Asfarla’s face widened in a curious smile as she laid her eyes on Aselia. She ushered her closer and Aselia quickly complied. Clasping Aselia’s hands she made her sit closer to herself.

"You are my grandson’s Sernera?" she softly questioned. An air of regality and warmth surrounded Asfarla. The kindness in her eyes eased Aselia before answering.

"I am," Aselia responded with satisfaction. She could understand Asfarla, she spoke the common language making Aselia wonder how some of them could speak it and some couldn’t.

"You are beautiful. I am guessing you people are from a planet with lots of colours," Aselia’s hair and eyes were a big indication to her. For she also possessed the ability to travel through space and time and that’s how her children had acquired the ability. But she had long halted her travels, especially after her Sera’s death.

"Yes, our world is indeed colourful but it’s not as serene as this place is," Aselia answered with a hint of a smile as Asfarla softly touched her face.

"You don’t even know how happy you have made this ailing woman," streams of happy tears gushed from her greyish eyes again, overcome by emotions her hands trembled.

"We are going to nurse you back to health, now that we are here," Xiran wiped away the tears of his grandmother and held her close. His expressions were a mix of profound solace and satisfaction at being able to hold her.

"Ma! Let’s eat something. We will continue discussions over the meal. Xiran and Aselia must be hungry too," Sulran finally interrupted them and she nodded her head covered with silverish-white hair.

Xiran gently helped her up and Aselia held her other hand. She walked with them a sense of pride in every step she took, as Sulran led them to a large hall with a round white table and a variety of food on it.

Nirjla was already there along with a young girl who seemed like a perfect mixture of Sulran and Nirjla. She had a slate grey pair of captivating round eyes and neatly placed eyebrows. Small round face with high cheekbones and well proportional nose. Her plump lips were attractively carved up in a genuine smile and she almost shrieked when her gaze went to Xiran.

Xiran and Aselia settled Asfarla down and ensured she was comfortable. Meanwhile, the girl made her way towards Xiran.

"I am so glad you are here, little brother. I am Sayla, your cousin," she introduced herself with an air of confidence and a genuine smile. Three of her fingers touched her forehead in the greeting. It felt strange for Xiran that she was only 20 but technically she was older than him by at least 11 years due to the time difference between the two planets.

"It’s a pleasure to meet you Sayla," Xiran repeated the same gesture with an affectionate smile. His heart warmed up with every second he was spending alongside his loving family. The love that had been denied to him all these years was finally making its way back and the darkness in his heart was dissipating with every moment, every smile and every loving word that was being said to him.

Almost a year ago he didn’t have any sisters and now he had two. This was like a dream come true for him. His mother had never told him about her family here, she thought it will only disappoint him to find out they existed in case he never inherited her trait to travel here.

Sayla then turned her attention to Aselia and respectfully greeted her as well. She spoke the common language like her father and grandmother and it made it easier to carry out the conversation between the two girls.

She clasped Aselia’s hands and conjoined her forehead with hers. Mesmerised by Aselia’s enchanting eyes and golden locks, she couldn’t help but stare at the elven girl, who awkwardly smiled in return.

Once the greetings were done, Sulran helped everyone settle down, Xiran sat on the left side of his grandmother and Sulran sat on the right, ladies sat with their respective partners and Sayla sat alongside Aselia. She and her mother served them food on their own acting as perfect hosts.

"I have a question, actually quite a few of them?" Xiran addressed Sulran as Sayla filled his plate with some white gravy.

"Ask away," Sulran gave him his attention, halting his eating.

"How can I understand the language that is spoken here but Aselia can’t? And how some of you can speak our language while others can’t," Xiran asked while giving Sayla an appreciative nod and picking up a ladle-shaped spoon to eat the gravy.

"It’s actually very simple. The explorers amongst us, meaning those who can travel intergalactically instantly learn a foreign language when they visit a planet or meet someone who is from outside of their planet. It’s an inbuilt trait, hence the reason you can understand our language but Aselia can’t."

Sulran explained and it finally made sense to Xiran and Aselia. Malikus were undoubtedly a remarkable species and Aselia couldn’t help but be in awe of them.

"I am a fast learner, I will learn the language in a short time so you people can’t backbite about me," Aselia teased with a knowing smile and everyone burst out laughing.

"I will teach you and won’t let anyone say anything mean," Sayla reassured her, she couldn’t get enough of the girl with green eyes and golden hair. She was smitten by her beauty and wanted to see more of their world and the beautiful people it held, yet unaware that their world was not as peaceful as hers and danger lurked in every corner.

Girls chuckled among themselves and eased into conversation with each other. While Xiran answered the questions his grandmother, Sulran and Nirjla posed about Altair.

After their morning meal ended, Sayla wanted to take Aselia along to meet her friends and show her around their castle-like home. While Sulran decided to show Xiran around and explain their family heritage and history to him.

Nirjla decided to stay with Asfarla until they returned.