Dinner was held on the observation deck of the BLADE tower, which was the fifty-second floor Melia learned. When the doors opened from the elevator and Melia stepped out into the evening air, a sense of awe overcame her. None of the towers in Alcamoth were as tall as the BLADE tower, and the realization of how far she was from the ground began to overwhelm her. Not overwhelm perhaps, but astonishment. It was certainly a feat that the Homs had built such a structure in only two months time.

Entranced by the view, Melia glided over to the edge of the deck, leaned on the railing, and gazed at the lights of NLA below. If she was astonished before, she was in awe now. It wasn't as if she hadn't encountered such a sight before — a city twinkling in the darkness — but there was something different about this picture. Perhaps it was simply the fact that a mass of land-locked stars encompassed by dense wilderness was what captured her attention. Bright lights refusing to be snuffed out by the darkness. The metaphor was unmistakable.

"Good evening, Princess Antiqua." Melia dragged her eyes away to see Commander Nagi ambling towards her, arms crossed behind his back, his expression one of sincerity. Although he presented himself as a serious man, Melia had the inkling that He prided himself on his devotion to his people and their future. A sentiment she could no doubt relate to.

"To you as well, Commander. Thank you again for the invitation." Melia slightly inclined her head. "I know myself, Tyrea, and Lieutenant Zain look forward to enjoying a meal with your council." Not entirely true. Tyrea had expressed her disinterest. Zain...well Melia had no idea. The man was unreadable and had no interest in cultivating an amicable, working relationship with her. It was both irritating and unsettling, given she assumed that he would no doubt report back to her father of her progress with the Homs.

"Admiring the view?"

"I cannot deny it. It is quite impressive." Melia resumed admiring the scenery and Nagi took up the space to her left.

"Humbling too." He mused, looking up into the dark sky. "I don't know how much Dunban and the others told you of Earth, but our civilization almost overran the natural beauty of the planet by the time the Ganglion arrived. It was...disappointing to say the least. It is a strict priority to me to ensure that our race does not encroach on the wilderness of Mira more than absolutely necessary."

It was a curious admission. Why had he chosen to share with her such a sentiment? Did he wish to assure her — and the High Entia by extension — that they would not overstep their bounds? She was unsure of the angle he was attempting to use. But there was the chance that her predisposition to suspicion was unnecessary at the moment. She brushed it aside; there was always an underlying motivation in any comments made during a time of negotiation. It was one of the larger teachings given to her by her father. And one she was not loath to forget.

"That is an honorable mandate. Despite it, I think you will find the natural landscape of Mira to be wild and dense, not so easily tamed, even if others felt differently from yourself."

A wry smile flitted across Nagi's lips. "Are you already cynical of us?"

"Not at all. But Mira is not Earth, nor do I suspect it to be like any other planet. It would be arrogant to assume otherwise."

"I see. I don't want you to think I was with regards to my wish. I do mean what I say though. If we end up staying here on Mira, I don't want to be the cause of sacrificing its natural beauty."

"I appreciate that sentiment."

If they stayed on Mira? Were they going to attempt to repair the Ark and find a new planet to call home once they found the lifehold? Dunban hadn't mentioned this to her. Maybe he didn't know. Or maybe he did not think there was a point of mentioning the plan because it was so improbable...

Melia put a stop to the spiraling thoughts. There was no point on dwelling now. If the time presented itself, she would ask Dunban directly. For now, she needed to focus on creating the best impression during this dinner.

"May I escort you to dinner?"

"That would be most appreciated."

Nagi held out his hand and Melia put hers in it. As he led her towards the long table, she caught sight of a few BLADE members exiting the elevator. Her eyes began to slip away but then jerked back to the dispersing group. Among them was Dunban.

Her eyes roamed over his appearance, taking in the sight of him. He'd pulled his hair back, highlighting his sharp jawline and dark eyes. The black, collared shirt he wore was tailored and outlined his figure, illustrating that he kept himself fit and accentuating the broadness of his chest and the muscles of his arms. Her cheeks grew warm. There was no doubt in her mind that he was one of the most attractive beings she'd ever laid her eyes upon.

Though there was a strangeness to his left arm that she couldn't quite put her finger on...

Then he met her eyes and smiled. Butterflies in her stomach quivered.

"Princess?"

She snapped to attention and noticed Nagi had pulled out her seat. She gracefully slid onto it and he pushed it in. "Thank you."

Others began to take their seats upon seeing Melia and Nagi take their own. Elma sat across from Melia. On Elma's right was Irina, and on her left was Nagi. Tyrea plopped down on Melia's left, where Zain took the seat to her right. And though Melia purposely made an effort to not look in his direction, out of the corner of her eye she spied Dunban at the end of the table on her right, across from Vera.

And thus dinner began. Melia's nerves electrified: this would be her first test in the art of diplomacy.

Fortunately, the first course passed without incident. She politely answered questions regarding the High Entian culture and history without revealing anything deemed private by her father. It seemed Elma, Irina, and Nagi were none the wiser, eager to ask follow-up questions to these general facts without needing too much detail. It was a relief to the princess.

The second course arrived quickly. Melia noted that Zain's demeanor warmed with the wine served and regaled Nagi, Dunban, and Vera with stories from his time in battle, as well as his adventures traveling across the galaxy. On her other side, Melia observed that Tyrea kept her snark under control — Melia suspected this was due to her earlier beratement at Tyrea's behavior upon arriving at the house. Nonetheless, Tyrea was a wonderful storyteller, and though she kept her snide comments to a minimum, she still profused her sharp wit, earning laughs from Elma, Irina, and Vandham. Even Maurice cracked a smile once or twice. The princess knew that she would need to thank her sister later for charming their hosts.

