It had been four years since he left Winter.

Four years since he regretted leaving her.

Four years since he was living in the lumber sector with his parents.

Four years since he replayed in his head what could've and would've been if he'd just stayed with her. If he would've became a palace guard just to be close to her.

Jacin sincerely regretted it every single day. The thought of her being alone up there with them. Those selfish and vain Lunar aristocrats, those thaumaturges, that evil queen.

He missed her too. So much. She was his best friend and his only friend. He didn't make any new friends after departing from her, only because he did not have the heart to. He did not have the heart to see someone else walk away from his life. No - that thought belonged to Winter only. He was the one that walked away from her life. She was the only one who could feel this way, who could feel so betrayed. He only felt... scared. Scared to let someone in only to push them out.

His worst fear that gave him visions of darkness, fallen angels, and stars above, maybe even Satan himself came true. Satan as in Levana. Fallen angels as in thaumaturges and those wicked aristocrats.

There was a live reporting that so rarely aired after the anthem that let the lunar citizens go home from their hard work and labor. The voice of Levana could be heard throughout the sector, and once Jacin detected the slightest sniffle and the feigned distressed and sorrowful voice, he'd already known.

He knew, but didn't know.

He didn't want to know, but he wanted to know.

He hoped he was just getting ahead of himself.

But just as quickly as his thoughts scattered and recycled throughout his brain, it all came tumbling down.

Winter Hayle-Blackburn, Princess of Luna, has been pronounced dead as of today.

Before Jacin could hear more details of her death, he completely zoned out. He landed on his knees, screaming and screaming and screaming to the point where his voice went hoarse. He heard a whirlwind of cries around him by other citizens, but no one knew her like he did. Absolutely no one.

He felt hands around his waist, pulling him up. But just as quickly as they pulled him up, he fell back down. His knees and legs felt like jelly. He could hear his mom creeping up to his side, tugging on his muscular arm and begging for him to get up. He detected his father's voice at some point amiss the hysterical cries in his ear from his mom.

"No!" Jacin yelled to the moon, to the earth, to whatever was out there. This was not how it was supposed to end. This was not how she was supposed to end. She was never supposed to go. People like Winter don't just die so suddenly. Even though he'd been away from her for over four years, he knew her the remaining fifteen. At this point and time, it felt like he'd just played the Princess and the Guard with her at age seven and five. It felt like he'd just been comforting her over the devastating death of her father. It felt like he'd just been researching for his doctor's intern and the unusual lunar sickness yesterday. It felt like he'd just been supporting and comforting her through her horrific hallucinations.

It felt like he'd just left her today.

The weight of his decisions came whirling around him like a huge joke. A bad, bad one. Like bad karma.

It had been four years since he left Winter.

Four years since he regretted leaving her.

Four years since he replayed in his head what could've and would've been if he'd just stayed with her. If he would've became a palace guard just to be close to her.

An instant since she died.

A second since a part of Jacin died with her.

To the review that requested the Rampion Crew getting together, I will make sure to do that for the next chapter or the following one after that!