18 Years Ago - 3 Days to Zenith 916
The Lunaris air always smelled of mist and blossoms, a soft and clean caress. But tonight, it was laced with something warmer: wood and spice.
A young girl slipped behind a marble pillar, her fingers mindlessly trailing the intricate carvings as she had done her whole life. Moon, water, and wind. Symbols she could trace in her sleep. Her silver-blue skirts swept the polished floors as she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder, looking for any adults in sight. Her mother would scold her for wandering around during the Zenith Ball, especially with the Asura guests from Solaris in attendance. But she had followed a little girl toddling into the kitchens, wide-eyed and determined. The child had seemed so out of place, lost in a sea of long gowns and subdued smiles.
A heartbeat later, little feet thundered back across the marble. The child emerged triumphant, clutching a honey-dipped pastry with both hands, her red dress now streaked with syrup.
The girl crouched beside the child, tucking a wayward curl behind her ear. “You’re going to get caught, you know,” she whispered. The child clutched the pastry tighter, honey dripping down her arm. Her eyes twinkled with mischief.
“She always runs towards the sugar,” a quiet voice said behind her.
She quickly straightened and turned. The boy standing there wore a sharp black jacket with gold embroidery and a red inner lining. He was tall for his age, perhaps eleven, and already shaped by discipline. His eyes were sharp, guarded for someone so young. They flicked to his sister with a softness that betrayed him.
“I’m Selena,” she said, offering him a smile. “Your sister’s got good taste.”
He didn’t smile back. “I know who you are, Princess.”
She made a face. “You don’t have to call me that. It’s Selena.”
He glanced at her, tipping his head slightly. Calculating. “I am Kumara Kaeden.”
“I know who you are too, Kaeden,” she said brightly, dropping pleasantries. “Welcome to Lunaris.”
Just Kaeden. Not Kumara Kaeden. He scrunched his eyebrows at the lack of title. Perhaps the princess was not familiar with the old tongue, he had heard it wasn’t spoken in Lunaris. Or, perhaps, she simply did not abide by the rules. Either way, he did not like this one bit.
His little sister squealed as she bit into her treat. “Mira, Mira, Mira.”
Selena giggled and crouched again. “Well, you must be Mira. It is so nice to meet you, you little pastry thief.”
“It is Kumari Mira,” Kaeden corrected behind her, “Or, I suppose, here in Lunaris you would call her Princess Mira.”
She turned back to the prince, his expression stoic, his body still. He hadn’t moved an inch.
“Well,” Selena said, undeterred. “You are very serious for someone at a party.”
“I am responsible for her.”
She walked up to him, inspecting him closely. The gold embroidery on his jacket were intricate workings of sun, fire, and stone symbols. His eyes were a deep amber, flecked with gold. Not a hint of mischief or youth. Just determination and discipline.
“Come on,” Selena said suddenly. “I want to show you something.”
Before Kaeden could object, she was already heading down a side corridor, Mira toddling beside her with sticky fingers. He hesitated, then followed.
They stepped into the garden, the air cooler and laced with night blossoms. A gentle mist rolled across the grass, moonlight casting soft silver onto the reflecting pool ahead. The gardens were expansive, white marble columns and benches dispersed among the greenery. Kaeden turned back, taking the Lunari palace in. Towers spiraled into the sky like ribbons of moonlight, tall and graceful, their surfaces etched with swirling runes and elemental signs. He had never seen a building so colossal, yet there was nothing heavy about them. They rose with a dainty elegance, giving the impression that they could be swept away with a gust of wind. Each spire curved like a crescent, reflecting the moonlight back into the sky.
“I like your coat,” Selena said as they walked.
Kaeden’s eyes flicked to her. “Thank you, Princess.”
“You know, normally people compliment back,” she teased.
He paused. That… was true. He had seen his mother and father exchange compliments many times. His eyes moved over her slowly. “I like your…uh…rings.”
“My…rings?” she questioned.
“Yes,” he nodded, sticking to the compliment. “They look…nice.”
Then she smiled brightly, holding up her right hand where two silver bands sat snugly, stacked on one finger. “Thanks! I wear them all the time. Aaaaand I will wear them for the rest of my life.”
He scoffed. “They won’t fit forever. Are you not planning to grow, Princess?”
