(UNDER HEAVY EDITING!!) Stellar Serenade: Cosmic Connections

Chapter 39: His fault?

"Luminara, I..." he began, his voice trailing off as he searched for an apology that felt sincere enough to mend the damage he had caused. But before he could utter another word, Luminara's expression shifted from anger to disbelief, her eyes widening in shock.

"Did you just... Did you really just say that?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of rage, hurt, and confusion. 

Umbra's heart sank as he realized the gravity of words that can be easily mistaken. He had crossed a line, and there was no going back. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry as he struggled to find the right words to salvage the situation.

"I... I didn't mean it like that," he stammered. "I just... I didn't know what else to say."

Luminara shook her head in disbelief, her fists still clenched at her sides. "You know what, Umbra?" she said, her voice tinged with bitterness. "I thought I knew you, but maybe I was wrong."

The words hit Umbra like a punch to the gut, leaving him reeling with regret. He had never meant to hurt her like this, but his thoughtless words had done irreparable damage to their relationship. As Luminara turned to leave, Umbra reached out to stop her, his hand hovering in the air as he struggled with his own emotions.

"Luminara, please..." he pleaded, but it was too late. She was already gone, leaving him alone with his guilt and regret.He stood there in the silence of the chamber. "Okay everybody! We're packing!!" Ravewyn called out. 

Umbra left the chamber, losing the motivation to speak to anybody at this point. Should he just wait and let time solve the problem? 

Umbra dragged himself to the training rooms, where Ravewyn was assorting backpacks, Lapis was- Well he was being Lapis. Luminara was giving herself another go at the punching bags, with a new outfit rather than the usual robes she wore. 

Her crop top hugged her curves, accentuating her slender waist and revealing a hint of midriff. The fabric shimmered with a subtle sheen, catching the light in mesmerizing patterns.

Below, her harem pants billowed gracefully around her legs, the loose fabric gathered at the ankles in a style that seemed both elegant and comfortable. The intricate embellishments adorned the pants, adding a touch of luxury to their flowing silhouette. The two holes on the sides of her thighs, outlined in gold, added a hint of allure to her ensemble.

Perched atop her head was a stunning headpiece that resembled a flower crown, but far more extravagant. Crystals and diamonds sparkled amidst the golden stems and leaves, casting prismatic reflections across the room. Each delicate detail seemed to radiate with an ethereal glow, enhancing Luminara's otherworldly beauty.

But perhaps the most captivating aspect of her attire was the small pearl placed just above her pants, nestled between her belly-button and the waistband of her harem pants. From this pearl sprouted two thin strands of gold that flowed around her body like a graceful tailcoat, just once the strings connected behind her back, the coat flowed down, the outside a plain white, and the inside decorated with sun and moon designs, which Umbra recognized from the folklore stories that mortals told one another, adding a touch of whimsy to her ensemble.

Completing her look were various pieces of jewelry, earrings dangled from her ears, catching the light with their intricate designs and sparkling gemstones. Bracelets adorned her wrists, their delicate chains tinkling softly with her every movement. And around her neck, a necklace glimmered with opulent elegance, the centerpiece drawing the eye with its mesmerizing beauty.

He felt tempted. 

Umbra shook off his feelings, crouching down to help Ravewyn with the luggage. "How heavy is this?" He asked. Ravewyn looked up for a moment, giving herself time to think, then counting the bags. "1... 2... 3... 4.... 5.. Probably like- Augh I can't do maths,"  Ravewyn said, "LAPIS!! How much do these weigh?" Ravewyn called out. Lapis ran on over, attempting to count the bags, Lapis shrugged. "I dunno. I was raised underwater, I can't even count" Lapis chuckled. "Luminara!!" Lapis and Ravewyn shouted in unison.