// Chapter 13 \\

A month. It had only taken me a month to reconsider that offer. I didn't give him the patience to tell me to reconsider. Surely, he tried to have me accept the offer, a begging plea, but I'd still denied it. However, Seonghwa seemed obliged with my letter and approved of my arrival to the Dawn Court. Unlike the entourage I brought with me half a year ago, I only brought myself and the Knight standing next to me.

Despite her foggy-blinded eyes, I could tell the portrayal of Elara's gleam there was just as rigid as my own. She walked tall for her short stature, head held high, in the position of a guard. The only guard— Night Court Knight— I'd dared to bring with me.

We almost looked to be of the same brethren, her and I. Dark skin— her's was darker— and speckles of darkness flaked over our faces. Her's seemed like dark drifts of snow compared to the gleaming dark sparkles of stars in mine.

My hair had been straightened and pulled back into a singular braid with thin ribbons of white and violet intermingled with the silken black and silver. I had an overtopping of thin silver-gleaming cloth. The thread that wove the cloth was in the pattern of simple diamond stars and revealed the clothing I wore underneath. I had a grey shirt that clung to my body and clung up and around my neck. My arms were left exposed entirely except for the small grey gloves on each, which were also silver rimmed. My violet pants came up high on my waist, though, it wasn't quite that breathable as it wasn't as baggy aas other pants. An intricate white pattern of swirl cascaded down the outer side of these pants with a silver lining. This all ended when it came to my grey boots which held a few white patches and were lined with silver as well. Violet was a great compliment for why I was there today, so I'd had the shadow above my eyes brushed in that color.

Elara's dark and cyan streaked curls had been fixed for the occasion, yet a curl or two still fell over her face and she was not the least bit aware of it. Her silver armor was that of a Knight's, adorned with dark blue silks and pendants conveying that rank. It was not rank of Captain of the Guard and that is what made her appearance alone so unusual.

I remembered her asking me the formally placed question of why I'd asked her to come here. I still hadn't chosen a Captain of the Guard between her and the other three. I still didn't want to. However, I didn't convey that, I simply told her that I found some trust in her. She left it at that.

I had many questions for her as well, and they all rose to my mind with that glance I gave her, but I didn't speak one as I looked back ahead of me. Not right now. Not here in the halls of the Dawn Court where phantom shadows and images of memories still lingered. Not in the place where I knew spies could be hidden in every corner listening to our conversation— despite whether the importance or unimportance was great. Not where my own face seemed to be covered in a shadow from its haunting memory. And certainly not when we were walking right through the large golden and dawn purples and pinks of the throne room.

It wasn't a room I entered previously here, though I don't believe, during that time, that Seonghwa wished to take his day leisuring in the thick silks and puffs of dark rich saturated pink-rose cushions of that throne. In the bits of white wood and orange stone facets that complimented the large rims of gold which swished in the jagged shapes of those canyons and mountains off in the distance of this Court— symbolized this Court— in the design of that throne. Sitting atop that throne was the High Monarch of this Court.

Seonghwa seemed well poised from where he temporarily sat before he stood to our approach. The cloth he wore was a simple white shirt which seemed rather thick and set into a choker that was gold rimmed at his neck. The sleeves pooled and sweeped around his arms in a low loop of cloth, exposing his shoulder and muscle of the arm. Certainly, the back of this shirt was exposed as well to reveal the gold scars where wings could take form. Though, I didn't try to think of how the cut between the loose shirt and the tight white pants revealed a sliver of his stomach. I drew my attention to his boots which were smooth, white, and silverlined. I looked back up to his face, to the curled black hair— like it had been at the party— to see small silver spikes of hair accentuated pieces decorating the sides.

It was as if he was prepared to dress in slightly similar attire to Night Court and that's when I realized the resemblance in our attire. That was also when I met those unreadable golden eyes which were staring at me. Those golden eyes didn't seem to share any surprise from that fact, so I copied that stare.

"Welcome again, Star of Night Court," Seonghwa spoke formally in a way of greeting. His head slightly tilted in formal politeness that made me question why he was using such formality. Perhaps it was from our last conflict and that still didn't settle well with my unsettled thoughts of this place and him.

Nonetheless, I bowed my head in the same manner as him before I dryly spoke, "Ironic to see I'm being greeted in such a formal manner by you, Seonghwa of Dawn Court."

"I figured it would be best," He replied smoothly, simply blinking to me before his eyes slid curiously to my side where I knew my only companion stood, "And you are?"

"The Menkalinan of Night Court, Cress of Dawn Court," Elara replied in her strong-willed and mannered tone.

