The birds were chirping, enjoying the freedom of being bathed in warm sunlight. The children look cheerful with big smiles on their faces, while adults are seen busy beautifying their homes and streets to welcome the special day.

Walking around the city, a blond-haired, blue-eyed teenager smiled while holding a small book in his right hand, observing the enthusiastic residents going about their day.

The teenager was none other than me, who also felt happy seeing the happiness on everyone’s faces.

Some people who noticed my presence immediately smiled and greeted me. Congratulated me on my birthday as I had just turned seventeen today.

“Happy birthday, Prince Nova. May you always be healthy and blessed by the Goddess of the Everlasting Sun.”

Of course, as a friendly prince, I smiled and thanked them for the congratulations they gave me.

Even though I hold the title of a prince, the reason for the joyful decorations adorning the entire city is not solely my birthday. It’s because today marks the celebration ceremony to express gratitude to the Goddess of Everlasting Sun for the blessings she has bestowed upon the people of the Lightsworn Kingdom. The light provided by the Goddess has led to prosperity and bountiful harvests for the people year after year.

While I was happily walking around the city, a voice shouted my name, making me turn around to see the figure who was shouting my name cheerfully.

“Brother Nova, I finally found you. Why are you walking around alone again? Lily also wants to come with you!”

Walking towards me was my cute little sister, Lily Skylight. She was only ten years old but she was known as a genius little witch. Her ability to use magic even surpassed some adults. Because of her pride in her abilities, my little sister always wore her magic academy uniform even when she was in the palace.

My mother even got a headache because my sister liked her uniform more than all the beautiful dresses she bought for her.

Hugging my body like there is no tomorrow, Lily wished me a happy birthday with a cheerful smile on her face.

I gently stroked her head and thanked her. Her smile always warmed my heart.

“Lily, the celebration ceremony will begin soon, we better go back or else father and mother will scold us.”

Lily nodded with a smile, but before I could hold her hand, my sister already moved to put a bracelet on my wrist.

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“This is your birthday present from me, Brother Nova. My teacher said this bracelet has a very pure light power. Considering that your birthday this year coincides with the celebration ceremony for the Goddess of the Everlasting Sun, don’t you think my gift is very fitting?”

I laughed happily and replied, “Your gift is the best!”

Holding my sister’s hand, the two of us walked towards the palace where our father and mother were already waiting for us to immediately begin the celebration ceremony which was always led by the king, the queen, and their descendants.

But just a few minutes after we walked, the sky that was previously bright and sunny suddenly turned dark in matter of seconds. Everyone was shocked and immediately looked up at the sky, including my little sister, Lily, and me.

The king, the queen, and all the people in all corners of the Lightsworn Kingdom looked up at the sky with worry and fear. The sun that was previously shining in the sky had now turned into a red moon.

Something that has never happened before.

Several people dropped the items they were holding, wondering what was going on with the sky and the sun.

My sister looked nervous and so did I, but as an older brother, it is my duty to give my little sister a sense of security by holding her hand tightly, which was starting to sweat coldly.

Waiting and hoping for a miracle from the Goddess to arrive, what happened next was far from expectations and made me reflexively move to cover my sister’s body with my own body.

A ray of darkness fell from the sky like a hammer of punishment, and at the same time, I felt excruciating pain all over my body, along with the tragic screams of the people around me. In the end, darkness swallowed my body as I held the hand of the most precious person in my life.

When I thought I was dead, a glimmer of light appeared from the darkness. When my hand reached for the light, my eyes opened, and I could only witness what happened to everyone around me at a standstill.

Buildings that previously stood strong and beautiful have now turned into rubble and dust. Bodies strewn in various places with their forms no longer intact. Streets that were previously filled with smile and laugh now turned into pools of corpses and blood.

Fear began to fill my heart as I turned my gaze towards where I was holding my sister’s hand.

What I saw next made my chest feel tight and sore. My breath started to move fast and irregularly. All that was left of my sister was a piece of her hand that was tightly holding mine.

My body felt so weak that I was forced to sit among the rubble while holding what was left of my beloved sister.

I couldn’t contain my emotions any longer, and tears began streaming down my face. Gazing at the now darkened sky, I found myself screaming and crying, devoid of a target for my anger.

I don’t know how long I spent my time crying and grieving, but after my emotions stabilized, all I could do was keep digging and moving the bodies to bury them together. This included my sister’s hand, which was already cold and stiff.

After I had paid my respects to the deceased by buried their bodies, I was overwhelmed by exhaustion and eventually collapsed, losing consciousness.

The last thing I tried to remember before losing consciousness was the warm smile of my little sister as she gave me her precious birthday present.

“Lily, wait for me. I will come to you …”