Guys, I'm so, so sorry this is a bit late. Yesterday was just a dreadful day for me. At this point, the only reason I'm not heading off to live with my mother is because I love my school and my friends. Those are literally the only reasons. I won't say any more, so without further ado: Enjoy!

Update: April 23, 2017

Chapter 29

Under "Those Of Element" there were a few different sections—"Elemental Fairies," "Dragons," and "True Elementals." It was the last one, the shortest one, was the one that really caught my eye.

`~Lit'le is known about true Elementals. We knoweth no more than they wanteth us to knoweth. They liveth almost solely in anoth'r world, coming into our world and oth'rs when they wisheth. They art oft known as Phoenixes. They art lit'ral Creatures of Element. They hast three f'rms that they can taketh and useth, Elemental, Humanoid, and Animal. Thither art diff'rent fact'rs that determineth each. From what we knoweth and what we've been able to gathereth, Elemental is det'rmin'd by bloodline, Humanoid is det'rmin'd by mindset, and Animal is det'rmin'd by p'rsonality—th'ref're, Humanoid and Animal can changeth, from what we can telleth. They don't seem to be abl' to useth magick oth'r than those dealing with their element. We knoweth lit'le else, and a halfling of an elemental and a human is more rare than any oth'r kind of halfling, and we hast no document'd rec'rds of them.~`

That rings a bell—triggers something inside me...what, exactly, I don't know. I feel like it's important. As in, really important. I ask the bookmark to go to that page so I can use it again tomorrow. I think I'll show it to Klaus tomorrow. But for now, it's nearly one in the morning. Good night, reader.

Unknown POV (But we'll eventually know who it is.)((p.s. when words are bolded it means it's being spoken in a language that isn't Terran or Myulan))

She's on a bed, most likely her dorm bed, reading. I do not know why, but I feel as if I needed to check on her. I manipulate the magic on the mirror, and look onto the page she's reading. She's focusing on the bottom section, labeled "True Elementals."

She's trying to figure out why she can't use magics of ice and water. I know because I've been keeping a closer eye on her lately—I have a feeling of foreboding, one that I can't shake. She's going to figure out what she is sooner or later. I hope it's later, as far away of a later as can be. She's safer not knowing. I have hope, as she doesn't know what I am. She's thinks I'm human. That should keep her safe for a while longer—but she's a smart girl, and will eventually start to make connections, especially if she has help from that purple-eyed friend of hers, the older one. The one she's always around for at least part of the day, the one who teaches her how to use more magics.

The light coming from the mirror dims, she's turned the light by her bed off. She goes under her covers, curled into a ball. I see the night version, the ash colors, of Blayze as he swoops down onto her balcony railing. Guarding her during the night. Her other, her new, guardian, remains hidden. Good. She mustn't know about her. The new one must protect silently, hidden until needed.

I hear loud footsteps approach the door to my workshop. I wave my hand over the mirror, clearing it. I hurry to throw the cover over it—the one that hides it—and look as if I'm intently working on something. The door flies open, banging on the wall, making me jump, nervously.

"Cadeyrn! You lazy man! What has been taking so long with my order?!" It was him. Faelan. My current employer.

"It is coming along, sir. These things take time, especially when they are so delicate." I responded, "It's only a few steps away—it's cooling to allow full strength. Then I must temper it a few more times and it shall be done. It should be done by next week."

"Get it done as soon as you can! I need it before any of my subordinates get any ideas!"

"I assure you, mi'lord, they won't. They are loyal to you."

He shakes his head, as if I'm a little child who doesn't understand. Oh, if only he knew how much I do. "I forget that you rarely leave this room. You don't know the goings on of the court. There are always plots against the king, and the king needs his magic—and you know that I need something to release it." He lowers his voice, "Unlike many of my kind, I'm restricted in the magic I am able to use anymore. I'm growing old, and it'll only be seven or eight cycles before I'll have to pass this burden onto my son and die."

