By the time Garima left the palace, the sun had already vanished beyond the horizon.
She exhaled slowly. Her shoulders finally loosened.
Behind her, the palace loomed–grand, imposing..suffocating in a way, she hadn't noticed until now.
Garima lifted her head
The moon hung above. Bright and Clear.
"..It's beautiful" she murmured.
Priestess Ava stepped closer, following her gaze.
"Yes," she said softly "but also tragic"
Garima glanced at her"Tragic?"
Ava smiled"It's a folklore passed around here. About Phael"
Garima looked up again.
So the moon had a name.
"Phael" she repeated under her breath.
"It is said" Ava continued, her voice taking on storyteller's cadence. "that Phael, was cold, proud and beautiful"
Garima smirked lightly. "Ofcourse he was, look at his brightness"
"And Donari" Ava went on "she was the opposite"
Her voice softened.
"Loud, vibrant and impossible to ignore"
Garima gaze lingered on the moon. She could already see where this was going.
" Donari loved Phael," Ava said "she gave him everything. But Phael remained indifferent"
Garima didn't interrupt.
"Hurt… and exhausted, Donari eventually left. She ran"
Garima let out a quiet huff "It was inevitable"
Ava nodded "Only then did Phael realised he loved her"
Garima sighed "Oh classic. Let me guess he chased after her? Still chasing?"
Priestess Ava chuckled "Yes"
"Sounds exhausting," Garima sighed.
It was like a cold ruthless CEO novel, where he falls after the bright and caring heroine leaves. Starting the wife-chasing crematorium.
"One chases," Ava said softly "the other runs"
Garima blinked. That was…. unexpectedly poetic.
"At dusk and dawn" Ava said softly "there are moments they almost meet"
"So it's punishment" Garima tilted her head.
"It's is said" Ava replied "Sometimes when Donari softens and let's him see her"
It must be Eclipse. Garima thought. "And the world goes dark"
"Its called Lightfall" Ava nodded " Phael absorbs Donari dimming her life, and once again Donari knows Phael is bad for her"
Garima's lips curved " She runs again?"
Ava nodded "Yes, she runs again"
"And phael chases" Garima finished. "Such devouring love sometimes become toxic"
Dylan cleared his throat gently, interrupting them.
"Your Holiness," he said "we should leave"
The carriage awaited at the end of the marble steps.
Two foldgrazers stood harnessed into it–tall elegant creatures with gentle luminous eyes.
They watched her quietly. The coachman sat outside the carriage. He nodded his head at Garima showing respect.
Priest Dylan stepped forward and opened the carriage door.
"Please" he said.
Garima stepped in. Ava followed. Dylan took a seat across from them.
The carriage began to move—smooth.
For a while, none of them spoke.
Then—
"Are you alright?" Garima asked, her tone softer now.
"I thought we were going to die" Ava let out a breath.
Dylan gave a faint smile. "I still think we might"
Garima winced "I am sorry, I didn't meant to push it that far"
"Your Holiness" Ava looked at her "you mean you… planned it"
Garima leaned back.
"Yes, but not like that not with you involved"
Silence settled between them
"So you are nobility?" Garima asked after some time.
"Yes," Dylan spoke " the King recognized us right away"
Garima's gaze sharpened. "Your family?"
Dylan nodded "We are Viscount Rabban's youngest children"
Ava's hand tightened in her lap. "Our father serves the court" she said "Lower nobility, we are not insignificant, but not powerful either"
Garima studied them.
"Which means" she said slowly "If today had gone wrong. Your entire family would have fallen too?"
They didn't answer. They didn't need too.
Garima looked at them properly this time.
Dylan looked hardly seventeen—Ava twenty one at most.
And they had stood before the king. Ready to die.
Because of her.
"Do you regert it?" she asked quietly.
"No!" the answer came instantly—from both of them.
Garima didn't speak for a moment.
Then— " I won't waste what you risked," she said "that's a promise"
She paused.
"From today, you are mine, my people, my siblings"
Dylan looked stunned.
Ava's eyes filled with tears.
Garima didn't hesitate—she pulled them both into a hug.
"I'll protect you,"
Dylan exhaled slowly against her shoulder. And Ava held her tighter.
That was enough.
The carriage continued through the streets.
Lanterns were lit. Garima looked outside. Dylan and Ava were still leaning into her.
She looked at her reflection.
Her eyes were colder now. And more certain.
____
The shrine was quiet when they returned.
She sent Ava and Dylan to rest, exchanged a few perfunctory words with Priestess Agatha and Priest Hill–
Then went straight to her room.
Closed the door and locked it.
Then the artifact in her hand pulsed.
"That was reckless" the voice said. It was familiar but lacked the usual warmth.
Garima turned sharply. "Reckless?" She repeated.
"You provoked a king" Cosmo said, evenly "you escalated a controlled situation into a volatile one."
Garima let out a sharp laugh.
"Oh, I am sorry" she said "Should I have bowed lower? Stayed quiet? Let them test me like I am some–some decoration"
"That is not what I said"
"Then what did you say?"
A pause.
Cosmo's voice didn't change
"You almost died."
Garima froze for a second.
"No," she said.
"You used power as intimidation"
"It wasn't intimidation" she snapped "it was control"
"It was unnecessary"
"It was effective"
Cosmo spoke again. "That is not why, you were brought here"
Garima's fingers tightened around the artifact
"Then tell me why was I brought here" she shot back "Because from where I stand, I am the only one doing anything"
"You were supposed to guide. Not dominate." Cosmo's voice softened slightly.
I said nothing before because no one was harmed But ths—
"You almost died, those children too"
Garima sighed, guilty. "Tch"
"But they were testing me" she said "The king. The queen. Danya. If I didn't take control, I would have lost the room"
"You didn't take control" Cosmo replied quietly "you forced it"
"So what?" Garima muttered.
"Aella," Cosmo said firmly "not everything needs to be escalated"
Garima looked away.
"Then what do you want me to do ? She demanded. " Smile? Pretend ? Wait for things to fix themselves"
"No"
"Then what?"
The room fell silent and Cosmo didn't answer.
"You shouldn't have helped me" Garima muttered.
"You know that's not possible," Cosmo replied "I will always help you"
"So what is the problem?" Garima asked.
"I intervene when necessary, and it's not always possible to send something that powerful. I borrow it— from the world itself."
Garima let out a bitter laugh.
"necessary?" she repeated "Do you even trust me?"
Cosmo's voice softened.
"I need you to make better choices"
Garima's jaws tightened.
"That's not what I asked"
She looked at the artifact in her hand.
"You are the only one who knows everything," she said quietly "About me. About this world. About what's coming…..and the mess I have made"
Her voice dropped.
"You are the only one I can talk to"
Cosmo didn't answer immediately
Then—
"This is exactly why" Cosmo said gently "I am telling you not to lose yourself while trying to control everything"
Garima's lips parted.
Then closed again.
"I am trying to stop people from dying." she said.
"I know"
"I don't want to live the story I wrote"
"I know"
"So I don't have time to do this slowly." she whispered "I just…want to go home"
"I know"
Garima looked away.
"..Then stop calling me reckless I am some Idiot"
"You are not an idiot" Cosmo said "you just act like one…sometimes"
Garima blinked. Then laughed–quiet, tired, real.
"Rude"
Cosmo chuckled softly.
"So we are good?" Garima asked.
"For now" Cosmo replied "But reflect on it"
"Yeah, yeah"
Garima sank onto the bed.
"Thanks"
Garima didn't know it it was for chastising her. Or for saving her. Or supporting her unconditionally.
"You are welcome"
The artifact glowed fainty.
And for now–
That was enough.