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2024-10-29 19:42:56"Blue," Kiran breathed. Noorh's hair was a midnight blue under the morning light. It seemed pure black in the dark, but it had a bluish sheen whenever light brushed its soft strands at an angle.
It was the first time that a male stranger around her age carried Kiran like a bride. She wasn't sure how to react when he effortlessly lifted her up from the ground, let alone when he started leaping into the air. The awkwardness and embarrassment she felt at being held made her rigid and stiff, but the queasiness that filled her senses with their every rise and fall against the cliff eventually left her too nauseous to care about it. At one point, she found herself desperately wrapping her arms around his neck for dear life - a gesture that he didn't seem to mind. As if the whole ordeal wasn't enough of a torment, her body started reminding her that she hadn't eaten anything for dinner in the previous day or breakfast that morning.
Seeing Noorh proceed with their journey wi
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Noorh heard Kiran's gasp before he felt the movement from his right. He quickly crouched, dodging the attack of the black serpent. He then leaped into the air to jump to the next nest. As luck would have it, he found himself staring over a nest filled with wriggling newly hatched snakes greedily fighting each other for mangled corpses splayed on the ground.Noorh cursed under his breath as his feet landed on one of the snake hatchlings' slippery back. A round of angry hisses erupted around him, their burning amber eyes turning their hungry sights toward him. Just as the snake hatchlings pounced their gaping mouths toward him, he casted a spell under his feet that could propel him upward. It pushed him high enough to reach a stone step above them. Before he could properly land on the step, however, he felt a wave of energy drain away from his body making the world spin around him.The poisonous miasma emanating from the decaying debris and the toxic wood from which the winged serpents'
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The mild but familiar stench of rotting flesh made Kiran squint and gingerly open her eyes. She felt sluggish and sleepy, as if she had just woken up from a long and much needed nap. Instead of a cozy pillow or a comfortable bed, however, she woke up to the maroon scarf covering the crook of Noorh's neck. Kiran gasped and quickly leaned away, her cheeks flushed scarlet at the thought of sleeping on a man's chest. Noorh didn't seem to mind it though. In fact, he sat unperturbed and unmoving in front of her as if he himself had fallen into a deep slumber. "Noorh?" Kiran asked, her hands tentatively touching his shoulders. His head was bowed low, almost as if he had fallen asleep due to extreme exhaustion. "Noorh, wake up," she said, gently shaking his shoulders. "Noorh," she called out again before gingerly tipping his chin upward to take a closer look at his condition. To her horror, Noorh's face had turned ashen. His skin was ice cold and his lips was a shade
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"I…was looking for a snake bite," Kiran shyly defended. Noorh remained curiously staring at her. "So you tried to undress me?" he repeated. "I wanted to help you!" Kiran shyly defended, her cheeks scarlet. "It was not out of any lustful desire for you or your body. And technically, you're not naked…yet…" she mumbled, looking away. Noorh raised a brow at her, biting back a smirk. He understood what she meant but he enjoyed seeing her flustered. It was a pleasant stark contrast from her lifeless form not too long ago. "How are you?" he asked. She stared confused at him. "Me?" "You passed out," Noorh explained. More like died, really, but he couldn't bring himself to be blunt about it. Something inside him feared that telling her how her heart stopped beating could make her disappear from his lap. Was she even aware that she was perched intimately on his lap? "I did!" Kiran exclaimed, remembering what had happened. "I was so shock
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It took a lot to shatter the mask of composure that Noorh developed over the past ten years. He remained calm in the midst of witnessing the chaos in Lahnthea. He remained in control when people looked down on him at the royal court. He kept his cool when he battled one giant monster after another to succeed in his mission.But facing the approaching flock of winged serpents was enough to make his eyes grow wide with terror. He had seen how easily they could ravage a village, pluck its screaming villagers off the ground like ripe fruits from a tree, and greedily devour them in one swoop. They were scarier than the giant serpent guardian despite their smaller size because they attacked in groups that no gifted warrior could single-handedly survive through.Noorh's heart raced as he quickly threw the cloak around him and Kiran. He then raised his hand in front of him, his dark eyes suddenly burning several shades of blue as cold sweat slid down his spine.Kiran fe
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The first time Kiran learned that she couldn't carry a tune was in kindergarten, when the teacher taught them a song that the class was supposed to sing in a school program in front of parents. She was the first one to memorize the lyrics of the song but no matter how much she tried to sing the notes, it always sounded off. A teacher had to give Kiran private lessons just so she wouldn't embarrass herself too much. In the end, the loud singing of her cheerful and proud classmates covered up her shamed and silenced voice.It was a relief that her parents weren't in the audience. They were both busy with earning money for their financially challenged family. Her mom arrived at school to pick her up after the program had ended. They then bought cake to celebrate her first stage performance before heading home.Kiran avoided singing in front of people after that. And in group presentations in primary school where she had to sing, she either mouthed the words to pretend like she was singin
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Noorh cursed under his breath as Kiran intercepted the gaping mouth of the winged serpent in front of him. He quickly snapped his fingers, eyeing the twig that he wasn't able to break off. A magic circle erupted around the twig before it burst into bluish purple flames.Thick dark smoke shot up from the tip of the flame like a fountain as Noorh grabbed Kiran. He slammed her against his chest and trapped her there with his left arm. He then waved his right hand in front of them, summoning another huge magic circle. But instead of gathering white clouds toward his palm, it gathered the thick dark smoke from the burning twig. It created a thick black wall that shielded them from the angry winged serpent."Hold on to me," he shouted, already moving his outstretched hand to the side and aiming for the nests.Kiran obediently wrapped her arms around Noorh's neck. She then felt him turn their bodies toward the path they needed to take to descend the mountain. To her surprise, the dark smoke
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Kiran woke up to strong gusts of wind blowing across the side of her face. She squinted her eyes and groaned as she felt the stiffness in her back in the curled up position that she was in."Are you awake?" a familiar voice muttered against her ear.It sent pleasant chills down her spine, jolting her awake. She leaned away from the chest had apparently been curled up against and stared wide-eyed at Noorh's face, which was right in front of her. She was speechless as her eyes once again admired his striking dark eyes."How are you feeling?" Noorh asked, noting the flushness of her cheeks. "Do you have a fever?" He raised his hand to touch Kiran's forehead."I'm fine," Kiran quickly said, blocking his hand and realizing how loudly her heart was beating inside her chest. "I just…" Her eyes strayed to the horizon behind Noorh's shoulder and gasped. "A-are we flying?" she gasped, noticing the bluish purple forest and the blue sky behind them. She immedi
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A white light suddenly flickered somewhere below Kiran, jolting her from her thoughts. She glanced down and found the pouch that Noorh tied around her wrist glowing with a bright white light. Kiran curiously opened the pouch and found a large crystal rock inside it."Wow," Kiran gasped. "Who needs flashlights when you have this?"She then wondered if she could take one home and sell it since she wasn't able to grab magic moss from the mountain. A glowing crystal that didn't need batteries or electricity to run would be a huge hit back on Earth.Kiran closed the pouch and examined the ground. The bright white light showed her details that she hadn't noticed before, like how the grass at her feet had the same blade-like leaves as the ones from her world. The main difference was the color. Instead of green, it was a dark shade of blue…probably even indigo…or somewhere close to black.She raised the pouch a bit higher so she could examine the tr
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"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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
