The story so far: 

---- Aija, Zuri, and Ze are three friends, who were working at the Pristine School at Innermost. Aija gets involved with the Ytai first, leading Zuri and Ze to them as well. Aija and Ze are captured by Thieron, of H'eon, when they were at the Hospital - Aija was at the Hospital with Kuna of R'ies and Zuri to stop a Harvest; Ze was there to visit his sick student Xan. Xan, a student at the Pristine School, gives up his soul to Thieron, and Xan, is released by Aija. He then settles into the body of a kitten that Aija found at the Hospital, and is taken to where Thieron resides. Aija wills Xan to talk; he can speak now with his own voice. Thieron has bound Aija to himself, and Nala has bound Ze to herself. 

---- Luka works for Thieron(Ah'n), along with Lalana (Nala). Luka found Aija first at her school, teaching the kids. He seems to care for her.

---- Aija, Xan, and Ze tried to escape by trying to board a Terra Turbo-Train but weren't successful because of the bonds. Thieron incapacitates Ze when he tries to use his powers against them to escape. 

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****26.2 - Luka****

"Ze! Ze!" Aija's voice filled the quiet night. 

"He's alright," Thieron informed her as he carried Ze, on his shoulder. 

The easiest thing to do was to compel Ze to walk home, Luka thought. Show off. 

"Let's go," Thieron said. 

Aija stared at Ze, limp over Thieron's shoulder, worry in her eyes. 

"He's fine, really," Luka told her. 

She was clutching the kitten in her arms; clever girl running away with the kitten. Luka was impressed they'd tried it. Thieron, Nala, and he were having a practice fight session to keep themselves nimble in the middle of the thin forest when both Thieron and Nala felt instant pain in their wrists. It had almost cost Nala her hair as Thieron had lost control of his blade from the pain. Thieron had taken off without a word, and Luka had followed Nala. 

Luka held his hand out to Aija. She accepted it, and he pulled her up. She was wheezing, totally out of breath. All the running must have taken its toll on her. She had lived at Innermost her whole life, where the air was purified all the time. 

Thieron and Nala were already way ahead of them. Aija got a grip on herself, and he waited to give her the time she needed. 

"Feeling better?" he asked. 

"Water." she wheezed. 

He led her to the Station, and she drank some water from the water fountain. He let her sit for about five minutes, the kitten safe in her arms. She calmed down. Luka removed his jacket and gave it to her. She wore it without protest; it was a cold night for humans. 

"Come," 

She followed him up the hill. Not once did she look up at him. He felt bad for her, even though he was sure he didn't have the rights to. 

"I see you want Ze for his powers," she told him, still not looking at him. 

Her long hair was tied up in a bun, a few strands brushing her neck. Luka wanted to touch those strands of hair. He wanted to be those strands of hair brushing across her neck, feeling her smooth skin. 

Luka didn't reply. Nothing would change the fact that it was true. He, himself, was surprised by it. Thieron hadn't told them the real reason he was keeping Ze. 

She pulled the jacket tighter around herself, it was huge on her. The kitten now rested on her shoulder. "Do you want my soul?" 

Luka's eyes widened. She looked up at him and stopped walking. 

"I surely don't have powers. It must be my soul. But what are you waiting for? Timing?" 

He didn't answer her questions. What would he say? 'Yes,'? 

"I see I'm right," she whispered and resumed walking. 

He walked beside her. 

"I didn't realize I'd run so far," she confessed, panting. 

I can carry you, he thought. He didn't dare say it out loud. 

She would be light in his arms. He cleared his throat, to clear his thoughts of her in his mind. 

Thieron is going to kill her, Thieron is going to kill her, he repeated to himself. 

"Why are you kind to me?" 

He stopped this time. 

Aija looked at him, the feeling in her eyes so honest. 

"You deserve kindness," he said. 

"Why?" 

Because you're kind too, he almost told her. Because you're like me; because I like you; because I more than like you. 

"It's too cold for you," he said instead. "Come." 

