The ship slipped through the void like a bullet of starlight, and Xion could only gape at the cosmic view unfolding outside. Colors he could not name twisted into tunnels of light, as deep space parted before the ship like a curtain.
His fingers pressed against the glass.
So this is space.
But only minutes later, the streaks slowed, then shattered and in their view came a planet.
A glowing green planet hovered in the starfield, its size nearly twice that of Earth. Wrapped in misty white clouds and ringed by two faint lunar belts.
Avera, arms folded behind her back, stepped forward. Her voice was calm.
"That's Yuneia. The planet under Wals Empire rule. Be careful the laws here are strict. Their traditions are conservative. Relationships before marriage are forbidden. Public affection is frowned upon. Everyone must just restrain themselves a little later."
Myla said nothing her cold gaze fixed on the approaching planet. Selune tilted her head quietly. Kaelith merely nodded, Zera was excited as always.
Xion blinked. He glanced at Avera, but her expression didn't waver.
"It's nothing to be afraid of," she added, softer this time. "Just... show respect."
The team nodded. Moments later, Myla initiated landing procedures after getting planetary clearance.
The descent was smooth. They pierced the atmosphere, and the world below opened like a painting forests, rolling golden plains, rivers winding between futuristic cities that shimmered beneath the sun like gardens of light and stone. Xion leaned closer to the window, stunned.
Yuneia, It looked like a planet out of dreams.
-----------------
The air smelled like flowers.
As they made their way across the white-tiled terminal, Xion noticed how clean and quiet everything was. Even the ground beneath them was spotless.
On the way to the Car Borrowing Agency, Avera explained the local customs.
"On Yuneia, owning a private vehicle is illegal. No one can buy one. You borrow it when you need it, and return it when you're done. It's all tracked by your ID. No charge, no fees. Everyone is equal on the road."
Xion raised a brow. "Why…?"
Avera's voice lowered as she glanced around. "it was said that this law came out to make everyone equal but it's just a rumor"
It stunned him. Free transportation? Publicly managed with no corruption? He couldn't help thinking could he live with Lyra and Nyelle here one day…?
But Avera crushed the thought before it bloomed.
"No outsider can ever gain citizenship. You're only considered a citizen of Wals if you're born here."
Xion nodded slowly, the flicker of hope dying quietly in his chest.
They arrived at the agency a sleek, minimalist structure made entirely of transparent green crystal. The process was swift you simply passed your ID over the lock of the vehicle, and it bonded to you for a week.
They chose a long, emerald-colored hovercar and rode toward the capital a city named Val'Elarin.
---
Val'Elarin was a utopia carved from jade.
The streets were winding rivers of polished white stone, and on either side bloomed massive trees whose leaves glowed with inner light. Gardens lined the rooftops. Birds of impossible colors glided lazily overhead. Every building curved upward like petals reaching toward the sky. People walked calmly, smiling, everyone looked happy.
Even Zera, always a loudmouth, was quiet.
"This place is… something else," she muttered, eyes wide.
---------------
They arrived at the Palace of Wals a towering structure nestled into the side of a hill. The walls were built from polished greenstone etched with runes. Countless windows curved outward and floating platforms hovered around the upper towers.
Two guards met them at the grand arched entrance tall, armored in dark green plating accented with gold. They carried no weapons, but Xion could feel the pressure from them.
They were led inside to a grand study room, its floor carpeted in soft moss, its walls lined with translucent bookshelves and glowing artifacts. A wide green sofa sat near the center large, but just enough for four.
When the squad sat, Xion was forced into the middle. Zera pressed up against one side of him with her teasing smirk. Selune shyly leaned on the other. The scent of their hair one floral, one like moonlit rain made his mind blur.
This is dangerous, he thought.
Before he could breathe again, the doors opened with a soft mechanical chime.
Footsteps echoed.
They all stood.
A single girl entered, her chin lifted high.
She was… breathtaking.
Her hair was golden silk, flowing behind her in smooth waves. Her skinwhite like jade, and her eyes were sharp emeralds that sparkled with arrogance. She wore a regal dress of gold. On her feet were delicate jade heels, Xion's eyes dropped lower.
Her feet were small, elegant. Her jade-painted toenails shimmered with a polish that somehow matched her eyes. It was indecent how graceful they looked.
Xion looked up and froze.
She was staring directly at him.
Her gaze was unblinking.
Xion face flushed.