It then dawned upon Melia that she didn't need to contribute to the conversations happening around her. As the third course was served, the young woman simultaneously felt relieved and disappointed. She yearned for Tyrea's charismatic skills but felt anxious at the possibility of saying the incorrect thing and either appearing dull or boring — or worse stupid — or on the contrary, offending her conversation partner. It was strange: she'd been taught to handle herself in all sorts of courtly situations, but when it came to small talk with strangers and acquaintances, she was absolutely lost.

"So Melia, what do you like to do in your free time?" Elma asked, redirecting her attention from Tyrea.

Startled, the High Entia blinked a few times, collecting herself before answering. "I enjoy working with flowers. Gardening, you could say."

"How did you get into that?"

"My mother was a lover of flowers. We spent much of our time together in her gardens during my childhood."

"Do you keep up with it now?"

"Yes, it's how I relax. I was able to recreate my mother's garden in the Royal Villa. Although it does not contain half the species that the original did." Melia explained, laying down her fork to fully concentrate on the conversation. "But I am finding alternatives that still provide the same vibrancy. In fact, I have begun integrating the flowers native to Noctilum in the garden. It is still trial and error, seeing which ones flourish in the environment and which don't. I hope in the future to build a greenhouse of sorts so I am able to control the climate in different areas depending on the flowers planted."

"What do you think of the flora species here on Mira?"

"It truly is unique from anything I've ever encountered. I have been cataloging my finds. It was at first difficult to find an organizational system for the flora, but I determined it was best to organize by habitat."

"It's true. You have some...one hundred-ish entries already?" Tyrea chimed in.

"One hundred and thirty-four to be exact." Melia supplied, beaming. "And that is simply on Noctilum alone. I have yet to conduct research on the other continents, including here on Primordia. I suspect that there will be many other varieties." Her excitement overtook her. Despite the actual probability of having the chance to explore Primordia was fairly low, Melia still dreamt of spending hours researching, analyzing, and collecting samples. It was one of the few ways she could truly enjoy herself, and forget about how the bleakness of her reality.

"Maybe we could set up a time for you to talk with our Curator team. They focus on collecting samples of essentially anything regarding the natural environment of Mira." Elma suggested, taking a sip of wine.

"That would be greatly appreciated," Melia responded, "And I'd be happy to share my database as well. Perhaps we could create a collective index that both of us could update and access."

"I like the sound of that." Irina grinned. "Then I wouldn't have to listen to Mia go on and on about how she wants to create her own directory. I bequeath those responsibilities to you."

"Mia is very eager," Elma explained.

"Then I would be delighted to meet her," Melia answered, taking a sip of her wine.

"You'd be escorted obviously." The laughter died; the sharp tone killing all excitement buzzing in the air. Melia rotated her head to see Maurice glowering at her. "Until negotiations are complete."

Melia dropped the smile she wore, smoothing her face into one of complete neutrality. "Of course. We do not wish to take advantage of your generosity."

"We know you're not," Elma looked at her with a knowing gaze. Inwardly, Melia felt a spark of relief to have the woman as an ally. But it did not dissipate the tension that gripped her body now that she found herself in a cold battle with Maurice.

"Well, a sign of good faith would be telling us more about the Ganglion." Maurice sniffed, sipping his wine unimpressed.

"Maurice," Vandham warned.

"What? We're all wondering who these assholes are. And we have someone with the answers and we're not getting any. And you want to become allies?" He gestured emphatically at the High Entia.

Melia stiffened.

"And attacking our potential ally is an effective strategy?" Dunban stood, staring daggers at Maurice. "Be careful of what you say next."

As much as she enjoyed Dunban's assistance, Melia knew that she needed to stand up for herself, and her people. Clearing her throat, she locked eyes with Maurice and placed her hands in her lap. "I understand your frustration. I ask you to understand that our people have also been through a tragedy involving the Ganglion. It has made us wary to immediately trust others, especially those we have never had contact with. But we have come to your city in an effort to forge a friendship between our peoples. In truth, the three of us are at your mercy. If that is not a sign of good faith, I do not know what is."

Silence.

Melia held Maurice's gaze until he averted his eyes. She smirked inwardly. If Maurice thought she was someone who could be pushed around, he was dreadfully wrong. It didn't change the fact that her body trembled.

Melia felt a squeeze on her leg but did not look to its origin. It was Tyrea silently congratulating her quashing Maurice's temper tantrum. Melia glowed; she always appreciated Tyrea's praise.

"You are right, princess. I hope you can look past that remark."

Not an apology exactly, but she would take it. But Melia would not forget she had a formidable opponent in Maurice.

"Apology accepted." Melia took a drink of wine, hoping it would dispel the strain in the atmosphere. Sweeping her eyes around the table, she made an effort to make eye contact with each BLADE member she could, including Dunban, whom she lingered on longer than necessary. "The Ganglion is a criminal organization made up of several alien species. They desire power and dominion over other races above all. With the breakdown of the Samaar Federation in our galaxy, the Ganglion has sought to fill the power vacuum left by the Samaarians."

"What is the Samaar Federation?" Irina asked.

"A collection of different civilizations who supposedly lived in peace, each on his own world. But the Ganglion decided that democracy was no longer of interest to them and decided authoritarian rule is the future."

"And you either join them or fight them." Dunban finished.

She met his eyes and nodded. "That is correct."

"And the assholes decided to attack us when we wouldn't pay their tribute," Tyrea gulped down her wine.

"Like you, we were driven from our homeworld and were forced to settle here on Mira." Melia ended. "The pain is still fresh in our consciousness." Bringing her attention back to Maurice, she stared blankly into his eyes, knowing her indifference would unsettle him. He did not look away, but she could tell that his guilt was growing larger by the second.

Good.

"Thank you for sharing," Elma said. "We appreciate your candor."

Melia offered her a smile. Then Melia patted Tyrea's hand. "Tyrea, why don't you share the time you fought the Tectinsula?"

"What's that?" Vandham asked.

"Probably one of the ugliest creatures you'll ever set your eyes." Tyrea leered. And she was off.

