Graduation day was here, and we only had a few hours left before everything changed.
"Babe, I'll head out for a bit. I'll be back in thirty minutes," Luna says.
"Hmm... okay. I'll shower right now."
"Ah, okay."
I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water run over me as steam slowly gathered, softening everything around me. My hair clung to my shoulders as I tilted my head back, trying to ease the tiredness in my body.
A few quiet minutes passed—
then the door opened.
I smiled before I even turned.
Luna's arms slipped around my waist from behind.
"I thought you were heading out."
"I was..."
"...but I missed you."
I let out a deep breath, leaning back into her without thinking.
She reached past me for the scrub, her fingers brushing mine before taking it, then started at my arm, moving slowly—up, then higher.
My shoulders eased under her touch.
She stepped closer, lifting my hair gently and moving it over one shoulder. Cool air brushed the back of my neck—
then her hand followed, warm and tender against my skin.
Something in me softened, something I hadn't even realized was holding tight.
Her hand moved across my back, slow and gentle, tracing a path. Then—she gently cupped my breasts, caressing them for a while, making me tremble inside and making it hard to focus on anything else. Not the water, not the time—not the fact that we were supposed to be getting ready.
Just her.
...Still, I needed to know, because I wanted more than this.
"...We have time, right?" I ask softly.
"...Yeah."
Her forehead rested lightly against my back for a moment.
"Plenty."
Her hand lifted, resting beneath my chin, guiding my face toward hers—not pulling, just there, letting me meet her halfway.
For a second, we stayed like that.
Breath close.
Eyes soft.
Then I leaned in.
The kiss was gentle at first, until it deepened—her lips pressing closer as she moved against me. Her tongue started circling against mine, and I found myself responding without thinking, the moment slipping into something warmer, more intense.
As the kiss softened, her lips didn't leave me—
they brushed my nape again before trailing around my neck.
Then they continued slowly downward until she was on her knees, as if she were taking her time with every inch—letting the moment settle instead of rushing it.
She shifted closer, one hand settling at my waist, grounding me there as everything else faded into the background.
My breath caught, my fingers tightening as I braced myself against the walls at my sides, struggling to keep from losing control completely...
"Luna..."
She looked up at me, then slowly rose to her feet. Her hand stayed at my waist as she leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips.
It was soft—brief—but I could still feel it, something unfinished lingering just beneath the surface.
"I—I want you too... I want to make you feel good," I say.
I turned the water off, taking her hand as we stepped out. The distance to the bed felt shorter than it should have.
We didn't rush because we had to.
We rushed because we wanted to.
And this time—
we didn't stop until we were both fully satisfied.
It took a while before we finally pulled ourselves away from each other—every time we tried, something drew us back in again, until we had nothing left but quiet breaths and tired smiles.
But eventually, we did—getting ready quietly, side by side, as if we were still caught in each other.
Every touch felt softer, every glance a little longer, like neither of us was quite ready to let it go.
The ceremony was waiting.
...And we were already running late.
—
[Group Chat — Rin, Ivy, Luna, Eline]
Rin: we made it in time
Ivy: saved you two seats don't be late
Rin: front row btw :P
I hold up my phone to Eline.
"We got seats."
"Oh, great. I thought we'd end up in the back row."
"Hey, the back row's my favorite spot."
"Just teasing you."
On the way to the hall, I slow down.
"...Wait."
Eline stops beside me. "What?"
"...Silk? Is that you—really?"
"Yes. Was it that surprising to see me with deep blue hair?"
"...Yes. Oh wow. If I knew, we'd probably be even closer."
"...What did you just say?" Eline says.
"...Oh—no, I didn't mean it like that."
"I know," she says calmly, leaning in close enough that only I can hear—
"...remember who you belong to. Unless you want to die."
"You don't need to remind me," I whisper back. "I'm yours. And you're mine." I laugh.
"Silk. Long time no see... wow. Deep blue."
"Yeah. I hope that didn't change anything between us."
"Nonsense. That only applies to a suitor. You're a good friend."
...A suitor?
My brain trips over that.
Oh no.
No no no.
I'm so in trouble later. Are we still together after this? Eline...
"Besides, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't know what Luna really feels about me." She smiles, looking back at me.
"So, uh—what are you doing here, Silk? Are you here to see me graduate or... someone else?"
"Ah... that—and, you know—"
"Silk my boo boo—!"
Rin.
She practically appears out of nowhere, stopping right in front of Silk.
"...are you here for me?" she asks, almost shy.
"Ah... yeah."
Rin visibly short-circuits.
I lean in close to Rin, lowering my voice.
"...Hey, are you two officially together?"
"Luna," Rin whispers back, offended. "You're so rude. Not yet, okay?—but soon. Silk is going to be mine. I'm trying what Eline did to you," she continues, dead serious. "But it's not working. I think I need more love techniques. Silk is playing hard to get."
"...Hmm. Maybe you need to pull some Luna moves."
"Like what?"
"...You know—sing. Play the guitar for her. Serenade her."
"I did that already."
...Wait.
What?
She did?
Did I hear that right? I was just kidding.
"...Wait, for real? You did?!"
"Mm-hm," she says proudly. "Listen... I even told her—'Silk, my boo, I have a hidden talent and I want to show you. I only show this to someone who is very special to me.' And after I showed her," Rin continues, completely serious, "Silk said—"
Rin looks me dead in the eye.
"'Rin... I think you should keep this hidden.'"
"...Yeah, you know what... maybe don't use my methods anymore. But hang in there. Don't give up."
"You bet. I just gave her a Lover's Charm. Hopefully that works." She smirks.
Oh boy...
I laugh.
