"Stella!" Hearing her father's voice, Stella stood her ground with Brandon following behind her. They had agreed not to let anyone know they were dating, especially since their kingdoms were not on good terms and Trix was back, attacking only the kingdoms of the light. Only Stella's parents knew about their relationship. So, Brandon was acting like her guardian, although it wasn't much of an act. Brandon truly was guarding her, especially since her face was now radiating after she gained her moon powers.
Faragonda had informed them that the power of the moon brings the light of a pure soul to its owner. Stella wasn't intentionally using it, but now that she had, Brandon was finding it hard to stay away from her. It might sound like a shallow reason to be around her just because she's pretty, but that wasn't the case. Brandon had always been protective, but after facing the fear of losing her twice on the night she lost her sun powers, he couldn't risk her life again.
"Baby! What is it? We were in Eraklyon and I came as fast as I could when Faragonda informed us about an emergency." Radius had only one daughter and a troublesome ex-wife, both being his main reasons to wake up every day. He acknowledged Brandon with a head gesture and hugged his daughter close. Backing away slightly, he looked at his daughter, who seemed different in his eyes. She looked pretty, as always, but there was something different about her—this light emanating from her. He had seen this light before, but not on Stella. His eyes grew wide as he opened his mouth to speak when another voice interrupted his words.
"Stella! Oh my god," Luna rushed to her daughter immediately, pushing her ex-husband aside and circling Stella in her arms. Luna had felt it, though she didn't know how. Someone had used the power of the moon, and her magic grew in alarm. That could only mean that the moon had found its guardian. "Oh, you look so beautiful! You have no idea how happy I am for you!" Watching Stella with tears in her eyes, Luna cupped her daughter's cheeks and slowly caressed them, admiring the beauty of her daughter.
"Happy?" whispered Radius, disbelief evident in his voice. "You're happy for her?"
Stella bit her lip, already feeling the tension between her parents. Please, not in front of Brandon, please stop. "I am," said Luna, not backing away. "I'm the queen of Lunaria, of course I'm happy for my daughter finding the source of the moon and becoming its guardian."
"What? You became the guardian of the moon?!" Radius couldn't hold it in anymore. Turning his eyes to Stella for the first time in years, he felt anger rise towards his daughter, and he took large steps to reach her. Brandon, alarmed, had to use all his strength to stay back, trusting the king not to harm his daughter. But if he did, disrespecting the king would be the last thing on his mind.
Grabbing Stella by her arms, he looked at his daughter and repeated, "You became the guardian fairy of the moon?! How dare you?!" Shaking her slightly, he pushed her for an answer, but all Stella could do was bite her lip and suppress the hiccup that threatened to escape her mouth. Brandon took a step forward, and in response, Radius's guards all got ready, just in case. But Brandon didn't even see them. All he could see was the forceful fingers gripping Stella's arms.
Luna halted the guards and forcefully pushed Radius back, her teeth clenched in anger. "Are you out of your mind?! Leave her alone!" Radius shoved Stella, and Brandon swiftly caught her before she hit the ground. Her back pressed against his chest as his arms instinctively wrapped around her, drawing her closer. Brandon couldn't help but think, you should thank God you're her father, as he glared at Radius's back.
Radius walked to the couch in the middle of the room. They usually held meetings with close kingdoms in this room, which explained the couch and the ready-to-serve food and drinks. With a hand gesture, Radius motioned for the guards to back away and leave the room. They stood their ground for a few seconds, but since the order came from the king, all they could do was obey.
With Stella next to him, Brandon seated them both across from the king and in front of the queen. He waited for his turn, knowing there would be a moment when he should join the conversation.
"Dad," Stella's fragile voice pierced the tension in the room, shattering Brandon's heart into pieces. This man should really thank God he was her father! "I had no choice, it was either the source of the moon or…"she began, but her voice faltered, unable to continue. Radius, however, looked at her expectantly, demanding an explanation for her choice to forsake the sun for the moon. "Or what? Didn't the sun satisfy you enough? Did I really raise you to be this selfish and spoiled, Stella?!"
