In a land where beauty is seemingly real but untouchable, one woman was asleep but is not resting. Her mind is travelling the domain of searching for her lost love. After her long untiring chasing, she saw the familiar glimpse that she used to own. She smiled and tried to own him once again. However, the wind flew his pieces with no trace.
"Kana! KANA! KANAAAA---!
The woman blanketed with her tears woke up.
"Maka? What are you doing here?"
"Kana, I have heard you shouting his name again."
The woman went into deep silence and smiled.
"I had dreamed of him again Maka. However, this time he is not running away."
"Then, what did he do, Kana?"
"His pieces were shattered by the wind, and it rained. I was left crying with the sky."
Maka replied with her sigh and hug.
"Kana, maybe heaven is telling you to let him go and wait no longer."
The woman cried in Maka's arms.
***
"Your majesty, the First Daughter of the Palace Doctor seeks your audience."
The king stopped his writings and appeared before Lady Lan outside the royal office.
"Greetings to your majesty."
"Rise."
The king led a walk under the obvious sky. The beat of their footsteps is louder than the sound of their words.
"Are you sure about this Lan?"
"Yes, your majesty."
***
The moon is in its half and is still bright and solemn. But the lady that the moon is gazing at has a face as dimmed as the moonless night, and the sound she plays her flute is as solemn as the holy night. A sound that the night had never stopped listening to for days to years.
"Kana?"
The woman stopped and turned with a smile.
"Greetings to you Aka."
"Kana, I received a letter from your brother, and it is for you."
"Aka, DID BROTHER FIND POSICO?"
The man didn't speak a word but handed her the letter instead, the letter that he thought of burning. He smiled at his daughter with no stints of joy on his lips. To not leave is the thing he wanted to do, but his heart knew that he must, but to ease the outraging comfort his keeping, he left his daughter some encouraging taps.
Kana opened the letter with great hopes in her eyes, ignoring the doubtful smile of her father. The smile flaunted on her face didn't last a minute for the letter encompass the news that she waited long and feared.
"To my lovely sister, I finally found Posico. He is safe and healthy. However, do not wait for him any longer. Free yourself from the vow that attached great hopes to your heart as he had vowed his life to another woman and is living together with their children.
Please, be strong and healthy still. Do not worry this brother of yours."
***
"Your Highness! YOUR HIGHNESS!"
"What is it Kabu?"
The man bathing in his sweat hurriedly whispered to Prince Senae. When the prince heard Kabu's words, his dimmed face turned to its dimmest.
"KABU, LET'S GO!"
Lady Lan's troop had finished preparing and all goodbyes with wishes of goodness were said. Lan glanced at the surroundings memorizing every detail and painting it to her heart. When she had already sanctified her sentiment, she rode the carriage. Upon her command, the men's horses started to gallop. They had only left a few miles from the crowded city when two men riding on white horses middle the way. The men's presence is noble that even without command from the lady, all people before them bowed.
"Greetings to your highness, Prince Senae."
When Lady Lan heard the man's name, she held her urge to move and see. However, her will is weak for she ended up standing a little far from him. Her appearance made Prince Senae's sight ostensibly blind, seeing none of both men and women that are around them. He jumped off from his horse and walks toward the lady looking at him with her cloudy eyes.
"Lan, where are you going?"
Lady Lan's affection remained in her eyes, but her anger slipped from her hand and landed on Senae's cheek.
"THE MAN WHO DENIED HIS VOWS IS NOT WORTHY TO APPEAR BEFORE ME."
The prince looked away for a while before facing the lady. His eyes were remorseful but can only be seen by those capable. His knees wanted to touch the ground, but his mind decreed them to stay fierce and never bend. His hands wanted to sway and wrap the lady before him but his gritty fingers clenches.
"Lan, forgive me."
Lady Lan's strength had given up, her knees fell onto the ground. Her servants tried to help her stand and comfort her, but they failed. Her tears fell faster than how she speaks.
"I pity myself, Senae. I had thought you came to fetch me back home. I hoped that you will ask for forgiveness and will ask to marry me. I always believed that I am your most precious. But I was wrong, the throne is the only treasured thing that even a vow you fortified with your blood, you are willing to go against it."
Lady Lan's weeps continue. And the prince who is standing proud finally sat and held Lan's shoulder lightly. His land is as cold as the brewing ache in his soul.
"Lan, karma will come to me while blessings will be showered on you. But for now, let's go back and let time heal us both."
"I WILL NOT GO BACK! I had asked his majesty for this quest, and I shall accomplish it."
Lady Lan gripped Senae's hand on her shoulder. The warmth in her hand conveys her faith and pardons for Senae to listen and heed her plea.
"Senae, I know I cannot compete for the throne, but only yet. I am vulnerable and innocent and will only be your weakness but I can become more than a lady. I can become someone that is skilled and will stay alongside to reign."
Her grip tightens but this time her tears are slowly stopping, and she stares at him like a wolf. "So, Senae, can you promise me that you will wait for me. After this journey, I will surely become tougher, wiser and will be deserving of the title queen."
Prince Senae put another hand on Lan's head and smiled. It is not only her words that he heeds but also his heart. "Well then, you must do as you say, and I will wait for you until the fifth moon. If you will not come back after it, forgive me but I will need to marry someone else. Is that clear?"
His voice is calm and his face exhibited light.
Lady Lan smiled and wiped her tears. It is not what she prayed for nor what she hopes for, but she was thankful enough to have a hope of being married to the man that her heart desires the most.
Lan and Senae had understood each other, ending the night with unregretful farewells. But, before they finally part, Prince Senae looked at Kabu.
"Kabu, go with Lady Lan and protect her."
"BUT, HOW ABOUT YOU, YOUR HIGHNESS?"
"I need no protection."
"B---!"
"KABU, this is a command."
Kabu though hesitating agreed to his prince. He stared at Senae in a plea to have his master change his phrases. However, his wish remained unfulfilled. Thus, with a vast core, he rode his horse and join Lan's pack.
The night is kind, aiding Senae in its brightness for he to have a clearer look at the fleeting silhouette of Lan's troop. And this time, he let his mind be freely occupied by Lan. Silently, praying all good things to be around her.
"L---a----n--, you should come back stronger as you promise."