𝔼𝕡𝕚𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕦𝕖 : 𝕀𝕟 𝕎𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕙 𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕀𝕤 𝔾𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 'ℍ𝕒𝕡𝕡𝕚𝕝𝕪 𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝔸𝕗𝕥𝕖𝕣' 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕟 '𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕒𝕣𝕪' 𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟...

"Are you sure you're doing that right?" Sylvie asked, scratching her head a little. Luna had her pendant redesigned and it was looking beautiful with more crystals added for details. Right now, they were making a crib for newborn Valerie. More, like Blaze was assembling the parts and Sylvie was instructing things.

(Rhys's bedroom)

(Sylvie's new pendant)

"I'm sure the manual tells to do the same. I don't know why this doesn't look like the one in picture." Blaze replied looking through the manual again.

"This doesn't even look like a crib. Let alone the picture inside manual." Sylvie used her fingers to form a frame and shook her head in resignation.

"Thank God, we started this early or it would've been a disaster if we were stuck doing this while everyone would be celebrating downstairs." Blaze turned the manual and shaking his head, began disassembling it.

"You do realize that we will have to remain here if we don't complete it soon?" Sylvie queried.

"I want to finish it before Mavis comes. She'll kill me if she saw what we've made so far." That made Sylvie laugh.

"Let's switch places. I would assemble it. You direct the instructions." Sylvie took the manual from Blaze despite his stubbornness to complete it himself.
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About two hours later, they were finally done with setting the crib and toys near it.

"I should've let you do it from start. We could save so much time and trouble." Blaze said, impressed with her work. She was clearly better in reading manuals than him.

(The crib)

"We're done downstairs. Come now..." Mavis stopped midway with her sentence. She took a moment to appreciate how beautiful the crib was. It had rose gold frame and it was decorated with pastel coloured sheets. They even put some fluffy toys and curtains to make it look better.

"Wow. This looks even better than that manual." Mavis complimented their hard work.

"All the credit goes to Sylvie. If not for her, I would still be fixated upon assembling it." Blaze replied coming towards Mavis. He went to hug her lightly. Mavis had her aquamarine crystal on, which, was a part of Luna's relic as well.

(Mavis' Pendant)

"Thanks Sylvie. That was amazing." Mavis smiled towards her. Even without knowing or remembering her, Mavis had made Sylvie feel comfortable around. It was easy to call Rhys's house 'home' for Sylvie, all because of Mavis.

With that being said, they left Rhys's bedroom and went downstairs to celebrate Luna's homecoming with Valerie. And since, it wasn't long after 'The Sanctuary' accident, they were keeping everything simple. Only one side of the living hall was decorated with balloons to welcome Valerie. Everyone was slowly and steadily healing.
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Exactly an year and a half, had passed after Valerie's homecoming. She had come to grow pretty fast according to the parents. Having a baby is like having all of life's most bittersweet moments come at someone, one after the other, piling on top of each other. The pain of childbirth and the joy of the new life. The relentless exhaustion but the wonderful sweet smiles and laughter. Trading casual late nights out for late nights in and early morning snuggles. Saying goodbye to your sweet newborn, but getting to see your tiny, helpless baby transform into a child who is quickly learning to talk, crawl, explore. Watching them furrow their brow and concentrate. Introducing them to your favorite things, and finding out they have their own favorite things. It was all a fulfilling journey for both Luna and Rhys.

But, they knew they had more than Valerie's responsibility. And so, they went to talk to Mavis and Blaze, individually, who didn't marry yet. They wanted Valerie to grow a little more before thinking about themselves.
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"But what's the hurry?" Blaze asked, a little aloof, that his friend bought this topic now.

"Why do I feel you're trying to hide something? I know Val has little to do with your excuses of marrying Mavis." Rhys replied sternly.
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"I feel he is not yet ready to move on from what happened." Mavis shook her head towards Luna's question.

"You mean the time when..." Luna stoped. She didn't want to bring the topic of past now. But, that would be cowardly.

"Uh huh... He still thinks he had cheated me..." Mavis sighed, unsure of what to do.
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"You can't be serious. Even after all that, you think so? That's the most foolish thing I've come to hear from you. And that's saying something of record... I mean I knew you were ridiculous but, now, you are acting foolish." Rhys was a little angry on his best friend for making Mavis wait so much.

"You don't know Rhys... How I feel? So, how does a cheater like me, feel? I'm always feeling really bad and, there's no time when I truly don't regret it. But no matter how much guilt or remorse I express outwardly, I'm always feeling it inwardly. Mavis tells me to separate myself from my feelings and consciousness. She thinks that this may compartmentalize my behavior. My psychiatrist told me to keep telling myself, "this has nothing to do with my marriage - it doesn't change how I feel about my spouse." But, I know that this doesn't justify things in order to continue to act in a way I know is wrong. I can't lie to myself with thoughts like - she still loves me and I still deserve her." Blaze snapped at Rhys for not even trying to understand him.

"You are saying I'm not understanding you. In a way, I do. Why can't you see? I felt the same about raising my hand on Luna. If I had done the same thing as you're doing... If I had left Luna and Val because of my conscience, what would've happened? Nobody would've been happy. I know it's not easy... But, she loves you. And she can't wait for you forever." Rhys tried to make Blaze understand.
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"It isn't so easy... He keeps on repeating the same thing over and over again." Mavis sipped her glass of water. Drinking was completely prohibited inside their house for the sake of everyone.

