The streets of Velkaris glowed beneath the silver wash of moonlight. Mana lanterns floated along the avenues like drifting stars, bathing the stone roads in hues of gold and soft blue. Vendors were closing their stalls, laughter spilling from the open doors of taverns and cafes. The air carried the scent of roasted spices, wine, and night-blooming flowers.
Trafalgar and Mayla walked side by side, their pace unhurried. Around them, families lingered after dinnerâchildren tugging at their parentsâ hands, couples sharing quiet words beneath the glow of the lamps.
For a moment, Trafalgar slowed down, his gaze fixed on a father lifting his daughter into the air as she laughed uncontrollably. The simple joy of it stirred something deep in his chest.
âFamilies... normal ones. No titles, no bloodlines, no schemes. Just people living.â
His mind drifted to another worldâone far away. His motherâs voice calling him for dinner, his sister sitting cross-legged on the floor with her headphones on, the smell of food from the kitchen. Warm, familiar, safe. All of it gone now.
He exhaled quietly, eyes lowering to the cobblestones.
Mayla noticed. "Youâve gone quiet again," she said softly. "Whatâs on your mind?"
He hesitated, searching for the right words. "Itâs strange," he murmured at last. "Seeing families like that. So... happy."
Mayla followed his gaze toward the people around them. "Most families are," she said with a faint smile. "But when youâre born into power, happiness becomes something you have to fight for."
They walked for a while without speaking, their steps falling into rhythm with the faint music drifting from a nearby square. The night in Velkaris was different from Euclidâalive, vibrant, humming with life that never seemed to rest.
After a few minutes, Trafalgar broke the silence. "You know," he said quietly, "now that I think about it... I donât actually know much about you."
Mayla tilted her head. "About me?"
He nodded. "I mean, I know youâve been with my family since before I could even walk, but beyond that... nothing. Where you came from, what you wanted for yourselfâany of it."
Her brown eyes softened. "There isnât much to tell, really." She looked ahead, her voice calm, almost detached. "I was an orphan. The Morgain household took me in when I was a child. They trained me to serveâto read, to cook, to follow orders, and to keep quiet when I shouldnât speak."
Trafalgarâs brows drew together. "So they raised you to be perfect."
She gave a small shrug. "They raised me to be a useful maid for you."
That simple word hit harder than she probably intended. Useful. It sounded too much like a tool, not a person.
"Did you ever hate it?" he asked after a pause.
Mayla shook her head. "No. It was hard, but it gave me a place in the world. When you grow up with nothing, having a purposeâeven a strict oneâfeels like a blessing."
Trafalgar slowed his pace, his gaze drifting toward the shimmering lights of Velkaris. "And now? Youâre free. What do you want to do with that?"
Mayla smiled faintly. "I donât know yet. Maybe Iâll learn what it means to live for myself this time."
Her answer lingered in the air, soft and sincere.
Trafalgar looked ahead, his expression shadowed. "Freedom..." He paused. "Iâm not sure Iâve earned that word yet. Maybe Iâm not free at all."
Mayla tilted her head slightly. "You sound like someone trapped."
He gave a quiet exhale. "Maybe I am."
âThe Veiled Woman said my path was already written... that every step I take is part of a design I canât escape.â The thought slid through his mind like a whisper in the dark.
Still, he forced a small smile, almost defiant. "But even if thatâs true, Iâll do what I can to take it backâto change whatâs written."
Mayla glanced at him, a trace of empathy softening her features. "You mean... breaking away from the Morgains?"
Trafalgar didnât answer immediately. His eyes reflected the blue glow of the mana lamps as he muttered, "Something like that."
She didnât notice the weight behind his wordsâor the distant look that said his chains went far deeper than any family name.
Their steps carried them uphill through the northern district, where the air grew cooler and the lights more refined. At the end of the avenue stood a tall building of pale stone and glass, its sign written in gilded runes that shimmered like starlightâThe Silver Blossom.
