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"Very funny. Just watch," Aly pointed out to the sea, where the sun was nearly set. As it dipped down into the horizon and its rays vanished, the sky darkened considerably and before his very eyes, the canvas began to change. What had been a blank canvas in the day turned slowly into a colored, glowing portrait of him made with the dustlite. A beautiful creation of blue and silver in the night.

"It's for you," Aly said. "My so-called surprise."

Ryziel moved around and knelt before her, kissing her hands. "It's beautiful, Aly."

Aly smiled and he held onto her, embracing her, laying his head on her lap, and closing his eyes, breathing deep.

He thought for a moment how, only a year ago, he would have never seen himself in this position. An image of his brother suddenly appeared then in his mind, shaking his head in disapproval.

"How can you be with her?" Ryziel heard the ghost of his brother say. "How can you love her as you do? How can you care for her and protect her like this and fight your own kind for her? How can you do this, Ryziel?"

Ryziel only smiled. 'Because,' he thought, 'she is everything.'