The rest of the way, they were quiet. She brushed the trees and plants lined along the mud roads with her delicate fingers. He wanted to touch those beautiful fingers; hold them in his. They looked like they could play the most beautiful music on any instrument. Beautiful and all-consuming like her own intensity. 

Thieron was waiting for them. He was sitting out on the steps, elbows on his knees, chin in the palms of his hands. In those moments, Thieron looked just like any other young human man, about twenty-one years old. But it was deceptive. Luka had come to know just how powerful Thieron was in the years he'd worked with him. 

 "Enjoyed your time out?" he asked Aija. 

She glared at him and headed inside, stomping her feet on the stairs. She looked cute, according to Luka. 

Thieron sighed as soon as she was upstairs. "She tires me." 

Luka didn't respond. He knew Aija was getting on Thieron's nerves. No one had done it before, and she was truly testing him. 

"Well," Thieron said, getting up. "At least, the Harvest was successful in Etemir. He doesn't have to know what really happened to the soul." 

Luka smiled. "Let's get some sleep." 

"I hope they realize they can't escape." Thieron yawned, stretching his torso. 

"How does the Uil'dran feel?" 

"I don't really feel it all the time," he said, looking at his wrist. "When she's far, I feel it burn. It hurts. That's how I know she's gone far from the minimum distance. When she's close, right in the house, I can pinpoint where she exactly is if I concentrate." 

"You feel her presence?" 

"Yes, I can find her wherever she is." 

Luka looked at the line on Thieron's wrist, a line among the several tattoos, suddenly wishing he was bonded to Aija. But, of course, Thieron would never have allowed it. Luka knew Thieron didn't trust him as much as he trusted Nala. Luka had been with Thieron for just over a hundred and fifty years. 

And everything was just starting to begin. 

****

Luka walked through the Park on the path lined by shrubs, brushing his fingers against them, remembering Aija's sleek fingers. 

He had to be careful, so very, very careful about being kind to Aija, especially in front of Thieron. Thieron was always watching, assessing everyone. 

Luka went deeper into the Park. He found most of the benches occupied. He walked further and found a bench occupied by a silver-haired man. His hair was silky and long. He wasn't old. He was older than Luka, but not old enough to have a head full of silver hair. But that's just the way his hair grew. 

Luka sat next to the man. "Long time," he spoke in Ytèan. 

The man nodded. "I heard Ah'n is planning a trip to Ytèan." 

"We have the second priority soul, and we know the Àvo's location. It makes sense to go soon." 

"Well, if you go, the humans go too." 

"Yes, it's risky." Luka expressed his fear. "I need you to set backups in case anything does go wrong." 

"Sure. Etrie is getting all set to leave for Ytèan as well. And there is the matter of the Ker'zan too. The Gale is seeking to get Ah'n or Alton at the Ker'zan. It might get messy this year." 

Luka let out an audible breath. The Ker'zan – a get-together. Alton Ivar held it once every three years. A lot of Ytai from the H'eon on Earth, and even other parts of the Universe, met at the Ker'zan. 

The Gale had known of it years ago. Luka had information that they were going to attack three years ago, but it hadn't happened. The Gale had hesitated last time knowing they weren't all that capable against the Ytai, and their numbers had been small. The Gale was still a small organization, but they had recruited several more humans in the last three years. This year they were trying again. 

Everyone was desperate to get things done with their own version of the same problem. Alton and Ah'n – Thieron – needed the Àvo soon, they had enough In'ealk. Etrie was desperate to get the Àvo before them to prevent them from taking control. The Gale was desperate to find Alton and Ah'n to end H'eon on their planet, to prevent them from getting their hands on the Àvo and destroying their race. It all led to the Àvo. Or, the existence of the Àvo led to everything else, more precisely. 

Luka's Scroll vibrated. A text from Ah'n – Thieron: 'Where are you?' 

'Innermost.' he texted back. 

'Get back soon.' Thieron commanded. 

"The leader calls?" the silver-haired man taunted. 

Luka sighed, his fingers reaching out to smooth a knot in his neck. "I'm so tired." 

The silver-haired man smiled, looking at the flowers on the shrubs lining the path. "It's just starting, Luka. It only gets messier going ahead." 

