CHAPTER LXI
Celeste's Point of View
I don't know why… but today, something about the day feels strangely beautiful.
There's a lightness in my chest, a warmth in my heart, like the universe is finally on my side.
Maybe it's because I finally have her. Caelum. Not just in fleeting moments, but truly—completely.
She loves me. She cares about me.
And not just in words. I've seen it in the way she touches me, holds me, and looks at me like I'm the only star in her sky.
Just this morning, she kissed me awake with the softest smile and whispered,
"Don't open your eyes yet. Let the first thing you see today be a memory of love."
Then, she told me she was heading out to get me a gift—something special, something just for me.
And then she was gone.
My heart was still fluttering from that moment when I was snapped back to reality by the sound of hurried footsteps.
I looked up to see Ivory and Olivia rushing toward me, both of them looking pale and anxious—nothing like their usual composed selves.
"Celeste," Ivory asked, breathless,
"Where is Cael? Have you seen her?"
I blinked, surprised by their alarm.
"Yes… she left earlier this morning. She said she was going to get something for me. A gift."
I smiled faintly, still lost in the memory.
"She kissed me goodbye."
"But did she say where she was going?" Olivia pressed, her voice shaking slightly.
I frowned.
"No. Why? What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Ivory looked at Olivia, then back at me—her voice trembling.
"Celeste… I spoke to my mother this morning. And what she told me… I— I can't keep it to myself."
My stomach dropped.
"She said something's going to happen. Something Cael is hiding from us. She's not who she seems to be—not entirely. And she's about to do something terrible, something none of us are prepared for."
"What do you mean?" I asked, my throat tightening.
**"What could she possibly be hiding?"
Olivia swallowed hard.
"The full moon… the night of the celestial alignment. It's in three days, Celeste."
She looked me dead in the eyes.
"That night is known in prophecy as the Night of Reckoning. The night everything falls apart—or everything begins again. We just don't know which."
My heartbeat was racing now. My fingers clenched into my palms.
No. This can't be true. Cael wouldn't… she couldn't lie to me.
But then, a chilling thought crept into my mind:
What if I've fallen for another illusion?
What if… Cael has betrayed me all over again?
The doubts were suffocating. I remembered the way she held me, the sincerity in her eyes, the ache in her voice when she said she loved me.
She couldn't be lying.
I felt her love. I saw the truth in her every touch, every kiss.
Still, the fear had taken root.
What if Cael left not to find a gift… but to prepare for something far more dangerous? Something none of us understand?
But I refused to spiral into panic—not without hearing from her first.
"I won't let fear control me," I whispered to myself.
When Cael returns, I will face her.
I will look her in the eyes… and ask for the truth.
Not because I doubt her—but because I need her to fight beside me.
Because whatever this "Night of Reckoning" is… I'm not facing it alone.
Nightfall had begun to descend, but there was still no sign of Cael.
The sky outside was painted in fading hues of lavender and gray, but inside the palace… everything felt eerily still.
Ivory and Olivia had already returned to their respective lands, both equally burdened by worry and helplessness.
Now, I was all alone in the vast, silent halls of the palace.
There wasn't a single flicker of light in sight—no glowing lanterns, no shimmering spells, nothing.
The long, towering corridors stretched into darkness, their silence almost too heavy to bear. Even the walls, once majestic and radiant, now seemed grim… even a little frightening.
Every shadow danced like a ghost. Every creak of the floor echoed like a warning.
A growing unease curled in my stomach.
To distract myself, I thought maybe I should go find Flash, Chiko, or Rira—their presence always brought me some comfort.
So, I made my way through the winding halls toward their chambers.
But when I arrived… their rooms were empty.
Panic fluttered in my chest.
I searched every part of the palace I could think of—corner to corner, room to room—but the three of them were gone. Vanished. No notes. No messages. No trace.
And suddenly… the weight of everything came crashing down on me.
I was truly alone.
A thick lump formed in my throat as I tried to keep it together, but my hands trembled. My mind was spinning with unanswered questions, and my heart—my heart was crying out for her.
For Cael.
Desperate for even a hint of her, I walked slowly into her room. The moment I stepped inside, her scent hit me like a wave—soft, familiar, comforting.
It made my chest ache.
I crawled onto her bed, clutching her pillow tightly against me, as if it could somehow replace the warmth I was longing for.
I buried my face in it, breathing her in, my tears silently soaking into the fabric.
I tried to sleep. Gods, I tried.
But no matter how tightly I shut my eyes, sleep wouldn't come.
Because my thoughts wouldn't stop.
Because I missed her… so much it hurt.
Where was she? Why hadn't she come back?
Was she safe?
Was she thinking of me the way I was thinking of her?
I whispered her name into the silence, hoping the night would carry it to wherever she was.
Somehow…
Through all the worry, the ache, the darkness—I survived the night.
But my heart remained restless, still waiting for her return.
I had made up my mind.
No more waiting. No more wondering. Today, I would go beyond the borders of this land to search for Cael myself.
I was already preparing to leave—my heart pounding with a mixture of determination and fear—when the grand palace doors opened.
King Alder and Queen Willow entered, their faces grave and lined with concern.
"Celeste," the Queen said gently but urgently, "the trees… the plants… they've begun to wither. Life itself is slowly draining from the land. That's why the Mother Fairy has summoned you."
I blinked in surprise. "The Mother Fairy… she called for me?"
The King stepped forward and nodded. "Yes. And you must not delay, Celeste. This may be more serious than we understand."
I hesitated, troubled. "But… how am I supposed to reach her in time? The Mother Fairy resides far beyond the enchanted rivers. It would take days—"
King Alder raised his hand calmly. "There is another way. In Cael's room, hidden behind a secret door, there is an enchanted mirror. It's not just any mirror—it's a portal. Through it, you can travel anywhere, speak to anyone… even across realms."
His voice grew quieter, but firm. "You must go now. There is no time to waste."
I nodded, heart racing. "Alright. I'll go."
Without waiting another moment, I turned and ran—my feet barely touching the ground as I raced through the winding palace halls toward Cael's room.
As I entered the room, everything inside felt like her. The soft scent of her perfume, the quiet chaos of her belongings, the memories we had shared here—it all pulled at my chest.
But I didn't let myself linger.
I began searching.
I touched the walls, the shelves, pulled at every odd corner, hoping one of them would reveal the hidden door the King had mentioned.
But minutes passed.
Nothing.
I was sweating now, growing frustrated. My hands trembled as I checked one drawer after another, moved aside the curtains, knocked on wooden panels. Still nothing.
Finally—defeated and breathless—I sat down on her bed, exhaustion creeping into my limbs.
"Where is it?" I whispered to myself, eyes stinging.
And then… something caught my eye.
On the far end of the room, lying forgotten in a dusty corner, was a small, old toy—a stuffed animal with worn stitching and faded colors. Something about it tugged at my heart.
Was this… from her childhood?
Curiosity took over. I stood up, walked over, and gently picked it up.
And the moment I did—
Click.
A low rumble echoed behind the bookshelf.
My eyes widened as part of the wall shifted and slowly creaked open, revealing a narrow doorway with a spiraling staircase descending into the shadows below.
My heart skipped a beat.
This was it.
Without thinking, without looking back, I clutched the toy tightly and stepped through the secret door, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
To be continue....