I desperately needed some warm and fluffy  BW moments because my life lacks it. (༎ຶ‿༎ຶ)
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The Healers' room was filled with tensed murmurings from the Healers and the Magnifer. They stood with stoic faces watching Sarawat lay there, unconscious. Outside the room stood the teachers, Savers, Messengers, and the students with faces twisted in fear.

Win stood far away from them with his friends with Joss and Carmel patting his back, Bright wrapping a blanket over him and Love administering few nerve-calming potions on him. He was badly shaken and out of energy by the sudden surge of vision and power flow.

Magnifer soon came out of the room towards the crowd with a grim visage.

"The Grandalops, Megatrix's army, attacked him. Pretty serious condition as of now. Let's see", he uttered.

"Why would they even do that?" Tine shook uncontrollably.

"They wanted to exploit the secrets, I presume", He sighed patting Tine's shoulder.

"Your Majesty, can I go see him?", Tine sobbed.

"You may. But don't go near him just yet", the Magnifer shook his head.

After Time had hurried inside with Potsdam behind him, the Magnifer turned to Win.

"Win, I need to ask a few questions to you, can you answer them?"

The crowd looked back at the boy while murmuring few incoherent words.

"I can", he answered.

"Was it your first time getting these visions?" He asked.

"Yes, it was".

"Can you repeat what did you see again?"

"Yes, sir. I saw broken golden bricks and the lifeless body of Sir Sarawat. There was dark mist around."

"Anything else? Like someone who might do this?" He enquired.

Win furrowed his eyebrows digging in deep in his mind, "no, sir".

"Hmm", he hummed, stroking his beard, "You will be joining Bright with his Planetary Geography classes from tomorrow. Plus, you will have to join another training class, that can be arranged soon of course". Win nodded obediently.

Bright stood silent in the corner. He heard everything his father spoke and watched everything Win responded with.

"Father," he said, "what about the Universe stone and the Finishing Ceremony?"

"The stone is fine. Also, the ceremony is to be postponed until Sarawat completely heals up", he announced without looking at his son, "Man, Boss, you are in charge of the Fighting classes until Sarawat returns."

The two teachers bowed down in response.

"There are few more things I need to say to you. There will be the strictest restrictions over visiting Aster City by any student until the situation comes under our control.

The experienced Savers must start their duties at the Aster City while the Builders do their work in reconstructing the buildings- Mork and Pi, I rest this duty to you. Gather the Savers and skilled Builders and take them to Aster City and ensure their safety.

Plus, Win, as a Preserver your duty is to preserve the Universe. For that you need to get far more trained than any other Numans, right? But as far as Tine's monthly report told me, you are still not fit for flying."

The Magnifer shook his head before continuing, "I want you to unlock that ability as soon as possible. You might not want to wait until Megatrix takes over the planet, do you?"

"I think it's not the right time to tell him this", Bright interjected, "he's not a born Numan yet, he is getting better at it day by day. What he needs is a bit of time, I think".

"Bright, didn't I tell you not to take all the decisions emotionally? Everything doesn't work like that! Besides, he has to do it sooner or later, so why not try it now? Time is the main factor here. We don't have it in plenty with us, do we?" Magnifer reasoned out.

"Why do you always like to mold someone's life as you wish? Why don't you let them do it instead?" Bright asked while Win looked at Bright and then at the Magnifer back to back. He was surprised to see Bright fighting up for him. He was oddly touched at the action. Potsdam was right. The Prince is indeed a very kind man.

"Because, son, I am the Magnifer. Also, this is between me and the Preserver. A Prince is not qualified enough to enter between us, did you forget your etiquette and rules?" The corner of the Magnifer's mouth twitched.

"I did not. Plus, Win is my best friend. I must defend him for injustice", Bright spoke the words so fast that he was out of breath by the end.

"This is anything but injustice, Prince Bright. I see you aren't even capable of describing a situation with appropriate words. I am surprised how years of teaching did nothing to you!" Magnifer pointed his forefinger at him, accusingly.

"And I am surprised how perfectly offense-less it was for you to forgot about the little boy who begged his father to find his mother but instead his father forgot about his responsibilities as a father and abandoned him and sister emotionally", He clutched his ruby necklace under his tunic soon after.

"Don't bring the same thing again and again, lad. You should try to move on from something you can never change. You're too disappointing for your good," The Magnifer snapped.

"I know what I am. But do you even know what you are? You are a pathetic father and a pathetic husband!" Bright's voice echoed through the now silent corridors.

The Magnifer opened his mouth before closing it. He repeated it a few more times again. He sighed before nodding, "I will expect you to be a responsible Prince and a friend and guide Win to learn to fly before it gets too late."

He nodded one last time before continuing, "You're all dismissed. Go rest", and walking away from them.

•••

"Why did you bring me here again? Aren't you sleepy?" Win asked, looking at the gleaming City and fly Ray fishes and swans on the sky.

