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Scene One – Caleb's Confession to Himself
Caleb paced his dorm room nervously. His hands trembled as he picked up the small velvet box he had hidden inside his drawer, flipping it open to reveal a silver necklace with a tiny sapphire heart pendant. His mind repeated the same thought over and over again.
"No more waiting. No more pretending. I love Cecelia, and she deserves to hear it from me."
He finally admitted it to himself. For weeks, he had been pushing away feelings, convincing himself he wasn't ready. But now, after Katherine forgave him and he saw her joy with Jeremiah, his path became clear. He had to let go of the past and build something new.
That evening, he met Jeremiah and Jax in the Guild's training hall. Caleb didn't waste time.
"I want to confess to Cecelia. Not some half-hearted thing. I want to ask her out with marriage in mind," Caleb said, his voice firm though his palms sweated.
Jeremiah smiled, clapping him on the back. "About time, brother. She's been waiting on you for too long."
Jax smirked. "You're lucky Marcus isn't around. He would have given one of his royal speeches before approving this."
They laughed. Caleb's chest eased, and for the first time in a long time, he felt like the Guild had his back. Together, they started planning.
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Scene Two – The Plan in Motion
The next few days were a whirlwind. Caleb's confession needed to be perfect. Jeremiah and Jax roped in Lyra and Katherine for the finer details. Cecelia's birthday was only days away, and they decided the celebration would end with Caleb's confession under fireworks.
The key piece was Haruto's invention. Using his mechanical genius, he built a custom firework rig designed to explode into glowing words. Once lit, it would streak across the night sky, then flare into the sentence: "Will you be my love for life?" signed with "— The Captain."
It was perfect.
But keeping Cecelia out of the loop was the hardest part. She grew suspicious when the group kept whispering or disappearing without her.
One afternoon, she caught Caleb carrying a sealed box out of Ezra's workshop.
"What's that?" she asked curiously.
Caleb froze, then stammered. "Uh… replacement parts for the Guild drones. Ezra asked me to deliver them."
Jax quickly appeared and threw an arm around her shoulder. "Cecelia, come on, we need you for sparring practice. Let Caleb suffer with boring deliveries."
Cecelia raised a brow but went along. Katherine and Lyra later shared a knowing smile, whispering, "She has no idea."
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Scene Three – The Birthday and Fireworks
The Guild mess hall transformed into a warm birthday venue. Strings of glowing lights hung across the walls, tables filled with food, and a chocolate cake sat at the center decorated with "Happy Birthday Cecelia!" written in blue frosting.
Cecelia walked in, stunned by the effort. "You guys… all this for me?"
Katherine hugged her. "Of course. You deserve it."
Everyone laughed, ate, and celebrated. Cecelia's smile never faded, but she kept noticing Caleb watching her with nervous energy. He barely touched his food, his eyes locked on her like he was waiting for the right moment.
Finally, after the cake was cut and gifts given, Jax and Jeremiah quietly guided everyone outside to the courtyard. Cecelia followed, confused.
"Why are we out here? It's freezing," she laughed, wrapping her arms around herself.
Then, with a sudden crackle, the night sky lit up. Fireworks burst into red, green, and gold before forming glowing letters:
"Will you be my love for life?"
— The Captain
Cecelia froze. Her breath caught as the sparkling words lingered in the sky. She turned slowly, tears in her eyes. Caleb was standing behind her, holding the necklace box, his heart racing.
"Cecelia," he said, stepping closer. "I've been a fool for so long. I tried to chase something that wasn't mine while ignoring the person who truly loved me. You've been by my side, patient, kind, and unwavering. I don't want to waste another moment. I want you… for life."
He opened the box, his voice trembling. "Will you be mine?"
Cecelia covered her mouth, tears spilling down her cheeks. Then she lunged forward, throwing her arms around him. "Yes, Caleb! A thousand times yes!"
The Guild erupted in cheers. Katherine clapped, Lyra laughed with relief, Jeremiah grinned, and Jax shouted, "About time!"
Caleb slipped the necklace around Cecelia's neck, and for the first time in years, his heart felt complete.
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Scene Four – The Obsidian Resolve
Far away, in the cold iron halls of the Obsidian Citadel, King Leonard stood before a vast holographic map of the galaxy. His generals knelt before him, awaiting orders.
Behind him, the war docks roared with activity. Massive Obsidian battle cruisers, black as midnight, lined the hangars. Engineers and soldiers scurried like ants, preparing weapons and engines.
Leonard raised a clenched fist, his voice booming across the chamber.
"No more delays. No more excuses. The time has come to bring Earth to its knees."
With a gesture, he activated the projection of his armada. Eight hundred battle ships marked with crimson emblems spread across the stars, ready to launch.
"Eight hundred warships. Eight hundred instruments of conquest. We will crush their Guild, their Sentinels, their fragile armies. Earth will drown in fire, and its champions will bow before the Obsidian throne!"
His laughter echoed, cruel and victorious, shaking the chamber walls. Behind him, the fleet engines roared louder, preparing for departure.
The war was no longer looming. It had begun.
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