Yumeko and Layla arrived at the town of Whispering Winds Valley, where their carriage was waiting.
"I still can't believe Sky hasn't awakened yet," Yumeko said as Layla sighed.
"Yeah, I guess the loss of his mother was so great, and the shock of learning about the Disciples of Darkness, along with whatever burst of power he did, his body just couldn't take it and shut down," Layla said.
"I just hope he's okay. He's been unconscious since yesterday," Yumeko said, her voice filled with worry. Her heart ached at the thought of losing him.
"He will be okay. We just need to give him time," Layla reassured her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"I hope so," Yumeko murmured, looking down at Sky's unconscious form.
"Hey, he's going to be okay. He might not be the strongest person, but he is the kindest and sweetest, and he has a big heart," Layla said as Yumeko smiled slightly. "Plus, there's no way he will leave his girlfriend alone," Layla teased, as Yumeko turned redder than the setting sun.
"What! What are you talking about? We are not dating," Yumeko protested.
"Please, you might not be dating, but let's be honest, you want to. And I don't blame you, he is a very good-looking guy," Layla said as Yumeko's face turned even more red.
"But he's the son of a commoner," Yumeko frowned. "Do you really think your father, the Wind God, will let a commoner marry his daughter, a saint of the wind?"
"It's my decision who I will marry. It's not up to him. I love him, and that's all that matters," Yumeko said, a stubborn note creeping into her voice.
"So you do love him," Layla teased.
"What? No, that's not what I meant," Yumeko stammered, her face growing hot.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Layla said, winking. "But I know Sky feels the same way, so you should tell him."
"I don't know," Yumeko said, hesitant. "But thank you, Layla. You are a good friend."
"Don't mention it. We are all friends," Layla said. "Your brother Kira, however, I still think he is an ass. I don't know how he would react to his bastard half-sister marrying the lowest of the low. The son of two powerless people who got lucky to get wind aura and not be powerless."
"I... I don't care. I love him," Yumeko said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And if I have to choose between my father or brother's approval and the man I love, then I will choose love."
"You really do love him," Layla said, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"I do," Yumeko said, a blush coloring her cheeks.
"Good. But you need to get stronger. If you go about this, there will be many nobles after you who want to marry you. They won't like some commoner, no, not just some commoner, but the son of two powerless people having you," Layla said as Yumeko nodded.
"You are right. I will train. I will become strong, so I can protect the ones I love," Yumeko vowed, her voice filled with determination, as they felt Sky move and saw him waking up.
"Sky, you're awake," Yumeko said, hugging him.
"I feel like hell. What happened?" Sky groaned as Layla explained.
"I see. Well, I'm sorry I lost control," Sky said.
"Don't worry, we still need to train and get stronger," Yumeko said.
"She is right," Layla agreed. "If we want to defeat the Void and save the world, we need to become stronger."
"I know," Sky said. "I will become stronger, so I can protect the people I love. I won't lose control again."
"That's the spirit," Yumeko said, smiling encouragingly.
"So what now?" Sky asked.
"Noboru said to get back to my father and tell him," Yumeko said.
"I wonder what Noboru is up to," Sky wondered out loud.
"Who knows," Yumeko said.
"Come on, let's go. Our ride is here," Layla said, motioning towards the carriage that had arrived.
"Let's go," Yumeko agreed, helping Sky to his feet.
As the carriage began its journey to the capital of Aeritha,
Yumeko looked out the window, her thoughts turning to the mysterious Black Star Knight.
"What are you thinking about?" Sky asked, sensing her unease.
"Nothing, just thinking about the future," Yumeko said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Are you worried about what will happen?" Sky asked.
"Yeah, this cult, the Disciples of Darkness, they are strong, and their plan could destroy the world if they get their hands on the relics," Yumeko admitted.
"Yeah, but don't worry, we will stop them," Sky said, taking her hand, making her face turn red.
"Yeah, we will," Yumeko said, smiling softly.
The carriage ride continued in silence, the tension and uncertainty thick in the air. As the hours ticked by, they arrived at their destination.
"Here we are, the capital of Aeritha, Skyhaven Royal Castle," Yumeko said, as the others took in the sight of her father's castle.
"This is the royal castle?" Layla gasped, her eyes wide.
"It is," Yumeko said, a hint of sadness in her tone. Even though it was her father's castle, she had never been here. His wife, Kira's mother, hated her. She was just a bastard child his father had with some woman.
"Let's go," Yumeko said, leading the way inside.
As they stepped out of the carriage, Sky noticed people looking at Yumeko with disgust.
"Is that her?" one said.
"Yeah, that's the Wind God's bastard daughter," another said.
"She's got some nerve coming here, but she's a sentinel. We can't deny her, especially with Lady Layla with her."
"They are going to see the Wind God," a man said.
Sky, noticing this, walked up to Yumeko, put his hand in hers as he saw her face get sad, and he smiled. "Ignore them. You are perfect the way you are."
Yumeko turned her face a bright red as Layla giggled.
"Hey, look at the peasant holding the bastard daughter's hand," a noble sneered.
"I'm going to kill him," Layla snarled, her aura flaring, recognizing who it was. The noble in question was Sir Garret Skyward, her arrogant playboy of a brother. Despite being a playboy, he only went after women who were from royal or full noble families.
"Layla, calm down, you will cause a scene," Yumeko pleaded, not wanting to make a scene.
"Yeah, just ignore them," Sky said.
"Fine, but we will talk about this later," Layla growled, glaring daggers at her brother.
"Let's go, our father is waiting for us," Yumeko said, leading them away from the curious and disapproving stares.
As they approached the throne room, the guards stepped aside, opening the massive doors.
"Wind God Kaze Hayashi, Sentinel Layla, Sentinel Sky, Sentinel Yumeko, your arrival is awaited," one guard said.
"Thank you, Izuna," Yumeko said, recognizing the guard as her father's strongest guard and said to be the second strongest wind aura user in the world. He also was one of the few who respected her and didn't hate her for her father knocking up her mother.