Kiran held her breath as she gaped at the scenery that Aledir was flying over. Below them and the blue sky was a vast verdant landscape surrounded by mountains that looked like they were hand painted by something divine.
Their group of three set out on the next leg of their journey early in the morning, just as Noorh planned the night before. He ordered Aledir to fly toward a direction in the horizon, which Kiran could only muse was north. As basic as her knowledge was about navigation and direction in her world, she wasn't sure which was north from where they were. Primarily because…
"Hey Noorh," she began, deciding to open up about something that had puzzled her ever since she noticed it the day before.
"Yes?" Noorh calmly asked as Aledir expertly maneuvered toward the green horizon.
"Where is the sun?" Kiran began, looking curiously at Nooh.
Noorh blinked. "The sun," he muttered.
"Yes, the source of light during the day..?" Kiran e
Watching Noorh turn away and walk toward the other end of the hall with his gorgeous fiancée made Kiran remember her first experience with unrequited love. It was the first time she felt like she finally understood what TV shows said was a "crush" - a harmless puppy love. She became infatuated with a popular boy in class. It was a standard, cliché romance story of a forgettable nerd falling for a good-looking, athletic boy. Even when they ended up in one study group, the coolest boy in class didn't seem to care that Kiran existed. He knew her by name and probably by how helpful she was in academic group activities, but that was pretty much it. Kiran didn't really mind it at the time though. Her heart fluttered whenever she saw him, and he spoke to her when necessary so it was all cool. Then the group of honor students started teasing the prettiest girl in class about liking him. It would have been nothing but playful banter if the girl and the popular boy hadn't shyl
Kiran found herself standing in the lobby of her campus building. She stared at the university grounds. It was filled with youths making their way across the grassy lawn toward their respective classes. Some were happily chatting with their peers while others were casually walking alone with their headphones on. The sun was up and the sky was blue. It was just like any morning that Kiran experienced in school."Kiran!" Remy called out, jolting Kiran from her musings.She turned stiffly around and found her friend smiling brightly at her."Sorry, I'm late," Remy continued, stopping in front of her. "The professor just wouldn't stop talking. Did you wait long? I'm hungry!"Kiran stared wide-eyed at her. A part of her wondered why Remy was there, despite how it made perfect sense for Kiran to see her in school. "No, I don't think so," she answered."Let's go to the café-""Remy!" another familiar voice called out from a distance.
Dinner had been awkward. The king initiated conversations with Kiran many times since the food was served. Thanks to Diel's confidence - or was it arrogance? Kiran found herself speechless at the table. Just as Diel promised, he responded to every question that king threw her way. It reached a point where she feel deeply apologetic and embarrassed for her adolescent escort's rude behavior toward the head of Lahnthea's royal family.One particular conversation that made Kiran especially uneasy as about how Diel ended up escorting her to the dining hall. Apparently, the king was scheduled to introduce her to Diel himself during dinner so he was surprised when she arrived at the table with Diel."I was passing by her quarters so I figured there really wasn't a need for a formal introduction from you," Diel explained, keeping his sharp eyes on his plate. "We don't have any protocol prohibiting my actions, do we?"Kiran couldn't help but flinch at the flick of Diel's
Noorh navigated the hallways until he reached the door that led to the gardens. He crossed the trellises where the vines dangled their fragrant white flowers overhead. It was as if the garden was welcoming him home in its own way. He took a turn down the labyrinth of hedges where he hid behind as a child until he reached a small old cottage in the middle of it.Noorh paused in front of its wooden door and closed his eyes. He only spent a few days away from the decrepit house but it seemed like so much had changed. It wasn't the plants or the structure of the house.It was him.Noorh opened the door and stepped inside the threshold. He flicked the light switch on the wall, filling the sparse living room with a warm glow. It appeared the same as he left it. Even the kitchen looked the same. He walked to the bedroom that he called his prison cell growing up. He didn't bother to turn on the light and immediately made a beeline for the curtains covering the window.Noorh pushed the curtain
Kiran winced. "I-I mean I'm just curious!" she quickly defended. "I heard the rumor, you see, and I was wondering if there's any truth to it! It's not like I'm going to run away or any-""It's true," Diel said, cutting her off and leaving her gaping at him. "A previous Lahnthean Aria managed to return to her world."Kiran could only stare dumbfounded at him. So there really was another way for her to return to her world! And being the Lahnthean Aria was the right choice. Noorh didn't just trick her into accepting the role! If Diel could confirm that a previous Lahnthean Aria returned to her world, then maybe he could also explain how it happened. She might actually be able to return to her home soon!"Your next question is how it happened, correct?" Diel asked, smirking deviously at her.Kiran froze and anxiously bit her lip. It was as if Diel was reading her mind!Diel sighed and looked away. "Sadly, no one really knows," he said, shattering Kiran