"Thank you all for attending this year's graduation ceremony. Today marks the completion of your training and the beginning of your roles beyond these halls.
We will begin in a few minutes. Please take your seats."
We say a quick goodbye to Silk and head to our seats.
I'm starting to get nervous. I'm holding Eline's hand, but I feel like I might faint.
"Are you okay? Don't try running now."
I laugh nervously.
"We will now begin the Attunement Ceremony."
One by one, names are called, each student stepping forward as their hair changes right there on stage—green, red, gold, blue—before returning to their seats.
"Ivy Thorne."
"Alright guys, time for the reveal!" Ivy says before walking up to the stage.
A moment later, her dark brown hair lightens, color spreading through it until it settles into a dark green.
Wow. I wouldn't have guessed she was from the Land of Bloom.
She heads back to her seat. "Ivy... you look like a broccoli," Rin says.
"Girl, don't be rude. Don't worry—you'll join the club soon," Ivy shoots back.
"Rin Meadow."
Rin walks up, trying to look composed. A second later, her hair shifts too—green, but lighter than Ivy's.
"What?! Rin will live longer than me? Oh hell," Ivy says.
"See? I don't look like a broccoli," Rin says.
"Well, you look like a cabbage."
"I will still live longer than you."
I laugh. In the Land of Bloom, they say life begins with a crystal—the Crystal of Life. It's something you're born with, not earned, a core that sustains you and shapes how long you last. Their hair reflects it, and the lighter the green, the longer the life. That's why people from Bloom don't just live long—they outlast everyone.
"Alaric Voss."
He walks up to the stage. When his hair changes, the red settles in darker than the others.
He's next in line, so officials from the Land of Coin are already there with him.
"Mira Valcor."
She goes up next, just as composed. Her hair turns red too, but lighter.
Officials from the Land of Coin are there for her too.
The Land of Coin is... weird. Two ruling sides—North and South. Alaric and Mira are cousins, but they don't stand on the same side.
More names get called after that, one after another, hair colors changing as they return to their seats.
"Eline Sinclair."
She walks up, calm like always. Her long brown mermaid-wave hair slowly shifts, the color spreading through it until it turns a light, radiant gold, almost glowing under the light.
Officials from the Land of Veil are there with her, her grandpa standing with them.
Ah... look at her. The campus goddess still looks beautiful as ever.
"Wow... look at Eline," Rin says.
"Her hair... I've never seen someone from the Land of Veil with that kind of color," Ivy adds.
Murmurs spread across the hall, voices blending together.
"She's even more beautiful."
"It suits her too well."
"That color is... unreal."
"Viv Morel"
She walks up the stage, and when her hair changes, it turns a deeper shade of gold. Before stepping down, she glances toward our side and winks.
I follow her gaze and realize it's Ivy—who's suddenly squirming beside me.
"Ivy... did Viv just wink at you?"
"Yes," she says like it's obvious. "We've been dating for six months now, Luna."
"...Oh. Wow. You two kept it a secret, or I just wasn't informed."
"What? Don't tell me she never mentions me during your band practice."
"Well... Viv was very quiet anyway."
"So I guess Ms. Cabbage is the only single in our group?" Eline says.
"Hey, Eline... watch it," Rin shoots back.
"Babe, did you know Viv is from the same land as you?"
"Yes, of course. That's why I recommended her when your band was looking for a guitarist to replace you."
Soon, there are only a few names left, and my grip tightens around Eline's hand without me realizing it.
Then—
"Luna Charon."
As I walk toward the stage, murmurs start to spread across the hall.
"Charon? I've never heard that last name before."
"Which land is Luna from? Anyone know?"
"Well... we'll all find out."
I knew people would react... just not like this. My last name is Charon, and I'm the only one with it. My grandma raised me—but she isn't my biological grandmother. She just said she found me and took me in. At the university, we usually go by our first name and last initial, so to everyone here, I've always just been Luna C. It's one of the rules—privacy, just like how you're not allowed to say which land you came from.
I step onto the stage, look down, and close my eyes.
My heart is pounding so hard.
This is it... Eline will finally know I'm from the Land of Truth. I'm scared of what will happen next. I don't want to lose her because of this.
Please... help me. Someone.
Then the noise around me shifts. Voices start rising.
"...wait—"
"Why isn't it—?"
I open my eyes.
My hair... is still black?!?
What?!
A smile breaks across my face as I look toward Eline.
Yes...!
But then some officials start moving toward me, surrounding me.
Wait... what's going on?
"...Eline."
—
"Luna Charon."
Charon... I've never heard that last name before.
I glance to my side. Even the officials from my land look surprised—no, not just surprised. Something's wrong. They look tense.
Luna... where are you really from? Is that why you never showed up during our clan meetings?
"What in the world is going on? Eline, are you seeing this?" Rin says.
"Oh no... Why Luna?" Ivy adds.
They both look at me, concerned.
I understand why.
Officials from the Land of Truth are already standing behind Luna.
Luna... you're the next Judge?
"No way she's the next Judge?!" Ivy says.
"Eline... what are you going to do now?" Rin asks.
"...wait—"
"Why isn't it—?"
Voices begin to rise around us.
Why isn't her hair turning blue? What's happening?
"What did you do, Ms. Luna?" one of the officials from the Land of Truth demands.
"Did you reject it?" another follows.
"Wait—who are you people? What are you talking about?" Luna's voice cuts through before she looks straight at me.
"...Eline."
The noise builds into a full commotion.
"This doesn't make sense."
"Even if she rejected it, her hair should still be deep blue."
Before I can even move, they pull Luna away—taking her toward the back.
No.
I need to go to her.