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I watch the world go by in silence
Deep in the night in silence
Time going by so slow
I think about the morning
And it warns my heart
Because tonight I'm going back to the one i love
And by tomorrow with the dawn I'll be there
And he'll be beside me
Sunlight, oh, sunlight
Bring me the love I'll need to guide me
Shining deep inside of me
Sunlight, oh, sunlight
Show me the way
Sunlight by Kevin Lettau
A drop of sweat glistened under the light of the setting sun. Yet, Edmond ignored it as he rushed forward, his rapier aimed at his well-matched opponent. The red, wild mane of the other person swayed as he parried Edmond’s attack with his sabre, a wild smile plastered on his lips.
“My Lord seems to be in a good mood today,” Edmond said in between breaths.
“Why would I not? ”Dante launched a counterattack, but Edmond dodged, returning the move and taking advantage of both his speed and smaller build.
He always admired this person’s strength, but Edmond was more agile than him, making them equal on the battlefield—almost.
Edmond was well aware that if both of them faced each other on a real battlefield—which he hoped would never happen—they both knew that none of them could tell the outcome.
Both of them were fearless warriors, committed to protecting their home territories. No one will back down in front of a foe, whatever the circumstances may be.
There’s no need to think of something that will never happen. Dante once responded when he mentioned his thoughts. Isn’t it already good enough that we stand on the same side of the battlefield?
“Sun Lord Dante,” Gyro arrived, bringing their duel to a halt. Dante glanced at Gyro with a querying look. “The head of the noble families sent an urgent request for your audience.”
Dante frowned. “Fine. Let’s hear what they have to say this time.”
While Dante was speaking with Gyro, he did not notice Edmond’s unmoving gaze.
The orange tint of the afternoon sun’s light scattered across the horizon illuminated the Sun Lord’s fiery red hair. In Edmond’s eyes, Dante seemed to glow, like a fire ablaze, shining brightly against the dusk. And for a moment, Edmond felt like he was a firefly drawn towards this beautiful flame.
_____________
Dante was held back by the Solarian nobles until nighttime.
Back in the Light Territory, Edmond would have been patrolling the streets of the capital by now. But now that he was in Solaria, he had nothing to do after dinner.
As someone who is always busy day and night, Edmond was actually bored to death.
No, without Dante to talk with, you lost interest in doing anything else, Edmond finally admitted to himself.
Ever since the mission to regulate the altar ended, the King of Klein would always send Edmond to continue a good diplomatic relationship with Solaria.
This somehow developed his good friendship with the Sun Lord throughout the years.
Whether having similar noble backgrounds or the desire to protect their people, Edmond and Dante resonated with each other. Though they may differ in their ways, no one can deny how much care they put towards the citizens.
These similarities developed their camaraderie with great leaps and bounds.
Edmond leaned over the balcony of his room and watched the stars twinkle up in the dark sky.
During his missions with Eiden, he went to different territories, but he could only find the most beautiful night sky in Solaria.
After a while, he decided to go out to take a walk.
The streets of Solaria were bustling at this time of the night as the temperature started to cool down.
He checked the stalls he passed by, some with local products while others were imported from different places.
On his way, some of Dante’s soldiers recognized him and greeted him. They were riding carts carrying a bunch of stuff.
“What are these for," Edmond curiously asked as he eyed the large box on one of the carts.
“Sir Edmond, these are the food supplies and ingredients to be distributed for the Sun Lord’s birthday,” answered one of the soldiers.
“Dante—I mean, the Sun Lord Dante’s birthday?” Edmond inquired, his ears slightly turning pink, trying to maintain a casual expression. “Why did I hear this for the first time?” He did some research about Dante and the Fire Territory before, but he never encountered the Sun Lord’s date of birth. In the end, he only disregarded it as something they preferred to maintain confidentially.
“Yes, but it’s no surprise that Sir Edmond did not hear of it. The Sun Lord actually doesn’t like celebrating his birthday. With Solaria’s situation, he was used to not celebrating it, deeming all the extravagance attached to a celebration a waste of resources.”
