Me and Nlye were only 15 when Nehimia was born. I still remember the commotion in the palace —loud, restless, and frustrating. It was strange, really. The birth of a child should've brought warmth and celebration, but instead, it felt like the walls themselves were on edge, like the air was bracing for something we couldn't yet name. The tension was suffocating. I can still see my mother's face—strained and pale—as she scrambled to summon the godmother, her voice barely steady under the weight of something she wouldn't speak of.
Now I'm 25. A full decade has passed, and with it, the innocence of that strange day. And with this age comes duty. It's time for me to serve as a Guardian Angel in the nearby galaxy—something I've trained for, prepared for... and yet, it weighs differently now. Not heavy with fear, but with a quiet knowing that everything is about to shift again.
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Nyle: "Helo, listen to this one—'If I had a playlist for everything, you'd be the one on loop.' Aw, this one's cute."
Helo: tilts head "What's the meaning of playlist?"
Nyle: grinning "It's like an incantation. Each melody is a fragment of their soul, strung together in a sequence. Fascinating."
Helo: snorts "Pfft, and this is used to attract mates?"
Nyle: laughs "Apparently. Some humans used it as a pick-up line."
Helo: smirking "How is that supposed to work?"
Nyle: shrugs, then grins "I don't know… maybe they liked guys who can cook."
Helo: "Cook?"
Nyle: "Yeah. You know, food. I mean, I'd fall for a girl who made good food."
Helo pretending to scribble notes "Seduction method: auditory soul fragments and edible offerings."
Helo: smirks, then sighs "I wish I could joke around like you. Honestly… I'm nervous, Nyle. What if I fail? What if I mess up and someone dies because of me?"
Nyle: expression softens "You think I'm not scared too?"
Helo: "You don't act like it."
Nyle: "That's because if I think too hard about everything that could go wrong, I'll freeze. I just… try to look at the bright side. One mission at a time. One step at a time."
Helo: quiet for a moment "It's not just the mission. It's… father. The crown. Expectations. I'm tired of feeling like I have to prove something."
Nyle: "You don't have to prove anything to anyone, Helo. Just protect who you're meant to protect. Be kind. Be strong. That's enough."
Helo: nodsslowly "Yeah. That's enough"
Nlye stands up and walked to the balcony rail, looking at the horizon
"I'll miss this view. I mean, who knew celestial clouds could look like candy floss?"
Helo: leaning on the rail beside him
"You compare everything to food."
Nyle: "And you worry too much. Balance." grins
A long, low horn blast echoes across the palace grounds—deep and urgent, vibrating in their bones.
Helo: straightens up immediately
"It's time."
A moment later, a servant rushes in, bowing low.
Servant: "Your Highnesses. Please make haste. The others are already gathering at the gates. The procession to the Temple is beginning."
Helo: nods once "We'll be down in a moment."
The servant bows again and leaves.
Nyle exhales loudly.
Nyle: "Guess we're not the only stars in the sky tonight."
Helo: dryly
"You were expecting a solo debut?"
Nyle: shrugs with a smirk
"A guy can dream."
The wide palace steps overflow with young angels in formal white and silver, lined up with glowing spears and blades strapped to their backs.
The march to the Temple begins—feet steady, silent. At the front of the line, Helo and Nyle walk side by side, shoulder to shoulder, the royal insignia on their capes catching the light of the twin suns.
The Temple looms ahead—ancient, carved from a crystal that hums with power. Its gates stand open, lined with priests and spellcasters, incense coiling into the sky.
Inside, the King stands at the altar.
King (raising his voice):
"Guardians of Light—sons and daughters of our realm. You leave not just to protect others, but to embody who we are. May you return stronger, braver, and unchanged in heart. Today, the heavens trust you."
The priests begin their chants, forming complex sigils in the air as the portal to the galaxies begins to form—bright, rippling, beautiful and terrible.
Helo glances sideways at Nyle as the magic crackles louder.
Helo: "She's here. Nehimia."
Nyle: nods, eyes softening as he spots their sister in the crowd
"Would've been easier not to see her. Now I kinda want to stay."
Helo: "She tied a ribbon to her wrist. It's the one from my old training sword."
Nyle: chucklesquietly "She always was the sentimental one."
Helo: voice lower, uncertain "You scared?"
Nyle: "Yeah. But I'd rather run into the unknown than stay in the shadow of what-ifs."
Helo: softly "One step at a time."
Nyle: "One star at a time."
A final chime—louder, resonant. The portal stabilizes, glowing like a living sun. The priest turns, nodding toward the royal sons.
Priest: "Princes of the Crown. You shall enter first."
The crowd quiets. Nehimia rises to her feet instinctively, clutching her ribbon tightly. The brothers step forward.
Helo feels it first. A cold breath brushing the edge of her being, not harsh, but vast. A lingering stillness, like the pause between heartbeats.
And yet, beneath the chill, something gentle—an echo in the void that whispered:
you're not alone.