That afternoon, Valen was in the library — not because he wanted to be, but because Isolde, his older sister, had summoned him. Isolde de Noir was the eldest of the siblings- seventeen ,calm and always composed.She had inherited their mother's silver hair, which fell neatly down her back, and the same pale skin shared by the Noir family. Her features were soft and warm, giving her a gentle beauty that made people feel at ease the moment she spoke.
The tall shelves were filled with dust, light filtered through the stained glass, and ink stained his fingers from too many lessons.
"Come now, Valen. You must at least learn the geography of your own realm," Isolde said, sitting beside him with a book open on her lap.
"Why? I'd rather train with Leon," Valen sighed.
"Because one day, you'll need to protect more than people. You'll need to protect the world they live in."
Valen frowned. "I just want to fight the bad ones."
Isolde chuckled. "And how will you know who's bad if you don't understand why they fight?"
Her voice carried a calm strength — the kind only someone who had already seen too much could have.
She spoke about the great kingdoms, the merchant routes from the south, the elven forests to the west, and the strange lands beyond the northern snow.
Valen listened at first out of respect — but slowly, he began to be drawn in.
The way she described the world made it sound… alive. Beautiful. Fragile.
Hours passed. The sun disappeared behind the mountains, leaving the castle bathed in gold, then violet.
When the Stars Fall
The evening had grown quiet in the Noir Estate.
The servants' footsteps had faded, and a pale silver light poured through the balcony windows of Lady Isolde de Noir's chambers.
Valen sat cross-legged on the floor, a book half-closed in his lap.
He wasn't reading anymore — he was watching his sister.
Isolde sat by her desk, hair falling over her shoulders, a candle lighting her face as she wrote something in her journal.
She looked older than her years — not because of wrinkles, but because her eyes always seemed to be thinking too far ahead.
"Sister," Valen said, breaking the silence. "Do you ever get tired of studying?"
She looked up, smiled faintly.
"Every day. But someone has to teach you about the world, little knight."
He laughed softly.
"You mean until I'm strong enough to protect it, right?"
She closed her book and turned her chair toward him.
"Yes. You'll grow up to be a great warrior one day, Valen. I can already see it."
She paused. Her smile softened.
"But promise me something."
Valen tilted his head. "What is it?"
Isolde stood, walked to the balcony, and looked up at the night sky.
He followed her, standing beside her as the wind brushed against their faces.
"When the time comes," she said quietly, "you'll have strength that others will fear… maybe even you'll fear it yourself. When that happens—"
She turned to him, eyes glimmering with candlelight.
"—don't let it take away your smile. Promise me you'll keep smiling, no matter what happens."
Valen hesitated, surprised by the seriousness in her tone.
"That's an easy promise."
Isolde chuckled softly. "It never is."
Then, as if the heavens were listening, a star fell — cutting across the black sky like a blade of white fire.
They both looked up.
"A falling star!" Valen whispered.
Isolde's gaze followed its trail until it vanished.
"When something is lost up there," she murmured, "something down here gains its light."
Valen frowned, not fully understanding. "So… if a star dies, someone else shines brighter?"
"Maybe," she said. "Or maybe it means that even when we lose someone, their light doesn't disappear. It just moves somewhere else."
Valen thought for a long moment, then smiled.
"Then I'll be your star, Sister. Even if I fall, I'll make sure you can still see me."
Isolde's expression wavered between pride and sorrow. She knelt and hugged him tightly.
"And I'll be the one who reminds you to smile, no matter what."