Later That Evening…
The night had settled gently over the city of Dichondra.
Lanterns glowed across the streets like scattered stars, their warm golden light reflecting off the polished stone roads and the flowing rivers that wound through the city. Music drifted faintly through the air from distant taverns and celebration halls, carried by a cool evening breeze that smelled faintly of flowers from the palace gardens.
High above the lively streets, Ethan sat quietly on the edge of a rooftop.
A small wooden plate rested beside him, holding the remnants of a simple meal. He ate slowly, letting the peaceful moment stretch out as he watched the city beneath him. From up here, everything seemed calmer—distant from politics, ceremonies, and expectations.
For a while, he simply enjoyed the silence.
Then something caught his attention.
Across the narrow stretch between buildings, a balcony door slowly opened.
Princess Katelyn stepped outside.
She moved quietly, almost cautiously, as if she didn't want anyone inside the palace to notice her absence. The soft lantern light from her chamber spilled onto the balcony, illuminating her figure against the night sky.
She walked toward the railing and rested her hands gently against it.
From where Ethan sat, he could see her face clearly.
Her expression was distant.
Thoughtful.
Lonely.
The joy she had shown during the city tour earlier seemed to have faded again beneath the weight of royal responsibility.
Ethan frowned slightly.
Without thinking much about it, he stood.
He grabbed the small blade beside him and slipped it into his belt.
Then he jumped.
His body moved smoothly across the rooftops as he leapt from one building to another, landing lightly each time. Years of training made the movements effortless—silent, precise, nearly invisible in the dark.
Within seconds, he reached the balcony across from hers.
One final jump carried him across the narrow gap.
He landed quietly.
Katelyn noticed him almost immediately.
Her eyes widened slightly before softening with recognition.
A genuine smile appeared on her lips.
It was small.
But it was real.
"Princess… how have you been?" Ethan asked softly.
Katelyn tilted her head slightly, studying him for a moment before answering.
"I'm… fine," she said.
But there was something heavy behind the word.
Her gaze drifted back toward the glowing city.
"It's just…" she continued quietly, "my wedding is in six days."
She paused.
"I can't say I'm excited."
Ethan leaned casually against the balcony railing, folding his arms.
"Six days?" he repeated.
His expression softened.
"That's… soon."
Katelyn gave a faint nod.
The silence between them lingered for a moment before Ethan's usual playful energy returned.
A mischievous smile appeared on his face.
"Maybe I can help cheer you up a little."
Katelyn blinked in curiosity.
Before she could even respond—
Ethan vanished.
In a flash of motion, he teleported behind her.
When she turned around—
Their faces were suddenly inches apart.
Katelyn froze.
Her breath caught slightly in her throat.
For one suspended moment, neither of them moved.
The night air seemed to hold its breath.
Their eyes locked.
Katelyn leaned forward ever so slightly.
Not consciously.
It was instinct.
A quiet, natural pull.
Ethan's heart skipped a beat.
His face immediately flushed red.
He had not expected things to get this close.
Not this suddenly.
Panicking slightly, he teleported again—this time to the edge of the balcony.
He landed sitting on the stone railing, swinging one leg casually while trying to hide his embarrassment.
His cheeks were still bright red.
He glanced sideways at her.
Katelyn looked equally flustered.
But there was amusement in her eyes.
A quiet, playful sparkle.
Inside Ethan's chest, something warm bloomed.
Even though nothing had happened, the moment lingered between them.
A quiet spark.
The two of them eventually relaxed into conversation.
They leaned against opposite sides of the balcony railing, letting the cool breeze drift between them as the city lights shimmered below.
For a while they talked about small things.
Stories from their childhood.
Strange traditions from different lands.
Embarrassing mistakes.
Katelyn laughed more during those few minutes than she had during the entire ceremony earlier that day.
Ethan noticed.
And it made him happy.
After some time, Katelyn turned toward him with a mischievous expression.
"Ethan…"
"Yes?"
She hesitated slightly.
"Do you think you could take me out?"
He blinked.
"Out?"
She laughed softly.
"Not like a normal walk."
Her fingers fidgeted nervously.
"I mean… could you use your teleportation to show me the city?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"You want a city tour…"
He grinned.
"…teleportation style?"
Katelyn nodded eagerly.
"Please. I just want to forget everything for a little while."
Ethan studied her face.
The hopeful look in her eyes made the answer easy.
"Alright."
He stood.
"Hold on tight."
Katelyn grabbed his arm instinctively.
Ethan tossed one of his small blades high into the air.
The moment it reached its peak—
The world blurred.
In an instant, they disappeared.
