"Your Highness?"
Ceres stirred at the gentle call. Seiryu's voice was laced with concern.
Slowly, her eyes fluttered open. "Seiryu…" she whispered, still disoriented.
'This is Seiryu? Wow. In fairness, he's really handsome.'
Ceres blinked, frowning.
That voice. It wasn't hers. And yet… it echoed inside her mind, familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.
Her eyes widened when she saw Evadne, leaning in uncomfortably close to Seiryu, gazing up at him with shameless admiration.
And strangely, Seiryu didn't react at all. As if he couldn't see her.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?" Seiryu asked, helping her sit upright in bed, his voice soft but firm.
"What happened?" Ceres asked, her tone unsteady.
"I should be the one asking you that. I felt a massive surge of power coming from your chamber," he said, scanning her face with concern.
'Shit. He's really hot. Are you sure you never had a thing for him, Big Sis?'
Ceres nearly choked.
First, she could hear Evadne in her head.
Second, what the hell did she just say about Seiryu?
'Seiryu is asexual!' Ceres replied in scandalized thought, unsure how, but certain that Evadne would hear her just as clearly.
'But you're not, duh.' came Evadne's smug reply, complete with a mental eye-roll as she flopped dramatically onto the bed, still eyeing Seiryu.
"Can you not see her?" Ceres asked, pointing directly at Evadne, utterly thrown off.
Seiryu glanced in the direction she was pointing, confused. "We're the only ones here."
Ceres heard it then, a thought that wasn't hers.
'Did my Master finally snap?'
"I did not snap, you fucking useless lizard," Ceres snapped out loud, making both Seiryu and Evadne jump, though for different reasons.
Evadne stared at her in disbelief. "Did you just curse?"
Seiryu looked stunned. That tone. That fury. That sarcasm. There was no doubt, his Empress was back.
"I always curse," Ceres said flatly, arching an eyebrow at her sister.
"You just told me earlier, 'A lady shouldn't curse,'" Evadne mimicked in a prim tone.
"I don't talk like that," Ceres huffed, horrified.
"You literally just did," Evadne grinned, utterly smug.
"Your Highness…" Seiryu interrupted gently, still clearly concerned. "Who are you talking to?"
Ceres looked at him, then at Evadne, her lips pursed.
"Can you really not see her? My sister?" she asked, motioning toward Evadne.
Seiryu's brows drew tighter. "Again… Your Highness, it's just the two of us in this room."
"I don't think he can see me," Evadne chimed in. "Remember, this is supposed to be my dream."
Ceres exhaled, rubbing her temple.
"Seiryu," she said softly, "can you leave for now? I just… need a moment to talk to someone. I'll explain everything soon. I promise."
He looked at her for a long moment, eyes full of concern and quiet hesitation.
"…As you wish," he said at last, bowing. "Please call if you need anything."
With one last glance, he left the chamber, the heavy door closing gently behind him.
"Ughhh, such a shame," Evadne sighed, pouting as she gave Seiryu a mock wave. "I really liked the view. That man is art."
"Excuse me, missy," Ceres narrowed her eyes. "Would you mind not being so, obviously thirsty?"
"What?! I'm appreciating the beauty of nature," Evadne said, fluttering her lashes and wiggling her brows with exaggerated flair, and they both burst into laughter.
As the laughter between them faded, silence gently took its place.
No words passed. Only quiet smiles. A stillness that felt sacred.
Then, without warning, Ceres leaned forward and pulled Evadne into a fierce embrace.
And broke.
Her body trembled with sobs so raw, so guttural, that Evadne froze in shock.
"Big sis?" Evadne whispered, unsure how to comfort her. The cries coming from Ceres weren't just grief, they were soaked in guilt. The kind of guilt that came from knowing the truth too late.
"What's wrong?" she asked, gently stroking her sister's back. "That light… your necklace… I think it gave us back all the memories we'd forgotten. I remember everything now, my entire life as the First Princess of Vaelundis. I assume… you remember who you really are too?"
