Chapter Three: Ever-Night
The palace halls stretched endlessly ahead of us, every polished step echoing softly against the obsidian floor beneath my boots. Beside me, Ellyn's footsteps sounded lighter—almost like she was skipping. A maid walked just ahead of us, her robes trailing behind her like silver mist. I watched the way they shimmered beneath the flickering crystal lights embedded in the ceiling, like stars caught in motion.
"Where would you like to go?" the maid asked, her voice barely above a whisper, yet somehow melodic.
Ellyn didn't hesitate. "Our room!" she said, her eyes wide and excited.
The maid smiled and nodded, lowering her head slightly. "As you wish."
As we walked, I let my eyes wander across the towering pillars flanking the hallway—each one carved with runes that pulsed faintly with magic. They whispered something ancient I didn't quite understand.
I'd never seen anything like it. Not even in books.
This place—the palace of Harwen—was massive. Ten stories tall and carved with precision and elegance, it was divided into five sections, though I couldn't remember them all. I knew there was the throne room, some halls for important gatherings, kitchens that smelled of warm bread and spice, a place for paperwork and scrolls, and lastly, the royal living quarters—the place we were headed to now.
Home... at least, for the next few days.
We passed arched windows so tall they looked like they belonged in cathedrals, and rows of portraits watched us from the walls—imperial figures frozen in paint, their gazes sharp and eternal. Then finally, the maid stopped in front of two enormous ebony doors.
She turned to us and said, "We've arrived. These are your rooms."
I stared up. The doors were at least three times my height, engraved with the royal crest. It shimmered faintly, like the runes in the halls.
"Wow… the door's huge!" Ellyn said, placing her hand on the handle and laughing. "I don't think I could even open it alone!"
I didn't say anything. I just reached out and traced one of the carvings. It felt cool beneath my fingers, and for a moment, it almost pulsed with life.
"Let's go inside!" Ellyn grabbed my hand before I could say a word, and together we stepped forward. The maid opened the doors for us with a gentle wave, and we entered our room.
It wasn't a room. It was a dream.
A dome-shaped chamber with a canopy bed in the center—curtains fluttering like stardust. The rug under our feet was deep navy, threaded with golden stars. A chandelier floated above us, suspended without chains, glowing gently like a miniature moon. The far end opened to a transparent balcony overlooking a garden that glowed silver and violet—like a forest caught in a spell.
Ellyn dashed toward the bed and flopped on it with a happy sigh. "It's so soft! Like clouds!"
I walked toward the balcony instead, drawn to the view. Outside, the sky was still dark—violet hues and soft stars above, without a hint of daylight. The garden below shimmered like something out of a storybook, with silver-leafed trees and glowing flowers swaying gently.
"What are you looking at?" Ellyn asked.
"The sky," I replied quietly.
She climbed off the bed and joined me, peering out. "It's really dark… but Mom said it's morning. Where's the sun?"
I shrugged. "Maybe you should ask Mom."
Her eyes lit up. "You're right! Let's go find her!"
Before I could respond, she had already taken my hand again, pulling me back into the hallway. The doors closed behind us with a quiet thud.
We passed more maids—most of them silent, their presence almost ghost-like as they dusted shelves or tended to the enchanted plants. Eventually, Ellyn approached one—a maid with gentle eyes and soft smile.
"Hello, do you know where my mother is?" she asked.
The maid tilted her head. "Do you mean Princess Faelora?"
Ellyn blinked, clearly thrown off by the formal name. I stepped forward and nodded. "Yes."
The maid gave a small bow. "Follow me."
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The palace's inner garden was unlike anything I'd seen before. Silver-blue leaves rustled on a tree, even though there was no breeze. A glowing stream curled through the garden, casting ripples of light across the grass.
That's where we found them—Mom and Dad, sitting beneath the tree, deep in conversation. They looked peaceful. Calm. As if the whole world could fall apart and they'd still be safe in that moment.
"Mom! I have a question!" Ellyn called out as we approached.
Mom turned, her crimson hair catching the light. "What is it, my Ellyn?"
"Why isn't there any sun?"
Dad laughed softly. "I'd like to know that too."
Mom patted the grass beside her, and Ellyn dropped down quickly. I stayed standing, watching as Mom conjured a glowing orb in the air—a planet slowly turning with a small sun circling around it.
"In Montreal," she said, "you see the sun in the sky when it's morning, right?"
Ellyn nodded. "Yes!"
"But imagine," Mom continued, slowing the planet's spin, "if the world stopped spinning. That would mean one side always faces the sun—and the other side is always in darkness."
She stopped the illusion. Half the globe remained dark. "We're on this side."
Ellyn's eyes were huge. "So the sun never comes here?"
"Not anymore," Mom said softly. "It hasn't risen for thousands of years. But some say it might return one day."
I didn't speak, but I took it all in. I didn't need to ask questions. I just… understood.
Dad added something about the way this world spun slower than Earth's, and how cities in other parts had eternal twilight or daylight. It made me think of time—how strange it must feel here. No sunrises. No mornings.
Only stars.
"Come," Mom said, rising to her feet. "Let me show you the city. It'll make more sense once you see it."
Ellyn cheered. I nodded.
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We started our tour in the Caerfen District, named after the first commander of inner guard. The streets were paved in dark stone, and the walls glowed faintly with magic. Soldiers patrolled in silence, each of their cloaks marked with a crimson blade and wings.
We stopped by a small bakery—Moonwhisk. The moment we stepped inside, I caught the smell of warm sugar and spices. I went straight to the glass counter, drawn by a tray of shimmering starfruit tarts.
"Ellan, Ellyn, choose whatever you like," Mom said. "I know how much you both love sweets—especially you, Ellan."
I didn't deny it. I just pointed to the tart silently. Ellyn chose a chocolate spiral bun that was almost the size of her head.
We ate outside on a stone bench, the city unfolding around us—buildings with glowing banners, merchant stalls with floating goods, and academies that seemed to hum with old power. Mom explained every place: the forges, the schools, the guilds. Ellyn asked everything. I listened.
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We spent three days in Harwen. Every night was still night. I stopped expecting sunrise.
On the last day, in the grand obsidian hall, Grandfather Hanford stood tall before us. His red hair shimmered with silver under the moonlight. He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"We shall meet again at the Crown Prince Ceremony," he said. "But arrive early. The crown waits for no one."
I just nodded.
He hugged both Ellyn and me. Then turned to Mom. "You too, Faelora. Don't stay away too long."
"I won't," she said. But her eyes looked far away, as if she already knew something the rest of us didn't.
We stepped through the gate back to Montreal.
I didn't look back.
But something in me knew…
The stars would be waiting. But they might not shine the same again.