Way of the Knights

Chapter 394 - Grand Wedding

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Today, a cheerful mood emanated throughout the entirety of the Final Haven Kingdom.

Each streets were draped with celebratory decorations, everyone wore their best outfits and were headed outside of their home. The Royal Palace is crowded with people, each one are discussing the most important event that will happen very soon. 

Today is the day of Vendrick Valorheart and Lunafreya Lightshield's wedding. 

Music filled the streets, chatters echoed across the halls, a long and wide red carpet laid out from the entrance of the Inner Circle all the way towards the Royal Palace. Invitation were sent a long time ago, and those who were invited were dressed in suits and gowns, a large array was set in order for the rest to witness the wedding as well. 

Majority of the Knights formed a line that traced edges of the carpet. And as the heated discussions of the crowd continued, a sound of a loud horn interrupted their discussions, causing them to focus in front. 

All eyes watched the person who blew the horn. Clearing his throat a couple of times, his booming voice sounded to the masses. 

"Everyone. We are glad to have you as witnesses, to the marriage of Vendrick Valorheart and Lunafreya Lightshield!!"

As soon as finished speaking, a gentle and romantic music started emanating everywhere. 

"Look above!"

It was unknown who said that but it caused everyone to look up as well. 

"Oh my goodness! What is this!"

"Auspicious signs of the heaven! The heavens are witnessing this event!"

"How enviable!"

To their surprise, they saw the clouds parting to reveal a beautiful curtain of aurora. Out of nowhere, a silhouette of an enormous butterfly streaked across the skies, leaving sparkling glitters that gently fell to the ground. 

Tree roots emerged in between the spaces of the Knights stationed on the edges of the red carpet. Together, they formed beautiful arches that bloomed with multiple flowers, emanating fragrant scent all over the Kingdom. 

"Oh my god!"

"How beautiful! How romantic!"

"This should be caused by the Moonlight Butterfly and The Kind Ent right?"

"Yes! I heard somewhere that they are great godparents of the groom and the bride!"

"Ah look! Here comes the bridesmaid and their escorts!" 

The chosen bridesmaid and their escorts appeared at the procession, each of them are accompanied by a pixies who're spreading flower petals as they marched. The bridesmaids are chosen from Luna's closest friends and students, and of course this includes Anne and Ellen, whom are escorted by their respective partners, Mark and Paul.

Collective gasps and groans could be heard from the crowd. Some girls are shedding tears of envy and joy while some men are envious and wishing that they were the groom instead.

Streaks of colorful lights accompanied the march creating a beautiful and fantastical scene that will forever be engraved on the minds of those who witnessed it. 

The procession proceeds and one by one all of those who will be participating on the wedding arrived. At some point, arches and streaks of rainbows flooded the whole kingdom, making it seem like the lands are transforming into paradise. 

"Family of the groom! Evangeline and Luis Valorheart, along with their twin daughters Venina and Victoria."

After that announcement, a shadow streaked across the skies and landed on the procession line. Raven's family could be seen, riding on the back of a Blue Flood Dragon. 

"Is that a Dragon!?"

"It is! A young Flood Dragon! How did His Excellency found such a thing?"

"And it is tamed too! His Excellency's family are riding on it's back! What an entrance!"

As the gossips of the crowd intensifies, Luis and Eva who's riding on the mount, were filled with mixtures of complicated emotions. Luis was filled with endless pride and joy, he stood proud and tall as he faced he witnessed the expressions of the crowd. Eva was already crying, and the twins joined the pixies Aisha and Aina to scatter flower petals on the ground. 

The Flood Dragon carried the family all the way to the ancestral grounds where the wedding will take place. As soon as they arrived, they flew down from the mount and stood beside the ritual altar. 

"Family of the Bride! Queen Elizabeth and King Alexander Lightshield! Along with Crown Prince Balmung Lightshield!"

Another announcement was heard and another flood dragon appeared, this time carrying the Prince, Queen and King. As the march began, Balmung looked around their loyal subjects and shamelessly waved to them like he was the star of this wedding. He's even throwing flying kisses to the maidens that caught his eye. 

