The darkness still clung heavily to the sky, thick as velvet. Dawn was two hours away, the world caught in that fragile pause between night and morning. A quiet chill stirred in the air as I made my way back to the palace. There were farewells I needed to give—first to Eric... then to Rune.
I decided to visit Eric first. I would need more ti with Rune, and I didn’t want to rush that mont.
With a wave of my hand, I unlocked the window to Eric’s chambers using telekinesis, the latch unhooking with a soft click. Slipping inside soundlessly, I moved toward his bed. The moonlight spilling in from behind cast a long shadow across the floor.
Sensing a presence, Eric shot upright with a gasp, his hands instinctively clenching into fists.
"Good to see you so alert, Your Highness," I said with a quiet smile as I dropped the invisibility spell.
He let out a breath and lowered his fists, his tense shoulders easing. "Master..."
I took a seat beside him at the edge of his bed, the silence wrapping around us like an old cloak.
"I’m leaving at sunrise," I told him plainly.
He blinked at , still not fully awake. "You’re returning to Sestia?"
I nodded. "The work here is done. Once you return from this side, I’ll co visit you at Fairisles Mansion. We’ll discuss our next course of action then."
Eric nodded slowly, processing my words. His hands settled on his thighs, clasped tightly.
"It’s hard to believe I’ve co this far, Master," he said softly, a flicker of awe in his voice.
I looked at him for a mont, seeing not the hesitant prince from months ago but a young man on the verge of sothing greater. I patted his shoulder gently.
"Believe it. And know this—there’s still more to co. This is just one battle. The war’s far from over. Be ready to fight."
He let out a sigh and then a faint smile pulled at his lips. "I’m sure you’ll be with through it all, Master."
I gave a short chuckle. "I’ll be your charioteer, Prince Eric. I’ll stay by your side whenever you need . But rember... the battlefield is yours. You’ll have to fight your own battles."
Eric nodded, more solemn now. "I won’t let you down, Master."
"It’s not about ," I said gently, my gaze steady on his. "It’s the kingdom you’ll one day rule. That’s who you owe that promise to."
His shoulders tensed at that, the weight of his future pressing into him. I stood and turned toward the window, sensing the hesitation in his silence.
"Don’t be anxious," I said without looking back. "Just focus on your deeds. I’ll handle the rest."
I stepped onto the window railing, the cool breeze lifting the edges of my cloak. Behind , I heard his quiet footsteps approach.
"Have a safe journey, Master," he said softly.
I turned my head over my shoulder, offering him a calm, confident smile. "Yes. And I’ll be waiting for you in Sestia... Your Majesty."
His eyes widened at the title, realization dawning slowly as I activated the invisibility spell and leapt into the air. For a brief second, I caught the look of surprise and pride in his eyes before I disappeared from sight—vanishing into the last hours of the night as I made my way to Rune’s room, just next door.
I entered his room the sa way I had with Eric’s—silent as the night, the soft clink of the window latch unlocking with a brush of telekinesis. But unlike Eric, Rune was already awake. He turned his head sharply the mont the window creaked open, and in a swift motion, he sat up in bed.
"Morning, Brother," I said softly, dropping the invisibility spell. A faint shimr passed through the air as I appeared before him.
Rune’s tense posture eased when he saw , but not completely. His pink hair was an unruly ss, the strands tousled as if he’d run his hands through it a dozen tis.
"You didn’t sleep?" I asked, my voice gentling as I shifted back into Reina’s form.
He exhaled heavily, running a tired hand through his hair. "I couldn’t."
"Are you feeling sick or sothing?" I reached out and placed my hand against his forehead. His skin was cool—normal. Not fevered.
"I’m fine... It’s not that." He lowered his gaze. "Lady Celestia spoke to yesterday. She said... she’s having second thoughts about our engagent. I told her what I could, tried to reassure her... but I’m worried."
I felt my heart sink a little. My hand slowly slid from his forehead, and I took his hand in mine, gently pulling him to sit at the edge of the bed.
"She said she couldn’t marry because she didn’t want to leave her family and ho, didn’t she?" I asked gently.
He nodded, the worry visible in the lines carved into his expression. "I thought maybe the date would help. That maybe... I could show her she could be happy with . But it didn’t seem to work."
He shook his head, jaw tightening.
I looked down, curling my fingers into a fist as guilt pricked the back of my throat and I sat near his feet. "I’m sorry, Brother."
I felt his hand resting on my head as he said softly, "It’s not your fault, Reina."
But I didn’t let him comfort . I reached up and held the hand he’d rested on my head. "No... it is."
He blinked at , clearly confused. "What are you talking about?"
"I spoke to her... after- before your date," I admitted, looking away.
