For two days, the kingdom rejoiced in celebration of the newly appointed Aetherlight Knights.
Alyssia spent the time happily with Mixarnt, the two of them sipping orange juice in the Heroic Tavern, surrounded by cheerful drunks and well-wishers who raised their mugs in honor of Mixarnt's achievement. Meanwhile, Elyssia and Mika were in the castle, engaged in diplomatic talks and forging alliances with visiting dignitaries.
Among the crowd, Knight Captain Edward and General Althea remained ever vigilant, ensuring Alyssia's safety as the celebrations continued.
Before long, Rise, Razen, Mitchel, Erenesto, and Liva arrived. "You finally made it!" Mixarnt greeted them with a grin.
"Of course! Though the others wanted to inform their families about the good news," Rise said, scratching his head.
"Julls, May, and Valentia were practically dragged off by their families to celebrate," Erenesto added with a chuckle.
"Haha! Still, I can't believe you joined, Erenesto. You're a noble, and didn't you used to hate Mixarnt?" Mitchel teased with a sly grin.
"O-of course not! I just didn't like talking to commoners before… but I acknowledge Mixarnt. And the others too," Erenesto admitted, his face turning red as he glanced toward Ewan, Tessa, Lina, and Mara—commoners he had grown close to during the trials.
"Anyway," Razen said, plopping down beside Mixarnt on his left, "I guess I should introduce myself properly. I'm Razen, Mixarnt's… well, uhm, you already saw it—his confession." She glanced at Alyssia, slightly flustered.
Alyssia beamed and reached for Razen's hand. "Yes! Let's get along as Mixarnt's lovers!" she said enthusiastically.
Razen turned away, blushing, before mumbling, "Yeah… sure."
Across the tavern, a loud, boisterous laugh erupted. "Gahahaha! Look at that boy! He's only 11, and he's already surrounded by women!" Gundrik roared, clapping his hands.
As the celebration continued, the doors of the tavern swung open, and in walked General Sunshine, her golden flame eyes scanning the room until they landed on a certain black-haired boy.
"Hey, brat!" she called out, striding toward Mixarnt with an annoyed expression. She pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of him, crossing her arms. "I still can't believe you! We haven't even talked about that whole knight decision you made! After all the trouble I went through to prepare a place for you in my squad, you just up and decide not to become an Aether Knight?" She huffed in irritation.
Before Mixarnt could respond, loud laughter erupted from behind them. "Gahahahaha! None of us expected that decision, though!" Gundrik, Sunshine's father, approached, grinning widely.
Mixarnt chuckled awkwardly. "Haha… But you still helped me during the battle with Eclipse, Sun. In truth, you could have just ignored me—you already knew my decision—" Before he could finish, Sunshine grabbed his ear and pinched it hard.
"It's General Sunshine to you," she muttered, though there was undeniable fondness in her voice. She sighed, releasing him, then leaned back in her chair. "Tsk, you really are annoying. Honestly, after hearing your speech about not swearing loyalty to Aetherlight or any kingdom, I knew right then and there that you failed the knight trials. There was no reason for me to help you… but I couldn't just stand by and let you die." Her eyes softened as she glanced away.
"Tsk, whatever. Even if you did become an Aether Knight, you wouldn't have chosen my squad anyway. Moon's been buttering up Eclipse to get you into her ranks. You probably would've gone with her instead," Sunshine said, trying to mask her disappointment.
Mixarnt grinned, resting his chin on his palm. "Nope. If I had chosen to become a knight, I would've picked your squad."
Sunshine froze. Her golden flame eyes widened in shock as a faint blush dusted her cheeks. "A-are you serious? You'd really choose me over that woman?"
"Of course!" Mixarnt said with a charming grin. "You might be scary most of the time, but I saw you during my battles—you protected me not just once, but twice. Back in the fourth trial, when I was an emotional mess and made stupid decisions, you blocked General Xarion's sword to save me. And during the final trial, when I was on the verge of death, you answered my Ideal Zone's summoning and saved me again…"
Sunshine stared at him, speechless.
Then, before she could react, Mixarnt suddenly stood up and grabbed her hand. His deep blue eyes gleamed with sincerity as he looked at her.
"General Sunshine—No, Sunshine! C-can you be my Lover—"
Sunshine's face burned bright red as she slapped her hand over his mouth, realizing that everyone in the tavern had gone completely silent. Dozens of eyes were on them. His friends and lovers were all watching with mischievous grins, barely holding back laughter.
"Y-you damn brat…!" she stammered, her face completely flushed. She looked down, gripping his hand tightly before exhaling sharply. "G-give me time… Y-you're still too young… In five years... I'll give you my answer, okay?"
The moment the words left her mouth, Gundrik howled with laughter. "Gahahahaha! My daughter, blushing like a maiden! This is priceless!" Before he could get another word out, Sunshine turned on her heel and punched him hard in the gut, sending the massive man crashing into the bar counter. Then, without another word, she quick-stepped out of the tavern, hands covering her face, blushing furiously as she disappeared into the night.
Sunshine strode quickly through the empty streets of the capital, her heart still pounding furiously in her chest. The cool night air brushed against her burning cheeks, but it did little to soothe the warmth spreading throughout her entire body.
She pressed a hand over her face, trying to will away the blush that refused to fade. 'That brat… That damn brat!' She had thought Mixarnt was just teasing her at first, but no—his words had been genuine. His affection was real.
Her golden flame eyes shimmered under the moonlight as she recalled the way he had looked at her—not as a rival, not as a comrade, but as a woman.
A giggle escaped her lips before she could stop it, and then another. Soon, she found herself laughing softly to herself, her previous embarrassment giving way to an unfamiliar but triumphant feeling.
She had always known that Mixarnt held deep feelings for Moonlight—Eclipse—but tonight, it became clear. His affections were no longer exclusive to just her.
He saw her, Sunshine, with the same gaze—the same warmth in his deep blue eyes. He truly cared for her.
And then, the words that nearly sent her soul soaring:
"If I had chosen to become a knight, I would've picked your squad."
That brat—he really said that so casually! Like it was the most obvious thing in the world!
Sunshine grinned to herself, a mix of pride and adoration swelling in her chest. He would've chosen her over Eclipse. Over Moonlight.
For once, she was first.
Her pace slowed as she walked along the empty cobblestone road, the initial storm of emotions settling into something gentler.
Of course, no matter how much she wanted to, she couldn't fully embrace these feelings just yet. Mixarnt was only eleven. She was seventeen.
She wanted to wait—let him grow, let him truly understand what he was asking of her. She touched her lips, feeling the lingering heat of the moment before sighing with a soft, content smile.
"Five years."
In five years, he would be sixteen, and she would be twenty-two. By then, he would have become even stronger, even more remarkable.
And when that time came, she would give him all of her heart. Every last piece of it.
Sunshine exhaled, her face still holding the faintest of blushes, but now there was something else—a quiet longing, a deep fondness.
She would wait.
Because he was worth waiting for.