Still in shock from everything that had happened, all events after her fiery initiation remained a blur to Katerina - she wasn't sure how and when she got out of that cursed room, where she was being taken, and who was telling her what was going on in the meantime.

"Do you have any question?", his voice made her look from where it was coming from and she saw Popov looking at her questioningly. She shook her head, in no mood for any kind of comment. ''Are you OK?''

His concern seemed genuine, and Katerina let out a soft breath.

''I guess,'' she said shortly, at least for a while dissuading him from questioning again. He nodded and pursed his lips.

"Then we're done," he exhaled. "This is your room. Your personal belongings will be delivered to you in the morning. Someone will come later to clean your wound,'' he said, gesturing to her chin with his hand. "If you need anything, contact any of us."

Opening the door, he let her into the room she would call her own from now on.

"Will I be able to see my mother?" Katerina asked him sadly. Andrej watched her for a few moments in silence.

"After what you did in the negotiation room, I'm afraid you won't."

She bit her lip, expecting such an answer. She reluctantly nodded and began to look around the room, turning her back on him and letting him know the conversation was over. He seemed relieved by that, not knowing how to proceed with the conversation. The planning for the fight and fight itself was nothing compared to telling a young girl who had never left home that she would never see her mother again.

Hearing Popov close the door behind him, she was finally left alone – alone in her thoughts, her pain and her not understanding how any of this is possible. She did not want to look and admire the huge room that was decorated with canopies and expensive bed linen in golden color, nor the furniture that exuded elegance and costliness.

She dropped to her knees and wailed like a little child. She wrapped her arms around herself as if she was unsuccessfully protecting herself from everything that befell her. She wailed the way her mother had taught her – as all the women of the Alekseev line were taught.

"Cry in the four walls of your room as if you are regretting and aching with every part of your body. Cry, scream, and sob as much as you need to. Then, stand up like a proud Alekseev and go out in front of everyone with a smile that no one will be able to remove from your face. Show them how strong Alekseev's women are. We do not show our weaknesses. We are the Alekseev Lionesses.''

Katerina stood in the bathroom for a long time hissing at her reflection in the mirror. While trying to reduce the swelling from crying she heard a knock on the door. She prayed it was not another attempt to show off her newfound powers and approached the door hastily. In front of her were Fyodorov and a girl in a purple uniform, with black hair and an exotic complexion, a little shorter than he was.

"Katerina, you have to come to dinner so that everyone can get to know you!" Fyodorov said excitedly.

"Luka Fyodorov!", the girl slapped him on the upper arm, visibly shocked. "How are you talking to the princess?"

"I-"

"Forgive his lack of manners, princess. People in Lakehorn are not known for good breeding,'' she turned to her and bowed.

Katerina smiled, already visibly in a better mood after this comical event.

"I'm Nina Valentinova, a third-rate bender at your service."

"You don't have to call me by my title, as I already said to Fyodorov. I am not a particularly big fan of it anyway.''

"Oh," she blurted out in confusion, but her confusion was short-lived and soon replaced by exhilaration. "Then what are we waiting for? You have to come with us, everyone cannot wait to meet you!''

Nina quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the long corridor, not giving Katerina a chance to react properly. Fyodorov looked at her, smiling. Only then did Katerina notice the dimples on his cheeks for the first time.

"She's a bit explosive, but you'll get used to it quickly," he told her consolingly.

"I don't mind," admitted Katerina with a giggle. "Actually, after everything that happened, this seems like a good distraction."

"Come on, we'll be late," Nina walked quickly, still holding Katerina's hand.

"What you did in the negotiation room was incredible," Fyodorov's excitement lit up his eyes.

"You broke all our assumptions about what it should look like," added Nina. "You are a goddess."

"Thank you?" she said uncertainly. "I actually don't even know what I did."

"You made us all fall on our butt, that's what you did."

"Nina!" Fyodorov warned, and she shot him a look while making a face at him. "Control yourself."

When they have finished with their five minutes of exchanging glances and arguing silently, Luka turned to Katerina as if nothing had happened.

"How much do you really know about us benders?" Fyodorov asked her.

"Not much," admitted Katerina. "It was very rarely a topic at our court."

"Well, I can give you a little introduction until we step into the wasp house," he smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. "The palace was built on the accords of Supreme King Augustine since General Bogdanov wanted for the supreme army of benders to be safe and in one place. Bogdanov divided all benders into four ranks of the army depending on the power they possess. The first lines of the army are benders in navy blue uniforms and they control the winds and storms, including Peter and me. The second line of the army controls the fire, and they are in red uniforms.''

"The third army is made of people who control the earth. We are purple,'' Nina chimed in excitedly, bringing a smile back to Katerina's face.

"The last line of the army consists of benders who control water and waves. They are aquamarine,'' Fyodorov said.

"It's blue," Nina corrected him.

"No, it's the color of aquamarine," Fyodorov countered, shooting her a look.

"It's blue."

"Guys, I think that's the least important right now. Got it'', Katerina put her hands on both of them, trying to hold back her laughter.

She could not help but feel nostalgic about the dynamic the two had, and how much she really missed Marjorie and Marcus. She could not help but think how lonely and worried they must feel in the castle, probably as much as herself. She already missed their conversations, practicing with Marcus, and especially chatting with Marjorie about her innocent and constant flirtation with the head commander. It was painfully amusing to watch them feel the same way about each other and still be too shy to take matters into their own hands. Her heart sank at the thought that she would never see them again.