Melia swirled her wine in her glass as Tyrea captivated her audience. The princess doubted whether or not she should have discussed the origins of The Ganglion, but she couldn't see how it would hurt negotiations. Rather, she had stood up to Maurice, forced him to cower, and shown kindness to the Homs. Perhaps she could have delivered her rebuke better, but all in all, she managed to get over the hump of the initial conflict without completely failing. And no doubt she illustrated aplomb and grace. That would certainly earn her points with the Homs, and hopefully, her father when Zain reported back to him.

Laughter rang out, dispersing all anxiety that had clung to the atmosphere around the table. Sipping her wine, Melia glanced up at the smiling faces, though Maurice still wore an expression of begrudged embarrassment. Melia knew she oughtn't to take pleasure in it, but she sincerely did. Tyrea was rubbing off on her. Despite understanding the origin of his rudeness, it was still astounding that he would let his emotions overtake him in such a situation. It was wonderful though that both Elma and Dunban had stood up for her.

Dunban had stood up for her.

She looked back down at her glass and peeked out of the corner of her eye and him. He wasn't listening to Tyrea. Instead, he was gazing out into the darkness of the night, his mind elsewhere. She wondered what he was thinking. Wanted to know. But she knew better than to entertain that desire.

Dessert was served and it came and went quickly. This time the Homs dominated the conversations and the High Entia became the listeners, sharing their own encounters with dangerous wildlife on Mira. Zain was fascinated by the existence of ice cream, and Tyrea ended up eating half of Melia's sorbet.

A surge of relief coursed through the High Entian princess as the dinner came to an end and goodnights were said. She was ready to rest, especially since the following day would no doubt be stressful.

A short trip down the elevator and they were back on solid ground (though Melia realized this was not technically true as NLA was built over a lake). As the dinner guests went their separate ways, Melia, Tyrea, and Zain headed towards Elma's jeep.

"I can take them back," Dunban called out.

"Are you sure? It's not going to..." Elma trailed off.

Melia pretended not to notice, but she was certain that whatever Elma was asking about, it had to do with the reason Dunban needed to go to the infirmary earlier that day. Curiosity flamed within her, but she curbed it quickly. That was a rabbit hole she could not allow herself to venture down into.

"Yes. Besides, it's out of your way. And I'm going home anyway."

"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow." Elma turned to the High Entia delegation. "Have a good night. See you tomorrow."

"You as well," Melia replied.

Silently they all piled into the vehicle, Melia taking the passenger's seat next to Dunban since both Tyrea and Zain had opted to slide into the back seat. Melia suspected Tyea purposely did so, but Melia refused to give her sister the satisfaction of showing it bothered her. Melia prepared herself for conversation, knowing she needed to keep it as light and cordial, but distant, as possible. But none came. Instead, Dunban put his jeep on autopilot and the ride back to the house was silent. Within ten minutes, they were back to Dunban's abode.

"Goodnight, your highness," Zain said with a grin, the wine still affecting his system. "I'm going to get some well-deserved rest." And without another word, he whisked himself inside.

"Me too. It's been a long day and I need my beauty sleep." Tyrea yawned and began to amble towards the door.

"Tyrea." Melia walked over to her sister. She knew Tyrea wasn't one for verbal apologies or one for public signs of affection in general, so all she did was whisper, "Thank you." Her blue eyes met Tyrea's dark ones and gratitude filled the dark depths. An unspoken apology and acceptance passed between them. All was right once more.

"Don't stay out too late," Tyrea murmured. Then she pivoted and went inside.

Leaving Melia alone with Dunban.

Her heart flipped in her chest as she turned to face the man. He was so handsome, and the wine in her body warmed her veins as she looked upon him. Wasn't this what she had wanted all evening? Time with him? But now that she had it, she wasn't exactly sure what to do.

"Would you be interested in taking a walk with me?" He asked, his dark eyes filled with warmth.

She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Everything in her screamed yes. Yes, she wanted to take a walk with him and talk. About anything. Everything. And maybe not talk. Maybe ki—

"Unfortunately, I think it would be best if I got some rest before tomorrow's negotiations begin." The words were out of her mouth before she had a chance to think them through. But that was the point. To give herself no room to waver in her resolve to keep herself distanced from him, the ultimate distraction.

"Ah, that makes sense. Then, have a good night, Melia." Dunban nodded. All warmth was gone, replaced by cordial formality. She watched as he strode back towards his jeep without a second glance, input a destination for the autopilot, and drove away.

Her stomach dropped out as Dunban disappeared from view. A wave of anxiety crashed over her. Had she made the right choice? Dismissing him like that? Or should she have followed her heart and taken the walk with him? Every atom in her body wanted to take back what she had just done.

Was he going to see Vanea?

Her face grew warmer by the second. Balling her hands into fists, Melia whirled around and entered the home, powering towards her room and slamming the door shut. Gods she was so angry at herself. Why had she placed herself in this position in the first place? If she had just kept her distance from Dunban after rescuing him from the waterfall...

But she hadn't. And here she was, torn between duty and desire. What her people needed was for her to maintain her responsibilities and put the High Entia first. It's what Ellison needed. Not for her to engage in some sort of dalliance with the breathtaking Dunban (if she were reading the situation right, which she believed she was). And Melia was doing so.

Yet it didn't keep her warm that night.


Melia was awake when the sun rose, banishing the darkness below the horizon. She hadn't slept well; the combined anxiety of the coming day's proceedings coupled with her self-loathing regarding rejecting Dunban's invitation last night had weighed heavily on her mind. Images flashed through her brain as she went through her morning routine: her brother's smile she hadn't seen in ages, her father's scowl demonstrating his supreme authority over her life, her sister's sneer meant to illustrate she did not care about what others thought of her though Melia knew she cared very much, and the man's eyes that drew Melia in though despite her desperate attempts to stay away.