"You think I don't know. Either you convince him to get married or I'll have to convince you to move on from him. Make the choice, however hard it is." Luna stood up and left Mavis sitting there. Mavis was completely shocked with her sister's statement but, she knew Luna. If she sets her mind in convincing Mavis, she'll loose the battle even before getting started.
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"I thought this day would never come." Luna said tying Mavis's wedding bouquet which, of course, was multicolored, just like her wedding gown. It was finally happening after three more months of emotional and psychological pain.

(Mavis' wedding gown)

"You should've worn the one I chose for you. I'm the bride here yet my maid of honor is ruling." Mavis pouted, clearly displeased that Luna had chosen to wear a simple light blue tulle wedding dress rather than her choice.

(Luna's dress)

"How about you stop interfering with my fashion? Besides, you managed to convince Sylvie for wearing your other choices right. You should be satisfied with that." Luna stopped her work to scold Mavis for her childishness.

"This is a little too shiny. I'm not sure weather I can walk into that crowd with this." Sylvie came down in her sequin A line long sleeved emerald dress. Mavis had made her forget that only blue colour exists.

(Sylvie's dress... She still had those pretty blue eyes and bluish white hair)

"Don't worry you're looking beautiful." Luna assured her.

Mavis' wedding had an enchanted forest theme. Everything looked magical there. From golden lights to wooden table, everything screened 'fairytale'. It was indeed a fairytale coming true for her. This was all Rhys thought while walking with her towards the altar. No, he wasn't Blaze's best man. He had to give up this position to Blaze's cousin out of his duty towards being Mavis's guardian.

(Her wedding cake)

(Dining and reception area with dance floor)

(Aisle)

(Altar - I couldn't find a better relevant picture)

Sylvie was smiling and waving widely towards them, while carrying little Val. Rhys stopped to smile at her and waved a little towards Valerie.

How everyone was getting their 'Happily Ever Afters'...
=========================

(𝙻𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 : 𝙷𝚎𝚕𝚕)

"How intriguing..." Thanatos replied while watching Lorelei's soul along with Mephistopheles and Lucifer.

Thanatos, in ancient Greek religion and mythology, is the personification of death. Thanatos was the son of Nyx, the goddess of night, and the brother of Hypnos, the god of sleep. He appeared to humans to carry them off to the underworld when the time allotted to them by the Fates had expired.

Lucifer is the name of various figures in folklore associated with the planet Venus. Due to the unique movements and discontinuous appearances of Venus in the sky, traditional narratives surrounding these figures often involved a fall from the heavens to Earth or the underworld. Originally stemming from a son of the personified dawn, the goddess Aurora, in Roman mythology, the entity's name was subsequently absorbed into Christian folklore as a name for Satan.

Put simply God saw an existence where, through giving we can all, receive. Lucifer did not want to give, nor serve. He wanted to only take and think of the self at expense of others. Within this Lucifer (and those that followed "him") did not wish to help life, God, the sustainer of life, humanity and so forth. There became no way back. As of the decision made at this time, which has not changed God (the sustainer of life) has been the opposite of Lucifer / Satan (and all those that fell with him) as they became "takers of life". Nevertheless, he's a God who takes life or exchanges it.

"Their souls are already fed on. Who do you think did that?" Lucifer asked Thanatos for his assistance.

Lorelei and Jezebel, both should've normal corrupted souls, but, when Mephistopheles bought them to Hell, a part of their souls have already been taken.

"It's the place with open doors, 'The Open Egress'..." Thanatos answered briefly.

"I see. Means 'The Sanctuary' who once, was blessed with 'Cerulean Conflagration' is now, a power of it's own." Lucifer queried.

"I doubt it's the only thing. Someone is definitely controlling those gates and place. Someone who has already crossed the boundaries of life. And, the sad part is, we can't interfere." Thanatos replied, somewhat displeased with his findings.

"I wonder who could it be... Mephistopheles!" Lucifer ordered by taking his name. He bowed before His Master. He was ready to go towards Earth to make the deal complete.

"Go contact the prodigy girl. 'The Sanctuary', a place with 'An Open Egress' is already being controlled by an insider of her very own family. Protect them. For it was Hestia's wish." Lucifer commanded.

"Alright." Mephistopheles raised himself to leave again.

"And..." Thanatos started. Mephistopheles looked back towards him.

"Make sure you bring these incomplete souls along with that corrupt soul." He finished.

"I will." And Mephistopheles vanished in air.

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Number of words :- 1831
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I don't have anything to say today more than "thank you"... It wouldn't be possible if not for every single person who voted, read or commented here. Ibwishbi could thank you properly.

BTW who do you think betrayed Luna and Sylvie? Is someone from their family still alive?

I'll leave these questions unanswered till I decide to write a sequel.

No Author's Note today.

Just take care of yourself and people around yourselves.

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Few minutes later :-

So, I submitted it. It's not hidden that I gave my everything to complete this book in such a short span of time. And since, I can't write much due to my emotions being all over places (Having my first 'finished' book is overwhelming), I've to Thank a certain someone for if not for her... I wouldn't have completed it so far.

Thank you chocoSK I know I've countlessly thanked you so much, but, I just can't help it. And you know how big your role has been so far.

I've some more people to thank and mention but, as I said, I'm too emotional. So, I'll just take some time to thank my parents (who don't ever read my book but, always, support me in writing whatever's on my mind). And thank you God. If not for you, I could've drowned/ditched this book a long time ago.

Once again....