They take me through the back, the noise from the hall fading behind us until everything goes quiet. Juke is already there, and before I can say anything, we step into a room and the door closes.
There are people inside—standing, watching me.
"...Juke, what's going on? Who are all these people?"
Juke steps forward. "Ms. Luna, please calm down. These are high-ranking officials of the Land of Truth." He gestures toward them. "...All of them are Judges."
"My apologies, my dear Luna. We are Judges of the Land of Truth. I am Rhea Calypso. These are Phoebe Helene, Pandora Dione and Janus Atlas.
I know you must be confused. Truthfully, we are as well. But I imagine you are far more confused than we are. Perhaps it would be better to return to the Land of Truth. We can explain everything there."
"No—wait." I shake my head quickly. "No, I—I need to understand this now. Not later. Not after what just happened.
Why are all of you here?
Why are the high-ranking Judges here… around me?
…Was I supposed to be the next Judge?"
"Yes, my dear."
"What? No—how?" I let out a shaky breath, shaking my head. "That doesn't make any sense. What made you think that? I'm not—I'm just a normal girl from the Land of Truth. I grew up in a small, quiet village. I don't have connections, I don't have power. I'm just... me. So I don't understand any of this... why me?"
"Your grandmother was right."
...My grandmother?
She knows my grandmother?
"Now I understand why you were chosen... But I still suggest we return to the Land of Truth. There are things we need to show you. Things that can't be explained here."
She steps back.
"For now, take your time. This is your graduation. Please try not to think about this and enjoy the rest of the day."
A knock sounds at the door.
Juke turns. "Ah... Silk. You're here. Good. Please take care of Luna for us. We'll be heading out now."
"Yes, sir."
The room empties, leaving just the two of us.
"Luna..." Silk steps closer. "Are you okay?"
"No..." I shake my head, my voice unsteady. "I'm so confused. I don't know what to do. I wasn't aware of any of this, Silk. I don't understand why me. I just... I just want a simple, normal life. Not this. Especially not being a Judge."
"I know. But... your hair didn't turn at all. I think that's more concerning, don't you think?"
"I'm not going to lie... when my hair didn't turn, I was actually happy. Up there, all I could think about was Eline. I know it was stupid—I'm still from the Land of Truth no matter what. But now..." I shake my head. "Now I have this problem."
"...Do you know where Eline is?"
"I saw her when they took you. She tried to follow, but the Land of Veil's officials blocked her. Her grandfather stopped her."
...Eline.
I pull out my phone and call.
No answer.
I try again.
Still nothing.
I send her a message.
Babe, where are you?
"Let's go," Silk says. "They might be outside."
As we head out, Silk pulls out her phone.
"Hey, Rin... are you with the others? Let's meet somewhere less crowded. Come to my place."
⸻
We arrive at Silk's place near the university. Rin, Ivy, and Viv are already there—
but no Eline.
"Luna, are you okay?" Rin asks.
"No... I'm not okay at all. Do you know where Eline is? I've called her so many times. I even left a message, but she's not answering."
"We couldn't reach her either," Ivy says. "The Land of Veil took her, but I told her we'd be meeting here."
I start telling them everything—what happened after the officials from the Land of Truth took me.
Then a knock interrupts us. Silk moves to open the door—
and Eline is standing there.
"...You guys, let's give them some space," Silk says. "I'm sure they have a lot to talk about."
Eline steps closer. "Are you okay?"
"No… I'm not okay." My voice shakes. "I didn't even know any of this. I tried to tell you before where I was from."
I swallow, forcing the words out.
"Now that you know… do you still want to be with me?"
Eline looks at me.
"…Luna, I'm sorry. I can't do this."
She looks away. "I can't be with someone from the Land of Truth." Her voice cracks, tears forming in her eyes.
"I need someone who won't put me in this position. Someone who won't make me choose."
My heart drops.
...Oh.
The word barely comes out as I look at her, trying to understand, but nothing is making sense anymore.
She exhales.
"You think that's what I would say to you?"
"...What??"
She steps even closer, wiping her tears.
"Do you remember your answer back in Poetry and Prose? About the young woman and the young man?
You told our professor—and everyone—that the young woman should choose him for who he is. That she should see him for herself, and if she ever walked away, it should be because of that… not because of others.
Because if she truly loved him, she would stay. She would keep choosing him, no matter what—and never let him go."
"...When you said that, it made me fall even more in love with you. I agreed with you then." A small smile forms. "And now… we're in that same situation."
She reaches for me.
"You think my mind would change because of your land? Or because you were supposed to be the next Judge?" She lets out a low chuckle. "You're not escaping this love of mine. I'd never let you go."
She pulls me into her arms.
"You're a meany," I mumble, half laughing. "You know I spiral so much when it comes to you. You scared the shit out of me... damn, I almost had a heart attack."
I wipe at my tears.
"But... thank you. For reassuring me."
"So... what are you going to do now? Did they tell you what's going on? Why your hair didn't change?"
"Ah... I asked all those questions too, but they said I'd have to go back to the Land of Truth to show me. I don't even want to be a Judge. I've never dreamed of becoming one... I really don't know what to do."
"Hey... look at me."
"We'll get through this together, okay? I promise."
"...Thank you... for being my rock. As always."
⸻
I was helping Luna pack for her trip to the Land of Truth.
She kept refolding the same shirt like she couldn't focus. I didn't say anything at first... just watched her for a moment.
"Babe... can I ask you something?"
"Yeah. Ask away."