The King and Queen stood side by side, their faces were filled smiles and hearts filled with pride. This wedding is even grander than their own but they felt no envy. The only wanted the best for their daughter and their son-in-law. 

Upon reaching the ancestral grounds, they disembarked from the mount and stood on the other side of the ritual altar, opposite from where Raven's family. 

And finally, the moment everyone was waiting for. The arrival of the Bride and the Groom. 

"Please welcome the Bride and the Groom! Vendrick Valorheart and Lunafreya Lightshield."

*Boom!*

An explosion occurred, catching everyone by surprise. At this moment, everyone stood with their mouths agape as they looked up on the sky. 

The clouds disappeared and the skies changed. Constellations started appearing one by one until everyone was basking under their glow. The aurora curtain's brilliance intensified even more. 

"The Starry Skies of Spirit World!"

"How grand! How majestic!"

"Beautiful!"

From the skies, clarion cries and distant roars were heard. Everyone watched as a silhouettes descend. 

The Bride Luna, she is wearing a long white gown which seemed to be made out of the purest silk. Her beauty was ethereal, almost as if she wasn't from this world and just a goddess touring the mortal realm. Her smooth curves, skin that glows like a white jade, and her long and wavy blonde hair could captivate anyone who stares are her. She was wearing a thin veil that hid her facial features but that didn't stop anyone from having wild fantasies about her. 

The Groom Raven. He is wearing a white suit which accentuated his tall and powerful build. His long blue hair was neatly tied behind him and fell like a gentle stream of water. His sharp brows, strong jawline, clear jade skin and looks of a gentleman was enough to cause many maidens and wives to blush. As he basked under the light of the starry skies, his features became even more fascinating to ladies, so much to the point that they feel like dying from envy since they weren't his bride.

As soon as they appeared, the Knights stationed on the edges raised their spears and crossed them against each other.

Arm in arm, the two of them walked down the aisle, white lotuses bloomed in full glory, illusive silhouettes of dragons and phoenixes danced around them, pixies also danced around them, showering them with flower petals and sparkling lights. Whenever they passed by the Knights, the spears above their heads will be released. The crowd offered their congratulatory messages from afar causing happiness to fill their hearts. 

The couple eventually arrived in front of the ritual altar. By now, Eva and Elizabeth could no longer hold their tears. Even the rims of their husband's eyes were wet. The bridesmaid are all crying with tears of joy as well. 

Somehow, an old man mysteriously appeared before the altar. Nobody knew who he was but Raven knew. This was none other than the consciousness of the Grand Ancestral Plane. Knowing Raven's real identity, how could he not be here? 

"Today we witness the union through wedlock of Vendrick Valorheart and Lunafreya Lightshield." The Old Man spoke, causing all discussions to halt. 

"Bow to the Parents!" The old man's voice boomed. 

Raven and Luna faced their own parents and bowed, they then faced their in-laws and similarly bowed as well. 

"Bow to the Heavens!"

The two of them faced the ritual altar bowed to the old man, who represented the heavens. As the old man received the bow, he smiled and procured a ritual sword. This sword's handle was long and is encased in a circle, it's edge is no different from a regular sword. The names of this sword is The Sword of Avowal.

The old man stabbed the Sword of Avowal on the altar. Hand in hand, Luna and Raven held the handle of the sword, fingers interlocking as they did so. Without letting go of the sword, they stepped closer to each other and wrapped their arms around each other, with their foreheads touching the old man's voice echoed once more. 

"Channel your heartfelt vows to each other."

As soon as he said that, fluctuations of unique energy started filling their area. The two of them didn't say a word since there's no need for it. Their heart beats as one, transmitting emotions of pure love and adoration to each other. 

In no time, the Sword of Avowal lit up with a mystical light, encasing both of them within. It them formed a golden circles that transformed as their rings. A unique sigil appeared on their hands and a pillar of light descended with them at the center. 

"At the appearance of the sigil and formation of the rings.. I now pronounce you as Husband and Wife."