Bonds Forged in Light and Shadow
Training at Hogwarts had been grueling, yet fulfilling. Under Clow Reed’s guidance, Reiko, Syaoran, Tranquility, and Endymion were growing into formidable warriors—not just with their magic but with their blades. The Four Founders of Hogwarts had taken an interest in their training, providing wisdom and challenges unlike anything they had faced before.
Tranquility, however, remained distant.
Reiko noticed it first. He had always been warm with her—smirking, teasing, throwing challenges her way. But ever since he arrived at Hogwarts, something felt… off. He pushed himself too hard in training, lingering behind the others when they rested. He spoke little about himself, answering questions with a knowing smile or deflecting with a joke. Even in sparring, where he once fought with the fierce joy of a duelist, his movements were almost mechanical.
It bothered her.
One evening, after a particularly exhausting lesson from Rowena Ravenclaw on mind-magic defenses, Reiko found him alone in the courtyard. The stars glittered overhead, casting silver light over his golden hair.
“You’re avoiding me,” she said, leaning against the stone railing beside him.
Tranquility chuckled, but it lacked his usual warmth. “That’s an accusation. Where’s the proof?”
Reiko rolled her eyes. “You flinch whenever I mention your sister. You never talk about the Sun Kingdom. You never talk about yourself at all. And don’t think I haven’t noticed you training past midnight.”
Silence.
Then, a sigh.
Tranquility turned toward her, his golden eyes searching hers as if deciding how much to say. “…It’s complicated, Reiko.”
“Try me.”
He hesitated, then exhaled. “My sister and I were raised apart. She was always meant for the Moon Kingdom, and I… the Sun Kingdom. But it never felt like mine. The court sees me as a placeholder until my sister’s reign joins with their own. No matter what I do, I’ll always be half of something. Never whole.”
Reiko frowned. “That’s ridiculous. You’re the prince of the Sun Kingdom.”
“Am I?” He let out a short, humorless laugh. “Or am I just a prince waiting to be replaced?”
Reiko didn’t hesitate. She grabbed his wrist, forcing him to look at her. “You are Tranquility. Not a placeholder. Not half of something. And you sure as hell don’t need their approval to be whole.”
Tranquility’s eyes widened slightly at her fierceness.
Then, before she could react, he reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek. His touch was hesitant, as if afraid of breaking something fragile.
“…I don’t know what I’d do without you, Reiko.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
Reiko felt her heart stutter, heat rushing to her cheeks. But she didn’t pull away. Instead, she smirked slightly. “You’d be absolutely lost, obviously.”
Tranquility laughed softly—genuinely this time.
For the first time since arriving, he felt at ease.