OW: ASA - CH 132.5 - A Reunion So Sweet

A/N: OK, in the print book this chapter is labelled 'Bonus Chapter' but I didn't want to confuse anyone. There is only one chappy for ASA going up today ahahahha. BUT BOOK 3 LAUNCHES Sept 12th!!!!!! Pre-order it pls it looks soooooo good for numbersssssss Thanks besties!!!

Chapter 132.5

A Reunion So Sweet 

Five Years Before in Rise of Spring, Week 2, Day 3

Flower blooms fell from the massive trees that lined the road to the estate. Bluegreen moongrass shoots had broken through the soil, and new leaves had sprouted on the bushes. Rocks were covered in vibrant moss, and a warm breeze spread out from the forest. 

Fellan had awoken from its dormancy. 

In town, the Spring festival had just ended, and clean up was quickly taking place—and were it not for what today was, Nora would have been helping with said cleaning. She had enjoyed the festival with Uriel and the other mithril kids, so it was only right to help make Fellan whole again. 

It’s the day, she thought to herself. Within her shadow sat several spirits. Jett, Ronan, and Senka had insisted upon staying close. Noir, Shade, and Haze were all standing near her, their darkness on display.

As the gates opened, Nora stood straighter—as did the maids and knights that had come out to greet the incoming guest. 

For all that the guest was important, arguably more important than Nora herself, the staff at Fellan was only so put together at Nora’s command. They had not been enthused to welcome the guest, not after what they knew about him from listening in on the arguments between Nora and the spirits. 

She could hear the rolling of wheels and the clops of hooves before she saw the carriage. But when it came into view, Nora frowned. It was a gaudy thing, of deep purple wood and vibrant gold wiring. There were massive windows on the side that made the carriage look akin to a fishbowl and the doors had emblems with two suns rising. Behind the main carriage were two smaller, less ornate wagons. Surrounding them all were three dozen knights. 

Beside her, Nora heard Gristle grumble, “See? That is an entourage. What they sent you with is a disgrace.”

She let a smile quirk her lips. “It doesn’t matter. Any maid or knight from the main estate would not have done me as much good as the 43rd or you.”

“Still,” he sighed, crossing and uncrossing his arms. 

>Flattery works wonders on this man.< Eunora chirped in her mind, and Nora had to fight back a laugh. It was an easy thing, because the carriage was quickly growing closer.

It was a sobering thought. That she would be welcoming another Dawn to her home. That this Dawn technically had a stronger pull than herself. 

But he wouldn’t use it, of that, Nora would make sure. 

As the main carriage came to a stop, the coachman hopped down from the front ledge and hurried to the door. With his hand resting on the handle, the man cleared his throat. 

“Presenting the Third Light of Dawn, Lord Theodore Dawn.”

Nora’s grin widened. 

It had been a short week since they’d last spoken, but it was a far cry from the late-night chats in Twilight they had nearly every day. 

The door opened, and out came a young boy, just a couple of years older than Nora herself. He had a smile on his face as he jumped out over the steps down from the carriage. 

“Nora,” he said fondly, and the girl rushed to him, wrapping her arms around her brother. 

“Took you long enough.” Nora laughed into Theo’s shoulder. Pulling away, she scrunched her nose. “You need to prepare yourself. The next few days come with loads of plans.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Theo made a point to ignore the glares of the maids, to put the hawk-like gaze of the head butler out of his mind, to pretend he didn’t see the tense set of the knights' shoulders. It hardly mattered to him. 

Soon enough, he’d be locked in a palace in a land of barbarians. A prized bird in a gilded cage. The Duchy of Dawn was not his concern—not yet. Not until he returned, strong enough to usurp Raphael and Evelyn. 

A dark, satisfied expression crossed his face at the thought of his elder sister. Stuck in a perpetual slumber like the God of Eternal Rest himself. She’d be easy to overcome.