The Explorers of the Universe

Love and Marriage

The royal hall in New Ferrata Castle is filled with one thousand and two hundred more men and women. The youngest was 17, the oldest was 48. The kingdom had already tested every resident in the New Ferrata Kingdom asking them to cast a spell. A thousand and two hundred more people were asked to gather today in the royal hall.

A Royal Soldier delivered the news that the people present today were the chosen ones. Then Prajutit asked everyone present in this space to be ready to get coaching for the next week.

“You will all get exclusive construction from the government. We have prepared many of the best people and some members of the Royal Advisors who will guide you,”.

Whispers rumbled between them.

“Please noiseless.” The Royal Warrior calmed down. “You will start this exclusive guidance tomorrow. You can go home today. Tomorrow morning you're gathered in this room at 9 a.m. All your data we already have, if anyone is not present, we will come to your house. Don't waste this construction,” Warrior closes his explanation. He disbanded the line and allowed the residents to leave the castle area.

Neil along with the thousand two hundred inhabitants who were driven by the kingdom came out the castle gate. Some people went to the store to eat and talk about what was said in the hall, some went back to work, and some went home. Neil became one of the people who returned to his home.

At night, at the family dinner table, Neil and his family enjoy their dinner. Tonight is not like the usual night, there is a figure of Naira who participated in dinner. Neil's mother invited Naira to dinner tonight. Neil's mother prepared a different dish. More delicious and much.

Not without the intention of Neil's mother inviting Naira to dinner tonight. He wants to play Neil and Naira. It's been two years since Neil's mom and dad made a deal without Neil's consent to the match.

Naira is the son of a member of the Royal Council. Naira herself welcomed this matchmaking after a long time she liked Neil. He often told his mother that he liked Neil. Naira's mother tells her about the man Naira likes her father. Then the match was initiated by both Naira's parents. During the annual festival, Naira's parents meet Neil's parents. The matchmaking talks took place on that occasion.

“Eat a lot Neil. Tomorrow you will begin to follow the construction in the royal castle. You need a lot of stamina,” said mom.

Neil did not answer. He continued to eat quietly and was not disturbed by anything. He was not even aware of Naira's existence.

“Mother is proud of you. You won the archery tournament. And now you get an invitation for construction from the government. I'm sure you'll be the best at the construction. Right, right, Naira?” mom glanced at Naira.

Naira nodded with a smile. He himself wanted to praise Neil, but he was not ready if later Neil did not rub it at all. He doesn't want that. Just like Neil always did.

“There are many people, Mom. This construction is not entirely exclusive in my opinion. It's over a thousand people. This is the same as general construction. There is no information about the assessment. No one will be the best. All the same,” replied Neil.

Mother had just answered, but Naira had already raised her voice. “Beyond the beautiful full moon, yes,” said Naira looking for other topics to comfort Neil. The seat faces the outside window.

Mom immediately welcomed. “After dinner, you should take a walk first to see the view of the high tide at full moon. Don't rush home. You accompany Naira yes, Neil.”

Naira glanced at Neil to find out his reaction.

“Iya, Ma'am,” replied Neil briefly.

Neil and Naira are walking along the high-rise coast. The full moon shines bright. The roaring waves and the strong winds make their nights feel alive.

Naira pressed the surface of the sand with her right big toe, just a fad. “During the guidance program of this kingdom you will be released not to enter school. Looks like I will rarely see you,” said Naira with a little encouragement to know Neil's reaction to the full sentence of his intention.

“You can come to my house afternoon and evening,” Neik said. “I'll be home every hour 4pm,” he continued.

Naira wanted to reveal that she did not mind coming to her house, but Neil had never given a good reception of his presence. He wants to hear that Neil will feel lost during the royal tutoring program.

“To be honest I'm not too interested in following that guidance program without knowing what purpose.” Neil then sat down on the beach sand. Waves that crept on the surface of the sand occasionally encountered his feet. It felt amused as the waves returned to the ocean.

