In the end, they learned that the young boy was called Noah.
He said he was a wandering orphan with nowhere to go. After saving money for several months, he finally bought his favourite soup noodles from the tavern.
But the arrogant young lord brushed past him, almost making him fall and completely making his bowl collapse. All his hard-earned money was spilt over the floor.
Noah stole the young lord's bag in retaliation but was caught very soon. The burly men were beating him up and try to take the bag back when Ahzure came and saved him.
As Noah continued to speak, Ahzure's expression became more and more horrified.
Aesther chuckled, slightly impressed by the blonde boy, "Well… Sir Islewyn, you don't need to feel bad. Those from Lumine are known to jackasses!"
Ahzure looked even more stunned now.
She would never curse in the past.
But Aesther wasn't thinking about that, she glanced at the young boy.
"What do you plan to do then?"
"There is a ship leaving to the west after three days," he shrugged, "I will leave to meet my uncle. He is rich now."
Ahzure licked his lips, glancing at Noah, "You said you have nowhere to go?"
"Well, what else can I do?" Noah sighed heavily, "I will just wander in the cold night, all alone with an empty stomach. I am sure I won't die since my last meal was yesterday…"
His voice became a mumble as the blonde boy looked away.
Aesther wasn't sure if she could believe him entirely because Noah did look perfectly healthy for some orphaned child with nowhere to go. His clothes, though plain, were also neat and proper.
Nevertheless, Aesther was also an orphan. So was Ahzure. They both agreed that it would be best to let Noah come to the Alkazar and stay there for a while.
This offer made Noah go still.
But then, he awkwardly smiled and nodded.
"Yeah… it's just three days," he scratched his neck, "Thank you!"
The three of them then walked beside the crescent lake.
It was a long way back to the Alkazar and while Aesther and Ahzure walked in front, Noah's pace was slow because he got constantly distracted by frogs.
He would often pause to watch the hopping creature in awe.
The night was silent, with the occasional chirping of crickets and the gently rustling of the water. Aesther watched the waning moon and as she and Ahzure walked together, the moment felt more surreal than ever.
She would sometimes steal glances at him to be sure it was not a dream. But only once did he caught her gaze―making her heart freeze.
"I was wondering," she said, caught up in those golden eyes that gleamed under the moonlight. It was like melted honey, warm and ethereal, "Don't you have any questions?"
Ahzure smiled as if her question was silly.
"Should I?"
"Any other knight would," she shrugged, then continued in a dramatic voice, "They will also take me to the Alpha first and have me pay for this sinful act."
The pure luna wandering amongst commoners? How scandalous!
He didn't take her words lightly, his voice was sincere as he replied.
"You know I am not in favour of the laws surrounding a luna." Ahzure glanced at Noah, "But it was still not good idea, Aesther. The nights are not safe in the town. The reports of small crimes have been increasing these days."
Being a heavenly city didn't make Nesmeria immune to the darkness of human nature.
Aesther averted her gaze, "I can't always be within the castle."
"Then let me escort you," Ahzure calmly said, "Until you are strong enough."
Aesther smiled dryly but responded nothing to that.
In her previous life, Ahzure was one of the few who believed she would be able to become strong. Everyone else had given up on her.
And how many could have faith in a luna, who despite her sacred bloodline, could not even awaken her wolf?
It was this faith of Ahzure that became the light of her life. He was the only person she'd ever given her heart to. The only person who never deserved to die such a tragic death.
Her heart trembled with those memories, too raw and painful.
Aesther and Ahzure were close, and their relationship could be said romantic.
But they had seldom held hands and even the one time they kissed, it was an accident. They were both drunk and Aesther didn't dare hope for too much.
He probably only saw her as the luna, someone he was supposed to protect.
She had only ever treasured him, and after his death, she treasured the world he died protecting.
It was only his last wish that kept the fire inside Aesther burning.
But no matter how many years passed, Aesther could never be the same after he was gone. She drowned in his memories, the shadows of their moments together. Her desperation to see him just one more time could never come true.
Ahzure has left the world, and her heart was never healed.
But now he was there, in front of her.
Even if this surreal world after her death was a mere illusion, Aesther was more than grateful to see him once again.
Her heart ached near him, in almost physical pain.
The relationship between Aesther and Ezrahl had not worsened until a year later and during those times, it was Ahzure who always asked her to not let hate cloud her judgment.
He was too kind for the world and perhaps it was the very thing that took him away.
She silently vowed to not let him be harmed in this lifetime.
Aesther will train and rebuild her magical cultivation, she will refine her core and make sure that Ezrahl deserves his end.
The path around the Crescent Lake connected to the old gates of Alkazar. They were seldom guarded. But this time, there was a short person with a furious glare.
Hazel folded her hands, "So there you are. Finally remembering your home after making everyone worried sick!"
Aesther raised a brow, "Everyone?"
Subconsciously, she glanced back to look at Noah. Uninvited visitors were not allowed in Alkazar so she had to think of an excuse for him but the young boy was already gone.
'Interesting…'
"Don't ignore me!" Hazel gasped, "You have a lot of things to answer for, Rose!"
Aesther smiled, as if to greet her.
The response was a furious stomping.
Hazel was younger than Aesther, and after the alpha adopted Aesther, Hazel became her stepsister. She was usually of short temper, with most of her calmness being directed to sparkly jewels and exquisite clothes.
Her relationship with Hazel was rather simple; of mutual dislike.
Aesther always found her noisy and loud nature annoying, while Hazel was irritated because her father paid too much attention to a crippled luna.
Hazel's expression twisted in displeasure when she noticed Ahzure by her side.
"I can't see the Lumine Clan lord," she said, "Has Rose ruined yet another thing?"
Ahzure replied, "There were some complications."
Aesther found the rustling leaves more interesting than Hazel's complaints. She noticed something odd in one of the trees but before she could think further, Hazel repeated her name for the third time.
"Rose! Stop ignoring!" she said, "Look at me. Aren't you forgetting something?"
Aesther looked at her, properly watching her as if she was in deep thoughts.
"To take out the trash?"
Hazel was fuming red, "Watch your mouth!"
"I am older than you," Aesther clicked her tongue, "Don't be such a brat."
Ahzure awkwardly watched the banter and tried to stop it but Hazel was stubborn and Aesther was enjoying herself.
She had long since grown used to Hazel's words and unlike in her previous life, she was in no mood to silently listen to them.
"Aesther…" Ahzure sighed and looked at her helplessly. But she noticed the slight curve of his lips when seeing her stand for herself.
Things were drastically different in her previous life.
Hazel clenched her jaw tight, her young immatuare face appearing slightly adorable as she declared.
"I have nothing else to say to you, Rose. Father has called you."
Aesther's smile froze.
The Alpha's name left a bitter coldness in her heart.