History wasn't one of Kiran's strong suits largely because it often required memorizing dates and names of people. Thankfully, Diel - despite his snobbish and haughty demeanor - was a great storyteller. He managed to teach her the history of Lahnthea as if he was merely telling Kiran a well-written summary of a famous novel.The ancestors of the people of Lahnthea lived in a small village situated in a forest surrounded by mountains. Weather conditions were harsh at the time because the Darkness ruled over the land. One day, the small village experienced the worst pestilence in its existence. Famished beasts raided the village, destroyed their farms, and slaughtered helpless citizens. The attack also left behind diseases that slowly killed those who survived.Tired of the pain and suffering, a young and talented hunter named Nilraenne Lahn Ithea led the small group of surviving young men and women on a journey beyond the mountains in search for food. They met people fr
Don't turn around. That was what Kiran thought as she stood frozen in the middle of the cold and dimly-lit hallway. The hair at the back of her neck were standing on end as an ominous chill seemed to patiently hover behind her. In horror movies, this was the part where characters turned around despite all the glaring red flags. They immediately regretted doing so because it revealed the ghost or monster that they were hoping not to come across. Kiran stood in the exact spot she didn't dream of being in. Her mind was screaming profanities inside her head, debating on whether she should just break into a run or walk calmly away. But something within her had already frozen her limbs in place; her knees trembling as the stench of something rotten slowly spread in the air. She crouched and gagged as the scent assaulted her senses. She winced as it intensified and dug threw her insides, clawing at its contents so that she would hurl her guts out. Then a thought hit
Kiran gaped at Noorh, unsure about how to answer his question since there was a chance that Khas had been a figment of her imagination. But if her doubts had truth, then how did she end up in the sofa? Khas had to be real!"K-Khas…the other t-totem like D-Diel?" she shyly said, hoping that Noorh would recognize the description."The other totem?" Noorh muttered. "Oh!" he exclaimed, remembering something. "You mean Masielle!""Right!" Kiran agreed, remembering Khas' lengthy full name. "He told me to call him 'Khas.'""Of course," Noorh said, nodding. "The relationship between the Lahnthean Aria and the totems are special. I should have realized it sooner.""So you know him?" Kiran curiously asked, relieved that Khas was real.Noorh smiled at her. "Everyone knows the totems," he said. "And yes, I have spoken to him a few times. He keeps to himself a lot and he usually only speaks with the elders of the citadel."Kiran slowly nodd
"This is Kiran, a new attendant-in-training under my care," Saia said, introducing Kiran to the owner of an accessory shop they visited in the Merchants' District. "She's from the West and she's not well-acquainted with the District yet so I'm giving her a tour during a much needed break from her lessons.""Nice to meet you, young lady," the woman who Paulienne whispered was an acclaimed artisan in Lahnthea said, with a warm smile on her lips. "You're lucky to join the palace with the Lahnthean Aria in our midst.""So I heard," Kiran said, trying to smile at the comment. She was the Lahnthean Aria after all, but she wouldn't admit it to the kind woman. Saia suggested they visit the District as ordinary people - or as ordinary as Saia's public identity could allow.Despite how much a spectacle Kiran's arrival in the palace was, not many were able to remember her face especially when she was half-running to catch up with Noorh the entire time. Even when informatio
Kiran looked out the window of the crystal-powered carriage she rode to the Merchant's District with Saia, her attendant named Rueinna, and Paulienne.The vehicle, which reminded her more of Cinderella's carriage without the horses, had a driver at an external seat in front while two guards in casual noble clothes perched on external seats at the back. They drove toward one side of the citadel and crossed a bridge that led to the small island where the Merchant's District was located. The bridge gave Kiran a view of the village across the lake that surrounded the citadel: brick houses and buildings where common folk lived.There were two official routes to the Merchant's District. First was by land, which crossed the citadel. Common folk were generally prohibited from entering the citadel, unless they received special passes from its authorities that allowed them to do so. The passes were often granted to common folk who were under the employment of nobles as attendant
Khas was an excellent communicator. That was the only wholesome explanation that Kiran could think of when she realized how long she had been talking to him.Kiran wasn't particularly talkative unless she was with close friends, which were a handful of people at most who she had known long enough to act as herself around them. Khas was someone she had known for a short while so he couldn't be part of that group, but she was still able to behave in a carefree manner around him.After exchanging the usual pleasantries, Khas guided her out of the building and began their conversation by asking about the food she ate for dinner.Dinners in the palace were different from what Kiran saw on TV shows that featured royalty. Residents didn't always have their meals in the dining hall. In fact, Khas explained that the dining hall was mostly a place where formal banquets were held. Residents of the palace rarely dined there. They instead had their meals in the confines of t
