Elara's Royal Diary — Entry I: The Road to Veloria
Day 1 — Departure
The heavy beat of the farewell drums echoed through the courtyards of the Warfare Province that morning. Father's soldiers, disciplined and unyielding, lined the road in shimmering black armor, their faces grim beneath the banners of crimson and silver. The sheer heat of their collective, unsaid resolve was palpable, even from within the enclosed carriage.
Mother, my General and Confidant, wept quietly. She quickly composed herself, pretending only to adjust the silk veil over my face. "The long road to Veloria will test your heart, Elara," she whispered. "But remember, a flower's beauty is shaped by the wind that bends it."
As the massive, iron-wrought gates groaned shut behind us, I felt the vital pulse of the Warfare Province—the metallic tang of discipline and duty—recede. The air now smelled only of iron and embers. The road ahead was long, glimmering with uncertainty.
Day 17 — The Thornreach Jungle
Gods, the humidity here could suffocate a flame. The Thornreach Jungle stretched endlessly, a green ocean swallowing the sky. Even our vast royal convoy was forced to move in a single, vulnerable file, following paths older than the current Noxis crown itself.
The heavy carriage wheels sank deep into the damp earth, slowing our pace to a crawl; thick, serpentine vines curled around the axles like curious, malevolent serpents. We passed through shattered stone ruins swallowed by moss—the desolate remnants of a forgotten dynasty.
At dusk, the fireflies awoke. Thousands of them—glowing emerald lights dancing through the trees like tiny, mischievous spirits. For a brief, stolen moment, I forgot the stench of damp armor and the echoing cries of jungle beasts. For a single breath, Thornreach felt vibrantly alive, not hostile.
(Unseen by the traveling royals, a squat, shadowy Oni waited patiently in the canopy, tracking their movement.)
Day 39 — The Dravakar Highlands
The air here had turned brittle, thin, and bitterly cold. The mountains towered over the convoy like colossal, slumbering titans of stone, and every echo of our carriage wheels sounded like distant, grumbling thunder.
The people of this region are stone-hearted, but their loyalty is absolute. They carried thick hammers forged in the mountain fires, not graceful swords. I watched a child sculpting a detailed deity directly into the mountainside—their gods live in the rock itself.
We halted at sunset beneath a crimson, bruised sky. I watched the Celestial Monks light thick black incense—a ritual meant to ward off the tormented spirits that whispered on the wind. They say the mountains remember every single life taken in war. I only hoped they did not remember mine.
(Kai, watching the scene unfold, let out a massive sigh. I have fought Fallen Gods; now I must watch dust blow for another month. The duty of protection is tedious, even when necessary. His boredom was profound.)
Day 67 — The Celestial Province
I have never seen such light. The main causeways here gleam as if forged from the very stars, paved with pale, smooth stone that faintly hums with energy when stepped upon. The people of this province speak softly, their eyes a strange silver under the moonlight.
We were received by the High Princess Aurelia—a woman who struck me as wild and entirely unrefined, yet utterly honest. Her loud laughter echoed across the hills like a battle cry, and yet she embraced me as if we were truly kin.
That night, I wrote from my chamber window, staring at a drifting sea of luminous white clouds below the cliff-face. The stars seemed closer here—almost within reach, making the mundane troubles of the world feel small.
(The boredom was reaching critical levels for Kai. He was entering a near-catatonic state of shock, his mind craving conflict, and the political peace leaving him exhausted.)
Day 104 — Arrival in Veloria
The heavy scent of a thousand crushed roses met us miles before the gates. Veloria... the City of Petals. Everything here was designed to glow faintly—the highly polished marble streets, the ornate lanterns, even the recent rainfall.
Vast crowds lined the grand causeway, and freshly scattered rose petals swirled around the carriage like pink snow as we entered the capital. My heart trembled—not from fear, but from sheer, overwhelming awe. After months of dust, storm, and the silence of the wilderness, I felt the hum of elegant, pampered life return again.
Tonight, as I rest beneath soft silk canopies and breathe the perfumed air, I cannot help but feel a strange pang of loss for the rugged breath of the wild provinces. They were harsh, yes... but they were honest.
Veloria is truly beautiful, but I am certain now—beauty can hide sharper edges than any sword.
Lumina's First Glimpse
The official welcoming ceremony commenced just as we arrived on Day 104. Princess Caelina, radiant and impatient, stood waiting alongside twenty perfectly dressed maids and fifteen rigid nobles.
"It has been so long since I met Kai!" Caelina whispered, a slight blush staining her cheeks.
A maid, her face carefully neutral, responded with a deadpan tone. "It has, Hime Caelina. Do you truly believe he will remember you? He is sixteen now; his memories of childhood games may be fuzzy."
"I'm sure he will. Or at least Elara would greet me properly," Caelina insisted.
The carriage finally halted. A maid stepped toward the door, ready for the grand announcement.
"I present to you Hime Elara and Lord Kai of the Warfare Prov—"
The door was not opened for her. It was forced open from the inside by a pair of visibly shaking, exhausted hands. Elara and Kai stumbled out onto the gleaming marble causeway, their movements slow and lazy with utter fatigue. They were not drunk, but they moved as if every limb was filled with lead.
