In the morning, Luna sits by the table in the living room as light shines onto her. She writes an additional letter, only to Aria.
"Dear sister, It's me, Luna.
I wanted to write to you, because I miss you and I want to ask you something. Every day, whenever I went to bed, I always thought of you. I miss you, sister. My heart breaks whenever you are not by me…"
"Yes, good. Pamper her more, so she will love you more. Write this way, so that her affection will grow more for you," a voice from Luna's head spoke. Luna agreed with it strangely, nodding her head.
"I feel lonely without you. I wish I could see you, but there is a lot to do. If you'd find some time, please do visit us here—that would make me happy. Even though I know that is greedy of me…" Luna pondered on what to write, poking her cheek with her pencil.
"I still desire to see you. Please forgive me for being greedy. We won't be able to see each other for a very long time, so please send letters to me each week whenever you have time, as I will do the same.
And the thing I wanted to ask you: please do forgive our dad. Even though from your eyes it might've been bad, he didn't mean anything wrong. We actually dueled together, and I won :D. It really made me happy. Although he went easy on me, but I still beat dad, hehe. So please do forgive him. He said unnecessary words that day, but the same was for you. My master is actually a Grandmaster—amazing, isn't it?
Sister, I love you, and please do write each week. It would make me less lonely, knowing that you care enough to write.
To you, from your lonely sister, Luna"
That should do! Probably shouldn't listen to the voices inside my head, but finally they said something right! Hehe.
As Luna sealed the envelope, she called out to Mytri, who was inside the kitchen with Theia. "Master, I'm ready!"
"Ah, of course," he said as he came out of the kitchen, in his formal black pants and white shirt, with a sword strapped to his belt. "We'll visit the royal palace, if you don't mind. It's not that we have a choice."
"Why? Were we invited?" Luna asks.
Theia rummages through the wooden utensils, making clattering sounds out of the kitchen.
"Precisely so. The Queen of Elvendom, Nimloth, has invited us."
"Why?" Luna asks.
"It would've been weirder if she hadn't," Mytri added, as he corrected his belt. "For you are a Lockheart, aren't you? You are like royalty everywhere, so it's a given."
"But… I'm not royalty, am I? Am I not just a Duke's daughter, or am I missing something?"
"Just? You, dear, seem not to know the extent of your father's domain—and your influence, too. It's a given. Your dukedom is a world power in terms of strength; your father holds the biggest army on the continent."
"…I never knew. Dad never told me. But it is amazing," Luna said.
I never expected our land to hold this much power in the world… but if we are the strongest in terms of might, then why is the cult still so active, and not destroyed? Maybe there is something to it that I don't know… I don't know.
"Okay… Theia! Come now or we will leave without you!"
A clatter of utensils falling to the ground sounded, followed by a thud as if someone had fallen.
Theia ran out of the kitchen from behind Luna and grabbed her hand, blushing. "Then let's go, Master!"
"Let us depart," Mytri said as they walked out of the house, down the dirt path towards the capital city.
***
They walk through the bustling city of elves. Many elves and hielves pass by them, slightly interested; they cast a glance as they walk by.
"Master, I need to send a letter to Dad and my sister. Is there a place I can address them?" Luna asked.
"Yes, there is. But we'll do it at the palace. It would be faster than waiting in line."
"I guess…" Luna muttered, looking around. She watched children run by lively, with a grin on their face, chasing each other. Luna pouted, feeling jealous of them.
She gripped Theia's hand as they still held hands. Theia liked that, and a small smile grew on her beet-red face.
***
They arrive at the massive tree without an end to its height. To Luna, it is like a castle wall, located in the middle of the capital and holding a royal palace inside. Two Guards stand outside the palace gates, which are woven from vines into the shape of two elven women holding a crown on its surface.
They stop them and ask why they are here. Mytri hands them an envelope with an elven seal on it—a giant tree Luna didn't recognize.
Their eyes shot wide open as they said, "Forgive us, we didn't recognize our distinguished guests. Please come in." They opened the gates and let them in.
There was only a large corridor etched out of the tree, with intricate statues of elves. Their long hair and ears strike as angelic. They rest, holding the hilt of a sword, seemingly guarding the entrance. Mytri walks toward the door at the end of the corridor without batting an eye, but Luna and Theia observe every statue curiously.
They arrive at the last gate, and as it opens, a person is already waiting to greet them: a beautiful elven woman. Her long, silky grey hair and sharp, green eyes strike Luna as elegant.
"Good morning, our distinguished guests," she said, bowing. "My name is Valeris, and I will accompany you to the queen's garden atop the palace. Would that bother you?"
"No, it would never, dear," Mytri said, placing his hands on Theia's and Luna's backs. "This is Theia and Luna. They will be visiting this place often, I assume, so it's better to get to know them."
"I see. Good morning, Lady Luna and Lady Theia." Valeris knelt before them and shook their hands by their fingers. She stood up, saying, "Then, please follow me."
How pretty she is, like a saint. Why is everyone this beautiful here? Luna thought.
***
Valeris takes them into the middle of the tree, where massive stairs are located in a hollow part, leading up into the crown of the palace. Every floor has doors. There are countless steps and doors.
As Luna lays her eyes on the stairs, she is thankful for the stamina and endurance training she did.
Speaking of which, I haven't trained Niva's power for a week. I should do that tomorrow…
They slowly ascend the stairs. Valeris, Mytri, and Theia do this effortlessly, but Luna struggles, gasping for air and drenched in sweat. She casts them a killing glance, envious of their stamina.
I really need to put more work into my endurance…
***
And so, finally, Luna and the rest arrive atop the tree, finding themselves in a paradise of a garden.
Luna looks in awe. There is a river running through the crown of the tree and a small waterfall. This place has a countless variety of flowers and the greenest grass she has ever seen, as well as a lake!
They walk slowly toward an arbor bathed in light.
As Luna pans her eyes toward it, she spots two elves: a child and an adult woman.
She gasps in awe as the beauty of the woman blinds her. The woman opens her mouth, saying, "Good morning. Thank you for coming to visit me. I hope my request didn't inconvenience you,"