The Light Beneath Closed Eyes

The journey back to Lumina took three days.

The carriage traveled through the countryside, past villages, farmlands, and forests Velena had seen a long time ago. The memories faded from her subconscious, slowly forgotten by fourteen years of darkness beneath her blindfold, but small fragments of how she remembered the world still lingered. The sunlight filtered through the leaves, and the rivers sparkled. They were beautiful. The mountains rose in the distance, in clear colors of purple and blue in the impossibly vast distance.

It felt like coming home to a place she'd only ever visited in her dreams.

She couldn't stop looking at everything. Every tree, every stone, every cloud in the sky. Her eyes drank in the world like a woman dying of thirst. She had forgotten so much.

Before she could bump her forehead against the window of the carriage, a gloved hand stopped her from falling forward towards the glass by grabbing her shoulder.

"You're going to strain your eyes," Orev said from beside her. They were sitting in the back of a carriage, the same one that had carried them away from Heathermoor. The students and professors had gone ahead, but Velena had wanted to take her time. To see the world she'd been missing.

"I don't care," she said. "I've been waiting fourteen years for this."

"So you've been waiting fourteen years to strain your eyes?"

"You see here, Orev. I've been waiting fourteen years to see anything. Even the boring parts. Especially the boring parts." She pointed out the window. "Look at that tree. It's so...tree-like."

Orev laughed. "That's usually how trees work."

"I know. But it's been so long since I've seen one. I remember what they look like, but it still looks quite weird from what I imagined." She paused. "It's like...like a song you heard once when you were a child. You know the melody and the words, but you can't quite hear it the way you did back then. And then one day, you hear it again, and it's exactly the same as you remember but also completely different. That's what this is like. Do you get what I’m saying?"

“Hmmm…” Orev was quiet for a while. "I think I do…but I'm glad your wish got granted, Velena."

"Me too..." She smiled. "I’m quite ecstatic, as you can tell."

Maya sat across from them, her hands folded in her lap. The elf had barely spoken since they'd left Heathermoor, but her eyes were bright with unshed tears. She did not want to interrupt the two of them, but Velena noticed that she was showing more of her emotions lately compared to the stoic, serious expression she always used to wear on her face.

The elf immediately looked the other way once Velena noticed her.

"You're staring again," Velena said, glancing at her.

"I'm allowed to stare. I've been waiting fourteen years to see you look at the world again."

Velena's throat tightened. "Maya..."

"Don't." Maya held up a hand. "If you start crying, I'll start crying, and then we'll both be useless for the rest of the journey."

"That's fair." Velena laughed, but it came out slightly broken. "I just...I missed this. I missed you too. I just also wanted to say…thank you for always taking care of me, Maya."

"I know." Maya reached across and took her hand. "You’re welcome, Velena."

Orev smiled from their heartfelt conversation.

They sat in silence for a while, watching the world go by. Velena pointed out things she recognized like a child. The other two had to explain what every single object she questioned to jog her memory a bit.

"You know," she said, "I used to think I'd never see any of this again. When the cane exploded, and when I woke up blind, I just- I thought the world was gone. Not just the sight of it, but the feeling of it. Like how the vibrancy of colors made me feel or the way my mother's face looked when she smiled."

Orev's grip tightened. "Your mother?"

"The previous queen of Lumina was my mother, Ferina Dushana. She died when I was young. But I remember her, especially her eyes.”

“The late Queen’s eyes were the same shade of grey as Velena,” Maya added.

“Yeah, they were.” Velena chuckled. “She used to sing to me at night as well. She looked at me like I was the most important person in the world, unlike my current mother." Velena's voice cracked. "I thought I'd lost that too, but I’m glad that the memory of her face is still in my memories...and maybe her eyes as well."

"Well, they are quite beautiful," Orev said quietly. "They look like storm clouds."

“You-” Velena’s ears turned red for a moment as a memory resurfaced. "You said that before, the night I fell asleep in the faculty lounge."

"I meant it." he shrugged.