“These are magical rings,” she explained proudly. “They grow with me.”
Kaeden narrowed his eyes and stepped closer, examining them. Two intricate silver bands, one thicker, one dainty, each carved with little moons on them.
They reached the pool. Selena led them to a curved bench beside the water. She sat with a dreamy sigh, her eyes on the shimmering pool.
“This is my favorite place” she whispered. “The moonlight looks just like little stars in the water. This is the closest we can get to seeing the stars.”
“I see the stars all the time,” Kaeden said before he could stop himself.
She gasped, turning towards him. “Really? You see stars in Solaris?”
He froze. A muscle jumped in his jaw. “Forget I told you that.”
He sat down, stiff and silent, furious with himself. He wasn’t supposed to share things like that. The unknown of Solaris was sacred. Secrecy was part of the sanctity of his culture, the dignity of the Solari people, the Asuras. That had been a slip. A mistake. He ground his teeth. He will do better.
Selena, unbothered, scooted right beside him, their shoulders almost touching.
“How can the Asuras see stars? What do they look like? Is it like the stars in the mortal realm? Have you ever been to the mortal realm? I’ve never been, but my mom promised me that when I’m twelve, after my First Rite, she’ll take me there… Just four more years. Your Rite must be next year, right? That’s when my older sister Luna’s is. And my eldest sister, Cece, said her first Rite was the best thing ever. She hasn’t done her second one yet, though. Are Solari Rites the same? Do you also use a well? And why do your people call your realm the Shadows? Are there lots of shadows in Solaris?” Selena finally paused, her eyes wide and sparkling, waiting for answers.
Kaeden remained silent. This princess sure had a lot of questions.
She leaned back. “That’s fine,” she said. “I like a bit of mystery.”
They sat in silence for a few moments. Mira babbled on the ground, dipping her chubby fingers into the pool. A breeze passed through the garden, lifting strands of Selena’s dark hair. He caught a hint of warm vanilla. Must be her scent, he thought.
“Ugh!” she groaned suddenly, sliding off the bench and onto the grass with a dramatic flop. “I don’t actually like mysteries! I can’t handle the suspense!”
His brow arched. A small smirk tugged at his lips, a sense of victory fluttered through him.
She rolled over to Mira, now playing with the strands of grass. “Do you like this, Mira?” Selena cooed. “This is called grass. I bet you’ve never seen these because you don’t have any gardens where you come from.”
“That’s not true,” Kaeden snapped. “We have plenty. Even better than– “
“Ha!” Selena laughed, spinning towards him. “So Solaris has gardens!”
His expression fell. He promptly stood up and stormed a few steps, furious with himself. He can’t believe he slipped up again. She must have used her magic on him. A Deva trick. He overheard the Solari warriors warning each other last night. Lunari magic was sly, mental, and dangerous. Foreign to the Asuras.
He ground his teeth. Princess or not, this Deva was even better at it than he expected. He wanted to continue walking away, but he stopped. He couldn’t leave Mira with her.
He turned just as little feet thudded behind him. Mira was holding Selena’s hand, trailing along like they’d known each other for years.
“Don’t worry, Kaeden,” Selena said, her voice gentle. “Your secret’s safe with me. I promise.”
He looked down at Mira, then up at Selena. She met his fiery gaze with sincerity.
“Would it be better if I told you a secret too?”
He didn’t answer.
She looked around warily, then rose up on her toes, whispering near his ear. “Sometimes… I get this feeling in my chest… like I don’t even belong here.”
He scoffed. What a ridiculous secret.
He turned to look at her as she dropped to her feet, her eyes wide and vulnerable, as if she just unveiled the greatest secret in Deva history. His eyes softened. It’s clear that this was important to her.
“Don’t tell anyone, kay?” she whispered. He nodded.
She exhaled, reassured. Her free hand reached down and took his. “Come on. I’ll show you both the other gardens.”
He looked down at their hands. Her dark brown skin a stark contrast to his. For just a moment, the future King of Shadows let go of his burdens and followed the Lunari princess into the night.
12 Years Ago - 3 Days to Zenith 916
The second time Selena saw them, they were across the ballroom.