"I know, mi'lord. I know all too well. That's why you have me." I said, my voice as low as his.

He looks at me, a hint of gratitude visible in his eyes, his smile was hidden under his thick, grey beard, "I know, old friend. You're one of the few people I know to be truly loyal. If I could nullify the command of the Paladin that keeps you from those you love, I would. You of all people don't deserve to be confined to this world. How is she?"

I smile softly, "She's doing quite well. She's going to a school in Myula now. She seems happy enough. I'm worried, though—several days ago her seal came as close as it ever had to breaking without doing so. She seems fine now, but I can't help but worry. And when I checked earlier, she was reading a book in bed. The section she was on was 'True Elementals'. She's going to find out who she is eventually."

"She is quite the clever girl. Would it be such a bad thing if she did?"

"It would make her far less protected. Her kind are rare, and is sought after because of their unique...abilities. She can use fire magic beyond any human, she's slowly gaining control over her wind, she'll maybe even eventually learn she spellsinging, and she's able to use most normal magic, or, she'll learn to. The only things she can't use is water and ice, her natural enemy. But if one of our kind found her, who knows what they'd do."

"Don't worry, old friend. You've been careful, and she's well able to defend herself—she'll be fine."

"I hope so…"

"I also have a favor to ask of you. My great-nephew is visiting soon, and he wishes to study your craft. He says it might be something he'll go into. He's not yet decided what he's going to do with his life, and it's worrisome. He tries a variety of things and is always traveling. Would you mind if he stayed with you for a while?"

I was taken aback. Usually, Faelan was the only one I tolerated in my workshop for extended periods of time. He was the only one I trusted to know about Selene. "It would mean not being able to keep an eye on her…"

His eyes were pleading, "I beg you, old friend. Please."

I sighed. Might as well accept now before he made it a royal order and I was stuck. "Alright. But I have a few conditions. One, he isn't allowed to be in the workshop when I'm not here. Two, he's not allowed to be in the workshop after sunset or before sunrise. I can't risk him finding the mirror or seeing me use it—keeping an eye on her is more important than ever."

"I understand. Those are reasonable requests. I thank you." the elderly man seemed to be much more relaxed, "He'll be here in a day or so, he's not sure how long it'll take him to get from Ishsathas to here."

I bowed, "Yes, mi'lord." He nodded and left the room.

This is going to be troublesome, but I owe him a good deal...he has provided me a workspace and a place to live for sixteen years now.

Selene's POV

"Selene, darlin', come here." My mother said, patting her bed, inviting me to come and sit with her. Somehow, she was alive, somehow, I was back home, and somehow, I didn't care how.

"Yes, mama?" I walked over and climbed up on the bed. Even at sixteen, her bed was really high up. "Why're you here?" I was confused. My mother had been dead for several years.

She put her arm around my shoulders and pulled me into a hug. I automatically snuggled into her warmth. I took a deep breath—it was mom, she always smelled like almonds and brownies, even if she hadn't been around either for a long time. "I cannot say, darlin'. But my, how you've grown!" She stroked my hair like she always did when I was little, "You're nearly a woman." Her smile seemed almost sad, tears sparkling in her eyes.

"Not really mama, I still have a lot of growing up to do. I miss you so much...I still need my mama."

She took my face in her hands and kissed my forehead before wrapping her arms around me again. I felt like a little kid again. "I'm so sorry, darlin'. So, so sorry. I never wanted to leave you and your brothers, but it was my time. I've been watching over you though, all of you. You're going to a proper school, you've made friends...and even gained a few admirers, haven't you?"

"Mama…" I buried my face in her shoulder, "I don't know what to do...I like Zave, but not in a romantic way, and I know that even if I turn him down he'll still be my friend and all...but I'm still scared...and confused...and...and then there's Klaus...being with him confuses me in a strange way I don't understand...but it's a different kind of confusion than the one I feel with Zave...and..." I couldn't continue. She rubbed my back like she always used to do when I was upset.