Diel's lessons thankfully ended without leaving Kiran another life-threatening homework. He even retracted the assignment he gave her in the morning after she showed him the book that Noorh gave her at lunch. Diel also cancelled their lessons for the next day, which would have been something she would have celebrated if it wasn't given after a slightly tensed conversation she had with him when they wrapped up the day.Kiran walked down the garden path to her quarters with a frown on her face. Her mind kept repeating the incident in the classroom."That ends today's session," Diel announced, closing the book on his desk as he stood in front of Kiran. "Questions?"Kiran's conversation with Saia made her realize that she had to know exactly why Diel wasn't teaching her magic. Saia's explanation made sense, but it left her wondering why Diel didn't just outright explain it to her. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep that night if she just brooded over it so she threw all caution to the
Noorh stood frozen under the arch that served as the entrance to Diel's outdoor garden; his eyes wide at the sight of the two women who plagued his thoughts that morning. Noorh was sure that there wasn't anything particularly wrong with his visit. He even received Diel's permission. But he couldn't help feel uneasy at being there with Saia after hearing Arha's and Ethyal's explanation about Kiran's behavior in the library.Why was Saia even there? Did she hear about the incident in the library from someone? Did it upset her? Did she meet Kiran to confront her about it?"Your highness," Saia greeted, before Noorh could decide on whether he should immediately explain what happened or wait for her to ask him questions.Kiran anxiously studied the calm expression on Saia's face. Was she suspicious about Noorh's sudden appearance? Why was Noorh even there to begin with?! She turned her sights back to Noorh and noticed the book he held in one hand. "Oh! Are you here t
Lady Saia was just as elegant and beautiful as Kiran remembered from the banquet, if not more. Every movement she made as done with an air of sophistication and grace, complimenting her stunning features. Kiran couldn't help but think that Saia undoubtedly deserved to be crowned as queen."I'm sorry," Saia began. "I didn't mean to rudely interrupt your lunch. I've always wanted to meet you personally after the banquet, but I heard that this is the only time you were available.""Oh no, please, it's alright," Kiran quickly said, rising to her seat. "I'm happy to meet you here. I've also been looking forward to talking with you more. You can take this seat if you like," she said, offering the chair across from her. "Diel-I mean totem Siit won't be joining me for lunch today.""Thank you, that's very kind of you, your grace," Saia said before gracefully taking the seat."Please call me 'Kiran,'" Kiran replied, taking a seat herself. "I’m not really into being addressed like that."Saia s
Kiran's face twisted into a frown as she drank the brew that Paulienne offered her to drink after waking up early in the morning. It drew a sharp line down her throat, almost setting her insides into flames. The drink reminded her of the potion that Noorh gave her the first time they met.Come to think of it, the drink might actually be a version of the potion."You drank a potion when you arrived, yes? And it allowed you to understand our language," Diel said. The potion's effects is due to end tomorrow. You'll have to drink another dose to understand us by then. I'll remind Paulienne to prepare the dose for you."It might explain why Paulienne wordlessly handed it to her the minute Kiran showed signs of waking up.Kiran erupted into a series of coughs after one swig of the drink. She glanced at the glass and found two-thirds of the clear liquid still waiting to be consumed."Is this the potion that lets me understand and speak your langu
Kiran gaped at Noorh, unsure about how to answer his question since there was a chance that Khas had been a figment of her imagination. But if her doubts had truth, then how did she end up in the sofa? Khas had to be real!"K-Khas…the other t-totem like D-Diel?" she shyly said, hoping that Noorh would recognize the description."The other totem?" Noorh muttered. "Oh!" he exclaimed, remembering something. "You mean Masielle!""Right!" Kiran agreed, remembering Khas' lengthy full name. "He told me to call him 'Khas.'""Of course," Noorh said, nodding. "The relationship between the Lahnthean Aria and the totems are special. I should have realized it sooner.""So you know him?" Kiran curiously asked, relieved that Khas was real.Noorh smiled at her. "Everyone knows the totems," he said. "And yes, I have spoken to him a few times. He keeps to himself a lot and he usually only speaks with the elders of the citadel."Kiran slowly nodd
Don't turn around. That was what Kiran thought as she stood frozen in the middle of the cold and dimly-lit hallway. The hair at the back of her neck were standing on end as an ominous chill seemed to patiently hover behind her. In horror movies, this was the part where characters turned around despite all the glaring red flags. They immediately regretted doing so because it revealed the ghost or monster that they were hoping not to come across. Kiran stood in the exact spot she didn't dream of being in. Her mind was screaming profanities inside her head, debating on whether she should just break into a run or walk calmly away. But something within her had already frozen her limbs in place; her knees trembling as the stench of something rotten slowly spread in the air. She crouched and gagged as the scent assaulted her senses. She winced as it intensified and dug threw her insides, clawing at its contents so that she would hurl her guts out. Then a thought hit