Maya tried to hide her grin by covering her mouth with her hand, but Velena simply glared at her in response. The elf acted indifferent to her reaction.

Velena coughed to change the subject.

“Well, anyway–” Velena sneakily looked at Orev’s face again from the corner of her vision. He had dark blue eyes and a sharp jaw, sitting cross-legged in his military outfit, befitting for a general. She'd memorized his face over the past three days, tracing every line and curve, committing it to memory the way she'd once memorized the sound of his voice.

"You still don't remember anything," she continued. "Do you?"

Orev's expression flickered. "They’re slowly coming back to me in fragments after I asked Elanor for details on who I was before the turning." He paused. "But those memories are not mine yet. They're like pictures in a book I've read but can't quite recall. I know they're real and I know they happened but…it’s just taking me a while to remember."

Velena squeezed his hand. "Then let me help you remember them."

She told him everything from the bridge, to the bakery on Coopers Row, to his father, and even how they met.

The description of his father’s workshop made Orev’s chest tighten in a way he’d never felt before. Velena’s explanation for how the cane exploded, and the accident was even worse.

Orev had taken the blame for everything, even though it wasn't his fault. Everything was set up by Veyne.

A small girl watched her friend leave, bound to a cart toward an unknown destination, tapping a signal against the stone, hoping he'd tap back.

She told him about the last fourteen years of grief she had to go through, but despite all that, she still found him in the end.

And when she finished, a tear fell from Orev's eye. He was crying.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I- I'm sorry you had to carry all of that alone. Ultimately, it was my choice that I turned into…who I am now…I wish I could become the person you want me to be- if only I were not stupid enough to turn into a vampire-"

"You blamed yourself for everything, so you made your decision to become a new person. You didn't leave on purpose." Velena reached up and wiped his tears away. "And you're here now. That's all that matters."

"But I still don't fully remember who Orev is."

"You will. It’s already slowly working in our favor. Aria said the memories are still there. You just need some time to figure it out." She smiled. "And don’t worry, I can endure. I've been waiting for you to come back for years. I can wait a little longer."

Orev looked at her. His face was red from crying, but it was more from the fact that he was flustered by what she just said. The general didn’t want her to know that he was touched by how cool that line was. He pinched her cheeks on both sides in annoyance.

"You're too nice to me!" he said.

"That is one of her most exhausting qualities, really," Maya added again.

“Urhhh— I get it, okay-” Velena’s voice was muffled. "Those are the same list. I checked."

He laughed. Orev let go of her to take her gloved hand in his.

"Thank you," he whispered. "For not giving up on me."

"I never could," she whispered back. "In return, you still remember that you have to pay for the pastries once we get back, right?"

Orev laughed. “I remember.”

Maya watched them from the seat across, a small smile on her lips. She didn't say anything right after. She didn't need to. Some moments were meant to be witnessed in silence. She would just get in the way between those two idiots.

---

The bakery on Coopers Row was exactly the way Velena remembered it.

She stood outside for a while, staring at the sign. A faded wooden board with a loaf of bread painted on it. The windows were fogged with steam, and the door was propped open with a brick.

"It's smaller than I remembered," she said.

"Everything is," Orev said. "When you're a kid, everything looks huge. Then you grow up and realize it was just a normal-sized bakery."

"I was blind for fourteen years. I never had a frame of reference."

"Then let’s investigate it, shall we?" He slightly nudged her shoulder. "Come on. Let's go get those pastries."

They walked inside. The bakery smelled of sugar, cinnamon, and fresh bread. A bell above the door chimed as they entered. Velena ordered six burnt sugar twists– three for her, and another three for Orev. He paid for their order as he promised.

The princess and the general ate them on the steps outside, watching the people of the lower city go about their day.

Maya stood nearby from another building, watching them with another quiet smile. Velena had told the elf that she didn't have to monitor them, so she simply watched them from afar like a hawk, as she always does.

"This is still the best thing I've ever tasted," Velena said, her mouth full of pastry.

