It took the day after for the world to rise again.

The Golden City of Bresnia was a picture of destruction, but local businesses had begun restoration efforts.

It was in the morning following the final battle when Maeyune at last received word from Suolan.

The royal family had survived the invasion. But both the Ursan celestial base and the Ursa First temple had been destroyed, along with the Silver City. Thousands in Suolan had lost their lives. As small as the kingdom was, the energy in the land was now frailer than ever.

When Aunt Lyn leapt off one of the transport buses brimming with survivors, Maeyune held her for what felt like a lifetime. Waterfalls of tears soaked the woman's face, but her smile was a beacon.

She passed a small transmission device into Maeyune's hands. "Jorin wants to talk to you," she said with a wry grin.

Maeyune drew a quiet gasp. "He's still alive?"

Lyn only snorted, but smiled and nodded anyway.

Maeyune accepted the device and pressed its center button to answer the waiting call. The small screen expanded above the callset. The hologram revealed a man who appeared to have aged considerably over the months that she'd been away from Suolan. His right arm was in a cast, and his wrinkles were deeper than she remembered. But when he saw her on the receiving end, he closed his eyes and released a breath. She could hear the strain leave his body.

Maeyune felt a choke in her throat. "Master."

"I am most happy to know that you are alive, Maeyune," Master Jorin said.

She smiled, her eyes watering. "And I am happy to know you are safe."

It was one of the rarest occasions of familial love that they'd ever shown each other. Jorin cleared his throat, and his face resumed its usual countenance—albeit a little less stern.

"King Chiyan requests your return," he continued.

Maeyune felt some of her joy dissipate. "When?"

He noted the change in her face and said regretfully, "Tomorrow. He has already spoken with the Beran councilwoman. You, your team, and Commander Lin will depart from Bera tomorrow morning." He waited a few seconds before adding in a softer tone, "Your people miss you."

Return home. Rejoin her people.

Leave Bera. Leave Reo.

Every second that passed made it more difficult for her to accept.

She nodded, the movement unsteady. "Yes, Master." After a brief hesitation, she said, "Master, if—I would like to request a few more days here, at least until I've said all my farewells."

Jorin watched her for a moment. "Granted. In three days time, a plane will be there to gather you. I will notify His Majesty." He smiled. "Safe travels, Maeyune. We will see you soon."

She nodded, and the transmission ended. She was left feeling both warm and cold. Her heart juggled with joy and sadness, and it held her stationary until Lyn's hands touched her shoulders.

"One step at a time, Mae," she said. Then, as if to ignore her own words entirely, she added, "Come, introduce me to my future nephew."

Maeyune shook her head in disbelief but couldn't stop herself from smiling.

She hadn't been able to find a moment to steal away with Reo. Emna would have to wait for that introduction.

The last time she and Reo had been together had been the night before, after they had died and come back to life—after Shivra and Yunra had come back to life. Reo had held her closer than ever before. He'd made her laugh until he'd kissed her into oblivion. They were alive, and they had celebrated that life together last night.

While she had gone in search of her aunt, he'd spent the course of the day with his brother and sister, locating friends and relatives. She didn't see him for the rest of the afternoon.

She also didn't see either Meera or Clover. Although, she had caught Clover reenacting his heroics in front of Reo's sister. At least Lady Adeline appeared entertained by his extravagant storytelling.

Maeyune and her friends had each been placed in one of Bera's renowned hotels while they rebuilt the Bresnian celestial base. Situated farther from the reconstruction of the Council Hall, the hotel had for the most part remained intact during the war. She stood on the small balcony of her room, glancing out at the rebirth of the Beran capital. She caught a few sightings of dragons in the sky. Movement on the streets stopped as many pointed.

A knock came from her door.

Aunt Lyn had left only minutes ago--something about souvenirs and other random trinkets to take back to Suolan with her. It couldn't have been her already.

She opened the door and found Councilor Daylana Hart on the other side. Two uniformed guards flanked her, their hands folded in front of them.

Surprised, Maeyune bowed. "Good evening, Councilor. Please, come in."

The councilwoman nodded to her sentries, and they remained at the doorway, with one holding the door propped open.

"I'm sorry," Maeyune began, mystified. "I would have requested tea be sent to the room--"

Daylana held out a hand to stop her. "There is no need, Miss Ereni. I don't want to take up any more of your time, as I'm sure you have much left you wish to do before you leave."

