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. Zuri falls in love with Nala (Lalana), who is Ytai, and works with Thieron. 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. Thieron has bound Aija to himself, and Nala has bound Ze to herself. Luka works for Thieron(Ah'n), along with Lalana (Nala).

----Aija, Ze, Thieron, Luka, and Nala go to the South Land. Luka admits that they are there for a Harvest. While they are on the Harvest, they get stopped by a group of people - the Zayr. Aija and Ze meet Princess Ruyanir of the Zayr. Ze and the Princess have an instant connection. The Prince has requested Aija and Ze to meet him. Prince Irih' va and Aija have a conversation about the Àvo; he explains how it works.

----Aija seems to like the Prince. The Prince gives Aija a strand of his golden hair - for protection.

---- Ah'n - Thieron - interrupts the conversation and takes Aija back into the house.

----Irih'va sees Aija in his future but isn't sure she will choose him. He wants her to choose him.

----Irih'va catches Ze using his powers, and he shows Ze that he, too, has the same powers.

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****30.2 - Ruyanir****

She tried to get some sleep. But every time she closed her eyes, she kept seeing him. 

Icy green eyes and smooth dark skin. 

No one had captured her attention as Ze Roan had. Not even close. 

Ruyanir stretched, getting the kinks out of her joints. Yal stretched beside her and rested her head on Ruyanir's lap. Ruyanir stroked Yal's dark, aubergine fur, and she purred in content. 

Ze Roan was different. He definitely looked human, but he felt powerful. He wasn't like the other humans. 

Ruyanir knew he felt something between them too. It wasn't just her. She knew Ze returned her feelings. Whatever it was she had felt, he had felt it too, and it was powerful. Powerful enough for her to even consider being with him, despite him being a hostage at the moment. She knew someone powerful enough to remove that damn bond. But the only problem was that that person acted according to their wishes and preferred not to meddle in such matters and would just call it fate. 

She could almost hear that person's voice saying, 'What shall happen will. I don't want to change things.' 

Ruyanir sighed and sat up straight, Yal, her enyr, shifted in her sleep. She looked outside, not that it would make any difference. It was dark still, as it would be for a few weeks more. The clock on the wall showed the time - eight a.m. She had lived on Earth a long time now, yet, the continuous dark and continuous light for an extended period still bothered her. 

She wanted to live where the sun rose and set daily. Maybe Ze lived in such a place. He would welcome her, wouldn't he? 

Ruyanir had been sent away by her father to be 'protected.' Her father feared for her safety back on Ierne – not because he cared for her. But because she was a game piece and her survival was necessary for the Zayr. 

Most of Ierne was under the Hi'er rule, the sole surviving member being Irih'va on the throne. He had three-fourths of the planet under his reign – the largest Empire in the known Universe. 

It wasn't like the Hi'er family was terrible. In fact, they had acquired most of their Empire not through war, but by other smaller kingdoms requesting to be a part of the Empire. 

Strange as it seemed, it was true. True as their two suns. Kings of the smaller kingdoms gave up their kingship and became representatives of their cities to the Emperor. All because the Hi'er family ruled fairly, and every kingdom acquired by them prospered under their rule. It also ensured significant advantages to the representatives – the former rulers. 

The rumor was that the Hi'er family was the direct descendants of the Gods and Spirits and that they were blessed. Whatever they may rule would thrive. 

However, there were few Kingdoms that didn't want to be a part of the Hi'er Empire. And, the Hi'er Empire was considerate enough to leave them alone. There was trade between the Hi'er Empire and these smaller kingdoms and no more. The Hi'er Empire, in fact, gave more land to some of the smaller kingdoms to expand if the relationship was good. There was no other Empire or kingdom like the Hi'er Empire anywhere else in the known Universe. 

And then, there were the Zayr. 

Primarily - Ruyanir's father. His greed knew no bounds. Na'thwir wanted the Hi'er Empire to himself. So for centuries he had been waging war on the Empire. Of course, it wasn't of any use. The Hi'er army was undefeatable. And so, Na'thwir had long been trying to convince Ruyanir and Prince Irih'va to marry. Prince Irih'va had agreed once, long ago, about two hundred years ago. Ruyanir knew he had agreed only to end the unnecessary bloodshed on both sides. 

But, Ruyanir had refused. She knew her father's plan – to infiltrate the Empire from within. The Hi'er Empire was a beautiful one, none like it existed elsewhere. Ierne prospered under the Empire. She didn't want to destroy it for her father's greed. 

Her father had sent her to Ytèan for her protection, but she had escaped to the Earth. He hadn't been pleased when he'd found out about it. But he hadn't ordered her to go back to Ytèan. He had instead extra guards, who even to this day didn't leave her out of their sights. 

She knew her father had told her that the Hi'er Prince would kill her, and she wasn't safe at Ierne anymore. But she knew better. If Irih'va wanted her dead, she'd be dead already. No, Prince Irih'va was kind, gentle-hearted. She would be well taken care of as his wife. But, that's it; he wouldn't fall in love with her, nor she with him. If that had to happen, it should have a long time ago. They would be married to bring a false peace between the Zayr and the Hi'er's. But her father obviously wouldn't stop at that. It wasn't like Prince Irih'va couldn't take care of himself; he was powerful. Ruyanir just didn't want that situation to even arise. 

Prince Irih'va had come to Earth seeking her hand in marriage again. He did visit her once in a while, but he hadn't asked her to marry him in two hundred years. This time he had asked her himself. The situation back on Ierne must not be good if he'd come for her himself. 