Smoothing out the creases in her clothing, Melia took stock of her appearance in the washroom mirror. Today she had opted to wear a simple navy blue dress: three-quarter length lace sleeves and the dress' skirt ended just below her knees. Just above her left breast, she attached a brooch in the shape of a large griffin. A gift from her father on her 30th birthday. She hoped it would bring her the strength needed to prevail over the day.

DING. A high-pitched sound rang out once, twice, thrice, assaulting her ears and catching her attention. She rushed into the bedroom and hurried over to the nightstand, where her tablet was ringing. On screen, it identified the caller as her father. Taking a moment, Melia swallowed, cleared her throat, and answered the call.

Soren's stern face filled the screen. "Are you ready for this morning, daughter?"

"Yes, father."

"I have been thinking since you left about these negotiations."

Melia remained silent, waiting.

"Under no circumstances will we give them anything regarding our military technology. We will happily provide them information regarding the Ganglion menace. We could discuss joint task forces to fight the Ganglion and search for their Lifehold. You know what we can trade and what we need, so I leave those discussions up to you. I want you to ensure that Dunban will be their envoy when they wish to communicate with us in the future. We are not ready to open our city yet, but we will accept his presence and that of his team's. But you can assure them that in time we may be willing to open the doors to our city."

"Yes, father." All of those seemed reasonable. She could handle those. Hopefully.

"Lastly, I want you to request that they will give us full access to the Lifehold records when it is found. And anything to do with their technological advances. You can say that we will share some of our technology with them, depending."

Melia's blood ran cold.

"Father, that seems rather extreme...I doubt they will feel comfortable sharing the information from the Lifehold."

"I did not ask for your opinion. This is my decree and it is non-negotiable. Make it so, Melia. Do not fail me."

Before she could respond, his image disappeared and the screen went black. Melia dropped onto the bed, her eyes unfocusing on the world around her. This was the last thing she'd expected to be amongst his demands. She hadn't expected him to say such a thing. Her heart skipped a beat. This would no doubt obstruct almost any possibility of an alliance. Had he sent her here on a fool's errand?

There was a rapping on her door. Her head snapped to the origin of the sound, the horror of her realization still crawling over her skin.

"Are you up yet?" Tyrea drawled on the other side of the door. "It's almost time to go and you should eat something before deciding the fate of our people. But that's just my opinion."

Still in shock, Melia tucked her tablet away into her binder and opened the door. Tyrea was leaning against the door frame, dressed in her signature outfit, wearing her signature unimpressed expression.

"I see you didn't sleep well. They have this drink called coffee. Tastes awful but it'll wake you right up."

"I see." Melia pushed the lump in her throat down and managed to say in an even voice, "Tyrea, why don't you see if you can join one of the BLADE teams on a hunting mission."

Tyrea narrowed her eyes. "What's going on?"

"I just thought that you might like the exercise rather than sitting in on negotiations. I distinctly remember you saying last night you would have rather not attended dinner."

"And it turned out better than I thought it would."

"This will not be like that," Melia affirmed.

"You're sure you don't need me there?"

"I wouldn't suggest otherwise if I didn't believe so."

The lies burned in her throat. What Melia didn't need was for Tyrea to witness the impending disaster that would be the negotiations. Tyrea would soon enough find out that Melia had been set up for failure by none other than her father. But for her sister to be in the room when it happened, there was no doubt in Melia's mind that Tyrea would let her temper get the best of her. Even though she wanted to hide her inevitable embarrassment, the princess knew there was no chance that she would be able to get rid of Zain considering he was her father's spy.

Melia followed Tyrea back into the main room and saw Fiora seated at the kitchen island sipping a hot beverage, and Dunban, who currently had his back to her, doing something.

"Guess what? I don't need to go today so what are you up to?" Tyrea asked and took a seat next to Fiora, grabbing for the mug that already sat on the counter.

"Really?" Fiora gawked. "Well, I have a report to give, but then we could meet some of my friends?"

"Would they want to go fight some monsters?"

"Tyrea, please keep yourself out of trouble," Melia stated as she placed her binder on the countertop, but did not take a seat on the empty stool.

Dunban turned around. "Good morning."

"Good morning."

Nothing more than a simple greeting. Melia's stomach crunched in on itself. She'd ruined whatever had been budding between the two of them. And all for what? For her father to embarrass her? So many conflicting emotions exploding against one another in her body, all she could do was maintain an air of indifference to keep from rushing back to her room and dissolving in an angry fit of tears. Which would be especially unbecoming for her.

"Coffee?"

"Tea, if you have any."

"She hasn't slept so anything that will wake her up would work," Tyrea added, blowing the steam rising from the liquid in her mug.

"Oooh! Give her some of my chai. With cream. Don't forget that," Fiora pipped up.

"Yes, your highness." Dunban mocked and went to prepare Melia's drink.

"I'm just doing it how they used to. I am carrying on the tradition." Fiora rolled her eyes.

"Have you seen Zain yet?" Melia asked Tyrea, pointedly keeping her attention off of Dunban as he poured hot water into another mug and dropping a tea bag into it.

"I heard movement from his room but he hasn't come down yet," Dunban said, forcing her attention. "Here."

He placed the mug in front of her. "Thank you."

She took a sip. The spices swirled around in her mouth, the bitterness cut by the cream. "This is delicious, Fiora. Thank you." It wasn't as hot as she anticipated it, and she quickly downed the warm mixture.

"Whoa," Fiora commented with wide eyes.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Tyrea cocked an eyebrow.

"Yes, I am just ready to start." Melia set the mug down. "Dunban, could we leave now?"

"What about Zain?" He asked.

"I won't be needing him today."

Tyrea and Dunban exchanged a glance. That was the last thing she needed, Tyrea and Dunban attempting to solve the mystery which she was so desperately pretending didn't exist.

"What's wrong? And don't tell me that it's all fine." Tyrea stood and leaned against the counter, squinting at Melia.

"Nothing is amiss. I simply need to handle this myself and I cannot do that with my father's spy scrutinizing me. I'm sure you can understand that."

