{Month: Moondust}
{Date: 14/27}
{Time: Afternoon}
I stood outside on my balcony, leaned against the rails and watched over the knights and barons of the citadel. I enjoyed the soft glow of the seven suns that casted down different hues of gold. I still constantly thought about my past despite how much I knew I needed to move on.
I looked at my magic device, checking the time and noticing I still had a long day ahead of me. In Utalia, there are Seven Suns and Seven Moons. Each day in Utalia lasts 48 hours, divided into two long periods of daylight and two long periods of night. The transition between day and night is gradual, creating extended dawn and dusk periods.
During the sun-dominant months, daylight lasts approximately 30 hours, with the remaining 18 hours split between dusk and night. During the moon-dominant months, night lasts approximately 30 hours, with the remaining 18 hours split between dawn and day. Utalia's year is divided into 14 months, each named after a combination of the Seven Suns and Seven Moons. Each month consists of an equal number of days, ensuring balance in the calendar year.
The first seven months are when the suns are more dormant, the months being: Sunflare, Dawnglow, Daybright, Solaris, Sunstorm, Highsun, and Sunset. The last seven months are when the moons are more dormant, the months being: Moonrise, Nightglow, Lunara, Moonshade, Eclipse, Darkmoon, and Moondust. There's your little history lesson for the day.
"Your highness,"
I looked back over my shoulder, noticing Victoria approaching me. "Good afternoon, Victoria.."
Victoria stood beside me, staring out into the distance and closed her eyes as the gentle wind blew upon her. "Today feels nice. Nice enough for a stroll~"
I groaned softly at her suggestions, which caused Victoria to giggle softly.
"C'mon, Princess. Your brother, Prince Leo and your Guardian, Lady Mira will be joining. They would really like for you to join them," Victoria said softly, turning her gaze to me.
I looked down and noticed Leo, noticing his royal blue eyes looking up at me. He waved at me with a bright smile on his face.
"Sis! Are you joining us?" Leo called out to me, his voice easily reaching my ears.
I rested my cheek against the palm of my hand, closing my eyes and letting out a soft sigh. "N—"
"Yes! She'll join in on the walk," Victoria interrupted then grabbed my shoulder gently. "C'mon, Princess. You've been asleep for three days, practically in a coma...you need to get some form of exercise to wake yourself up.."
I looked at Victoria then groaned softly, lowering my head. I knew that no matter how much protesting I do, she won't allow me to stay to myself. "Alright, alright. I'll go with them.."
Victoria smiled at me, gently taking my hand and leading me off the balcony and back inside the castle. We traversed down the stairs and exited the castle to meet up with Leo and Mira. Leo and Mira waited for us near the courtyard, their faces brightening as we approached.
"Let's make this quick..." I sighed softly, walking forward and holding my arms over my chest.
Leo chuckled lightly and hurried behind me. "I promise you it will be fun, Stella."
"Yep," I said dismissively, continuing to walk forward.
My new family isn't a large one, despite me being in a noble bloodline. There's only six of us in the Bushido Clan...well only five now since my older brother betrayed us. Each royal family is born on a specific month, my bloodline being born under the month of Eclipse.
Despite my aloofness and my cold personality, I was pretty close to my new family as they remind me of my old one a bit. My new father, King Alden, reminds me of my old father, just as my new mother did, Queen Isolde. My younger brother, Prince Leo, was probably the closest one to me. I love him with my heart and swore to cherish him despite my attitude. Finally there's my aunt, Lady Mira. She personally takes care of me and Leo since our parents are always busy with their work.
As we took continued our stroll around, our conversations flowed smoothly, our bond and synergy there despite my attitude toward them. We shared many laughs and talked about the upcoming Moondust Festival that we host every year at the end of the year.
"I hear that we might even get to see all Seven Moons this year! I've been wishing for a moment like this where we can see such a sight again," Leo exclaimed, his voice a mix of anticipation and enthusiasm.
Mira chuckled softly at Leo's enthusiasm, nodding her head in agreement. "It would be a beautiful sight wouldn't it..? I too have wished for a moment like this. What about you Stella? Are you excited for the festivities this year?"
I stayed a bit quiet, a distant memory of my past flowing into my mind. I closed my eyes and felt my heart grow heavy from the question and the memories. "I guess," I answered dismissively, my voice softer than normal.
