"After an unknown amount of time since the Hew era, the replication of Earth is now filled with life. The fragments of the six hewers have taken countless forms, sometimes using the same vessels; a hindrance that has, till now, made their Incarnation incomplete. Had it not been for their fundamental capability to change the vessel, they would have sunk to the planet's depths only to be discovered after eons of the planet's erosion, destruction, or extraction. This was the terminal incarnation, nothing may return the same.",
In an ordinary village, a girl was born special — or so they said.
A young boy thought this as he watched her, his eyes wise beyond his years. His hair was the color of gold, though a shade duller.
"She was tested for mana a month ago," he mused silently, "and showed affinity for light — meaning she has light mana."
"Arthur, come here," his mother called.
Arthur waddled toward her, the wise look fading from his eyes as he clutched at her fingers. His mother lifted him easily, and from her arms he gazed at the girl again.
"She feels close," he thought, "but not as much as my mother."
>>>
Years later, Arthur pulled open the door to his house. The hinges creaked softly.
"Happy birthday, Arthur!" everyone shouted from the darkness.
A small circle of light shimmered into being, gathering into a single bright orb. It floated upward, stopping just below the ceiling. Arthur sighed, thinking, "So, Cellé is here too."
The room filled with applause as he opened his present.
>>>
Arthur returned home again later. The door creaked once more, this time letting sunlight spill in.
"Thankfully, my birthday is over, he thought. Thankfully, nothing extreme this year."
He lingered at the foot of the stairs, his thoughts still tangled in the present as he glanced upward. The steps ran along the left wall of the entrance, narrow and wooden beneath his tread. He climbed to the floor above, where his room waited. But before his eyes could reach the door, he glanced, turned away, and continued climbing toward the attic instead.
.>>>
In the manor of a lesser noble — the Advent estate — a man's voice rang out.
"Lady Bell!"
He was neatly dressed, strong from years of work. Though still young, the two children clinging to his arms lent him an air of age.
"Mister Etbil, you have raised your children well," Lady Bell Advent said. She stood in simple elegance, neither overdone nor plain. *befitting of a noble*
She smiled. "And what do you twins have to say? He even bought you two separate dresses. I wouldn't know who the sister and brother were otherwise."
"Father good!" the boy said proudly.
"What about you, little lady?" Bell asked.
"Right," the girl whispered, shuddering, still clutching her father's hand.
"Haha! Being born together doesn't make people the same," Etbil scoffed, trying to soften the awkwardness. *rude, who calls by someone's lastname*
"Thank you for coming today," Bell said graciously.
"Lady, you have guests to attend," he replied, glancing toward the entrance.
"Then I'll excuse myself." Bell walked through the manor's garden, her composure calm but her thoughts elsewhere.
"He can act well enough as a gentleman," she murmured. Her eyes drifted to her daughter, Cellis, who played among the other children.
"Being younger hasn't changed much for her," Bell thought. A soft smile touched her lips, then faded as she lingered in silence. A long breath escaped her — heavy with quiet unrest.
"Why is Roxy taking so long to come? The sun will soon set."
>>>
Roxy's formal dress was loose and light, adorned just enough to avoid plainness. Her hair fell freely like waves of water, and her bare feet whispered over the wooden floor.
She was preparing for the local banquet — yet her hands were busy not with herself, but with Arthur, who stood on a chair as she tightened his clothes.
"Mother, don't forget the coat — it'll be cold," Arthur said.
She hurried to fetch it, slipping it onto him before smoothing his bright yellow hair and helping him with his shoes.
"Pack your room while I finish dressing," she ordered.
Arthur's footsteps faded upstairs. Roxy put on her shoes. Soon his steps grew louder again — he had returned.
"You've already done it," he said.
"Check the windows; I don't want squirrels getting in again," Roxy replied, fastening her earrings.
"Good thing I remembered this time."
