In front of the majestic Obsidian Luxury building, a vision of loveliness stood out against the backdrop of opulence. Luna's silver-colored tresses cascaded down her back like a river of moonlight, a rare and striking feature that turned heads. Most people would need to rely on artificial means to achieve such an ethereal hue, but Luna's locks were a natural wonder.
"Luna!" a voice called out from afar, growing louder with each approaching step. Luna turned to face the speaker, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in the familiar figure clad in long pants.
"Lisa?" Luna replied quietly, a faint frown etched on her face as she watched Lisa draw closer.
"Where have you been? Phoenix was searching all over for you!" Lisa exclaimed, her eyes scanning the surroundings before locking onto the luxury building behind Luna. "Obsidian Luxury??" she asked, her voice tinged with incredulity. "Are you lost?"
Luna's expression turned innocent, but a hint of defensiveness crept into her voice. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lisa's gaze turned knowing. "Unless you're lost, or came for sightseeing, you don't have enough money to shop here." Luna's lip twitched, and Lisa burst into laughter.
"Did you have to say that out loud?" Luna asked, her tone laced with mock annoyance.
With a bold step, Luna swept into the shop, leaving Lisa to follow in her wake.
"Wait, are you for real? You're going sightseeing?" Lisa asked, her eyes wide with amusement.
"I want to purchase something," Luna said, her voice firm as she walked deeper into the shop.
Lisa's steps faltered, her expression stunned. "Pu...purchase?? Did you magically turn rich today?" she asked, her voice trailing behind Luna as she chased after her.
As they ventured further into the shop, their awestruck whispers filled the air. "This place is insane! It's like we'll stain the floors with our poverty just by walking in!"
Luna's eyes sparkled with wonder, drinking in the luxury that surrounded her. Money, indeed, was a beautiful thing. She could admire this place forever, but she had a specific purpose for being here. With stealthy steps, she made her way to the men's wristwatch section, her eyes scanning the display cases with a mixture of curiosity and intent
"Don't tell me you want to buy one of these watches..." Lisa said, her voice barely above a whisper as she gazed at the extravagant timepieces on display.
"Today is my blood marriage with Phoenix," Luna explained, her eyes locked on the watches. "I want to gift him something special. A watch would be perfect for a guy, right?"
Lisa's eyes widened in understanding. "It would, but must it be a watch from Obsidian Luxury? We could find equally stunning watches at other shops, ones that won't break the bank."
Luna's gaze remained fixed on the watches. "Nothing compares to what Obsidian Luxury has to offer."
A gentle voice interrupted their conversation, "Exactly, my lady. You have exquisite taste."
Luna and Lisa turned to face the speaker, a refined young man in his early twenties. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit that accentuated his chiseled features. Luna couldn't help but notice how handsome he was, though she still maintained that Phoenix was the epitome of perfection.
Lisa, on the other hand, was utterly smitten. Her eyes remained glued to the gentleman, her expression a picture of admiration.
"How may Obsidian Luxury assist you, lovely ladies?" he asked, his eyes locked onto Luna.
Luna's gaze drifted back to the watches. "How much do these cost?"
"The prices vary depending on the watch," he replied with a charming smile.
Luna's eyes scanned the display before settling on a stunning silver watch. She chose it intentionally, hoping it would remind Phoenix of her.
"Silver and captivating, just like you," the gentleman observed. "Whoever wears it will be fortunate indeed."
Luna and Lisa exchanged a knowing glance, assuming he was one of the shop attendants.
"How much is it?" Luna asked, her voice laced with trepidation.
The gentleman's response was calm and collected. "Fifteen thousand dollars. The price is listed above."
Luna's eyes widened in shock as she turned to Lisa, who stood frozen in silence. They both turned to verify the price, their mouths agape.
"Fifteen thousand dollars for a watch?!" Luna exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's insane!"
Lisa found her voice, whispering, "Luna, we can't afford this."
The gentleman's expression turned quizzical. "Is the price excessive?"
Lisa's eyes widened in thoughts of wonder at his question
Was he really asking? His lips must taste good to ask if fifteen thousand dollars was expensive.
