Kaelum carried Aphrodite farther and farther from the center of Valtharion.
The dragon they were riding finally began to descend when a magnificent building came into view beyond the thin mist.
Aphrodite fell silent at once.
The building stood atop a hill surrounded by glowing trees. Its towering gates were made of silvery-white stone, covered in carvings Aphrodite had never seen before.
Ancient symbols adorned both sides of the gates.
Some of them even seemed alive.
Golden light slowly flowed along the carvings, like a stream of magic that never stopped.
Aphrodite gazed at it in awe.
“I’ve never seen a place like this.”
Kaelum smiled.
“This is my favorite place.”
Their dragon landed slowly in the front courtyard.
As soon as Aphrodite dismounted, a sudden gust of wind swept past them.
Several flowers growing around the hill were lifted by the wind.
The flowers spun through the air before one of their stems fell right into Kaelum’s hand.
Kaelum looked at the flower.
Then he handed it to Aphrodite.
“For you.”
Aphrodite accepted the flower with a smile.
“Thank you.”
She turned her gaze back to the magnificent building before them.
“What building is this?”
Kaelum stood beside her.
“It’s where the Elves reside.”
Aphrodite furrowed her brow.
“Elves?”
Kaelum nodded.
“Aurethiel.”
He pointed to the enormous gates.
“The Gate of the Gods.”
Aphrodite looked up.
“No wonder it’s so beautiful.”
Golden light suddenly flashed between the trees.
Aphrodite turned her head.
The light struck Kaelum’s hair.
Several strands of his black hair gave off a faint golden shimmer.
Aphrodite pointed at them.
“Your hair.”
Kaelum looked at his own hair.
“What about it?”
“It’s glowing.”
Kaelum gave a small smile.
“Oh.”
Aphrodite watched the light.
Then her thoughts slowly began to change.
Everyone in Elythera had magic.
The dragons had their powers.
The fairies had the blessings of nature.
The Elves had ancient magic.
The sorcerers possessed knowledge capable of influencing even the world itself.
Even Kaelum possessed power that was so clearly visible.
Then what about her?
Aphrodite lowered her head.
Her smile slowly faded.
Kaelum noticed.
“Why are you so gloomy?”
Aphrodite shook her head.
“It’s nothing.”
She clasped the flower Kaelum had given her.
“I just remembered why I became your bride.”
Kaelum fell silent.
Aphrodite continued in a quiet voice.
“I don’t have magic.”
Kaelum sighed.
“Aphrodite.”
“I just feel strange.”
Kaelum looked at her for a few moments.
Then he said,
“I’m sorry.”
Aphrodite raised her face.
“For what?”
“Because this might all feel like something forced upon you.”
Aphrodite did not answer.
Kaelum then gave a faint smile.
“But actually, I remembered you long before this wedding.”
Aphrodite furrowed her brow.
“You remembered me?”
Kaelum nodded.
“I remembered you when you helped me at the Ellarielle River.”
Aphrodite gasped.
An old memory suddenly surfaced in her mind.
The Ellarielle River.
A little squirrel she had once found injured.
Aphrodite stared at Kaelum in disbelief.
“Wait.”
Kaelum smiled.
“You?”
“You were the one disguised as a squirrel?”
Kaelum finally laughed.
“Yeah.”
Aphrodite stared at him with wide eyes.
“So all this time, you were—?”
“Back then, I was studying magic in Nythera.”
Kaelum was still smiling as he remembered it.
“I disguised myself and went to the place said to have the most beautiful fairies in all of Elarielle.”
Aphrodite let out a small scoff.
“And then you found a very beautiful fairy who didn’t have any power at all.”
Kaelum looked at her.
Aphrodite was silent for a moment before speaking.
“Freya should still have been your wife.”
Kaelum stopped smiling.
“She’s a dragon of a high caste. She deserves to be with you.”
Kaelum’s gaze turned cold.
“She left.”
Aphrodite fell silent.
“She couldn’t handle the responsibility.”
Kaelum looked at the gates of Aurethiel.
Then his voice grew firmer.
“I don’t need a wife with magical power to support me.”
He turned to Aphrodite.
“Because I already possess that power.”