The walk to the room where I was to be meeting with Daedrick and Tulip was far from a long one. The home that I had been given to stay while I was still in the capitol was spacious—Far more so than I needed—But, it wasn’t a manor, it was instead a home large enough for an entire family to live comfortably and privately amongst themselves.

  Because of that fact, the home just felt hollow as I strode through it.

  “This place feels wrong to live in…” I mumbled as I moved, keeping my eyes forward as Panna followed to my side down the stairs.

  “In what way?” Panna asked with a soft tone.

  “I don’t know how to put it into words…” I trailed off into thought, trying to think of how exactly the building felt wrong. “I think… it just feels alien to me, I’ve never lived comfortably, let alone borderline lavishly.” I sighed out.

  “Hmm… I think I understand what you mean,” Panna agreed with a slight nod. “Growing up on the streets, then living like this, it's strange.”

  “Glad to know it’s not just me.” I said, shrugging gently as I did so.

  Silence returned between us until we approached the center of the first floor, I could already hear gentle chatter between two voices.

  “...Father is still being a nuisance about everything.” Tulip’s voice was the first to reach my ears, her tone filled with clear annoyance.

  “Your father has always had that sort of attitude. But I presume that you did what was required?” Daedrik’s gruff, almost teasing voice asked.

  I stepped into the doorway as Daedrik’s question landed in the air, raising a hand I knocked gently on the doorframe.

  “I hope I’m not late?” I asked gently, offering a smile towards Tulip.

  Colors swirled around the room when I looked into it, taking in the sight of both Tulip and Daedrik together. They sat opposed to one another, a small table between them while they lounged in plush couches.

  Deadrik was surrounded by a strange cloud of colors that I couldn’t even begin to parce—It was almost like every time I made out one hue, it changed and blurred into another. Pinks, browns, greens, yellows and tans all colluded with one another into shapes that frankly were already giving me a headache.

  Tulip on the other hand was equally strange to look at—But for no where near the same reason as Daedrik. When my gaze landed on Tulip her body was surrounded by strange hues of pinks, blues and greens, while the instant our gazes met they all became overwhelmed by an intense pink light that nearly forced me to start blushing.

  “Oh, only for half an hour.” Tulip said with a teasing grin, the intense pink color around her slowly fading as she spoke.

  I shot Panna a look at that, to which she just hurriedly raised her arms in surrender.

  “I was trying to wake you up, Miss Kirin!” Panna proclaimed defensively, light blues flashing in the air around her.

  “You said they weren’t here yet!” I exclaimed in return, however, the soft laughter from Tulip and Daedrik lightened the mood quickly.

  “I’m kidding, Kirin, I only just got here—Daedrik let me in,” Tulip said with a soft wave. “Now sit down, alright? There’s quite a bit to talk about.” She gestured towards the couch beside her.

  “And I got here only a minute before that.” Daedrik added with a nonchalant wave.

  With a soft sigh I walked forwards, moving to take the offered seat beside her. As I did, I endeavored to try and block out the constant waves of colors rushing into my gaze, something which was partially successful at best.

  “I’ll go and get some drinks for everyone.” Panna said. With a quick bow of her head she turned about and sped off down the hall.

  As I sat down I turned to look at Daedrik, then Tulip, both of their faces reflecting some level of deep thought while they stared at me.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked quickly. When their stares didn’t abate I turned to look at myself, patting myself down as if to check for something out of place.

  “Yes and no,” Tulip said in a thoughtful tone. “A lot has happened in the Noble Court over the last few days, a lot of anger with my father…” Slowly she trailed off, her gaze turning to Daedrik as if begging him to take over.

  “Simply put; The members of the Noble Court are torn into two fields with a small majority supporting your reinstatement as an Empyrean,” Daedrik gave a slight pause, taking a breath before he resumed. “As such, you are obviously a Skyliner, however King Archimedes is… stubborn.” He added, finally stopping and resting back into his seat.

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  “...And what does any of that mean?” I asked, confusion already swirling in my head.

  “The Noble Houses pushed against my father and are supporting your reinstatement as an Empyrean,” Tulip answered plainly. “Most of them are the ones who are disgruntled with Lushia and her family, which isn’t much of a surprise honestly.”

  When I met Tulip with a still confused gaze, she let out a sigh and once again elaborated.

  “Father is being a stubborn ass, but is being forced to comply with the wants of the Nobility. Within the week you’ll be recognized in an official manner as an Empyrean.” Tulip looked thoughtfully at me for a moment longer, our gazes meeting as she smiled before shifting back in her seat.

  “So, your father just hates me still.” I stated the obvious, shifting back in my seat similarly. Though, I did find myself pulling my legs up onto the couch, hugging my knees into my chest softly.

  “Yep, but he hates the idea of losing control over the Nobility more.” Tulip agreed with a sigh.

  Silence filled the room for a few moments, growing into an awkward sort until Daedrik coughed softly, clearing his throat. My gaze snapped up at him, my brow raising as a question quickly filled my head.