Leo tilted his head a bit, seeing my saddened expression. "Are you okay, Sis? You're crying."
I looked at Leo then wiped my eyes, noticing I was crying. I shook my head, wiping away my tears and letting out a soft sigh. "I wasn't crying...it was just sweat getting into my eyes."
"Aww~ Stella is getting all emotional thinking about spending time with all of us," Leo teased, playfully bumping into me.
I grunted as I stumbled to the side. "Hey! Watch where you're going, pipsqueak," I said, bumping into him back.
Leo laughed softly and bumped into me again then ran forward. I ran after him, yelling his name and for him to come back so I could punt him across the garden.
Mira chuckled softly at the two of us, her expression softening with happiness. "I haven't seen that much life in Stella in forever. I was starting to think we were losing her.."
"I agree. It's really nice to see her show some emotions again..~ I'm just worried that she might fall under another spell like she's been doing for the past few months. She gets into a coma ever so often," Victoria said, walking alongside Mira and held Mira's flower basket for her.
"I know...I'm glad you were able to wake her up again. I remember the last time she fell into a coma, it was for weeks and her mom was terrified. I mean we thought we'd never see her again," Mira said, shivering at the thought of losing me.
Victoria shuddered at the thought at well, her expression darkening. "I don't want to lose her either. She's my savior...I live for Princess Stella and all of her glory."
Mira smiled at Victoria, gently rubbing her head with a soft chuckle. "I know you do, and I admire your fierce loyalty to her. You have been the best advisor she's had in a long time and she really likes you as well. You two are practically sisters."
Victoria smiled sweetly at Mira's words, a gentle blush settling on her cheeks. "Sisters. You really think we're that close?"
"I know so. If I told her to name her top five favorite people, the first name that will come out of her mouth is your name. You two share a special bond that can't be replicated. Obviously she loves Leo a lot more, but for you to be that high on the spectrum means she holds a lot of genuine care for you," Mira said sweetly, giving Victoria a warm smile.
Victoria tried to hide her flushed face, but her own happiness betrayed her desire to keep her composure. It meant a lot to her that I saw her as family instead of a retainer. She knew our connection was truly there, and knew that my aloof personality wouldn't allow me to show it in public.
"Looks like they are coming back," Mira said, watching me and Leo walk back with him in a headlock.
"C'mon, Sis! I was just playing!" Leo whined as he tried to wiggle his way out of my hold.
"Yeah whatever!" I replied, keeping him in a firm hold.
Mira and Victoria chuckled softly as they watched, the four of us returning to our peaceful stroll around the garden.
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{Time: Evening}
"C'mon Stella, come at me with your best!" Mira called out, twirling her naginata in circles then got into her stance.
I readied my sword, watching Mira's body language closely. With a swift movement, I lunged toward Mira, slashing at her with fluid and purposeful strikes. Mira, her gaze calculated and focused, defended against my slashes with ease, parrying and dodging each attack.
Mira countered my next attack, knocking me back with a kick then thrusted her weapon at me. I grunted as I blocked quickly, managing to push her back. I rushed forward and ducked under her slash, swiftly knocking her off her feet with a sweep kick then knocked her upward with a flip kick. I hopped up and landed a crescent kick to her stomach, knocking her to the ground.
I jumped backwards and got back into my stance, my expression determined and focused. I took a moment to look at my hands and feet. 'This feeling is still surreal and it's been years since I died as Risa. Deep inside I'm still Risa...my spirit is Risa..'
Mira slowly stood up and huffed. "Goodness, you're gotta have to take it more easy on an old lady like me..~" Mira chuckled softly, using her naginata as support.
I glanced at Mira and relaxed my posture. "Sorry, Aunt Mira. I'll go easy this go around."
"Hey, Aunt Mira, let me get a turn against Stella!~" Leo said from the sidelines of the training grounds. "I want to test my new skills against her! I've been training with Papa for a while now, I think I can match her."
"Pfft! As if, little brother! We both know that you can't beat me in a spar," I said, my tone a mix of arrogance and banter.
"Oh yeah? Then let's have one right now!" Leo rallied, pumping his fist in the air.
Mira's glances shifted between the two of us and a soft chuckle escaped her lips. "I'll allow it. I also want to know how well my brother has taught you, Leo."
