Serene’s POV

"Is that her personal diary?" I asked my father in bewilderment. "It indeed is, read it but keep it safe and return it to me once you are done." I simply nodded to his instructions.

"Also, I am appointing Kilamin to accompany you in all the excursions and affairs outside of the palace."

"What? Why? Doesn’t he have other important tasks to carry out?" I protested.

"Nothing is more important than your safety. We have other generals to attend to other matters. I trust Kilamin besides he is not much older than you are so you won’t be bored and you can’t dodge him."

"I have Zian with me, I don’t need Kilamin to follow me everywhere like a lapdog." I wasn’t going to give him, I detested Kilamin.

"Zian is not strong enough to fight the threats we face. He can keep you company but he can’t be your bodyguard all the time. Leave that job to someone who has been trained to do that. This discussion is over." The serious tone told me he won’t change his stance anymore so I gave up.

"I hope he is not going to watch over me at night as well." I made a disgusted face.

"No, that won’t be necessary. Talk to your grandma and as long as you are here, it’s better if you shift to her room. Both of you will have company and she can watch over you as well." This suggestion made me smile and I went up to hug him tightly. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"I love you," he hugged me back and whispered: "I love you too my child." He held me there for a long time before finally letting me go. He seemed much more relaxed now.

"I will go tell grandma," and I rushed off to her room clutching the diary to my chest.

Grandma was as excited as I for having me in her room and keeping watch over me. I instructed Agatha to bring my essentials to grandma’s room. We sat there talking for a long time, I told her the details about my stay at the institute, all the training I had been going through and all the friends I made. It still felt like a dream that I had friends from each realm now, people I truly cared about and those who cared about me. She was fascinated with my stories.

"Serene, you have made me so proud. I am so pleased that you decided to step out of your Realm and brazenly decided to explore other Realms. I am indeed fortunate to have you as my granddaughter and I am sure you will continue to achieve greatness." She kissed my forehead, her beautiful smile showing how proud she felt which immediately melted my heart.

It had gotten late so we decided to sleep, I placed the diary under my pillow before sleeping. I would read it tomorrow. As I drifted off to slumber land I began to dream of Zeph. He was walking aimlessly in a dark cold place. I followed behind him but couldn’t get closer to him. No matter how fast I tried to run he seemed to be getting ahead of me. My feet got stuck in a black swamp which seemed to be swirling like a whirlpool, I tried to call him for help but my voice got stuck in my throat. The marsh kept pulling me down when I was finally able to scream.....

"Sereneeeee, you are ok. You are safe my child. It was just a nightmare." I wheezed and my body convulsed involuntarily when my eyes finally flicked open and I found myself laying in my grandmother’s lap. She was lovingly stroking my hair and speaking to me, her face showing concern and worry.

I got up and sat straight, my whole body was drenched in sweat although the weather was a lot cooler. She patted my back as I held my head to my face trying to calm myself.

Grandma poured me a glass of water from the jug at her side table and offered it to me. I gulped it down in one go. "Feeling better?" She asked me sweetly. "Yes, I haven’t been able to sleep much because of these nightmares lately."

"Come here," She took me in her arms and I just placed my head on her chest, soaking in her warmth trying to calm my heart. I needed to see Zeph, I shouldn’t have left things so awkwardly with him. What if I won’t be able to see him again? My heart skipped a beat at this thought, I closed my eyes and tried not to think about anything else. Grandma was humming a soft lullaby while rocking me slightly and before I knew it I drifted off again.

It was already late in the morning when I woke up. Grandma was already gone downstairs for breakfast I suppose. I got up and took my time to get freshen up and change. When I made my way down I found Zian sitting with grandma at the breakfast table.

"Here she is," his face lit up as I descended the stairs. "Heya, goof head." I teased him. "Heya, Spunky," he teased me back and I smiled.

"Come dear have some breakfast." Grandma ushered me toward the table. I sat down beside her and poured myself some orange juice. "How are you doing?" She asked me referring to last night. "I am feeling much better, thank you, grandma." After she lulled me to sleep I didn’t have another nightmare and was able to sleep soundly for a few hours.

"I heard you have been assigned a bodyguard." Zian had a mischievous smile playing on his face, I knew he was going to enjoy teasing me or maybe he was trying to lighten up my mood. "You heard about it already?" As I popped a cut-up piece of sausage in my mouth.

"Aie, aie. Anyways wanna head out today? It will help you clear up your head." Zian offered. "Sure, let’s head to our usual spot, I already need to show you something."

After breakfast, I kissed grandma goodbye, grabbed the diary from under my pillow and decided to head out with Zian. I was praying that Kilamin won’t spot us. We were about to leave the main gate when I heard Kilamin behind me: "Princess, where are you headed?" Of course, he will be here, who was I trying to deceive?

"Just heading to the lake, you needn’t worry. I have Zian with me and we will be back shortly." I tried to shrug him off.

"I have been instructed to accompany you on every visit outside the castle. I am afraid you will have to bear with me."

"Really, I am just going by the lake." I was already feeling irritated. "Yes, even if it is just by the lake." He was already standing in front of me. His golden-blue hair which was even longer than mine was neatly tied in a ponytail. His crystal blue eyes which were ever so cold were fixated on me. The colour combination of his wings was very odd too, they were golden with a blue outline. His ravishing looks gave him an air of nobility, I had never seen anyone outside the royal family to have this combination of wings and that meant he possessed very strong Fae magic as well.

I sighed: "Let’s go," and he followed us with a bit of distance, giving us the needed privacy. I showed Zian the diary my father has given me. "Wow, is that actually her diary?" I handed it to him so he could see it for himself. "Yes, I am hoping we will finally get some answers."

We reached the lake and our Crystal trees. They were as magnificent as ever with crystals diverging the sunlight to the ground and forming multiple rainbows. I touched a green one and it sparkled in my hand. I could never get enough of them. On a higher branch, I could see a small golden one forming. It has been years since I saw a golden one. It put a smile on my face.

I settled down on the bench facing the lake between the crystal trees and opened the diary Zian had handed me back. I wanted to read it as soon as possible.

"Serene, can I go and fetch Crimzon? All three of us can have that day out today which we missed six months ago." Zian asked with excitement twinkling in his eyes. "Of course, that would be fun." I smiled and with that, he flicked open his wings and flew off.

Kilamin was standing along with the crystal tree with his leg poised on the trunk, his eyes fixed on me. "Do you really have to lurk so near me all the time?" I asked not trying to hide my annoyance and without glancing up from the diary I was reading.

"Yes," he didn’t stop looking in my direction. His stares were never obsessive or loving, I couldn’t put my finger on the feeling though. They just felt strange, he was protective of me since childhood and yet he seemed cold and aloof.

I stood up and with a slight flick and opened my deep purple wings which had a silver lining to them and each one was about five feet in length. I made a shield out of them as if to block his gaze and sat down again. Shielding myself from his stare made me feel relaxed and I went back to reading. I never opened my wings in the institute except for the fight with the Schlangto but this was my Realm and it felt good to open them after a long time. Kilamin on the other hand suppressed a laugh at my pettiness and continued standing there near me.