When the world came back into focus, they were standing at the top of a tall tower overlooking the entire city.
Dichondra stretched out endlessly below them.
Lanterns floated through the air.
Golden lights wound through the streets like glowing rivers.
The palace towers shimmered under the moonlight.
Katelyn gasped softly.
"Oh… this is amazing."
She slowly stepped closer to the edge, staring out over the breathtaking view.
Her hand hovered near Ethan's.
Almost touching.
Ethan smiled.
"Not done yet."
With another flick of his wrist—
They vanished again.
This time they appeared above the magical jungle that surrounded the outer parts of the kingdom.
A floating stone platform drifted gently above the glowing canopy.
Bioluminescent flowers illuminated the trees below like tiny blue stars.
Small glowing creatures fluttered between the branches.
Some peeked curiously at the unexpected visitors.
Katelyn's eyes sparkled with childlike wonder.
"I've never seen anything like this!"
She laughed.
The sound echoed through the glowing forest like music.
Ethan felt his chest warm at the sound.
"And we're just getting started."
Another teleport.
Another flash of motion.
Now they stood at the cliffs near the city's great waterfalls.
Moonlight shimmered across the cascading water, turning the falling streams into silver ribbons.
Mist drifted into the air, catching the light and forming tiny rainbows that shimmered briefly before fading.
Katelyn leaned gently against Ethan's shoulder.
She didn't even realize she had done it.
"This…" she whispered.
"This feels like a dream."
Ethan looked down at her.
"Maybe it is."
His voice softened.
"Or maybe… it's just us making it one."
Katelyn smiled faintly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They simply listened to the sound of the water.
Their final destination was a quiet hill overlooking the entire kingdom.
The city rested peacefully in the valley below them.
Forests stretched endlessly beyond.
Far in the distance, faint lights from other villages flickered like tiny stars.
The wind blew gently across the hilltop, brushing through Katelyn's hair.
She laughed softly as she turned her face into the breeze.
Ethan stood behind her, watching quietly.
"You're smiling," he said.
"And I think it suits you."
Katelyn turned slightly.
Her cheeks turned pink.
"You always know what to say, don't you?"
Ethan chuckled.
"Not always."
He leaned back against a rock.
"But I know I want you to enjoy this moment."
He gestured toward the vast landscape.
"Just us. No rules. No politics."
Katelyn looked out across the glowing kingdom again.
For a long while, they simply stayed there together.
Teleporting occasionally to different quiet places.
Watching the city from new angles.
Creating memories neither of them wanted to end.
Eventually, curiosity got the better of Katelyn.
"Ethan…"
"Yes?"
"How do you manage to teleport to all these places outside the city?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"I thought you needed your blades to mark the spots first."
Ethan smiled knowingly.
He leaned closer slightly.
"I actually go there beforehand."
Katelyn blinked.
"What?"
"During my free time," he explained quietly, "I travel to distant places and plant blades as markers."
He shrugged.
"That way, whenever I need to… I can teleport there instantly."
Katelyn stared at him in amazement.
"You do all that… alone?"
Ethan scratched the back of his neck.
"It helps clear my mind."
He looked out at the horizon.
"Sometimes I just need to explore."
"It's a habit."
Katelyn's eyes softened with admiration.
"That's incredible."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Your skill… the way you think ahead…"
She smiled gently.
"I've never met anyone like you."
Ethan felt warmth spread through his chest.
Her admiration meant more than he expected.
"I just do what I can," he said quietly.
But inside, he felt happier than he had in a long time.
After hours of exploring rooftops, cliffs, forests, and hidden viewpoints, Ethan finally brought them back to the balcony where the night had started.
The city lights still shimmered below.
The gardens still smelled sweet in the night air.
Katelyn turned toward him.
Her expression was soft.
"Ethan… thank you."
Her voice was sincere.
"For cheering me up… for helping me forget everything tonight."
Ethan smiled.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it."
A quiet pause followed.
Katelyn looked at him again.
"I don't think I'll ever forget tonight."
Ethan felt a small ache in his chest.
He wanted to tell her how he felt.
But he knew the truth.
Her life was already decided.
Her future already planned.
He forced a gentle smile.
"Neither will I."
Katelyn nodded quietly.
"I'll never forget it either."
She turned and walked toward the palace doors.
Before stepping inside, she glanced back one last time.
Then she disappeared into the palace.
Ethan remained on the balcony.
Watching the closed doors.
His heart felt strangely full.
And strangely heavy.
He knew he would never be the one standing beside her in life.
But tonight…
For just a few hours…
He had given her freedom.
And that was enough.
it feels like...
it's our Last Night on Earth.