"Yes!" Leo said, springing onto his feet and hurrying to the battlefield.
The air was crisp and filled with the sounds of metal clashing and warriors practicing their forms. In the center of the training grounds stood me and Leo, facing each other with determination in our eyes.
I, the elder and more experienced of the two of us, wore my usual confident expression, while Leo's face was set with a look of fierce determination. He had been training tirelessly with our father and was eager to show me how much he had improved.
"Are you ready, Leo?" I asked, my voice calm and steady.
Leo nodded, gripping his sword tightly. "More than ever, Big Sis! I'm gonna show you how much I've improved!"
With a swift nod from me, the match started. Leo charged forward at surprising speeds, his sword aimed at my midsection. I parried his attack effortlessly, the sound of our swords clashing ringing out. I smirked, a bit impressed by his newly found speed.
"Not bad," I remarked, pushing him back and countering with a flurry of slashes.
Leo blocked each one, his movement more fluid and precise than before. He quickly retaliated with a barrage of jabs, forcing me to stay on my toes. I dodged each jab and slice with graceful movements, turning around and using my hair to temporarily blind him. I landed a kick to his midsection, knocking him back with a bit of force.
Leo rolled backwards then recovered onto his feet, charging back at me once again. The two of us clashed often, moving around the battlefield as our blades danced around one another, each clash ringing out into the air. I could feel the improvement in his technique, the confidence in his strikes.
"You've gotten faster, Leo," I acknowledged, spinning around him to avoid a particularly sharp thrust.
"And stronger," Leo added, his eyes shining with a fierce determination.
The two of us continued to exchange blows, our swords a blur of motion. My movements were graceful and calculated, a testament to my years of training. Leo, on the other hand, moved with raw energy and determination, each strike filled with the desire to prove himself.
As the match progressed, I found myself being pushed harder than I expected. Leo's attacks were relentless, and I had to dig deep into my own reserves to keep up. I could see the pride in his eyes, the satisfaction of knowing he was making me work for it.
"You're really giving me a run for my money, Leo," I said, a hint of surprise in my voice.
Leo grinned, sweat dripping from his brow. "I've been training with Father every day. I'm not the same fighter you faced last time."
I nodded, a sense of pride welling up inside me. My little brother was growing into a formidable warrior. I decided to up the ante, launching a series of complex maneuvers that forced Leo to adapt quickly.
He responded with a surprising counterattack, catching me off guard and nearly landing a hit. My eyes widened in surprise, and I barely managed to deflect the blow.
"Impressive," I breathed, stepping back to catch my breath. "You've really improved."
Leo's confidence soared at my words. "Thanks, Stella. But I'm not done yet!"
With renewed vigor, he charged at me again, our swords clashing with renewed intensity. The match continued, both of us pushing the other to our limits. Finally, with a swift and unexpected move, I disarmed Leo, sending his sword flying across the training grounds.
Breathing heavily, we both stood still for a moment, the sound of our labored breaths filling the air. I lowered my sword and walked over to Leo, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You've done well, Leo," I said with genuine pride. "You definitely kept me on my toes as much as I hate to admit.."
Leo smiled, his chest swelling with pride. "Thanks, Stella. That means a lot coming from you."
As we walked back to the edge of the courtyard, the bond between us felt stronger than ever. I knew that Leo's growth was not just in his skills as a warrior but also in his confidence and determination. And I couldn't be prouder of the brother standing beside me.
Victoria watched us and smiled, looking at Mira. "Only at the age of 16 and he managed to keep up with the Princess. Granted she was definitely holding back."
Mira chuckled and glanced at Victoria. "You believe she was holding back? Against Leo? I guess I can see your point of view. She didn't awaken her power and only used her basic fundamentals, but Leo also didn't awaken his power either so I can say they were both holding back."
Victoria turned her gaze back to me and Leo, a soft smile on her face. "I want to see her power again someday. The same power she used to save me three years ago..~"
Mira chuckled softly then stood up. "I'm sure there will come a time where she will awaken her power again, but first we need to get her back to normal. I don't know how many more coma episodes she has left in her, so I want to make sure she's truly well before we get her back into using her Aura and Crest."
Victoria nodded, standing up with Mira. The two made their way toward me and Leo, joining us in our conversation. We began to make our way back to the castle for the evening and joined my parents for dinner.