Umi and Fuu were reluctantly separated during their nighttime stroll when suddenly, Ferio appeared. The prince seemed to be in seclusion, pondering alone in one part of his castle. Everything became clear who should withdraw. Umi smiled and decided to leave so that Fuu could be with Ferio.
Ferio invited Fuu to explore and meet some of the residents who were still awake due to patrol duties, enthusiastically explaining everything about Cephiro, which he now led. Ferio showed Fuu around the castle; where various places were located, where people lived, the names of towers until finally...
"That's the Pillar Tower."
Fuu stopped to look at it. "So high and... beautiful." The tower gleamed, surrounded by gardens and artificial forests. At its base, a large lake adorned the land. It was the same lake Fuu had seen in another part of the castle she had visited.
"Yes. It used to be even more beautiful. People celebrated at its base. Many guardian warriors, the greatest sorcerers served the Pillar here. The Pillar was in the midst of them, like the sun..." Ferio reminisced. "It was beautiful, but lonely if you felt it... The tower soared above any other building around it. Just like the Pillar itself."
"Your sister... Princess Emeraude... lived there?"
"All the time since so long ago. She confined herself to this complex to best protect Cephiro. She had no one who could understand her, except Sol Zagato... Now she's free... and now the tower is empty until another Pillar is appointed."
"You're lonely too, aren't you?"
Ferio thought for a moment. "Umm... I won't deny it. Imagine, you have a family, but that person can't really be your family. My status makes me even lonelier. I want friends, but people treat me so specially as if I'm so important to Cephiro. I'm not important at all. Only my name is important."
"What do you mean?"
"When the Pillar has done everything, the kingdom lives on its name. I do live with royal blood, but I would die without doing anything important for my country, just like the other members of my family. If the royal family dies out, no one really cares, because the Pillar's existence has ensured everything."
"Do you have a family?" Fuu was slightly surprised. "I don't see them..."
"I'm among the last. Many of them decided to break away from the royal family and blend in with the people. They can't be recognized anymore, scattered across Cephiro. They seek and find the life they like. They never return and may have died..."
"So, who is Princess Emeraude to you?"
"Actually... she's not really my sister. She's been alive for decades. Her age is truly long thanks to her power; I never counted or asked. Since I was born, she introduced herself as my older sister, and it wasn't hard to accept her that way. With her always youthful appearance, she deserves to be my sister. She loves me very much... but I can't touch her..."
"I also have an older sister. She means a lot to me... She's always with me."
"You're lucky. You grew up in a warm family..."
"Yes..."
"I'm also lucky to meet you. I must thank your family; you grew into an extraordinary girl." Fuu was startled. Her cheeks turned red. "Even though our meeting in that brief Silent Forest was so painful, I couldn't help but feel happy knowing you're safe..."
"Prince Ferio..." Fuu bowed her head. "Our meeting in the Silent Forest that time, I was so rude to you... I'm sorry..."
Ferio chuckled softly. "What are you talking about? I know you were trying your best to survive and protect your friends. Don't worry and..." Ferio touched Fuu's chin. "Don't care about my status... Treat me as usual. I'm still the same person you met before."
They fell into silence. They looked at each other... Fuu felt her body warming. Her heart pounded... Suddenly she realized something. She saw what was on Ferio's left ear.
"You noticed it?" Ferio removed the ring-shaped earring.
"It..."
Ferio pointed at it. "You remember! This is the ring I gave you."
"How is that possible?! I know, I kept it in my pocket..." Ferio laughed again at Fuu's panicked look. "But when I returned to my world, I couldn't find it anywhere! How could it be?"
"So, you were looking for it?"
Fuu was startled and embarrassed.
"I'm glad you made it something valuable. Shouldn't I take it as something?" Ferio looked at the ring. "For some reason, this object returned to me..."
"Maybe because I returned to my world..."
"Now... I want you to have it again." Ferio placed the ring in Fuu's palm. Ferio held Fuu's hand tightly. "This object is a gift from my sister..."
"In that case, I can't accept it..." Fuu tried to return it. "This object must be very valuable..."
Ferio held firm with his resolve, and Fuu fell silent. "It's not like that... This object originally belonged to my sister. When she gave it to me, she said that when I meet someone special in my life, I should give it to them. She didn't want me to miss that chance. Perhaps because... she herself knew the pain of not being able to be honest and be with the person she loved. She knew she couldn't live with her beloved in this world. That's why she gave it to me... She hoped I could love someone... and now I love someone."
Fuu welled up with tears, learning the poignant story behind the ring and Ferio's seriousness about it.
"Hey, no need to cry. I don't want to make you sad..." Ferio embraced Fuu, soothing her. "I've never seen my sister smile happily. Even when she smiled, her eyes always betrayed her... Having someone you can love is an extraordinary thing in life. When I think of you, I always remember to keep a smile on your face. So, can you do that for me?"
Ferio wiped the tears from Fuu's face. Fuu nodded. "I will start a better life..." Fuu tried to smile. "With you..."
"A smile is just like happiness. It's fought for."
"Thank you..." Ferio kissed her gently.
"So, are you ready to go back to your room? You should rest now. I can escort you."
"No need. I'll go back on my own. I know the way." Fuu let go of Ferio's hand. "Teach me more about Cephiro..."
"I can take you to meet the people of Cephiro."
"That's great." Fuu smiled wider. "I want to see your people."
Fuu left. Alone, Ferio looked at the Pillar Tower. He became saddened... after hearing Fuu's last words. The people of Cephiro... My people... Ferio thought. For decades there has been no king in Cephiro, no true leader, no leader that the kingdom could provide. So, who am I now? What am I now?
Ferio looked at his reflection in the mirror. He pondered, observing his distinctive appearance with clothes that clearly indicated his high status. Is this just an outer garment? Who am I really? What is the meaning of freedom and the joy of life that I've been seeking? Why did I return to the place I left for years? Just to deny the reality of the blood flowing in my veins? It's not like that.
Ferio saw a light passing through the sky, approaching a tower... "Lantis..." Lantis had just returned from a journey outside the castle, a journey whose purpose Ferio never knew. Oh... he also returned to Cephiro. Is he also like me, deciding to come back because he feels called to do something that can improve the situation? Lantis and I are the same... thought Ferio. We were once people who ran away from reality.