There, in that dream, before I awoke, I made a promise to her—to always protect you this time. And now, I'm keeping this promise to you. So, for now, sleep well, my love.

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Starry's POV:

Halfway through the night, I woke up to a draft blowing through the open balcony doors, with moonlight streaming through the window. I bundled myself in a plush blanket, closed the doors, and drew the curtains, blocking the moonlight. In the now-darkened room, I felt around my bed for Selene, but she wasn't there. All that remained was the fleeting warmth of her body on the mattress and her familiar scent lingering in the air. She must've gone to the bathroom or for a late-night snack.

Slipping out of the blanket, I moved freely around the complex, checking where Selene had gone. My footsteps were light as I passed by Mia's bedroom, past the sound of running water softly trickling from the bathroom tap. I continued downstairs, where the kitchen backlights were dimmed, and Magnolia slept on the floor, wrapped in blankets and pillows, but still no sign of Selene. Back upstairs, Selene's belongings were still in my room—her backpack full of clothes sat in my closet, and her phone was on the nightstand, charging. It wasn't like she could've just disappeared.

I began pacing around my room, biting my thumb and thinking of where she could have gone. Soon, my pacing carried me into the hallway, where the subtle creaking of the floorboards woke Mia.

She came out of her room, wearing a long t-shirt that reached down to her thighs. Her eyes were puffy and half-closed as she looked at me, sighing. "What's wrong, Starry? It's the middle of the night, and Ijustwanttosleep," Mia said, slurring the last part of her words and resting her head on the doorframe.

Not wanting to sound paranoid, I took a breath and held her shoulders. "Selene went somewhere, and I don't know where. She wouldn't just leave without telling us."

Mia rubbed her and yawned again. "She probably went for a walk or something. She'll be back." She was no help when she was this sleepy. I turned away from her and went back downstairs to where Magnolia was still sleeping on the floor.

I knelt and shook his waist gently. "Hmm?" came the soft sound from his lips as he groggily looked up at me.

"Selene's gone. Did you see her?" I whispered.

Magnolia shook his head, stretching and rubbing his eyes. "No, I didn't hear anything. Are you sure she's not in the bathroom or gone for a midnight snack?" He glanced at the door, noticing her sneakers still there. It was clear she hadn't left the building. Magnolia stood up and pulled the blinds aside, gazing at the moon. He opened the entrance to the main balcony to get a closer look. I joined him, looking out at the pinkish glow in the sky as the flowers outside swayed gently in the wind.

Flowers outside on the balcony's edge began whispering to each other, their voices growing louder. A small bud whispered to a taller rose, and soon, the message came to me. "It's Kai! Selene's on the moon with him. He's going to hurt her—you have to stop him!" The budding flower's voice quivered with worry. "We heard it from the moon, and the message spread from the flowers up there to here."

Adrenaline surged through my legs, and a pit formed in my stomach. "I have to go." I sat on the ledge, preparing to jump.

Before I could, Mia rushed into the room, grabbing my wrist. "Don't hurt yourself, Starry! Come back inside!"

Magnolia grabbed my other wrist, pulling me back up. "You can't run off so easily. It's too dangerous to face Kai and Sai head-on. You'll die."

Below me, the cars on the street sped by, and late-night pedestrians strolled down the sidewalks. Mia's peach-colored eyes and Magnolia's mixed eyes looked at me warmly, and I nodded. "We have to save Selene." With their support, my mind was set. "Fine. But we have to reach the moon immediately, stop them both, and keep the promise I made centuries ago." They gave me doubtful looks, but they were ready to face the challenge.

There wasn't much time to prepare. We rushed out the door as Mia pressed the elevator button, jogging in place while we waited. The digital display moved painfully slowly, taking forever to change. Finally, after a few minutes, the doors slid open.

"And where do you think you're going?" A honey-sweet voice called out, grabbing our attention. The scent of essential oils filled the air as Nikki approached us, her long gray hair tied back. "Isn't it past curfew? You wouldn't want to get in trouble now."

She looked me directly in the eyes, and I stared back, clenching my fists. "We have to save Selene from Kai. Now step aside."

Nikki's eyes widened looking taken back. "And what makes you think I'll just send you on your merry way to get badly hurt or worse?"

I looked up at her with a fire in my eyes. "It doesn't matter if I get hurt as long as she's safe I'll do whatever it takes."

Nikki nodded. "Okay, Prince Starry. I won't stand in your way, but you must promise me this: bring Selene back and get home safely. I can't afford to lose you a second time." She wiped my cheek and lifted my head. "Promise me that even when things get tough you won't take the burden by yourself."

"Promise," I said firmly.

She stepped aside with a small, hopeful smile. "I'm holding you to that." As the elevator doors closed, I heard Nikki's whisper, "I know you will, Starry. You always do." The ride to the lobby was quiet, and as soon as we stepped out, we ran through the late-night streets, weaving between people, barely illuminated by the streetlights. The subway was nearly empty when we arrived. Once we reached the gate, I extended my hand, and everything changed, revealing the station's emptiness. Something felt off—usually, a train would have arrived immediately, but the station was silent.

