LOGINALESTERIA HAD spent the entire week staring at the ceiling, watching the shadows stretch and warp in the moonlight.Then came the morning, which she spent pacing a relentless trench into her bedroom rug. By the afternoon, the isolation had curdled into desperation, leading her to a series of increasingly poor decisions."This is a terrible idea," Parie stated from her perch on Alesteria’s shoulder. It was at least the twentieth time the pixie had said it since they left the palace."There it is again," Alesteria muttered, pulling the hood of her cloak to her face, "The nagging voice of my conscience. I thought I drowned you out three blocks ago.""I am not your conscience; I am your sanity," Parie snapped, tugging sharply on a strand of Alesteria's hair. "I am serious, Alesteria. You are not emotionally equipped for this right now. Look at your hands—you’re shaking.""I am not shaking. I am... vibrating with resolve.""That is a lie, and a structurally deficient one at that."Alesteri
THE WORLD seemed to stop, collapsing into the narrow space between them.Alesteria stared at Parie. Parie stared back. Neither of them moved; neither dared to breathe. The air in the room grew instantly heavy, thick with a truth that had just been unceremoniously dragged into the light."...What?"The word came out as a fragile thing, barely above a whisper, cracking under the weight of her disbelief.Parie looked away first. It was a mistake. Because the exact moment the fairy’s gaze dropped, Alesteria knew. She knew with an absolute, terrifying certainty that whatever impossible words had just left Parie’s mouth were true."Say that again," Alesteria commanded, her voice dropping an octave, steadying with a dangerous edge.Parie’s shoulders slumped, the weight of a centuries-old secret finally crushing her small frame."Alesteria—""Say it again."The fairy closed her eyes tightly, as if bracing for an impact. "...Ich is Zane."The room fell into an absolute, suffocating silence. A
THE WIND picked up as Alesteria used her magick to go back without going through the side gate of the palace. The moment she did, Alesteria thought that she had almost made it.Almost.The palace corridors were quiet, save for the occasional guard making their rounds. She had slipped through her balcony and carefully avoiding the main halls, taking routes she knew by heart.A successful mission.Or so she thought.She had just placed her foot on the marbled balcony as she removed her cloak, going inside her room, when she heard that extremely familiar voice."Where have you been?"Alesteria froze.Slowly.Very slowly.She turned around and at the doorway, his hand still on the knob, as he was just entering the room, stood Aldrich.The two blinked at each other for a moment before Aldrich slowly crossed his arms as he stares at you with an unimpressed expression, his eyes dark or maybe that is just because there isn't an ounce of light in your room, except for the moonlight beaming thr
THE INN was quieter than Alesteria expected for a place tucked within the crossroads district, or maybe that is just her imagination, but regardless, it felt like the world had come to a halt as she is alone with Ich.Wooden beams overhead creaked softly whenever someone moved upstairs on the second floor of the inn. The faint scent of spiced stew lingered in the air, mixing with the warmth of burning hearthwood. Outside, rain had only just stopped—leaving the streets washed clean and glistening under lanternlight.She hadn’t planned to stay long.Yet somehow, she did.He wasn’t doing anything remarkable—just turning a cup between his hands, as if he were waiting for time itself to make up its mind. But there was something about him that made the space around him feel… quieter, like even noise hesitated before reaching him.Alesteria noticed him because he noticed her first, not in a dramatic way, no sudden movement, no sharp glance, just a brief pause—like the world had slightly misa
THE SUN had already begun its descent, the lights starting to fill in the streets as the market turned into a night life that many enjoyed. On the other hand, Parie is looking at a sign, trying to figure out where they are, when Alesteria finally admitted they were lost."We are lost. Yep, we are.""We are not lost," Parie said for the seventh time."We've passed that fountain three times." Alesteria replied with a groan, already feeling the tiredness settling in her aching feet."It has a very memorable fountain.""It has a broken fish statue.""Exactly."Alesteria sighed.The capital's outer districts were far larger than she remembered, and after hours of wandering through markets, gardens, and unfamiliar streets, they had somehow ended up near one of the empire's trade roads.She never realized that the capitalnis very large, travelers crowded the area, merchants guided wagons toward the city gates, adventurers and mercenaries moved in small groups, their laughter echoing through
THE PALACE gates had never felt so suffocating, until now. Three days had passed since Alesteria's return and she is obviously welcomed, but being gone for so long is bound to have its effects.She had been having tea with her friends and brother during those three days and they refuse to let her leave their sight. She knows she is loved but she doesn't want to be watched all the time.Alesteria hated it, having eyes on her like she will disappear in an instant.So, before sunrise, she managed to escape before the maids can check in on her or even the knights shifting their schedule to guard her came and realised she is gone.During this, she is not entirely alone in escaping either."You do realize this is a terrible idea."Parie flew to her side as they managed to slip through the guards rotation as Alesteria pulled and adjusted the hood of her cloak, they easily slipped through a side gate and onto the waking streets of the capital.Alesteria grinned."Then it's a perfect idea."Pa
THAT SAME day, when Parie and Klaus finished talking, they both returned to Alesteria's room only to find multiple knights and maids outside while talking to themselves, noises can be heard inside as they went closer. "What is happening?" Parie asked as she stare at the people in front of Alesteria'
"ARE WE there yet?" Alesteria asked as she avoided a rock in her way, holding unto the tree branch in front of her as her other hand held her skirt so it would not be dirtied more than it has. Her dress, which was once a white and gold mixture of colors, has now been colored with brown at it stains
"WE ARE late now, young master." Nicholae shrugged, taking the bouquet of flowers that he bought on the way back from Leandro as they stood in front of a door. Multiple maids and staff are all stationed outside, there is some that guided him while the others are just look out. Just for extra precaut
"ARE YOU alright? Do you want to eat or drink something?" Alesteria stared at Ich as he moved about in the kitchen, seeing that he was busy finding things made Alesteria think that he doesn't visit the kitchen that often. "No, it’s alright." She said as she sat more comfortably in the chair. Ich doe







