CHAPTER 6: THE REINCARNATION OF THE LUNAR GODDESS (part 1)

Visitors came to the Kingdom of Luna from all corners of Niray, driven by the desire to witness the spiritual goddess's rebirth tradition.

At the center of Luna's square, near one of the kingdom's many shrines, stood a ceremonial platform crafted from intricately woven metals. The structure was painted white and adorned with a small moon symbol at its peak. Usually the quietest among the six kingdoms, Luna was now abuzz with so many visitors that no lunar monk could possibly hear their own mantras.

The civilians cheered enthusiastically as the great Thunder King marched through the rows of people. The man, with brown skin, appeared to be about 44 years old. His short white hair was so cropped it resembled freshly cut grass. A serious and calm expression rested on his face. He carried heavy gloves in his hands, seemingly made of metal and rubber. His body was shielded by armor that, unlike the gloves, seemed light, in a soft shade of gray. Atop his head was a pointed crown of shiny gray, with a blue gem resembling a sapphire at its center.

The man walked to the edge of the ceremonial platform, greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd. This prompted Haru to whisper a question to Kota:

"Why is he being applauded so much? Your father wasn't received like this."

Kota watched as the man ascended the short steps of the platform, responding to his curious servant:

"He's a brilliant inventor. A significant portion of Niray's technology originates from his ideas, so much of the nation is deeply grateful to him."

The prince, who was the first to be greeted by the Thunder King, extended his hand. With a polite smile, the man in the heavy gloves gently shook the Solarian heir's hand and bowed to young Kota, who felt honored. Then, just as gently, he shook Haru's delicate hands. However, when approaching Hayato, the monarch's polite smile turned into a cold glare of disdain, and he passed by without even acknowledging him.

When facing the Solar King, Kazuki shook his hand with a forced smile, remarking:

"What an honor it is to stand before the great Solar King."

The Thunder King's tone was clearly mocking, and it was met with an equally sarcastic response:

"The honor is all mine. I truly enjoy shaking your delicate glove."

The gloves Kazuki wore were his own invention. They were designed to suppress his powers, which, unlike most inhabitants of Niray, he could not control on his own. Those unable to control their powers in Niray were often the target of cruel jokes, and even royalty was no exception. Who would have thought that the great Thunder King, applauded by all, had once been mocked during his childhood and adolescence? Through technology, he overcame his condition and became one of the most powerful men in the nation.

Kazuki's face contorted with rage at Itoku's comment, and Haru thought he glimpsed tiny sparks emanating from the king's gloves. The moment was fleeting, and the young healer wasn't even sure if it had been real.

As Kazuki greeted Shen by bowing and kissing the elderly man's forehead, Kilua, still standing at the edge of the line of soldiers, announced softly:

"Ladies and gentlemen, bow before the Thunder Princess, Kimiko Colins."

The entrance of the beautiful brown-skinned young woman was met with fewer cheers, not because she was less beloved but because the crowd's whistles and flattering remarks drowned out everything else. The princess was known as the most beautiful woman in all of Niray. She wore a pink dress with white trim and details, clearly worthy of royalty. The fabric appeared light, and her long white hair, as smooth and silky as fine threads of silk, swayed freely as she ascended the stairs slowly, carefully lifting the edges of her dress.

Yet her face bore a somber expression. She looked directly at Shen, who walked to the stairs, took her hands to assist her, and cheerfully said:

"Come now, don't make that face. Don't you dare mar such a beautiful visage with tears for me. I will live forever alongside the spiritual goddess."

The young woman merely nodded at Shen and tried to smile to mask her sadness for the elderly man. Kimiko stood beside her father on the platform, greeting no one. However, something caught Haru's attention. While everyone watched Kilua position his soldiers near the Solarian troops, the young princess seemed to smile subtly at Kota, who immediately smiled back playfully. Haru felt an inexplicable discomfort. He didn't understand why, but the thought of the two possibly flirting bothered him.

Sweet Haru felt strange around Kota, but he understood it would lead nowhere—after all, he was merely a servant. Though they had known each other for a short time, to the young healer, it felt like a lifetime. Kota seemed to notice his servant's sadness and consoled him:

"Are you feeling down? Don't worry. Master Shen said the goddess will keep him alive within her forever."

Haru merely smiled, glad that Kota hadn't realized the true source of his sadness, which went beyond Shen's impending death. Distracted by his conflicting emotions, Haru failed to notice the next arrival in the procession entering Luna.

Unlike the Solarians and Storm Children, the leaders who arrived next weren't surrounded by soldiers. A woman of approximately 40 years old, with blue hair styled in an elegant bun, entered with a radiant smile. Her fair skin accentuated her bold red lipstick. She was slightly overweight, and her dark blue dress highlighted her generous curves.

It was hard not to notice the woman as she climbed the platform. The elected ruler of the Water Kingdom wasted no time pinching Haru's and Kota's cheeks as if they were plush toys. She showered them with compliments about their appearance, leaving the two young men wishing they could disappear from embarrassment. Hayato and Itoku watched the scene with their hands on their foreheads as she loudly and humorously declared how muscular the prince was and how adorable the young healer looked:

"How is it possible that two ugly men like Itoku and Hayato could have such handsome sons?"

It was only when Shen reminded her that others were waiting to ascend the stairs that Irina, the representative of the Water Kingdom, stopped her string of praises. She made way for a man dressed simply yet exuding confidence. Upon reaching the platform, the man shook everyone's hand and addressed Shen:

"So, you're finally kicking the bucket, old man?"

Shen burst into laughter, while an irritated Irina slapped the man's face. The crowd was stunned as she scolded him:

"Hao, is that any way to speak to a poor old man?"

The woman slapped him again. Hao, the elected leader of the Iron Kingdom, wore a chainmail shirt typically used under armor. His hair was brown and curly. Though not overweight, his protruding belly hinted at the excellent cuisine of the Iron Kingdom, known as vital to Niray's food supply. His dark trousers were made of good fabric, and his simple sandals gave him a relaxed and approachable appearance. His long dark beard swayed as Irina continued to hit him, still annoyed.

The two were longtime friends, so their behavior only seemed strange to those unfamiliar with their dynamic.