Kaeden stood like a shadow, tall and composed. The high collar of his deep crimson coat framed his sharp jaw, the details of gold embroidered coiled serpents covering his broad shoulders. Around him his aura pulsed low and tight to his skin - controlled and restrained. Black and red, a thin sheen of heat shimmered at the edges, darker than the aura of his parents in front of him. Beside him, Mira bounced on her toes in a black and red gown, her brown hair pulled back in a half-twist, but already frizzing from her excitement. She didn’t have an aura yet, but if she had, it would’ve been dancing all around the room. Unlike Kaeden, discipline was not her strong suit. Her green eyes were wide, scanning the room as if she was on the brink of a grand mission. Kaeden bent down to her level, voice low.
“Remember what I warned you,” he said, casting a glance across the room.
Mira followed his gaze. “The youngest Deva princess?”
“Yes… Warm. Clever. A master deceiver,” Kaeden murmured, his eyes finding Selena and locking into hers. “She’ll charm you into spilling secrets before you know you’ve said them.”
Mira nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing, her hands forming a fist. “She can’t fool me.”
Selena was walking towards them, her presence soft and bright. Her silver gown was ruffled, twisting and swaying with her every step. She carried a thick book, the worn cover obscured by the way she held it at her side.
“Princess,” Kaeden greeted, his nod sharp and neutral.
“Hello, Kaeden,” Selena said smoothly, eyes scanning him. “You’re taller now.”
Before he could respond, she crouched down to Mira’s height, her smile brightening. “And hello again, Mira. You’ve grown so much and you are so beautiful! I can’t wait to show you the gardens again later.” She pulled Mira into a warm hug, laughing. Mira melted into her.
Then Selena turned, making her way towards the rest of the Asura guests, formal and poised once again. Mira blinked after her, eyes wide.
“I love her” she squealed, “And she smells soo good!” Mira spun, taking off after the princess, nearly knocking a tray of drinks over in her wake.
Kaeden groaned, one hand dragging down his face as he lost sight of them. This was going to be harder than he thought.
When he found them again, they were huddled on the ground beside the reflecting pool. Selena’s aura was slightly open now, a warm white glow radiating around her. He could smell her aura from here, vanilla, but deeper this time. Lanterns flickered behind them, Mira’s head resting on Selena’s shoulder, staring at a book in her lap.
Selena was reading aloud. “And so Vasuki stepped forward, offering himself to him in sacrifice. A blinding light erupted as his serpent-like tail latched around him. The cosmos quaked and the light channeled into the island, over the ocean, across the realms, sealing the Inferno cracks. As the light subsided, a black aura remained. Pulsing, warming, breathing. The first Asura, the first –”
“What are you doing?” Kaeden’s voice cut through the evening like flint.
Mira flinched. Selena turned a page calmly.
“We are reading about the first Solari. The creation of the Asuras” she said.
“It’s just like the stories mother and father tell us at bedtime, Kaeden,” Mira said while staring at Selena, admiringly.
Kaeden’s gaze sharpened. “Where did you find that book?”
Selena looked up at him, expression unreadable. “In our archives. We have a few books written around the time of the first Zenith. All about the creation of the lowest realm but nothing about after.”
Kaeden stepped forward, this was a disaster waiting to happen. His hand outstretched to Mira. “Come. The realms are exchanging gifts.”
Mira slipped her hand into her brother’s and trailed behind him. Selena rose to follow, falling into step beside them.
“I watched your family arrive tonight,” Selena said casually. “It must feel amazing to soar through the skies. But there were only two winged serpents. Don’t you have one yet?”
Kaeden’s jaw flexed, he responded carefully. “My serpent is still too young to cross the inner and outer gates in a single night. So Mira and I rode with Rani–” he paused and cleared his throat, remembering to stick with the new tongue, “With Queen Vireya and King Oren.”
Serena stopped walking and looked at him, amused. “You call your parents by their titles?”
“Well… not usually,” Kaeden muttered, his gaze forward. “But this is a diplomatic event.”
“You have got to let loose a little, Kaeden.” She stepped in front of him, taking the lead back to the palace. She sighed longingly, “I wish I could have a pet serpent.”