"You said the same thing about the coffee at Heathermoor."

"I lied. The coffee at Heathermoor was terrible. I was being polite."

"You were trying to be polite, yet you still told Aldridge his coffee tasted like burnt beans."

She gulped. "That was a compliment. The taste of burnt beans is a complex flavor!"

Orev laughed. "I think…I missed this."

"Me too..." Velena finished her pastry and brushed the sugar from her fingers. She had dreamed about doing this with Orev again. And now it was real, right in front of her. She stared at him again, her chin propped on her hands. She wasn’t even trying to hide the fact that she was looking at him anymore.

"What is it?" Orev asked, catching her staring.

"Nothing!" She yelped. "It’s just... I’m glad that I can see you again. I've been trying to imagine your face for a while, and it's…better than average...I guess…"

“Hmm? Is that so?” Orev's expression softened. "You're going to make me cry again."

"Good. It's your turn to cry again. I've been doing all the crying, so it’s not fair."

"That's true. You've been very emotional lately."

"I've earned it. Same goes for you too."

"You have." He stood and helped Velena up by holding her hand. "So? Is there somewhere else we need to go?"

"Your father's forge. He's been waiting for you to come home."

Orev's expression flickered. "I... I don't remember him. Can- can I even go there?"

"That's okay. I remember enough for both of us." Velena took his hand. "And he's been waiting for you. I’ll tell you some of the stuff I remember on the way there then."

Orev looked saddened at not remembering his father, but he steadied his resolve and nodded. "I understand… then- let's go."

---

The sign above the forgemaster’s door was iron, shaped like a hammer and tongs. The windows were dark. The two were unsure if there was anyone at home.

Orev stopped at the threshold. His hands were trembling.

"I can't," he said. "I can't go in there."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't know what to say. I- I don't remember him. He's been waiting years for me, yet…I have nothing to give him but a blank slate." His voice cracked. "W-What kind of son forgets his own father?"

"You were taken from him when you were twelve years old." Velena squeezed his hand. "You didn't forget him. He was taken from you…because of my family as punishment…"

"But–"

"No buts. All of this was as much of my fault as it was yours." She pushed him forward. "Go inside. I'll be right here."

Orev took a shaky breath.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

"Who's there?"

The deep voice from the back room sounded tired. He could hear the footsteps getting louder.

Orev's voice came out as a whisper. "Da…"

For some reason, he couldn’t voice out any other words besides that. The emotions that were surging within him were too overwhelming. Everything from the interior of the forge to its smell was enough to make him break.

The footsteps stopped.

Then, slowly, a figure appeared in the doorway. Kael Doure was older now. Grey streaked his hair and beard with lines that creased his face. But his eyes, the same dark blue as Orev's, were filled with tears.

"Orev?" he whispered.

Orev stepped forward. His voice was shaky. "Da…It's me…I'm- I'm back."

Kael came around the counter. His hands were trembling. He reached out and touched Orev's face. His cheeks, his jaw, his hair like he couldn't believe he was real.

"You’re…you're alive," he said. "I thought- I thought you were dead. I thought I'd never see you again."

"I'm alive," Orev said. "I'm here. I'm sorry it took so long."

Kael pulled him into a desperate hug. Orev hugged him back, his shoulders shaking, his face buried in his father's neck.

"I'm sorry," Orev said again. "I'm sorry, but… I forgot everything- that- that’s why I never came back all these years- I’ve been nothing but a bad son towards you…I left you with nothing but grief-"

"It’s okay, son! You're here now," Kael said. "That's what matters- that's all that matters to me. You’re back!"

They stood there for a long time, father and son, holding onto each other. Velena watched from the doorway, tears streaming down her face. Maya now stood beside her, a quiet presence, her hand resting gently on Velena's arm.

Kael pulled back and looked at her. She made her way towards the two. His eyes widened again. "You…You're the girl from the forge. The princess…You can see again?"

"Yes, it was a miracle brought about by my effort with the help of your son," Velena said. "We secured the Vault and used the Codex."

