"Today, humanity continues to celebrate the first official extermination of a major threat and the restoration of the Southern Reach, thanks to House Feng and Artemis from the West."

The projected news broadcast played softly in the background of the bustling restaurant. Though called small, the place was anything but that. It was the crown jewel of this street, always lively no matter the weather.

Outside, the rain hadn't stopped pouring for nearly five hours. Thick, brooding clouds hung low over the district, drowning the streets in shadow. Were it not for the crisp scent of rain-soaked earth and the vivid blooms planted along every corner, the city would have felt truly funereal.

Three weeks had passed since the subjugation of the Crimson Tower. Hundreds of soldiers had perished with the descent of a Sovereign, and multiple core members of House Feng and the government had fallen during the surprise assault. However, the true story—the bloody struggle over the Blood Tower—was buried deep, hidden from the public eye to prevent mass hysteria.

The death of the Phoenix had sent tremors across the world. It was a tale too large to suppress entirely. But even that was masked, the true cause sanitized and buried beneath layers of propaganda and half-truths.

Ring!

The restaurant's bell chimed, drawing every pair of eyes to the door. A gust of frigid air burst in, stirring napkins and shivering the few children dining with their families.

The newcomer hurriedly shut the door behind her, bowing her head in silent apology.

She wore a navy blue coat and a low cap to hide her face. She wore round glasses to hide the gleam of her deep gray eyes. Yet, even with her attempts at concealment, strands of her stark snow-white hair spilled out like a brilliant flag against the gloom, impossible to miss.

"Gods... she has white..." a boy whispered, entranced.

The woman paid no mind to the attention she inevitably drew. Her boots made little sound against the polished floor as she made her way to a vacant table by the wide, rain-streaked window.

Sliding into the seat, she exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her gaze turned to the storm outside, the streets bathed in a near-eternal twilight.

'I can't believe it's still morning,' she thought, watching raindrops race each other down the glass. Then, slowly, she shifted her attention to the silent woman sitting across from her.

In front of the woman, a steaming cup of hot chocolate gave off a comforting aroma, and beside it sat a delicate slice of fresh strawberry cake, still glistening with a light mist of moisture.

"Are you enjoying your cake?" Lena asked softly.

The woman lifted her face—and for a moment, Lena simply stared.

'She's beautiful,' she thought.

The woman had dark, thoughtful eyes framed by long lashes, a cute face with a porcelain-pale complexion, and lips tinted a soft pink. Her shoulder-length raven-black hair only heightened her quiet, mysterious charm.

"I am," the woman said warmly. "My sister told me Gaen makes the best desserts in the Eastern Settlement. I didn't believe her at first, but she was right."

She smiled with just her lips and took another bite of her cake, savoring it.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Oh, really?" Lena smiled back, feeling a little of the tension in her shoulders ease.

Just then, the waiter arrived, setting a plate in front of Lena—a slice of strawberry cake, nearly identical to the one her neighbor was eating.

The woman across from her let out a small chuckle. "What are the odds? Two similar cakes on the same table..."

She lifted her plastic fork and pointed lightly at Lena's dessert. "And it's fresh fruit too," she added, taking another pleased bite.

'She's excited about fresh fruit...' Lena mused, a little amused herself.

Curious, Lena picked up her fork and took a small piece of her cake. The moment it touched her tongue, her eyes widened.

The woman laughed softly at her expression.

"It's good, isn't it?"

"Very!" Lena agreed, already scooping up another bite.

'Who would have thought organic fruit could taste this good?' She wondered in awe.

The woman smiled again, a little frosting clinging adorably to the corner of her mouth.

"You can take off the cap," she said, wiping her lips. "No one here will notice you."

"No one will notice the heiress of House Feng?" Lena raised a skeptical brow.

"We're tucked into a corner, and everyone else either has their head buried in a device, watching the news, or is too busy with their food. No one expects the heiress of House Feng to be eating in a simple restaurant like this."

Lena considered it and nodded. She had a point. Even if someone did glance her way, they'd probably think she was some over-committed cosplayer.

'Some Ascenders are basically celebrities anyway,' Lena reminded herself.

"You're right."

She pulled off her navy cape hat, letting her snow-white hair tumble down around her shoulders.