"Obviously." Tyrea scoffed. "But this is a clear act of rebellion, which you don't really do on your own unless I push you."

"As I said. This is only so I may focus during our discussions. Nothing more." Abruptly, she turned back to Dunban. "Would it be too much of an imposition to leave now?"

Her eyes searched his, and she knew that he wasn't convinced by her excuse. And his face indicated concern at her hastiness. Nonetheless, he nodded. "Yes, we can leave."

Grabbing her binder, Melia strode out the front of the house, not looking back to see if Dunban was following her or not. She rounded the vehicle and hopped into the passenger side. Clicking on her seatbelt, she stared straight ahead, looking at the NLA landscape. It was an overcast day, almost dark enough to match the bleakness of her situation. There was a breeze in the air bringing the smell of fresh grass to her. How she wished she could be on the open plains of Mira, exploring the forests, instead of walking into a trap. A trap set by her very own father.

The driver's door opened and closed, causing the vehicle to shake a shade. Still, Melia kept her eyes straight ahead, not daring to look at the man sitting next to her. In her periphery, she watched as Dunban stuck the key into the ignition and turned the car on. The engine roared to life, matching the thumping of her pulse. He put the car into gear and pulled away from the home.

They rode in silence. But as the road to the BLADE tower came into view, Dunban turned the vehicle to the right, skirting towards the deserted river walk.

"Where are we going?" Melia glanced sideways at him.

"Taking the long way around so we can talk."

"What do you want to talk about?"

Dunban sighed. "Melia, what's going on? I may not know you very well or have known you for very long, but I agree with Tyrea. Leaving Zain doesn't make sense."

Melia averted her eyes to her window, her heart skittering up her chest into her throat. She couldn't confess to him what was going on. She couldn't break.

"If you don't feel comfortable talking to me, then at least talk to Elma before negotiations start."

Comfortable? He was the only person she would feel comfortable discussing it with if she had any intention to do so. Why would he not think—

Because of her rejection last night.

Inwardly, Melia swore. Squeezing her eyes shut, she leaned her head against the window. She ought to not engage him on this subject. Let it go and let him assume that he was correct. But her mind and heart disagreed. It would be unfair to cause pain simply because of her inability to communicate. If she had simply been honest in the first place, this whole misunderstanding could've been avoided.

"Stop the car." She whispered.

She heard the wheels of the car turn and the sliding of Dunban's hands on the steering wheel. The car slowed and the sound of the engine ceased. Neither spoke, they simply sat listening to the bird calls that flew intermittently on the wind in the morning air.

"I did not mean to slight you last night. I truly was exhausted from the dinner," she said, opening her eyes yet still not looking at him.

"Melia, I can tell you're withdrawing. I realize I made you uncomfortable yesterday during our rest stop and I apologize for that. I won't do so anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't want to help you. So if you don't wish to talk to me, let me at least give you the opportunity to talk to Elma."

She had completely forgotten their flirtation at the overlook the previous afternoon. With everything that had happened since, the instance had been buried in her mind. Of course, she had been mildly embarrassed, but also pleased. If only she were more adept at flirting she could have possibly extended the length of the conversation to also illustrate her willing participation. But of course, she lacked those social graces. And now here she was.

"Dunban, you did not make me feel uncomfortable. You do not make me feel uncomfortable." She sat up and faced him, observing his startled expression. "There are multiple issues I am juggling at the moment. That is all."

"Then how can I help? If I can, that is."

Melia bit her lip. She wasn't sure if she should burden him with the truth. But she had no one else to confide in, and he had seen her — witnessed her — in a conflicting situation before, pulled on either side by the High Entia and the Homs.

And simply, she trusted him.

Exhaling, she revealed, "I am afraid these negotiations will not go well."

"Why?"

"My father shared with me his directives this morning. I think...I think this was a fool's errand. I do not believe he ever intended to enter into a treaty with your people. Or if he did, this first step is to simply illuminate the High Entia's superiority over your race." She took a breath. "And I believe this to be my punishment for my recent behavior."

"Why do you say that?" He knit his brows in suspicion.

"My father is not one to be trifled with. And I specifically disobeyed his order to not interact with you. I thought it was odd that he wanted me to convey his wishes to your people. Now I think that he believes he is teaching me a lesson by exploiting my...favor."

"If you're the one to deliver the information, then it would drive a wedge between us." Dunban paraphrased.

She searched his eyes to see what he was feeling, but he did not reveal it. But if she were to hypothesize, she imagined Dunban very angry. Additionally, Melia had cast her father in a poor light. He was stern and harsh, but he was still her father. As much as she felt something towards Dunban, it was not suitable to air her grievances with regards to her family. He was just so easy to talk to. Nevertheless, it felt as though she'd betrayed her family's privacy.

"I'm sorry, I should not have shared such a thing. It was inappropriate. Please keep that to yourself." She rubbed her temples, trying to repress the oncoming influx of stress.

"Melia, you don't have to worry about me sharing anything you say in confidence." He reached across the seat and took her hand. Startled, she met his eyes, this time seeing warmth within them. "Alright?"

She nodded. Her pulse quickened as the warmth from his hand invaded her body.

"You didn't want Tyrea to be in the meeting because you think she'd figure out the truth mid-session. And since Zain is your father's spy, you didn't want him to witness your inevitable failure." Dunban's tone had turned cold, but he still held her hand comfortingly.

"No doubt my father will be furious because of that action, but all the same he will have his victory." She murmured.

"Can I ask what exactly the condition is that he believes we won't agree to?"

Melia paused, averting her eyes. Her mind ran with questions of whether or not she should say. But what did it truly matter? He would find out soon enough when she brought the condition to the table in front of the other BLADE leaders. "He wishes to have full access to your lifehold database. When it is found."

"Why?"

"That I cannot answer. I do not know."

"So what is his end goal?"

