Out far from the Light Palace, along the stretching sky filled with twinkling night stars, she flew, with her wings flapping hard just to deliver the note stuck onto her tiny toes. Her pure white feathers swished away the wind, shiny pink lines over her wings glimmered and shone over the long forest as she enjoyed the smell of nature after such a long time.

She would've definitely stopped for a snack or some, only if the weight on her leg wasn't that heavy, as heavy as carrying a Kingdom. No, more like, she was, it was that important.

With her tiny pink eyes fixed straight, she pushed herself harder to fly fast and keep up the good name she had always earned from the Queen. And now, she'll somehow deliver the little message, whatever it was, to the palace that is at the far most North.

Though she didn't understand Arcturan's language, she could just understand how much this work would mean to her Mistress.

"Make sure to have a safe journey," Inez pecked her head gently, she shook with excitement, her tiny head bobbing with a rush of having to fly such a long distance after a long time. She ran her fingers over the elegant strokes of pink that ran over her shiny white wings.

She could see the Queen turning behind, looking at a sleeping figure who was oblivious to the thing she had just done. In fact, the Queen came to get her by herself from her huge cage made her so happy, but... Inez was unusually quiet.

She could see the Queen sigh, and on count three, with an acceleration given by the Queen, she flew to the place destined.

Inez watched as the white dove faded into a tiny dot and then none. She wished she could do something... something that doesn't include blood shed to stop him...

____________________________________________________________

You were very confused. Your eyes darted from Loeva to Ji Ah and to Loeva again.

Just how?

Sensing your stare on her, Loeva turned to you with a raised brow, pink eyes trying to detect your thoughts that made you stare like that.

"How?" You said, observing Ji Ah and Loeva.

"What how?" Ji Ah asked, sitting near you with a grunt, wiping the sweat off her face. The night that fell over the planet made her extremely grateful so that she could sit and rest for a while.

"Your hair," you said, pointing at them, "I didn't see you guys having time to fix them, but they looked like they're newly brushed every time I see it. Please explain the mystery!" You said, wiping the fake tears.

"You're learning how to be dramatic from Ji Ah, aren't you?" Loeva said, shaking her head.

"It just rubs off." You shrugged, "Please tell me the secret."

Ji Ah laughed, running a hand through her short hair, the pink hair strands mixing up with the dark ones and again falling back in their place. "I use my dust."

You nodded, well, that made sense. You looked at your hair that fell as soft springy strands over your shoulders. You don't understand, sometimes it's so wavy and sometimes it's like a bird's nest-

"I use this," Loeva pulled out what looked like... a hair brush? "Nicked it from my room." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"What kind of Princess 'nick' things from her own room?" You shook your head, eying her in bafflement. Loeva just shrugged in return, hiding a sheepish smile.

You felt someone tugging your hair suddenly, making you yelp in surprise.

"There you go, I'll help you with that nightmare everyday." Ji Ah smiled, making sure that the fire is large enough to send warmth to the people around.

You can't be more than grateful to her, for now your hair seemed fully brushed. Wondering how nice it would be to have such powers, you ran your hands through them, indeed, there were no tangles. You plaited them and tied the faded blue ribbon to the end.

"Why are you wearing that ribbon?" Loeva asked, she was very much curious from the moment you were so worked up the time they said they'll change it because of its worn out look.

Your fingers grazed over the fabric, eyes lost in thought. Loeva's question was loud enough to attract others attention.

"This," you smiled, "was my father's last gift." Your voice was so low yet, they heard it. "It was so pretty at first and I promised that I'll wear it always." You removed the ribbon and handed it to Loeva.

Her pink eyes widened in awe when she saw the tiny shimmering things, though they were not very clear, you could still make them out if you look so closer. The ice crystals were embedded in the cloth, more like, a part of the fabric... No, it didn't seem like a fabric at all as she held it in her hand, it felt like holding a solid water in hand, if that made any sense.

"They made it themselves." Jungkook said, remembering how it took days for them to figure out and manage to make such a piece. "It's water, made to look like a cloth, the outer atoms are solidified, with crystals inside."