Kaeden flexed his jaw in irritation. “A serpent is not a pet you can simply have. They have you just as much as you have them,” he snapped, rounding a corner, “It is a sacred and dangerous–”
All three of them came to a halt. The Queens stood tall, the contrast between their gowns dominating the room. White and black, light and shadow, opposite sides of the same cosmic coin. Before them, a table glittered with velvet-lined boxes. The Solaris Queen Vireya cocked an eyebrow, her fingers impatiently drumming the table. Celesta and Lunara were already there, waiting for them.
Selena quickly composed herself, tucked her book behind her, raised her chin, and gracefully joined her sisters. One by one, the three Lunari princesses stepped forward, bowing with quiet elegance– Celesta, Lunara, and then Selena. Queen Vireya handed them delicate bracelets. Selena inspected hers closely, it was a silver intricate chain of moons and stars.
Next Mira bounded forward, not yet having mastered the art of being regal. Her hand stretched out in awe at the bracelet being presented to her by Queen Sera. Suns and flame.
“And Prince Kaeden,” Queen Sera said, lifting a box from the table, “this is for you.”
“Thank you, Queen Sera.” Kaeden took the box. He waited for the Queens to step away before he opened it.
Inside lay a ceremonial dagger. The hilt was carved obsidian, wrapped with a golden serpent twisting towards the pommel. The blade shimmered with a dusky sheen, as if coated in shadowlight. It was beautiful. Deadly.
Selena leaned in, curiosity gleaming. “I want it,” she said.
Kaeden raised a brow. “It’s mine.”
“You have ten like it. Probably more.”
“I do.”
“You don’t need it.”
“I do not.”
“Great. Trade me.”
“I don’t wear bracelets.”
“They’d match the rings on my hand. They’re nice.” She held up her fingers, wiggling them in front of him. “You said so last time.”
He looked down at the rings, then back to her. “I am keeping the dagger,” he said.
She pouted. Kaeden was quiet for a long beat. Then, with the kind of solemnity only a seventeen-year-old could muster, he said, “If you want it that badly, Princess, you will have to earn it.”
She stepped up to him, on her toes, so close that their noses were touching. He blinked quickly, startled.
“I already have,” she said. And just like that, she plucked the dagger from the velvet, leaving the bracelet behind in its place. She spun on her heel and took off running, her hair spinning in his face. She looked over her shoulder. “See you in another six years!”
Kaeden stared after her, his jaw clenching. Those damn Deva tricks.
6 Years Ago - 3 Days to Zenith 916
The music had changed. It was deeper now, no longer the light, laughing strings of youth, but something richer, darker. The scent of Lunaris, sweet and mist-heavy, clung thick to the air, crawling against Kaeden’s heightened Asura senses like a hundred whispers. He didn't flinch, but his jaw clenched briefly as his power coiled beneath his skin, tight and wary. It had been five years since his second Rite and he was still getting used to his inner beast, a burning creature poised to hunt.
Kaeden stepped forward into the ballroom. He shifted between his feet, adjusting to the Lunaris terrain. His hair was longer now, thick brown waves falling forward as he glanced down to adjust his cuffs. His broad frame moved with quiet command, a slow, deliberate stride that made space open before him. The air shifted when he entered, as if the room acknowledged him. This time, his parents and Mira trailed behind him. Queen Vireya’s posture was sovereign as ever, King Oren’s shadow a silent storm beside her. Mira stood tall in dark crimson and rose-toned silks, her hair twisted into an elegant braid that belied her usual wildness.
King Thalor and Queen Sera greeted them with strong handshakes and stately welcomes, the tense reliance on the Zenith draped like a careful silk veil between them.
Behind them stood Princess Celesta, her presence radiant in a moonlight-gown of white and blue, her arm linked with a man clad in blue. His golden hair was bound back neatly, his posture soldier-straight. This must be Elion, Celesta’s betrothed and the future king of Lunaris, Kaeden presumed.
They stepped forward hand-in-hand, their auras twinned: the same white-blue, bright, strong, and commanding — the perfect Deva pair. Kaeden greeted them with a nod, a small smile flickering at the edge of his lips.
Kaeden stepped to the side and surveyed the space, eyes locking with Iris, his second in command. Her sharp jaw held high, standing in a corner with a fitted black ball gown. She gave him a quick nod in silent report. She had checked in with the mortal realm scouts. All quiet. He exhaled, tension easing a notch as he continued to scan the room.
