The sun hung high over the Solaryn training fields, casting its warm light across the wide plains where power itself flowed like wind.
For weeks, the Empress Sisters and the new summons trained side by side. What started as cautious coexistence had grown into rhythm—seven forces bound not by command, but by respect.
Valtryn drilled soldiers in close formation, barking orders like a storm but smiling when they met her impossible standards. Mira led the heavy units in sparring duels, lightning flashing through her glaive as she laughed in the face of fatigue. Yue Xiang and Lian Xueyi trained spell formations nearby, their synergy turning air into rippling light.
Morvessa watched over all of them from a shaded balcony, her poison-green aura shifting lazily, quietly guiding the healers and spies who practiced their craft under her gaze.
Further from the main ground, Nyra and Sera fought together in silence—moonlight and fire in tandem. Their movements, opposites in every sense, now intertwined effortlessly. When Nyra's illusions blurred, Sera's flame sharpened; when Sera's aggression burned too hot, Nyra's calm cooled it back into precision.
They had once walked alone, haunted by loss and guilt. Now, they learned to fight as part of something far greater.
And I, standing at the center of that field, felt something I hadn't in years—not responsibility, not power, but peace. True peace.
That evening, the stars returned early, as if to watch the seven of them together.
I gathered them at the edge of the courtyard where the phoenix fountain glowed faintly against the night. For a long time, I said nothing, only listened—the laughter between drills, the hum of moonlight and flame, and the quiet heartbeat of Aurelion itself.
The seven of them stood around me, curious at my sudden seriousness. Faith and Luna lingered further back, smiling knowingly.
Valtryn crossed her arms. "You look like a man ready to deliver a speech."
"Or a judgment," Morvessa teased, leaning her cheek against her hand.
Mira grinned, stretching her arms. "Better not be another challenge. My arms still hurt from yesterday's drills."
Yue Xiang smirked. "For someone who charges through walls, you sound easily tired."
Lian Xueyi laughed softly, shaking her head. "He's not calling us here for discipline. His aura is…gentle tonight."
They were all right. My heart was calm, my resolve clear.
Nyra and Sera stood slightly apart, quiet as ever. The glow from the moons reflected softly on their eyes—one silver, one red.
"I didn't call you here to fight or train," I said finally. My voice came steadier than I expected. "I called you here because something in me changed after this long journey."
They watched closely, and the words I'd carried for too long finally spilled forth.
"I've led wars, crossed rifts, and seen worlds rise and fall. But when I look at each of you, I see everything worth fighting for. Not just alliance, not destiny—something far more human."
I paused, then smiled faintly. "I see the light I've been missing."
Morvessa's usually calm expression shifted—her eyes widening slightly. Valtryn's posture stiffened, caught off guard. Lian Xueyi's hands fluttered over her heart, while Yue Xiang narrowed her eyes faintly, trying to read if I was joking. Mira blinked once, then brightened as if the thought excited her.
Nyra's lips parted slightly, confusion and hesitation flickering across her face. Sera, however, just smiled in disbelief—as if daring reality itself to make sense of my words.
I took a deep breath. "I love you—all seven of you. Each in a way that fits who you are. You've all shaped my soul; together you've become the life of this empire. And I would be honored… if you'd walk beside me not just as allies, but as my wives."
The silence that followed felt eternal.
Valtryn was the first to react. She laughed—an incredulous, almost disbelieving sound—but her laughter carried warmth. "Only you would propose to an entire army on a training ground, Emperor." She approached, firelight in her gaze. "But…" She stopped in front of me, voice softening. "After everything we've built, I'd be a fool to say no."
Morvessa chuckled next, delicate fingers brushing her silver hair back. "Marriage is messy," she murmured. "Poisonous even." Her tone grew gentler. "And yet, I suppose poison suits me. Say yes? Fine. I'll drink your eternity—drop by drop."
Mira wiped at her eyes, pretending not to sniffle. "Lords above, he's serious," she said with a grin. "I'd marry you for the adventure alone, Mukul. You gave my life a cause bigger than battle."
Yue Xiang's smile was quiet but sharp. "You always walk between chaos and peace. If marriage means walking that line together… I'll stand with you."
Lian Xueyi blushed, cheeks as pink as rose petals. "I've loved you longer than I dared to admit," she whispered. "So yes. In this life—and the next."
Nyra and Sera were different. They stood still, unsure, shadows of memory flickering behind their eyes.
Finally, Nyra spoke softly. "I don't know how to love the way others do. My heart broke too long ago."
"Then let me mend it," I said gently. "Even if it takes a lifetime."
She closed her eyes, then nodded once. "…Then I'll try."
Sera stepped closer, fiery as ever, voice uncertain but strong. "Marriage isn't something I thought I'd see again. I'm no gentle queen, you know."
"I know," I said. "That's why I need you."
She smirked faintly, then extended a hand. "Then I'll burn for you—if you can keep up."
The night filled with soft laughter. Seven women, each carrying their own scars, now standing around me beneath twin moons that shone brighter than ever.
Faith and Luna clapped from where they stood nearby, half amused, half moved. "You outdid the poets tonight," Luna quipped.
Faith smiled. "Seven flames. Seven vows."
I looked at each of them again—Valtryn's pride, Morvessa's mystery, Mira's fire, Yue Xiang's grace, Lian Xueyi's gentle strength, and Nyra and Sera's awakening hearts.
"I don't care about power, titles, or eternity," I said quietly. "Just this—this moment, and the ones that follow, together."
The wind stirred, scattering flower petals across the silver courtyard. The flames in the fountain danced like stars reborn.
And there, beneath two moons, seven voices answered me—not all words, not all smiles, but filled with the same promise that had bound our fates from the beginning.
"Yes."