Ruyanir wished her father would stop this nonsense. Why couldn't they live in their own land? It was a beautiful kingdom too. The Zayr's land was scared and bountiful; they didn't need more to survive. Prince Irih'va's father had given them more land when he had been alive to satisfy her father, Na'thwir. But her father wasn't a man who would be satisfied with land. He wanted more; he craved power. 

He wanted the whole of Ierne and the easiest way to get it was taking down the Hi'er Empire. It was also the most unfeasible. But that hadn't deterred Na'thwir; he had waged war over war for centuries now. Na'thwir had induced fear in his people – those who disobeyed him were punishable by death. 

Over the centuries, people who wanted the same as him remained by his side. Those few who hated his greed and could afford to leave left Ierne in search of refuge in other worlds. Those who could reach Ytèan were helped by Ithi'hra or R'ies organizations to find new places in Ytèan or other planets to live on. Ithi'hra managed several planets across the Universe and resettled the Zayr onto suitable planets. One of them was Earth. 

Ruyanir wondered if once – and ever – the problem of the Zayr on Ierne was solved, would these refugees return to Ierne? Or would they continue their peaceful lives on Earth? But, the Earth was in danger too now; thanks to those vile Ytai. 

It was only the Gale who truly cared for the Earth. Even the Leadership had its own greedy agendas. 

The Earth needed more people like Goldstar. 

****

Ruyanir looked at the aircraft, halfway across the island from where she stayed. Yal stayed back as she went ahead to get a closer look at it. She had just managed to outrun her guards at the house. They would be there in a minute or so. Oh, how she wished to get on it and leave. With Ze Roan. 

On'var caught up to her sooner than she had expected. 

"Princess!" he called out, gasping. 

Yal growled at On'var. He kept his distance from the enyr. On'var, by far, was the sweetest among the guards her father had sent to keep an eye on her. 

She walked to him, knowing there was no other way out. "I want to meet with Zhaleh." she declared. 

On'var nodded. "Yes, Princess." 

They walked to the South Land's Gale Headquarters in the Human Settlement of the Island. Yal stayed close to Ruyanir's heels, putting On'var at a safe distance from her. 

Ruyanir wished Goldstar was there at the moment. But, he wasn't; he was on the Main Lands. He would have done anything she requested for. Ruyanir liked Goldstar. She respected him. He was trying his best, in his own small way, to protect the Earth and to bring the Leadership down so that there was more equality among humans. The Universe needed more like him. 

"Princess," Zhaleh said, coming out to greet her. 

"Stay here." she ordered On'var, who nodded. 

"Let's go in," Ruyanir told Zhaleh, Yal followed her in. 

Ruyanir considered telling Zhaleh that the most wanted Thieron was within reach. But that would be a betrayal of Prince Irih'va; the Prince treasured Ah'n. Ruyanir didn't know the history they shared, but it was enough for Prince Irih'va to believe in Ah'n. And, the Prince was hardly wrong about anything, although she hated to admit it when it came to Ah'n's matter. 

Amelie was at her desk, going through something on the DigiScreen. There was so much technology back on Ierne, but the Zayr kept away from it. She always thought that her father felt technology liberated the people. Her father took advantage of the fact the Zayr were a traditional sort. 

Zhaleh gave Yal half her lunch. 

"You spoil her," Ruyanir mumbled, but appreciated it. Zhaleh didn't have to be so kind, but she always was. 

Zhaleh laughed. 

Humans lived such transient lives in comparison to the Iernei and Ytai. 

Zhaleh formed a fraction of Ruyanir's life. She was hundreds of years younger than she was. 

"How's everything?" 

"Good," Zhaleh replied as she stroked Yal's head. "Not so much on the Main Lands, though." 

Ruyanir picked a small pot up from the Premier's desk and held it to her face. "What is this?" 

"A succulent." 

"It's cute." 

"Yes, it is. How's the Prince?" 

"Good," Ruyanir replied, distracted by the succulent. 

"What's on your mind, Princess?" Zhaleh was a sharp girl. 

"When is Goldstar coming?" 

Zhaleh looked at her, her frown worth more than all the words she could have used. Ruyanir never voluntarily asked for Goldstar; she often heard of his arrival from her people. Well, everything had its first time. 

"What's the matter, Princess?" Zhaleh was concerned now. 

"I just...miss him," she said; it wasn't a complete lie. She missed him, honestly. 

Zhaleh didn't believe her entirely, but she wouldn't question a Princess. 

"It may be a while since they are busy planning an attack on the H'eon during the Ker'zan." Zhaleh trusted Ruyanir with every piece of information; she had never hesitated to reveal sensitive information. Ruyanir would never betray the girl's trust. 

"I see..." Ruyanir whispered more so to herself. 

She hoped Goldstar and Aija Rao-Oshiro would meet soon. She had the distinct feeling it would be a very long time until she would meet him next, and she needed him to have the strand of her hair for protection. He was up against a lot. 

"Are any transfers due to arrive?" 

"Yes," Zhaleh answered. "Next week." 

"Hmmm..." Ruyanir placed the tiny pot back on the desk. 

Zhaleh continued to look at her in concern, not believing Ruyanir's carefree act. 

"Zhaleh...." 

"Yes, Princess?" 

"Inform me when the transfers arrive." 

"Sure, Princess." 

Ruyanir left after a few more minutes of conversation. 

She hoped to see Ze before he left with the Ytai. Ze made her want to do things she hadn't given much thought to before.

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