[Third Person].
Five years had passed since the war.
Stormveil no longer carried the weight of fear in its air. The Great Wall stood firm and silent, a reassurance.
The palace, once a place of constant strategy and tension, had softened into sothing warr—sothing lived in, filled with life.
Nowhere was that more evident than in the inner courtyard that morning.
"Luna, no—!"
A burst of laughter followed imdiately.
redith stood near the stone path, one hand resting lightly on her hip as she watched her daughter dart across the courtyard with sothing glowing faintly between her fingers.
The light flickered playfully, shifting colours as Luna ran, her silver hair catching the sunlight with every step.
"I told you not to do that near the fountain," redith called after her, though the softness in her voice betrayed any real intention of scolding.
Luna only giggled and ran faster.
Behind her, two attendants tried and failed to keep up, their composure long abandoned.
"Princess, please slow down—!"
"Catch first!" Luna shot back without hesitation.
A splash echoed across the courtyard.
redith closed her eyes briefly, already knowing what she would see before she even looked. "...of course."
When she opened them again, Luna stood ankle-deep in the fountain, staring down at the glowing ripple she had created in the water, completely absorbed in her own success.
Not far from there, a low growl drew redith’s attention.
Kieran crouched near one of the stone pillars, small fingers gripping what had once been a perfectly arranged ceremonial sash.
He tugged at it with surprising determination, even resorting to using his teeth as though that would sohow improve his chances.
"Kieran," redith called.
He looked up imdiately. Then, very slowly, he moved the sash behind his back.
redith raised a brow.
Kieran turned and attempted to walk away with quiet dignity, as though nothing had happened.
She almost laughed at his little antics. Before she could say anything else, a familiar voice ca from behind her, calm and observant.
"Your son has excellent instincts."
redith glanced over her shoulder as Draven approached, his presence steady as always, though his attention had already settled on Kieran, who had now begun dragging the sash behind him as he retreated.
"You are encouraging him," redith said.
"I’m simply acknowledging potential," Draven replied without concern.
Kieran took that as approval and imdiately broke into a run.
redith sighed. "You see what you’ve done?"
"He will return when he is hungry," Draven said simply.
From the fountain, Luna’s voice rang out brightly, "I’m hungry!"
redith blinked, then looked at Draven. He allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. "That’s one."
—
Breakfast unfolded exactly as expected—chaotically.
Luna insisted on sitting beside great-grandmother, eagerly recounting her earlier ’achievent’ with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"I almost turned the water into light!" she declared.
"You didn’t almost," the old lady corrected calmly. "You did. You simply lost control halfway."
Luna’s eyes widened in amazent. "Really?"
"Yes."
"I did it!" she exclaid, visibly thrilled.
Rosalie laughed softly, her expression open and bright in a way that still felt new, even after all this ti.
There was a peace to her now, sothing genuine and deeply rooted, and it showed in every quiet smile.
"You definitely did," Rosalie added warmly.
Across the table, Kieran had found a new objective. Draven’s cup.
He reached for it. Without looking, Draven moved it slightly out of reach.
Kieran paused, then reached again, but Draven moved it once more. Kieran narrowed his eyes this ti.
redith leaned toward him gently. "That one is not yours."
Kieran looked at her, then at the cup, and finally at Draven. A faint ripple of power stirred around him, and the cup trembled.
Draven’s brow lifted slightly, then he let out a quiet chuckle. "Already?"
redith shook her head, though a smile had already ford on her lips. "You are both impossible."
Rosalie laughed again, softer this ti, clearly relishing every mont. "Let them be. This is how it should be."
From the side, Dennis leaned back in his chair, watching the scene unfold with amusent. "I think they have already surpassed us at this age."
Helena, seated beside him, nodded in agreent, one hand resting gently over her belly. She was five months along now.
She smiled as she watched Luna climb halfway onto redith’s lap while trying to explain sothing that made absolutely no sense.
"I’m not ready for that," Dennis added quickly.
"You won’t have a choice," redith replied without missing a beat.
Imdiately, laughter spread across the table, unrestrained and genuine, filling the space with a warmth that felt effortless and well earned.
The rest of the day carried that sa energy.
The palace was alive with presence. Conversations flowed naturally, footsteps echoed without tension, and for once, there was no looming threat waiting beyond the walls.
There was only life.
—
By evening, the atmosphere softened into sothing quieter.
A small, aningful space had been prepared in the palace grounds. It was a place of rembrance, where nas were honoured not only with sorrow but also with gratitude.
redith stood beside Draven, her hand resting lightly in his. Around them stood those who mattered—Dennis and Helena, Rosalie, and redith’s grandmother—each present in quiet acknowledgent.
The wind moved gently through the space, carrying a calm that felt complete.
"For those who stood with us, and for those who gave everything... we rember," redith said softly with a steady voice.
There were no long speeches or drawn-out sorrow. Just acknowledgent and respect.
The silence that followed was full. After a while, Draven exhaled quietly beside her, his gaze still forward.
"It’s still a mystery how Xamira’s body was never found after the war."
redith didn’t respond imdiately. Her gaze shifted slightly, toward the distance, where the light of the setting sun stretched across the horizon.
Then she smiled softly—a quiet, knowing smile. "Let’s hope she is living well and will return ho soon," she said, her voice calm and certain.
Just then, the wind passed through them again, soft and familiar.
THE END!!!
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