"You brought him back."

"More like we brought each other back." She chuckled.

Kael looked at her for a while, then he pulled her into a hug too.

"Thank you…" he whispered. "Thank you for bringing my son home."

“I promised I would.” Velena hugged him back. "You gave me the cane. You told me to learn to use it. I became someone who could bring him back for your sake as well."

"I remember."

"You did." She pulled back and smiled at him. "Now- about those pastries, Orev and I already ate six. But I think we should eat six more to celebrate with you."

Kael laughed. "You are like Orev described you as when he was but a child. What a bossy and stubborn woman you are.”

“Well, he’s not wrong.”

"I said that? Hm, how fitting." Orev nodded.

The three of them sat in the back room of the forge, surrounded by metal and dust. Maya sat quietly in the corner, listening in on their conversation. Velena told Kael about what happened in the university while she was gone, while Orev told him about the turning and the slow return of his memories in fragments. Kael listened to all of it with a serious look on his face.

When the stories were done, and the tears had finally stopped, Kael reached under the counter and pulled out a small wooden box.

"I made this for you," he said, handing it to Orev. "Years ago, before the exile happened, I was going to give it to you when you turned thirteen. But then..."

Orev opened the box. Inside was a small silver pendant, shaped like a bell. "Da..."

"It's a conduit," Kael said. "Just a small one. For practice. I thought... I thought if you had something to focus your Key Tone on, something to train with even if it was small, you might learn to control it." His voice cracked. "I thought I could protect you. I thought if I gave you the right tools, you wouldn't..."

He couldn't finish.

Orev closed his hand around the pendant. "It's not your fault."

"I should have protected you."

"You couldn't have. No one could have, not even Velena here." Orev looked at his father, his eyes wet. "But I’m here now. So why don’t we focus on catching up from those lost years then?"

Kael nodded. He didn't trust himself to speak.

Velena watched them, her heart full. This was what she'd been fighting for. Not just Orev, but all this.

A family reunited, a wrong made right, but most of all, a promise kept.

---

The celebration of the return of the prince and princess of Lumina was the biggest the kingdom had seen in decades.

The castle was decorated with flowers and lights. Nobles and commoners alike filled the streets. Music played while people danced from the inside of the castle, and at the center of it all, standing at the top of the grand staircase, was Princess Velena Dushana.

She was now wearing a gown of pale gold and white, an outfit completely different from the vibe she was going for from the previous ball. Maya picked the outfit for her this time. The only inconvenience she had was how much skin it showed on her back due to how low-cut it was, but the front was fine. Her blindfold was gone. Her grey eyes scanned the crowd below.

Maya stood at her side, dressed in elven silks. Mikhail was at the foot of the stairs, greeting guests. Elanor was lurking in the shadows, watching with a glass of wine at hand. Frederick was near the refreshment table with Siegfried coiled around his arm, engaged in a conversation with Beatrice and William. Aldridge was pretending not to enjoy himself, but she could see that his plate was stacked with food. Meanwhile, the rest of her students were scattered throughout the crowd, laughing together in small groups while celebrating.

A man leaned on the railing beside her.

"You're not wearing your mask," she said.

"Don't need it anymore," Orev said, looking at her. "You've seen my face. There's no point hiding it anymore. How would you rate it?"

Orev was dressed in the usual all-black outfit, but the only difference was that it was now more befitting of a prince instead of a general. There was still a long cape attached to the back of his shoulders, but he was now wearing a suit instead of a flowy or frilly top like what vampires usually wear. His face was the same as usual, the only difference being that his hair was parted on the right side instead.

"I would rate it a seven out of ten."

"Lies! I've been told it's a masterpiece by our students!"

"It's just a face. I've seen better."

"I’ve got a feeling you’re still lying," he pouted.

He added: "This is...a lot. All these people. All this...everything feels still a little too much for me to handle, to be honest."

"You're still not used to it?"

"I'm not used to any of it. Trying to be the real me is exhausting." He paused. "But I'm trying."