Luna felt a flush rise to her cheeks. "I only have five thousand dollars on me." She said shyly as her hand instinctively felt for her pocket.
The gentleman's smile returned. "I have a pre-owned watch that might interest you for that price. It's not silver, but it's a fine timepiece nonetheless."
Luna's gaze remained fixed on the silver watch. "I want this one. Phoenix will love it."
"Phoenix, your boyfriend?" the gentleman inquired.
Luna's response was firm. "My soul mate."
The gentleman's eyes sparkled with interest. "Soul mate? Are you twins?"
Luna nodded. "Yes."
The gentleman's smile broadened but a tint of disappointment laced in his eyes "Congratulations. He's fortunate to have you as his soul mate. I'll give you the watch on credit. You can pay the remaining ten thousand dollars later."
Luna's face lit up with gratitude. Not noticing the disappointment in his eyes."Thank you, sir. I'll ensure I pay the rest as soon as possible."
"But..." The man said and Luna and Lisa looked up at him expectantly.
"You will need to sign a dept form" He announced to them
" That's alright " Luna said with a sigh
With that, she was handed a debt form.
Luna signed the form without hesitation, and the gentleman handed her the watch, elegantly packaged.
As they left the shop, Lisa turned to Luna, concern etched on her face. "Luna, how do you plan to pay the remaining ten thousand dollars?" She asked as she stood with her hands on her waist
Luna's smile faltered for a moment before she replied, "I'll find a part-time job. Don't worry, I'll pay it off soon."
Lisa's expression remained skeptical. "You're not going to drop out of school, are you?"
Luna shook her head. "No, I'll manage. I just can't wait to see Phoenix wear this watch. It'll look amazing on him. He's going to look really good in this. He has Always wanted a cool wristwatch." She runted on instead.
Paying for the watch, is a thought for later. For now all she was looking forward to was the excitement on Phoenix face, when he is gifted the watch.
Lisa sighed, resigned. "Okay, let's hurry. Your mother must be waiting to help you get dressed."
Luna's excitement resurfaced as she thought of the exquisite gown hanging in her room. She had painstakingly sewn it herself, showcasing her remarkable talent for fashion design and jewelry making.
At just seventeen years old, Luna's skills were impressive, but she had dedicated them solely to creating that perfect gown for her blood marriage with Phoenix.
RavenDale Town, was like a kingdom on its own. Though it had undergone civilization, the town folks still cultivated the magic of nature. Technically, in old terms, you can call it witchcraft.
And in one of their magic constitution of the town, twins of a boy and girl were destined to marry. It is said from old, that they had each come with their soulmate.
She, Luna, is a twin with Phoenix. Technically, this makes them soulmates. She and Phoenix had known this since they were little and she had grown up in love with him.
No, they grew up in love with each other.
The blood marriage was not an actual marriage, but a purification rite. A rite made to purify the soul of the female twin to enhance her to cultivate stronger magic.
The universe bringing one to the earth with the soulmate was not for free, there was a steep price attached. And that price was a curse. A curse that will afflict the male twin. This curse would ignite a beast of pain within Phoenix, rendering him incapable of consummating their relationship whenever he felt lustful.
While the curse would be activated after the blood marriage, Her purified soul would grant her the magical prowess to break the curse, she felt a heartache as the sudden weight of their predicament settled heavily upon her.
She sighed, turning to her one-time best friend walking next to her. "Lisa, promise me you won't mention the watch I bought for Phoenix. Especially not the payment arrangement. I want it to be a surprise, and I don't want him to worry."
Lisa's eyes narrowed, her expression skeptical. "The watch looks incredibly expensive, Luna. The logo on the package is from Obsidian Luxury - everyone knows their products are priced exorbitantly. How do you plan to explain to Phoenix how you managed to afford such a luxury?"
Luna rolled her eyes, a hint of mischief dancing in her gaze. "It's not a problem; I'll just replace the packaging." With that, she walked ahead, leaving Lisa to follow behind, her curiosity piqued.