Maeyune nodded and waited for her to continue. Daylana approached the open balcony and observed the capital.

"I'm surprised you haven't asked to extend your time here with us, Miss Ereni," she said. "Your friends certainly didn't hesitate when the opportunity arose."

Maeyune frowned. "I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean?"

"Miss Katra and Mr. Mither each requested an extended permit of stay here in Bera," Daylana replied. "For all that you and your team have done for us, I was more than happy to grant that request. You have sacrificed so much for this country. Words will never be able to portray our gratitude.

"It has been an honor having you here as our guest," she continued. "I came to tell you in person that you are more than welcome to stay for as long as you'd like."

The news of her friends puzzled Maeyune. Neither of them had spoken to her about their wish to stay. She wondered why.

"You have been through so much, I know," Daylana said, observing the shock on Maeyune's face.

"I...Thank you, Councilor," Maeyune said. "Your offer is most gracious. But...home is where I need to be."

Daylana smiled. "I understand. Bera will always welcome you back with open arms. I hope you return to visit us soon."

"Thank you, Councilor," Maeyune said again, and bowed.

Daylana turned and started for the door. But before she left, she stopped underneath the doorway and regarded Maeyune again.

"Tell me, Miss Ereni," she said. "If you could choose one thing to do in your life, what would it be?"

The question caught Maeyune by surprise. "Ma'am?"

Daylana gave a slight shrug of her shoulder--a playful and womanly movement that momentarily broke her formal demeanor. "I just assumed that having trained your entire life, there must be something you have always wanted to do in the world?"

"I have never really considered that question before," Maeyune confessed.

"Well," Daylana said with a quirk of a smile, "now you can. At least, for the time being until the world needs you again."

With a farewell nod, she left. Her guard closed the door behind them.

Maeyune listened to their retreating footsteps in the hall before settling into the room's armchair. She hadn't a moment to reflect on the conversation, when there was another knock at her door.

"Room service," called a voice.

Room service?

Maeyune rose to her feet to answer. A woman in an all white chef's uniform pushed in a silver cart of plated food. The heavenly aroma that wafted into the room nearly lifted Maeyune off her feet. Each plate lay hidden underneath ornate, dome-shaped covers. In the corner of the cart was a small bucket of ice, within which waited an unopened wine bottle.

"I'm sorry," Maeyune said, baffled, "I don't believe I--"

"Dinner, ma'am, at the request of the Sun Prince," the servicewoman answered. She gestured at the plates with a flourish of her hand.

Maeyune's eyebrows rose, but the servicewoman was gone in an instant. Before Maeyune could preview the contents of the cart, her eyes landed on a small note that rested atop one of the covered plates.

Curious, she unfolded it.

It read, The second best thing in the world.

Setting the note aside, she investigated the plate referenced by the note. She lifted the cover--and found a small bowl of chocolate ice cream waiting underneath.

A wide grin spread across her face.

"You don't want to spoil your appetite just yet."

Maeyune glanced up at the voice and found Reo watching her from the doorway. He smiled at her, then shut the door behind him. When he pulled her into his arms, he murmured into her ear, "Surprise."

"The food smells absolutely divine," she said. Then, nodding a chin at the ice cream, she asked, "If that is the second best thing in the world, then what is the first?"

"This."

The kiss was soft and slow. She felt it cascade from the top of her head down to the tips of her curling toes. Pain thrummed in her chest. Oh, how she would miss these lips.

Their heads drew apart, and he noted the slight furrow in her brow. "What's wrong?"

She dropped her gaze and removed her arms from his waist to hold his hands. When she met his eyes again, she said softly, "I am going home soon."

The news drained emotion from his expression. He slowly pulled out of her grasp and ran a hand down his face. He turned away from her, and she let him have the moment to process her words before she approached him and touched his elbow.

"My people need me, Reo."

There was no shock on his face, she realized, only a pain that was growing more evident by the second. He'd known this conversation would eventually happen. He'd had no courage to face it just yet.

"When?" he said quietly.

"In three days."

"I'll come with you."

The thought both thrilled her and saddened her, and she shook her head. "I wish you could. I think you would love Suolan. But hasn't your brother submitted a campaign to join the Council? He will need you here for your support, Reo."

Reo drew in a sharp breath. He knew she was right.

"Okay," he said. "Then that means we have only three days to cause all the trouble we can."

