Brie took everything in stride while Sora seemed a bit more nervous.
"Well, we will have to celebrate my birthday on our honeymoon?" Brie asked excitedly.
"One more thing for me to look forward to," Sora exclaimed with a grin.
"Well, say your goodbyes. Tomorrow is the 7th so at midnight you will officially be cut off from one another," Mina stated.
"Eye of Chronos," Sora thought and left only Celeste and Brie with him as time froze.
"We have to be quick but Celeste, will the party's sealing magic cause any complications with this curse? Is this curse real?"
"Your sealing magic will not but when you are married in Elven lands and embedded in their energy, yes the curse and blessing are real," Celeste said quickly.
"Hey system, please add an additional clause to my Seal with Brie Reinhardt. We will not communicate until the elves allow us too. Please block any means of communication until the seal is changed. Make it a heart on our left hands."
[Adjustment completed. Brie has accepted.]
'Release' Sora thought.
"Happy early Birthday, I love you and I'll see you soon," Sora said while giving Brie a kiss.
"Thanks, I love you too! Thanks for the preventative measures." Brie said while hugging him one last time and giving him another kiss.
"Alright Brie, please come with me," Mina said as she held out her hand.
"Bye everyone! See you soon!" Brie said as she left the room with Mina.
After saying their goodbyes to Bishop, Xavier took each of the members to their temporary bedrooms.
"Feel free to explore anywhere you would like while you are here," Xavier said and wished them, "Good night!"
'This is going to be a long week. Today already felt incredibly long,' Sora thought while lying in bed.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, he heard Celeste speaking to him telepathically.
"Sorry I wasn't more up front about all of this with you."
"It's totally fine. I'm just glad everything worked out. Thanks for all you do for us Celeste."
"You're welcome. Being blessed by Athena and having your soul intertwined with your partner… I don't think any couple has ever done that before. You and Brie will be the first. That's exciting!"
"That's amazing news. Good night Celeste."
"Good night Sora.
'Well, this is going to be a long week. I just hope Bishop agrees to some friendly duels,' Sora thought as he fell asleep.
*****
Brie met a ton of female elves, including the King and Queen's four daughters: Faye, Diane, Gwen and Lily.
Despite Xavier and Mina both being 575 years old, they looked like a middle aged couple in their early 50s. Faye was 350, but looked like a young woman in her thirties, Diane was 275 but looked like a young woman in her late twenties, Gwen was 180 but looked 18 and despite being 40 years old, Lily looked like a toddler.
'I guess this is kind of what Chronos was insinuating when he said humans will never understand the constructs or meaning of time,' Brie thought.
Faye was the only one in a relationship, with a 370 year old elf named Aegir. In the event anything happened to Xavier and Mina, Faye would take over as Queen.
"So you have been dating Aegir for 100 years but aren't engaged?" Brie asked curiously.
"Nope. No rush. Even though one week in our barrier is one month in Exteria, we age at a rate of 10 elven years is about 1 human year. Some elves live to be nearly 1200 years old before they pass away. It's confusing, I know," Faye said as she gave Brie a haircut.
"You are so amazing at this! I've never had my haircut by someone actually using the tools you use. Do you infuse magic into it as well?" Brie asked as her hair finally soaked in warm water.
"Nope. No magic. Just scissors, a brush and some water!" Faye said cheerfully as she gave Brie a scalp massage.
"I could get used to this!" Brie said gleefully. "I can't believe I'm getting married to someone I've only known for a year and a half and you've been with someone for over 100 years!"
Faye laughed. "Time is just something we use to measure life by. For some races it's shorter, for some it's longer and for some, if they choose, they are essentially immortal unless they're killed."
She turned Brie around to look in the mirror.
"Well, do you like it?" Faye asked nervously.
"I love it! It looks amazing. Thank you so much!" Brie exclaimed in joy as she looked at her beautiful blue hair just below her shoulders but layered beautifully. Her bangs were neatly trimmed and split down the middle, slightly past her eyes.
It's something the elves referred to as a "wolf cut."
"What's next?" Brie asked Faye.
"You are going to get your wedding dress made by one of my mother's close friends with Sera, Leila, Sasha, Celeste and my mother.
Brie gave Faye a large hug and thanked her again.
"Your hair looks amazing, Brie. Are you ready to watch elven magic create you the perfect wedding dress?" Mina said with a big smile as she grabbed Brie's hand and they were off.
'I swear these last three days have been non-stop!' Brie thought as she met with the rest of the ladies.
She was glad she had Sasha, Leila and Celeste with her. It was nice getting to know all the other elven women but she was glad her best friend and party members were with her.
"Hey Sasha, can you believe all of this? This barrier is amazing!"
"I'd love to live here. There's no way you could, though! You'd grow old way too quickly!"
"She's right, Brie. As much as this place is beautiful, you'd age 4 years for every year spent here." Celeste said with a laugh.
"I don't want to do that! I'd be an old lady and Sora would be this handsome young man!"
"Don't forget, I'm an old woman! Are you making fun of me now too?" Leila teased Brie.
"If I look that good when I'm as old as you are, consider me blessed." Brie laughed.
Faye looked at the group and smiled.
'It's interesting to see what people are like from the outside world. We never get visitors!'