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Scene 2: A Brief Escape to the Balcony
The atmosphere gradually shifted as the event went on. People began to drift, rotating conversations, gravitating toward those they felt more comfortable with—those who clicked.
The girls started admiring Elina for her cool charm.
The boys found themselves drawn to Draco's unshakable composure.
Little kids gathered around Yue, enchanted by her sweet presence.
Older students and researchers found Osiris's intellect captivating.
Mages flocked to Mirelle, awe-struck by her magical aura.
And as for Keela… nobles both elderly and ambitious seemed eager to win her favor.
Akira, meanwhile, was approached by so many people from so many different backgrounds that he couldn't even tell who was who anymore—all because he was "The Third Hero."
Among the seven of us, five were immersed in lively conversations.
But two of us were feeling overwhelmed.
And so, we quietly slipped away in search of peace… and found it on the balcony.
Akira stepped outside, only to see Keela already standing there, looking out over the sky.
"Ah—sorry! I didn't expect you to be out here already… Princess Keela."
Keela offered a soft smile.
"'Princess'? Come on. It's just the two of us here. You can call me by name—like always."
Akira hesitated.
"But… this is your homeland. All your people are inside. Wouldn't calling you so casually be… kind of inappropriate? What if someone misunderstands?"
And he wasn't entirely wrong.
Unbeknownst to them, just around the corner of the building, Evan and Lias had also quietly stepped outside—seeking a moment away from the crowd.
Though they hadn't meant to eavesdrop, they stopped in their tracks upon hearing voices.
Neither of them moved.
And though they weren't trying to listen…
They still heard.
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Akira turned to Keela and asked bluntly,
"Keela… don't you ever feel suffocated? Being surrounded by nobles all the time? I don't really like it myself."
Keela gazed out at the night skyline.
"Not really. That's why I chose to leave in the first place."
Then she turned to glance at him.
"And you, Akira? I've always felt like you're doing this whole hero thing because you have to… not because you want to. Doesn't it weigh on you?"
Akira looked out into the distance with her, silent for a few seconds before answering with a faint, bittersweet smile.
"If it helps people… I don't mind. Even if it's exhausting… even if I don't enjoy it. But if I could choose, I'd rather just live a quiet life. An ordinary one…"
Keela studied his expression as he continued.
"You know… my life's never really been normal. Not since I was a kid. But I always tried my best to live like it was. I kept telling myself I was just a regular person… just like everyone else.
But in the end… I couldn't run from fate."
Keela turned her gaze skyward.
"You might be thinking: 'Why me?' Why do you have to do it?
But if you flipped the question… if you were the one writing fate instead…
Why should it be you?
Why not someone else?"
She paused, her voice softer but firm.
"I think… the sky must have had a reason. Something more than just 'should be.'
Something that says… it had to be you."
Akira fell quiet, letting her words sink in as the winds of Skyperion swept gently past them, carrying the starlight on its breeze.
Then, he spoke quietly.
"You're… really strong, Keela."
Keela arched an eyebrow.
"A compliment? Out of nowhere?"
She gave a small smile.
"But you already know that's not true.
I have my own fragile moments too—times when everything feels heavy.
It's just that… unlike you, I haven't shown mine to everyone yet. That's all."
Akira chuckled softly.
"I guess we're kind of alike.
I didn't get to choose my fate… not that I ever believed in fate to begin with.
And you didn't get to choose your bloodline—being born into royalty."
Keela smiled with a knowing look.
"But we do get to choose what we do.
And who we become. Right?"
"I remember what you said, you know."
Akira smiled—not because she remembered his words,
but because she understood them… and made them her own.
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Akira glanced sideways at her and asked,
"So… what will you do next, Keela? Do you have a goal?"
Keela looked down, thinking for a moment.
"To be honest… I just want to escape all this.
Leave all the pressure behind and go somewhere far, far away.
But if I ran off and later heard that Skyperion had fallen…
I don't think I could live with that."
She leaned casually against the railing, swaying side to side.
"Still… like everyone says, it all depends on my father.
If he declares that I have the right to inherit, then I'll go through the proper channels.
If I win, I'll be proud of it.
And if I lose… that's fine too. I never expected to be chosen in the first place."
Akira looked at her with admiration.
"No expectations… no disappointment, huh?
That's strength, Keela.
You know, everyone in our group is so different from one another. It's kind of fascinating."
Keela raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? You think it's that easy to tell us apart?"
Akira chuckled.
"Well, just look at us:
Yue's always cheerful, but she's actually really fragile.
Mirelle is sharp and observant, but tends to overdo things.
Draco's sincere and gives it everything he's got—but he's the easiest to trick.
Elina carries the weight of others with pride, but she has a soft side too.
Osiris? Brilliant at processing things—but sometimes a little too detached from the world.
And you, Keela… you're strong. You'd make a great leader. But you're also gentle.
You care deeply. I can see it… in the way you cook."
Keela smiled, her cheeks turning red as she tried to cover her face with her hand.
"Well… as for you, Akira—
You always put others first. You worry too much, like you're scared of everything around you.
But I see that as a kind of courage.
The courage to care. To step forward even when you're afraid.
And that—courage within fear—is what makes you the real 'Hero' in my eyes."
Akira's smile widened, as if her words had lifted a heavy weight from his chest.
Even though it was just one person's opinion… it reached him deeply.
His smile, gentle and genuine, shone under the shimmering artificial starlight of Skyperion—
And it quietly carved its way into Keela's heart.
She felt a sudden rush of heat rise to her ears,
which only grew worse as her thoughts began to drift…
to a future—one she secretly wished for—with Akira by her side.
Her ears were so red that even in the dim light, Akira noticed.
He fumbled for an excuse, trying to look away.
"Your face is… kinda red, Keela.
Standing out here in the wind like this—
You'll catch a cold, you know.
We should go back inside.
And I'm… kinda getting hungry."
Keela beamed, and her radiant smile struck his heart again.
She giggled softly, hand over her mouth, before turning toward the door.
"When we get back… I'll make you a simple midnight snack, alright?"
She gently pushed the door open, letting the hum of the party spill into the quiet space.
And just before stepping through, her lips curved into a whisper-soft smile,
words barely audible beneath the music and voices—
but crystal clear to Akira, thanks to the Earring of Compassion:
"…and I'll keep cooking for you… for the rest of my life, Akira."
In that moment, Akira froze—
because he understood exactly how deep that promise ran.
Keela turned and took his hand.
The warm glow from the hall backlit her silhouette,
but her smile still shone clearly.
"Come on. Let's grab something to eat."
Akira's heart pounded even harder as he followed behind her, hand in hand.
At that same moment, Evan and Lias opened the door quietly from the other side.
Evan watched the two retreating figures with a hand resting on his chin, lost in thought.
Lias remained ever-vigilant, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
No one could know what Evan was thinking in that moment—
but whatever it was, this new information…
would ripple through Skyperion's future in ways no one could yet imagine.
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