She frowned at him in confusion. Without warning, he dipped and scooped his arm behind her knees. She gave a wild yelp as he lifted her and tossed her onto the bed.

The food had grown cold by the time they lay quietly beneath the covers. But they hadn't neglected the ice cream.

She memorized the movement of Reo's fingertips as they sauntered up and down the length of her back. With her head on his chest, she listened to the song of his heart.

She gazed up at his face, which had creased into thought. "What are you thinking about?" she said.

"The Overlord said Vaius was a seed," Reo said. "So, if Vaius is a seed, then where's the tree?"

She gave the thought a few seconds to consider, then replied, "A question for the future, I imagine."

He let the thought pass, then held his hand in the air to scrutinize it. They both watched as his fingers released a soft, orange glow.

"I think that if Yunra hadn't picked me," he said, "I would have been born a fire celestial."

She smiled at that. "You are a fire celestial now."

"And you're a water celestial," he added. "I'll admit, I'm going to miss being the sun warrior. We'll just have to settle for being legends."

A minute of silence passed as they listened to the clatter of construction beyond the balcony doors.

"Will I see you again?" he whispered.

It took her longer than a usual reply, but when she replied, it was with every belief in her heart. "Yes."

He gave her a gentle squeeze. "Then, when I see you again," he said, "I think we should travel the world together, maybe use some of my inheritance. We can work odd jobs or something to keep moving. I want to know what's so great about this rock we died protecting."

A soft chuckle escaped her as she relished the idea. "I would love that."

Another moment of silence passed. The night ebbed onward, and before she could allow sleep to claim him, she whispered, "I love you."

He opened his eyes to peer down at her, then kissed her brow. He shifted to face her, his arms still wrapped around her. "I love you, too," he murmured into her skin.

A while later, he whispered, "My moon. Hmm, I like that."

He breathed her in. "My moon."

Maeyune watched from a high ledge as Reo directed men and women, boys and girls, to and fro while reassembly continued in the Bresnian celestial base.

Eventually, she took notice of the figure who joined her at her side. In silence, she and Meera watched the scene below them.

"So you're leaving, then?" Meera began.

"Yes." Maeyune turned to her friend. "Meera, I didn't know you wanted to stay."

Her friend shrugged. "Just for a little while longer, to rediscover myself, or something of that nature. The people here are far more adventurous than the ones back home. Maybe I'll find my own Sun Prince, or Sun Princess, somewhere in these forsaken deserts. Someone who looks at me the way he looks at you."

Meera nodded down below them. Maeyune followed the gesture, and she saw that Reo had paused in his work to gaze up at her. Caught in the act, he smiled and returned to the clipboard in his hand.

"I told him that if he ever hurt you," Meera said, "I'd kill him in his sleep."

Maeyune nearly let out a laugh and gaped at her friend.

Meera continued with some disappointment, "He said that you'd probably beat me to it."

With a grin on her face, Maeyune imagined what that conversation must have been like.

"You smile a lot more now," Meera said. Her face softened. "I like that."

Maeyune's smile faded as she took in the sight of her friend. They had each lost the same people, but Meera's had been an excruciating blow to her heart. The past few months had not been kind, and now they only had a few days left together to reflect.

"So, you're a water celestial now?" Meera said. Her tone adjusted to invite more cheer. "I am happy to say that I, for once in my life, am better than you at something."

Maeyune arched a brow but smirked nonetheless. "I may need a few lessons. How about dinner? You, Clover and me. We should enjoy a meal together and converse the night away before we go our separate ways."

Meera smiled, and Maeyune could see the warmth reflected in her eyes. "I think I would like that very much. But good luck prying Clover from Lady Adeline. He's fallen head over heels. I think he's pledged himself to be her personal security. He's been quite a gentleman around Reo, hoping for someone to put in a good word. Have you noticed?"

"Heavens, I will miss you two."

In that instant, Meera threw her arms around Maeyune's shoulders. They embraced for a long time, and Maeyune finally felt her heart quiet.

"I'll set the reservation," Meera chirped when she pulled away. "I know the perfect place."

Then, the water celestial was gone.

Maeyune was left on the ledge alone to observe the noise and activity around her. Land and wind celestials aided in the reconstruction of the walls. Fire and water celestials delivered supplies. Both young and old, powered and powerless, were relentless in the base's revival--in the world's revival.

No one stopped to give her orders. No one required her direction.

It would not last forever, and that was perfectly fine.

She smiled.

After all, she made the best of it.