The Destruction of the Moon & Arshley Frey

"Alright, then, I'll head out." Aether smiled at Flora as he slipped on his shoes.

"Stay safe on your way, and if you need any help, don't hesitate to contact me. I'll be at home until next month," Flora reminded him, pinching his cheek affectionately.

Aether nodded appreciatively and replied, "Thank you, big sister!"

With gratitude expressed, Aether opened the door and stepped outside.

As she watched him leave, Flora smiled softly, her gaze lowering slightly.

"I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow, so I can arrange for some time off and be there for Aether." Flora sighed softly and turned back inside the house.

Meanwhile, Aether strolled along, his backpack slung over his right shoulder, his gaze fixed on the sky above.

"Forty years have passed, but the beautiful moon from the stories is now nothing more than ruins," Aether remarked, his gaze bearing a cold edge as he looked at the moon.

It had once been a mesmerizing satellite of Earth, casting its enchanting glow upon the planet at night.

However, now it appeared in a dire state, having been split in half by the Genesis robot's attack on Earth four decades ago.

Even though it was morning, the two halves of the fractured moon were still distinctly visible in the sky, surrounded by a debris field.

This catastrophic event had upended the entire order on Earth, leaving it shrouded in darkness during the night, devoid of the usual lunar illumination.

"Those darn Martians..." Aether muttered with frustration, but given that the peace treaty was scheduled for the next day, he could only release a weary sigh.

"Good morning, Aether!" Suddenly, a woman's voice sounded from behind him, causing Aether to pause in his tracks.

Swiftly, he turned around to find a woman wearing the same school uniform as him.

The woman possessed a striking beauty, with her purple hair elegantly gathered in a bun that cascaded over her left shoulder.

She stood slightly taller than the average woman her age.

Her captivating golden eyes held a gentle allure, capable of melting anyone in their gaze, and they now directed their warmth toward Aether.

Upon locking eyes with her, Aether's smile softened immediately.

"Good morning, Arshley." His voice took on a tender quality as he greeted her, and a flood of memories associated with this woman resurfaced.

Arshley Frey had been his childhood friend since they were five years old, and they had often played together.

Their friendship extended beyond just the two of them; their parents were also close friends.

Arshley's father, Robert Frey, held a significant and influential position in the Arcana Federation as the Deputy Federation Leader, ranking just below Aether's own father, Lucas Luke.

Their families' closeness meant that Arshley and Aether had been subtly paired since childhood, almost as if they were destined lovers.

The two exchanged smiles, and Arshley approached Aether with a joyful expression.

"How have you been, Aether? You know, even though it's only been a few days, I somehow find myself missing you," she admitted with a beautiful smile, skillfully looping her arm through Aether's.

Aether didn't resist her gesture and affectionately ruffled her lovely purple hair.

"Did you really miss me?" Aether asked with a soft smile, gently stroking her cheek.

Arshley nodded and nestled her head against his shoulder while murmuring, "Yes, because lately, my father has been coming home more frequently, and he's been pushing me to join the Guardian unit."

Arshley grumbled while explaining her predicament.

Upon hearing this, Aether's expression grew more serious, and he regarded Arshley with curiosity.

"So, how did you respond to his request?" Aether inquired, his thoughts already forming a guess about Arshley's response.

"Of course, I declined his offer. If I joined the Guardian Unit, I wouldn't be able to see you often, and the time we'd get to spend together would be very limited. I wouldn't want something like that to happen," Arshley explained, hugging Aether's arm more tightly as she voiced her concerns.

Aether, who had anticipated this response, couldn't help but chuckle and give her an incredulous look.

"I don't understand you, Arshley. Do you realize how much others dream of being accepted into the Guardian Unit? Some are even willing to spend their entire fortunes just for a chance at acceptance." Aether sighed in bewilderment at Arshley's choice.

The position of a Guardian was highly coveted because, after the Genesis attack, the world's economy had suffered a severe blow and many traditional jobs had become obsolete.

Furthermore, the Guardians were a direct creation of the three Federations, receiving substantial resources and investments, making the desire for a Guardian position even more intense.

However, only a select few were able to make it into the Guardian Unit due to the stringent and challenging selection process.

Arshley's easy acceptance into the unit, coupled with her refusal, would likely leave those who failed the selection process utterly flabbergasted.

Indeed, as the daughter of the Deputy Leader of the Arcana Federation, Arshley was a prodigy, far from an ordinary individual.

She had received direct training from her father since childhood.

Arshley, upon hearing Aether's words, shook her head with indifference, her gaze softening as she looked at him.

"All of that is irrelevant and meaningless when compared to being by your side, Aether." Arshley's unexpected response filled Aether's heart with warmth and happiness.

"Thank you, Arshley." Aether kissed her forehead and bestowed a gentle smile on the beautiful Arshley.

It could be said that one of the people who had unwaveringly supported him, even after his mother's passing, was Arshley, and he held deep appreciation for her.

Her safety and presence in his life were of paramount importance.

"Alright, let's pick up the pace; if we linger any longer, we'll be late for school." Aether, checking the time on his watch, gently tugged Arshley along as they hastened their steps toward their school.

Soon, the two of them walked side by side, heading towards the school together.