At the Cerza inn, the new morning no longer felt peaceful.
Fitran sat alone at a small wooden table, cradling a warm ceramic cup filled with fragrant tea, its steam curling up like ethereal wisps. Just then, a magical bird messenger descended gracefully, landing softly on his shoulder. An intricate letter unfurled before him, projecting a mesmerizing three-dimensional illusion of the grand Gaia Senate hall, shimmering as if it were alive.
The charming visage of Oda Nobuzan materialized, enveloped in a gentle swirl of wind and fire that danced around him like ethereal guardian spirits.
"...I have come to marry Fitran Fate."
Each word flowed from his lips with a calm smile that belied the sharpness of the announcement, slicing through the stillness like a knife to those who bore witness.
Fitran raised an eyebrow in surprise, a hint of disbelief creeping into his demeanor. "...Huh. I haven't even sent a love letter to the east."
Rinoa, who had been carefully tying her hair back, froze mid-motion. Her pink ears perked up, twitching inquisitively. "Hm?"
"It seems... I've just caught the attention of the world's tenth-ranking sorceress," Fitran remarked casually, attempting to appear unaffected while dipping a dango ball awkwardly into the tea broth, the sweet rice delicacy wobbling precariously.
Rinoa rose slowly, her expression frozen into a smile as brittle as the snow of Cerza during the dry season.
"Oh? How impressive. Perhaps you two are a match made in some celestial kitchen... she can brew you fire tea, and you can freeze other women's hearts with your extraordinarily ambiguous responses."
Fitran turned to her, the weight of the moment settling between them. "Are you... angry?"
At that moment, the air around Fitran began to vibrate, rippling like the surface of a placid lake disturbed by a sudden gust of wind. Reality itself seemed to melt away, fading into a surreal landscape painted with the vivid strokes of imagination. The only sound that penetrated the thickening silence was the rapid, thunderous beating of his heart, each pulse stirring an unsettling sense of anxiety deep within him. He was enveloped by a blinding light, reminiscent of a spaceship emerging from another dimension; bright colors swirled around him in a kaleidoscope of hues, distorting his vision and twisting the very fabric of existence. Rinoa and Oda remained locked in a piercing gaze, their tension creating an electrifying atmosphere that felt as if time itself had come to a standstill.
Fitran struggled to grasp the small table before him, his fingers slipping as the object seemed to dissolve into the swirling warp of light. In an instant, an irresistible force pulled him toward a shimmering void, the images of Rinoa and Oda becoming faint echoes in the distance. He opened his mouth to scream, but only a breathy sigh escaped him, a sound resonating with a blend of anxiety and uncertainty that surrounded him like a heavy fog. The colors danced around him, morphing into an unusual spiral, as if the world itself was spinning in a way he had never imagined, a dizzying spectacle that threatened to upend his very sanity.
As the surreal blend of magic began to flow into his soul, a soothing calm enveloped the depths of his emotional turmoil, wrapping it in a silken embrace. He inhaled the sweet fragrance of a new oasis—an ethereal garden that promised to intertwine his life with wonders yet to come. Everything around him shimmered in a haze that felt both dreamlike and extraordinary, as vibrant vibrations pulled him deeper into this unforeseen experience, amplifying his instinct to shield Rinoa from potential dangers lurking just beyond the veil of his perception.
When Oda spoke, Fitran felt an electric hum course through the atmosphere, resonating as if the very fabric of reality was alive with energy. Oda's gentle timbre was softened by the whispers of the night wind, creating an impression that he stood on the threshold of two worlds, each beckoning him with unseen hands. The colors around him began to blur and dim, shadows playfully dancing away—a kaleidoscope of illusions unfolding like a theatrical curtain pulled back to reveal the extraordinary.
Rasuna, appearing more ethereal by the moment, flickered into view like a flash of gold, while Oda became increasingly defined, his magical aura casting a radiant glow that illuminated the path before them. Fitran instinctively reached out, but his fingers met only the surface of a shimmering liquid, slipping and weaving through the pulsating currents of time, creating ripples that echoed across the distance separating them.
