HIM entered Neil’s room slowly — left foot first, then right — as if measuring the weight of every step.

  He stopped clapping, drew in a deep breath, and spoke gently,

  “Are you all alright? I am… truly glad I was able to receive you without difficulty.”

  Before he could say anything more, Steve and Tony rushed forward and wrapped their arms around him so tightly that even a god struggled to move.

  “Thank you, HIM,” Tony said, his voice thick with relief.

  “Thank you for bringing us here… and for taking care of our nerd.”

  Neil watched silently.

  He was no longer angry.

  Now that his memories had returned, his emotions had settled into something quieter… heavier.

  He didn’t speak. He barely even opened his mouth — only the slow rhythm of his breathing through his nose proved he was present.

  The four of them sat down.

  For a moment, the room held nothing but stillness.

  Then suddenly Steve straightened, his eyes widening.

  “I remember now!” he said. “The reason we came to the Moon… something was flying toward Earth!”

  HIM’s expression twisted into something no god should wear — pure alarm.

  “What? A strange object? An asteroid?” he muttered quickly.

  “No… that cannot be it. Asteroids can be avoided. Then what could possibly—”

  Neil slammed his foot against the floor.

  His jaw remained clenched as he spoke.

  “We’ve stayed here too long. According to my calculations… hundreds of billions of years may have passed on Earth.”

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  Tony slowly lifted a glass of violet water, but his hands trembled slightly.

  “Is it just me,” he murmured, “or does it feel like… someone is watching us?”

  Silence fell.

  Only Steve seemed unaffected. He leaned back casually.

  “We should explore the outer layer of the Moon sometime,” he said cheerfully.

  No one responded.

  The silence deepened — so heavy that even heartbeats seemed loud.

  Neil lowered his head.

  “How do you know HIM?” he asked quietly.

  “And why are we still here… when Earth might need us?”

  Tony answered carefully.

  “When our pulses stopped… we didn’t die. We couldn’t breathe… but we could still see, smell, and hear everything.”

  Neil slowly raised his hand and pointed directly at HIM.

  “You are not the only ruler here,” he said. “That’s impossible. If you are a god… then only a human could oppose you.”

  “There is no one who rules Huraha but me!” HIM shouted.

  “That impossibility is exactly what creates possibility,” Neil replied sharply.

  Tony had grown pale. Sweat gathered on his forehead — something rare for him.

  Neil’s voice suddenly broke.

  “I have a fiancée on Earth. We were supposed to be married in a few days…”

  His hands trembled.

  “I want to go home. I want to save Earth… but what if Earth doesn’t even exist anymore?”

  HIM spoke immediately.

  “We can observe Earth right now. We can see who survived—”

  “No,” Neil cut him off. “I don’t want to know. I just want to go back.”

  Tony nodded firmly.

  “He’s right. We shouldn’t waste time watching. We should leave.”

  He looked at Neil.

  “And stop smoking.”

  Neil dropped the cigarette and crushed it under his heel.

  HIM rose from his seat.

  “Very well,” he said. “I must leave now — I have urgent matters to attend. If you wish to depart for Earth, come to me tomorrow.”

  And with that, he left.

  Outside, the halls of Huraha stretched endlessly.

  Near his throne, several Quils were waiting.

  One stepped forward and knelt.

  “Master… we request a day’s leave. Our entire district wishes to celebrate a special marriage.”

  HIM helped him stand.

  “Of course. But tell me — whose marriage is it?”

  Two Quils stepped forward together.

  “Ours, Master.”

  HIM’s face brightened instantly.

  “Zara… Gomo… congratulations! I cannot attend, but celebrate fully.”

  “Thank you, Master,” they replied with deep respect.

  They began preparing for a ritual of departure — an old custom of their people.

  But HIM intervened at once.

  “Not anymore,” he said firmly.

  He stopped them and dismissed the ritual entirely.

  “Go celebrate your new life instead.”

  They bowed and left.

  HIM walked to his throne… but instead of sitting, he kicked it aside.

  His teeth clenched.

  “Why did you lie to me… my people?”

  Meanwhile, in another district of Huraha…

  Excitement filled the streets.

  Quil children ran through the pathways, laughing.

  “We’re going to hear the magician today!” they shouted.

  Crowds gathered eagerly.

  All were waiting.

  But for whom?

  What kind of pravachan could summon such anticipation?

  And if this person truly possessed power…why remain hidden?