"Yes," Ceres choked, burying her face in her sister's shoulder. Her sobs only grew stronger. "I remember everything. I'm so, so sorry. I'm so sorry, baby girl."
Evadne's eyes filled with tears. Her throat tightened. She had never been close to their older sister Ciena. She had grown up wondering what it would be like to have a real sister, one who would protect her, fight for her, love her.
And now she knew.
If Ceres had lived, if she had grown up by her side, she would've been her fiercest protector, her best friend, her truest ally.
Ceres wouldn't be just a sister, she would be the big sister who would've moved mountains for her.
"What are you sorry for?" Evadne asked, her voice trembling.
"You endured so much… because of that cursed foresight," Ceres whispered brokenly. The memories were vivid now. Not just hers, but Evadne's too. She had seen everything. The ridicule. The betrayal. The loneliness. The nights she bled and broke and no one came for her. Even the violation, defilement no one spoke of but marked her for life.
And despite it all… she stayed. She endured.
She should have been loved. Worshipped even. If they knew the truth, that she secretly kept the kingdom alive, they would have bowed to her.
She drew in a shaky breath. "It's all my fault. I'm so sorry you had to suffer through that life."
"Don't," Evadne interrupted softly, pulling away from the embrace to cup Ceres' tear-stained face. She gently wiped the tears from her sister's cheeks. "Don't say that."
She smiled, even as her own tears slipped free.
"There were moments, yes, when I regretted my choice… but now? Now I'm grateful I endured that life."
Ceres blinked, startled.
"Because if people had loved me, it would've been because of my powers. What I could do. What I could give them. Without that, I was nothing in their eyes," Evadne continued. "And that made me free. Free to choose to save them not for praise, but because I wanted to."
"It was my choice to live twenty years unloved and find happiness after, than be adored by liars and live an eternity of misery."
"And now?" Evadne continued. "With the life I have now, if I had to live through that pain again just to end up where I am now, I would. A thousand times over. No regrets. Because now, I'm surrounded by people who love me deeply and fiercely. Not for what I can do, but for who I am."
"So please… don't be sorry for me. If there's one thing I want you to feel about what I've been through… it's pride. I want you to be proud of me. Because I endured."
Ceres broke into a smile, tears still streaking her face. "I'm so proud of you, baby girl."
She reached up and wiped Evadne's tears this time. "You're so brave. You have no idea how proud I am."
"Thank you," Evadne whispered.
This time, it was Evadne who wrapped her arms around her sister. And as she held her, she realized something, all the pain she had suffered as Ceres Evadne Valeria… paled in comparison to the love she now had as Evadne Persephone Monteverde.
She would endure it all again. For this.
After a while, Ceres pulled back gently. Her voice quieter now, thoughtful.
"How is everyone?"
And Evadne told her everything.
Everything Ceres wanted to know.
She spoke of Earth, of their life after Ceres was gone. About their parents, Cielo and Romos Monteverde. About Zeus's parents, Angelina and Jupiter Falcon. About Diana, now happily married to Caspian, and their little devil of a son, Casadin. And about every single person who still remembered Ceres, who had loved her and kept loving her, even long after she vanished from their world.
She spoke with warmth, and sometimes with tears, but always with laughter in the edges of her voice.
She told her why they had to relocate to France when she was six. Because she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Only now did she realize, those "episodes" were never illness. They were the earliest signs of her Narf blood awakening. But Earth had no magic, and she was just a child. How could anyone have understood?
She told her how the Falcon couple loved her like their own. How they adopted a boy, named Hades, just so they could arrange a paper marriage between him and Evadne. To pass on the Falcon name. So she could legally be theirs.
She told her about her return to New York. Her studies at NYE. The wild, crazy friendships she formed with people as chaotic and brilliant as she was. Her school enemies. And how she always sabotaged their plans, because she had already read every single twisted thought in their heads.
