Midnight found Eclipse perched on the palace's highest tower, the silver threads of her Lunar Armor Gown shimmering like captive starlight as they whipped in the bitter wind. Below, the capital's lanterns twinkled like a false constellation - beautiful, meaningless. The cold air burned her lungs, but she welcomed the pain. It was simpler than what churned inside her chest.

The familiar clank of Solaris steel boots announced Sunshine's arrival before her voice did. "You're supposed to be celebrating your engagement," the golden knight said flatly, coming to stand beside her. The moonlight caught the unshed tears glazing Sunshine's golden flame eyes.

Eclipse didn't turn. Her fingers tightened around the tower's stone edge until the gauntlets groaned. "Shall I throw myself a party?" she asked, voice dripping with venom usually reserved for battlefield taunts. "Perhaps Lyandra will arrange dancing puppets to perform our love story." The wind howled between them, carrying the distant cheers from nobles still carousing in the palace gardens. Somewhere down there, servants were already hanging silver and blue banners - the colors of House Lunastra entwined with the royal crest.

Sunshine's armored gloves scraped against stone as she leaned forward. "There has to be a way to stop this."

"Don't be naive," Eclipse snapped, finally turning. The lunar sigils in her eyes burned white-hot. "The contracts are signed. The alliances are set. The king's decree has flown to every corner of the kingdom by now." Her voice broke on the next words. "Even if I challenged my mother's will, even if Art refused his crown - the consequences would shatter the kingdom." She watched as Sunshine's fists clenched, the Solaris armor heating until the metal glowed orange at the seams. "So that's it? You'll just let them break Helia? Break you?"

"What choice do we have?" Eclipse whispered. The admission tasted like ash. "I've spent my life honoring duty above all else. If I abandon it now, what does that make me?"

Sunshine turned, her pauldron bumping against Eclipse's as she stared out at the city. "It makes you human," she said quietly. "Like the rest of us flawed, bleeding fools."

The truth hung between them, heavier than any armor. In the silence, Eclipse's shoulders slumped - just slightly, just for a moment - before she straightened into the perfect posture expected of the Sovereign Sword.

"Helia's heart is breaking," Sunshine finally said, her voice thick.

Eclipse closed her eyes, letting the wind steal the tear that escaped. "So is mine," she admitted to the darkness. "But broken hearts don't stop wars. They don't feed the people or maintain borders." She turned her face toward the moon, its pale light etching her profile in silver. "We were never meant to be happy, Sunshine. Only useful."

Below them, in the palace gardens, a new round of celebratory fireworks burst across the sky - brilliant blues and silvers, the colors of their doomed union. The explosions painted their faces in fleeting light, two warriors standing sentinel over a joy they would never share.

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The atmosphere in the throne room was lively, with generals, former generals, and royalty mingling and chatting excitedly about the upcoming second trial of the Aether Knight Exam. The king and queen were in high spirits, laughing and engaging in lighthearted conversation with their closest allies. However, amidst the cheerful buzz, two figures stood out like storm clouds on a sunny day—Eclipse and Sunshine.

Eclipse stood in the corner of the room, her presence as cold and distant as the moon itself. Her Lunar eyes, usually calm and serene, now glowed with an intense, almost cosmic energy. The usual grace and poise she carried were replaced by a silent, simmering anger. She had always been the picture of composure, but today, her emotions were barely contained beneath the surface. Without a word, she turned and walked out of the throne room, seeking some air to clear her mind.

Althea, who had been watching her friend with concern, called out, "E-Eclipse—" but Eclipse didn’t even glance her way. Althea sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Ugh, she ignored me," she muttered, feeling helpless. She didn’t know what was wrong with Eclipse, but it was clear that something had deeply upset her.

Turning her attention to Sunshine, Althea noticed her other best friend sitting near the large magical screen. Sunshine’s usual fiery demeanor was amplified, her Golden Flame Eyes burning brightly even though she wasn’t in battle. This was unusual—Sunshine only activates her Golden Flame Eyes during combat and moments of extreme focus, sometimes it automatically activates if she is feeling emotional. Right now, she looked like a volcano ready to erupt, her intense gaze fixed on the screen but her mind clearly elsewhere.

Althea hesitated for a moment before walking over and sitting beside Sunshine. "Hey, Sun," she said softly, trying to gauge her friend’s mood. "You okay? You look... intense."

Sunshine didn’t respond immediately, her golden eyes flickering like flames. Finally, she let out a low sigh, her voice tight with frustration. "I’m fine. Just... thinking."

Althea raised an eyebrow, not convinced. "Thinking? You look like you’re about to set the whole throne room on fire. What’s going on? And what’s with Eclipse? She just walked out like a storm cloud."

Sunshine’s jaw tightened, and she glanced at Althea, her expression softening slightly. "It’s about the engagement. Eclipse is being forced to marry Prince Art, and Helia... my sister... she’s heartbroken. I can’t just sit here and do nothing."

Althea’s eyes widened in understanding. "Oh... I see. That’s why Eclipse is so upset. And you’re angry because of Helia."

