The night sky was painted with a canopy of stars, and the soft hum of distant festival music drifted through the cool air. Zaryth stood before the grand gates of the Natlan Estate, a towering mansion surrounded by lush gardens and high walls. His heart beat steadily, but there was a playful smirk on his face as he gazed at the estate. The size of the estate caught him off guard—it was far more extravagant than he had imagined.
Two guards at the gate glared at him. "You can't enter, boy. Especially not this late at night."
Zaryth's smirk deepened. "If this were before... I'd have sneaked in like a coward," he muttered under his breath. Then, looking straight into the guards' eyes, he grinned mischievously.
"Open the door, guards," Zaryth said smoothly, his tone dripping with confidence.
The guards stood firm, shaking their heads. "No chance, kid."
But before they could blink, Zaryth vanished from sight, leaving a wisp of shimmering mana in the air. In the next moment, he reappeared inside the estate, standing by the front entrance. The guards stumbled forward, rubbing their eyes in disbelief, but he was already inside.
---
The Natlan Estate
The interior of the Natlan Estate was breathtaking—high ceilings with intricate chandeliers, floors lined with marble, and walls adorned with paintings that reflected the proud history of the Natlan family. A gentle warmth filled the air, with the soft fragrance of incense lingering in every corner.
Zaryth stepped further into the estate, his sharp eyes observing everything as he made his way deeper into the house. He was suddenly met by the startled faces of the Natlan family members gathered in the sitting room.
At the center was Mavuika's father, a stern, imposing man with sharp features and dark, watchful eyes. Mavuika's mother sat beside him, her beauty striking—her auburn hair flowed gracefully, and her gentle smile masked a keen mind. And sitting on a smaller chair was Mavuika's little sister, clutching a stuffed animal, blinking curiously at the unexpected guest.
The father's stern voice boomed through the room. "How dare you enter our estate without permission? Who do you think you are?"
Zaryth smiled, unfazed by the intimidating presence. "I'm just a classmate. An old friend of your daughter's."
The father narrowed his eyes. "The weakling. You were the one humiliated by Sirus, weren't you?" He laughed mockingly. "What business does a failure have here?"
Zaryth didn't flinch. "Yes, that would be me." His grin widened as he took a sudden step forward, leaving the stunned parents behind. In the blink of an eye, he dashed across the room, vanishing in a blur of motion.
Before disappearing upstairs, he gave Mavuika's mother a playful wink, causing her to chuckle in surprise. The father shot her a stern glare, but it was too late—Zaryth was already gone.
---
In Mavuika's Room
Zaryth arrived at Mavuika's room without missing a beat, the door swinging open effortlessly. Inside, Mavuika sat by the window, bathed in the silver glow of the moonlight. She was dressed casually, her long red hair cascading over her shoulders, and her crimson eyes sparkled with surprise the moment she saw him standing in her doorway.
Her expression shifted from shock to a deep blush. "You've got some nerve," she muttered, folding her arms across her chest. "First, you sneak into my house, and now you barge into my room? Don't you know a girl's room is off-limits?"
Zaryth leaned casually against the doorframe, unfazed by her scolding. "Yes, yes. I've heard all that before." His voice was smooth, carrying a playful edge.
Mavuika raised an eyebrow, still flustered but doing her best to maintain her composure. "What do you want, Zaryth? You better have a good reason for this."
Zaryth stepped forward, a teasing smile curling at his lips. "You know what tonight is, right?"
Mavuika tilted her head, confused. "It's the festival night."
"Exactly," Zaryth replied, his voice low but warm. "And I'm here to take you on a date."
Her crimson eyes widened in disbelief, her face burning with embarrassment. "A... a date?"
Zaryth winked. "That's right."
Mavuika tried to suppress the smile forming on her lips, but she couldn't stop the soft laugh that escaped. "You're insane."
Zaryth gave a slight shrug. "Probably. But I'm serious." He held out his hand toward her, his purple eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "So, what do you say? Care to join me?"
Mavuika stared at him for a moment, her heart racing. Then, with a grin of her own, she reached out and took his hand. "You're lucky I like insane people."
