( Prison of Luminaria )
"Hey… wake up."
Kyle groaned as a hand slapped across his face.
"What's wrong with you?" he muttered. "It's still midnight…"
Riley leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Remember that guy who beat the hell out of us… even Luna?"
Kyle blinked.
"…Yeah?"
"You trying to reopen painful memories now?"
Riley shook his head quickly.
"No, idiot."
He moved closer and whispered into Kyle's ear "Paul."
Kyle froze instantly.
"…Impossible."
His expression darkened.
"He died during the attack."
"Maybe that's what they wanted us to think," Riley replied quietly.
"Maybe you're right… maybe you're wrong."
He glanced toward the prison gate.
"But right now, Commander Niva is the real problem."
Kyle nodded slowly.
"Yeah… that smile she gave earlier…"
His eyes narrowed.
"That was a signal."
"A code."
"She was communicating with someone inside Luna's guards."
Riley sighed, pulling at the glowing chains wrapped around his arms.
"Well, these Spiritual Alignment Chains aren't breaking themselves anytime soon."
A brief silence followed.
"…Still worried about Ashley?" Riley asked.
Kyle looked down.
"We'll get her back."
His fists tightened.
"Failing to secure the King of Creation was already bad enough…"
Suddenly
FOOTSTEPS.
The guards outside stiffened.
"Who's there?!" one shouted.
"Show yourself!" another barked.
Then
THUD.
Both guards collapsed instantly.
Kyle and Riley exchanged looks.
A figure stepped from the darkness.
Queen Luna.
Kyle frowned immediately.
"To see the Queen rescuing us herself…"
He tilted his head slightly.
"…is honestly disturbing."
Queen Luna ignored the comment.
"I know neither of you were responsible for what happened," she said calmly.
"But Niva is behaving strangely."
Her eyes sharpened.
"What does she want with Stellavore?"
"And worse… Stellavore is missing."
Riley's expression changed.
Queen Luna stepped closer.
"So both of you are going to help me."
"How?" Kyle asked cautiously.
"You'll disguise yourselves as my royal guards."
Riley blinked.
"…That sounds insane."
Queen Luna continued anyway.
"I believe someone intends to kill me…"
"…and harvest the Spiritual Pool for themselves."
Kyle's eyes widened slightly.
Riley frowned.
"I thought the Spiritual Pool only responds to Nightshade bloodline. You said it's been passed down through generations."
Queen Luna nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"But outsiders like you…"
"…may still be capable of operating it."
Silence.
Then Kyle suddenly asked
"Did you send anyone to search for Ashley?"
A shadow crossed Luna's face.
"Yes."
"Our last messenger was killed while delivering information."
She turned.
"Come. I'll show you something."
She took a step
but Kyle suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The prison went silent.
Kyle's expression became cold.
"There are sixteen elite soldiers guarding this vault."
His grip tightened slightly.
"So tell me something…"
His eyes locked onto hers.
"How exactly did you get inside?"
A long silence filled the room.
Then Kyle spoke again
slowly. Carefully. Dangerously. "Because you're not Queen Luna."