Warm light spilled from the entrance, accompanied by the soft notes of a mana-powered harp. Couples entered and exited dressed in fine clothes, their laughter blending with the faint hum of conversation. Mayla hesitated near the doorway, brushing a loose strand of brown hair behind her ear.
"Trafalgar," she murmured, "this place looks... expensive."
He glanced at her, a hint of amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth. "It is. But tonight weâre not counting coins."
Before she could protest, a young elf in a black uniform approached with a courteous bow. "Good evening, Lord and Miss. Do you have a reservation?"
Trafalgar shook his head slightly. "No. But Iâm sure thereâs something available."
The elf hesitatedâuntil Trafalgar slid a gleaming silver coin into his palm with practiced ease. The elfâs brows lifted ever so slightly, and his posture straightened as if by reflex.
"Of course, my lord," he said smoothly, the coin vanishing into his vest pocket as though it had never existed. "I believe we can find a fine seat for you."
Mayla hid a small smile behind her hand as they followed him inside. The restaurant opened into a grand hall of glass and stone, warm light spilling across the marble floor. Diners in elegant attire spoke in hushed tones, their laughter blending with the gentle hum of a mana-powered harp.
They were guided through the softly lit room to a table near the large curved window, overlooking the glowing expanse of Velkaris. From there, the city stretched endlessly, rivers glittering like silver threads beneath the moon.
Mayla stopped for a moment, her breath catching. "Itâs beautiful," she whispered. "Iâve never seen the city like this."
Trafalgar sat across from her, his dark-blue eyes reflecting the lanterns outside. "Neither have I," he admitted quietly. "Not from here."
When their meals arrivedâroasted venison, moonfruit slices, and a light mana-infused wineâthe music softened, and the world seemed to shrink to the space between them.
Mayla looked out the window again, her reflection faint against the stars. "It almost doesnât feel real," she said.
Trafalgarâs gaze lingered on her, voice low but certain. "It is. For tonight, it is."
They placed their ordersâroasted venison with ember sauce for Trafalgar, and seared riverfish with herbs for Mayla. The waiter bowed and retreated, leaving them surrounded by the soft glow of mana lamps and the faint melody of the harp echoing through the hall.
The night outside was alive, but inside, time seemed to slow. The city lights shimmered across the glass, and every so often a passing airship glided by, its lanterns leaving trails of gold above the rooftops.
"The nightâs still young," Trafalgar said, leaning back in his chair. "Guess I can afford to stay a bit longer before heading back to the academy."
Maylaâs smile wavered slightly. "Youâre really going to return tomorrow?"
"That was the plan," he admitted, swirling his wine absently. "But plans change."
When the dishes arrived, the smell filled the airârich, warm, comforting. They began to eat in silence at first, but eventually Mayla looked up, her expression soft but uncertain.
"Trafalgar," she said, almost hesitating, "are you sure itâs okay to spend this much? On me, I mean."
He paused mid-bite, meeting her gaze. "Yes," he said simply. "After everything youâve done for me, this is the least I can do."
She shook her head gently. "You donât owe me anything."
Trafalgar gave a faint smile, though his voice dropped a note lower. "Maybe not for the past. But I still owe something for what Maeron did to you. I told myself Iâd pay that debt someday. I just... canât yet. Not while Iâm still this weak."
Maylaâs fork paused over her plate. Her eyes softened, a mix of worry and affection behind them. "Donât do anything reckless," she said quietly. "You donât have to prove anything to me. Iâll support youâlike I always have. Just... donât throw yourself away for it."
Trafalgar leaned back, the tension in his shoulders easing at her words. Outside, the lights of Velkaris stretched endlessly beneath the moon, and for a fleeting moment, the weight on his chest felt a little lighter.
He smiled faintly. "Iâll keep that in mind."
Mayla nodded, returning the smile. "Good. Then finish your dinner before it gets cold, young master."
Trafalgar chuckled softly. "Youâre still calling me that?"
"Old habits," she said, laughing under her breath.