Chapter 14 - Starlight

Chapter 14 – Starlight.

𓆩⟡𓆪 ❂❂❂ 𓆩⟡𓆪

After Damon stopped soliloquizing, he sighed, walking towards the chair.

He reached for his jacket. His motion— lazy, like his body was present but his mind somewhere else.

As he laced his boots, he spoke softly.

"Hazel, is there anywhere I can get some food around here?"

Hazel, who'd been sitting cross-legged on a shelf, twirling her hair, perked up.

"The Queen's already arranged a feast," she said, fluttering her wings. "To celebrate your return to Woewyn. All the commanders will be there. Maybe even your future trainers."

"So, I can't just use light eterna?" Damon asked, raising a brow.

"Of course not," she said, landing on his shoulder. "You're the chosen one, remember? You've got all four basic attributes waiting to wake up. As you godmother I predict two more subcores."

He chuckled quietly. "Guess I'll need something to wear then. I'm not even gonna ask what a subcore is"

Hazel smiled. "This is one of your rooms for now. The Queen thought this one fit your style best."

"Well," he said, glancing around. "She's not wrong. Still need clothes though."

The dog barked from the corner. "Check the cupboard, genius."

Damon opened it — and paused.

Inside hung an attire he'd never seen in real life, but somehow, it felt right.

A long black coat, violet lining that shimmered like obsidian when the light hit.

Gold chains looped across the chest of the inner wear, anchored by a small turquoise crystal that pulsed faintly.

The coat fit like the last piece of a puzzle— elegant, but battle-ready.

He smirked at his reflection. "Not bad."

Hazel giggled. "Told you you'd like it."

"You gonna watch me change too?" he asked flatly.

Hazel made a tiny gasp, then laughed as she flew out the door.

"I'll be waiting, Your Modesty."

𓆩⟡𓆪 ❂❂❂ 𓆩⟡𓆪

Damon stood in front of the mirror, jacket collar folded sharp, the faint glow of gold still whispering behind his eyes.

For a moment, he wondered what Natsuki would think of them.

He reached for the doorknob and stepped out.

The hallway stretched long — chandeliers glittering, portraits lining the walls, light dancing across marble floors.

Hazel floated ahead, chatting endlessly about "Great Lord Thorpax" and some general she thought was handsome.

The dog padded beside Damon, glancing at the art.

In his head, he thought, Let's hope this isn't like those stories where the rich live too well and the poor don't live at all.

Damon almost smiled. Yeah, let's hope.

Then they both stopped.

At the end of the hall hung a portrait — a tall man, proud, standing beside a hound.

The man's eyes held quiet strength; the dog, loyalty.

Damon didn't need anyone to tell him who they were.

His father.

And the dog in the image… looked familiar. Too familiar.

The real dog tilted his head, barking softly. "I think I know that guy."

Hazel turned, realizing they weren't following her.

She blinked, then smiled faintly.

The way they stood — Damon and the dog — mirrored a memory of Hazels perfectly.

"I think," Hazel said quietly, "I know why you two understand each other."

She turned midair. "We'll talk after the feast. You'll want to see Dr. Tolrex about this."

"Yeah," Damon murmured, eyes still locked on the portrait. "Maybe."

Hazel clapped her hands. "Let's move! We're late already."

Damon sighed, hands in his pockets, and began walking again. The dog trotted close beside him.

When they reached the staircase, Damon didn't walk — he slid down the rail, landing cleanly at the bottom.

The dog leapt down beside him, landing in perfect unison with Damon.

Hazel fluttered in disbelief.

In her mind, it was confirmed — the resemblance wasn't a coincidence.

𓆩⟡𓆪 ❂❂❂ 𓆩⟡𓆪

The doors to the grand hall towered before them.

Damon pushed them open.

The music quieted.

All eyes turned.

Dozens of nobles and soldiers filled the room — each dressed in ancient-styled attire, elegant but edged with history.

Conversations stopped, replaced by whispers that rippled across the hall like a leaf just touched a river.

The Queen rose from her seat near the head of the table. "You look good, my son."

Somewhere behind her, a young woman whispered, "He's… handsome."

Damon pretended not to hear.

The dog didn't. He raised an eyebrow — if dogs could.

"Don't even think about it," Damon muttered under his breath.

Hazel hovered by the Queen, clearly amused.

The Queen gestured to him. "Come, meet your tutors Damon."

As they approached, one soldier tried to take the dog. "We can handle him, Your Highness."

Damon's tone turned calm, quiet — commanding. "Don't bother. He's staying, thank you."

Something in his voice made them step back without question.

One whispered "He's quite calm for a prince don't you think?" "Yeah I thought he'd be all over the place."

The dog looked smug. "If she thinks you sound calm, she should hear Natsuki."