Bright jumped up the wall of the North Tower and sat there. "I wanted to tell you something".

"What?" Win too jumped up clumsily before sitting down beside Bright.

Bright stayed silent for a few moments, before pulling out his ruby necklace, "were you scared just now?"

"When you crossed your father like that?" Win asked. Watching Bright nodding a no, Win smiled looking towards his hands, "I was very surprised actually. It was the first time someone spoke up for me. Besides, I heard from Joss and Love the Prince is a soft-spoken man-"

"Often but not when someone tries to hurt people who are precious to me!" Bright crossed the latter, startling him to look at him at the same time.

Win instantly blushed at the words, "precious?"

"Aren't you? You're one of my best friends!" The Prince answered fisting his hands firmly so as not to speak out how he loves him.

"Right", Win bit his lips, looking back at his hands. The fuzzy feeling emerged from his stomach.

Bright gulped watching the latter glowing beautiful beside him. He blushed looking away at the City instead, or else at this rate he might just kiss him.

They sat in silence, enjoying the comfortable serenity and the night breeze.

"Bright?"

"Hm?"

"Can I ask you something?" Win asked, looking at him with hesitation.

"Go on."

"The thing you told the Magnifer about the boy who begged his father to find him his mother-" Win was cut off by the Prince.

"That was me", Bright spoke, "the little boy was me. Do you want to hear my pathetic life story?"

"Bright..."

"No, don't sympathize with me!" Bright warned, smiling, "I can tell in one condition, you cannot sympathize me."

"I cannot sympathize you, Bright. My past few years weren't that great actually", Win shrugged, " go on, tell me. And then I'll tell you mine and then we can rate the pathetic-ness of it on the scale 1 to 10?"

Bright chuckled, "Great idea!"

"I am a Genius after all", Win grinned, flipping his bangs.

"Okay so, when I was seven and my sister was five, Midaster experienced a sickness curse called the Green pox. As I said the atmosphere above the Aster City is less thick than the other places, the intrusion of the curse was supposed to be done from there.

It was a communicative disease and was easily spreading from person to person making it hard to cure people by the Healers themselves. It was told that the Healers were drained out of energy soon after treating people- so naturally, when Healers barely survived and died, people couldn't either", Bright sighed.

"It continued for two consecutive years before finally affecting us- me and my sister. I remember staying in utmost safety then, so how did we get that is still a mystery to me. But I think it was Megatrix who cursed the land", Bright nodded, furrowing his eyebrows.

"What happened then?" Win asked.

"Then, well, you see... I was always the weakest one. Pam fought out the disease within two months but Healers nearly lost hope for me."

Win widened his eyes, watching Bright close his eyes reminiscing.

"I was barely alive to be exact, but I could hear Pam, mother, and father beside me talking to me- probably encouraging me to fight on.

Pam told me how mother used to fight with my father asking him to do something with his powers. But how could he do that? He had already accepted that I cannot survive anymore", Bright gulped, bitterly. Opening the old wounds hurts.

"When mother gave up from begging my father, she finally took a decision", Bright opened his eyes. His eyes burned as he felt a hand over his shoulder. It was comforting and that was bringing his unwanted, and long denied emotional outburst to take place.

He sucked in a breath, "she gave away her soul to Megatrix and in return, she demanded my life", his voice shook. "And just like that... She left us. Forever."

"Bright", Win whispered. He could feel the warmth seeping inside his skin, caressing his wounded soul. He was using his healing powers.

"I begged him", Bright sobbed after ages since the last he cried, "I begged him to bring her back. I begged him to find her out. But instead, he went away from us too. He abandoned us too."

Win hugged him instantly, drawing soothing circles on his back. The latter immediately placed his head on his shoulder, burying it in the crook of his neck.

"I feel disgusted over myself! If only she had accepted my ill-fate, she would have been here. It's all my fault!"

"No, it was never your fault. It's alright", Win whispered soothing words.

"It's not", Bright whimpered back.

"It's alright. It will be alright. You're alive because you have your purpose, haven't you?" Win patted his back.

Bright shook his head while the latter continued to whisper words of encouragement and affirmation. The pain leaving his body keeping the trust for the latter intact and multiply.

When Bright has finally pulled away from the embrace, his face was fully red and his heart almost thumping out of his ribcage.

"I am sorry", he uttered softly, digging his nails in his palm.

"What for?"

"For drenching your tunic with my 'Niagra falls'", Bright answered making Win chuckled.

"Oh my god, an Earth reference!"

Bright grinned despite his red cheeks and wet cheeks.

"Now tell me your story", Bright scooted closer to the boy.

"My story?" Win asked unsure about opening up finally.

"Yes, sir. Your story", Bright scooted closer to the boy.

"Ah! Okay", the ravenette chewed his lips contemplating the whole thing.

"Go on".