She spoke of how she would weaponize her tears to get Hades in trouble whenever he pissed her off. And he always did. Because he hated her guts. And, well, the feeling was mutual.
She told her how she and Casadin became partners-in-crime, tormenting Hades and his uptight little group of friends. How Casadin had become her closest confidant. How there was… something between them. A mutual understanding.
And Ceres listened. She drank in every word, every ridiculous story, every outrageous prank, every heartbreak and triumph. Sometimes they laughed so hard they cried. Sometimes they cried until they laughed again. It was chaotic and raw and beautiful.
And when Evadne pulled out her phone to show her pictures and videos, it felt like magic all over again.
"I honestly don't know how I brought this phone with me," Evadne said, half-laughing, half-annoyed. "Sometimes I really don't know whether I should thank that scammy angel or punch her in the face."
Ceres laughed. "Why do you call her a scammy angel?"
"You wouldn't ask if you met her. Big sis, do you know how much her consultation fee was?" Evadne looked like she still couldn't believe it. "A thousand dollars. Per hour!"
Ceres's eyes widened. "What?!"
"And get this," Evadne continued, clearly on a roll now. "She doesn't prescribe medication. Oh no. She sells candles. Says they help with meditation, focus, and peaceful sleep."
Ceres blinked. "Candles?"
"Yup. One candle a night, every night," Evadne mimicked Uriel's serious tone. "So of course, Daddy ordered a month's worth. Do you want to know how much each candle cost?"
"How much?"
"A hundred bucks. Each!"
Ceres burst into laughter. "That's daylight robbery!"
"Oh, wait, wait, it gets better." Evadne's grin widened. "Last month, she delivered a whole batch of candles to the house. She must've forgotten to check the packaging because… we found an invoice hidden under the basket."
Ceres leaned forward, already laughing.
"She bought them from a mall. Two dollars each. Two dollars! I thought they were handmade with angelic tears or something."
By then, Ceres was doubled over, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
And Evadne kept talking. She told Ceres more, about her chaotic daily life, about stolen moments of peace, about the people who had stood by her, fought for her, loved her.
Ceres listened like she was drinking sunlight after centuries of winter.
They both laughed until tears came again, but this time, they were tears of joy, of healing, of reunion.
And when Evadne finally ran out of stories to tell, Ceres asked the one question she had been holding in her chest since the beginning, afraid to ask, terrified to hear the answer.
"Did you… do you know how Zeus died?" she asked softly, trying not to let her voice break.
Evadne nodded, her expression sobering.
"I was just a baby when it happened," she said gently. "But I've heard the story many times. The animal shelter you used to sponsor caught fire one night. He rushed there without hesitation to help rescue the animals trapped inside. But… he never made it out."
Ceres's breath hitched.
"He must have been in so much pain," she whispered, her voice breaking as tears spilled down her cheeks. The image of Zeus surrounded by flames, alone and suffering, tore her open from the inside.
Evadne reached out and held her hand tightly.
"I'm not sure if you're going to like what I'm about to tell you," she said slowly. "But I think… you should know. I found out something about Big Brother Zeus's death."
Ceres looked at her, bracing.
"Before Zeus died, Mom and Dad received a message from him," Evadne continued softly. "He asked them for forgiveness… because he couldn't keep living anymore."
Ceres shattered.
Her body trembled as she sobbed openly, guilt crashing over her like waves too tall to swim through.
"It's my fault," she cried. "It's all my fault…"
"No," Evadne said firmly. "Big sis, don't say that. Don't ever blame yourself. Casey and Dee told me, Zeus tried. He really tried to live after losing you. But he just… he couldn't. He loved you too much. That's all. And no one ever blamed you. Not even Mom and Dad."
Ceres cried harder, and Evadne's voice softened again.
"But now, at least you know he's here. In Solmara. You'll see him again. And when you do…" She smiled through her tears. "Before you hug and kiss him, will you do something for me?"
Ceres sniffled, blinking at her.
"What is it?"
