beautiful stars

Lucius's POV

I slammed the door behind me, fury still simmering beneath my skin. Only Gideon and Kael had dared follow me from the chamber. The others were still cleaning up the mess caused by Edward's insolence.

"I told you I didn't want to meet him!" I growled, turning sharply to face the two generals. "You two convinced me to see that miserable man, and for what? More headaches?"

Gideon, ever the optimist, tried to placate me. "Well, on the bright side, we now know a spirit might be here in Decresh."

"'Might' being the key word," I shot back, my voice laced with irritation. "We have no proof. For all we know, Edward could be lying to sow chaos."

Kael sighed, stepping in. "He's a king, Lucius. A detestable one, sure, but he's not stupid enough to fabricate something this serious. A spirit isn't just a threat to your kingdom—it's a threat to his as well."

I clenched my fists. "Are you two even on my side?"

"Of course we are," Gideon replied, his tone calm but firm. "But you need to take precautions. Prevention is better than cure."

I sighed, raking a hand through my hair. "Fine. Alert the people. Spread the word that a spirit is loose and to exercise caution. Recall the men we sent on border patrols and reassign them to fortify the kingdom's perimeter. Tighten security everywhere."

Kael grinned. "Now that's my king."

Ignoring his attempt to lighten the mood, I nodded curtly. "Send a hundred men to secure the sectors. I don't want any gaps."

They both gave a quick bow and strode off to carry out my orders. Left alone, I turned toward my chambers. Each step felt heavier than the last, a dull ache settling in my chest.

The moment I entered my room, a familiar void of loneliness and despair engulfed me. I closed the door, leaning against it as memories of Athena washed over me. Her laughter, her presence, the way she could soothe even my darkest thoughts—it all came crashing back. The image of her lifeless body in my arms replayed in my mind, vivid and cruel.

I moved to the bedside table and pulled out a bottle of beer, the only solace I'd known since she was taken from me. As the bitter liquid slid down my throat, the memories of how far I'd fallen consumed me. From a weak, exiled prince to an unstoppable king, all thanks to her. And now? Back to being powerless, a shadow of the man I once was. My energy had always been hers. Without Athena, I can't cast any spells or gather energy from Lake Gayank.

The alcohol dulled the sharp edges of my pain, blurring my vision and easing the tightness in my chest. Just as I was about to sink deeper into the haze, a small voice broke through.

"Father?"

My head snapped up. I hastily shoved the bottle out of sight before opening the door. Ariel stood there, clutching her stuffed bear, her sleepy eyes peering up at me.

"My princess," I said, lifting her into my arms. "I thought you were asleep."

"I was until you and General Gideon woke me up," she said with a small pout.

Curse that loud-voiced monster. "Something important came up," I murmured. "You should go back to bed. You have classes tomorrow."

"No, I don't," she mumbled, her head resting on my shoulder. "Tomorrow is my free day. But you're right, I need sleep."

She yawned, her small arms wrapping around my neck as she drifted off again. I carried her to the bed nearest me, tucking her in gently. As I watched her sleep, the weight of my responsibilities bore down on me even harder. For her, I had to stay strong. For her, I couldn't give in to my weakness.

Once she was settled, I grabbed my beer and headed for the rooftop. It had been Athena's favourite place. After long, gruelling days, we'd escape there, sharing quiet moments beneath the stars. Now, it was my refuge—a place where her absence felt both unbearable and comforting.

But as I reached the stairs, a figure stepped into my path.

"Prophetess Kim," I said, startled. Her face was drawn, her expression grave, but her eyes flickered with urgency.

"How did you get in here at this hour?" I demanded. "The guards should have stopped you."

She held up a small golden insignia. "You gave me this, Your Majesty. You said I could come to you anytime with news of Athena."

My heart skipped at the mention of her name. "What is it?" I asked, my voice low.

She glanced around, ensuring no one else was nearby. "The ritual—it's ready," she whispered. "The relics have been repaired. We can try again. But the next auspicious date is two nights from now. If we wait, the chance of success diminishes significantly."

Her words pierced through my drunken haze. Could it be possible? Could we this time around bring her real future soul?

I nodded, swallowing hard. "Fine. Prepare everything. I'll ensure we're ready."

As I brushed past her, I could feel her eyes lingering on the bottle in my hand. I ignored her scrutiny, my thoughts consumed by how clear my head was with my beer tonight.

The rooftop was a sanctuary of memories. As I climbed the familiar stairs, the wind carried the faint whispers of the past. My steps faltered as I saw a silhouette sitting in Athena's usual spot, her back to me, gazing at the stars. My heart clenched, and a bittersweet smile crept onto my face.

For a fleeting moment, I let myself believe it was her—Athena. My Athena. But reality shattered the illusion as I stepped closer. The figure turned, and the dim moonlight revealed her face.

"Kiara?" I hissed, my voice low but sharp with disbelief. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

Her expression remained unbothered, her eyes wide with innocent curiosity. "Relax, Your Highness. No one saw me," she said, brushing off my concerns like stray dust.

"Relax?" My voice rose despite myself, echoing slightly in the quiet night. I glanced around anxiously. "Do you have any idea what would happen if someone saw you here? If the guards, servants, or even Ariel—" I stopped short, shaking my head. "You're reckless."

She waved her hand dismissively. "I'm a pro at sneaking out. Besides, it's night. Everyone's asleep, and the stars are too beautiful to miss. Have you ever noticed how much bigger they look here? In my time, they're just tiny dots." Her tone was light, almost playful, but I could feel the weight of her words, a longing for a world she could no longer call her own.

Normally, I would've hauled her back to her chambers without a second thought. But tonight… tonight, I couldn't summon the energy. The beer in my hand had dulled my senses, and her presence—unwanted as it was—brought a strange comfort. Maybe it was the way she sat there, her head tilted toward the heavens, or the faint resemblance she bore to Athena that kept me rooted in place.

I sighed heavily and lowered myself onto the cold stone beside her. The beer sloshed in its cup as I took another sip, trying to steady the chaos in my mind.

"Want to share?" she asked, eyeing the bottle in my hand with a mischievous glint.

I scoffed. "I don't think you can handle this beer. It's stronger than anything you're used to."

She grinned, leaning closer. "You underestimate me. Where I'm from, we drink alcohol like it's water. Try me."

I narrowed my eyes at her challenge, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips despite myself. Without a word, I poured a small amount into an empty cup and slid it over to her. If nothing else, maybe the drink would quiet her down and have a long sleep until the day of the ritual is here.