The months following the initial invasion by the Lyrion Empire had been filled with tension. Skirmishes broke out frequently, keeping everyone on edge, but no major battles had erupted, and the Ret Raja had not reappeared. The Golden Marches remained a silent, sandy wasteland, holding its secrets close.
Khione stood by her bedroom window, watching the bustle of activity below. Servants and family members prepared for her seventeenth birthday tomorrow, and her departure for the Imperial Academy the day after. The estate was alive with the sounds of conversation and laughter, mingling with the warm breeze that drifted through the open window.
She saw her mother directing the arrangements in the courtyard, her face a mix of pride and sadness. Khione felt a pang of emotion, knowing how much her leaving would affect her family.
A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts. "Come in," Khione called, turning to see her younger brother, Darian, peeking around the doorframe.
"Mother sent me to check if you need any help," he said, stepping into the room.
Khione smiled at him. "I'm fine, Darian. Just thinking about tomorrow... and the day after."
Darian's face fell slightly. "I'm going to miss you, you know."
"I'll miss you too," Khione replied, pulling him into a hug. "But I'll write as often as I can. And you'll have to tell me everything that happens here while I'm gone."
He nodded, his grip tightening for a moment before he pulled away. "Promise."
After Darian left, Khione returned to her packing. She folded her clothes and arranged her books and personal items with meticulous care. Her polearm, its blade gleaming, was wrapped in protective cloth and placed carefully in her bag.
As she worked, a servant entered, carrying a letter. "This just arrived for you, my lady," she said, handing it to Khione with a slight bow.
Khione's heart skipped a beat when she saw the familiar seal. It was from Seraphine. She broke the seal and unfolded the parchment, her eyes scanning the elegant script.
---
**Dear Khione,**
**Happy seventeenth birthday, my dearest friend. I wish I could be there to celebrate with you, to see the joy on your face as you step into this new chapter of your life. But know that my thoughts and my heart are with you.**
**Your departure for the Imperial Academy fills me with a mix of pride and longing. You are destined for greatness, Khione, and the academy will shape you into the formidable leader you are meant to be. Yet, I cannot help but wish to be by your side, sharing in your triumphs and challenges.**
**Do you remember the last night we spent together before I left? I think of it often, the way the moonlight danced in your eyes, and the touch of your hand in mine. I long for the day we can recreate that moment, to be close to you once more.**
**Until then, I will keep you in my thoughts and dreams. Be strong, my love, and know that you carry a piece of my heart with you always.**
**With all my affection,
Seraphine**
---
Khione's cheeks flushed as she read the letter, the seductive undertone unmistakable. She held the parchment to her chest for a moment, her mind swirling with memories and emotions. Seraphine's words were a balm to her anxious heart, a reminder that she was not alone, even as she embarked on this new journey.
Taking a deep breath, Khione carefully folded the letter and placed it in her travel bag, a cherished token to carry with her. She resumed her packing, her thoughts drifting between the past and the future, the battles fought and those yet to come.
As night fell, the preparations for the birthday celebration were nearly complete. The grand hall was adorned with banners and flowers, and the scent of delicious foods filled the air. Khione's family gathered for a quiet dinner, the anticipation of the next day's festivities mingling with the bittersweet knowledge of her impending departure.
Later, as she lay in bed, Khione reflected on the months that had passed and the uncertain times ahead. Tomorrow, she would celebrate her seventeenth birthday, and the day after, she would step into the halls of the Imperial Academy, ready to embrace her destiny. But for tonight, she allowed herself to dream of moonlit nights and whispered promises, holding Seraphine's words close to her heart.