Seonghwa hummed in intrigue as he folded his arms and brought his hand up, propped on his other arm, to brush his chin, "The Menkalinan, I've heard much about you."

"My reputation precedes me, then," Elara replied in a bit of amusement.

It caused me to stiffen with how lightly she put it, however. Her words could very well be considered offensive for speaking out of line, Monarch or no—

"A Monarch and a Knight to the Night Court," Seonghwa nodded, allowing for a glimmer of amusement in his eyes to shine. I could've sworn fascination and respect crossed those golden hews as well. He nodded once more with a blink back to me, his hand and arm lowering back down to the folded other, "At least, I see that you still have the title of Knight, and the only guard to come here with Star."

A slight prod by him for implying the position of my Captain of the Guard. I'm sure my eyes conveyed my thoughts of it with the gaze we held; I certainly didn't appreciate it. However, I didn't let the frustration inside me from his words and himself cause me to roil. No, I was here for a completely different reason and it was certainly the fear of that reason that kept my frustration pushed down and plummeting into the deep depths of myself. All in the while of my eternal conflict, I kept my face calm as I replied as smoothly as he did earlier, "Not why we're here."

"True," He raised a brow from under his bangs before he blinked it away. He made his way down the marble stairs of the throne as he finished, "You aren't here to discuss such things. You're here to learn about the dream realm."

I thought my blood was already cold, but, the way it ran now and sent a chill through me, this had to be blood running cold. I held back my shiver as I gave a simple nod, gold locking with gold as I replied, "It is."

"So you changed your mind. May I ask why?" Seonghwa asked as we were well on our way down the Dawn Court halls. His question was the first words uttered among us three on the walk. He'd brought no guards with him, leaving only him, Elara, and myself. He'd also been leading the way down those corridors, though he kept almost in pace alongside me. Even now, he seemed to slow to be in step beside me while Elara was on the other, giving a glance to me.

His golden gaze was in question— question to the one he posed. He was waiting for my answer. A question to the paranoia I'd faced the other day and it was certainly something I didn't want to relive now.

"I'd rather not say as of now," I simply said before allowing my gaze to focus on the track ahead of us.

I could've sworn Seonghwa's gaze stayed on me for a moment or two longer than needed before he did the same: looking forward and giving his simple response, "Very well." And suddenly, he stopped and there was a sound of a creak before a door to the room on the side of the hall began opening.

They were dull spruce doors to the green walls creaked. They blended so well with the walls of the hall I could've been convinced that they were naturally there. Except, I was certain they weren't there before.

They opened to reveal a violet room with a glass dome looking over the orange mountains covered in a purple haze in the far distance. The dawn light of this world from its low-sitting sun was high enough to cast orange and golden haze into the room. It made all the color encompassing the circular room more vibrant. Gold, white, and saturated pink vines climbed and curled on the walls and windows and all seemed to run across the floor to curl and twist at its center. There at the center was a large, cushioned, pure white bed. Even the gold frame that held those cushions seemed soft. Those vines twisted up the bed's sides and stopped short of the welcoming cushions atop it. One who could normally sleep would probably grow tired from the sight of it. However, I couldn't help but let my eyes widen, mouth slightly agape as I gawked into the room.

The room itself didn't seem unusual, however, it was that I'd walked down this hall before. If my memory of my vision served me correctly— with my vision that's impeccable— then this door to this room didn't exist here. No, I was for certain it hadn't existed before because this hallway had been one I walked through for those interrogations...

I gulped before I began to ask, "How-"

"How is this here?" Seonghwa slowly turned around, back towards me and tilted his head. He pressed his lips together as he searched my gaze. He licked his lower lip before he slightly turned back to the door and gestured to it with his hand, "This room— Lenuil— has always been here. There are many runes casted on it: one for peace, one for sleep, and one for dreams. I designed it to be the most peaceful sleeping room in the Dawn Court palace. As for how it is here," Seonghwa shrugged to the fact of how the room appeared out of nowhere, "Well, it suddenly became a room I could summon from any part of the palace. I'm not quite sure how that is, but I assume it has to do with the runes I put on here. Otherwise, we'd be walking to the highest tower in the palace."

I furrowed my brows as I jutted my head out slightly and pointed to the floor, "Then why did we walk here?"

Seonghwa shrugged to that to and I almost seethed in annoyance, "Hm, I was simply trying to get a bit of conversation in," his stare looked back to me and remained there for quite a moment before he spoke his last words, "Seems that didn't quite turn out to be very fruitful."