"Darlin', love is the most confusing of all emotions. It has an infinite amount of possibilities, infinitely different kinds. But the truest loves are the ones that can survive, the ones that are put through the refiner's fire of trial over and over again and just keep becoming stronger. Your heart will guide you, if you listen to it properly." I inhaled again. She was right. "Not even the dead can see the future. But I have a feeling it'll all work out in the end."

I lifted up my head and smiled. "You're absolutely right, mama. See, this is why I still need my mama!"

She laughed, "Well, darlin', you would've figured it out on your own sooner or later. You're a clever girl."

"Not really...I'm pretty silly most of the time…"

"You can be silly and clever, you know. Your father was."

"Could you tell me about him?"

"No, my darlin', I can't. He'll have to tell you it all himself someday."

"Do you mean I'll get to see him in a dream, too?"

I couldn't quite place the look in her eyes, "I cannot say more. My time is nearly up, anyway, and I want you to meet someone."

I was curious, "Who, mama?"

The bedroom door opened and a man who looked remarkably like and older Merlin—the same warm brown eyes the color of rich hot chocolate, with hair to match, and a fair complexion and ears that stuck out just enough to be endearing—came into the room, smiling the same gentle smile as Merlin. He was followed by a smiling boy, maybe about my age, who looked more like my mother than any of my siblings, with the blond hair, silver eyes, and dimples. The boy stayed in the doorway.

"Hello, Selene," the man said. "I'm your brothers' father. I'd tell you my name, but you already know it."

I was just a bit awed. Just a bit. "You're...holy, you're...wow. Just wow. You know," I giggled just a bit, "I almost thought you were Merlin when you walked in."

He smiled, sadness clear in his eyes, "I do wish I had gotten to meet him. He's grown into a fine young man. And that's some strange talent he has, no?"

"Tell me about it." I grinned. He was a lot like Jonathan in personality—my oldest brother was the closest thing I myself have ever had for a father.

"I'm Ry, by the way." The boy said, his smile wide and his eyes sparkling with excitement, "Nice to finally meet you, Selene."

"Nice to meet you, too?" I felt like I should know who he is, but couldn't quite remember.

"Dear, time's running out." My mother looked at her first husband, silently telling him something.

"Yikes...I of all people should know that. Anyway, Selene, at some point in the future you'll come across a good friend of mine. He'll know my name, be using it, in fact. Don't tell him anything you know about me, but get him to take you to our old practice grounds, the one now sown with my favorite flowers. Once there, find the biggest tree and climb it. In a hollow hidden by magic there's a box. Find it, and thoroughly explore its contents in secret. Once you understand everything, there's a few people you'll need to tell it all to. It's really important, okay? Make...sure...you…" I couldn't hear anything anymore and the scene was slowly fading, everything turning white. I tried to cry out for my mother, but I couldn't make a sound. The last thing I felt was the pressure of lips on my forehead.

Selene (sulking in a corner, trying not to cry)

Katalina: Is she okay?

Marelda: She misses her mother. Let her have her pity party. If she's not snapped out of it by the next chapter, then we need to be worried. Until then, leave her be.

Klaus (enters the room and goes over, swinging Selene over his shoulder where she hangs like a ragdoll): Either you snap out of this or I'm throwing you in the lake. There are cookies in the kitchen that Yukiya made so cheer up. (Carried her off as she groans)

Katalina and Marelda (sweatdrop): Seriously?

Zelia (who popped out of nowhere): That's the Emperor for you. But I think it's sweet in its own way—he hates seeing her said and/or depressed.

Katalina: He really does care about her.

Marelda: What he doesn't understand though, is that sometimes need to be sad to be able to fully enjoy the happy times.

Zelia and Katalina: Wow. Deep.

Marelda: Don't you know that I'm as deep as bedrock?