As Zaryth pulled Mavuika along, her mind raced to catch up with what was happening. "Wait, wait, wait!" she exclaimed, her cheeks still burning from the unexpected invitation. "I'm not ready for a date—this is too sudden!"
She glanced down at her clothes—a simple tunic and shorts, nothing close to the elegant dresses girls usually wore to festivals. "I look like a mess! I don't even have makeup on!" Her hands flew to her face, patting her cheeks nervously. "How's my face? Do I look okay?"
Zaryth stopped abruptly, turning to face her. "Mavuika..." He ran a hand through his silver hair, clearly frustrated. "You look fine. Actually—no, you look more than fine."
Mavuika raised an eyebrow, caught off guard. "More than fine?"
Zaryth exhaled sharply. "Listen, if it bothers you that much, we'll buy a new dress at the festival. I've got enough coin. You'll look stunning no matter what you wear."
Before she could protest further, Zaryth grabbed her hand firmly and gave her a grin. "Come on. No more excuses."
Mavuika's heart fluttered as he pulled her along into the night. She couldn't help but smile—he was bold, determined, and stubborn. But there was something comforting in his confidence, something that made her want to follow him anywhere.
The festival was in full swing, with lanterns lighting up the streets in vibrant colors. Vendors lined the roads, selling sweets, jewelry, and all kinds of trinkets. Children ran through the crowd with sparklers, and music echoed from every corner, creating a lively, joyful atmosphere.
Zaryth and Mavuika strolled through the bustling streets, hand in hand. The scent of freshly baked pastries and grilled skewers filled the air. They stopped at a food stall, where Zaryth insisted on buying her a caramel-dipped apple, watching her eyes light up as she took the first bite.
"See? Told you you'd have fun." Zaryth smirked as she gave him a playful shove, her laughter mixing with the music around them.
At one point, they stopped by a tailor's stall, where Zaryth bought her a flowing crimson dress that matched her fiery hair and eyes. Mavuika blushed as she tried it on behind a curtain, emerging to see Zaryth waiting for her with a satisfied grin.
"Perfect." He said it so simply, but the warmth in his voice made her heart skip a beat.
They wandered from one stall to another, trying on jewelry and tasting festival delicacies. Mavuika won a plush dragon at a dart-throwing booth, and Zaryth proudly carried it under his arm the rest of the night.
Before long, their hands were full of bags, overflowing with new clothes, sweets, and trinkets. Mavuika laughed as Zaryth struggled to carry all their purchases. "You sure you're strong enough for all that, hero?"
Zaryth rolled his eyes. "Of course. This is nothing." He shifted the bags to one hand and used the other to pull her closer, grinning as he ruffled her hair playfully. "You better be grateful. This stuff's heavy."
Mavuika smiled, resting her head on his shoulder for a moment. "I am. This is the best night I've had in a long time."
Zaryth's expression softened, and he leaned down to whisper, "Good. Because I wanted tonight to be special."
---
Under the Stars
After hours of wandering through the festival, they found themselves on the outskirts of the city, where an open field stretched under the clear night sky. They spread out a blanket on the grass and sat side by side, staring up at the stars.
The sky was a sea of glittering lights, and a gentle breeze rustled the grass around them. Mavuika hugged her knees to her chest, her heart full from the joy of the evening.
"It's beautiful," she whispered, her voice soft.
Zaryth lay back on the blanket, his silver hair splayed out beneath him. "It is," he agreed, though his gaze wasn't on the stars. He was watching her.
Mavuika turned to him, her crimson eyes meeting his. "Thanks for tonight, Zaryth."
"You don't need to thank me." He smiled lazily. "I wanted to spend time with you."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the stars twinkling above them. Mavuika traced patterns in the sky with her fingers, and Zaryth chuckled at her whimsical gestures.
"You know," she murmured, "I wasn't sure what to think when you dragged me out here. But... I'm glad you did."
Zaryth gave her a sidelong glance. "Told you it'd be fun."
Mavuika smiled, leaning closer to him. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get cocky now."
The two of them sat together, the world around them fading away. The night was theirs, and for a moment, it felt as if nothing else mattered.
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