"Huh, reading this letter every time it feels like I read it for the first time," Alexander Vane muttered to himself as he folded the paper carefully and set it aside.
A person knocked on the door and said, "Mr. Alexander Vane, are you ready for the wedding ceremony of yours?"
"I am coming," Alexander said.
Yes, this was the wedding day of the twenty-six-year-old Alexander Vane.
Alexander wore a sharp tuxedo as he entered the grand hall filled with the most powerful people of the world, both politically and influentially. The atmosphere carried a mix of celebration and underlying tension.
Ever since the Purge, the world had accepted the system provided by the universal will. People had become more and more dependent on this system with each passing year. With its help, scientists had developed more advanced weapons capable of using inner flux. These weapons were now in extensive use for killing the monsters that still plagued the eastern region.
These four years had been like a hell for Kurana Alexanderia.
In his mind, Alexander thought — with the help of Kurana, I, Alexander Vane, have created the biggest guild of warriors and hunters that are present worldwide. Although the guild is not enough to claim back the eastern lands, it contains enough influence to call these people to my wedding, or I should say the guild master of East Horizon, Alexander Vane.
The wedding rituals then began.
The processional started as family members, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and the groom took their places at the front. The bride then walked down the aisle, often accompanied by a parent or guardian in traditional fashion. The opening remarks followed, where the officiant welcomed everyone present and spoke about the meaning of marriage in these troubled times. Readings or prayers were shared optionally, with friends or family reciting meaningful passages, poems, or religious texts that reflected hope amid ongoing darkness. The wedding vows came next, as the bride and groom made solemn promises to love, support, and remain faithful to one another through whatever challenges the future might bring. The exchange of rings followed, with the couple placing wedding rings on each other's fingers as a visible symbol of their lifelong commitment. The pronouncement of marriage was made by the officiant, who officially declared them husband and wife. The first kiss sealed the moment as the newly married couple shared their first kiss as spouses. Finally, the recessional took place, with the couple walking back down the aisle together while guests applauded.
The bride had come down the aisle with Aayva serving as her bridesmaid. And the bride was finally revealed — she was Kuroda Haruki.
Alexander Vane and Kuroda Haruki were now married. The atmosphere remained romantic, filled with soft lights, elegant decorations, and the warmth of union, yet it was also tinged with terror stemming from the eastern region and the ever-present threat of the monsters that continued to ravage those lands. The powerful guests in attendance carried both joy for the couple and the heavy awareness of the world's fragile state beyond the safety of the West.