Moonlit Night

“Hey, over here!”

Eugene waved both hands, calling out to the two walking toward him.

He had been waiting here anxiously the whole time.

Holding three crepes, he shouted toward them.

The red maple-haired girl tightly held Arian’s hand, as if afraid she might get lost.

They were walking toward him.

From a distance, they looked almost like sisters—

Strolling peacefully under the pale, frost-like moonlight.

Eugene felt uneasy.

He was afraid that wind projectile had hurt Arian.

Afraid that he had made her cry.

He swore he hadn’t meant to hurt her.

But after being imprisoned in Eagle’s Nest for a year,

His heart had grown overly cautious—constantly on guard.

Now that he had finally gained the freedom he longed for,

He clung to it desperately.

He feared losing it again.

“…Today… I won’t leave.”

His gaze turned distant.

He lowered his head, staring at his shoes.

His eyes lost focus.

Inside a small room—

Two children argued in hushed voices.

“Let me try…”

The brown-haired boy pleaded, looking at the taller child before him.

“Get out! This isn’t a place for you!”

The taller boy snapped.

“Brudo! Haski!”

He raised a willow wand and chanted into the darkness.

A faint holy light flickered at the tip—

Like a small candle illuminating the dark room.

“See that? I inherited my great-grandfather’s bloodline! I can use holy magic! I’ll always be better than you!”

He glared fiercely.

“…Is that so?”

The brown-haired boy murmured thoughtfully.

Ignoring the taunts, he suddenly grabbed the wand.

“What are you doing?!”

The taller boy was startled—but not worried.

After all, that boy was from a minor branch of the family.

He couldn’t possibly inherit such talent.

“You can’t do it anyway!”

He dismissed him.

Bang!

The door burst open.

“Eugene! You brat! Causing trouble again?!”

A man stormed in angrily.

He stepped forward, reaching to grab Eugene by the ear.

“Brudo… Haski…”

Eugene calmly raised the wand and chanted.

His voice was steady—almost sacred.

“You—what are you—”

The man tried to scold him—

But then—

A strange sound echoed.

Light burst forth, filling the room.

It blinded him.

He couldn’t see.

“You… actually…”

He muttered weakly.

This child, once dismissed by the family—

Had extraordinary talent.

Eugene Kabul.

Originally just an ordinary boy from the Kabul family.

But after that test—

Everything changed overnight.

A mage—

Such a noble title.

For a modest family like theirs, it meant everything.

He became the center of attention.

His parents—once ignored—

Were suddenly praised.

Even his grandfather, who had always scolded them,

Now smiled warmly at him.

From that moment on—

Eugene became the family’s hope.

They invested everything in him.

Believing he would one day elevate them all.

He lived surrounded by admiration.

“…Tch.”

The taller boy glared at him with jealousy.

But he could only watch.

Eugene didn’t bother responding.

He simply walked away.

From that day on, that boy opposed him constantly.

But Eugene no longer cared.

He was the family’s rising star now.

“Eugene?”

Luna gently tapped his shoulder.

He snapped out of his memories.

“Ah—nothing. Just thinking about my childhood… The crepes are getting cold—eat up!”

He spoke hastily, like someone just waking from a dream.

“Huh? What are you even saying…”

Luna looked confused.

“N-nothing… hehe…”

He laughed awkwardly.

Luna felt frustrated.

Both Arian and Eugene kept hiding things—

Always brushing them off with “nothing.”

“…Sigh.”

She frowned slightly.

“What are you supposed to do?”

She nudged Eugene meaningfully.

“Ah! I almost forgot!”

He suddenly remembered something important.

He reached into his pocket and took out a small item.

“Arian… I’m really sorry. It was my fault… Please take this sachet as an apology.”

He handed it to her awkwardly.

“I’m sorry… I was in a bad mood too. It’s not your fault.”

Unexpectedly—

Arian apologized as well.

What kind of apology was this?

“…Uh…”

“Then… please take it anyway.”

Eugene froze.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

He couldn’t predict her at all.

Thankfully—

Luna stepped in and smoothed things over.

Honestly…

What a troublesome pair.

“The crepes are getting cold—eat!” Eugene said, trying to change the topic.

He handed them out.

The three sat side by side on a bench.

Above them—

A sky full of stars.

The noise around them—

Vendors, laughter, chatter—

Faded into nothing.

Each of them quietly lost in their own thoughts.

“The weather is nice tonight…”

Arian spoke softly.

“Of course. It’s the Lantern Festival. The goddess wouldn’t make today cloudy. It’s her kindness toward people.”

Eugene quickly replied, trying to keep the conversation going.

They had been sitting in silence for too long.

“… ”

Neither Luna nor Arian responded.

The silence threatened to return.

“Is a sky like this rare?” Luna suddenly asked.

“I don’t know…” Arian replied.

She had spent most of her life confined indoors.

She didn’t know what was “normal.”

“Not really. These days, clear skies are common,” Eugene said.

“I see…”

Luna nodded.

“In my hometown… it’s always sunny.”

She began reminiscing.

“There’s a sea of flowers—blooming all year round.

They surround the city walls, growing freely.

Different seasons, different scents.

And on full-moon nights—

A girl climbs onto the rooftop and sings into the endless night.

A sorrowful song… drifting toward the forests at the edge of the continent.

As if mourning someone.

And I…

Would stand far away with someone else, watching her.

That person would sketch the moon and the girl onto paper…”

It sounded like a story.

Beautiful—

Yet almost unreal.

“That’s… beautiful. Is it real?” Eugene asked.

“It is,” Luna replied without hesitation.

“If it were me… I’d draw that scene. All three of them,” Arian said softly.

She could picture it—

Too beautiful to be real.

“You could never draw all three.”

Luna smiled.

“Why?”

“Because if you’re there… there would only be two.”

She answered plainly.

“…Did she die?” Eugene asked quietly.

“…You could say that.”

Luna replied.

“What a sad story…”

Arian murmured.

For some reason—

A deep sadness stirred within her.

Like mourning someone she didn’t even know.

That girl… had died.

But why…

Did it make her feel this heavy?