For a fleeting moment, the scenery around them began to transform; the vast, starry sky dissolved into a mesmerizing whirl of silvery clouds, swirling chaotically above. Fitran's heart raced with a mix of fear and fascination as magical wisps began to coalesce in the air, intricately weaving patterns that felt foreign and ancient, like scripts from a realm long forgotten. Rinoa and Oda stood ensnared by an unseen energy, the palpable tension of their rivalry crackling in the air like electricity, amplifying the adrenaline coursing through Fitran's veins. And then, in an instant, as if summoned by a silent, ethereal voice, they were whisked away to a heavenly garden borne from the depths of his imagination.
Fitran instinctively sensed a shift in the energy enveloping him. The very atmosphere of the inn vibrated with potency, as if the walls themselves yearned to escape the mundane confines of the physical world. A soft, inviting light shimmered through the window, beckoning him, and as he cast his gaze toward Rinoa and Oda, vibrant, cascading colors began to dance and twirl in the air. It was a vivid herald of the extraordinary phenomena unfolding around them.
As each heartbeat passed, the space around them continued to warp and evolve. The once-familiar furniture of the inn gradually faded into oblivion, replaced by ethereal shadows of glistening stars and the playful silhouettes of dolphins leaping joyfully in the distance. A creeping sense of disorientation tightened around Fitran, leaving him unable to distinguish between the tangibility of reality and the fleeting whispers of illusion. The anxiety and tension between Rinoa and Oda surged forth like a tempestuous storm, generating a bridge that carried him across the thresholds of dimension.
Eventually, as all of this unfolded, Fitran felt himself being swept into a breathtakingly serene garden, illuminated by an ethereal light. A brighter sky stretched overhead, painted in hues of soft pastels, while cherry trees in full bloom cascaded delicate petals around him, creating a gentle rain of pinks and whites. Amidst this picturesque beauty, the rumble and whisper of the wind swirled with a palpable intensity, amplifying the unresolved tension between Rinoa and Oda, transforming this moment from a mere transition into a pivotal point that could alter the courses of their destinies.
The atmosphere turned electric, charged with unspoken words and emotions. Even the icy cherry blossoms outside the window, previously drifting languidly to the ground, froze in midair, caught in a moment of suspended animation.
Oda chuckled softly, the sound like the crackle of distant thunder.
"I admire your spirit. But sadly, I won't back down easily. Especially when what's at stake is... a man capable of defeating Chaos."
Fitran sat up straight, the warmth of his tea forgotten, as he locked eyes with both of them. He murmured,
"This... might be the most dangerous night of my life. But it's also... the most exciting."
With every word exchanged between Rinoa and Oda, Fitran felt an intense vibration in the air surrounding him, as if the very fabric of time and space was warping, ensnaring him within an invisible wave of energy. A purple light began to glow at the periphery of his vision, flickering and dancing like a flame, causing the walls of the inn to tremble as if quaking from an unseen force. Amid the cacophony of their words and the escalating tension, the world around him morphed, revealing a radiant glow that surged stronger with each heartbeat.
As the warmth of their verbal sparring enveloped him, Fitran felt the floor beneath him begin to fade like a mirage, replaced by a shimmering crystal surface that sparkled with ethereal light, piercing through unseen dimensions. The very essence of the inn dissolved around him, and before he could fully grasp the moment, his hand began to rise, seemingly drawn by an invisible force, towards something profound and magnificent. In a heartbeat, he was swept into a swirling vortex of the universe, a cosmic call that beckoned him forward, where each particle of air vibrated with an ancient melody, resonating deep within his soul.
As he soared through the shimmering veil of reality, Fitran was suddenly engulfed by a torrent of confusion and wonder, captivated by the enchanting sound of trickling water and the sweet scent of jasmine that flooded his senses. This cauldron of sensations sparked a tumult of both hope and trepidation within him. In the blink of an eye, the familiar inn vanished from his sight, replaced by a mystical realm wrapped in fragrant mist, infused with the warm essence of jasmine and the earthy aroma of jade incense—a landscape both alluring and foreign.
"Welcome, chosen one."
A voice resonated in the serene silence, imbued with profound significance, igniting every fiber of his being with courage as he braced himself to embrace an unimaginable destiny.
The Cerza sky erupted, fractured by brilliant purple lightning.
In that fleeting moment, Fitran found himself irrevocably transported from the inn.
"Welcome, chosen one."
The same voice reverberated through the scented mist of jasmine and jade incense, wrapping around him like a shroud.
