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The towering golden banners of Solara hung proudly along the high walls, sunlight filtering through enchanted glass. At the center of the room stood Darius, prime minister and former king of Bermuda—his silver hair slicked back in a dignified fashion, but his brow deeply furrowed as he massaged his temple.
Across from him was Belmor, the Minister of Trade and Finance. Dressed in flashy silk robes embroidered with too much gold for anyone's comfort, Belmor's thick mustache twitched with every overly dramatic sigh.
"Sir Darius, my dear friend," Belmor said, clasping his hands together as if he were about to pray to a golden vault, "we must cut back on the festival fireworks. Do you have any idea how much enchanted powder costs these days?! I could fund a small fleet with that money!"
Darius gave him a long, cold stare.
"We just won the battle against three primordials. I'm not holding back on fireworks, Belmor."
"But think about the economy! Think about our grain reserves! Think about—"
"Think about not being retired," Darius growled.
Belmor gasped.
"Threat in a council meeting?! You've truly become savage, Sir Darius!"
"Shut up, Belmor. If we don't celebrate, the people will start thinking we're scared."
Belmor huffed and fumbled through his scrolls.
"Fine. But I demand that the wine be from our cheaper reserves."
"You'll drink bathwater if you keep talking," Darius muttered under his breath.
At that moment, Halden, the head of border defense, walked by the door—took one look at the two—and immediately turned around.
"Nope. Not my problem today."
A brilliant flash of golden light split the air as Velsun and Ramiris appeared in the middle of the great open courtyard of the capital. Banners fluttered. Decorative lights were being strung across enchanted trees. Food stalls were being assembled along the marble walkways. The entire city shimmered with the buzz of anticipation.
Almost immediately—
Karlos appeared from the side with a huge grin on his face, eyes lighting up.
"Velsun-sama! Ramiris-hime!" He greeted, dropping into a quick but respectful bow. His tone was more excited than formal, as usual.
Just behind him, Reinhart stepped forward.
"Glad you're back, Velsun-sama. And it's an honor to meet you again, Lady Ramiris."
Zalario didn't approach but gave a dignified nod from the corner—arms crossed, trying to look cool.
Velsun gave a little side-glance, smirking to himself.
("Damn aura farmer, yea, we see the fit, Zalario.")
Ramiris blinked.
"Huh?"
"Nothing."
Later That Evening—The Celebration Begins
Music rang out across Solara, a grand festival in full swing. The streets were illuminated with floating lanterns, magical fireworks crackled high in the sky, and people danced and feasted. Cheers echoed across the kingdom.
On a raised platform, Velsun gave a short speech—firm and powerful, his words filled with warmth and pride. Beside the throne, Thalor, the Royal Historian, scribbled furiously with a gold-tipped quill, recording every word for the annals of Solaran history.
"Today," Velsun declared, "we celebrate not just a victory, but a new legacy. A kingdom that stood united—against legends, against fear. This is Solara. And this… is only the beginning."
Thunderous applause followed.
Later—In a Quiet Balcony Overlooking the City
The music below was muffled from up here. Velsun stood alone with a glass in hand, eyes watching the fireworks above. The stars reflected in his gaze, golden and thoughtful.
Suddenly, Mimir's voice echoed inside his mind, casual but a little too serious.
"So, lad. Are you serious about Ramiris?"
Velsun blinked.
"Yeah. What is it, Mimir?"
"No problem, no problem. Just… asking." Then, in a gentler tone: "Listen to your heart, lad. Sometimes it knows what the mind refuses to see."
Velsun chuckled, shaking his head.
"Since when did you become the parent in this relationship?"
"I was born a wisecracking cosmic database, boy. Comes with perks."
He smiled.
Below, Ramiris laughed brightly, spinning a child in a dance circle. Reinhart leaned on a pillar nearby, smiling. Karlos was also enjoying and trying to teach the guards how to "dance like daemons." Zalario pretended to be annoyed but was secretly watching it all with silent amusement.
Solara was alive. Victorious. Whole.
And Velsun knew—for now—that was enough.
