissed her knuckles, slow.
Isaac: “You too, Koko.”
They hugged once more—shorter, like she didn’t want to risk waking Yu.
Aiko turned to leave, walking quietly toward the door.
As she passed the bed, she glanced at Yu asleep—still, peaceful, unaware.
Aiko’s eyes went dark for a second.
Her voice came out low, sharp.
Aiko: “Bitch.”
Isaac heard it.
He didn’t react—just watched the door close behind her.
For a moment, he stood there breathing, the room feeling too small again.
Then he turned back toward the balcony, resting his hands on the railing, head lowered.
What does Yuno want…? I need to see her..