"Wait... was my disguise that bad?" she asked.

The woman laughed, the sound light and pretty. "It's not bad. I've just seen your face enough times that I could recognize you right away. I'm a huge fan, by the way," she added, her cheeks coloring slightly with excitement.

Her smile was so genuine, so bright, that Lena couldn't help but smile back.

"Really? Wow..." Lena said, setting her cape aside. "I'm still getting used to this whole celebrity thing."

'Celebrity's a big word, big sis...'

The thought crossed her mind, and for a moment, the sweetness of the cake was bittersweet in her mouth.

"It's fine."

They fell into a comfortable silence, each quietly enjoying the other's company. Lena found it oddly relaxing…too relaxing. In fact, a tiny part of her wondered if this was some kind of spell or subtle sorcery.

After finishing her cake and sipping the last of her hot chocolate, the woman sighed contentedly, leaning back in her chair and patting her stomach.

"Totally worth the price," she said. "Though one hundred credits still feels like robbery for something this sweet."

"I think it's reasonable for something this high quality," Lena argued lightly. "Not many places can grow produce like this anymore. Strawberries like these take almost a year to perfect, especially with the terrible weather of the New World."

"Che. You're only saying that because you're rich," the woman teased, crossing her arms.

Lena gasped in mock offense. "You're rich too! Who else spends a hundred credits on a single piece of cake?"

The woman smirked and answered: "Someone celebrating a special occasion. Today just happens to be my birthday."

Lena quickly stuffed another piece of cake into her mouth, her cheeks tinting pink.

"Happy birthday… Should I sing for you?"

"With that voice? Nah, I'm good," the woman said with a playful wave of her hand.

Lena frowned dramatically. "What voice? I do have a good voice! You've never even heard me sing to say that."

'Really?' a quiet thought teased at the back of the woman's mind when she heard that. 'What about that time you were obsessed with that boy band, Stairs to Heaven?'

The woman chuckled again and turned her gaze toward the wide window. The heavy rain had reduced at last, leaving the streets glistening under a washed-out morning light.

She rose from her seat with a fluid motion. She wasn't tall, but something about the way she carried herself—her posture, her calmness—hinted at strength, at something far deeper than appearances.

"Anyway, it's been a pleasure meeting you, Lady Feng," she said, bowing her head respectfully.

Lena smiled warmly and tugged her navy cap back over her white hair. "Leaving already? That's sad. It feels like I've met you before..."

She hesitated.

"...And I still don't know your name."

The woman…no. Luna smiled a little as she slipped on her black trench coat.

"Oh. I'm Luna. Just Luna."

"Happy Birthday, Luna," Lena said softly.

"Thank you," Luna replied, her voice carrying a kind warmth.

With that, she turned and made her way toward the exit of the restaurant, her figure slowly blending with her surroundings. Who would've thought a simple encounter would leave her heart aching?

The bell chimed softly as Luna pushed open the door. She paused, glancing back one last time.

Inside, Lena was sitting comfortably, drinking a cold mango juice that had just arrived. She looked so normal, so at ease and completely unaware of the invisible threads tugging between them.

Luna smiled faintly to herself, then stepped out into the freshly washed streets.

Waiting just outside was a young woman holding a sleek black umbrella. She had small freckles dusting her pale face and calm green eyes that now burned with a thinly veiled frustration.

As Luna approached, the woman hurried to meet her, casting a wary glance through the restaurant window before letting out a tense sigh.

"Lady Lunaris," she hissed under her breath, "I thought you were going to keep your distance from her."

"Calm down, Mira. I was only fulfilling a promise," Luna replied, rolling her eyes at her partner's scolding tone. "Besides, I didn't do anything reckless. I just sat and had chocolate and cake. Nothing more."

"You'll drag us back into chaos if you keep acting on impulse," Mira muttered, thrusting the umbrella a little closer over Luna's head. " Also, have found an active two-way gateway. I had to use my government privileges to get this information, so I will be in trouble if they find out."

Luna's smile faded. "Then we better get going."

Without another word, they disappeared into the misty streets, the memory of the quiet restaurant, the warm cake, and Lena's bright smile lingering like a bittersweet echo behind them.

END OF VOLUME ONE, TOWER OF TRUTH.

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