"Impressive," Luminous breathed out, crouching near Loeva, eyes wide as he looked the ribbon in Loeva's hand. "honestly, that's beautiful. I bet they have Sebran's gene-"

"You make it seem like Sebrans are the only clever ones on Arcturus." Hoseok narrowed his eyes. Luminous shrugged and moved away, quite ashamed to let his curiosity get the best of him.

"They said they made it with love." You finished what Jungkook was trying to say, "they always believed in that..."

Your tiny form was filled with excitement to the very core seeing the three Neels approaching you three, each having a beautifully drafted gift box that made even Taehyung and Jungkook so eager. It was your-more like Taehyung's tenth birthday. But they celebrate it as yours and Kook's birthday too.

Aunt Evelyn approached Taehyung with a lovely smile, her shiny blue eyes took in his form, "He looks just like my son."

"Should've brought him too, they'll get along well." Raehyun's deep voice resonated through the hall.

Evelyn's face fell, "I'd like to, if things were different..."

Emma, sensing the mood getting heavy clapped her hands to get their attention, "sooo, who want Gifts?!"

The three little figures rushed to get their respective presents, smiles beaming in their bright faces.

"Loook what I gooott!" Taehyung held up his new training sword, one that was right in his size and was made of wood that was blunt at the edges, "I'm a warrior!" He swished the sword away carelessly, making Raehyun hold it between his fingers.

"Careful with that young man," he can't help the warmth that spread throughout his form when he saw that happy smiles on the children's faces.

"That'sh a lot offff coookieeeee!"

Evelyn ruffled his red hair, his bunny teeth was on full display. It was so contagious that she felt herself smiling too. "Thanks, Aunt Evelyn!" He pulled away the other wrapper and there it was, a neatly packed pair of shoes. He got a new pair only last month, What can they do if that kid was growing up so fast? "I wuv both of this." He hugged it close to his heart with his little arms, red eyes beaming up at them.

"Now, I know our Kookie loves cookies, but share it with them okay?" Jungkook nodded, his red hair bouncing over his head.

"What's in yours?" Taehyung scooted closer, blue eyes wide at the peculiar shape of your gift, your tiny hands pulled away the wrapper finding a cloth what it looked like... A dress really. A very pretty dress.

A long piece of cloth fell when you took it out, your ten year old form was shaking with excitement that you didn't notice it.

"Thassh shoo pwettyyy," Jungkook's mouth was stuffed with Evelyn's cookies, his mouth hanging open when he saw the dress you were holding on your hand that few crumbs fell on the floor. You ran without hesitation inside the nearest room and came out within minute.

Taehyung imitated a professional bow (that kid was so good at impersonation) and it impressed Evelyn, "Now I present, Princess Luane!"

"Shut up!" You hit his shoulders, face flushing at the attention you got.

"It's of the right size, I was worried it would be loose..." Emma said, pushing away the blue hair strand that fell over her face.

"Well, we know our kids very well then!" Raehyun bent down and picked you up on his hands, "Made it ourselves. you like it, Chocolate?" You nodded your head fast, wrapping your hands over his neck.

"Thank you, father."

Emma shook her head, "You can't take all the credit, it was my idea in the first place." She pulled you away from him and you giggled when they fought over who did most of the work.

Evelyn laughed at the chaos along with the other two kids, oh how much she missed these two idiots. How nice it would've been if they were still in the Light palace?

Her, Raehyun, Emmaline, Marcus, Inez along with their children... It would've been so beautiful, the way those kids would run along the bright halls of the Palace...

She cleared her throat to get rid of those thoughts, why not, those moments will be back! Of course, she'll make sure that the world knows the truth. Only if Marcus was the way he was before... But things will be fine! Once she proved them wrong, he'll eventually turn to his usual self.

"So!" She broke off their silly bickering, "who wants to take a picture?"

Raehyun's ice piece fell over the shutter button on count three and the photo came out very well with bright smiles of everyone. The cake smeared on their faces added the silliness that the picture just needed.

"They're asleep?" She asked Emma who closed the door shut behind her. She nodded in return, smiling at all the chaos they just went through there.

