On a dirt road, the carriage continued to be carried by two horses trotted down.

It was time for the second night that they’ve left the academy. It was Wilster’s turn to drive the carriage. He took over the reins from Walice and let him rest beside him.

Leon, Royland, and Dedric were inside the carriage.

“Leon, what has you keeping silent since we’ve left?” Royland asked his childhood friend.

“Family…” Leon replied concisely.

With the moon out, the three young men closed their eyes and rested in the carriage.

---

Leokas decided that he and Aria should be together. They decided to purchase and live in an estate in the capital city of Kandarynd. Time past as they were together and eventually the two became husband and wife! Their love sprouted over time and they became a family. Even Magnus and Jaina were happy for the two of them, especially since they got to see their father truly smile and be happy again.

Years later, Aria gave birth to a son. She decided that he should be named after his father and named him “Leon”. Less than a year later, Aria gave birth to another child, a girl this time, and she and Leokas named her “Vivian.”

The two babies grew up under the care of Aria, Magnus, Jaina, and sometimes Leokas since he was still occupied as the Knight General of Kandarynd.

Under the family’s surprise, Leon and Vivian looked nearly similar when they grew older. They both had the same beauty as their mother. There were several minor differences between them but the biggest one between them would obviously be their hair color. Leon inherited the raven hair trait of a Nightwell while Vivian had dark blonde hair like her mother, Aria.

Leon and Vivian got along well with their older half-siblings, Magnus and Jaina. As they grew up, Leon and Vivian took on different interests and traits. Leon was upright and resourceful. After hearing of his mother and father’s journeys across the different lands, he grew interested and wanted to one day travel and have different experiences just like his parents.

On the other hand, Vivian was polite and shy. She was quiet around people outside of her family and friends. She also inherited Aria’s love for songs as she had a beautiful melodious singing voice. Another fascinating thing about her was that she had a talent for healing magic. Whenever Leon would bring Vivian out to play, he’d accidentally get hurt somehow and Vivian would step in and heal her older brother.

Years continued to go by. Leokas continued his duty as Knight General and fought in the war against the demons of Zenthar, leading Kandarynd’s army. Aria stayed at home, raising Leon and Vivian. Magnus took an interest in politics. He studied hard and managed to become an assistant of a councilman that worked under the recently coronated Queen Elaine Wyndrick as well as looking over the Nightwell territory when his father was away. Jaina, the musclehead she was, became a respected female knight. Men marveled at her strength while women were in awe of her resolve as a female knight.

The family was happy; however, fate was cruel.

Aria’s body grew weak. So weak she had to stay in bed and couldn’t move.

Leokas was at a loss again. Would he lose another woman he loved?

Leon and Vivian were still children at the time while Magnus and Jaina were becoming young adults. The four of them took turns caring for Aria while their father was away fulfilling his job to the nation of Kandarynd.

Unfortunately, her time was coming up.

One night, Leokas came rushing home after hearing the news of his wife. He ran to her room to find his four children surrounding her bedside. She looked pale, her usual liveliness nowhere to be found on her face.

“Leon, protect Vivian, okay? Let no one take advantage of her. Vivian, have your brother stay out of danger, will you? You know how much trouble likes to follow him around.”

Leon and Vivian nodded at their mother’s words while holding back tears.

“Magnus, Jaina. We may not be bonded by blood, but the memories we’ve created together as a family are something I have always cherished. You’ve both grown into fine people and you’re no less my child than Leon and Vivian.

Magnus bit his lip while Jaina eyes swelled red. Vivian noticed that their father came and made enough room for him to be by Aria.

Leokas moved towards the bed and took his wife’s hand as he knelt to be closer with her.

It was pale and was growing colder.

Tears filled his eyes.

He felt a touch on his face, wiping away the tears.

Aria, pale and sickly, looked at her husband with the same amount of love and affection on the night they kissed.

“Don’t cry,” she said, “you’ve made me so, so happy. Thus, when I’m gone, please be happy, for me.”

Leokas began to whimper and sob.

“You know, I’ve always thought that Liera and I were lucky to have such a strong, loving husband,” Aria shut her eyes.

She took in a breath and sang the song she sang on the same fateful night she first sang it to Leokas.

“…And when the daylight dies down

Leaving nothing in the sky.

But I don’t mind.

If I’m with you, then everything’s just fine…”

Aria weakly opened her eyes again and looked around. Her husband and children, tears filling their eyes and quiet sobbing. Her body was growing colder, yet she felt so warm being surrounded by loved ones.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw another woman standing by her family, just out of reach.

The woman had short auburn hair and hazel eyes. She looked noble with a slender body and a beautiful face.

Strangely, it seemed only Aria was able to notice her. There was a feeling of familiarity that she sensed from her. Had she seen this woman before?

The woman looked towards Leokas with a loving gaze and revealed a happy smile seeing Magnus and Jaina again. Her expression was beautiful, and her presence was motherly.

Suddenly, her gaze landed on Aria with a sense of relief and gratefulness.

‘Thank you,’ the woman’s mouth seemed to word as she disappeared before Aria’s eyes.

‘Ah…’

Aria was dumbfounded and then realized who the woman was. A smile bloomed on her face as she remembered who just thanked her.

‘You’re welcome, Liera.’

Aria took one last look towards her family and then closed her eyes.

She breathed her last breath as she passed on with a smile on her face.

Outside by the window, a red and black butterfly flew by.