Sunshine and Eclipse surveyed the Aether Maze in preparation for the upcoming third trial tomorrow, the atmosphere between them was light but tinged with concern. Sunshine, ever the observant friend, couldn’t help but bring up the previous day’s events. She glanced at Eclipse, her expression softening as she asked, "Hey, Eclipse... are you alright? I mean, your mother, Lady Lyandra, looked so angry after the engagement was canceled."
Eclipse chuckled softly, her usual composed demeanor cracking just a little as she thought about her mother’s reaction. "I won’t say we didn’t end up arguing," she admitted, "but my grandfather and father were there to calm her down. Honestly, I’m just happy that Mixarnt saved me from all of that." A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she spoke, her thoughts drifting to the young adventurer who had boldly stood up for her.
Sunshine noticed the blush and couldn’t resist teasing her. "Your Moonlight persona is showing up~" she said with a grin.
Eclipse rolled her eyes but smiled. "Silly, I am always Moonlight. I mean, I can always let my guard down with you and Althea. So even in this form as Eclipse, I can show my true self to you."
Sunshine’s expression softened, and she nodded. "But you know, in reality, there really isn’t that big of a change in personality. Even in your casual form as Moonlight, you talk the same. The only difference is that as Eclipse, you focus way more on discussions about the kingdom, political shenanigans, and strengthening soldiers, and all that. But as Moonlight, you just don’t talk about those things. So, I know for a fact that even if you’re in that form, you’re just YOU. Moonlight Eclipse Lunastra. My best friend and childhood friend."
Eclipse’s smile widened, and she let out a small giggle. "You’re so cringey sometimes, Sun."
Sunshine’s face turned red with embarrassment, and she protested, "W-wha! Hey! That was heartfelt!"
Eclipse didn’t give her a chance to recover. "I’ll go on ahead, slowpoke," she said, quick-stepping and vanishing deeper into the maze.
Sunshine huffed, her competitive side kicking in. "W-wait! Grrrr! Slowpoke my butt!" she shouted, using her own quickstep to follow Eclipse.
As Eclipse moved swiftly through the maze, a small smile played on her lips. Sunshine’s words had touched her more than she let on. It was true—whether she was Eclipse, the Sovereign Sword, or Moonlight, the receptionist at the guild, she was still the same person at her core. And having friends like Sunshine, who saw and accepted her for who she truly was, made all the difference.
For a moment, Eclipse allowed herself to feel a sense of contentment. The weight of her responsibilities as a general and the expectations placed on her by her family, and the kingdom didn’t feel as heavy when she had people like Sunshine by her side. She quickened her pace, her heart light, as she disappeared further into the maze, knowing Sunshine would catch up soon enough. After all, their friendship had always been a balance of teasing, support, and unspoken understanding—a bond that neither time nor duty could break.
The Aether Maze stood as a towering labyrinth located just south of Aetherlight, a place of both opportunity and danger. Used by adventurers and knights alike for dungeon farming, the maze offered a progressive challenge, with low-level monsters on the upper floors and high-ranking beasts lurking in the deeper levels. Hidden rooms filled with traps or treasures, as well as puzzles that needed solving to progress or unlock secret areas, added to the maze's complexity. However, the ever-changing nature of the dungeon made it unpredictable and perilous. The first floor was open to the sky, but the path to the lower floors led downward, deeper into the earth. No one had ever reached the lowest floor, though legends spoke of Merlin's final work being hidden there—an artifact of unimaginable power.
Eclipse had never ventured to the lowest floor, as she had little interest in such artifacts. When she had participated in the Aether Knight trials at the age of nine, the requirement had only been to reach the 10th basement floor. Now, as she and Sunshine stood on the 150th basement floor, they discussed the details of the upcoming third trial.
"Hey, Eclipse, so... which floor do you think we should task the participants to reach?" Sunshine asked, her golden eyes scanning the surroundings as she casually swung her blade, reducing a demon beast's corpse to ash.
Eclipse, standing atop the head of a giant demon beast, pondered the question. "Hmm... Based on the monsters' abilities, I would suggest the 30th floor. I'm not using Mixarnt as a basis—I think he could reach up to the 80th floor given his combat skills—but I'm talking about the average participant."
Sunshine smirked. "You think he’ll monopolize this trial again?"
Eclipse shook her head. "I don’t think so. The maze is ever-changing. Without my Lunar Eyes and your Golden Flame Eyes, even we wouldn’t be able to navigate it easily. The labyrinth walls are also built with anti-magic defenses, so they won’t break easily, even during intense battles."
Sunshine nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "I see. So, what’s the special task this time, aside from reaching the designated floor?"
Eclipse landed gracefully beside Sunshine, her tone casual but firm. "Every 10 levels beyond the 30th basement floor will earn them a higher rank once they complete the entire trial. They’ll also be rewarded with a million gold per 10 levels. However, if they choose to explore beyond the 30th floor, they aren’t allowed to turn back. They’ll need to reach the 40th floor to quit. The same rule applies to the other floors—they must reach the 10th level of each tier to exit."
Sunshine raised an eyebrow. "So, instead of starting with the Squire rank after passing all the Aether Knight trials, they have a chance to begin with an advanced rank. It’s tempting, but is it truly worth it? What if they fail during the third trial?"
Eclipse sighed, her expression somber. "If they fail, they fail. We both know the Aether Knight trials are brutal. This rule is also meant to discourage them from risking their lives unnecessarily. This year’s trials have been particularly harsh. Out of 3,000 participants, only 51 remain, and there are still three more trials to go. At this rate, the number of participants who pass might be lower than 20—or worse, fewer than 10."
Sunshine frowned, her playful demeanor fading. "It’s a harsh reality, but you’re right. The trials are meant to separate the truly capable from the rest. Still, it’s hard not to feel a little sad about it."
Eclipse nodded, her gaze distant. "It’s the nature of our duty. We can’t afford to lower the standards, not when the safety of the kingdom depends on the strength and resolve of its knights."
The two stood in silence for a moment, the weight of their responsibilities settling over them. Despite the grim reality, Eclipse couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in the trials. They were designed to test not just physical strength but also courage, intelligence, and the ability to adapt—qualities that defined a true Aether Knight.
As they continued their survey of the maze, Eclipse’s thoughts briefly drifted to Mixarnt. She wondered how far he would go in this trial and whether he would take the risk to push beyond the 30th floor. A small smile tugged at her lips as she imagined his determined expression. Whatever the outcome, she knew he would give it his all—and that was what made him stand out.
"Let’s finish up here," Eclipse said, her voice resolute. "We have a trial to prepare for, and the participants deserve our full attention."
Sunshine grinned, her usual energy returning. "Right behind you, slowpoke."
Eclipse rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a chuckle. "You’re never going to let that go, are you?"
"Not a chance," Sunshine replied, her laughter echoing through the maze as they moved forward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
