Scene One – The Ceremony
The morning broke with an odd stillness. New York's skyline gleamed under a pale sun, and the academy grounds buzzed with activity that was unlike any drill or mission briefing. For once, the focus was not on war, nor on the constant threat of Nexus-Born. Today was about one of their own. Today was Caleb's wedding.
The hall chosen for the event had been transformed overnight. A grand reception space in Manhattan, donated by one of the Guild's wealthy sponsors, was decorated with strings of white lilies and pale gold drapery. The air smelled faintly of roses, fresh-cut and arranged in vases lining the aisle. Rows of chairs formed a corridor leading to a raised platform, where a small altar had been set. Behind it stood an arch of intertwined branches wrapped with soft lights, glowing like captured stars.
Caleb's friends had been up since dawn, preparing every detail. Jax barked orders about seating while Haruto fussed over the placement of the flowers. Jeremiah kept adjusting his tie and Katherine teased him for it, though her own nerves seemed high as well. Marcus, recently returned from vacation with his mother, stood apart for a while, his arms crossed, observing the human ritual with a mix of interest and quiet melancholy.
Guests trickled in, filling the seats with chatter and laughter. Families of recruits, Guild dignitaries, and even a few officials from the Academy arrived, dressed in their finest. For many of them, this was a rare reprieve from endless battles and constant vigilance.
Jeremiah tugged at Katherine's sleeve. "Hard to believe Caleb's going through with this. He used to swear he'd never settle down."
Katherine smiled softly, her gaze fixed on the altar. "It's different when you find someone worth fighting for." Her tone lingered on the words, and Jeremiah caught it, though he said nothing.
At the far side of the room, Caleb stood with Jax, fidgeting with his cuffs. His suit was sharp and black, lined with silver edges that caught the light. His usually unruly hair had been combed into place, though a stubborn lock still fell forward against his forehead. His face, usually marked by reckless confidence, betrayed nerves now.
"You're shaking, man," Jax teased, giving him a hard pat on the back. "And I've seen you fight beasts three times your size."
"This is worse," Caleb muttered. "A fight you win with words, not fists." He glanced toward the empty aisle and swallowed hard. "What if I mess it up?"
"You won't," Jeremiah's voice came from behind, calm and steady. He walked over, Katherine at his side. "You planned this with all of us. She already said yes once. Today's only proof."
Caleb gave a weak laugh. "Proof, huh. Doesn't feel real until she walks in."
Marcus finally stepped closer, his dark eyes flickering with something Caleb couldn't read. "Where I come from, a marriage is a vow stronger than life itself. If you falter, you bring shame. But if you hold, you rise above kings." His words carried weight, and for once Caleb didn't joke back.
The music began. A soft melody of piano and violin swept over the hall, drawing all eyes toward the doors. The chatter quieted into silence. The doors opened.
Cecelia stepped forward.
She wore a gown of pearl white, the fabric flowing like water as she moved. The dress was modest yet elegant, trimmed with faint silver threads that shimmered under the light. Her veil was sheer, draping lightly over her shoulders, but her face was uncovered, radiant with a smile that made Caleb's breath catch. Her hair had been braided with tiny blossoms, giving her the appearance of a queen from some old tale.
Beside her, Katherine and Lyra walked as bridesmaids, carrying simple bouquets of lilies. Katherine stole a glance at Jeremiah, whose stunned expression made her cheeks warm. Lyra, for her part, seemed quietly emotional, her eyes glistening as she watched Cecelia approach the altar.
The crowd rose to their feet. Caleb's knees nearly buckled as Cecelia came closer.
When she reached him, she paused, her smile softening. "Nervous?" she whispered.
"Terrified," he whispered back, and her soft laugh eased him.
The officiator, an older Guild captain in ceremonial robes, stepped forward. His voice was deep, steady, resonating through the hall. "We gather today not as warriors or recruits, but as family. In a world threatened by darkness, this union is a light that cannot be dimmed. Caleb, Cecelia, do you stand here of your own free will, to vow yourselves to one another?"
"Yes," Cecelia said without hesitation.
"Yes," Caleb echoed, his voice cracking slightly.
The captain smiled faintly and gestured. "Then speak your vows."
Cecelia went first. She held Caleb's hands, her eyes locked on his. "You've been reckless, stubborn, and loud," she said, drawing a laugh from the crowd. "But you've also been brave when I faltered. You've stood beside me even when I didn't ask. You've shown me a love I didn't believe I deserved. Today, I vow to fight with you, to laugh with you, and to face whatever comes with you. You are my partner, my heart, my home."
Caleb's throat tightened. His hands trembled in hers. "Cecelia, before I met you, I thought love was weakness. I thought caring made you vulnerable. But you showed me it's strength. You showed me it's what gives us purpose. So I vow to protect you, to stand with you even when it's hard, and to give everything I am for us. You are my reason to fight, my reason to live."
Tears shimmered in Cecelia's eyes. Katherine brushed her own cheek quietly, while Jeremiah tightened his arm around her shoulder.
The captain raised his hand. "Then, by this vow, you are bound. Exchange the rings."
Jax stepped forward with a small silver case. Inside lay two rings—simple, elegant bands of gold. Caleb took one with shaking fingers and slid it onto Cecelia's hand. She did the same for him, her touch steady and sure.
"I pronounce you husband and wife," the captain said. His voice rose like a final chord of music. "You may seal your vows."
Caleb didn't hesitate. He pulled Cecelia close and kissed her. The crowd erupted in cheers, claps, and whistles. Fireworks, rigged secretly by Haruto, sparked against the windows, casting bursts of light across the hall.
Lyra covered her mouth, her eyes wide, while Katherine's face lit up with quiet joy. Jeremiah leaned down and whispered, "One day, that'll be us." Katherine flushed but didn't pull away, her hand tightening in his.