Damon shot him a glare. "You've got a crush on her too, huh? Hate to break it to ya but she's human." Damon sneered.

They both stared at each other — silent, locked in a petty telepathic war.

Neither moved, but both knew exactly what the other was thinking: Natsuki likes me more.

Then they realized the music had stopped completely.

Everyone was watching.

Damon cleared his throat. "Uh. Sorry."

Hazel facepalmed. Then left to find Tolrex.

𓆩⟡𓆪 ❂❂❂ 𓆩⟡𓆪

The Queen led Damon through the hall, introducing faces and names.

Three men, two women — all commanders of Woewyn's core.

"This is Thorpax and Varnex," she said.

Thorpax, tall and broad, extended a hand. "You wouldn't happen to have seen a portrait of my ancestor, would you?"

"I think so," Damon said. "He's the one with the medals?"

Thorpax laughed. "That'd be him. Great-great-grandfather — ended the war of the three kingdoms. Forgive me I do not mean to sound proud." he added, still smiling.

"Wait," Damon said, glancing at his mother. "You never told me there were three."

She smiled faintly. "I told you this plane was Eternum — we're in Woewyn. One plus one, Damon."

"Yeah," he said dryly. "You just didn't tell me how many ones."

Varnex — shorter, round-bellied, with fiery eyes — chuckled. "Smart kid. Oi we've got a smart one on our hands." he said cheering. The generals replied also cheering.

He reached for Damon's hand, pulled him in close, and whispered,

"Get ready, boy. I'll train you so hard you'll beg for Gamishi to finish the job first."

Damon blinked. "...what."

Varnex gave a smiley grin. "We'll have fun. Won't we boy? I am your fire tutor afterall"

Damon thought, I'm definitely going to die.

Beside them, Bravira — tall, muscular, brown-skinned — crossed her arms.

"Don't let him scare you. I'll train you better and harder too. We've even got a bet on who'll break you first."

"Yeah watch out for her she's a real bull lady and your tutor for Light" said Thorpax, mockingly.

Bravira laughed. "You're still weak in Earth, Thorpax."

"Say that again, and I'll bury you in it," she said, smirking.

"Ohh this is gonna be goood" Varnex giggled.

"I won the last time we spared Bravira, I would hate to beat a lady twice in a row."

"You call that a win you weakling, lets spar again. Right here right now!"

"Bring it"

There eterna aura flared the room. Colouring it in yellow and brown.

The thought of dying in training raced through Damons head.

The Queen's patience finally snapped. Her eyes flared with light.

"Enough!"

The three froze instantly.

Even Damon stiffened.

Cythera, the youngest, simply sighed. "They're older than me and still act like children."

The dog tilted his head. "How'll you even know who wins the bet?"

Varnex grinned. "Easy. We'll just ask him when training's over."

Damon exhaled. "Great. No pressure."

He turned to Cythera, offering a handshake.

She bowed instead, refusing to meet his eyes. Then turned.

Her eyes lingered for a second before she turned

Damon blinked. "Did I… do something?"

The Queen smiled knowingly. "What did you expect, with a face like yours?"

He groaned. "Ughh."

"She'll be your water tutor. She might be your age but she is strong."

"So mother where's the fifth?" Damon asked.

"Thorpax...where's your brother?" asked the Queen.

"Well errm, he had some wardrobe issues. Hehe" he answered scratching the back of his neck.

"Why is he always late when its important?" the Queen asked rhetorically.

"Nevertheless, Thorpax's brother will be your tutor with you affinity to Wind"

𓆩⟡𓆪 ❂❂❂ 𓆩⟡𓆪

Introductions rolled on — generals, soldiers, nobles.

Among them, Damon spotted two faces that made his jaw tighten — the same boys who'd jumped him back on Earth.

Their stares met. Tension boiled quietly beneath the golden light of the hall.

Then the Queen's voice echoed through the room.

"Tonight, we celebrate hope. The return of my son, the heir of Woewyn. And the spark that still burns across Eternum."

Applause. Cheers.

Hazel waved from the side, glowing brighter than the candles.

And Damon — gone.

Hazel blinked. "Wait— where—"

High above, on the palace roof, Damon sat cross-legged under the stars, a plate beside him.

The dog chewed beside him, tail thumping lazily.

Below them, the city lights shimmered like galaxies.

The moon hung impossibly close — or maybe it wasn't a moon at all, but another world, floating just within sight.

It was… beautiful.

He didn't speak.

Didn't need to.

For the first time in a while, the world was quiet.

Then, a voice — soft, playful — echoed behind him.

"You're in my spot, y'know."

Damon froze.

The dog looked up, ears twitching.

And just like that, for the first time since he arrived in Eternum…

Damon's heart skipped.

𓆩⟡𓆪 ❂❂❂ 𓆩⟡𓆪

End of Chapter 14 — Starlight.