The royal city at night looked especially peaceful and beautiful under the light snowfall. Aria quietly left the hall, feeling weighed down by the conversations, many of which she had never heard of before. She returned to her room, donned her cloak, and stepped outside for some fresh air. By the bonfire, songs echoed, bringing a touch of warmth and nostalgia. Snowflakes gently drifted down, covering the silver streets and adding a layer of mystery to the ancient city. Laughter echoed around, complementing the peaceful atmosphere, almost making one forget the shadow of war and the looming danger.
Aria walked along the path, her steps light yet heavy with thought. She passed by the once familiar buildings, feeling a sense of the passage of time. The old Sovereign Bastion was partly an ancient structure, exuding historical weight, and partly the black stone architecture of Lunar Essence, bringing a cold, modern touch. This contrast filled her with mixed emotions, as if she were caught between two worlds, both familiar and strange.
She stopped in front of the king's hall, gazing at the well-preserved building. The doors were heavily guarded as the Lunar King and Grand Mentor discussed urgent matters inside. She remembered sneaking in here to play as a child, her father sitting high on the throne, patiently listening to the elders' ramblings. Though he often seemed annoyed, he never interrupted them. Life was simple and precious back then, filled with laughter and joy.
However, her father had always been cold and distant towards her. No matter how hard she tried, she could never gain his approval. She was born with an ominous curse, and her mother had passed away in grief because of it. She remembered the arguments during the elders' meetings and her father's disappointment in her, as if her existence was a mistake.
"You will never meet my expectations, Aria," he had once said coldly. "You're nothing but a useless burden."
These words cut deep, wounding her heart. She had left the palace that suffocated her, seeking her own path in the outside world. Now, standing before this grand hall, she felt a complex mix of emotions. She missed those simple days; even though she wasn't happy, at least it was once her home.
Suddenly, she heard soft footsteps behind her. Turning, she saw Neven approaching slowly, snowflakes sparkling on his cloak in the dim light. His appearance broke her train of thought and brought warmth to her heart.
"Neven, what are you doing here?" Aria asked, her voice tinged with surprise and delight.
"I saw you leave the banquet hall and was worried something might happen to you, so I followed," Neven replied, concern evident in his eyes.
"Thank you," Aria said softly, feeling a wave of reassurance, "I just needed some fresh air."
Neven stood beside her, looking at the king's hall. "I've been wondering, if our ancestors hadn't come here, what kind of life would I be living now?"
"Do you miss your homeland?" Aria asked.
"I don't know. I've never even seen what the Lunar Essence Clan's city looks like," he said wistfully, then asked curiously, "Do you miss your family?"
"Sometimes I do, but… my father never really liked me. So being away from them doesn't mean much to me," Aria said.
Neven was silent for a moment before speaking softly, "Sometimes, we have to accept the things we can't change. Your father might not see your worth, but that doesn't mean you don't have it. You've already proven yourself; you don't need his approval anymore."
"You're right, Neven." Aria took a deep breath, though her tone remained melancholy.
"We will always be with you," Neven said, "No matter what happens, I'll be by your side."
Neven moved in front of her, his brow furrowed deeply, his eyes reading the loss and despondency in hers. "There's a performance in the hall later, do you want to go back and watch?" he asked.
Aria shook her head.
Neven took the Essence Elixir from her belt. "Aren't you curious about what it does?"
"I am curious," Aria admitted.
Neven unscrewed the cap, tilted his head back, and drank it in one go.
Before Aria could stop him, she asked in surprise, "Why did you drink it? I thought you disliked Essence Elixir."
Golden veins appeared beneath Neven's skin as the elixir merged with his blood. The golden glow spread like vines across his face, then his eyes, the golden hue swirling in his pupils. It then extended down his neck to his fingertips. Finally, the glow faded, disappearing beneath his skin.
Neven squinted as if he had just taken a sip of strong liquor. "Alexander makes it too bitter. I don't like using it because it feels like there's a fire burning inside me."
"Are you sure it's safe?" Aria asked, worried.
"It'll be fine," Neven reassured her with a smile.
He took Aria's hand and led her towards the stables in the depths of the royal city, occasional flashes of gold from his fingers lighting up the snowy ground like shooting stars in the night. "While the energy lasts, let's ride the flame horses," he said, his tone filled with an unmistakable excitement and urgency.
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Moonlight shone down on them, the snow beneath their feet creaking softly, as if the entire world had narrowed down to just the two of them and the myriad stars above. The stable stood quietly in the expanse of white, its weathered wooden walls blanketed in thick snow, silently telling tales of past glory.
They stepped into the stable, the air rich with the scent of aged wood and hay.
Neven's Soul Stone emitted a golden light, illuminating the surroundings. Spark stood quietly in a corner, its mane glowing like bright, soft flames.
Neven reached out and gently stroked the mane of the fiery horse. The flames danced at his fingertips, reflecting the satisfaction and joy on his face. The horse obediently lowered its head, and the flames on its back gradually extinguished, revealing a sturdy and warm back.
Aria stood nearby, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart. She walked closer, her fingers touching Spark's soft mane, feeling the warmth of the flames dancing at her fingertips, bringing an unusual warmth.
"These fiery manes aren't hot," Aria said excitedly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and delight.
"Ever since I tamed it, the firestone has never burned me, except that one time." Neven's hand bore the scars of burns.
"Can you control Spark now?"
"Only for a moment, the spirit elixirs can't solve my problem."