  “Wait, why are you here, Daedrik? I figured you wouldn’t be needing anything from me until we got back to the school.” I asked him, gladly taking the excuse to help ignore the waves of colorful emotions I felt from Tulip.

  “Glad you finally asked,” Daedrik said with a joyous smile. “Normally, yes, I wouldn’t have anything for the newest Skyliner yet, but this is a situation that needs immediate help from all hands.” As he spoke he pushed on his knees, standing up in one smooth motion.

  “Meet me at the front gate of the school this evening, Kirin, I’ll be speaking to you all then.” With that abrupt statement Daedrik turned and began making his way out.

  “Oh! And one more thing,” Daedrik paused at the doorway, his gaze turning back towards me. “Tulip, don’t try to make it a ceremony. We won’t have the time for that.” With his added statement, Daedrik turned and left the room.

  I just blinked as he left, my jaw partially agape before closing softly.

  “That’s… it?” I asked, even after he left the room. Tulip just sighed, laughing a little at the same time.

  “You should get used to it. Daedrik’s just like that,” Tulip said. Slowly, she turned her gaze back to me, her face shifting into a smile. “So… How are you feeling?” She asked gently.

  I met her gaze, staring into her rubellite eyes for several moments. Colors still swirled around Tulip, begging for my attention even as I desperately tried to ignore them.

  “Tired still…” I trailed off quickly, my gaze falling down as my chin found rest on my knees. “I desperately need to talk to Carmine…” I added with a slight mumble to my voice.

  “Is something wrong?” Tulip asked quickly, her voice lined with concern.

  “I don’t know, honestly,” Closing my eyes I took in a slow, steadying breath. “I keep seeing colors around people now—Not like their auras, but, just colors, they’re like shades over the real world, and I can… read them?” I offered, my voice filled with uncertainty.

  “Colors?” Tulip asked with one brow raised. “What do the colors around me look like?”

  I looked back up slowly, focusing my gaze on her for a moment. It wasn’t hard to focus on the colors again, nor was it hard to see how the pulsing aura of them had changed around Tulip.

  “Mmm… I see, blues and greens mostly now—The blue feels, curious, maybe a little scared? Green… this one feels hopeful?” I offered, taking another soft breath. “It’s hard to describe… It’s like seeing something that I’m meant to feel, but not feeling it directly. Maybe like, staring at a smile?”

  “Staring at a smile?” Tulip asked, confusion evident in her voice.

  “It’s like when someone’s smiling, but you don’t know why—You know they’re happy, or something similar, just from the feeling, but you don’t really feel it yourself?” I did my best to explain, though I myself was still confused by what I saw.

  “That’s…” Tulip brought a hand up to her chin, nodding softly. “Between that lightshow you made in the arena… and that…” She mumbled for a moment before looking up, her eyes shimmering with excitement. “I think you’ve just found your Innate Element, Kirin.”

  —

  The wind whipped across the frigid hillside that overlooked the oceanside village. They were dozens miles away from the Keep now, and only a few miles further away from their goal. The group stood huddled together, all sheltering under the warm, golden embers of a royal flame.

  “How are you all doing?” Verdant asked softly, her gaze shifting across everyone she had managed to gather, across the few she could trust.

  “Fine now, thanks to your flames, Your Highness.” One of the three guards said, their voice betraying the chill in the air through their clattering teeth.

  “Don’t act so tough when you could freeze to death,” Verdant sighed, outstretching a hand the flames grew yet more radiant—Finally warm enough so as to melt the snow underfoot. “We have Tassia, the Flamewatch won’t see us.” Verdant stated confidently.

  “I-I-I… I really wouldn’t put so much confidence in my abilities…” Tassia said worriedly, though, she certainly wasn’t complaining as she huddled closer still to the flame.

  “You’re all risking your lives to help me, it’s the least I could do to make sure that I keep you all safe.” Verdant said resolutely. Even if they had her marks scorched into their skin, she had to get everything she could to work out.

  “Lady Verdant?” Another guard inquired, her voice far softer than the first.

  “Yes?” Verdant shifted her gaze, smiling gently at the woman across from her.

  “Just what are we doing here?” The guard asked, her voice torn. “I just… struggle to understand why one of such high regard as yourself would risk yourself like this.” The guard elaborated before Verdant could answer.

  “That’s a good question,” Verdant said with a low sigh. She took a step forwards, sitting comfortably within the snow drift, her hands extended out towards the burning pyre between the group. “I hold disdain for my Father. For his Regime, but more than that, I hate standing by and watching my people suffer while my father refuses to help them.” Verdant spoke with scorn in her voice, yet, she didn’t quite spit the words out.

  “And how will going to the Dwarven lands help us with that?” The Guard inquired slowly.

  “It’s a desperate plea for help,” Verdant stated the fact as simple as it was. “One which only a small group is even willing to listen to… So, we have to jump on the opportunity offered.”

  “Verdant!” Tassia exclaimed suddenly, shooting to her feet. “Flamewatch, close!”

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