Chapter 104 – Apres and Exultation II

King Vio exhaled, shaking his head slightly. “Well, King Hersery,” he said with a hint of amusement, “it seems you were right. Earning the respect of an Atlantean is a far more tedious task than we imagined.”

The others exchanged glances but said nothing. Their attention turned to the aftermath of the wars. The owl soared over the battlefield, carrying Selena and Makara toward the very heart of the war’s end.

The bird descended, its talons stirring the dust as it landed near Shawn.

“Shawn…,” Selena called, her voice urgent as she and Makara rushed toward him.

Shawn stood at the very spot where King Azure had fallen, staring at the ground as he felt no victory. But there was nothing—only silence. Yet he did not grieve. His expression was unreadable, a mask of calm over something far heavier. When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp, cutting through the stillness.

“All this bloodshed,”