Velena smiled to herself. "You’ll get used to it."

They stood together, watching the celebration below. The people of Lumina and Heathermoor were all smiling. It was everything Velena had never let herself hope for.

Maya stepped forward as she climbed up the stairs, a glass of wine in her hand. "The both of you should go down there. Everyone's waiting to see you."

"They've seen me. I've been standing here for an hour."

"They want to celebrate with you, not just see you." Maya smiled. "Go. I'll be right here if you need me."

Velena looked at the elf who had been her maid, her protector, her friend, her mother in everything but blood. "Maya."

"Yes, Velena?"

"Thank you for staying with me. I’m glad that you trusted my stupid decision before touching the conduit. Thank you for never giving up on me too."

Maya's voice was quiet. "I would do it all again just for you."

"I know." Velena turned and hugged her again, in a way she hadn't done since she was a child. "I love you, Maya."

"I love you too, Velena. You will always be my daughter too."

---

Later, when the celebration had quieted, and the guests had begun to thin, Velena found Orev on the balcony overlooking the gardens. The night was cool, and the stars were out. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear the music still playing.

"You disappeared," she said.

"I needed air." He turned to look at her. "I’m just quite overwhelmed from everything that has happened today."

"I understand." She stood beside him, looking up at the stars. "It's a lot."

"It is..." He was quiet for a moment. Then he said her name in a small voice, "Velena…"

"Yes?"

"I need to tell you something and… I need to do it here…Just you and me."

Velena turned to face him. Her heart was beating faster now. "W- What is it?"

He took a breath. "I don't remember everything about who I was even up until now. I don't really remember being Orev.” he scratched his neck. “B-But I do remember you. The way you fought, talked, and how you never backed down, even when you should, was always ingrained in my memory, though for some reason."

"Orev–"

"Let me finish. Please." He reached out and took her hands. "I don't know if I'll ever become who you remembered Orev to be…but I know one thing is for certain…I know that I love you. Not because of who you were or who I was, but because of who we are right now, in this moment."

Velena stared at him; she almost choked on her own words.

"I- I love you too," she said. "I've loved you since I was twelve years old!”

Orev paused. His ears were red. “W-wait…R-really?”

“Y-yes, you idiot!” she stammered. “I've loved you in the dark and in the light and in every moment in between. It t-took you a while-"

Orev smiled. It was the same smile she remembered from their adventures. A smile bright enough that it could light up the darkness.

"Then let's finish another quest!" he said.

"What quest?"

"Our life, together."

Velena laughed. "That’s- That's the worst line I've ever heard!"

"I know. I'm tired. It's been a long day."

"It's been a long fourteen years."

"Exactly. So…why don’t we take a rest together the-"

She leaned forward and kissed him.

Orev almost stumbled backward in shock. His entire face and ears were red as Velena held him from falling in place by cupping his face. It was their first real kiss. The feeling of her lips was soft and warm, and when they broke apart, the stars above them seemed to shine a little brighter.

"I caught you distracted," she whispered.

"I- U- uh…ha…what-" Orev was now flushed an ever deeper red, with his entire body hunched forward towards Velena.

"I can see everything. I don’t get it...you were so forward before, so why are you acting so flustered now, hmm?"

"I- I don’t know either..." Orev couldn’t take her teasing any longer, so he just hid his face at the right side of her collarbone.

“Are you still going forward with drinking the rest of my blood, Mr. Vampire?”

Orev’s body stiffened against her neck.

He didn't speak for a while. Velena could feel his breath against her skin, warm and coming in uneven breaths. She felt the slight tremor that ran through him.

Then, slowly, he lifted his head.

His face was still flushed, ears still red. But there was something different in his eyes now.

"You're playing with fire," he whispered.

Velena's breath caught. "Am I?"

"You know exactly what you're doing." He leaned in slightly closer. "Teasing a vampire about blood in the middle of the night on a balcony alone is quite…bold."

"I'm not teasing you. I'm asking a legitimate question."