The plaza lights dimmed slightly as a soft golden glow bathed the central stage. The orchestra of magical instruments shifted tones—violins enchanted with air spirits began to hum a warm, romantic melody. Couples slowly stepped into the open circle at the heart of Solara, ready for the royal waltz.
From the edges, Ramiris emerged in a swirling gown of emerald and gold, gifted by Solara's tailors just hours ago. It shimmered faintly with natural magic, catching the light like dew on flower petals. She looked around, searching the crowd—until her eyes locked onto Velsun, who stood relaxed with his arms folded, watching from the balcony.
Ramiris smirked and pointed right at him.
"Hey, sunshine! Are you coming down, or are you going to mope in the shadows while everyone else has fun?"
Velsun, amused, raised an eyebrow.
"What, are you asking me to dance now?"
She grinned mischievously.
"What? Scared of dancing with a beautiful lady like me?"
He chuckled, took one final sip from his glass, and teleported directly beside her in a quiet shimmer of golden light.
"Fair warning," he said with a small smile, offering his hand. "I don't know how to dance."
"Neither do I," Ramiris said, grabbing his hand with a spark in her eye.
The moment their hands touched, the music swelled.
They moved into the dance effortlessly—Ramiris light on her feet, Velsun precise and smooth, their steps mirroring each other. The crowd hushed slightly as they watched the two glide across the stage like they'd been practicing for years.
At one point, Velsun spun her out, then pulled her back close with a flick of his wrist.
"Huh," Ramiris smirked, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "You're not too bad at this."
"I am naturally gifted." Velsun winked.
She snorted. "Show-off."
They danced a little faster now, matching pace with the rising tempo. Ramiris twirled once more, landing close to his chest, her eyes momentarily wide—then soft.
"You really meant what you said earlier… didn't you?" she whispered.
Velsun smiled gently.
"Yeah. I don't say things unless I mean them."
For a brief moment, time felt still. The music slowed, a soft breeze caught her hair, and the lights shimmered around them like stars descending to witness the moment.
The final note rang out, and they came to a graceful stop—Ramiris slightly out of breath, cheeks flushed, and eyes bright.
Applause erupted around the plaza, but for Velsun and Ramiris, it was background noise.
"So," she said, nudging him. "Still think I'm too old for you?"
Velsun smirked.
"Nah. I've decided I like older women."
Ramiris stared at him, then laughed so hard she had to hold onto his arm for support.
With the party in full swing below—lights glowing, music playing, and the aroma of Solaran cuisine drifting through the air—Zalario, Darius, Karlos, Reinhart, and Veldora stood together on the palace balcony. They were enjoying a rare moment of relaxation, each with a drink in hand… and eyes on the couple dancing in the center plaza.
Ramiris and Velsun had just finished a particularly elegant turn, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Karlos took a sip of his glass, hiding a sly smile behind it.
"My, my… Lord Velsun is really close to Ramiris-hime."
Reinhart chuckled lightly, arms crossed.
"He is. Didn't expect him of all people to take the lead in something like this… but they seem good together."
Darius stroked his beard, a proud smirk on his face.
"We might get a queen soon if this goes on. A spirit queen, no less. That'll make history books for sure."
Zalario, who rarely spoke on personal matters, narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched them.
"So… that's love, huh?"
Karlos snorted.
"Don't sound so confused about it, Zal. You act like you've never seen two people flirt before."
Zalario's expression remained neutral, but his wings twitched ever so slightly in thought.
Meanwhile, Veldora stood off to the side, arms folded, watching his "ani" spin Ramiris around mid-laugh.
"I don't really get what's going on… But Aniki looks happy. And Ramiris too. So, I guess I'm happy for them!"
Reinhart grinned.
"That's… surprisingly wholesome, Veldora-sama."
Karlos leaned toward Darius.
"Should we start planning for a royal wedding already?"
Darius chuckled.
"Not yet. But knowing Lord Velsun? He'll surprise us when we least expect it."
Zalario finally turned away from the view, eyes thoughtful.
"...I'll have to ask him how it works later."
Reinhart blinked.
"What? Love?"
Zalario nodded seriously.
"Yes, for research."
Karlos burst out laughing.
"Veldanava help us all if Zalario starts dating."