I swallowed hard. I did not want to accept my father’s words. But I knew that I had to, whether I liked it or not. The stranger’s face unexpectedly appeared in my reverie all of a sudden. My brows furrowed. It was because my father could see him in my thoughts, too. Everything from reality to my deepest dreams and desires, my father could see it. Nothing could be hidden from him. And I wasn’t wrong. My father smiled knowingly at me. His blue lips were torn from ear to ear. He was giving me that teasing look now, which made my cheeks go red.“Now, that unique being is quite interesting, my daughter,” he remarked.“Oh, Father! He just annoys me…” I frowned at him. Frustration was written all over my face.“You’re still in self-denial but I understand.” He smiled at me knowingly, still. I hated that smile of his. I couldn’t wipe it off from his face!Yes, I really I hated it when he does that. It was so unfair! My father knew everything that I didn

I was busy analyzing his action. Right. It was my first kiss after all!Why did he kiss me for powerful beings’ sake? Why? And then he ran afterward like that like a coward—or something?That was beyond… disconcerting! I should have come after him and give him a lesson or two. Maybe a punch in the nose would suffice at least! But there I was. I was just… still, processing more what just happened some moments ago.I always thought that when another being’s lips touched with mine it would be disgusting and horrible. But, no. With him, it was quite… wonderful! And my heart was jumping excitedly until now. It was insane. I could even feel the rush of my blood that traveled my entire body. I was not sure how many miles per dot though. I could not measure it.“Wow! That made you motionless, emotionless and… something… more… less,” Ponpon said with a mocking tone. But he sighed afterward. His red eyes were also bewildered by the stranger’s action.I swallowed

“Xerra, that way to register,” Daraton told me with a gesture of his hand.I nodded and followed him. My sister went with Zulika, Oleifa, and the others from our tribe. Five of my fellow Aigleans came with me to register our names for the recruitment. There was already a long line when we got there.The white-haired being who was about in his hundreds looked at me when it was my turn. He turned to the grave-looking being who stood behind him. He wore an army uniform and judging by the authoritative way he carried himself, I knew he was a high-ranking official. I looked at the standing lapel of his uniform and I was right. He was the general of the Elite Aryan Army—General Isoog from what I heard was his name. I never thought that I’d meet him at this early stage of the Banatan. Then, our eyes met. I almost saw the recognition reflected in his eyes but it faded right away. He hid his emotion well. I didn’t even think about probing into his thoughts as the older being was

The three Aryans simultaneously attacked me but I was faster than them. I kicked the chest of the second opponent in front of me who was holding the axe, sending him out of the ring flying. He landed on the ground hard, with a loud thud and face down. I rolled down to evade the sword and the spear that attacked from each side. I willed that Ponpon would grow longer. I heard the audience gasp.Ponpon smirked when he became longer than before. It was the first time that it happened. He seemed to look excited with his new self.“I’ll make them regret they joined the Banatan, Xerra,” Ponpon snickered like a maniac.I stared at him with my steely blue eyes and smiled at him. I parried both the sword and spear and swept the feet of my two enemies. One was hit but the other was quicker than the first one. He managed to dodge my attack. His sword was now threatening to slash my neck. However, I bent backward with a front kick and I sent him flying out of the ring.

Shahrae’s hand was holding mine so tightly. I was talking to the guard at the palace gate, which was made of cirthum, thus the blue color of it. It was right after we buried our mother that we went straight to the palace by a recula. We truly wanted to know what had happened to our mother.“We’re here to see the King,” I stated in a controlled tone.“The King is indisposed of at the moment,” the guard answered coolly. His eyes held no emotions as he looked back at me.I smirked. I looked at the guard sharply. “He’s indisposed of? Why? Because his Queen just died? Does that mean he’s mourning?” I asked sarcastically.The guard blinked. He swallowed when he saw my eyes turn into steely blue. My skin started to turn blue as well. But when my sister held me more tightly, I controlled myself and I turned back to my Aryan self.“Is there a problem here?” An elite warrior in uniform asked the gua