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. Xan meets Vaughn, they spend time in Sier Ghat. Aa'di Irih'va has lunch with his grandfather, who tells him about his parents.

----Zuri waits for Aija to wake. When she goes to check on Luka, she hears Nala talking to Z'our.

----Thieron tells Aija he's in love with her. Aija tells him she hates him.

✽✽✽

****25.2 THIERON****

Thieron stared after Aija as she disappeared around the corner.

It'd taken every atom of courage in him to tell her he loved her. Only for her to lie to him. He knew well how she felt. Ayr'i had been right; there was no hate in her eyes. If anything, the war had proven how they felt about the other.

Thieron gritted his teeth, aware of M'nrn's eyes on him. He swivelled, every ounce of him wanting to run.

"Where are you going?"

Thieron faced M'nrn, ready to yell at her for no fault of hers.

"Damn it! Go after her!"

Thieron's anger ebbed with such force, he staggered backwards.

"I came to confess that I wanted to be with you," M'nrn spoke, tone spirited. "But it's obvious what's between you and her. Go after her."

"She doesn't want me to,"

"Idiot. She came to you. She came. She saw me and left. Now, you absolute fool, go after her."

Thieron ignored M'nrn's claim he was a fool. He wanted to go after Aija, but he also didn't want to insult her. She'd chosen to leave. If he went after her, it would be forceful. And he'd decided not to hurt her, in any which way.

"Ah'n," M'nrn stressed. "Go."

Thieron left, in the opposite direction, eyes lowered.

"You love her. She loves you. You're both idiots."

Thieron heard M'nrn walk away. He ran, out of the Manor, into the rainy night.

****

Thieron marched to the Council Room, detesting the dark-grey banners suffocating the Mux'xra Ust. He made a mental note to request Ru'n Lwr'vyn to remove them. They made Irih'va uneasy.

Leaving Zya'ara had taken effort. Eiva and Afè loathed letting them leave. But they'd let go; Eiva had asked him to remember he had a home ad family to always go back to.

Thieron waited outside the Council Room for the meeting to end. Ru'n Ve'dir offered him a seat, but his jitters didn't grant him stillness. He paced till the doors opened, spilling the members out. He acknowledged everyone with a bow. Ru'n Thr'vir playfully tapped the edge of his fh're to Thieron's shoulder. Ze, Thieron was surprised to see him, dipped his chin at Thieron and left behind Thr'vir.

Ru'n Ve'dir went in to announce Thieron's presence and returned to let him in. Thieron barged in; Irih'va stood, Ru'n Lwr'vyn behind him.

"You knew!" Thieron accused. "You knew of the war in Zya'ara. A warning would've been appreciated."

Neither Irih'va nor the guard flinched at his tone.

"It turned out well," Irih'va smiled.

Thieron huffed; he moved to sit but resisted. If he was doing what he wanted to, he couldn't sit before the Emperor. Irih'va noticed his stance; of course, he did. He sat, allowing Thieron to do the same.

Thieron took a deep breath and locked gazes with Irih'va. "I'll do it. I'll work for you, for the Crown, only you. Don't sign me into Ithi'hra."

Irih'va's lips parted, eyes moving rapidly as he sought confirmation in Thieron's eyes.

"On one condition,"

Irih'va's eyebrows rose.

"Remove the H'eon tattoo; it sullies me."

"That simple?"

"You're right. I should've asked for gold, a Mansion in the Capital, weapons,"

Ru'n Lwr'vyn rolled his eyes. Irih'va laughed.

Thieron smiled. He was sure it'd been days since Irih'va had smiled. The days around the blood-flowers' bloom and the death-anniversaries of his family were the worst. He'd taught the Emperor to immerse himself in training as he once had after his parents had died.

Thieron looked forward to living on Ierne, to have a purpose now that his old one was fulfilled.

Yet, he sighed. Maybe Aija would stay on Ierne, and things would still be salvageable.

But for now, Thieron had purpose.

For now, all was peaceful.

For now, Thieron breathed easy.

For now. 

✽✽✽

****END OF PART TWO****