Cecelia and Caleb parted, smiling against each other, the world forgotten for that moment. Around them, friends and allies clapped and shouted, their voices filling the hall. For a brief while, there was no war, no shadows of invasion—only celebration, only love.
And yet, in the far recesses of Marcus's mind, a shadow stirred. He smiled with the rest, but his thoughts lingered on the Obsidian Citadel, on his father's looming fleet, and on the fragile peace they all pretended to hold.
But for now, no one spoke of it. For now, the wedding was theirs.
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Scene Two – The Reception and the First Strike
The hall had shifted from solemn vows to raucous celebration. After the kiss and the cheering, the chairs were cleared to make space for round tables draped in white cloth. Chandeliers glittered overhead while servers hurried to and fro, carrying trays of food that would have made any soldier's mouth water. Plates of roasted meats, bowls of fruit, and delicate pastries lined the tables, a rare feast for warriors who were more used to rations than luxury.
Jeremiah leaned against the edge of one table, sipping from a glass. Katherine sat beside him, her heels slipped off under the table, her laughter carrying freely as she watched Jax try to show Marcus how to dance. The sight of Marcus stiffly attempting to follow Jax's erratic steps drew a round of chuckles from nearby guests. Lyra clapped her hands as Jax twirled once, then nearly tripped, taking Marcus with him.
"Those two," Katherine muttered, shaking her head.
"They're trying," Jeremiah said with a grin. "Key word, trying."
On the dance floor, Cecelia and Caleb were lost in their own world. He twirled her carefully, his hand on the small of her back, his grin wide and unrestrained. She laughed up at him, radiant in a way none of them had seen before. Their happiness spread across the room like wildfire, pulling even the most stoic faces into smiles.
Haruto had taken over as unofficial DJ, mixing tracks with surprising energy. Guests clapped along as the music pulsed, and for a brief stretch of time, it felt like they weren't soldiers preparing for war. They were friends. Family.
The reception rolled on with speeches. Jax gave a comically unpolished toast, raising his glass and saying, "Here's to Caleb not messing this up!" The hall roared with laughter, Caleb groaning as Cecelia kissed his cheek to ease the jab. Marcus's speech was short and almost too serious, but it carried a weight that hushed the crowd. "Love is rare in any world. If you find it, hold to it, because it is the only force stronger than war." Cecelia's eyes glistened at that, while Caleb clapped Marcus on the shoulder in thanks.
Plates emptied, drinks flowed, and soon the energy rose again. Lyra tugged Katherine onto the floor, pulling Jeremiah reluctantly with them. Even Marcus found himself dragged back into the circle when Haruto demanded one last dance before the cake cutting.
The wedding cake stood tall at the far side of the hall, a layered masterpiece covered in white frosting and adorned with roses. It looked almost too perfect to touch. Cecelia laughed when Caleb groaned at the thought of cutting it. "Don't tell me you're nervous about this too."
"Fighting monsters? Fine. Saying vows? Barely survived. Cutting a cake in front of everyone?" He shook his head. "That's terrifying."
Laughter rippled through the hall as they sliced the first piece together. Caleb, of course, smeared a bit of frosting on Cecelia's cheek. She gasped in mock outrage before returning the favor, smearing some on his nose. The hall erupted with cheers, and for a moment, the noise felt like thunder.
Then came the bouquet toss.
Cecelia stood before a cluster of eager young women, her bouquet raised. Katherine and Lyra stood at the edge of the crowd, Katherine shaking her head. "I don't know why I agreed to this."
"Because it's fun," Lyra said, elbowing her playfully.
Cecelia turned, counted to three, and flung the bouquet high into the air. Gasps and laughter followed as the cluster leapt up to catch it. The bouquet spun, petals scattering—
And then the world shook.
A thunderous crack tore through the air. The windows rattled violently. A brilliant red beam of light slammed through the hall, cutting across the space like the blade of a god. The laser struck the wedding cake directly, vaporizing it into a cloud of sugar, frosting, and smoke. Screams filled the hall as guests ducked under tables, the scent of burnt sugar mixing with acrid smoke.
Caleb's first instinct was to shield Cecelia, pulling her behind him as the bouquet hit the ground, forgotten. Jeremiah's arm was already around Katherine, dragging her toward cover. Lyra froze for a heartbeat, staring at the hole punched through the hall's wall, before Marcus grabbed her wrist and pulled her down.
The music had stopped. The laughter had died. What replaced it was the sound of chaos. Outside, beyond the jagged hole left by the beam, the sky burned.
Foreign airships blotted out the night. Hundreds of them, massive black vessels with glowing red underbellies, hung in formation. Their weapons charged, beams of light building like storm clouds ready to burst. The city skyline behind them was already breaking under the onslaught—buildings collapsed, towers split in half, fire rising into the heavens.
"They're here," Marcus whispered, his voice low but filled with dread.
Cecelia clutched Caleb's arm, her eyes wide with terror. "No, not today…"
The hall erupted into frantic motion. Guests rushed for the exits, tripping over chairs, screams echoing. Guild members barked orders, trying to form some kind of defense. Jeremiah pulled Katherine to her feet, his jaw tight. "We need to move. Now."
Another beam tore across the sky, this one striking a tower near the river. The shockwave rattled the hall, glass shattering in showers of sparks. Flames reflected in the stunned faces of those inside.
Caleb gritted his teeth, rage burning in his chest. He had planned this day, this single day where there would be no war, no blood. But the Obsidian fleet had ripped it from him.
The bouquet still lay on the ground where it had fallen. Forgotten.
Above, the airships adjusted, their weapons glowing brighter. The invasion had begun.
And Earth's defenders, caught in wedding clothes and scattered joy, would have no choice but to fight.