Arthur went back up to lock the windows. Roxy lifted a lantern from the wooden table and called,
"Arthur, hurry! We're already late."
Arthur descended carefully as Roxy watched him.
"Had I remembered today was a set of Nekas," she sighed, "I could have enjoyed this cuteness a little longer."
She caught him under the arms and tugged him down the stairs faster, holding his hand while the lantern swung from her other. Thankfully, it was not yet sunset.
>>>
At the door of the Advent Manor, Roxy hesitated. She drew a deep breath before knocking.
The house was ordinary enough, built for ten, yet its grand hallway, its gentle carvings, and the very weight of its name set it apart.
"She probably didn't hear," Roxy murmured. "The hall must be crowded by now."
She raised her hand to knock again, but before she could, the door opened.
"Roxy, you're late!" Lady Advent exclaimed. "I was worried! Hurry inside — it's already nod hour."
Roxy glanced once at the setting sun and at a faint blue glimmer fading with it. "Sure," she said softly.
With the last guest inside, the ceremony began.
>>>
Priest Camon of the local church stood waiting at the center. Cellis joined him, radiant among the crowd — her dress vivid and enchanting beyond the rest.
Around her stood a cylindrical curtain, open for now. Camon looked toward the setting sun, then back to the curtain that would soon hide her.
He stepped forward, and Belle handed Cellis a burning candle. Darkness fell. The ritual began.
The priest chanted:
"The youngest, purest light that glows,
It shows all things — itself none knows.
The eye of greed beheld its flame,
To strip it bare, they staked their claim."
Camon glanced to confirm that Cellis bowed her head.
"To see the purest, naked fair,
They grasped with hands that sought to snare.
But those who lusted, foul in mind,
Were struck with blindness — cursed, confined."
He closed the curtains. The room deepened into shadow.
"Blinded, they cast their spiteful mark,
They veiled the light in curtains dark.
Yet cloaked, it shone, unquenched, untamed —
And false-eyed seekers still were maimed.
Forever hidden, sealed from sight,
It fled the grasp of hearts once right.
The true who longed to see it near,
Were left in longing — none could hear."
As per tradition, all those unmarried and over fifteen stepped into the curtain, were blindfolded, and then returned to their seats.
The narration continued:
"Another light descended then,
A saint, unlike the purest gem.
Not young, not flawless, yet he came,
Through curtains dark, through searing flame."
Arthur approached the curtain, parting it slightly — just enough to glimpse Cellis. She reached out and covered his eyes with a blindfold. He lifted a veil and placed it gently over her face.
"Blinded he was by beauty's snare,
The forbidden glow too fierce to bear.
Yet seeking not the lustful prize,
He veiled the light from greedy eyes."
Nearby, Roxy whispered to Belle,
"Doesn't it remind you of our own wedding? My husband wasn't even discreetly handicapped."
Belle smiled faintly.
"Roxy, no one else would. By the time they reach new adulthood, blindness isn't a flaw."
"I remember these plays being based on Princess Diaries. I never had the chance to read them from the royal library," Roxy murmured.
"Neither have I," Belle replied. "You're lucky. The libraries were closed when I had the chance."
The priest continued his chant:
"Decency moved his wounded hand,
To shield the pure, as truth had planned.
And for his blindness, a gift was made,
The purest promised, 'I shall aid.'"
"Roxy, be ready to light the candles," Belle said quietly.
"Mana for me?" Roxy asked.
One of Cellis's arms emerged from the curtain, crossing with Arthur's, as if guiding him.
"From then, the seekers true and wise,
Beheld her beauty with their eyes.
While false desire was cast away,
In endless night, they went astray."
The curtain was then drawn open entirely. In the silence that followed, light bloomed — first near Cellis, then outward in perfect rhythm, each flame kindled by unseen will.
"You're still as good as new," Belle said.
Roxy smiled faintly.
"I could gladly take your mana instead."
>>>
Cellis spoke first, her voice soft and curious.