"I think all he wants is for us to agree to not interfere with the others' activities. That is all." Melia shrugged, feeling an insurmountable weight settle on her shoulders. "I have two choices. One, to play along with my father's plan. And two, to defy him. I am at a loss of what to do..."

"You know, Melia, negotiations can span multiple days."

Melia found his eyes once more. "I...had not considered that."

"That way, you have more time to think." He suggested. "And more time to spend here in NLA." A smirk spread over his mouth.

Heat warmed her blood and the anticipation electrified her pulse once more. "I'd...like that."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Unable to respond, she nodded. "Thank you, Dunban. For listening. And for not...judging."

"Well, thank you for sharing with me. I'm glad you feel that you can." His eyes flicked to the clock on the dashboard. "I think we need to get going so you won't be late."

Slowly he pulled his hand from hers. Immediately she missed his touch but quickly settled back into her seat. Although what was coming would be unpleasant, she felt as though she were floating on a cloud. The princess closed her eyes, savoring the bliss that coursed through her body. Everything felt right between them again. The way it should.


"The High Entia would like to help you in your search for the Lifehold. We believe the best method to accomplish this goal would be through joint task forces." Melia said, folding her hands in her lap. She was seated at a long table across from Nagi, Elma, and Maurice. Irina and Vera stood directly behind them, Vandham watched from an armchair in the back, and Dunban leaned against the wall to her right, still in her line of sight.

"Would you lend us men for the search? Or weapons?" Nagi asked.

"Men most certainly. At this time, not weaponry."

"The more men the better. We haven't had a chance to map out all of Mira let alone begin a proper search for the Lifehold," Elma said, satisfied.

"Regarding that data, the High Entia are happy to share our own maps of the planet to help expedite the search. We could—"

"How are we supposed to fight alongside you if you won't help us with your technology?" Maurice interrupted.

"I believe we were discussing the search for the Lifehold. Not engaging the Ganglion in battle, which we have no intention of doing," Melia responded levelly.

"And neither do we." Dunban pointedly looked at Maurice.

"Sometimes we won't have a choice, now will we?" Maurice spun around in his seat and glared at the speaker.

"Whenever we go out into Mira, we are prepared for that possibility. Doesn't mean we need to go looking for it."

"You've forgotten we are in a battle of life or death now."

Dunban pushed off the wall and advanced on Maurice. "I see that counter on the side of the tower every day. Don't think for a second it's not always on my mind."

"Really?" Maurice sneered, rising from his seat. "I would've assumed you of all people would understand the Ganglion threat and their ability to surprise attack."

Melia felt everyone stiffen. The air was sucked out of the room. Whatever Maurice was referring to was most definitely a sensitive topic. A sensitive topic that concerned Dunban. She certainly wouldn't let this menace of a man bully Dunban.

Clearing her throat, Melia stood. "Maurice." The villain turned, venom in his eyes. "If I understand correctly, you are one of two civilians in this room not actually part of your military efforts, so I do suggest you defer to your colleagues on this matter instead of lashing out at them. It does not do you well to present an attitude such as the one you are relaying at the current moment."

She waited for him to respond, jutting her chin out. But he did not, and instead simply balled his hands into fists. Inwardly, she smiled, immensely gratified.

"I...think we best adjourn for now." Nagi rose from his seat. "We can resume in the afternoon after lunch. We'll discuss a different topic. Perhaps general goods for trading?"

"That sounds amenable." Melia refocused her attention.

"Wonderful. We will reconvene in an hour." With that, Nagi pushed Maurice out of the room. Elma followed the two men, winking at Melia as she exited. The princess felt a rush of satisfaction flush through her. Perhaps she was adept at diplomacy. Although, there had not been an agreement in that matter, so she could be getting ahead of herself.

"Thank you, Melia."

His voice rolled over her, warm and soft. She turned to see Dunban standing beside her, his face painted in appreciation.

She blushed. "No thanks needed. You would have, actually have, done the same for me." She picked up her binder. "Considering everyone else's attitudes towards him, how is Maurice still part of the council?"

"Though his following is small, it is vehement. We've discussed it, but we don't want to unnecessarily piss off some fanatics in our ranks. Infighting is the last thing we need right now."

"A necessary evil then." She frowned.

"Exactly. One that is getting harder to control by the day." The man ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not sure how much longer I can take his tantrums."

"Perhaps this was another benefit for Tyrea's absence. Because she certainly wouldn't."

"Oh?"

"Tyrea is most emphatic when it comes to defending those she considers worth her time."

"You mean friends."

"I don't believe Tyrea would use such a word, but yes."

He laughed and she couldn't help but smile.

"Shall we?" Dunban gestured to the exit. Melia followed his suggestion and stepped out into the hall. They ambled down the corridor towards the elevator. Dunban pressed the down arrow.

"You didn't ask about what Maurice was talking about."

"Dunban, everyone has a past. And everyone has their secrets. Should you wish to share them with me, I will be honored. But I do not believe in forcing someone to do so. We are all entitled to our privacy, especially when some may be painful. There are secrets we choose to bear on our own."

He studied her for a moment. His expression transformed into one of gratitude. "Thank you, Melia."

They stared at one another in silence, and she dared not to break the moment. But the elevator dinged, dispelling the intimacy in the air she felt. The doors slid open and they stepped inside.

"I assume you're going to be meeting with the Nopon as well?" She changed the subject, attempting still her hammering heart.

"I think that will be far less...contentious."

She couldn't help but smile. "Oh yes. I'm sure Riki will put up a great fight regarding having access to as many sweets as possible."

He laughed. "We'll be speaking with them tonight after we finish the session with you."

"Won't everyone be tired?"

"Definitely. But no one really thinks it'll be more than requesting reciprocal access to Frontier Village and NLA. Trading goods. Building a community."

"Much simpler than offering your deepest secrets to an advanced society."

"Advanced? You're pulling that card?"

"I believe if a society can keep up with Reyn's neverending appetite, it should be classified as advanced."

