Frila and Yurian were engaged in a conversation in the living room. Razian had taken Rony out on a walk while Esma was busy in her kitchen, trying to wrap her mind around the idea of not having Aselia around anymore.

"I hope we can remain in contact, will that be possible?" Yurian asked with a hint of hesitation.

"I consider you as my friend now, Yurian. You can contact me wherever or whenever," Frila answered, a sweet smile playing on her lips which Yurian returned. His heart rate elevated seeing her smile like that, she was so beautiful and pure.

He found himself slowly falling for her but knew she wouldn’t be ready for a relationship. He had never felt himself drawn to a girl like this before. She was not superficial and that’s what he loved most about her.

They were interrupted by raised voices coming from Aselia’s room and both of them awkwardly stared at each other, not knowing what to do. Esma poked her head out of the kitchen and made a meaningful eye connection with her son, who only shrugged in return.

The door to Aselia’s room flew open and a fuming Xiran exited soon after.

"Frila! We are leaving," his voice thundered and Frila jumped from her seat, knowing he was furious. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"What happened?" Yurian inquired, getting up from the sofa and approaching Xiran who seemed on the edge of a breakdown.

"Take care of her Yurian, she doesn’t wish to leave," the effort Xiran made to utter those words left him hollow. His heart was back in the room with her.

"Did you fight with her again? You better have not hurt her," Yurian was angry now.

"I didn’t, stop making me the bad guy," his eyes darkened in rage, any more time in that house and he would explode. So he strode past him and exited through the front door, banging it behind him, making it rattle on its hinges.

Esma came running out of the kitchen at the commotion and demanded:

"What’s going on?"

"These two will be the death of me," Yurian shouted in frustration and Frila patted his shoulder, her eyes holding concern. She hated when they all fought.

"It’s alright. So much has happened, they both are hurting and need time to adjust. They deeply love each other and once they reconnect, the situation will normalise. I have to go now but I will call you," she offered him a small smile and he nodded. Esma hugged her and they said their goodbyes before Frila left with Xiran.

"We need to check on her," Yurian told his mother and she vehemently nodded. They knocked on her door but there was no response.

Esma slowly dipped the doorknob and opened the door and ducked her face in. Aselia was lying in bed, covered in her blanket. Esma sighed and quietly entered the room, followed by Yurian.

"Leia!" she lovingly called out to her and Aselia turned her face towards them.

Esma had never seen such a dejected look on her face, it seemed like she was in immense pain and it broke her motherly heart.

"Oh! My child, what happened?" she rushed to her and collected her in her warm embrace.

"You ok? What did he say this time?" Yurian asked with deep concern.

Aselia rested her head on Esma’s lap as she gently stroked her hair.

"Nothing, I was pissed at him for taking my memories. So I asked him to leave and don’t think you are off the hook, Yuri. You had so many chances to tell me and yet acted ignorant. I thought I was crazy," Aselia accused him in a hurtful voice, her throat seemed constricted because of all the emotions she was experiencing and that blinding pain in her belly.

"The purpose of his actions would have been nullified. My hands were tied, you have to believe me," he pleaded. But Aselia only buried her face in Esma’s lap, not wanting to talk to him.

"Rawais, let me talk to her. Can you give us the room," Yurian’s lips thinned but he simply nodded and left, closing the door behind him.

"Leia! My girl, talk to me," Esma asked in that sweet voice of hers.

"I am hurting," her voice came out shaky.

"What happened? Tell me everything."

"I want to be with him but I am afraid of getting hurt again. What if some other danger presents itself and he makes some rash decision? He tends to get overprotective and that suffocates me at times," Aselia responded. She closed her eyes, feeling Esma’s warmth.

"Tell me something sincerely. Do you love him?" Esma tenderly asked, her eyes on the elven girl, she wanted to observe her reaction to her words.

"I do with all of my heart. Now that I got my memories back, I remember we bonded when I met him for the first time. The sparks ignited as soon as he touched me and I can never forget the feelings he invoked inside my body, like watering a barren land devoid of it for far too long," Aselia sighed.

"Ohh! So he is your soul mate. My dear, I don’t know him but from the brief encounters we had I know he cares for you deeply because of the way he gawks at you. From what I know about relationships, they are a lot of work. Not from one side but from both sides. It’s never a smooth ride, there are bumps, ditches, crevices and whatnot. You can’t give up because you hit a bump," she paused and smiled down at Aselia before continuing.

"Good men are not easy to come by. No man is perfect but if he is worth keeping that hold onto him, don’t let him go."

Aselia knew she wouldn’t be able to live without him and only needed some time to figure out what she wanted to do. There was no one whom her heart desired and there was no surety that she wouldn’t get hurt again but with the world they lived in, there never was.

"I am miserable without him but needed him to realise he can’t force his actions and opinions on me," she confessed.

"Both of you will figure it out, together. Men like to be assertive, it’s in their nature. But once both of you can sit and talk it out and put down some ground rules, you can make it work. Remember, Leia, you will have to meet him halfway. Give him something he wants and he will grant you what you desire," Esma’s words hit home and Aselia knew what she could offer him in exchange for him to comply with her wishes.

"I think I understand what you mean. But I don’t want to leave you guys just yet?" Aselia sat up straight and apprehensively asked. Esma’s heart pinged with pain but she knew they had to let her follow her heart.

"This will always be your home but for now you should be with him. Don’t prolong it for relationships are fragile. So go get your man," Esma warmly cupped her face and pressed her lips to Aselia’s forehead. Aselia couldn’t help the satisfied smile that spread on her face and she nodded her head.

Just then Aselia’s door knocked and Yurian entered with his phone in his hand.

"Sorry to interrupt but Aldridge wants to talk to you," Yurain held out the phone for her and she took it taking in a deep breath. She had forgotten about Aldridge.

"Sir, it’s White Falcon," she spoke without hesitation.

"White Falcon it feels good to finally be able to reach you and find that you are safe. Allow me to commend you on completing your ultimate mission. You made this world a safer place and for that, I am extremely proud of you," the pride in his voice evident. He always knew she was special and she had proved him right.

"Thank you, Sir," Aselia solemnly replied while Esma and Yurian keenly watched her.

"We are holding a grand party in your honour and I would like you to grace us with your presence. Can you come to the headquarters by tomorrow? This will serve as a huge inspiration for all the upcoming hunters."

"I will be there Sir. I have something important to discuss with you as well," Aselia answered.

"We will be waiting in anticipation then, see you soon," Aldridge ended the call and Aselia handed the phone back to Yurian and announced:

"We have to head back to headquarters, then I am going to Fritez."

Yurian’s eyes widened and he shot her a surprised look before blurting out:

"You are?"

"Yes, Yuri. It’s time we both find peace in each other. I am done fighting for now. All I want is to be with him," a fulfilment washed over her, telling her that this indeed was the right decision.

She couldn’t wait to talk things through with him and be in his arms. To be able to roam freely in the streets without having to hide her face or ears. To let her hair open and feel the wind blow them. To have him fly her in the clouds and kiss her senseless. This is what she desired and knew he would be more than willing to give her that.