I jumped onto the tracks, peering into the dark tunnel, only to find a void stretching ahead. The silence was broken by the clacking of boots echoing through the station. "The tracks are destroyed. There's no other way to the moon from here."

Behind us was Bea, approaching, her coat shimmering like the galaxy. She stopped a few feet away, looking down at me. I stood my ground. "There has to be a way. I'll find it, and you can't stop us."

She scoffed, "Who said I wanted to stop you." She then kneeled in front of me, offering her back in a piggyback position. "And will you let me finish? Come on, before I change my mind."

Mia and Magnolia shrugged, still skeptical. I hesitated, but Bea rolled her eyes. "Let me make this right. I don't want more people to get hurt because of Kai or me. Hate me if you want, but let me do this one thing for you."

Reluctantly, I agreed and climbed onto her back. At her touch, my clothes transformed into my prince's outfit. My cape burned away, replaced by wings. I held on tightly as Bea turned to the others. "Stay close to us. When I start running, you two follow." They nodded and took their positions behind us.

Bea started with a walk, picking up speed until she was sprinting. The broken tracks and darkness ahead seemed endless, but without hesitation, Bea leaped into the void. My arms tightened around her, and I shut my eyes.

"Look, we're flying!" Mia's voice nudged me, and I opened my eyes to see thousands of stars below us. Magnolia and Mia floated, suspended in midair.

Bea was flying too. She glanced back at me. "Even a villain can redeem themselves. With part of Aiden and the goddess's power inside you, you're capable of extraordinary things. Now, let's go kick those two in the butt!" Her tone turned to tease but serious as the pink glow of the moon filled the sky. The world below us became a blur of glowing city lights and star-filled skies as we soared toward the moon's ominous glow. I could feel Selene's presence at its center.

We flew higher, and as we neared the moon's palace, two men stood at the center. One held Selene by the waist, her clothing stained blood red. There, standing at the heart of the moon's palace, Kai looked down at me, his armor shimmering dark. The air around us burned as if the very moon itself bowed to his presence. His smirk was the same one that haunted me in my dreams—the one that said he had already won. "You're too late, Aiden," he said, his grip on Selene tightening. "Or Starry, whatever name you go by in this lifetime—it won't matter. I'm here to right the wrong you caused centuries ago."

Something inside me sparked. Pain weighed heavily on my head, the same as before. My mind was set on taking Selene back. Thorns dug into my hand, causing blood to trickle down. Mia gasped, reaching out in her floral dress, but I stopped her. "Go—stop Sai. I have to save Selene."

"No, we're fighting beside you," Mia said firmly, standing her ground.

Magnolia held her back. "No! It's a death wish, Mia! You're not strong enough for this. Starry's just using his memories to fight, while Kai has had years of training." His voice grew distant, but one thing stood out before they disappeared. "The only hope of defeating Kai is the eternal state..."

Kai placed Selene on a wedding altar. "You know what to do, my love," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her, but she turned away, her hands clasped in prayer. Around her, the flowers began to wilt, their voices replaced by cries of sorrow. He inched closer to me after failing to kiss Selene. Without hesitation, he swung his crimson-black sword, narrowly missing my chest but setting my wings ablaze. "No more wings for you, fake angel."

I fell onto the moon's surface, feeling the fire sear my back. The sound of his boots grew closer. "What do you want with Selene and the moon?" I asked rolling on my back to get a clear view of him.

Kai struck at my vine sword, sending more blood dripping from my hand. "I'll tell you why. Centuries ago, I watched all my friends—everyone I loved—disappear. I watched the person I loved die in your arms. You killed the goddess, Starry. And now, I'm here to right that wrong, to revive everyone, and to have Selene as mine." His strikes were swift and skilled. Every time his sword got close, it felt like it burned me. I couldn't keep dodging. I had to fight back.

After dodging another swing, I managed to land a hit, but his armor was strong, and the vines didn't pierce it. He retaliated, jamming his steel boot into my stomach, sending me flying through the air. The pain spread through me as I spun, clutching my stomach. Kai smirked, turning back to Selene. His hands reached for her face, his thumb brushing her lips as he leaned closer.

In a last-ditch effort, I reached out, feeling the crown tighten on my head. Vines shot from my arm, pulling me toward him. In my other hand, I held the vine-sword. Kai stopped touching Selene, glaring at me with fire in his eyes. "You don't know when to give up, do you?" He grabbed the vines, pulling me closer. Behind him, a woman appeared, her hands resting on his shoulders. "A sword through the heart should end you."

Just then out of the corner of my eyes, she came running to me. If she would have stuck to the plan. Before I could stop her or react, I heard an unmistakable sound—Mia. She jumped in front of Kai's sword, taking the blow straight through her heart. "I always protect you, don't I?" Her voice trembled and her eyes dulled. "Always."