THE PRINCE'S SERVANT

Despite appearing tragic, the inhabitants of Luna celebrate the rebirth of the spiritual goddess as a moment of joy. Almost everyone welcomed the visitors who had come from afar to witness the goddess's rebirth. However, after the arrival of Irina and Hao, the next two visitors were neither applauded nor celebrated.

A somber man with a cold expression ascended the short stairs to the platform. His pale skin was a stark contrast to his long, black hair that fell to his waist. His yellow eyes struck fear in Haru's heart. This fearsome man, known as the dictator of the Shadow Kingdom, completely ignored the presence of Kota and his servant as if they were mere civilians. He walked confidently across the platform until he approached Itoku, bowing slightly and saying

:

"My king."

The man in armor as black as the night then kissed the Solar King's hand, gazing ominously into his eyes. Itoku, in turn, smiled triumphantly, casting a brief, subtle glance at Kazuki. The king of the Travão Kingdom ignored the provocation entirely. Gaio stood tall, gesturing with a nod for his younger brother to join him. While the leader of the Shadow Kingdom looked to be about 30 years old, his brother appeared closer to 20.

As Shion passed Kota, their eyes met. It was impossible not to notice the animosity the dictator's brother harbored toward the prince. Haru observed that Kota did not shy away from the young man's gaze; instead, he stepped forward, causing their shoulders to brush against each other.

Like his brother, the younger man had dark hair, though his was short, reaching just above his ears. His yellow eyes scanned those present with evident disdain. His pale skin was clad in black armor with golden accents. Kazuki furrowed his brows in surprise as Shion bowed only to Kimiko, a gesture he did not extend even to Itoku, to whom he simply said:

"My king."

The young man's tone was filled with clear disdain, causing Gaio to roll his eyes at his brother's rebelliousness. The Shadow Kingdom was the only dictatorship among Niray's realms due to its troubled history. A strange tension hung over the ceremonial platform, and the discord between the kingdoms was evident.

Looking out at the citizens of Luna he so dearly loved and the many visitors gathered there, Shen knew his time had come. The elderly man tried to appear joyful, but in his final moments, he wished he could embrace everyone one last time. From afar, Shen noticed the young ones who had bid him farewell earlier. They seemed to have accepted that one of them might be the next leader. Yet the sweet girl among them still looked deeply worried.

Without any warning, Shen's frail body began to glow faintly. The citizens watched in awe, pointing out the sight to those who had not yet noticed. Soon, everyone was witnessing the elderly man's body glowing and floating as if weightless. Shen had known for weeks that he would die today, yet he was still unprepared. He wished for more time. The visions granted by the Lunar Goddess were powerful but required long training to master, and often, they revealed only fragments of the future. Shen knew he would die, but not how.

Surrounded by white light, Shen floated, and everyone could feel the spiritual goddess's magic in the air. Something completely unexpected occurred: the midday sun was entirely eclipsed by the moon, turning day into night. Shen disappeared before everyone's eyes, transforming into lunar light.

As he was consumed by the goddess, Shen heard her thoughts in his mind—a great honor that turned into a nightmare in his final seconds. His last vision was clearer than all others, and in his final thoughts before being fully consumed, he was terrified

(Shen's thoughts): "This cannot be true."

The light took the shape of a woman—undoubtedly the spiritual goddess. The monks of Luna began to chant:

"Long live the spiritual goddess, long live Luna."

Their voices were soon joined by the visitors, who repeated the chant respectfully. The goddess floated before everyone, walking on air. Her white hair and dress, both made of light, shimmered like her entire being. She moved through the air toward the young girl who had worried so much for Shen, then merged into her body as if diving into her. The girl instantly fainted amidst the crowd. Some inhabitants of Luna rushed to assist her, while others celebrated with the visitors.

Haru felt a tear roll down his green eyes, trailing his delicate cheek before falling to the platform's ground. The young servant mourned the loss of the man he had only just met. Kota silently observed Haru crying, feeling the same sorrow for Shen. Yet he was struck by how deeply Haru grieved, as if they had known each other for a long time. Kota placed his left arm gently around the younger man's shoulders, embracing him lightly.

Even though he was merely a servant, Haru couldn't deny that having the strong prince's body touching his so tenderly made him wish for something more. Kota, ever honorable, avoided taking advantage of the situation, but he couldn't help but enjoy holding someone as delicate as his servant. Itoku interrupted them, saying:

"We've seen all there is to see, and now we can return home. From what Hayato has discovered, after receiving the goddess, the host sleeps for at least two days. After that, we can visit the girl to congratulate her."

The king spoke impatiently, descending the platform ahead of everyone. He added:

"Come, Kota and Haru, you have training to begin. Hayato will stay a bit longer for a meeting with our friends from the Shadow Kingdom and will catch up with us later."

The monarch spoke as he watched the moon move away from the sun. Smiling, he let the warm light touch his face. The young men boarded the carriage, a sense of sorrow weighing on them. As they traveled to Solaria, Haru wondered what his father might need to discuss with the Shadow Kingdom's dictator.

************************************************

The inhabitants of Luna focused on caring for their new priestess, who slept deeply. Immersed in millennia-old dreams, the girl's mind underwent unprecedented changes. Strangely, Shen's memories no longer existed, as if the goddess had erased him. The sweet girl who never wanted to be chosen would never return.

The many visitors began finding their way back home. At the sanctuary near Luna's plaza, young Shion guarded the entrance, preventing anyone from entering. His expression suggested he, too, wished to return home. Inside, Hayato and Gaio were deep in conversation:

"It should happen tomorrow night,"

Hayato said seriously.

Gaio quickly responded:

"You know this could start a war, right? Tell me, Solarian advisor, will your kingdom protect us if they retaliate?"

Hayato pondered for a few seconds before replying:

"We will protect your people if things spiral out of control."

Gaio left the sanctuary, accompanied by his brother. The man smiled triumphantly as he spoke to Shion:

"I have a mission for you."