“However,” another soldier butted in, “As the danger of the Dead Zone has ended and the altars have stabilized, the noble families urged the Sun Lord to follow the tradition that was held back for years so there would be a banquet tomorrow night.“
At this point, Edmond was patiently listening. But the moment he heard those words, he felt as if someone doused a bucket of ice-cold water over him; an ominous premonition loomed in his heart.
“It is about time for the Sun Lord to find someone to marry.”
_____________
Edmond raised his hand as he watched the red floating particles of essence as the elemental spirit of fire granted another oasis in the desolate desert.
The floating essence of fire is a symbol of allegiance and blessing from the elemental spirits.
It was one of the most beautiful miracles Edmond saw in his life.
“Despite the dead zone being suppressed, going alone here is still dangerous. There are some beasts with hard shell armor.”
Edmond did not need to turn around to know who it was. “Thank you for your concern, My Lord, but I am capable of protecting myself.”
“I know. You can defeat any type of beast in the desert, but not if they attack in groups. I’m sure you’re well aware of this.”
Edmond did not respond. He knew that his action was indeed reckless.
Dante stood beside him and said, “May I know if something bothers you?”
Edmond did not respond.
For a certain time after the mission to regulate the altar ended and the Dead Zone was suppressed, Edmond felt a sense of loss. Losing a sense of direction, losing reason to move forward. Though he still continued his duties as a knight of the kingdom, a part of him could not help feeling that something was wrong with his life.
Dante became someone who gave a glow to his monotonous day, just like the particles of fire essence. He was like an oasis that gave him the strength to continue forward and a fire that ignited his heart. Dante was the sunlight that illuminated his life.
“My Lord,” Edmond said after a while, “After the ceremony tomorrow, I will leave for the Light Territory.”
“What’s the matter?” Dante asked. Edmond would not leave early without reasons, but he thought there was an emergency in the palace.
Edmond wanted to hide his reason. He was usually thin-skinned. Admitting that he liked someone was similar to admitting defeat. But it’s different with the Sun Lord. There’s a little urge in his heart to want to fight for this man.
Even if it was a hopeless battle, he wanted to try.
With a sudden surge of emotions in his heart, he turned to Dante, completely forgetting his initial plan to run away.
“My Lord, I may be willing to fight and shed blood on the battlefield, but I don’t think I can watch you choose a wife in front of my eyes.”
Dante furrowed his eyebrows. He was about to refute, but Edmond continued.
“If I watched you join hands with another person, I'd die without blood. My Lord, you’re not cruel enough to let me die without a fight, right?”
Edmond kneeled and bowed in front of Dante, his right fist in front of his heart. “My Lord, will you let me court you?”
The corners of Dante’s mouth raised upwards, unbeknownst to Edmond. He quietly kneeled, waiting for Dante’s reply.
After a while, Dante responded, “The banquet tomorrow night was indeed for me to choose a partner as per Solaria’s tradition. I intended to announce my plan to woo the person I wanted to marry.”
He paused, “But that person already beat me in confession. Then I should take this loss wholeheartedly. After all, this is also my greatest win.”
Hearing those words, Edmond looked up. Dante’s bright smile completely illuminated the gloom in his heart.
They both know that some people will throw hurdles in their path, and some might even be against their union because of their status in two different territories. But Edmond knew that they could also become each other’s strength.
The Sun Lord offered his hand. Edmond took it.
Dante did not say anything else. He pulled Edmond into his arms.
A red flare of light was fired from the city, marking midnight.
As Edmond saw it, he whispered, “Happy Birthday, My Lord.”
Dante never liked celebrating his day of birth, but now it would also remind him of this moment. He stared into Edmond’s eyes and said, “You’re the greatest gift bestowed upon me.”
As Dante crossed the distance between their lips, Edmond felt as if the surroundings turned brighter and the feeling of being lost was finally gone.
He’s finally home.