"What is your name?"
There was no reply. Arthur turned away, walking toward Roxy.
"Wait! Where are you going? You'll fall!"
Cellis frowned, disappointed by his silence, yet she still stepped forward to help him walk.
Where is he going without even looking? she wondered.
Two silhouettes appeared before them — women draped in elegant dresses. Because of the veil, their faces were hidden. One of them spoke, her tone sharp with concern.
"Arthur, what happened? I told you not to move around on your own."
He didn't respond. Cellis couldn't recognize the voice; she had spoken to so many that day.
The other lady spoke next, her voice gentler.
"He's shy, like Seraphim. Don't you agree, Roxy?"
At that, Cellis realized who she was. It was her mother.
The first woman replied,
"He's too much to compare her."
Then she turned toward Cellis.
"Cellis, he isn't bothering you, is he?"
Cellis shook her head.
"No, but he didn't talk."
"Same at home," Roxy sighed. "Too lazy — always using gestures instead of words."
Roxy smiled faintly, changing the topic.
"Anyway, it sounds like you've practiced a lot."
"I've been tutoring her," Belle interrupted.
Roxy turned to Belle.
"What about her mana?"
"Sorry?" Belle asked, a little confused.
Roxy clarified,
"Isn't she already five?"
Before Belle could reply, Arthur whispered quietly to Cellis,
"Go back."
She looked at him in confusion.
"No," she said firmly.
Arthur waited, but when she said nothing more, he simply muttered,
"Go sit."
He turned and walked toward the nearest chair. Cellis felt a pang of resistance but still complied, helping him sit before taking her own seat beside him.
He is so different, she thought.
"Paster!" Arthur called suddenly, a pat landing on his shoulder.
"How did you recognize me?" the pastor asked.
Arthur tilted his head slightly.
"Who else would it be?"
"Your mother!" Paster retorted.
Arthur smiled faintly.
"True."
"Anyway," the pastor continued, "you got married."
What? Cellis thought, startled.
"This is not a marriage," Arthur corrected calmly.
"Then why such a feast?" Paster asked.
"Feast?" Arthur blinked, as if noticing for the first time. A flicker of change passed through his expression.
"Celle, can you bring me some food?"
Cellis frowned.
"I cannot."
A familiar voice entered then, steady and grave.
"This is not a marriage," said Mr. Etbil. "It is the final set of rekas — the shortest night, once every five years."
He fixed Paster with a hard gaze.
"Why are you wandering here?"
"You see, Viggo—" the pastor began, but was cut off.
"No excuses," Etbil said firmly. "Follow me."
As they left, Arthur leaned back toward Cellis.
"So, Celle, can you bring me food now?"
"No," she replied quietly. "We cannot be separated until sunrise."
He looked at her with mild amusement.
"You got my name wrong," she said. "It's Cellis, not Celle."
Arthur shrugged.
"What's the difference? My name is Arthur. Bring me food. Feed me."
Belle giggled softly.
"Arthur, you're such a quick pacer."
"Stop bothering her," Roxy scolded. "You're making me embarrassed."
Arthur said nothing. He rested one arm on the table, laying his head upon it. When he tried to move the other, he found it caught, restrained by Cellis's grasp.
"Arthur…" Roxy's voice trembled softly.
He sighed, compromising, letting her hold one hand while using the other as a pillow.
"Can I send him to you sometimes?" Roxy asked Belle. "It's time he learned manners for such occasions."
"As per the standard," Belle replied lightly, "he doesn't need etiquette."
"Not those — the basic manners," Roxy corrected.
Belle smiled faintly.
"You can teach him yourself."
"I cannot," Roxy admitted. "He's too lazy."
"I'm no better a teacher than you," Belle said, amused. "But for now, you should mind his hunger."
Roxy sighed.
"Forget it then. I'll bring food from the diner."
"Wait, I'll come too," Belle said, rising. "Cellis, be patient here while we're away."