Clenching his fists, Brandon readied himself, silently seeking the king's response with a firm gaze. Queen Luna watched him closely, her expression filled with anxiety over the young man's intentions. When Radius turned his attention to Brandon, he was surprised to see the young man standing like a protective wall next to Stella. "Stella was about to die. She had no choice," Brandon declared firmly, his voice unwavering as he defended Stella's decision.
Brandon's words brought a shockwave into the room, and both Luna and Radius now turned their attention to Stella, who kept her head low, her lips trembling as she fought back tears. Losing her would be far worse, of course. The realization of this melted Radius's anger, and he cupped his face, taking deep breaths to calm down.
"Stella, what happened?" Finally, Brandon thought. You remembered to ask the main question.
As Stella slowly explained the reason behind her unfortunate adventure, Brandon drew small circles on her back. Her parents were too focused on her to notice his gesture, but even if they did, he didn't really care.
"And here I am," Stella murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Brandon tightened his grip on her small waist, offering reassurance. For him, it didn't matter what powers Stella possessed, as long as she was healthy, happy, and alive. He was determined to take care of her for as long as he lived. But he knew she wasn't happy; she was scared for the fate of Solaria. That's why Brandon was prepared to do whatever it took to make her happy again.
"I don't understand. How can the power of the sun run out? That power has been within you for years. You're not just any fairy, you are the guardian fairy of the sun!" Radius's voice was filled with confusion and concern.
"She's the guardian fairy of the moon too," Luna said proudly. Brandon took a deep breath, sensing the tension escalating once again. He glanced at Stella, who was visibly trembling. Clenching his fists, he tried to steady himself. Stay calm. But then he felt a delicate touch on his leg and looked back at Stella to see her gaze filled with worry. Shit. He smiled reassuringly, hoping to convey that everything was under control.
"Luna, Stella has been using the power of the sun for years. If she loses it now, even though the power of the moon is there, not having the source she's been dependent on for years could kill her."
Silence enveloped the room as all eyes turned to Radius, each face reflecting a sense of terror.
"What?" Brandon's question cut through the tense air, causing Radius to look at him. He sighed, recognizing the fierce determination in Brandon's expression. It was a look he knew all too well, reminiscent of his own younger self. He had trusted Brandon to protect Stella, and now, seeing him stand up for her even against her own father, reaffirmed that trust.
"It's the truth," Radius explained, his voice heavy with the weight of the revelation. "That's why I've been warning Stella about using her moon powers. Because I know the sun and the moon would not work together. She has to choose, and her body chose the sun when she was a baby."
"That's not true," Luna interjected, her voice low with guilt. She felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. "I felt her absorb my moon power even when she was a fetus." Stella's mind raced with newfound information, realizing there was much about herself she didn't yet know.
Meanwhile, Brandon was grappling with his own emotions, struggling to contain his rising anger. Two grown adults, acting only in their own self-interest, had put Stella's life at risk. It was infuriating.
"I don't want to escalate tensions any further," Brandon spoke, his voice low and steady, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. "But if anything happens to her, I can assure you, dealing with my fury will not be easy." His words were a clear warning to both the king of Solaria and the queen of Lunaria.
Luna blinked in disbelief at Brandon's bold statement. When she turned to gauge Radius's reaction, she was surprised to see him with his head bowed, looking embarrassed. "I know, son. I'm aware," he admitted quietly.
"So," Stella began, drawing the attention of the room. She had remained quiet while her parents debated her fate. "I absorbed the moon power in your belly," she gestured to Luna's stomach. "And when I was born, I literally owned the power of the sun." Seeing her parents nod, Stella frowned. "Didn't this sound suspicious to you, Mom? How was I supposed to do this when I was consumed with the power of the moon?!"