"Oho! Look at this girl, dropping things always..." She took the long piece of cloth that caught her eyes on the ground, the shimmering pattern would catch anybody's eyes. A ribbon... "She should've worn it with that dress."

"It's so nice, seeing you care for each other." Emma's soft blue eyes averted to observe Evelyn's form, though her words were supposed to be something related to a compliment, the emptiness made it appear different from what it supposed to be.

"Are you fine there?" She said, rolling up the soft fabric, no, that's not real fabric, and keeping it safely in a draw.

Evelyn hummed, nodding her head.

"Eve," Emma held her hand, looking closer into her eyes, "you know you can talk to us, right?"

Raehyun closed the front, as soon as he came inside, the thick tension made him shiver. He kinda knew what was coming.

"I feel like I'm losing him more and more everyday, Emma." The bright blue eyes of her glistened with tears, tracing down gently over her cheeks. Oh how long she wanted to talk to them, to anybody, about things that haunt her day and night.

"Marc?"

She nodded, breathing in, "I'm totally lost... He's been so-so distant lately but, there's something going on with him."

"What's wrong?" Raehyun stepped closer, voice concerned about his friend-No... He shouldn't, but he can't just leave him like that...

"I don't know, Rae," she breathed out, "he doesn't even treat his own son like he's supposed to be treated. He trains him like an animal, worse than that. I rarely see the Marc we all know." Raehyun exhaled, he couldn't explain the emotion that ran through him, he was angry, angry beyond control. How would Marcus betray his Kingdom? And how did King Nolan believe that... Because Marcus would never.

"Maybe..." Evelyn paused, her blue eyes staring at Raehyun with so much expectation, "Maybe you can help. I-I feel like he'd be happy, just a little if he knows that... That not everyone's against him. That his friends care about him-"

"I'm sorry." His voice was a whisper, yet firm while he cut her off, "I'm not supposed to, you know that-"

"Well fuck that!" She shouted, knowing that she rarely gets angry, Emma held her shoulders, "it's your friend you want to see, you don't have anybody's permission for it-"

"You know I do, Eve. As a protector, you do know I can't do anything against the kingdom!" Evelyn's expression looked like she was slapped right on her face, she wiped her tears, taking breath to keep her sanity and dignity.

"So you tell me that you accept what they did? How th-they threw us out of the Kingdom like that?"

"It's not what I mean, Evelyn, please-"

"Then what do you mean that you need to be allowed by the kingdom? It's Inez after all, she wouldn't say no for this!"

"I've never visited him for six years! What would he think if I come to see him now?"

"That there's still someone other than me who believe in him." Silence stretched so long that Emma just wanted to wash it away with her powers, she could just see them two staring down each other without backing off.

"If not for you friend," she held Raehyun's hand, blue eyes glistening, "for your sister, Rae. Please... think about it." She took her hood from the hanger and draped it over herself. She gave a quick hug to Emma, whispering good bye to her.

With heavy heart, she walked to the door but one thing caught her attention. She walked to the table where the polaroid camera was and took one photo out of the two that laid there. "I'll take this," she said and paused, "the palace doors will always be open for everyone." smiling one last time at her brother.

Raehyun would have stopped her, would've gone along with her to meet Marcus, heck, he would've done anything, anything he can if he knew that this was the last time he would ever see his sister.

★★★★

She sneaked through the secret way that took her days to create by her own efforts. A secret way is named it for that, as it's known by no one. She hated hiding things from anybody, but sometimes you need to make exceptions. Marcus would literally kill her by his glares if he ever come to know where she went and came back. She pulled the hood down and hung the cloak on the hanger, just by the weight of her cloak, the door to the store room opened.

She quickly hurried out and rolled the eye of the Sauger four times. When she heard the thud and was sure there was no evidence, she hurried through the veranda.

The bright stars were shining and twinkling, the twin moon's light draped over the horizon, lighting up the place she moved. She loved how this palace was built so similar to the light palace but at the same time so different. The brilliant blue walls and the unique grey carvings on them, she for a moment, understood that.