"A legitimate question, you say..." He pulled back just enough to look at her. His eyes were dark, his expression unreadable. "You want to know if I'm still going to ask for more blood, right?"

"I want to know if you're still going to be insufferable about it."

"Oh, I'm always going to be insufferable about it. That's not negotiable." He tilted his head, studying her. "But you're right. I was forward before. Very forward, actually. Embarrassingly so. And now you're the flustered one."

"I'm not flustered in the slightest. What makes you say that?"

"Your heart rate says otherwise."

Velena's face went hot. "You can hear my heartbeat?"

"I can hear everything. It's very annoying for us vampires." He grinned. "And right now, it's beating very fast. Almost like you're nervous...or maybe even excited, perhaps?"

“Is that so?"

He reached up and traced the line of her jaw with his fingers. "You started this. You kissed me, teased me, but worst of all, you asked about me sucking your blood." His voice dropped. "So tell me, Professor. What do you want me to do?"

Velena's throat was dry. "I want you to stop being a coward."

"A coward?"

"You heard me."

Orev stared at her. Then, very slowly, he smirked.

"Alright," he said. "You asked for it."

He leaned in.

Velena's breath hitched. His lips brushed against her neck. She felt his fangs graze her skin, just barely enough to make her shiver. Her hands gripped his shoulders, steadying herself.

"Orev-"

"Shh." His voice was barely a whisper. "I'm concentrating."

He pressed a kiss to her pulse point. Then another. Then, very slowly, he opened his mouth–

And licked her.

Velena gasped. The sensation was strangely warm, but utterly unexpected. His tongue traced a line up her neck, slow and deliberate, and she felt her entire body flush with heat.

Then he pulled back. His face was redder than before, but his grin was insufferable. He clearly did a number on her just now.

"There," he said. "I almost went for it. But I decided to be a gentleman. Wouldn’t want blood to get on your white dress."

Velena stared at him dumbfounded, her heart pounding. "You- you licked me."

"I did."

"Gross!"

"Hah. What a liar. Your heart was beating like crazy just now!"

"You-" She couldn't find the words. "No, it wasn’t–"

Velena wanted to be angry. She wanted to be annoyed, but all she could do was laugh now. She couldn’t deny it anymore.

"You're the worst," she said.

"I know. It's one of my best qualities."

"Stop stealing my lines!"

"Then stop being such a liar." He reached up and cupped her face the same way she did a while ago. "But seriously- I'm not going to bite you right now. Not unless you ask for it later if we get to somewhere more private, and even then, I'd be very careful. You're too important to me."

Velena's heart swelled. "You're too important to me too."

"Good. Then we're even." He kissed her forehead. "Now. Are we going to stand here all night, or are we going to go inside and find more pastries?"

"It's the middle of the night."

“It’s dessert. Consider it our midnight snack."

"You're ridiculous."

"I'm aware. It's one of my-"

"Best qualities! I know." She kissed him again. "Let's go find those pastries."

And together, hand in hand, they walked back inside laughing at one another.

---

The next morning, Velena woke to sunlight streaming through her windows.

She lay in bed, just watching the way the light played across the ceiling. She could not believe that she could actually see everything. She squinted as she watched the dust motes dance in the golden beams of light.

Maya knocked on the door. "Velena? Are you awake?"

"I'm awake." Velena sat up, smiling. "I'm awake."

Maya opened the door, a tray of breakfast in her hands. "I brought you something to eat. A visitor is waiting for you in the gardens."

"A visitor?"

"You’ll see."

Velena dressed quickly with Maya's help, because she still wasn't used to doing up her own buttons. She made her way to the gardens.

The morning air was cool and fresh, the flowers were blooming, and the birds were singing.

And sitting on a bench by the fountain, a small smile on her face, was Elanor.

"Good morning, Professor," the vampire princess said.

Velena sat down beside her. "Good morning. What brings you here?"

"I wanted to say goodbye before I leave."

"You're leaving?"

