The story so far:

---- Aija and the others are on the South-Land. They are waiting for the Leadership to attack. Goldstar is alive. They lost the Premiere, Leigh, Tailyn, Arah Lin. Ze is getting better in his training. The war comes to an end when Iernei spaceships arrive. Aija finds her brother Rei and Vincent alive. Aija and Thieron tell Goldstar all that has happened with them. Aija and Thieorn want to go to Ierne to give Aa'di Irih'va the Avo. Luka didn't expect to survive this long. He now feels at home with Thieron and Nala. Zuri goes home. She asks her parents to go to the South-land with her. They refuse. Xan accepts Var-Inu's offer to get an Iernei body. Xan is now Iernei. Thieron talks to Aija; she says she's confused and needs time. They all go to Ierne. Zuri roams the Palace. She meets Ze, who tells her he doesn't like Nala and makes Zuri doubt her relationship with Nala. Aija asks Irih'va to remove her bond with Thieron. He agrees and accomplishes it. Goldstar gives Premier Zhaleh a plan to use against the Leadership. Thieron wakes after the bond is removed. He misses Aija. Aa'di Irih'va asks him to go home and then to join the Ithi'hra to work with him.

----Thieron convinces Nala to go home. Xan learns from Aija what really happened to him; he feels hurt. He wants to warn his family about the experiments to save his siblings. Goldstar finds out Vincent is Ytean-human. And that he was responsible for his reputation. He is upset. He chooses to leave behind 'Goldstar' and be Rei. It is Ze's wedding day. He's happy. Diya and Nova are present. Ruyanir's and Ze's wedding takes place. Ze challenges Na'thwir for the position of Zayr chief. Thieron goes to Zya'ara with everyone. Meets his family after years. The Company is on their way to attack again. Aija and Thieron fight with the Zya'araeans against the Wy'sith. Aija gets dragged away from Thieron. Nala and Luka struggle to shield Eiva and Afe. Nala is losing control over her shield. Zuri arrives to help. 

----Thieron panics when he loses Aija. The ji'var attack him, but AIja finds him. Together they manage to kill the metal-controller, but when the Utzrn withdraw, Thieron realises it's to drown them.

----Aija calls Tai'un for help, and tells him she'll do anything in return for help. Tai'un uses the Avo to help them. 

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****22.3 THIERON****

Thieron sat cradling Aija in his arms.

With the Ro'ein dome gone as well, the rain drenched them with zest.

All around, his people rushed about, searching for survivors, even through their utter astonishment at what had happened.

Thieron brushed a wet strand of hair away from Aija's face, feeling only a splinter of solace. He was happy the Utzrn were defeated. Thanks to Aija. But at what cost?

He'd seen the Spirit, the winged-man hovering above them, a wondrous glow about him. He hadn't heard their conversation. He'd only seen their mouths move. The Spirit hadn't let him hear them. While Thieron hadn't always believed in the Holy-Entities, he'd heard several legends regarding them. As half-Ytai, he'd had no reason not to. He knew the Spirits asked for something in return if asked for help. It was to restore balance.

Thieron didn't know what Aija had agreed to as payment.

He knew his dreams had come true. He'd seen Aija throw the Àvo into the air; saw it morph into a Ro'ein. Just as it had in his dreams of her in the woods of his homeland.

But it didn't comfort him. Not one bit. His dreams had come to pass. But what had Aija agreed to?

Thieron traced the scar on her cheek lightly with his fingers, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her chest against his.

For now, she was safe in his arms. Alive. 

For now, he still had her.

As long as she was by him, they could stand against anything; the Utzrn, the world, the Gods.

And Thieron would wage war against the Gods and Spirits to keep Aija safe.

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