The palace represented herself.

She was the plain blue walls, and Marcus was the interesting grey carvings over it. Neither looks pretty without the other. She was proud of her brain, hell, she must've been a Sebran in her past life, or a bloody brilliant poet who uses perfect metaphors. That must be it.

She smiled as she walked along, closing her eyes as she felt the cool night breeze gracing her cheeks.

How stupid of her to walk with her eyes closed?

she bumped her head into someone, "watch where you come!" She shouted, rubbing her her head.

"Says who?"

Oh oh... She didn't expect to see him here...

"Hello, honey!" She smiled, ignoring the way her heart rate increased.

"What are you doing here?" She could very clearly figure out the way his tone was dark and cold with a hint of suspect, something she began to hate in him. The main thing to notice here was that... SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT EXCUSE TO MAKE. Knowing that this is Evelyn we are talking about who is very very bad at lying (a main reason she hated it) couldn't think of a reasonable excuse.

"Mother!" Young Luminous' voice made her turn to him, his head already reached her shoulders, for a young boy of twelve and soon to be thirteen, he looked much mature, if that's the right term. He stopped at the sight of Marcus and bowed the way he was taught to, "Good evening, Father." His soft voice had turned a wee bit deeper, something Evelyn noticed now. A sign of growing, oh how much he had grown...

"Good Evening to you too, son." Marcus nodded, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Luminous eyed his mother, "Mother was reading The Thousand Tales of War to me. She was on her way to take a book for reference and I came looking for her."

For a moment, Evelyn was shocked whether Luminous was her son, she meant... How this little boy can lie so perfectly that even Marcus, seem to have fallen for it?!

Take lessons, Eve.

"A good one indeed, that teaches the tricks and the mindsets you should ever need on a battlefield."

"Yes, father. Mother said that would help me with my training."

Marcus' lips twitched to a smile of pride, "She knows what we want all the time." His hands ruffled Luminous' silver hair, "better be off to sleep, you're training your Neel powers tomorrow. Read that book later."

"Good Night, father." He bowed again, "Night Mum!" He kissed Eve's cheeks fast and ran before Marcus could question him anything from that book, because he never even touched that book.

"He reminds me of myself," Marcus said under his breath.

Hmm, that explains why he's so good in lying then... Evelyn thought.

She should catch him for these lies sometimes but, there's always exception when it comes to a lie. So she smiled, making sure to bake him more cookies tomorrow.

__________________________________________________________

Whole Arcturus was in their very deep slumber, except the one soul who doesn't. Sleep... That's something which reminds him of the past. The past which he didn't want to have happened.

Dead leaves crunched under his souls, the leafless trees didn't sway for the biting cold breeze there. His footsteps were slow and unsteady, head too heavy with those thoughts. He was waiting for a letter from his son. At the same time, he couldn't sleep.

He sighed and looked up, too bad... There were no stars there, no moons, no suns and no light. Only the dark misty cloud lingered above, and he was too caught up on everything to ponder on what that was.

Out of the dark sky, one shiny thing caught his eyes. It was moving... Flying, towards him. And Marcus recognised what it was at one glance.

His heart rate increased, his feet responded on their own, he ran towards the little creature that was flapping its wings towards him. His breath came short as he stopped, waiting for the lovely shade of pink and white bird to lower. He stretched out his hand, and the bird sat, bowing her head once.

I must be dreaming... I am. Yes, that's it.

Marcus remembered the pretty bird, for he was the one gifted it to his sister again. It was so young, cute and fluffy but now, it was such a beautiful breed of dove.

His finger gently ran over its head, the birds pink eyes blinked at him.

"Remember me, fella?" He smiled, the bird let out a low noise of agreement. She lifted her little feet to him, and only now Marcus noticed the big envelope. His hands shook as he detached the letter from her leg.

The bird flew up, it swooped low as to bow again and flew off. Marcus wanted to stop it... but what would he do? Write back? Like the lovely brother he once was?

He opened the letter, it could be from anyone really, it's not that Inez is the only one who would write him-

His thoughts stopped when he saw the first line,

Dear Brother,

...