Morning arrived gently over the Duchy of Lumireth.

A major city of this duchy was named Helior City.

In the city of Helior.

Sunlight spilled across the land in warm gold, washing over tiled rooftops, stone streets, and the countless banners bearing the sigil of the Luminous family. It was a three-sword sigil. Two swords crossed, one standing in the middle, with a sun behind them.

The city was already awake merchants opening their shops, carriages rolling over clean roads, voices rising in calm, orderly harmony. It was a prosperous place, refined yet lively, known for discipline, culture, and strength.

At the heart of Aurelion stood its palace.

It was not as overwhelming as the Imperial Palace of Mordheim, but it stood just a step behind elegant, dignified, and powerful in its own way.

Tall ivory walls rose proudly beneath the morning sky. Wide balconies, arched windows, and carefully carved pillars gave the structure a noble presence without unnecessary extravagance. It was a palace built not to intimidate, but to endure.

Behind the palace, beyond gardens trimmed with care, lay a vast training ground.

Steel rang against air.

A young woman moved alone at its center.

Her long golden-blonde hair was tied back in a high ponytail, strands clinging to her neck as sweat rolled down her skin.

Golden eyes. Sharp, focused, unyielding tracked every invisible opponent before her. Her face held no emotion, not even strain. Only concentration.

She wore an oversized gray T-shirt, darkened slightly with sweat, and fitted black sports leggings that allowed full freedom of movement. There were no ornaments, no insignia, nothing that marked her status.

Only her sword did.

Seraphina Luminous moved.

Her blade cut through the air in clean arcs, each swing precise and controlled. Her footwork was flawless. No wasted motion, no hesitation. Every strike carried intent. Every stance was deadly.

She transitioned smoothly from one form to another. Thrust, lash, pvot, counter. Her sword flowed like water, calm on the surface, lethal beneath. Even without an opponent, the pressure she radiated was unmistakable.

She had been training for hours.

Sweat dripped from her chin. Her arms ached. Her muscles burned.

She did not stop.

Again.

And again.

Only when her final strike ended cleanly. Blade stopping inches above the ground. Only then did she finally lower her sword.

Silence returned to the training ground.

Seraphina stood still, chest rising and falling steadily. Slowly, she exhaled. She wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and sheathed her sword.

Training was over.

Without another glance at the field, she turned and walked back toward the palace.

---

Her chambers were located in the eastern wing. Large, spacious, and filled with natural light. Tall windows allowed the sun to pour in, illuminating polished marble floors and walls decorated with only a few framed weapons and bookshelves.

The room was noble and beautiful.

No excessive decorations. No soft pastel colors. No unnecessary luxury.

It reflected her perfectly.

Seraphina entered and closed the door behind her. She removed her sword and set it carefully against the wall before heading straight toward the bathing room.

Steam soon filled the air.

Warm water washed over her skin, carrying away sweat, fatigue, and the lingering heat of training. She stood under the stream in silence, eyes closed, letting her muscles relax.

Her thoughts, however, remained sharp.

Training schedules. Academy rankings. Recent reports.

And, unbidden, a certain name crossed her mind.

She opened her eyes slightly, then dismissed the thought just as quickly. Now was not the time.

After finishing, she stepped out, dried herself, and returned to her chamber.

This time, she dressed properly.

A crisp white blouse hugged her frame neatly, its fabric clean and sharp. She tucked it into the waistband of her tailored black trousers, the contrast giving her an air of calm authority. Simple boots followed. No jewelry. No excess.

When she was done, she stood before the mirror.

Seraphina Luminous stared back.

She was calm, composed, and unshaken.

She didn't wear any expensive gown or jewelry. She didn't have much liking for them. She loved to wear what was comfortable for her. And honestly, there was not a single person who could force her.

Her golden eyes turned and fell on the nearby desk.

The room, despite being luxurious, was simple. It had no charm of a young woman's room. Yet there was one thing on the desk that was out of place. Something that many young girls and women liked.

It was a soft toy. Only one in the whole room. It had black, messy-shaped hair, a cute-looking face, and was wearing a dark blue T-shirt and black trousers.

It was none other than the soft toy based on Amon's appearance.

Her eyes trembled. A familiar emotion rose inside her.

The moment she saw it, the memories of that night came to her.

How they walked in the bustling night city while holding each other's hands. How he played that game and won this, then gave it to her as a gift.

It was a small time… yet for some reason, she remembered it very clearly. Every day, whenever she saw that soft toy.

She strode toward it and held it in her hand.

'It's really soft… and cute.' She stared at it with the same expressionless face. But then her expression turned gloomy.

If Amon were to see her like this, he surely would have thought her a very cute creature who needed protection.

Still holding the toy, she lay on the bed, her back against the soft mattress.

She gazed at the soft toy and sighed.

"Where are you?" she asked the toy. For some reason, she talked to this soft toy sometimes, when she was alone.

It felt really shameful to do it. She was not a kid to talk to it like that. Yet she did it again.

She held it between her soft, full chest. Truly, Amon's toy was luckier than him.

"Please be safe Amon." Her voice was soft. She was really worried about him. It was not like she actually loved Amon.

But he was really close to her. Maybe even closer than Eliana. They were training partners. That was one of the reasons which brought her close to him the most.

Not forgetting his mischievous side.

Just then, her pager started to make noise.

Beep! Beep!

Seraphina looked at the pager on the desk. She took it and checked who was contacting her. It was none other than the student council president. The princess of this kingdom. Also Seraphina's cousin.

Selena Aurellian.

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