"I have a kingdom to run with a court full of vampires who need me." Elanor paused. "And a certain prince who I might owe an apology to."

Velena smiled. She knew who it was. "Mikhail?"

"He's been...persistent in a way I didn't expect lately." Elanor's expression softened. "It’s quite an unexpected nuisance."

"Do you…like him or something?"

"I don't know if I remember I did." Elanor looked at her. "But I wonder if he is bothered by it?"

"He might." Velena took her hand. "But even so, he's been waiting for you for a long time."

Elanor nodded. She didn't say anything else. She didn't need to.

They sat together in silence, watching the sun rise over the gardens. Two women who had been in a similar situation. And who had found, in the end, a kind of peace.

"Take care of him," Elanor said finally. "That man is your vampire now. He's...special."

"I know."

"And take care of yourself. You're special too."

Velena smiled. "I know."

Elanor stood up. She looked at Velena, which left her confused for a while. Then she leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Send my greetings to your older brother as well."

“Huh?!”

And then she was gone, materialized into the darkness.

The vampire princess Elanor chuckled to herself as she left the palace with a huge grin on her face.

---

The days that followed were the happiest Velena had ever known.

She spent them with Orev. With Maya. And sometimes even with her students during lectures. Her brother, Mikhail, had become a capable ruler, befitting of the title of the next king. While Kael was busy handling the forge, with Orev helping on some days as well.

She gave Orev a full tour around the palace. From the library, to the training yards, and even the little balcony where she used to hide when she was a child. She told him stories about her mother and more about her childhood.

Orev listened to every word. He asked questions and laughed at her jokes.

Slowly, piece by piece, he began to remember.

And Velena was there for every moment.

"I think…I remember the bridge," he told her one night, as they sat in his room watching the ceiling. He held her close. "You yelled at me that night, didn’t you?"

Velena's heart swelled. "You do?"

"I do." He looked at her. "I remember that you said that I had to become someone important. So maybe that’s why I worked my butt off to be someone worthy of you."

"You were always worthy of me."

"I didn't know that then. I didn't know anything." He paused. "I thought I'd killed you when the guards took me away and…that signal…"

He reached out to the hand touching his chest and tapped her palm softly. Three quick taps. A pause. Two slow ones.

"That's us," he said. "Nobody else does it like that."

Velena was about to burst into tears again. Orev pulled her into his arms and held her even tighter. She repeated the same rhythm on his palm too. Three quick taps. A pause. Two slow ones again.

“And nobody ever will.”

---

The day of the announcement dawned bright and clear.

The whole kingdom had been invited to the castle again. Everyone who had ever known, doubted, and loved Velena looked up at the princess above them.

"Are you ready?" she asked the man beside her yet again as she slightly lifted her silky white dress to walk.

The crown on her head shone, and the train of her white dress followed behind her.

"Not really." He took a breath. "But I'm here with you. If you’re nervous, then just look at me."

She squeezed his hand. "Then let's do this."

They walked down the stairs together. The crowd parted for them while the music swelled. At the bottom of the stairs, Mikhail raised his glass.

"To my sister," he said. "Princess Velena Dushana. The bravest person I have ever known. Welcome home!"

The cheers that followed were deafening yet again.

Velena looked at the crowd and at all the people who had come to celebrate her. Maya was crying tears of joy. Her students were cheering even louder than the crowd, huddled up as one group at the corner. Frederick was holding Siegfried up so the snake could see. Aldridge was pretending not to cry, but failed to do so as he quickly covered his face. She noticed Eleanor was at the back of the crowd waving at them. Kael, who was standing right beside the door, was clapping, tears streaming down his face.

She had spent fourteen years in the dark, searching for someone and a wish she believed would never come true, but in the end, it had all been worth it. She was home, and now she could finally see again.

"Thank you!" she announced. “Thank you for never giving up on me!"

And Velena Dushana, the blind professor, and the exiled princess, looked at the boy from the bridge and smiled.

She could see him. She could see everything even when her world turned dark.

All she could see was the light beneath closed eyes.