Sunshine nodded, her fists clenching on her lap. "It’s not fair. Eclipse doesn’t want this, Helia doesn’t deserve this, and Art... he’s being treated like a pawn. This whole thing is a mess."

Althea sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I get it. But what can we do? The king and queen have already made their decision. It’s not like we can just march in and demand they change their minds."

Sunshine’s golden eyes burned brighter, her voice firm. "Maybe not. But I’m not going to sit back and let this happen without a fight. Eclipse and Helia deserve better. And if no one else is going to stand up for them, then I will."

Althea smiled faintly, despite the gravity of the situation. "You’ve always been the type to charge headfirst into trouble, haven’t you?"

Sunshine smirked, though there was no humor in it. "Someone has to. And if it means going against the kingdom itself, then so be it."

Althea nodded, her expression serious. "Well, you know I’ve got your back. Whatever you decide to do, count me in."

Sunshine’s smirk softened into a grateful smile. "Thanks, Althea. I knew I could count on you."

Eclipse walked through the arena corridors, away from the suffocating atmosphere of the throne room. she wanted a quieter spot to watch the matches. Slowly, she removed her mask, her lunar eyes fading back to crimson, and her ethereal dress dissolving into particles of light. She was back to her true self—Moonlight. Only her family, Sunshine, Althea, Helia, and Arabella knew this side of her. Tying her silver hair into a ponytail, she adjusted her outfit, now that of an Adventurers' Guild receptionist.

As she turned a corner, a familiar voice called out.

"Moon?" Mixarnt recognized her instantly. He had spent so much time admiring her that he could never mistake her for anyone else.

Surprised, Moonlight quickly masked her emotions, greeting him with a giggle and congratulating him on passing the first trial.

But Mixarnt, ever observant, noticed something off. The usual confidence in her eyes was replaced with sadness.

"Something bothering you?" he asked with his usual grin.

Moonlight hesitated before finally speaking. "A friend of mine, General Eclipse… she's being forced to marry someone she doesn’t love—the crown prince. If that happens, I might not be around anymore. I’d have to quit the guild and become her personal staff." She hid the truth—that she was Eclipse. She didn’t want Mixarnt to admire her as the famed general. She wanted him to see her—the person she truly was.

"What!?" Mixarnt was shocked. "No way I’m letting that happen—ah! I know!" His eyes lit up as an idea struck him. "Kara told me that the winner of the special event for the second trial gets a wish granted by the king and queen! Hehe!"

Before she could react, he was already dashing off.

"Don't worry about it, I just need to win the 2nd trial and wish for Eclipse to not get married so that you don’t have to be her personal assistant or staff or whatever!!" he called over his shoulder, flashing a wide, reassuring grin before disappearing from sight.

Moonlight stood frozen for a moment, her crimson eyes wide with surprise as she watched Mixarnt sprint off with his usual reckless energy. His words echoed in her mind: "I just need to win the 2nd trial and wish for Eclipse to not get married so that you don’t have to be her personal assistant or staff or whatever!"

A soft, incredulous laugh escaped her lips as she shook her head. "That boy... he really doesn’t think things through, does he?" she murmured to herself, though there was a fondness in her voice. Despite his impulsiveness, Mixarnt’s determination to help her—even without knowing her true identity—touched her deeply. It was a reminder of why she had grown so fond of him in the first place. He saw her as Moonlight, not as Eclipse, the Sovereign Sword. To him, she was just a person, someone he cared about and wanted to protect.

As she stood there, her silver ponytail swaying gently in the breeze, Moonlight felt a warmth spread through her chest. Mixarnt’s unwavering optimism and willingness to take on the world for her sake gave her a glimmer of hope. She thought that maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this mess after all.

Meanwhile, Mixarnt dashed through the corridors, his mind racing with excitement and determination. He had always admired Moonlight—her calm demeanor, her kindness, and the way she always seemed to understand him. The thought of her being forced to leave the Adventurers Guild and become Eclipse’s personal assistant was unbearable. He couldn’t let that happen. Not if he had a say in it.

As he reached the arena where the participants were gathering, Mixarnt’s grin widened. The second trial was about to begin, and he had a new goal: to win and make his wish. He didn’t care about the politics or the consequences. All he cared about was making sure Moonlight could stay where she belonged—by his side, at the guild.

The other participants glanced at him as he joined the group, some whispering about his match with Lancelot and his sudden burst of energy. But Mixarnt paid them no mind. His focus was solely on the task ahead.

Back in the throne room, Sunshine and Althea were still deep in conversation when a messenger approached them. "General Sunshine, the second trial is about to begin. The king and queen request your presence in the royal viewing box."

Sunshine nodded, her golden flame eyes dimming slightly as she stood. "Let’s go, Althea. We’ll figure this out later."

As they made their way to the viewing box, Althea glanced at Sunshine. "You know, Mixarnt’s participating in the trial, right? Maybe he’ll do something reckless and shake things up again."

Sunshine smirked, though there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "Knowing that brat, he’ll probably try to win just to make some grand gesture. Let’s hope it works out in his favor.