Neven smiled, pulling her up onto the horse. Under their guidance, Spark trotted lightly, heading deeper into the snow. Flames surrounded them, dispelling the cold of the winter night, warming them completely, as if they were sitting in a cozy room.
As the sound of hoofbeats gradually faded, the stable behind them fell back into silence, with only the fleeting golden light leaving an unforgettable trace in the night sky.
They passed through the gates of the royal city, heading towards the twinkling lights of Shadowvale. After traversing the town, they finally arrived at a winding creek. The cold air condensed into a thin mist in the dampness, the creek water flowing gently, the white mist swirling, as if they were walking among the clouds.
Such tranquility brought a warmth to Aria's heart.
Neven stopped the horse, helping her dismount. Aria lifted her skirt and stepped into the snow; it was just the two of them in the silent woods.
"In the morning, when I went to your room, besides throwing away your dress, I also took this. I put the Soul Stone in it, hoping it would always stay with you." Neven placed a golden pendant around her neck. Aria picked up the pendant on her chest, the golden wings unfolding to reveal a small Soul Stone glowing faintly.
"This is a shard split from my Soul Stone." He pointed to the Soul Stone on his sword, which was missing a corner.
Aria touched the glowing Soul Stone and asked, "Why do you give a Soul Stone on Warrior’s Day? Is there a special meaning? You wouldn’t let me accept anyone else's Soul Stone."
"It's our tradition. On Warrior’s Day, you can't casually accept someone else's Soul Stone."
"Why?" Aria asked.
"It's really difficult to explain; everyone else understands, but you don't."
"Because I'm not Lunar Essence," Aria muttered.
"It means... uh..." He cleared his throat. "It's given to the woman you love."
Aria closed the wings of the pendant, stunned into silence. She had thought their relationship would continue as it was, but Neven's words had awakened her from her dream.
Neven's eyes reflected the light from the fiery horse, and Aria gazed into those golden eyes. Under the flames and golden light, his eyes sparkled like the stars, deep and enchanting. The heat of the flames brought a slight blush to his face, and the occasional glimmer of gold was like stars in the night sky.
He smiled gently, snowflakes softly falling onto his face, melting into tiny droplets that slid down his cheeks. His breath became deeper, trembling slightly. He exhaled, his warm breath turning into white mist in the cold air. He leaned down, kissed Aria with a faint breath, and for that moment, it seemed as if the world had stopped.
Their cloaks brushed softly in the breeze, making gentle rustling sounds. Aria leaned into his body, feeling the warmth of his chest and the rhythm of his heartbeat. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest.
The fiery horse stood quietly behind them, its warm glow surrounding them, driving away the cold around them. Snowflakes continued to dance in the air, as if time had stopped, leaving only the two of them in this serene night.
When they finally pulled apart, Neven rested his forehead against hers, lightly touching head to head. Their breaths mingled, their gazes locked, seeing deep into each other’s souls. They looked at each other with deep affection, their smiles widening in unison, showing their happiness.
"All this time, you still haven't figured out the true meaning of Warrior’s Day. Do you think warriors just want to show off in the arena?" Neven reproached.
"Let me think, um... it seems so. Sable is always chasing his dream girl with a saddle. Alexander is always surrounded by women." Aria's arm was still around his neck, her feet feeling like they were treading on clouds, soft and light. She pressed against his chest, hearing the strong heartbeat within.
In the darkness, a beast howled in the distance, startling a flock of ravens by the creek. They had ventured deep along the creek, revealing a pink flower in the snow.
"These flowers are Four Seasons Flowers." Aria looked around the dark forest, the moonlight hazy, a ruined city wall looming behind the white mist. Four Seasons Flowers climbed the crumbling stone walls, filling Aria with sudden anxiety.
She broke free from his embrace, crossing through the bushes, a surge of panic and sadness welling up in her heart.Within lay King Magnus's cemetery, where her relatives were buried.
Neven caught up, holding her back. "Aria, we should go back."
Aria shook off his hand, quickly bypassing the stone wall. A raven perched on the collapsed wall, its harsh cawing echoing in the dark cemetery.
Aria hurried past the low tombstones, her footsteps making faint crunching sounds in the snow. These tombstones had been here for centuries, marked by the passage of time. She hurried towards a familiar direction, her heart filled with unease and dread. In the distance, a solitary ancient tree stood tall in the snow, its branches laden with snow, resembling a natural sculpture. The tree's trunk was thick and old, like a silent guardian witnessing countless changes over the years.
Aria's breathing became labored, the cold air stinging her lungs. Her heart raced, each step filled with determination and anxiety. When she finally reached the ancient tree and stopped abruptly, her eyes widened, her emotions surging uncontrollably.
Her gaze swept over the snow-covered tombstones, seemingly asleep, yet she knew they held her past and memories. Her eyes lingered on her mother's white jade tombstone, softly glowing in the moonlight. She gently touched the tombstone, feeling an indescribable pain well up inside her.
Then, she looked at the second tombstone, the moonlight illuminating the name, King Magnus. Aria's body began to tremble, tears welling up in her eyes. Her emotions peaked, the pain inside her threatening to overwhelm her.
She continued to look at the next, lower tombstone, engraved with the name Xander Magnus. Each letter seemed etched into her heart, bringing endless pain and memories.
Finally, her gaze landed on the fourth tombstone, terror sweeping through her body. She stared at the name, stiff and disbelieving. At that moment, it felt as if the ground beneath her feet had crumbled.
The fourth tombstone bore her name... Aria. She couldn't believe it, checking it over and over again. It was impossible; she was alive. Yet, this tombstone, with her name on it, silently proclaimed an eerie fate.