Selena was no longer the curious girl peeking from behind pillars. She stood poised, shoulders back, royal and warm. Her silver gown clung with understated elegance, whispering light danced across her dark skin from the chandelier glow. Her black waves spilled over her shoulders, curling like ink, and she stood in profile, head tilted slightly, nodding to something someone said, her aura sealed so tightly even Kaeden couldn’t glimpse a flicker of her power. In her hand, of course, was another book.
She looked innocently beautiful, but Deva beauty was never innocent, Kaeden reminded himself. The Devas have perfected deception into an art. But now that he completed his Rites, he was certain he wouldn’t succumb to her tricks. Well, he was almost certain.
Selena glanced at him and walked over.
“Kaeden,” she greeted, her voice a quiet lilt.
“Princess,” he replied.
She rolled her eyes. “Still with the formality?”
“It’s important,” he said simply.
She gave a little smile and gestured for him to follow her to the edge of the ballroom, where the music dimmed and the din of voices thinned.
“So,” she began, “I hear you’re leading the Zenith this year.”
“Yes.”
“Nervous?”
“No.” It came out too quickly.
Her brow arched. “Liar,” she said, softly.
He didn’t correct her. They both knew she had questions about the Zenith ceremony that he would never answer.
“More Solaris investigation?” he inquired, nodding towards the book.
“Something like that.”
“You know, this curiosity of yours is unusual for your kind. Most Devas do not ask about Solaris… or the Asuras.”
“Well, I’ve never been usual.”
His eyes flicked down to the book. It smelled of the realm below them. He reached down and took it from her, flipping it over slowly. The cover depicted two mortals in heavy robes staring at a cracked ground beneath them. The Divine Comedy. His mouth twisted.
“You’re reading about Hell, Princess?” His voice had dropped into that low, dangerous register — slow and quiet and warm like smoke.
Selena raised her chin defiantly, “I’ve read through all our archives. I’m simply widening my knowledge.”
Kaeden flipped it open, scanning a few pages. “You do realize this was written by mortals. Their idea of Hell is… imaginative at best.”
“Sure. But it’s their interpretation of Heaven and Hell. What they believe Lunaris and Solaris to be. The Devas and Asuras to be.”
“Angels and devils..concerned with the afterlife of mortal souls. It is ridiculous.”
“And as the leader of the newly formed Devils, you’re one to talk.” Selena teased with a knowing smirk.
He turned to face her. Her gaze dropped, narrowed in thought.
“But it doesn’t make sense,” she continued, frowning.
She stepped closer. His nostrils flared in reaction. The scent of her had deepened. Vanilla. Ginger. Brown Sugar. Warmth. It trickled down his throat and wrapped deep within him, coiling around his inner beast like a blanket.
“All the Hell depictions are of darkness and fire. Caverns. Pits.” Her voice dropped, quieter now. “There is no mention of stars. Or gardens… No hint of our little secret.”
Her eyes met his, questioning. Searching.
“And how is your secret, Princess?” he whispered back.
She stepped back in surprise. Before she could answer, a figure approached. The Lunari General, Corin. Straight-backed and unreadable. His eyes flicked to Kaeden, then back to Selena.
“Prince,” he greeted, with a small bow. “Princess.”
Kaeden extended a hand. “Good to see you again, General. I trust things are steady after our last meeting.”
“As well as they can be, Prince.”
Then Corin turned to Selena, extending a hand. “Selena, may I have this dance?”
She hesitated for half a breath, the long list of questions she hadn’t asked yet flickering in her eyes. But then she smiled. Composed again. And placed her hand in his.
Kaeden watched her go, gliding across the floor, her laugh drifting up towards the chandeliered ceiling. He glanced around the room, taking the grandeur in. He barely tolerated these royal formalities– a hollow performance dressed in tradition. He would rather be with his devils.
Still, he stepped away from the wall to fulfill his own obligation, and invited Princess Lunara to dance. Though his body moved, his thoughts were elsewhere. In three days, the Zenith would approach. And with it, his inner beast would release. A creature he had spent years keeping at bay. He shuddered at the thought.
But this was a necessity. For his family. And for the three realms.