Evadne grinned. "Punch him in the stomach. For leaving Mom and Dad behind like that."
A soft laugh broke through Ceres's tears. "I will," she said, smiling at last. "I'll make sure it hurts, too."
But then Evadne's smile faded. She turned toward the ceiling and paused.
"What's wrong?" Ceres asked, heart clenching.
"I think… I have to go now," Evadne said quietly. "My body's waking up."
"Already?" Ceres stood, her hand catching Evadne's. She didn't want the moment to end. Not yet.
Evadne nodded. "It's time."
Ceres tightened her grip. "One last thing, just some sisterly advice, alright? You said you liked Casadin… So tell him. Don't waste time worrying about how Mommy and Daddy will react. They'll understand. Don't stay with someone who doesn't see your worth. Don't be like me. I was in denial for so long, and when I finally admitted my feelings for Zeus… we only had a little time left."
Evadne's eyes shimmered with emotion, but she smiled.
"Don't worry about my love life, big sis. I've already told him. Casadin and I, " her cheeks flushed a little, "we have an understanding now. He accepted it. So, that's the least of my worries."
Ceres smiled proudly and nodded.
"You take care, okay? And please… look after everyone for me. Tell them I love them. That I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye."
Tears streamed down her face again as she pulled Evadne into one last embrace.
"I love you, baby girl. I love you all… so much."
"I love you too, big sis. We all love you. And don't worry, I'll take care of everyone, for you and for big brother Zeus." She pulled back and held her sister's hands tightly. "So please… be happy here. Live a full life this time."
Ceres nodded, too choked to speak.
But then Evadne blinked, her brows pulling together as if something suddenly returned to her.
"Oh! And before I forget," she said quickly, "right before I closed my eyes earlier, Uriel told me something that didn't make sense to me. I'm not sure if it was meant for me or for you, since… well, you were my unfinished business." She gave a wry smile.
"She said, 'In the darkness of the night, the moon is the strongest source of light.'" Evadne rolled her eyes playfully. "But don't overthink it, big sis. I think she just wanted to sound deep and mysterious to keep up her whole psychiatrist aesthetic. Loves giving those fake inspirational messages."
Ceres let out a soft, surprised laugh.
"Well… I'll still remember it," she said, her voice warm.
And then, slowly, Evadne's body began to fade.
Piece by piece, she turned translucent, the outline of her form flickering like the last trace of a dream.
"Goodbye, big sis," Evadne said, waving with tears glistening in her eyes. "Live well… and be happy. I love you."
"I will," Ceres whispered, waving back with a trembling smile. "And you too. Live very very well this time. Don't let anyone hurt you again. I love you so much."
She watched as her baby sister disappeared completely, swallowed by the soft golden light.
And then silence.
Alone now, Ceres sat quietly in the middle of her bed.
Tears fell again, but this time, they weren't from heartbreak or pain.
They were from something deeper. Something healing.
Relief.
Knowing that the people she had left behind on Earth had continued on, had lived full lives even without her… it made her heart lighter than it had been in months.
Well… almost totally light.
There was still Zeus.
Her beloved Zeus, who had chosen death over life without her.
The memory of him burned and soothed at once. But now she knew he was in Solmara. In Velrathis. Waiting. And because of that, she could forgive him.
Eventually.
Once she saw him.
And when she did… she'd punch him in the gut so hard he'd regret dying in the first place.
Then kiss him senseless.
Ceres laughed through her tears at the thought.
"Love, I'm so going to kill you when I see you again," she whispered with a grin, clutching the Starlight necklace against her chest. "You are so, so dead, Zeus Falcon."
And while she was still imagining all the ways she'd torture and smother him with love, the entire ground of Aquilonis suddenly trembled.
The floor shook.
The walls groaned.
A low, deep rumble rolled through the palace like thunder waking from a thousand-year slumber.
Ceres stiffened.
Her laughter faded, replaced by a flicker of caution in her eyes.
The earth was moving.
And something, no, someone, was coming.