The launch platform sat high above the sprawling city of Marlugrathara, its sleek metallic surface glowing faintly in the early morning light. Rising like a sentinel from the palace grounds, the platform overlooked the forested expanse of the Veilwood Shroud, its canopy still shrouded in the mist of dawn. The air was crisp and carried the faint scent of ozone, a reminder of the coming storm—a frequent occurrence during this season in Umbralumara. The rhythmic hum of idling spacecraft filled the platform, a subtle counterpoint to the faint murmur of palace activity below.
Elkianara stood near the edge of the platform, her posture regal but her heart uneasy. She was dressed more practically than usual, her travel attire sleek and functional, but still bearing the subtle elegance expected of a royal. Beside her, Isolde finished organizing Elkianara’s luggage, though her hands paused momentarily to adjust a strap that didn’t really need fixing.
“You’d think I’d never packed before,” Elkianara quipped softly, though her voice lacked its usual sharp humor.
“You’d think someone who represents an entire planet might remember to pack an extra pair of boots,” Isolde replied, not looking up but smiling faintly. “You’re lucky I’m here to catch your oversights.”
Elkianara exhaled a soft laugh, grateful for the distraction. Her eyes drifted toward the sleek transport vessel waiting to take her and Alden to Starlight Academy. Its polished hull gleamed like obsidian in the morning light, the sigil of the Academy—a crescent moon cradling a star—etched faintly into its side. The sight brought a flicker of excitement but was quickly tempered by the weight of what she was leaving behind.
Behind her, Marcus approached, his stride purposeful. “The boy is on his way,” he said simply, his deep voice steady as ever. “Headmaster Reenes has just arrived.”
Elkianara nodded, and her mind briefly flickered to Alden. She hadn’t seen him since the moment he woke after surgery. Her memory pulled her back, unwillingly, to the fragile, broken boy she had seen then.
***
The sterile light of the recovery room was harsh against the pale sheen of Alden’s skin. He looked impossibly small in the hospital bed, his right arm bandaged heavily, though faint black-and-white scars still peeked out along his wrist where the wrappings ended. Elkianara sat stiffly in a chair beside him, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Serkai stood behind her, a steady presence, though her sharp eyes were softened with something that could only be described as maternal concern.
Alden stirred, his head shifting on the pillow before his eyes fluttered open. For a moment, he stared blankly at the ceiling, disoriented. Then the realization seemed to crash down on him all at once. His eyes snapped wide, his breath catching in his throat.
“Elara… Father…” His voice was barely a whisper, rasping and raw, but the anguish in it was unmistakable.
“Alden,” Serkai said gently, stepping forward and placing a hand lightly on his shoulder. “You’re safe. You’re with us.”
But Alden didn’t seem to hear her. He twisted his head to the side, his green eyes locking onto Elkianara with an intensity that sent a chill through her. “They’re gone,” he choked, his voice breaking. “I couldn’t—I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t save them.”
Tears welled in his eyes, spilling over as his body shook with silent sobs. Elkianara wanted to reach out to him, to offer some kind of comfort, but her hands remained frozen in her lap. She looked up at her mother, silently pleading for guidance.
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Serkai’s expression tightened, but she leaned closer, her voice low and steady. “Alden, it wasn’t your fault. What happened was beyond anyone’s control. You survived because you were strong—and you will need to be strong again.”
But her words did little to ease the storm raging within him. Alden buried his face in his hands, his cries muffled but raw, and Elkianara felt utterly helpless.
What neither Serkai nor Elkianara could know was that Alden’s grief wasn’t just for his parents. Beneath the sorrow of their loss was another kind of anguish—a hollow, gnawing emptiness where once there had been voices to guide him. Lysandra’s warmth, Vaelus’s steady strength—they were gone, their presence ripped away as if a part of his very soul had been torn out. He couldn’t explain it, couldn’t articulate the void that seemed to swallow him whole. And so, he let the tears come, mourning not just the loss of his family, but the unbearable silence in his mind.
***
Elkianara sat cross-legged on the plush sofa in their private quarters, a mug of warm herbal tea cradled in her hands. The room was softly lit, the faint glow of an enchanted crystal lamp casting gentle shadows across the walls. Across from her, Empress Serkai reclined in her favorite chair, her formal demeanor absent for once. She looked every bit the mother Elkianara knew so intimately, her posture relaxed, her sharp blue eyes softened by an unmistakable warmth.
“I’ve never been away from you before,” Elkianara admitted quietly, staring down into her mug. “Not like this.”
Serkai smiled faintly, her expression tinged with sadness. “And I have never sent you so far. But you are ready, Elkianara.”
“Am I?” Elkianara glanced up, her composure cracking ever so slightly. “What if I fail, Mother? What if I’m not good enough? What if—”
“El.” Serkai interrupted gently, using her daughter’s childhood nickname. “You are stronger than you realize. You carry the weight of this family, this throne, and this planet, but you do not carry it alone.” She reached out, brushing a strand of Elkianara’s hair back behind her ear. “You will stumble, yes. But you will rise again. And you will make me proud, as you always have.”
Elkianara blinked rapidly, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. “I’ll miss you,” she said softly.
“And I, you,” Serkai replied, leaning forward to press a light kiss to her daughter’s forehead. “But this is your path, Elkianara. You must walk it.”
***
Elkianara blinked, the memories fading as Marcus’s voice pulled her back to the present. “The boy is on his way.”
She nodded, glancing toward the side entrance just as Alden appeared, flanked by two attendants. He looked even smaller than he had in the recovery room, his travel suit hanging loosely on his thin frame. His green eyes darted around nervously, his hand clutching the strap of his satchel like a lifeline.
Elkianara stepped forward, her expression softening. “Alden,” she said gently. “Are you ready?”
The boy hesitated, his gaze flicking between her and the ship. Then, slowly, he nodded, though his grip on the satchel remained tight.
“You’re very brave,” Elkianara said, kneeling slightly to meet his eye level. “We’ll figure this out together, okay?”
Alden didn’t respond, but there was a faint flicker of trust in his eyes. Elkianara offered him a small, reassuring smile before standing and turning to face her mother.
Empress Serkai stood a short distance away, her deep blue cloak billowing slightly in the morning breeze. Her expression was calm, but Elkianara could see the faintest hint of emotion in her sharp blue eyes. As Elkianara approached, her mother extended a hand.
“This is a pivotal moment,” Serkai said, her tone steady but laced with something deeper. “Not just for Alden, but for you as well. Remember who you are, Elkianara. Remember what you represent.”
Elkianara nodded, her fingers tightening around the pendant Serkai had given her the night before. “I won’t forget.”
Serkai’s gaze softened, and for a moment, she looked as though she might say more. But instead, she stepped back, her composure slipping into the unshakable grace of an empress.
Departure
The boarding ramp extended with a soft hum, and Elkianara placed a hand lightly on Alden’s shoulder, guiding him forward. The ship loomed above them, its sleek design glinting in the morning light. Behind them, Marcus and Isolde watched silently, their expressions unreadable.
As the ramp began to retract, Elkianara turned to look back one last time. The city of Marlugrathara stretched out below, the Veilwood Shroud a dark, misty expanse in the distance. She held the image in her mind, etching it into her memory.
Then the ramp closed, and the ship’s engines roared to life. Elkianara placed a steadying hand on Alden’s shoulder as the vessel lifted off, leaving Umbralumara behind.