"What?" His voice held confusion, not yet anger. But it was coming—I could feel it swelling behind the silence.
"You see... Dragons have the status of being God’s whom people pray to... And since I also have the Dragon’s blood in so... I can hear prayers of those in need at tis."
Rune stared at , stunned. He didn’t interrupt—just waited.
"Celestia’s prayer was so strong that I had to go. I didn’t reveal myself fully, just... appeared as a small water dragon. I thought it might comfort her." I hesitated. "And she... she prayed for her engagent to be broken."
His silence was heavier now. I could feel his gaze on like cold steel.
"But I couldn’t just break it. So, I made a deal with her—that she would speak to you, give the bond a fair chance. I told her to go on that date with you before deciding."
The storm in Rune’s eyes had begun to gather. His jaw clenched tighter as I felt the temperature around us dropping rapidly.
"That’s why I suggested the date," I continued, hurriedly. "I followed you, to make sure everything went well. Davian helped. He used that sword-fighting competition to cast you as a hero in her eyes. When you fought, I... might have helped a little. Cheated, just slightly, so you’d win. I only wanted her to see your strength and heart..."
Rune’s expression didn’t soften. If anything, it hardened.
"She was happy," I insisted. "She cared when you were hurt. She did enjoy the ti you spent together. But she was still hesitant... so I gave her one more day. And tonight—just a couple hours ago—I t her again. She told she wants to go through with the engagent. She was relieved after speaking with you directly. It was ... who complicated everything."
Silence.
Rune’s face was unreadable now, cold and still like a mountain under winter’s frost. His gaze didn’t waver. Didn’t blink.
"...Brother?" I whispered, my voice shrinking against the weight of his silence.
He didn’t respond. Just stared past , jaw taut and eyes fixed sowhere far off. I knew that look. It was the face he wore when words failed him—when anger was too deep to put into sentences.
[Goddess of Wisdom says it’s obvious he’s angry at what you did.]
[Defender of Divine Glory says you should accept any punishnt that your brother bestows on you.]
I bowed my head low, my voice steady despite the sting in my chest. "I’ll accept any punishnt you give , Brother. I’m sorry. I know I crossed a line."
Still, he didn’t speak. Not a word. Just sat with that haunted look, the quiet fire burning in his eyes.
I lingered only a mont longer, then rose to my feet.
"I’m leaving at sunrise," I said softly. "When you return... you may decide whatever punishnt you feel is right."
I turned and stepped out onto the balcony, the wind brushing past my face.
"I’m sorry, Brother. Farewell," I said softly before leaping off the balcony railing.
[Giver of Gifts asks you not to feel too bad.]
"But I did sothing wrong..."
[Giver of Gifts says it’s still good that you confessed everything honestly.]
"That’s exactly why he’s angry... God knows what he’ll do now." I sighed, just as a sharp whistle cut through the early morning stillness, drawing my gaze.
Davian was standing on his own balcony, arms folded over the railing, a lazy smirk playing on his lips as he looked straight at .
"You’re visible," he said casually, and I glanced down at myself, realizing I’d forgotten to reapply the invisibility spell.
I let out a quiet breath. "Right..." I murmured, before gliding to his side.
He turned to face , his usual easy expression in place.
"What are you doing up so early, Prince Davian?"
"I couldn’t sleep," he replied. "Thought I’d catch the sunrise."
"It’s still a while away," I said, perching on the railing beside him.
He tilted his head slightly. "I wasn’t talking about that sun, Master."
I blinked, caught off guard. "Soone might think you’re into n, Prince Davian."
He gave a low chuckle. "I don’t care."
The mory of his words from the Temple ca to mind. "By the way... what were you saying earlier at the Temple?"
"Hm?" he raised a brow.
"You said sothing about already having... what exactly?"
Understanding dawned in his expression. "Ah, that. I was saying I already have soone I like."
My eyes widened. "Wait—what? Who?!"
He smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "That’s a secret."
"That’s not fair, Prince Davian."
"Aren’t you the leader of the most skilled information guild? Find out who’s my lover," he teased.
I gasped, hand over my mouth. "So it’s mutual?"
A rare flicker of embarrassnt passed over his face as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Well... I haven’t confessed yet."
A soft laugh escaped . "Now that is a rare sight. I never thought I’d see the ’Beast of the Battlefield’ flustered over love."
"Don’t tease , Master. I don’t even know what I’d say if I saw them face-to-face."
His voice was quieter now—genuine. For a mont, he looked more human than warrior—just a man, nervous about the person who had quietly taken root in his heart.
I found myself smiling. Whoever this mysterious person was, they were lucky. After all, the one who held Davian’s heart was soone worth knowing.
And honestly... I’d like to et the lady who managed to ta the God of War.
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