As the kiss broke, a soft blush returned to Adah's cheeks, but it was accompanied by a radiant smile that lit up her entire face. Sheut, for his part, looked utterly content, a quiet warmth emanating from him that softened the formidable aura he usually carried. He reached out and gently cupped Adah's cheek, his thumb brushing away a lingering tear of joy.
Queen Nandi, with a dramatic flourish, strode forward, her eyes sparkling. "Well, that was certainly a memorable moment, wouldn't you say, my dear?" she teased Adah, then turned a knowing look to Sheut. "I trust you understand, Sheut Khensu, that you have just made a very public and profound commitment to one of my dearest friends. My court, and indeed, the entire realm, will be watching."
Sheut inclined his head respectfully. "I understand, My Queen, and I welcome the scrutiny. My commitment to Adah, and by extension, to her happiness, is absolute."
General Kar finally stepped forward, his expression still a mixture of bewilderment and grudging respect. "While I may still be trying to fathom the logistics of… all of this," he began, gesturing vaguely around the room, "I will say this, Sheut Khensu. If you bring any harm or unhappiness to Sister. I mean Adah," he corrected himself, with a surprisingly fluid change, "you will have me to answer to. And that, I assure you, is a far more tangible threat than any shadow trick."
Sheut met Kar's gaze, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Understood, General. I wouldn't have it any other way."
With the air still buzzing from the unexpected proposal and the stunning display of shadow-craft, Queen Nandi clapped her hands together once more, signaling a change of pace. "Now that we have witnessed such… unconventional yet utterly delightful proceedings. The temple has served its purpose for now. We shall return to the palace, where we can begin making… arrangements." Her gaze swept over Sheut and Adah, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "There's a great deal to discuss, particularly regarding royal consorts and future empires, wouldn't you agree?"
Adah, still smiling with unadulterated glee, walked up to Queen Nandi and threw her arms around her. Both ladies started squealing, a high-pitched, joyful sound that momentarily cut through the lingering formality in the chamber. They embraced for a few seconds, sharing a private moment of triumph and shared fantasy fulfilled, before finally releasing each other. Hand in hand, they began to walk towards the exit of the temple, a silent signal for the rest of the court to follow.
The Queen gave a subtle nod to Big John, who immediately began putting the heart arch into his storage ring and accompanying Shuet a General Kar towards the temple exit. The shimmering shadow lake beneath Sheut rippled one last time before dissolving completely, the rose petals vanishing with it, as if the magic of the moment was slowly receding, leaving only the profound shift in Adah's world. As the group began to depart, Adah, still slightly dazed but utterly joyous, cast a few looks back at Sheut. The newly placed ring is cool and solid on her finger. Her journey, she realized, had just taken its most fantastical turn yet, and it was only just the beginning.
After leaving the temple, Adah and Queen Nandi, still hand in hand, approached a large, awe-inspiring black carriage. Its dark surface was adorned with intricate tree accents on all four corners, with their branches seeming to hug the spaces in between. Where one would expect to find wheels, there were four large crystals responsible for the carriage's levitation and omnidirectional movement.
The carriage was powered by fist-sized black crystals with hidden golden accents, which littered both its top and bottom. These mana-collecting crystals were the power sources, all connected by a network of hidden, blue glowing lines. These lines converged at the front of the carriage, where a two-seater coach box was located. Here, a control crystal was connected to a golden dashboard, which housed the steering wheel and other controls for manual operation. Similar controls were situated inside the carriage for autopilot, which the vehicle was currently set to.
Big John blinked in front of the carriage, appearing out of nowhere to open the large, intricately decorated door for the ladies and Sheut. General Kar, ever the vigilant strategist, headed directly to the front of the carriage to take his place for security surveillance. After everyone was seated inside, Big John closed the door behind them.
Once seated, he placed a hand on a hidden orb and injected mana into it. The carriage hummed to life with a soft, ethereal glow from the blue lines connecting the crystals, and then proceeded smoothly forward towards the castle. Inside, Queen Nandi and Adah, nestled together on a plush seat, ended up having a two-hour conversation that ranged from the details of their shared fantasy novels to the very real and exciting future that now lay before Adah. Their hushed tones and occasional giggles filled the luxurious space, creating a private world for them within the moving carriage.
Once they had finally exhausted the topic and their voices had grown a little hoarse from excitement, Queen Nandi's demeanor shifted. The playful, conspiratorial friend gave way to the sharp, perceptive queen. She turned her attention to Sheut, her eyes now gleaming with a serious focus.
"Now that Adah and I have had our chat," she began, her voice a low and direct contrast to the giggling whisper she had been using. She leaned forward slightly, her gaze unwavering on him. "I have a few follow-up questions for you." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "You never explained the difference between shadow and darkness aspects or the context behind why you despise them. And additionally, do your people possess the death ability because of the shadow or because of who they are?