"You were bonding with the sun too, Stella," murmured Luna, her cheeks reddening. Radius cleared his throat and shot a glance at his ex-wife, knowing where she was leading. Rolling his eyes, Brandon understood Luna's implications, but it seemed Stella was too preoccupied to read the room. "What?" she asked, looking between her parents. Brandon straightened up slightly and tightened his grip on her waist, leaning in to whisper something in her ear. Stella's face immediately flushed crimson. "Oh my god! Have you heard anything about perseverance?!"
"Stella!" Luna chided, her own cheeks now as red as her daughter's.
"There's no point in debating this now, sunshine. We have to think about how we can find the sun and save you," Brandon said, touching her chin gently. He knew her parents wouldn't mind the small gesture, but he wanted to maintain respectfulness toward them. His touch lingered a moment longer, his hands itching for more, but he pulled away at the last moment, swallowing hard. This moon power was wreaking havoc on his hormones.
Radius looked at his daughter and smiled lovingly. "I'm proud of you, Stella. You've shown everyone that you are the true guardian fairy of the celestial bodies."
Celestial bodies, Stella thought, surprised. She had forgotten that the sun, the moon, and all those stars shining in the night sky were called celestial bodies. Owning their power was a magnificent feeling, honestly, but right now, she was missing the main one. The one she had chosen to be born with. The one she cherished more. It would be unjust to the moon to say so; she had only just discovered its abilities. However, the warm feeling of the power of the sun felt different next to the moon's delicate touch. Stella felt as though all her movements and attacks contained droplets of diamonds. It was like she was made of porcelain, and even the slightest touch could break her.
Sighing, she stood up and headed to the table where delicious food and drinks were laid out. She reached for a glass and filled it with water. It was surprising how much water she was drinking since she lost the sun. Her throat was almost always dry, seeking moisture.
Luna raised her brows, surprised to see Stella drink three glasses of water. "You okay, honey?"
Stella nodded her head and reached to fill her empty glass again. Brandon, watching his girlfriend, turned his gaze to her parents and whispered, trying to hide the concern he felt for her. "She's been eating less and drinking way more. Does this have anything to do with the sun?"
Radius, while watching Stella, nodded his head. "It's a newborn power's effect. She used a source she had never used before. Everything is new to her body right now. That's why she looks better than ever and is literally shining. Her body is reforming and has new needs, just like a baby's needs. She doesn't know when enough is enough and is probably hungry almost always."
Stella lowered her glass and closed her eyes, trying to understand what her father had just explained. Maybe this was the reason behind her hunger for Brandon as well. She noticed the way her boyfriend was looking at her, and even his touch was different. He had always been a caring and loving boyfriend who was always hungry for her. But since she changed her sources of power, Brandon was affected as well; it was obvious. He was famished for her touch and body just like she was for his. He was too scared to lose her, just like she was scared to lose him. How did the moon work out this way she had no idea, but something inside her connected this to his dark mana. "I know," Her eyes grew wide with sudden realization, and she turned so fast to the three pairs of eyes watching her that everyone shot up and got closer to her, afraid that she was hurting.
"I know what awakened my moon power!"
"So this is all my fault." Radius raised his head, watching Brandon carefully and unsure how to respond to the young man's concern. He wouldn't label it as fault, since Brandon was trying to save Stella at that moment, and Stella didn't know that mana could work this way, just as Radius's mana worked with Luna when Stella was a fetus.
"What you did is the opposite of what Luna and I did," he started, realizing he was as much at fault as Brandon right now. "Mana and magic are bonded in so many ways; they are, after all, powers connected to sexuality." Brandon nodded, understanding the intricate relationship between magic and mana, often associated with women and men respectively.
"We'll find a way to reclaim the power of the sun now that we know its reason for disappearing. Don't worry." Looking at the king, confused and concerned, Brandon cleared his throat before expressing his worry. "You're not going to ask me to stay away from her, are you?"