"Why do you turn down suitors from the Land of Truth?"
I pause, my hands stilling for a second before I set the shirt down.
"When I was younger… something happened between our lands. There was a trial. The Judge at the time sentenced my parents to death.
But I know they were misjudged. They were innocent."
"…How do you know?"
"Because the Judge died right after." I swallow. "I was terrified. I was just a child, and I ended up alone… just like that. That's when my grandfather took me in and raised me."
"…I'm really sorry." She steps closer. "You're not alone anymore… I'm here. You can lean on me."
I look into her eyes.
"I know… because you're my person."
⸻
I set out for the Land of Truth, asking Silk to come with me while Rin decides to tag along too.
Eline wanted to come... but she couldn't. As the leader of the Sinclair clan, she had things she needed to handle first, even if she pouted the entire time.
This would be the first time we'd be apart for a while... and it already felt strange.
So instead, she sends Viv with me, and I can't help but remember our conversation last night...
"Hmm... so is Viv coming to help me... or to guard me?"
"Well," Eline had said, completely serious, "she's there to help you."
She raised an eyebrow.
"...But I did tell her to keep an eye on anyone who even dares to approach you... and kill on sight."
She covers her mouth with one hand, letting out a soft, mischievous laugh.
I shake my head slightly. "...You don't have to do that." I hold up a shirt. "Look, I already solved the problem."
Her eyes widen.
"I made this," I say, trying not to laugh. "It has your face on it… and it says, 'Beware—I'm the girlfriend of the leader of the House of Sinclair. Approach at your own risk.'"
She just stares at it for a second—then melts.
...And now I'm wearing it.
"Cool shirt, Luna," Viv says, glancing at me. "You just made my life way easier."
"Hmm... I wouldn't be too sure about that, Viv," Rin says, crossing her arms.
"Oh. Well... guess I'll sharpen my dagger a bit more."
"Yeah," Silk adds, glancing at me through the rearview mirror, "I kind of agree with Rin. Wait until we get to the Land of Truth... you're basically a celebrity there now, Luna."
"...What?!?"
"Your face is everywhere! Posters, screens, announcements... people talking about you like they already know you. They're calling you...
The Uncrowned Judge...
And with your black hair? You're not exactly easy to miss. Some people even started fan clubs. You're kind of a sensation over there."
"...Nah... you're joking, right? There's no way."
"Better not report this to Eline, Viv," Rin mutters. "Unless you want all of us to die."
"Oh, come on," I say, waving it off. "It can't be that bad, right?"
...Right?
The car slows as we pull up to the hotel, and the moment we arrive, there are already reporters waiting—cameras flashing, lights everywhere, voices overlapping as all of it turns toward me.
"Yeah..." Silk exhales. "I think we need more backup."
Within seconds, security moves in, bodyguards surrounding us and quickly escorting us inside as the noise follows us all the way to the doors.
My phone buzzes.
It's Eline.
Babe: hey... I just saw you on the front page of a website
Babe: everyone's looking at you.. I don't like that! they should be careful 😤
I smile a little, typing back.
Me: yeah... I don't like this kind of attention either. next time I'll just wear a cap, a mask, and shades 😩
Babe: that might be a good idea 😏
Babe: I'd hate to have to deploy my forces over something like this 😈
When we get to the top floor, we're greeted like royalty. They tell us to relax and have lunch first.
Food starts coming in—plate after plate, more than enough to choose from, desserts too. It almost feels like a feast and it kind of sucks Eline isn't here, so I take a picture and send it to her.
After eating like there's no tomorrow, I step out onto the balcony and call my grandma.
"Grandma... where are you? I'm sure you're aware of what's going on. I'm so confused."
"Don't worry. Soon, someone will come pick you up. Just wait a little longer... you'll hear the truth from me."
"...Okay, Grandma. I'll see you soon."
As I hang up, Viv walks over and hands me a bag.
"What's this?"
"Ah... Eline asked me to buy those for you. She said this must be executed immediately!"
I open it—inside is a black cap, a black mask, and black shades.
I put everything on, then turn around to face them. They all burst out laughing.
"Girl... which house are we robbing later?" Rin says.
Silk laughs. "Hey, you still look cool."
Viv grins. "Let me take a picture of this and send it to Eline."
My phone buzzes almost immediately.
Babe: you look adorable 😍
Me: all the things I'd do for love 😘
Babe: I know 🥰😘
⸻
A driver shows up, along with a few bodyguards who escort me to the car, informing me that I'll need to go alone and that my friends won't be able to come with me.
The car waiting outside is sleek, all black... luxurious. I've only ever seen cars like this around here when they're driving Judges.
...I guess you could consider me one... but right now, I don't even look like a citizen of Truth—let alone a Judge. They're being a bit extra.
"Where are we going?"
"We're heading to the Solis Sanctum."
Solis Sanctum? I've never heard of that before... I don't even remember Grandma mentioning it in her stories. Why do I already feel so uneasy...?
"Is it far? How long will it take?"
"It'll be a couple of hours."
I glance at my phone. "...Is the signal here weak or something?"
"Yes, Ms. There's no signal here. The area is protected by an invisible barrier."
...That far? They set the barrier all the way out here... we still have a long way to go.
Oh shit... I forgot to text Eline. Why do they even need a no-signal zone? Damn it... now she's going to be worried. I can already see her spiraling... geez, I would too if I were in her position.
At some point, I doze off, and by the time we arrive, it's already night.
And there it is…
Wow.
The Solis Sanctum.