"Never, ever shall we do a road trip again," Elara mumbled, stretching her arms with an audible groan.
Kai leaned against the carriage, his eyes barely focusing. "One hundred and four days," he recited in a tired monotone. "Just to make it to school."
"We must stay strong for a few more hours, little brother," Elara warned. She looked down and saw Kai's eyes beginning to flutter shut. "No, brother! Don't you dare betray me!" She lightly smacked his arm, the sound echoing in the silent crowd.
"I'm up," Kai muttered, straightening with a jolt. "I'm up."
In the background, Caelina stared in confused horror. "What... am I watching?"
The neutral maid replied, "This, my princess, is what happens when a royal brother and sister spend 104 days in extreme boredom and only permit themselves four-hour breaks."
Caelina shook her head, a smile twitching on her face. "Perhaps we will do introductions later?"
"That would violate the traditional welcome," the maid warned stiffly.
"Oh, hush now," Caelina said. "I am only seventeen, just like Kai, and I can break tradition for a moment."
Through sheer force of will—the ingrained discipline of Lady Ayame—Kai and Elara managed to make it to Caelina. They instinctively snapped into a formal bow.
"Hime Caelina, descendant of the Velorian throne," they recited in tired but perfect unison. "We are pleased to be accepted by your province and its people."
"Uhhh," Caelina started, looking at the maid. "I thought they were tired out?"
"They are, Hime. But they are children of the most disciplined lady in the Kingdom; she takes precautions against exhaustion, even here."
"Good to know. At ease, I guess."
Elara and Kai straightened, and after a few seconds, the sheer weight of the journey crushed them once again.
"We are honored to have you, Elara and Kai, and welcome to the Lumina Academy," Caelina said.
We then saw the massive scale of the academy—a university-sized facility with six dorm houses and ten training fields, bustling with new and returning students.
"Well then," the chief maid said, snapping her fingers sharply. "You three escort Lord Kai to a private bath; he must refresh himself. And you four do the same for Hime Elara."
The maids nodded, separating the siblings. As Kai entered the private bathing facility, he noticed two sections: one side was a rustic, natural-looking hot spring, the other a standard modern bath.
"Are there not others here?" Kai asked, genuinely disappointed.
"As the son of King Varian, you alone bathe here, my Lord," the maid stated simply.
"I see," Kai said, sighing. "Well, I shall take a dip in the springs then."
"Splendid. Now then, permit us to bathe you." The maids advanced, ready to remove his clothes.
Kai jolted backward. "What!? No, ladies, please listen. I know it is tradition for the maids to bathe the royals, but I am not that type of person."
"Then who shall bathe you, Lord Kai?"
Kai paused, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. "I know just the person."
A moment later, Elara appeared behind Kai, already washing his hair with surprising efficiency.
"You're lucky you're my brother," Elara hummed.
"No, I'm the lucky one. Having a sister who bathes me is interesting, but also quite relaxing."
"All done. Now get dressed in your yukata." Elara held up a towel, her eyes tightly closed.
She opened her eyes and blinked. Kai was already dressed, his yukata perfectly tied.
"That was... fast," Elara admitted.
"Never keep a lady waiting," Kai said, adjusting his collar.
They walked out, the maids in tow, and stopped at a luxurious dorm room, XVIX.
"You shall be resting here, Lord Kai."
"Ah, well, bye sis."
"Bye, Otō-kun."
Elara and the maids departed. As Kai reached for the door handle, a near-inaudible whisper slipped past the barrier.
"Master."
Kai's expression instantly became cold, all benevolence vanishing. "Speak."
"We have gained new information, Sovereign. We believe the summoned being from last night is a fallen goddess."
"Understood," Kai responded, his voice a low monotone.
"We shall see to it."
Kai's cold expression softened slightly into a subtle smile. "Good. No one is to move in until we know her motives."
"Already understood, Sovereign."
The presence vanished. Kai took a deep, centering breath, and his cold mask of command melted away, replaced by one of benevolent, quiet curiosity. He entered the room to see four other students—Keito, Itsuki, Satsuki, Ayane, and Kurone—already settling in on the bunk beds.
"Hey, Kai," Itsuki greeted casually.
"So this is the weak son of the Akatsuki lineage," Satsuki drawled, her tone dripping with dismissive contempt.
"Shhhhh... sleeeeep," Kurone muttered from the top bunk.
"Kai! Brother man!" Keito said, waving enthusiastically.
"Sup," Ayane chimed in.
"Hey, guys," Kai replied, the warmth genuine.
Though the specific conversation was inaudible, the group bonded quickly, talking long into the night before exhaustion claimed them. Kai, the last one awake, looked up at the ceiling. His expression was serious.
In the glittering distance, within the Solaris Castle high above the academy, a female figure stood next to a sleeping Princess Aurelia, whose silhouette was a perfect hourglass.
Valena smiled. "Well then, let's get this show started."
The bells of the Amayadori Tachi, resting sacredly beside Kai's futon, jingled softly.
END OF CHAPTER 2