As the final moments of their visit to the Aqua territory unfolded, the room slowly emptied.
The Sand tribe members, still whispering among themselves about Yuki and Kairo's twins, respectfully took their leave. Dune, quieter than usual, seemed lost in thought - perhaps still processing the shift in his relationship with his daughter and the surprising sight of his tribe treating her children with awe instead of disdain.
Queen Veyra, ever the composed ruler, watched as the crowd thinned. But the room wasn't entirely empty - standing steadfast beside Kairo and Yuki were Arson, Sylvia, Glacius, and Peggy. Their curiosity about the twins hadn't faded one bit.
Kairo adjusted Yuki gently in his hold, making sure she was comfortable with the babies still cradled in her arms. He sighed. "Alright," he said, his voice firm. "No time to waste. We have to get going."
Yuki, though still tired from her earlier possession, nodded softly. She stroked the twins' small heads as they dozed peacefully, their cries from earlier now just a distant memory.
Kairo turned to leave - but, of course, Arson wasn't about to let them go that easily.
"Wait, wait, wait!" Arson blurted out, stepping forward with a grin. "Can we just see the babies one more time before you go?"
Sylvia, standing beside him, smiled gently. "Just for a moment?"
Even Glacius, usually the quiet, stoic one, muttered, "I... wouldn't mind."
Peggy, her usual bubbly self, bounced a little on her feet. "Pleeease, Kairo big bro?"
Kairo raised an eyebrow, already halfway out the door. "Didn't you guys just spend the last hour staring at them?"
Arson smirked. "Yeah, but they're kinda cute. Plus, you know... it's not every day you see twins with both Aqua and Sand powers."
Kairo paused, considering. His lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Fine... but on one condition."
The four of them perked up. "Anything!" Arson said without hesitation.
Kairo's grin widened. "I want to see twins from you guys too - you know, ones with the elemental powers of both Magma and Nature tribes."
Silence.
Sylvia's cheeks flared a deep shade of crimson. "W-What?!" she stammered, shooting a flustered glance at Arson.
Arson, who was almost always prideful and confident, suddenly found his throat dry. "Uh... we're not... I mean... that's... that's a bit fast, don't you think?"
Kairo wasn't done yet. His smirk only grew. "Oh, and while we're at it," he added, "I'd like to meet some interesting twins who have the combined elemental powers of the Ice Demon tribe and the Fairy tribe too."
This time, all eyes shifted to Glacius and Peggy.
Glacius, caught entirely off guard, tried to maintain his usual cool demeanor - but the faint pink rising to his pale cheeks betrayed him. He quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "I... I don't know what you're talking about," he muttered, his voice a little too fast to be convincing.
Peggy, meanwhile, was practically glowing red. "W-Wait, that's not- We're not-" she fumbled, flailing her hands in the air.
Kairo chuckled, clearly enjoying their reactions. "Thought so."
Before they could recover from their embarrassment, Kairo shifted his hold on Yuki and started toward the exit again. "I'll show you the twins again - when you've got some of your own."
Yuki, though tired, couldn't help but smile softly at Kairo's playful jab.
As they made their way out, Queen Veyra - still standing tall - stepped forward once more. "Kairo," she said smoothly. "You are always welcome here - not just as my brother, but as a prince of the Aqua tribe. And now, with Yuki by your side, you are also welcome in the Sand territory."
Her offer was sincere, a gesture of family and loyalty. But Kairo's response came with his usual boldness.
He smirked. "I appreciate it, Sister. But I'm not interested in staying."
Dune's brow furrowed. "Why not?"
Kairo glanced at Yuki, then down at the twins sleeping peacefully in her arms. His expression softened. "Because the only thing I'm interested in now... is traveling the world with my newly created family."
A rare silence followed, not from awkwardness, but from the weight of his words.
For someone like Kairo - once driven by ambition, war, and the desire to conquer - it was a striking statement. His priorities had shifted. His world wasn't about ruling territories anymore... it was about the life he had built with Yuki and the future they were forging for their children.
Queen Veyra, understanding her brother's resolve, simply nodded. "Then may your journey be safe, Kairo."
Dune, though still reserved, didn't protest either. Perhaps, deep down, he knew this was the path Kairo needed to walk.
With that, Kairo, Yuki, and their twins left - stepping into the vast, open world waiting for them.
And behind them, four flustered rulers - Arson, Sylvia, Glacius, and Peggy - stood awkwardly, still blushing from Kairo's parting remark.
Sylvia muttered something about planting more trees.
Arson suddenly found the ceiling very interesting.
Glacius quietly focused on observing trying to ignore Kairo's words.
And Peggy... well, she just continued flailing.
Then, with a shared glance - and still a bit of lingering embarrassment - the four rulers finally parted ways, each returning to their respective territories to continue there journeys.
But somewhere in the back of their minds... Kairo's words about "twins" echoed louder than they cared to admit.
As the four rulers parted ways, each heading back to their respective journeys, an unusual silence hung between both pairs - Arson and Sylvia on one side, and Glacius and Peggy on the other.