Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess

What exactly happened?

How was Austin freed from the torment he had built around himself? How did he cast off Astaroth's curse and reclaim his life?

Were those winged beings truly so benevolent as to let him go?

No, not quite.

They weren't kind. Not even close.

They watched him suffer in silence—watched as the void gnawed at his sanity. And all the while, they whispered to him. Again and again, they reminded him of what he had lost... and what he would lose forever if he chose to absorb Astaroth.

They warned him that immortality came at a cost: the death of emotion. The abandonment of human ties. If he truly meant to destroy Astaroth, then he would have to become something more than mortal—something colder.

Something that could no longer love.

And that terrified him more than anything.

Because the only thing that kept him alive in that endless darkness… was the thought of her.

Valerie.

His reason. His anchor. His light.

He endured the pain, bore the emptiness, all because he believed—no, hoped—that he would see her again.

But if he had taken that final step… if he had accepted the power and crossed the line into godhood… then he would have lost her. Forever.

And he didn't know if he could've survived that.

Thankfully, it never came to that.

In the end, the gods offered him a choice.

A new deal—one that severed the old contract with Astaroth and replaced it with one forged directly with Austin.

It mirrored the previous terms: he would never gain immortality. And in return, they would grant him the freedom to live as he chose.

A simple life. A mortal life.

Too good to be true?

It should've been. And it would have been… if not for the clause they added.

A promise.

According to the new contract, when a war breaks out—sometime in the coming years—Austin must stand on their side.

No further details. No explanation of the enemy or the cause. Just a promise that, when the time came, he would fight for them.

And so he agreed.

Because even if that war brought chaos or death, it was better than staying trapped in that timeless void. Better than losing Valerie.

And now… he was here.

Alive.

Holding her in his arms, breathing her in, grounding himself in the warmth of her embrace.

Standing before every person who had ever mattered to him.

He was finally home.

"So… the war is finally over?" Rhea asked, her voice trembling with disbelief.

The great war—fought fiercely for over a thousand years—had truly come to an end? The words felt too surreal to trust. Too good to be true.

But even as it sounded ridiculous in her ears, Austin gave a firm nod.

"With the Demon Lord and his minions gone, yes… the war is over."

The threat that had loomed over their heads for centuries—humanity's greatest nightmare—was finally gone.

"We're free..." Robert muttered, running a hand through his hair, as if trying to ground himself in this impossible truth.

"The war… is over," Cedric whispered to himself, eyes distant. He couldn't believe that his son—his own son—had done something that would be written in history with golden ink.

"No more wars," said Rudolph's father, the words leaving his lips in quiet awe.

"No more training," Rudolph echoed, though it was hard to tell whether he was celebrating or mourning the end of a life he had only ever known.

"Austin…" Sophie's voice trembled as she stepped forward, tears pooling in her eyes.

Austin turned to her, opening his other arm wide. "I'm home, Ma."

With a soft sob, Sophie rushed into her son's embrace.

After what felt like ages, she was finally holding him—not in worry, not in fear, but in pure, overwhelming relief. Her son was back, safe and alive.

Austin's gaze lifted to Selner. He met her eyes, and saw the redness there too, though she quickly wiped them and offered him a quiet smile.

Still holding his mother and Valerie close, he reached out his hand.

Selner stepped forward, hesitated only for a moment, then took it gently.

"Welcome back," she whispered, her voice barely holding steady.

"Thank you," Austin replied, "for taking care of them."

Selner didn't answer with words—just a soft smile that held years of pain, hope, and quiet admiration. She was still overwhelmed by his return… and the silence.

There was no trace of Astaroth anywhere.

She had watched centuries pass—watched empires fall, children become warriors, and hope flicker like a dying candle. She had seen the world twist and writhe under Astaroth's shadow.

She had seen Austin fall.

She had witnessed him send fragments of his soul through time, across generations, desperately reaching for a different outcome.

And now, finally…

He had done it.

He had changed the fate of the world.

Selner closed her eyes, letting the warmth of this moment wash over her.

You won, Austin.

You finally gave this world the change it so desperately needed.

Cedric stepped forward, his voice ringing with pride and emotion. "This is an occasion to celebrate. We… have finally won!"

A moment of stunned silence followed.

Then came the explosion of joy.

Cheers erupted through the courtyard like a wave breaking through stone. Rudolph and his father let out the loudest cries, their voices booming with raw, unfiltered relief. They threw their arms into the air, embracing anyone within reach.

The sound drew more people.

Students from across the academy began to trickle into the courtyard, whispering to each other, their eyes searching for answers. Teachers followed, their faces tense with concern, heading straight to the Headmaster.

The old man stood at the front steps of the academy, trembling slightly, tears gathered in his eyes. And then, with a smile that had been waiting for years to bloom, he addressed them:

"We won." His voice cracked. "Tell everyone… the war is over. We've won!"

The words spread like wildfire.

First from the teachers, who turned and repeated it to nearby students. Then from those students who broke into sprints, racing down halls and across dorm courtyards to tell their friends, their mentors, anyone who would listen.

"We've won!"

"The Demon Lord is gone!"

"It's over—it's really over!"

Within minutes, bells rang from the academy towers. Their chimes were not the sound of warning or mourning—but of celebration.

More students flooded the grounds, and laughter began to fill the air. Some cried, some laughed, some stood frozen in place as if the weight of centuries had just been lifted from their shoulders. Hugs were exchanged between unlikely people. Rivalries forgotten. A sense of unity bound them together in that moment.

They had survived.

They had triumphed.

Cedric turned, pulling his wife into his arms. The two held each other tightly, tears rolling freely down their cheeks. Their son—their son—had returned alive. He wasn't just another name carved into the long list of the fallen. He was here. Breathing. Warm.

Austin glanced toward the edge of the gathering and found Sebastian standing still, the old butler's shoulders stiff, his eyes glistening. The man had seen far more than he ever let on—more versions of Austin than anyone should.

Austin raised his voice just enough for him to hear. "I did it, Sebas."

Sebastian's lips moved in a quiet reply. "I'm proud of you."

Austin's heart warmed. He knew… he knew Sebastian must have seen the darkest versions of him in those timelines. The failures. The ones who gave in. The one who only knew how to whine…how to blame.

But not this one.

This version stood tall, victorious, and surrounded by those he loved.

He looked down at Valerie—the woman who had waited for him through silence and pain.

He gently rubbed her back and asked, "Were you lonely without me?"

Valerie didn't speak. She only hummed, soft and low, and nodded against his shoulder.

It was an adorable, quiet gesture—but heavy with all the waiting, the prayers, the sleepless nights. The ache she had endured without ever knowing whether he'd return.

Austin tightened his hold on her.

The war was over. But what he had now—this—was the reward he'd fought for.

And in the background, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, the bells continued to ring, echoing across the academy and beyond—announcing to the world:

The end of an era had come.

And a new one was just beginning.

°°°°°°°

A/N:- What happened to Selner? How did their wedding go? What about the kids? Was Austin a good husband? What about the dates I promised? Well, well, well, if I get time then why not? Thanks for being a part of such a wonderful journey.

I will never forget the love and support you guys showed for this story. Without you, I would have never reached this point.

Thank you all.