"So, I had a pretty good childhood", he began, "mom, dad, me and my two sisters. I had pretty good grades and nicest friends someone could ever ask for. I was happy, I guess".

"Your childhood sounds too perfect", Bright smiled dreamily.

"They were dreamy days. Vacations, games, exploring new restaurants, spending lazy afternoons together gossiping about nothing really, and then... The warm, mellow, and happy days dissipated into the air. The darkness of misfortune landed upon me", Win sighed.

He made sure he didn't look at Bright's eyes which were currently full of sympathy. He looked far— probably towards the fading structure of the farthest building.

He sat there quietly till so long that Bright thought he might have forgotten he was about to tell his story to him.

"I was bullied by my seniors", he whispered, a lump forming in his throat. Bright was the first person he was admitting it to. And this was hard.

"Bullied?"

"What happened was, I sneaked in tampons for my sister because it was an emergency—"

"Hold on. What are tampons?" The Prince broke him.

"They–uh... They are used by women during their... Uh—" Win's cheeks flushed up.

"Alright", Bright stopped him, "got it."

The ravenette cleared his throat, "so yeah, I was sneaking in those when my seniors caught me. They teased me and locked me in  the girl's bathroom", Win hiccuped, "I was there until morning, crying my heart out."

"Why did they do so?" Bright voice sounded dangerous.

"They wanted to prove I was a sissy man. A wannabe girl", his face fell, "or maybe a gay man?"

"What's 'gay'?"

"When a boy likes another boy, they're called gay. Many people on Earth hate people who are attracted to the same gender and therefore, they mentally or physically abuse them".

"That's so mean! Midaster has no such thing. Here you can marry anyone they like and have kids", Bright shrugged.

The latter sniffed, "you mean men and women have wombs alike?"

"I don't know about that... But yes, probably", The Prince smiled and rubbed off the tears from Win's face.

"Midaster is so fascinating", Win smiled, blushing at the touch.

"You haven't even seen half of the Midaster yet. How could you say so?" Bright laughed.

"Then show me and tell me".

Bright shook his head, "Do you know we have trolls, elves, goblins, and dragons?"

"You-you do?"

"Of course we do. You have read about the Troll education rights under Rickman's ruling era, haven't you? Once you get to the Flasher year you'll get to see trolls in our classes.

Plus, there is a dragon in the Star Town— he's friendly of course, and hosts a tea party every 3rd day of the week. Then we have the three thousand years old Malkin family in Epson City which is the longest living family and the only Seer family to live in Epson City. Matilda, the youngest heir of the family finished Royal schooling five years ago. Goblins and elves go for pipeweed and liquor in the Shore Alley".

"This sounds so cool! Where's Shore Alley by the way?"

"Somewhere in the Epson City. Besides Star Town is the most beautiful. It hosts a town festival yearly where different types of dances are danced and songs are sung. It's beautiful! I have been there only two times though", he shrugged, eyes sparkling.

"Midaster is perfect", Win sighed.

"Nothing is perfect, Raven-head", Bright smiled at him, "You, me, and this whole so-called 'holy' planet have its own imperfections."

"You're imperfectly perfect, Bright. You might know this one day... Screw the world! You're perfect", Win thought.

He hummed thinking about everything and nothing.

"Thank you", Win whispered.

"For what?"

"For everything", Win blushed, "for consoling me and telling me more about the planet and for standing up for me".

Bright smiled patting Win's head. He glided his fingers through the locks. He loves the feels he gets every time he's with him.  "You're a nuisance, you know?" He said making Win's stomach was filled with the fuzzy feeling as he smiled and blush.

The latter was indeed ethereal.
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I want to share this with you all. So about the Magnifer saying that Bright must take the logical driven decisions and not emotionally driven ones was solely inspired from an Indian historical drama — Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat (the life story of Emperor Ashoka from the Mauryan dynasty).

So back when I used to watch it and simp over the main character, I  found a really important tale. When Ashoka, the second heir to the throne, and his older brother, the first heir to the throne were put to test their capabilities to become the Crown Prince, Prince Ashoka failed the test, even though he was far more capable than him.

The state or the prime justice system should be logically driven because the more emotionally driven it is, the more biased it gets. Just because Ashoka answered a bit emotionally, he was regarded unfit for such a position that would ensure his future Kingship.

This is why the statue of Justice shows a blindfolded woman with a sword in one hand and a measuring scale in the other. It denotes the justice is unbiased. It is equally given to those who ask and seek for it. The guilty is to be punished and law and order is to be promoted.

The more I write about Bright's character, the more I feel like putting the vulnerable replica of my soul out. Yes, I am a very hopelessly romantic person and a scaredy cat when it comes to speaking out my feelings and opinions. I think saying out your opinions in a trustworthy way is an art.

ANYWAYS, SORRY FOR THE LONG NOTE. IT'S ALMOST 3000 WORDS. OMG! XD