"Mister Fyodorov here forgot to mention that there are also healers, manufacturers and alchemists. They are not included in the army, but they are of vital importance for benders.''

Katerina pursed her rosebud-like lips slightly, thinking. "And where do I fit in?"

"You and General Bogdanov are benders of a special kind. There are no others like you.''

"And if they do exist, it is a rarity. There is almost no information that there is anyone else like you,'' Fyodorov added.

"He's also a light bender?"

"He is a shadow bender. Your complete opposite,'' Fyodorov spoke, glancing at her briefly before continuing to march swiftly like a soldier.

"I have one more question," Katerina stopped short, looking at both of them in turn. "What is Popov?"

"Popov?" repeated Nina, somewhat surprised by her question. "Popov is an ordinary."

"Ordinary?"

"Well, yes," the girl shrugged. "He has no power. He does not belong to benders.''

"I thought that all the members of the benders were here."

"He is an exception," replied Fyodorov. "General Bogdanov has a high opinion of him. Popov is his right hand.''

They entered a room that was larger than any room that existed in her court. The dining tables were set along the whole room, covered with velvety red tablecloths, and everyone has already arrived, slowly settling into their chairs, eagerly awaiting the feast. She realized that the murmur of voices that had existed until then had died down when she appeared at the door. Everyone watched her in silence for a few moments and she felt naked again. It was as if she was on the experiment table, and they were all her faithful audience.

Soon, several stood up and came over to meet her, pulling her into the crowd and separating her from Fyodorov and Nina who stood and helplessly watched the scene. Everyone wanted to shake hands, introduce themselves, and some even hugged her with excitement. All of which reminded her of the balls and feasts that took place at the court and which she began to despise from the bottom of her soul.

"Okay, okay, let her breathe," Nina stood in front of her, separating her from the crowd of people, looking over them. "You don't want to scare her on the first day, do you? Come on, everyone in your place, there will be time for you to get to know her.''

The people withdrew in protest, leaving the princess and her two new friends alone.

"Thank you," Katerina said with relief.

''It seemed like you needed rescuing,'' she said. "We dragged you into it anyway."

A girl with extremely beautiful features – long brown hair, a mole above her full lips and a defiant look – interrupted their conversation. It took Katerina a few moments to remember where she knew her face from - it was the girl in the red coat who handed General Bogdanov a metal glove.

"Welcome to the Palace, bender of light," she artificially blushed and came over to hug her. Katerina could not help but feel a tingle of warning from her murderous gaze. She was sure that this girl would be ready to jump on her at any moment, and maybe even kill her. She could almost imagine her hands slowly rising from her back to her slender neck. "Just so you know, you'll be flying out of the Palace soon because princesses don't belong here," her warm breath tickled her. "And it will be my pleasure to be the one to do it."

"Really?", Katerina arched her eyebrows in curiosity, and moved away from the girl, giving her a sharp look and sticking out her chin like a beast defending its territory. ''Be my guest.''

Both girls stared at each other for a few moments as if their looks could do harm, ready at any moment to attack like wild beasts. Suddenly, the girl's face relaxed and she went around Katerina, hitting her with her shoulder. Katerina stared for a few moments at Fyodorov and Nina who were as speechless as she was.

"That's Anya Romanov," said Fyodorov with a sigh. "And this probably won't be the last time she welcomed you like that."

"But I didn't do anything to her."

"Technically, you did," added Nina. "She is no longer General Bogdanov's favorite."

''Favorite? Favorite in what sense?''

"Well, you know...", Nina waved her hands, trying to show her what she meant by gesturing.

"Disgusting", commented Katerina, realizing what it was all about. "I still don't see what it has to do with me."

''You do not see? Katerina, do not tell me that we should draw for you,'' Nina widened her brown eyes. "We all saw how he reacted to you. You cannot tell me that you didn't feel it too.''

"I wouldn't put it in that way."

"Have you ever heard of the story about the Sun and the Moon?" Nina asked when all three of them sat down at the table. "The Sun loved the Moon so much that it died every night in order to let it breathe. Even today, they are lovers who rarely meet, often chase and usually pass each other. Now and then, they are allowed to cross over and kiss, while the world stares in awe at their eclipse.''

She put her hands on her chin and sighed dreamily. "Don't you see how romantic it is? You are soul mates. You are two sides of the same coin. Your powers attract because they are the exact opposite of each other. You are the light; he is the shadow – Sun and Moon. You are the yin to his yang.''

"Nina, that story is not romantic, but tragic," Fyodorov rolled his eyes, and then put his hand on Katerina's forearm. "Don't blame her, she's a hopeless romantic."

"Oh come on, what you know," she snorted. "You wouldn't recognize romance if it slapped you across the face."

"Remind me why I'm hanging out with you in the first place."

"Because I'm hilarious and you're too shy to find another friend."

"Petar is my friend," retorted Luka, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Petar is just too nice to tell you what he thinks to your face."

As the two of them went at it again in a very comical way, Katerina bit her lip thinking about Nina's story. Is there any truth in that? Is that really why she felt that way the moment she saw him? So many things, so much information, so much care and concern tormented and killed her. Are her powers really pushing her towards a man she just met?

That thought lingered in her mind for a long time, even when she laid her head down on the pillow and was ready to drift off into sleep. That thought – it bothered her. It was itching more than she could have imagined, not knowing what their blackout would actually bring her.