"So this entire walk was a ruse?" Elara dared to speak from behind me. I knew she wasn't pleased by this either as she had her hands on her hips when I glanced back to her. She dared to let herself fall out of line for one moment and I had no objections to it. I turned back to Seonghwa to find he had none either. It seemed his eyes hadn't even left where they looked at me.

That had a bit of a smile forming on Seonghwa's face as he spoke, "Perhaps."

He turned then, arms behind his back, before he walked into the room. He then took one hand from his back and brought it to his mouth as his plump lips parted and revealed his pearly teeth. His eyes had closed to the shade of dawn on his eyelids and only when he began to open them once more from his yawn did I realize I was staring.

I pulled myself away quickly before his gaze could realize what I'd been doing. My gold irises delve into the room before I could, observing the peaceful quiet scene I myself was about to step into. That was when a tan hand was held out in front of me. I first looked to his hand and then up to his golden eyes as his figure stepped in front of me.

"Star, don't come into the room just yet," Seonghwa's voice was smooth and, if it hadn't come out in the intention of a warning, I would've ignored it.

I stopped, his hand barely hovering over my stomach before I took a step back. I tilted my head as we held each other's golden gazes. I waited for him to make his reply.

Seonghwa blinked before he continued, "The runes on this room can't be resisted by anybody and I'm sure that includes you, Star." he licked his lips before he turned and looked back into Lenuil, "The runes are designed to make the ones entering fall into a trance of slumber and I've been the only known person who can walk in and resist the room's ability since I placed these runes here," Seonghwa turned back to me then, eyes narrowed— serious, "You may very well fall asleep when you enter this room, Star. Unblinking gaze or not, I don't doubt the abilities of Lenuil."

I'd gulped once more before my mouth became dry. I was terrified. Deep down inside me, I was terrified of the peace beyond those doors. Because what I, in fact, saw was peace. Alluring, sweet, peace and I still wanted to walk into that room. This room would be my downfall.

"I doubt this room's ability can have me falling into slumber in an instant, Seonghwa," I spoke matter-of-factly as I let my head bob over to him in a serious-bored gaze.

He slightly grimaced, eyes looking to the floor with a gentle bite of his lip, "Well, " his gaze looked back up to mine, "I do recall slumber coming to you multiple times. I believe we should put it to the test." And the hand that had kept me from entering the room gestured out to the silent, sleepy space as Seonghwa stepped back.

I didn't move. Elara didn't move. She remained still behind me and I didn't dare to speak as I held Seonghwa's gaze, counting the blinks to keep that fear that lurked in my depths from pouring out. Seonghwa lifted his brows in question with the gaze he held and that was enough motivation as any to have my head dipping in acceptance.

While doing so, I gave the command, "Elara, wait out here."

I knew she heard me and that I didn't need to look back to know her position was at attention— waiting. That was when I moved to walk in.

My first step was on the rim on the threshold. I paused, knowing well that Seonghwa was watching me, but I didn't look at him; I looked to my feet which were about to cross a line. I gaze myself a moment to let my vision be wary, trained onto the wood line and the maroon floors beyond it. I inhaled a breath. It is fine. It is peace and it is safe. I didn't know if it was myself who thought of that or if the room somehow spoke to me, but it was enough leverage to pick up my other foot and cross the line.

My foot didn't hit that maroon carpet, though.

It had hit air.

My wings didn't even spread— betraying me— as I lost the balance to where the rest of myself was before the threshold and I fell. I fell into that maroon and then beyond into light pinks before it escalated to a white. A sunny, bright white and I was still falling down a large square-shape tunnel. There were blue shadows beneath me to another hall and that there— the ground— was where I was supposed to land, but I, for the life of me, couldn't get my wings out.

I thrashed in that fall. I knew the panic that settled in my eyes was due to the fact I couldn't get them out. I had to get my wings out. I had to get them out. I was going to splatter. I was going to hit the ground— it was right there— the white concrete—

I glanced warily into the hall I was supposed to enter to find a gleam of silver flash from the darkening depths. Then I heard the crack as I collided and pain erupted in my neck and head—

My eyes flung open and my lips parted as I heavily gasped. I grasped onto the warm cloth I found curled against and breathed in a scent of rosemary and I looked up into dark rich golden eyes that were so close to mine. The warm breath that almost had me shuttering.

"Well," Seonghwa spoke in a breath of what seemed to be shock as he scanned my eyes. He kneeled, holding me there, in Lenuil, just right inside its threshold. He shook his head as he finished, "It seems the test worked."

REMEMBER:​​​​​​

1. Smack dat butiful star

2. Leave a comment talkin abt dis tea

3. Share dis tea induced book with yo fwends

WHY? Because I appreciate it 🥺

\\ See u in the next chapter! \\