Levi and Darrow stepped out of the knight headquarters, the grand, pentagon-shaped fortress gleaming on the hill's summit. Doves perched on the rooftop took flight, circling above as sunlight illuminated the headquarters' imposing metal gates at the base of the hill. While Levi's face was set in a restrained grimace, Darrow wore an easy grin, as if this were a stroll through the park.
How is he always so cheerful? It's unnatural. Levi glanced sidelong at Darrow, whose face looked carefree, almost annoyingly so.
They descended the hill, Levi's measured steps contrasting with Darrow's casual, unhurried strides. Darrow soon outpaced him, eventually leaning against the gate's iron bars with his hands in his pockets. His violet eyes sparkled as he flashed a charming smile at the female guard stationed on the other side.
"I've never seen that armor look so good on anyone," he said smoothly, his tone light and flirtatious. "And that face... let me guess, stoic beauty?"
The guard's cheeks reddened as she looked away, gripping her sword handle a bit tighter than necessary. She managed a scoff, though it seemed forced.
The nerve of him, she thought, her gaze sneaking back to take in his slender, muscular build. Who does he think he is? With that easy smile and that smooth talk…
Despite herself, her stance softened, and she felt her fingers nervously tapping against her sword. As Levi caught up, he watched the scene unfold and promptly let out an exasperated sigh, smacking his palm to his face.
The loud smack broke the spell. The guard snapped to attention, eyes wide as she realized who had approached. She quickly gave Levi a respectful salute, her flustered expression barely hidden beneath her helmet.
"Sir Levi! I—I'm sorry for losing focus," she stammered, bowing her head and fumbling with the gate's lock.
Darrow's amused expression faltered, disappointment settling over him. No! I was so close... If it weren't for that meddling—
Before he could finish the thought, Levi grabbed him by the collar, pulling him through the open gate with no room for protest.
"Whoa! What are you doing?" Darrow yelped, stumbling forward. "I almost had her!"
Levi cast him a cold, sidelong glare, his voice lowered as he hissed, "I just saved you from a cell in the headquarters. Now please, keep quiet until we're past the city walls."
Darrow huffed, crossing his arms with an exaggerated pout.
What is he, some prissy noblewoman? Levi grumbled inwardly, biting back the urge to scoff aloud as they made their way down the hill.
The cityscape gradually unfolded before them as they entered Saturn City's residential district. Cobblestone streets bustled with activity, the brick houses and vibrant market stalls lined with morning shoppers. Levi's Thal'vóryn insignia gleamed in the sunlight, and passersby cast curious glances at the symbol of his rank.
Among the crowd, a lizard demi-human with sage-green scales stopped in his tracks, his tail thumping against the ground as he narrowed his eyes. One of the Thal'vóryn knights... here? Suspicion creased his brow, his gaze following the pair with quiet intensity.
A few paces away, a middle-aged woman with cat ears and silky, chestnut-brown hair observed Levi with a far different look. Her tail coiled around her ankle, eyes bright with excitement as she took in his chiseled features and impressive stature. He must be at least six feet tall… and those blue eyes…
Darrow nudged Levi's shoulder with an amused smirk. "This isn't quite paparazzi, but look at you, Mr. Popular."
Levi's shoulders tensed as he cast Darrow a sideways glare. "It's nothing worth getting excited about. I'm one of the few Thal'vóryn who bothers to walk through the city like everyone else."
They soon passed into the administrative district, the transition marked by a sudden change in the road beneath their feet—from worn, scuffed stones to a clean, polished gray. At the district's center stood the statue of Aaverian Nova, a monumental tribute to the Aetherian Sovereignty's founder. The statue, nearly forty meters tall, depicted Nova with angelic wings unfurled and clad in white robes, cradling a small, radiant star between his hands. Golden light refracted off the pristine water surrounding the statue, creating an aura of divinity that seemed to emanate from within.
Levi paused before the statue, bowing his head slightly in quiet reverence. The stories of Nova's battles against ancient gods, wielding his righteous sun magic, echoed through his mind—a legacy so powerful it had forged the land itself into the Valley of Star-Forge.
Darrow, meanwhile, wasted no time striding over to the pool surrounding the statue. He knelt by the water's edge, dipping his hands in without hesitation, letting the coolness seep into his fingers.
"Ahhh... that's nice," he muttered, splashing water onto his face.
Levi's hand clenched, his fingers twitching at the sound of the splashing. Blue energy flickered around his knuckles, spectral and fluid as it wove between his fingers. He took a step forward, raising his arm, intent on giving Darrow a swift smack of retribution.