Then, without a word, her attention slid to the girls. Only then Xion exhaled silently, heart racing.
"You may sit," she said, voice smooth and commanding.
They all sat again.
But this time… the sofa wasn't crowded.
Xion blinked.
Wait… how?
He decided not to question it. Some mysteries were better left unsolved.
The princess leaned back onto her ornate gold chair, crossed one long leg over the other with confidence, and turned to Avera.
"How have you been lately, Avera?"
"Very good," Avera replied warmly. "And you, Princess Elaria?"
"Busy," Elaria said with a light sigh. "Too busy for my liking."
The two women began to chat like old friends, their tones relaxed. Xion glanced between them in surprise.
They know each other?
After a while, the conversation shifted.
The princess sat confidently on her golden throne-like chair, legs crossed, back straight, an aura of nobility surrounding her. Her golden-green dress shimmered under the lights, and her long blonde hair framed her delicate yet arrogant beauty. she looked at the group before her and began to speak, her tone light but laced with excitement.
"Some researchers," she said, resting her chin against the back of her manicured hand, "while studying forest animal behavior in the southern regions, have discovered traces of a creature we long believed to be extinct."
"I know what you're thinking," the princess added, her lips curling in a confident smile. "Why would the princess of Wals care about some old beast hiding in the woods?"
She let the question hang in the air dramatically before continuing.
"This isn't just any animal," she said. "It's the Nine-Color Deer named for the resplendent nine colors that shimmer through its antlers Said to be hunted extinct"
Her voice lowered slightly. "What makes it special is that once every ten years, the Nine-Color Deer sheds its horns. These old antlers, when ground into powder and used in a bath, can gift a woman with....eternal youth."
The moment those words left her lips, the atmosphere in the room changed instantly.
The squad girls' eyes widened Selune blinked as if shaken from a dream, Zera leaned forward with a smirk that said I want that, Myla actually showed interest for once, and even Kaelith's typically unshaken eyes sharpened with curiosity. Only Avera remained composed though her eyes gleamed and Xion… well, he blinked, confused.
"Eternal youth?" he whispered to himself, scratching his jaw. "What's the big deal…?"
The princess chuckled, watching the wave of excitement ripple through the group. "To be clear," she said, holding up a single finger, "it won't make you immortal. But you could be eighty years old and still look like you're twenty-five. Skin smooth, body youthful, hair vibrant. The dream of all women across galaxies."
Avera finally rose from her seat, stepping forward with a cautious but intrigued look on her face. "The Nine-Color Deer… I've read about it once in a book. It was said to have been wiped out by hunters more than a hundred years ago." Her gaze narrowed. "Can one really retain their youth from bathing in a powder…?"
The princess shrugged. "That's what I want you to find out."
She stood up, lifted her chin with that natural arrogance . "I want you to locate the Nine-Color Deer and capture it alive. If it's still out there"
"And what do we get?" Zera asked.
The princess smiled wider, raising her hand delicately. "If you capture it… not only will I pay you a generous reward, but I will also grant each of you one personal wish anything within my power, anything this Princess of Wals can grant."
Hearing this, Kaelith straightened. Selune glanced at Avera with a rare gleam of interest. Myla simply gave a slow nod of approval. Even Zera's usual teasing attitude was momentarily gone, replaced by quiet determination.
Xion, on the other hand, was still stuck on something entirely different.
That smile… that prideful lift of her chin… the way she said talk.
He felt a twitch somewhere deep in his chest. Why was he… captivated by her?
She wasn't sweet or gentle like Lyra. Nor was she bright and playful like Nyelle. But there was something about this princess that stirred something in him. Something he didn't quite understand.
He quickly shook it off when Avera turned toward the princess again and spoke with a calm but resolved tone.
"We accept the mission," she said. "When do we depart?"
The princess raised her brows and smiled.
"Now," she said. "I've already arranged your landing clearance and supplied you with the necessary coordinates. I've even given you permission to enter the restricted southern forests. A military escort will guide you to the drop zone. From there, you're on your own."
As if perfectly timed, a knock echoed at the study room doors. The guards from earlier stepped in with a respectful bow.
The princess waved her hand toward them without looking. "They will guide you back to your ship. Good luck. I trust I've given you all… sufficient motivation."
She ended her sentence with a smirk that could seduce or shatter kingdoms.
Xion looked at her one last time, then followed Avera and the squad as they turned to leave the room.
But he didn't see the way her golden eyes lingered on his back as the squad left.