The Vice Captain of the Crimson Lions

Stargazing

Mynx lay sprawled on the rooftop, her fingers tracing faint constellations in the air as she gazed at the endless expanse of stars. The silence of the night pressed down on her, broken only by the faint rustle of the wind. The castle roof was her sanctuary years ago, with only one other person knowing about it. She usually does her stargazing by the oak tree, where William would join her to watch the rising dawn. Xander joined them, too, when he became her mentee, and sometimes does ever since she came back. But tonight, she wanted to be alone. She couldn't face the possibility of running into anyone just yet. She wanted solitude.

Her mind was a storm, tangled with fears she couldn't untangle and possibilities she couldn't predict. For the first time in a long while, fear had clawed its way into her heart, wrapping icy tendrils around her resolve. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the panic that threatened to swallow her whole. The wind shifted, carrying with it the subtle, familiar presence of someone approaching.

"For the Wizard King, you're not exactly good at hiding your presence."

Julius winced as he stepped out into the moonlight,

"I—uh, I can go if you want to be alone."

Mynx sighed and shook her head as she continued to stare up at the sky,

"No...this is probably more your spot now...I'll leave,"

She pushed herself up, but Julius's hand twitched as he stepped closer, his voice breaking slightly,

"No!"

Mynx tilted her head as she finally looked into his purple eyes. Julius looked away and scratched the back of his neck,

"I meant...no, you should stay...I didn't mean to interrupt,"

Mynx settled back down with a reluctant nod. Julius lowered himself a few feet away, the distance a stark contrast from the past,

"What are you doing up here?"

She rested her chin on her knees, her arms wrapping tightly around them as if trying to hold herself together,

"I needed some space...A break."

Julius frowned and looked at her again,

"I can leave,"

A faint smirk ghosted across her lips,

"And I told you this is more your spot than mine now."

He sighed, his gaze drifting to the stars,

"Did you just come back from Hage?"

Mynx nodded,

"Yeah...Don't worry, I gave Yami everything I had on the Devils...his squad is great,"

Julius glanced at her again,

"Yeah, he got some interesting people,"

Mynx nodded and kept looking at the moon. Julius felt his chest tighten as he thought of someone,

"Did Aphi leave to warn the Diamond Kingdom?"

Mynx looked down at her hand, specifically at the white ring on her finger,

"Yeah...he...he left after he helped me get everything at Hage."

Julius nodded,

"That's good...why didn't you tell me he-"

Her glare cut him off, sharp and unyielding,

"So you could what? Kick him out like you did me?"

Julius's eyes widened at the accusation,