Next day,
Morning light spilled across the curtains, striking Ethereal's face. She groaned, turning away, pulling the blanket higher over her head.
"Young miss, please wake up," came a gentle voice.
"Just two more minutes, Roni…" she mumbled drowsily.
Then her eyes snapped open. The words hung heavy in the silence. Roni is gone.
She sat up abruptly, staring blankly into the golden-lit air.
"Young miss?" her maid repeated softly, almost as if afraid to break her trance.
"Yes… I—I will get ready. And I'm sorry for calling you Roni."
The maid only smiled, bowing slightly.
Ethereal dressed quickly, fastening her little travel bag at her side before descending the grand staircase. At the bottom, the head butler stood waiting. Beside him, Tahoron leaned against the wall, spectacles balanced neatly as he read over his papers with cold precision.
"If you are ready, young miss, young master," the butler said with a bow, "we shall take our leave."
Tahoron lowered his paper just enough to speak, his tone flat and cutting."I know it is your first day as a Dane, but Elarion is not like this villa. Not everyone will accept you the way we have. Everything you do will reflect upon our name. Keep that in mind."
Ethereal tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Accepting me? I thought you hated me." She adjusted the strap of her bag, eyes gleaming. "Don't worry, brother. I don't need titles to prove myself to anyone—except to my father. Unlike some, I wasn't raised in a gilded cage of luxury. Please, don't mind me. Do carry on with your thing."
Tahoron's eyes finally lifted, annoyance flickering in their depths. He set his papers down with a faint slap. "A sharp tongue… just like Serelaithe." His gaze hardened. "Remember, Ethereal—do not cross your limits in that place."
She stepped closer, unflinching. "I was never taught limits. I was taught to do what is fair, what is practical. And I was never blamed for that—nor will I be in the future." She spun toward the door, her pendant glimmering faintly at her neck.
"Come on, Xero! If we don't leave now, I'll be late for my first day in Elarion."
The head butler bowed once more to Tahoron before following her out. Tahoron watched in silence, his jaw tight, as the doors closed behind them.
The path led them through the woods until the trees opened into a quiet lake, its surface shimmering with the pale morning light. At the far end stood a narrow waterfall, spilling down from a jagged stone outcrop—just wide enough for a small boat to pass through. Mist drifted from the falls like silver veils, cloaking the entrance beyond.
At the shoreline, a lone figure waited. Cloaked entirely in black, face hidden, he stood like a shadow carved from the mist.
Xero stopped, his voice thick with both pride and sorrow. "Young miss… this is the first step into your adventure. Once you cross this threshold, your life will no longer be the same. Find your strength. Find your friends… and perhaps, your soulmate."
His voice cracked as he wiped at the corner of his eye.
Ethereal turned, her smile warm and brave despite the nervous flutter in her chest. She placed a small hand on his shoulder, as though comforting him instead. "I'll be okay, Xero. Don't cry. We'll meet again."
The butler bowed low, trembling with restraint. "You are always… our young miss."
She stepped into the waiting boat, its wooden frame creaking softly. With one last wave to Xero, she sat upright as the cloaked ferryman guided the boat forward. The prow cut across the lake, sliding smoothly into the curtain of falling water.
Mist swallowed everything. The world blurred.
As they passed through, the sound of rushing water grew distant, replaced by a deep, hollow silence. A tunnel of shifting light opened around her, but her head grew heavy, her vision dimming.
She fought it for a moment, then slumped gently against the wooden seat. The last thing she saw was her pendant's faint crimson glow against the fog… before sleep claimed her completely.
The sound of waves crashing against rocks, the distant cry of seagulls, and the playful squeaks of dolphins pulled Ethereal from her slumber. She stirred, eyes fluttering open, her head still heavy with the lingering fog of teleportation.
The first thing she saw was the silhouette of someone sitting at the edge of the dock nearby—a girl with long, flowing hair that shimmered pink in the sunlight. A delicate hairpin, shaped like a sakura blossom, glimmered in her hair.
Ethereal pushed herself upright, rubbing at her eyes. The girl turned, and without hesitation, leaned close until her curious gaze filled Ethereal's vision.
"Hello! I am Liliath Morshich of the Devans family. And you are…?"
Blinking the haze from her sight, Ethereal finally caught a proper glimpse of her. Liliath's features were striking—graceful and elegant, like a painting touched by starlight.
"I—I'm Ethereal Deus Dane," she stammered.
At once, Liliath's expression shifted to one of wide-eyed shock. "You're from the mighty Dane family?! But… you're so young! I haven't heard of any Dane joining this year."
Ethereal stepped back slightly from Liliath's overflowing curiosity, choosing instead to take in her surroundings. The horizon stretched into a boundless sea of turquoise, waves glinting beneath the sunlight. She inhaled deeply, grounding herself, then looked back at the girl.
"I only recently became a Dane," she admitted, her tone firm despite the weight of her words. "It wasn't my choice—but if I'm to stay, I have to prove that I belong."
Liliath softened, her curiosity shifting into empathy. She stepped closer, her eyes warm.
"I understand that feeling more than you think."
Ethereal frowned, her voice quiet but sharp. "How could you?"
"Because…" Liliath's gaze dropped, and she clenched her fists tightly at her sides. "I am the bastard child of the Devans. To them, I'll always be unwanted. But fate—or maybe the gods—gave me enough strength to be chosen for Elarion. This is my only chance to prove I'm not the worthless mistake they believe me to be."
Her voice trembled with restrained anger, but her posture remained proud.
Ethereal's heart ached. She reached out, placing a hand on Liliath's clenched fist. "Then we'll prove it together. You're not worthless, Lily. You'll show them all."
Liliath's eyes shimmered, and for the first time, a real smile bloomed across her face.