Celestia let out a quiet sigh before rising to her feet, the floorboards creaking softly beneath her. She made her way toward the door, pausing just before opening it. Casting a glance over her shoulder, she met Rosaline's gaze and offered a small smile before stepping through the wooden frame. The door shut behind her with a faint thud, leaving the room in silence.
As she walked down the dimly lit hallway, a thought tugged at her mind.
'Should I visit my parents?' The idea sat heavy in her chest, uncertain and unresolved. 'Do I even want to?'
She exhaled through her nose, shaking the thought away as she reached a narrow staircase. Climbing the steps, she pushed open another wooden door, stepping onto the deck where the salty breeze greeted her instantly. The scent of the ocean filled her lungs, and the rhythmic crash of waves against the hull echoed in the early morning air. The sky, still tinged with the deep hues of dawn, cast a golden shimmer across the restless sea.
Celestia walked toward the wooden railing, running her fingers along its weathered surface before settling down against it. She pulled her knees up slightly, letting the ship's gentle rocking lull her into a moment of stillness.
Across the deck, Tio glanced at her but said nothing.
Celestia took a slow, deep breath, holding it for a moment before exhaling. Then, after a pause, she turned to him.
"Tio… can I tell you something?"
He raised a brow, finally giving her his full attention. "What's on your mind?"
Her fingers curled slightly against the wood as she hesitated, then spoke.
"What if I told you that… while I was in that 'coma' of mine, that I was actually somewhere else… like a different realm," she said, her voice steady but soft. "And while I was there, I had to fight something. Something called the First Dawn."
Tio stared at her for a moment, then let out a sigh. He leaned back against the mast, rubbing his temple as if trying to decide whether to entertain her words or dismiss them outright.
"I mean… you were in a coma," he said with a shrug. "I wouldn't be surprised if you had some weird dreams." He scoffed, shaking his head. "And the First Dawn? That sounds ridiculous. Even for me."
Celestia rolled her eyes and leaned back, letting her long hair drape over the railing as the wind played with its strands. Her gaze drifted upward to the clouds, their slow movement mirroring the weight of her thoughts.
"…I guess so," she murmured, voice soft and distant.
And as the ship swayed with the tide, she closed her eyes, letting the sky above consume her thoughts.
After a few hours of resting against the railing, the gentle rocking of the ship finally stilled as the Lox vessel docked at Blossom's Port. The distant hum of a bustling harbor filled the air, mingling with the salty breeze.
Celestia stirred, stretching slightly before opening her eyes. The golden hues of early morning bathed the deck in warm light, reflecting off the gentle waves. With a quiet sigh, she pushed herself to her feet and made her way below deck, her steps light against the wooden planks.
She stopped in front of a door and knocked.
A moment later, the door cracked open, and Rosaline peered out, her violet eyes calm but curious. "What is it?" she asked softly, a faint smile playing on her lips.
"We've docked," Celestia replied. "Blossom's Bloom."
Rosaline nodded before stepping out, closing the door behind her as she fell in step beside Celestia. Together, they ascended the stairs leading back to the deck, where they spotted Tio and the medic already standing on the docks, waiting.
Without a word, the two women stepped onto the stone-paved port. The air smelled of sea salt, blooming flowers, and freshly baked bread from nearby stalls. Ships of varying sizes lined the harbor, their sails swaying gently in the ocean breeze. The voices of merchants, sailors, and travelers wove into the atmosphere, creating the vibrant heartbeat of Blossom's Port.
But just as Celestia took a breath to enjoy the moment, a sharp voice cut through the crowd.
"HEY, YOU!"
Her body stiffened. Turning her head slowly, her emerald eyes widened as recognition struck her.
A man strode toward them, his expression unreadable but his intent clear.
'Oh, shit.'
It was the same man she had scammed to get a free boat.
Celestia gulped, forcing a casual smile onto her lips as she quickly licked them, scratching the tip of her nose in feigned nonchalance. She let out a soft cough as the telltale sensation of [Manipulation] activated once more, seeping into her words like silk.
"So," she said smoothly, tilting her head. "What did you need?"
The man stopped in front of her, his gaze locked onto hers. For a second, she could feel his suspicion—then, just as quickly, it melted away.
"Nothing… just wanted to see how you were enjoying that free ship we gave you."
Celestia's grin sharpened. "It was fabulous," she replied, her voice dripping with satisfaction.
The man nodded slowly, then—without another word—turned on his heel and walked away.
Rosaline, who had been watching silently the entire time, arched an eyebrow. She crossed her arms, her violet eyes flicking toward Celestia with a knowing look.
"A free ship, hm?"
Celestia smirked, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "What can I say? I'm pretty, and… people just love me."
Rosaline exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Celestia chuckled and started walking ahead by herself.
After a moment, Rosaline glanced at Tio and the medic. "Since it looks like we'll be here for a while… what's the first thing we should do?"
The medic—who had been unusually quiet—finally spoke. "I have a few matters to take care of myself. I'll see you all later."
Before anyone could ask what he meant, he simply walked away, disappearing into the dense woods beyond the port. The shadows of the towering trees swallowed him within seconds.
A beat of silence passed before Tio furrowed his brows, scratching the back of his head. "You know… now that I think about it… have we ever asked for his actual name?"
Rosaline blinked, glancing at him. "That's… a good question." She frowned slightly. "We've always just called him the medic."
Tio nodded. "We need to ask him about it sometime soon."
Rosaline hummed in agreement as the two of them walked into the port and walked into a restaurant to eat.
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State of this series:
To be completely honest, I've lost motivation for it... for now at least. I still have ideas I want to explore, but since I never really planned anything out ahead of time, most of the writing ended up being whatever came to mind in the moment. Looking back, that probably wasn't the best approach, especially with the added pressure of trying to release this and The Last Seven Absolute Principles at the same time. It's definitely taken a toll on my creativity and energy.
That said, I do enjoy this story, and I have a lot of notes and concepts I'd love to eventually bring to life. But for the time being, don't expect another chapter for a while(if ever). I want to apologize to everyone who's supported this series—from those who bookmarked it before the first official chapter dropped to everyone who's stuck with it up to now. Thank you so much for giving it your time and interest—it means a lot.
There are definitely a lot of flaws throughout the story—some parts feel rushed or random, and I'm still not sure how I feel about them. I guess this whole experience has been one of those "fail and learn" moments. I'm still figuring out how to properly structure a story, and I don't have a solid system in place to track events or timelines yet, which is why things probably feel a bit all over the place. At least it did to me.
Thanks again for all the support.
– NexMotions