In a heartbeat, the world around Fitran began to tremble, resonating with an energy that electrified the air. The purple mist, woven delicately into the sweet jasmine aroma, created a disorienting illusion of tranquility; yet beneath that fragile veneer, he felt powerful waves of tension cascading over him like an impending storm. The image of Rinoa flashed vividly in his mind, her face illuminated with hope and longing, stirring emotions deep within his heart.
As the journey unfolded, an unseen force inexplicably pulled at him, guiding him forward. The sky above began to swirl, colors merging and flowing like rich oil paints across an infinite canvas, crafting a surreal scene that danced between reality and an enchanting magical realm. In the distance, he caught sight of Oda Nobuzan's figure, somber yet resolute, observing each of Fitran's movements with a quiet intensity, as though he was the compass steering him along the right path.
With a low, haunting rumble, the fog began to dissipate, unveiling a breathtaking panorama of a celestial garden. As Fitran fully opened his eyes, he was spellbound by a sight beyond his dreams — a landscape of shimmering glass that sparkled like diamonds against the soft embrace of twilight, and a sky adorned with two radiant moons, casting golden light that bathed everything in a warm glow. Surrounding him were seven ethereal women dressed in flowing silk robes, their hopeful expressions inviting him, as if heralding the dawn of a profound and significant new journey.
Drawn inexplicably to a nearby mirror, Fitran approached it, gazing into its depths where his heart's most profound secrets lay bare. In that shimmering reflection, he saw Rinoa — her laughter a soft melody as she playfully held warm dango, dressed simply in a yukata that made her look like a radiant star among shadows. Not a queen, nor a sorceress, nor anything else... just a girl who longed to share moments of joy with him.
One of the spirits murmured, "Ah... he sees what he does not wish to let go. So he... passes."
In an instant, Fitran was hurled back to the inn, landing right in Rinoa's warm embrace. She called out his name, her voice laced with urgency, determined to shield him from the looming darkness signified by Oda Nobuzan.
As if caught in a mesmerizing swirl of light, Fitran sensed the world around him begin to quiver and shimmer. The sturdy walls of the inn faded like a mirage, replaced by a gentle breeze that beckoned him toward the unknown. In those fleeting, surreal moments, he stole a glance at Rinoa — her eyes wide with confusion and a flicker of anxiety, mirroring his own struggle to comprehend the seconds slipping away.
The radiant light enveloped him, shimmering in an array of colors, forming fantastical silhouettes that twirled gracefully in the air. The soft rustling of leaves accompanied by a delicate whisper seemed to resonate with the very heartbeat of nature, participating in this extraordinary transformation. Fitran held his breath, feeling as though he was cradled by an ethereal tapestry woven from countless shadows telling their own stories in another realm.
In one swift motion, he sensed his being drawn toward a heavenly garden, where vivid colors painted the landscape and the intoxicating fragrance of blooming flowers caressed his senses. Yet, even amidst this surreal beauty, his heart quaked—torn between the consuming love he felt for Rinoa and the ominous threat posed by Oda. As he glanced in every direction, hope and anxiety waged a battle within his soul.
"Hey... I'm back," Fitran said, a playful grin forming as he attempted to disentangle the dango that had somehow gotten stuck in his hair.
Rinoa looked at him, eyes filled with genuine curiosity. "What just happened?"
Fitran let out a deep sigh, the weight of his thoughts pressing upon him like a heavy blanket. "A husband qualification test... and I think I passed. But... not for Oda," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper as he wrestled with his emotions.
His gaze fell upon Rinoa, the light of the moon illuminating her features, revealing the determination etched in her expression.
"Because when asked to choose... all I could see was you," he confessed, a warmth blooming in his chest as he spoke her name.
Oda, lingering nearby, smiled and bowed politely, the gesture laced with an understanding of the tumultuous feelings swirling around them.
"In that case, I will step back. But remember, Fitran... in the eastern world, love is war. And a war is not over just because of one victory," Oda warned, his tone carrying the weight of hard-earned wisdom.
Rinoa smirked playfully, wrapping her arm around Fitran's, radiating an aura of fierce determination. "Good. Because I am the goddess of war when it comes to him," she declared confidently, her eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and resolve.
And as the night of Cerza unfolded, the air was thick with the heady scents of victory, jealousy, and... the remnants of dango sticks scattered like forgotten hopes.