☀️ Arselia and Akonia

Klin spent the rest of the night as usual, playing solitaire, until the morning clock struck the hour to set off for the ceremony. The mind of the undead was, as usual, calm: feelings and emotions were shrouded in a layer of mountain ice. Rising from the table, the knight went to the kitchen, brewed tea for Saneksa to wake up, chilled the remaining cake, and arranged a simple breakfast from the household supplies. While his companion was getting ready to go to the city, he himself, for the first time in many months, allowed himself to stand in front of a mirror. He straightened his crown, smoothed his trousers, tucked the talisman under his shirt, emptied his pockets, temporarily clearing them of inventory clutter, put away the written diary, some business notes, and unfilled tests. By village standards, he looked quite presentable, especially since he wouldn't be going on stage, so there was nothing to worry about. "You look great," he said again to his companion in her new dress. "Here, take this, put it on. " He handed the woman a cloak. "The autumn morning can be cool, and the outfit won't get dirty on the way." Following the path strewn with morning frost, Klin automatically turned his head towards the neatly decorated fence: to where, behind the fence, the familiar villa loomed as a dark silhouette. The dark window openings occasionally reflected the light of artificial light: Her Highness was probably finishing the last preparations for the ceremony. Just half a year ago, he himself would have been there, along with other servants, helping the future empress in this important hour for the whole country. But now... Now, perhaps another worthy person was taking care of his duties. For a moment, a smooth stream of nostalgic memories captured the mountaineer's mind: the first assignments, the clatter of dishes, scoldings from Aria, evenings of quiet conversations with colleagues, the first praise from Princess Naria... If the first half of his life was connected by an eternal spiritual chain to his family in Kriedar, then the second, without a doubt, belonged to this country villa. If not for the heavy shackles of the foolish curse he had incurred, he could have immersed himself even more in this second life, but even so, it had already become a part of his good memories forever. But now that too was behind him, and things would no longer be the same from "today" onwards. As he reached the main gate, the knight briefly slowed down, placed his hand on his chest, and said a phrase in the Kriedar dialect: this was how he said goodbye to his second home forever. "I hope this isn't the chair where we once spilled coffee..." the knight thought with concern, but soon he was completely absorbed in the speech of the newly crowned empress. Today, he felt an unusual pride in himself; pride in Her Majesty: not parental pride, not pride before a superior, not pride before an idol; it was a special Kriedar pride, a bright and sublime feeling that the inhabitants of the mountains keep in their hearts for the most worthy people in their lives. The bold and frank words of the empress only inspired him more: such honesty before the people was possible only for the bravest of mountaineers. And let the malicious tongues interpret this in their own political way: for Klin, the most important thing was the realization that Naria remained herself: not an infallible goddess, but first and foremost a Human. With her flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings; as the goddess-mother intended us to be. Breaking his own fears, the knight exhaled with relief. Before going up to the empress, Klin nodded reassuringly to Saneksa, knowing, however, that this gesture would hardly be enough. The Kriedar himself was not bound by fear or doubt at that moment, and the undead nature had nothing to do with it: he simply had no doubt about Her Majesty, whatever she might do. Unlike someone like his Karneol supervisor, everything was very simple for a Kriedar at home: there are people in life with whom the mind communicates; and there are those with whom the heart communicates. Therefore, the only thing that slightly worried the black knight was the inappropriate appearance for such a ceremony. The last thing the knight of death felt in his life was the voice of Saneksa, which painfully stung his soul; the first thing Klin Chegver felt upon being resurrected was the warmth of the empress's hand on his heart. The long-forgotten, rhythmic beat picked up the flow of healing energy and sent it in waves throughout the knight's body. The color of life painted his face, the blue flame faded in his eyes, the autumn chill touched his skin, and a stream of oxygen rushed into his lungs. The Kriedar had to make a maximum effort not to disgrace the ceremony, awkwardly staggering, coughing, or something like that. The further words of Naria sounded like a distant wind in his ears. Before leaving the stage, he managed to make a respectful bow to his savior. In his gaze, there were now three emotions: condolences for the sad occasion associated with the holding of this event; heartfelt congratulations and wishes for success in the upcoming reign; and finally, the greatest gratitude for the generosity and kindness shown to him. What happened next, the knight realized with difficulty. Of course, his loyal comrades also deserved praise and recognition for their deeds. He paused for a moment, looking at Sonata Reim: judging by the empress's words, he owed his miraculous healing, among other things, to the special operation carried out under her leadership. Finally, the living memory returned to him at the same moment that Princess Aiyano finished her speech. This is the same mysterious priestess that he mentioned on the first page of his diary! How interesting fate had turned out. In an hour of hopelessness, a former guard-apostle, healed by her hand, came to their aid; and then many comrades were saved by her remote support. And now, undoubtedly, he himself owes his life to the new princess, and instead of everything possible, he hears in her speech... words of support for his deceased homeland? Now everything finally fell into place: Her Majesty Naria managed to find a person as bright as herself. Klin Chegver enthusiastically joins the applause. After the official part of the coronation was over and all those involved were dismissed, the knight first rushed to find Saneksa in the crowd.