The red-barked sacred tree stood with all its majesty on the sacrilegious grounds of the Malikus people of Tromalius. The tree was known to have been blessed by the goddess of fertility, love and miracles known as Kalci.

The legend said that the tree was dying and there hadn’t been any rain in a very long time. Kalci had no water to give it so she offered the tree her blood, dyeing the white tree red as it soaked it. The leaves were a blend of white and red and nothing similar existed in their world.

Every time the wind rustled through the tree, soft rhythmic musical notes were formed as if hundreds of tiny bells were jingling all at once.

Now a lot of new couples were bonded underneath the majestic tree whose scarlet branches reached to the heavens. It blessed them with eternal love and fertility. That’s where Aselia and Xiran were about to entwine not only their bodies but also their hearts and souls.

The premise had been organised, petals of blue and silver hues lined the way up to the tree from where both of them would walk.

The area was a natural wonder where an abundance of flowers in rich and vibrant shades bloomed. Some of them had been arranged in elegant clusters and hung like garlands from the creeping vines. Their sweet fragrance permeated the air, adding a touch of romance to the atmosphere.

Ribbons in complementary colours fluttered gently in the breeze, delicately woven through the branches of nearby trees, vines and self-erected poles. This created a picturesque backdrop for the bonding ceremony which was about to take place.

As the long hours of noon melded into the afternoon the white globe-like structures which emitted silver light brightened up the place. They had been magically enchanted to hang in the air and brighten up the place.

Moiga had already arrived with two of her female acolytes. They had set up a small wooden structure, placing all the required materials on it as they waited for the royal family to arrive.

Asfarla, Sulran and Xiran reached the place in a milky white carriage-like structure pulled by two majestic flying horses. Their royal guards flew all around in their imperial outfits and landed before them, helping them alight the carriage.

The royal family had adorned their regal attires for the prestigious occasion. They held content smiles as Xiran guided his grandmother down from the carriage and led her towards the sacred tree.

The eminent guests had begun gathering, some flew over, some used the same mode of transport as the royal family while others used glorious winged creatures of different species, all magnificent in their own way.

Sulran and Asfarla received them and their appointed guards guided them to the translucent crystal seats that shimmered like prisms under the sun’s rays. There were also white petal-shaped comfortable cushions that suspended half in the air, they had white and gold accents.

Xiran personally met every guest and was astonished to find that some of the females had reddish-white hair as well and the eyes ranged from grey to silver to blue and some older Malikus even had white eyes.

While most of the guests adorned light-shaded apparel some of them wore colours that didn’t exist in this world, revealing they were influential enough to ask their explorers to bring different shades for them.

Xiran had been gifted a crown by his grandmother with a royal blue gem embedded in it with a leafy-styled rim. His grandmother wanted him to attend this event wearing the crown, announcing him as the prince of the Inatius family.

It sat smugly on the top of his head as he constantly smiled at the guests and waited for his girl to make an appearance. His heart restlessly dived into the sea of anticipation.

"She will be here soon," Sulran sensed that Xiran was fidgeting, so he reassured him.

"I can’t wait," Xiran whispered back while leaning towards his uncle and Sulran couldn’t help but chuckle at his urgency.

A group of Malikus clad in white and blue robe-like gowns played harmonious music from different musical instruments, native to their planet.

The music suddenly changed as the wind picked up and a decorative golden carriage pulled by four Falcarins appeared, their wings spread out and flapping against the wind.

They landed outside on the vacant spot left especially for this purpose. The royal guards that were waiting on them quickly threw open the carriage door.

Everyone stood up and peeked towards the carriage as the three elegant women descended from it. Xiran halted in his action of meeting a guest Sulran was introducing to him. Excusing himself he diverted all his attention towards the woman of his dreams.

Wanting to rush to her side his feet instantly shuffled but Sulran held him back by his shoulders.

"You will have to wait for a few more minutes. Let her come to you as per traditions, and wait by the tree for her," Sulran stood him under the extending branches of the sacred tree and Xiran waited with an abated breath and nervous excitement.

The sheer awe of seeing her in that dazzling attire and the way her beauty and grace radiated, left him breathless. The time slowed down, as he took in every single detail about his wife-to-be.

The moment seemed so surreal and yet it was real. The love and satisfaction that welled up inside him on seeing her reduced him to his most vulnerable state and yet he knew he could afford to do that with her. This was what it meant to own each other through every aspect.

Nirjla and Sayla were adjusting her long resplendent gown, as she stood nervous and yet graceful between them. Who would have thought that the bratty hunter girl would one day appear so poised and picture-perfect?

The walkway laden with petals lit up with hundreds of tiny fluorescence materials that lined the pathway. A few Malikus flew above them showering silver flower petals as the women made their way to where Xiran stood near the sacred red tree.

His heart swelled twice the size with tenderness as he keenly watched her walking towards him. Xiran observes her vulnerability as well as her strength, a profound sense of protectiveness and care washed over him for he knew she was his and only his.

Aselia finally lifted her gaze as she kept her gloved hands elegantly clasped in front of her as Sayla had taught her. Her turquoise oceans searched for the glistening pools of silver as if an ethereal mist had descended on them.

In the gentle silver light, they seemed to shift and shimmer, revealing an ocean of emotions beneath their serene surface.

The emotions held only for her, making her heart clench and gut somersault. Her ever-steady legs shook as the nervousness hit her like a tsunami, rendering her weak in the knees.

She kept gazing into those grey depths as he offered her his affection-filled smile and a sense of calm and mystery washed over her. Aselia felt drawn into a world of dreams and new fantasies they were about to weave with each other.

In those moments, she found herself lost in the mesmerizing allure of his gaze, his hypnotic ethereal beauty, and the regality of his attire. She was unable to look away from the captivating beauty of his enigmatic grey eyes that kept her his victim until she arrived by his side.

Xiran offered her his hand as Sayla and Narjla handed her over to him and she placed her gloved hand in his warm one. He gently squeezed and effortlessly enveloped her in his warm embrace, not caring that hundreds of people were watching. He wanted to shower her with his affections, his adoration, his passion and most importantly his love.

And she willingly surrendered to the comfort of his touch, savouring it with every breath. It was a moment of pure connection, a silent conversation spoken through the language of their bodies, saying more than words ever could.

"Leia! No words can describe what I feel for you at this moment. I wish time would pause and I could stare at you for an eternity," a yearning to trace the tips of his fingers along her delicate features was wreaking havoc inside his heart.

"We will soon have an eternity to do just that," she whispered back, her frenzied heart announcing to him how affected she was.

"Ahm! Sorry to interrupt but let’s complete the ceremony so you can keep holding your Sernera and introduce her to the guests. Because this is the perfect time for the ritual," Moiga interrupted with a small smirk and the assembly of Malikus couldn’t help but chuckle.

But Xiran made no effort to let Aselia go.

"Sure, but I am keeping her in my arms, don’t ask me to let her go," he stubbornly announced and more laughter followed, for they understood his needy heart.

The outdoor set-up, the dulling light, and the flowery magnificence truly became a scene of enchantment, where love and nature harmoniously united. This would leave everyone present, especially the loving couple with memories that will forever be etched in their hearts.