Farewell

The New Year's celebration in the Salona Empire is nothing short of spectacular. As the moon rises high in the sky, the city of Lumine comes alive with shimmering crystals and lanterns floating gracefully into the air, each bearing symbols of the moon. It's a mesmerizing sight, filling the night with ethereal light and magic.

At the grand podium in front of the majestic cathedral, the Emperor stands tall, delivering his customary New Year's speech. The words are broadcasted across all cities in the empire through recording crystals, ensuring that every citizen can hear his message of hope and prosperity for the coming year. As he concludes his speech, a symphony of fireworks erupts across the city, painting the sky with dazzling colors and patterns. The air is filled with music and the joyful laughter of revelers.

As a royal Princess, I am obligated to attend the festivities, although I find it all quite exhausting. After the Emperor's speech, he descends from the podium to join the crowd at the cathedral. It's there that he is greeted by the Pope, the figure of immense power and influence in the empire.

"Luke, I remember when you were just a teen. Look at you now. Ho Ho Ho," the Pope booms, a jovial twinkle in his eye as he claps the Emperor on the back.

"A pleasure to see you as always, your holiness," the Emperor responds with a respectful nod. Only the Pope can treat the Emperor with such familiarity, given his status as the only 8-star swordsman in the entire empire, the Emperor is only 7- Star.

"Always so formal," the Pope chuckles, shaking his head in mock disappointment. Despite his age, the Pope exudes energy and vitality, a testament to his enduring power and influence. He had risen to power when the current Emperor was just a child of seven, and his true age remains a mystery to all.

The Empress and my half-siblings bow respectfully to the Pope, and I follow suit, offering a respectful nod. However, the Pope's gaze lingers on me, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

"Don't mind me, I'm here to steal some time with the third princess. We have a prior engagement," the Pope announces with a mischievous grin, and I bow once more to the Emperor and Empress before following the Pope away from the bustling crowd.

*

"You're such a bully, you know," I say, walking in step with the Pope as we navigate through the bustling streets of the New Year's celebration.

"Give this old man some slack. I have few things that interest me at my age," the Pope responds with a twinkle in his eye, and I can't help but roll my eyes at his antics.

"You're the only one who gets to treat me like this. You're the weird one here. Where's the fear, the reverence?" He retorts, feigning exasperation.

"Oh, no. It's the Pope. I'm so overwhelmed," I say dramatically, earning a pinch on the ear from the Pope.

"Ow, ow, ow! Okay, okay, I'm sorry, Grandpa. Forgive me," I say, knowing the 'grandpa' card always works with him. He releases my ear with a satisfied grin.

"Little birds here and there tell me you're raising certain... somethings," he says mischievously, and I can't help but sigh. There are no secrets in this city, it seems.

"Seems like the little birdies told you everything. Why bother asking me?" I brush him off.

"How amusing," the Emperor chuckles from nearby, and I eye him suspiciously.

"The deity I worship is a woman. I have no prejudices. I was laughing at my own thoughts," he quickly defends himself.

"As fun as it is to spend time with you, we'll be together for the next two years, so have fun," he says, clapping his hands. Suddenly, I find myself in an alleyway.

Stepping out of the alley, I spot the boys standing nearby, next to a priest. They seem reserved and unapproachable, Valendor's cold demeanor could freeze a desert. A group of women nearby are giggling and glancing their way, clearly taken by their attractiveness.

"Hello," I say to them, trying to start a conversation.

No one responds, and the priest discreetly slips away. Seeing the boys remain silent, Nikolai finally speaks up.

"Good evening, my lady. We have prior arrangements. Forgive my two companions," he says politely, effectively ending any chance of conversation.

"Arrangements?" I reply, mimicking the tone of noble ladies.

"I won't take much of your time," I lean in, attempting to touch Haroun, but he swiftly dodges my hand. I hide a chuckle at his quick reflexes.

"Unfortunately, we cannot alter our plans," Nikolai says firmly, positioning himself in front of Haroun and Valendor, subtly moving them out of my line of sight. It's one of the most attractive displays of protectiveness I've seen.