Naira sits next to Neil. He was not worried about his clothes getting wet. They looked at the ocean reflecting the full light. Naira is willing to be the listener of what Neil wants to tell her. But Neil was still staring at the ocean.

What's on your mind, Neil? What makes you happy, happy and comfortable? Why until now it has been so difficult for me to explore you, Naira said inwardly.

“If you want to tell something, tell me.” Naira opens the conversation. He took a breath for the next word. “If you don't consider me a potential partner of your life, accept me as your best friend, Neil,” Naira said at last. Somehow he could reveal it. He just wants to be the one who is present in all of Neil's conditions.

“I looked around for the Asteria figure in the hall earlier. But he wasn't there. I feel like he deserves to be there. Even though he lost the tournament against me, I saw a great passion and passion in Asteria. There is a great purpose and ambition. I want to be his rival in guidance. But he doesn't exist.”

Naira listen.

“I wondered some people who were close to Asteria in the castle earlier, but no one knew of its existence. I deliberately took a round trip to pass the Asteria house. But I did not find the figure of Asteria in his house. I waited a long time under the tree. No sign of Asteria.”

“Why don't you just go into his house and make sure he is?” ask Naira.

Neil shook his head. “No. I'm not too close to him.”

“You are difficult to be close to anyone Neil,” said Naira. Little did he regret that overly honest sentence. He can change Neil's mood which is starting to improve.

Neil looked. There was another intent he caught from Naira's sentence. But in general he acknowledges that assessment.

“I wasn't close to Asteria, but I observed the boy at school. Little did I know, he had a great ambition to break through that sealed wall. He has a great spirit of adventure,” Neil said.

Naira who heard that was a little thought whether Neil had also been observing her even though it was difficult to be close to her. He hoped it would happen to him too.

“Why does he want to explore the outside world? What's interesting there besides just the ocean?” ask Naira.

“Entahlah. I don't get it. But that's how dreams and passion work. We can never understand what someone else's dream is because we don't want it. Pearls will only be meaningful to those who seek, desire and admire them. Didn't you?” answer Neil.

Naira nodded. Just like him who wants Neil that Neil can't understand or feel. He didn't even understand why he wanted Neil so much.

“The curious taste that Asteria has actually made her alive. He has a mission, ambitions, dreams and passions. He believes the world is not finished in our place! There, in a place that is somehow far and wide, he believes there are still many things that can be found,” said Neil as if he had dismantled the contents of Asteria's mind.

Naira agrees. That's why it's always hard not to admire Neil. He is quiet yet intelligent. He is difficult to understand, but he is difficult to beat in many ways.

Suddenly Neil stood up. He opened his hands wide. His eyes closed, his lips smiling. He tried to enjoy the free wind coming from the ocean and go elsewhere as he pleased.

“What are you doing Neil?” ask Naira.

Without changing position, Neil replied, “Tomorrow I will start running the program. I don't know if it's going to be exhausting or fun. I want to enjoy this nature before being preoccupied with new responsibilities.”

Whether because of the same impulse or something, Naira also stood up. He slightly smiled amusedly finding himself following Neil's actions. That's love? Whether we understand it or not, we will be tempted to follow the movements of our loved ones.

After a long time, Naira lowered her hand. He looked at Neil enjoying something. At first he had the idea of judging Neil. It feels like Neil needs to be joked around to make it liquid.

Naira pushes Neil from behind until Neil slips down to meet the waves. Neil's whole shirt is covered. Neil stood up and rubbed his wet face.

“You smell! You have to take a shower!” naira said with a sigh.

Unexpectedly Neil grasped the sand, then threw it at Naira. Neil laughed as Naira's clothes were dirty by the brown sand. Naira who does not want to pass this moment again attacks Neil with sand.

They also play sand and water under the full moon until they feel tired.

[Next Part 28]