"I was prepared for this my whole life," Luka's voice was earnest. He stared at the blue flowers the man had been looking at. "Now that everything is beginning, I feel like I need more time." 

More time with her, he added in his mind. 

The man looked at Luka, compassion in his eyes. "If anyone can do this, I know it's you." 

Luka's lips held half a smile. "If Etrie is traveling to Ytèan as well, things will definitely get complicated," Luka said, standing. "I need your help." 

"Yes," 

Luka nodded. "And, I need you all at the Ker'zan, just in case the Gale does attack. We're too close to let this fail. You're to have eyes on the humans." 

The man nodded. 

****

Nala drove fast. 

Even at the speed, she was driving at, it would take a few hours. 

Ze was sitting in the back seat, sulking. 

There is no way he can escape, Luka thought. As long as he is bonded to Nala, he would be with them. 

 Luka wondered if Ze would ever work for Thieron. Thieron was patient; he would wait till Ze got frustrated. But, Ze was human. Would he have enough time? Or was Ze something else entirely? Ze's power was reminiscent of a people Luka had heard of. But, Ze looked nothing like them. Ze looked very much human. 

"What will you get out of destroying Earth?" Ze asked an hour into the drive. 

"Who told you we want to destroy the planet?" Nala questioned him. 

"Then what is it that you are doing?" 

"Cleansing the planet of humans." 

"What?" Ze was perplexed. 

"You humans have destroyed half this planet because of your greed. We're only trying to save the planet of a destructive race. You have no idea how precious planets that support life are." 

"Killing all humans will solve the problem?" 

"Yes, we will take care of this planet better than you humans ever did." 

"I think we're doing a better job compared to our ancestors," Ze argued. "We're working towards creating a better world." 

Nala laughed, and Luka surveyed her. 

"What's so funny?" Ze asked. 

"Your ignorance, kid." 

Ze let out a faint growl, which only made Nala laugh more. He kept quiet after that, and Luka kept glancing back to make sure Ze wasn't attempting anything stupid. 

Luka missed Aija; missed her quiet composure. She evoked in him feelings he hadn't felt for hundreds of years. But, the tragedy was that she was destined for a short life. 

Aija was alone at home with Thieron. Luka disliked it so much, but he didn't have a choice. He hated them being alone with each other, so much, it made him anxious. 

They reached Ba'diur's place by afternoon. Thieron had sent them to request for an early-delivery of the things he'd asked Var-Inu. Thieron never let them visit Var-Inu. Neither Luka nor Nala had seen the man. In fact, Thieron never allowed them to go to the Open. They weren't even allowed to attend the Ker'zan. Luka wondered if this year would be different since the Gale was sure to attack this time. And, the fact that Thieron had to take Aija along with him made this time different. 

Luka and Nala decided to take Ze along with them to meet Ba'diur. Leaving him alone in the car wasn't a good idea. There were many Ytai in the area, and it wasn't like Ze would sit still just because he was locked in. 

Ba'diur was the only one they could send messages through to Var-Inu out of the Open. Ze was alert the whole time, but he obviously didn't understand Ytèan. 

After the conversation with Ba'diur was over, Ze requested to go use the bathroom. Nala and Luka waited for him outside. Nala was kicking at the grass in front of the house. 

"I don't think he'll appreciate it if you destroy his front yard," Luka told her. 

"Who cares?" she mumbled, twirling a blade with her fingers and continuing to kick at the grass. "You know Aija is really keeping mum about Zuri and I. What did you tell her?" 

Luka shrugged. "She's a decent person." 

"Hmmm..." Nala agreed. "Almost makes me feel sad to know Thieron will Harvest her soul." 

Luka stared at Nala. Lalana was never like that before. Lalana, who was utterly loyal to Ah'n, felt terrible about a mere human girl? 

Ze came, and the three of them left for the hills. Luka stared out the window. Earth had once been beautiful too. And, as Ze had said, the current human residents were trying to make it better. 

But, humans weren't trying hard enough. 

And, that's where they came into the picture. 

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