Radius smiled at the young man's concern, seeing a reflection of his own youthful worry in Brandon's eyes. "Absolutely not, son. Stella would've killed me." Brandon let out a deep breath of relief and managed a smile. "But I also don't think that's the right thing to ask, even if there wasn't a risk of my daughter killing me."
Reaching for his cognac, Radius took a sip and leaned back to gaze at the star-filled sky, a sight he had missed since Luna returned to Solaria. Despite their constant bickering, he couldn't deny how much he missed her presence.
"What do you mean?" Realizing he wasn't being entirely transparent with the young man, Radius glanced towards Brandon's untouched glass of drink. "Relax, Brandon. You can drink; you won't leave a bad impression today."
Glancing at his drink and then back to the king, Brandon shook his head, his expression serious. "I don't think I can relax for a while." Sighing, Radius straightened his posture and set his drink aside, losing his desire to drink. "What I mean is that you are connected to Stella, and perhaps the reason she is well right now is because you are around her."
Rising to his feet, Brandon turned his head towards the door, knowing Stella was in the next room with her mother. "What happens when I'm not?" Fear tinged his voice, prompting a smile from Radius, who felt his heart relax at the sight of Stella having someone who could care for her as much as him. "She'll fall sick until she learns how to empower herself with the moon."
"Can't the queen teach her? What happens if something happens to me? How would she survive?"
"Son, you should take care of yourself as well then. If something happens to you that would be your last thing to concern."
Frowning, Brandon watched the king, searching for any sign of jesting. Not finding any, he turned to make his way towards the room where Luna and Stella were. "Brandon." The king's calling stopped him in his tracks, his voice stern and commanding. Brandon had to turn around and see what prompted this sudden change. "I really think you're missing the main question here."
Radius now standing up, walked closer to the young squire. He watched as Brandon's brows furrowed and hands turned into fists. He knew Brandon wasn't a man to get angry this fast. Stella's change must've affected him as much as her. "Mana isn't owned by just any man. You have to be of noble blood to possess it." This was stating the obvious, Brandon and the rest of the universe knew this. But the king was trying to get somewhere and all Brandon could do was wait until he finished.
"Usually, this kind of mana is owned only by the high nobles. Those who are…" Watching the young man carefully, Radius hesitated before continuing. Brandon didn't know who his parents were, and what he was going to tell him was definitely going to trouble him more today. "Royal."
"Sky is Royal but his mana is not stronger than mine. Maybe there are exceptions," reasoned Brandon, his eyes turning to the door and impatiently waiting for the king to let him enter the room where his girlfriend was. Realizing that his only reason to enter the room wasn't just because he was worried for Stella, but also because he missed her and longed to be by her side, he lowered his head as if caught off guard. Since when was he so obsessed with her? Obviously, since he met her, yes, but this was obsessively worshipping and needing her.
"No, Brandon," Radius tried to reassure him by putting his hand on his shoulder and squeezing it. "Sky's mother is not a noble lady. That's why Sky's mana is weaker than yours. Of course, I don't know who your parents are, but I can tell you one thing: they probably are royalty."
Sighing, Brandon nodded. He and Stella were already trying to figure out his situation and were almost there a couple of days ago before the Trix arrived, but now he was as confused as before they started their research. "I was guessing the same thing, but it's not possible."
"You can keep saying this, but I know, Brandon. My mana is powerful because of my bloodline. Both my parents were of royal blood. And I know for a fact that there's no exception because that's how mana is formed, by the connection of strong mana and strong magic."
Turning his eyes to the king, Brandon didn't know how to respond any further. Why was he thinking he was an exception? Because if it were like that, then he would've already known who his family was.
"King Radius, if it were true that I own royal blood, then this would mean that the King of Nyxoria is my father and the queen is my mother. Because Nyxoria doesn't have any other royalties."
When Radius didn't respond, Brandon's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the man, finding it hard to believe that this could be possible. "It can't be!" Brandon said, shaking his head fiercely. "Why would they get rid of me?"
"They wouldn't," responded Radius with a stoic expression. "Someone else would."