But just as he readied to strike, something tackled him from the side, knocking him off balance. The world spun, and he found himself on the ground, pinned beneath a weight he couldn't quite process.
"Yo! It's been way too long, huh?" a familiar voice greeted him, tinged with laughter.
As his vision cleared, Levi registered the face of the girl above him—her black-and-gray hair faded into a faint rainbow at the tips, and her sandy beige skin and pink eyes sparkled with playful mischief.
Darrow's brows shot up, a smirk spreading across his face as he took in the scene. "Well, who do we have here? Childhood friend who won't leave the friend zone? Apprentice knight with mixed signals?"
Levi ignored the jab, his full attention on the girl pinning him down. With a barely noticeable glance toward each other, Levi and the girl leaned in, their lips meeting in a deep, unrestrained kiss, entirely unaware of the gathering crowd around them.
Wait—Levi, my stiff-as-a-board apprentice… in love? Darrow's jaw dropped, eyes wide as he struggled to process the scene before him. Is this some kind of alternate reality?
A heavy, metallic clang echoed behind him, and Darrow turned to see a massive figure standing nearby. The newcomer wore dark, plated armor traced with intricate golden lines, and a formidable drill-headed lance rested against his shoulder. From the narrow eye slits in his helmet, an eerie silver glow emanated.
"That was my initial reaction too, learning Levi got engaged to my sister," the armored man said in a deep, resonant tone. His gaze shifted to Darrow, piercing and unyielding. "And who might you be, human?"
Darrow gulped, composing himself as he turned to face the towering figure. He extended his hand with a polite smile that barely masked his nerves. "Darrow. Darrow Naryth."
The armored man regarded Darrow in silence, not even glancing at his extended hand. The pause stretched uncomfortably, leaving Darrow to awkwardly retract his hand, his smile faltering.
Finally, the armored man spoke, his tone cold and cutting. "So, you're the disgraced knight turned adventurer. Fitting attire for someone of your standing."
Darrow's expression hardened, his jaw tightening as sparks of blue electricity flickered along his fingers. But before he could retort, Levi stepped forward, placing a firm hand on his shoulder, diffusing the situation before it could escalate. In response, blue flames seeped from the armored man's gauntlets, the ground beneath him warming as the intense heat spread outward.
Vera quickly intervened, stepping between them. Her hands rested gently on her brother's shoulders, her gaze softening as she looked up at him. "Calm down, Môrthas. He's just an ignorant fool who doesn't know any better."
Môrthas exhaled sharply, his expression barely softening, though he turned his gaze away, clearly unwilling to argue with his sister. Meanwhile, Levi kept his hand on Darrow's shoulder, patting his back in an almost paternal manner until Darrow's simmering anger finally subsided into an annoyed huff.
"Who exactly are they?" Darrow muttered as he cast Levi a questioning look.
Levi let out a sigh, a rare smirk tugging at his lips as he answered. "That's Vera, my fiancée. And Môrthas, her brother. Both of them are members of the Thal'vóryn, just like me."
Darrow's brow furrowed as he turned away, crossing his arms defensively, though the brief flicker of envy didn't go unnoticed.
Levi tilted his head, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Why, Darrow, does their presence bother you?"
"It does not!" Darrow snapped, his fingers ruffling through his hair in frustration, clearly flustered.
Meanwhile, across the city, on the towering rooftop of the central cathedral, a figure watched the scene unfold with unsettling fascination. A woman sat cross-legged, her sleeveless white top and fitted pants clinging to her like a second skin, the golden cloth draped over her mouth fluttering lightly in the breeze. Around her, ethereal rings floated, casting a faint golden glow as they drifted lazily through the air.
Her icy blue eyes tracked the group's every move, a spark of curiosity glimmering in their depths as she murmured to herself.
"So, those are the Thal'vóryn... I wonder what it would be like to face them. To see their magic firsthand, to test the strength of their Soul Tapestries…"
She bit her lip, struggling to stifle the excitement bubbling within her, but the urge clawed at her mind, relentless and persistent.
No. That wasn't part of my agreement with him... But—ahh! Bad thoughts, go away. Come back another—QUIET! Her voice, both frustrated and filled with a strange glee, echoed across the empty rooftop.
Taking a deep breath, she smoothed her clothes and glanced at the doves that had gathered around her. Her expression softened as she whispered, "Let's not look crazy in front of my… guests."
Her smile widened, a strange mixture of tranquility and wild intensity gleaming in her eyes as her gaze returned to the distant Thal'vóryn knights.