"Forgive us," Nikolai continues, his tone final.

I reach my hand out to touch his chest, but it stops in midair. A spell? Something prevents me from making contact, and I raise an eyebrow in surprise.

"I don't know if I should be offended at the lack of recognition," I say with mock sadness, feigning hurt.

"Listen here, lady—" Haroun begins, but I interrupt him by releasing a slight surge of divine power. The glamour fades, and they can now see my true form.

"Your highness—" Nikolai starts, but I place a finger on his lips to silence him.

"I'm just Selene now, so don't go exposing my identity," I say, my tone light but firm.

Their expressions shift from confusion to realization as they take in my true appearance. Valendor's eyes widen, Haroun's jaw drops slightly, and Nikolai's lips part in surprise.

"Yes, the one and only," I reply, a playful glint in my eyes. "Now that we're on equal footing, care to explain why you three were avoiding me like the plague?"

Nikolai clears his throat, recovering quickly. "We weren't avoiding you, yourhigh- I mean my lady ...We just... didn't recognize you in the glamour," he explains, a sheepish grin forming on his face.

Haroun nods in agreement. "Yeah, it's not every day we see you with a different face." he adds, scratching the back of his head.

I chuckle at their reactions. "Fair enough. But now that we've cleared that up, let's enjoy the festivities together," I suggest, gesturing towards the bustling celebration around us.

The boys nod eagerly, the earlier tension dissipating as we join the revelry. We spend the rest of the evening laughing, dancing, and enjoying each other's company under the bright lights and colorful decorations of the New Year's celebration.

As the sun begins to rise, casting a golden hue over the still lively festivities, I know it's time to say goodbye. Maverick arrives at the small park where we've gathered, and as he approaches, the mood shifts to a somber one. The boys must see the sadness in my eyes, mirrored in theirs.

"Haroun, come here," I beckon, and he rushes into my arms, embracing me tightly as if trying to hold onto the moment forever. I return the hug with equal intensity, cherishing this last embrace. After what feels like both a fleeting moment and an eternity, he finally releases me, and I press a kiss to his cheek.

Next is Valendor, who steps forward with a mixture of reluctance and acceptance. I pull him into a hug, feeling the weight of impending separation. His arms wrap around me, and I whisper words of farewell and gratitude. When we part, I kiss his cheek as well, a silent promise to remember these moments.

Lastly, it's Nikolai's turn. He approaches with a calm demeanor, but I can see the emotion in his eyes. As he draws me into a hug, I can feel his heart beating against mine. There's an unspoken understanding between us, a shared sense of loss and hope for the future. When we pull apart, he surprises me by pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead.

"Take care of them," I whisper softly, my voice barely audible over the sounds of the waking city. He nods slightly, his expression serious yet filled with unspoken reassurance.

With a heavy heart, I watch as they board the Gilcha lizard, their figures becoming smaller and smaller in the distance. As they disappear from view, a wave of melancholy washes over me.

"Well, that was dramatic. One would think you're going to war," Kai remarks, his presence suddenly appearing beside us as if out of thin air.

"Where did you pop up from?" I ask, turning to face the strikingly handsome man.

"Here and there," Kai replies with a casual shrug, "until I saw some heartfelt goodbyes. I almost thought you lied to me and are going to die," he adds, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he fans himself dramatically.

I can't help but roll my eyes at his theatrics. "Please, I'll be back in two years. Hardly the end of the world," I retort.

Kai chuckles softly, his eyes holding a glimmer of mischief. "Well, I suppose I'll have to find some other entertainment in the meantime,the horror,"he says, his tone teasing.

A few minutes later, I meet up with a priest who also seemingly popped out of mid air.

"Thank you, Kai," I say sincerely, turning to him. "For everything."

He smiles warmly, his gaze softening. "Anytime, Selene. You know where to find me if you need anything," he replies, his words carrying a genuine warmth.

With a final nod, I bid farewell to Kai and make my way.