"Can't argue there."

By the time the elevator arrived at the bottom and the doors opened, they were widely grinning at one another.

"Looks like you made up. Good. I was wondering if we were going to have to fix whatever was going on." Tyra flipped her hair over her shoulder in way of greeting them. Next to her was Fiora, who looked up from her communication device.

Melia dropped the smile. "We were discussing the progress that was made this morning."

"Oh, it went well? That's great to hear." Fiora beamed. "I was a little worried that Maurice would screw everything up."

"Not so loud, Fiora," Dunban warned, glancing around to make sure no one else had heard.

"No one likes him anyway." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you two getting lunch?"

Melia and Dunban exchanged a look. "I...well" "We hadn't discussed it..."

"So the answer is yes."

"Good goddess, let's go. Fiora was telling me about this Ike's Sandwich chop that is apparently 'to die for'." Tyrea raised an eyebrow.

"Don't be sarcastic. It is!" Fiora glared.

A beeping noise brought the conversation to a halt. Dunban pulled out his communicator and read whatever was on the screen. Melia watched as his features transformed: the creases on his forehead became more defined, his mouth turned downward into a deep frown.

He stuffed it back into his pocket and looked at the three young women. "I need to go deal with something." He turned his gaze on Melia. "I'll see you back at the negotiations."

She nodded and he strode towards his jeep and hopped in.

"That was weird," Tyrea commented as they watched him drive away.

"Not really. It seems like he's always dealing with some sort of crisis. Honestly, it's been that way since right before Earth blew up," Fiora let out a sigh.

"He needs a vacation."

"It's difficult to vacation when you are worried about the survival of your people," Melia stated.

"Enough talk. Let's grab some lunch! Ike's here we come!" Fiora laced her arms with Tyrea and Melia and skipped forward.

A half hour later, the trio was seated on the rooftop deck of Ike's. It was still overcast, so the heat from the sun was pleasant versus overbearing. Out of the corner of her eye, Melia could see the other patrons glance over at them every minute or so. Of course, she had expected it, but it did not mean she enjoyed being the subject of such scrutiny.

"This is really good, Fiora." Melia put her sandwich down, forcing her attention back to her companions.

"I'm just glad the art of making a Monte Cristo sandwich was not lost back on Earth." Fiora munched happily.

"Fiora, how many people live here in NLA?" Melia asked.

"Um...I think five thousand?"

"How many are in the Lifehold?"

"Oh...honestly I'm not sure. Probably a million at least?"

Tyrea's eyes went wide and she dropped her sandwich. "A million!?"

"Yeah, how many people do you guys have?"

"We probably have ten thousand total in Alcamoth."

"Are there High Entia elsewhere?"

"No," Tyrea answered, the bitterness unmistakeable in her voice. "The Ganglion wiped us out to the last possible amount."

"Oh, wow...I'm sorry." Fiora set her sandwich down, troubled.

There was nothing that could be said in response to the revelation. No amount of apologies could undo the damage done, and Fiora had nothing to apologize for. But the pain crunched around Melia's heart as she thought of all the lives lost to the Ganglion.

It was not something she could ruminate on without becoming overwhelmed. So she pushed it away.

"So what did the two of you get up to this morning?" Melia picked up her sandwich and bit into it, signaling the deliberate subject change.

Fiora flicked her eyes to Tyrea, who took up her sandwich as well. "Well, I had to give a report to my division lead about what I'd found during our trip."

"How was that?"

"Better than I thought it would go. It was my first so I was pretty nervous. My report was really detailed, I just didn't want to leave anything out."

"Always best to be prepared. Congratulations." Melia smiled at her.

"Thank you!" Fiora beamed and began devouring her sandwich once more.

Melia glanced sideways at her sister. "How was your morning, Tyrea?"

"I got Shulk to let me look at their lab."

Melia dropped her sandwich. "You did what?"

"It was no big deal. Not like I understand that stuff anyway." Tyrea said, not looking at Melia.

"What exactly did you look at?"

"Most of their vehicles and such. I gotta say, you guys have some interesting designs, but not half the capabilities we do."

"You didn't see any military equipment, did you?"

"No..."

"You know what I'm going to say, don't you?" She gritted her teeth. "That could ruin our negotiations. Stay out of their labs from now on until I have confirmation we are allowed to be in there, alright?"

"Yes, mother."

Melia inhaled, rolled her lips into a thin line, and pushed down the fury that boiled in her gut.

"Does it get stressful? having to be the princess?" Fiora finished her sandwich and tilted her head to the side.

"I've never really thought about it." Melia rolled up the rest of her sandwich in the wrapper. She'd lost her appetite.

"It's just her way of life. Always focused on doing what's best for the people." Tyrea snorted, stuffing the rest of her food in her mouth.

"Sounds like my brother." Fiora tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

"Match made in heaven." Tyrea sneered and glanced sideways at Melia. "No comeback?"

"Honestly, Tyrea, I'm too tired." And she was. There were too many things going on, too much happening that she was starting to lose control over them. And Fiora's question had brought up some long-seated frustrations within her. Now with what seemed to world acting against her, she wanted to forget about it, forget about being a princess, if only for a moment. "Fiora, how would you suggest we disguise ourselves to go to this...club?"

Both stared at her. Gawking.

"I see, well nevermind—"

"Hold on a sec!" Fiora interrupted. "Do you want to go?"

"It would be nice to dance."

"Let off some steam?" Tyrea jokingly elbowed her.

"In a word."

"Find you someone to make out with?"

"Don't push it Tyrea. I can easily forbid it."

Tyrea through up her hands in surrender. "Just dancing is good with me."

"Okay, don't worry about it. I'll figure it all out!" Fiora clapped. "I'm so excited! We're going to have so much fun."

"What do you wear to these things?"

"We'll go shopping." Fiora grinned.

Melia glanced at her tablet. The hour was almost up. "I need to get back."

