Reunion at the Blossom

Ella Lavender, after being rescued by her clan, The Violet Clan, was now rigorously training to escape her palace and aid The Eclipsed Guardians. In the midst of her intense training, her ever-loyal butler approached her, his expression unreadable as he extended a towel and spoke.

"I have gathered the intel on 'The Eclipsed Guardians,' Young Master. But as your servant for years—and as a friend—I urge you to let this go."

Ella paused, her breath heavy from exertion as she took the towel from her butler's outstretched hand. She wiped the sweat from her brow but didn't break eye contact with him.

Her violet eyes burned with determination. "You know I can't do that," she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her limbs. "They need me."

The butler let out a quiet sigh, his expression remaining unreadable. "And what of your safety, Young Master?"

Ella clenched her fists. "If I stay here, I'll never be safe. Not truly."

Unbeknownst to her, her older brother stood perched on a tree branch above, his gaze steady as he spoke in a concerned yet composed tone.

"Oh, but you are safe here, Ella… Let the Union handle this."

Ella's expression twisted with anguish as she lifted her head, locking eyes with him where he stood. Her voice was unwavering, laced with defiance.

"Violet Evergreen… You know just how corrupt the Union of Universe is! They don't care about B and A ranks—they never have! Like it or not, I will leave this palace!"

Violet's voice was firm, carrying the weight of duty and tradition.

"You will not leave, Ella. We cannot risk your life. There are only a few females in our clan, and you must stay to preserve our pure-blooded lineage."

His words struck like a dagger, but Ella refused to waver. Her jaw clenched, fury and defiance flashing in her purple eyes.

"My friends are in danger! At least save them! You can do that with no effort at all right?! Save them and I will stay here! I will obey the clan if you do that!"

Violet's eyes began to glow, a brilliant fragment of violet light shimmering within them. He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes as if burdened by the weight of his own words.

A brief silence stretched between them before he finally spoke, his tone resolute yet laced with something unspoken.

"We do not interfere with the Union's affairs, Ella… We cannot risk shattering the pact just to save your friends."

Ella let out a sharp sigh, her shoulders tense with frustration. She cast one last glance at Violet, her expression a mix of disappointment and defiance.

"Then you can stay caged in your precious pact, brother… but I refuse to."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strode toward her room, her footsteps echoing with quiet determination.

The butler watched Ella disappear into her room, his usual composed demeanor tinged with quiet concern. He then turned to Violet, his gaze steady yet unreadable.

"You know she won't let this go, Young Master," he said, his tone calm but laced with an unspoken warning. "The fire in her heart burns far too fiercely… and if you continue to cage her, she may just turn that fire against you."

He bowed slightly, then added, "What will you do when that moment comes?"

Violet remained silent for a moment, his glowing violet eyes dimming as he exhaled slowly. He gazed at the door Ella had disappeared behind, his expression unreadable—yet something in his stance softened.

"Deep down… my love for Ella is greater than my duty to the clan," he admitted, his voice quieter now, as if speaking the truth for the first time. "No matter what traditions bind us, she is my sister first."

His eyes met the butler's, resolve settling in them. "I will help her."

Late into the night, when the palace was cloaked in silence, Ella moved like a shadow through the corridors. Every step was calculated, every breath controlled.

Reaching the control room, she pressed herself against the wall, waiting for the perfect moment. In a swift, fluid motion, she struck—taking the guards by surprise. Before they could raise an alarm, she had knocked them unconscious, their bodies slumping to the ground.

Wasting no time, Ella accessed the control panel, overriding security protocols with the skills she had honed in secret. As the hangar doors slid open, revealing the sleek ships docked inside, she sprinted forward, her pulse pounding with anticipation.

She climbed into one of the ships, fingers flying over the controls. The engines roared to life, the hum vibrating through her chest as the ship lifted from the ground.

With one last glance at the palace that had caged her for so long, Ella gripped the controls and shot into the night sky, leaving behind the only home she had ever known.

As Ella climbed into the spaceship, her fingers instinctively flew over the controls, ready to take off—but a presence in the dimly lit cabin made her freeze.

Leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed, was Violet. His glowing violet eyes studied her with an unreadable expression.

"You really thought I wouldn't notice?" he mused, his tone calm but edged with something almost amused.

Ella's heart pounded, her body tensing for a fight. "If you're here to stop me, you're wasting your time," she warned, gripping the throttle.

Violet let out a quiet sigh, pushing himself off the wall. "I'm not here to stop you," he said, stepping forward. "I'm here to help."

Ella narrowed her eyes, still gripping the controls as she eyed her brother suspiciously. "How did you even know I'd choose this ship out of all the others?"

Violet sighed, rubbing his temple as if the answer was painfully obvious. "Because, Ella," he said, sounding mildly annoyed, "this was the only girly-looking one."

Ella blinked, glancing around at the sleek curves of the ship's design, the faint violet glow lining the interior, and—much to her embarrassment—the floral engravings near the control panel. She groaned, rubbing her forehead.

"Seriously? You think I picked this just because it looks nice?"

Violet raised a brow. "Didn't you?"

Ella huffed. "Okay, maybe, but that's beside the point!"

As the spaceship lifted off the ground, alarms blared across the hangar. The Violet Clan troops were already in pursuit, their ships rising swiftly to intercept.

Ella gritted her teeth, gripping the controls as she swerved to dodge incoming fire. "You could help, you know!" she snapped at Violet, who remained seated with his arms crossed, completely unfazed by the chaos.

"Not in this case," he said simply, watching as if this were just another test for her.

Ella let out a frustrated growl. "Fine!" She slammed a button on the console, activating her weapon system. The ship's cannons whirred to life, glowing with violet energy. She extended her hand, and with a fierce flick of her wrist, she unleashed her signature attack—Blossom Burst.

From the ship's cannons, bursts of radiant, flower-shaped energy spiraled outward, detonating upon impact with the incoming ships. The explosions bloomed like shimmering petals, sending the clan's forces spiraling out of control.

Ella smirked, adrenaline pumping through her veins. "Not so delicate now, huh?" she muttered, maneuvering the ship with ease.

Violet watched silently, his expression unreadable. But deep down, he couldn't help but feel a sliver of pride.

Ella was still smirking, proud of her attack, when Violet let out a long sigh beside her.

"You take way too much time," he muttered, sounding almost bored.

Before she could snap back, he simply lifted a hand—without even bothering to turn his face. In a single second, a pulse of raw violet energy exploded from the ship, surging outward like a wave. The pursuing clan troops didn't even have time to react before their ships were instantly disabled, spiraling away, powerless.

Ella gawked at the scene, then whirled on him. "Are you kidding me?! You just sat there and—that?! That's all it took?!"

Violet stretched lazily, completely unbothered. "Yeah. Would've done it sooner, but I wanted to see you struggle a bit first."

Ella groaned, gripping the controls harder. "I hate you."

Violet remains poker-faced. "And yet, here we are."

Ella does not care much about that now, with a determined expression she says.

"We are coming for you, Stay alive, my friends."

"That's lame." Violet says with a neutral expression.

Violet only chuckled, unfazed as he guided the spaceship higher, piercing through the last remnants of their clan's airspace. The ship glided effortlessly through the Blossom-pink clouds that surrounded their home, the hues shimmering like petals caught in the wind.

As they finally broke free, leaving the Violet Clan behind, Ella fell silent. She watched the fading pink glow, feeling a strange mix of relief and uncertainty settle in her chest.

No turning back now.