The party was in full swing. Solara's streets were lined with lights and lanterns, shining in every hue imaginable. Music echoed from every corner, and the laughter of the citizens filled the air. It felt like the entire kingdom was gathered to celebrate Reinhart's ascension to the title of Chosen Hero, but it was much more than that—it was a celebration of hope, unity, and the future of Solara.
I stood at the center of it all, surrounded by my loyal council members. The food was endless, the wine flowed freely, and the dancing never stopped. I took in the scene, a warm smile spreading across my face.
Reinhart stood by my side, finally starting to get used to the attention. His nervousness slowly faded as the cheers and applause for him continued. Karlos, Zalario, and Darius were mingling with the crowd, keeping everything running smoothly. The soldiers and common folk alike looked at Reinhart with admiration.
Then, just as I was about to take a sip of wine, a familiar voice interrupted me.
"Velsun! Velsun-kun!" A voice called from behind, followed by the light flutter of wings.
I turned to see Ramiris descending from the sky. But this time, she was at her normal human size, her wings tucked neatly behind her. She pouted slightly, her eyes narrowing at me.
"Why didn't you invite me personally?" she said, her voice playful but with a touch of seriousness. "I had to come here on my own!"
I chuckled at her pout. "I thought you were too busy for a party like this, Ramiris."
Her eyes flickered with mock indignation, but there was a soft laugh in her voice. "Well, I see how it is, leaving me out of such an important event," she muttered, crossing her arms and giving me a playful but exaggerated side-eye.
As Ramiris joined us, I couldn't help but notice how her presence seemed to draw the attention of everyone around us. The spirits around us whispered in awe, clearly respecting her strength and presence. But it wasn't just that; her pouting expression only made her more adorable to me.
We continued to mingle, and I found myself in conversation with Sister Arlen. She was as serene and graceful as always, but there was something about the way she spoke that brought a sense of peace to everything. I couldn't help but smile as I spoke to her, listening to her soft, thoughtful words.
The moment didn't go unnoticed by Ramiris, though. As soon as Arlen walked off to speak with someone else, Ramiris crossed her arms again, her face scrunching into a little "hmph" expression.
"Ugh, you flirt good with the priestess, Velsun," she said, her voice laced with something I couldn't quite place. She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing in playful jealousy.
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "I didn't flirt with her, Ramiris. She's a dear friend. But don't worry, you're the one I invited to the party."
She huffed but didn't say anything else. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the food table.
I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest. Was Ramiris jealous? The idea was both amusing and endearing. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to our relationship than I had realized.
The party carried on well into the night, with everyone celebrating the future of Solara, but I made sure to keep an eye on Ramiris—after all, I had promised her my help, and I didn't want her to feel left out.
But when the moment was right, I leaned in toward her with a smile. "You know, you didn't have to be jealous. I'm always happy to see you."
Ramiris froze for a moment, her face going red as she glanced away, clearly not expecting me to say that.
"Whatever," she muttered, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips. "Let's just enjoy the party, okay?"
And with that, we all continued to enjoy the celebration, the lighthearted atmosphere keeping us all warm despite the cool night air.
This night felt like a promise. A promise that things were changing for the better, for Solara and for all of us. But as for me and Ramiris... well, that was a promise I wasn't sure I could keep just yet.
But I was willing to take it slow. After all, who knew what the future held for us?
Then once the party died down, the stars blanketing the sky and the fires dimming to glowing embers, I glanced around and noticed the subtle signs of exhaustion among the people—especially Reinhart.
Unlike me, high humans still required rest. And though Reinhart was now a Chosen Hero, his body hadn't yet caught up with his new divine strength. He was fighting to stay upright, yawning behind a polite smile as he shook hands and thanked everyone.
I walked up to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You did good, Reinhart. Go get some rest—you've earned it."
He blinked, clearly relieved. "Yes, Lord Velsun. Thank you." Then, with one last respectful nod, he headed off toward his quarters, probably dreaming of training and sword strikes even in his sleep.
The rest of the council slowly dispersed as well. Darius muttered something about reports to finish. Belmor was arguing over leftover wine with the cooks. Arlen gave me a graceful bow before retreating to the temple. Even Ramiris, who had surprisingly stayed beside me the whole time, let out a long yawn.
"Hmph, I forgot how long these mortal parties go on," she muttered, rubbing one eye with the back of her hand. Her wings fluttered lazily as she hovered next to me.
"You could sleep, you know," I teased.
"I don't need sleep. I'm a spirit queen!" she declared with crossed arms—though a second later, she nearly nodded off mid-air.
"Right," I smirked. "Totally wide awake, aren't you?"
Ramiris glared at me but didn't have the energy to fire back with her usual sass. "...Maybe just a nap. But only because the party was boring."
"Sure, sure."
She floated off toward one of the guest rooms I had prepared, still grumbling under her breath.
As the moon shone over Solara, I stood alone in the courtyard for a moment, hands behind my back, looking up at the stars. The night felt still—peaceful, even. Reinhart had awakened as a Chosen Hero. Ramiris was… closer than ever. My council was loyal, strong, and growing. And Solara stood stronger than it had ever been.
Still… something in the air told me this peace wouldn't last forever.
As I stood beneath the quiet canopy of stars, letting the night wind wash over me, Zalario approached, his presence calm but serious as always.
"Velsun," he said, voice low but clear. "I just received a telepathic message. It's from Fledway."
My brows rose slightly at the mention of that name. He only ever contacted us with matters of real importance.
Zalario continued, "He says… Lord Veldanava would like to meet with you. Tomorrow afternoon."
I blinked, my mind already racing.
"…Elder brother wants to meet me?" I murmured, almost to myself. My thoughts stirred uneasily. Why now? What could it be about? Something told me it wasn't a casual family visit.
Karlos, who had been standing nearby, immediately perked up, having caught the name. "Lord Veldanava?!" he echoed, clearly stunned. Even with all his strength and growth, Veldanava's name still commanded a natural reverence. "Do you… think it's about the giants? Or… something bigger?"
I looked away, eyes narrowing as I gazed into the horizon. "Hard to say. But if he wants to speak directly, then whatever it is... it's important."
There was a heavy silence for a moment.
Zalario then said, "Should I prepare for escort, or will you go alone?"
I shook my head. "I'll go alone. If it's truly personal, I don't want anyone else involved."
Karlos gave a slow nod, though I could see his concern. "Just be careful, my lord."
I turned back to them with a calm but confident smile. "Relax, it's my brother. It's not like he's gonna kill me."
But in my heart, I knew better than anyone—Veldanava doesn't summon people without purpose. And the last time he moved directly, the entire world changed.
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