"Sure thing. We'll walk you back." Fiora scooped up the wrappers and disposed of them. Melia kept her remaining half of the sandwich, in case she found her appetite return later that afternoon.

Together they headed back. As they walked through the BLADE concourse, a voice called out, "Fiora!"

The trio stopped to see a blond woman jogging towards them. She wore a blue and white BLADE jumpsuit, different from any that Melia had seen. Her blue eyes were happy and voice melodic. An embodiment of cheer.

"What's up, Eleonora?"

"I wanted to thank you for letting me borrow Shall We Dance?. It was an amazing movie."

"So much better than the crappy American version, am I right?" Fiora answered, then gestured to the two High Entia. " Eleonora, this is Tyrea and Melia."

Eleonora bowed. "It's wonderful to meet you both. I was hoping to meet you but I'm sure you both are busy."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, but I do need to get back to the BLADE tower," Melia responded.

"Well, hopefully, we'll meet again. See you later!" Eleonora smiled then headed back down the concourse.

Furrowing her brow, Melia realized Tyrea hadn't said a thing. She glanced at her sister. Tyrea was frozen. "Tyrea, are you speechless?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Tyrea coughed.

"You didn't say one word."

"I was thinking."

"That you think she's cute?" Fiora teased.

"Of course not! I was thinking about how annoying all this infrastructure is." A blush spread across Tyrea's pale cheeks.

"These are not your best lies, Tyrea," Melia smirked, happy to once have the upper hand. "Now I truly need to leave. I assume I will see both of you back at the house this evening?"

"You bet! Let's go lover girl." Fiora grabbed Tyrea's hand and they headed in the direction of the commercial district.

Melia made her way back towards the elevator, and to her chagrin found Zain waiting for her.

"Why did you not inform me when you would be leaving this morning?" He growled.

"I'm sure Tyrea relayed my message."

"And it is inappropriate for you to leave me out of these meetings. I am here at the behest of your father."

"It won't happen again, Zain." She said in a solemn tone, painting an apologetic expression on her face, though she felt the exact opposite.

"Good."

She decided not to respond and instead got in the elevator with him. It would be a long afternoon.


The negotiations in the latter half of the day were far more agreeable. Until…

"The High Entia have in-depth knowledge regarding the more aggressive beasts that inhabit Mira. Would you share that knowledge with us as well, so we can avoid them in the future?" Elma asked.

"Of course."

"And what about the beast in the tippy top of Noctilum. The Roost or what it's called, where the Nopon were talkin' 'bout?"

Melia straightened. She had to tread carefully and kept her tone nonchalant. "You don't need to worry about that. We have that under control." Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Dunban watching, also on guard.

"If it's a threat though—" Irina began.

"The creature is not. We are monitoring it." Melia interrupted. "It is not a matter worthy of discussion."

Nagi and Elma exchanged a look. Melia's throat tightened. She'd done the wrong thing.

"Oh, really? Then let's go back to the discussion about military aid." Maurice scoffed. "Military aid in exchange for leaving whatever that monster is alone."

"I...no that is preposterous." Melia struggled. "It is of no consequence to you."

"Then why don't you want us to go up there?"

"Because it is dangerous."

"I think there is more to this story, princess," Maurice leered. "So again. Military aid in exchange for leaving the Roost alone."

"You can't be serious."

"Why not? That's how negotiations work. You give one thing, we do the other."

She was losing control of the conversation. What could she say to stop him from continuing to needle her? What could she offer?

"Back down, Maurice. We're not discussing it." Dunban cut in.

"I'd suggest you think about what you're saying, Dunban. Your feelings are clouding your judgment."

Melia's eyes widened. Was Maurice intimating...

"Consider your behavior, Maurice. Your lack of decency and respect is appalling and your behavior regarding not getting what you want is childish."

"That's enough!" Nagi slapped his hand on the table. "We're done for the day. Princess, if you're amenable, we can continue tomorrow afternoon?"

"That would suit." As she stood, she looked over at Dunban. She wanted to talk to him but he gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, flicking his eyes to the back of the room behind her.

Where Zain was watching the proceedings.

Dunban strode out of the room, Elma on his heels. Nagi and Maurice argued heatedly, and the rest of the leadership seemed at a loss of what to do. It was time for her to go.

Silently, Melia gathered herself and exited, accompanied by Zain. The hallway was empty as they strode towards the elevator. With each step, she braced for Zain's disapproval. Reaching the elevator, Melia tapped the arrow button and the doors slid open, steeling herself. She stepped inside, and so did Zain, standing annoyingly close. The doors slid shut.

"You let them get the upper hand." He scowled.

"I have it under control." Melia kept her eyes focused on the elevator doors. But she most certainly did not have it under control, as was evident by her freezing in the room upon Maurice's attack.

"Not from what I saw."

"It was a slight miscalculation."

"You lost the argument."

"I'll return with a new strategy tomorrow."

"And why haven't you brought up the lifehold yet?"

Melia snapped to face him. "Excuse me?"

"Your father shared with me his directives."

Her stomach dropped out, and her face blanched. Of course, he had, but it had failed to cross her mind. "I...I cannot open with such a request. I need time to ease into it."

"It sounds like you're stalling."

"There is an art of diplomacy, Zain." She rolled her shoulders back and met his eyes in a challenge. Anger flared within her. She would not go down without a fight.

"Your father wishes you to return home the day after tomorrow. Treaty or not."

Once more she found herself blindsided. She felt as though the wind was knocked out of her and she was struggling to grab onto something, anything to maintain a sense of control. Mind reeling, she replied as evenly as she could, "He hasn't said anything to me of this."

"He didn't want to distract you. You will bring the Lifehold up to the humans tomorrow. If not, I will tell your father."

With that, the doors to the elevator opened and Zain strode out, leaving Melia flabbergasted.


A/N: this chapter ended up being longer than expected! I think this may be a trend. TLDR: Melia is STAH-RESSSED. Anywayz, leave some love 3