THE LIBRARY'S door slammed shut and Aricson faced their uninvited guest. She was a Half-breed fairy as far as he could tell. But holding her hand and checking her pulse, there were no signs of elemental flow.

'No fey emblem, no elemental flow, just a prismatic hair.' He thought as he examined her again.

"Oh my god! You have plenty of books. I think your library is even larger than our university." She gaped, scanning the room with awe.

She was about to break free from him but he grabbed her tighter and pushed her to the wall.

"That hurts! Don't forget you pulled me away from my food!"

Inward surprise coursed through him from her raised tone. Everyone either admired or feared him and his family yet this lady didn't even seem to know who she was facing. The Flamion may be aloof from the public but once people saw their eyes, they were immediately recognized as members of the House of Monarchs.

Not even once did this woman answer with 'my lord', or 'my lady'. She even dared to walk into his room, a place that only he could enter.

Not to mention, for some unknown reason, Aricson did not have his usual reaction. He would have thrown her off the island the moment he saw her there but instead, he stared at her like a creep until she was awake.

"Excuse me. You're so close," the woman noted, looking directly at him.

'Damn. Why am I spacing out?' He cleared his throat but his impassive face remained despite the surging awkwardness.

"Anyhow, why do you have a family name?" he stated the top question on his list about the peculiar creature in front of him.

"I cannot understand what you mean. Why does having a family name matter? Everyone has it."

She looked perplexed and it seemed genuine so he had to explain.

"It is common knowledge that only Ancient Clans and Royal Families would have their family name. Anyone who falsifies their identities and uses our names would be heavily punished. At most, it would mean death."

"What kind of rule is that? Am I going to be killed just because of that?"

Aricson lips tilted yet it was so minuscule for anyone to notice. 'At least, she still knows how to be anxious.'

"Killing is a good way but probably tortured would be the right word," he goaded further.

Though, that was totally true since no one would dare to fake their identities using the family names, especially theirs. Everyone knew the current Ancient Clan of Flamion only had nine members with it.

"You freak!"

He quickly avoided her hand before a slap could land. She was trembling a few seconds ago but those irises are spitting fire now. He moved away, taking the nearest chair without letting go of their eye contact.

"Next. What are you? You don't have any elemental flow in you but you have a fairy's hair," he stated while his elbows were on his knees as he propped his chin.

"What are you talking about? And what does it have to do with my hair?"

Her confusion confused him too. 'Is she deliberately acting like this?'

"You're obviously not an Enchanter but you cannot be a Mundran either. If so, are you a Half-breed of a shifter and a fairy?"

There might be a chance for a mix of fairy and shifter to have prismatic hair and no elements. However, it was unheard of since those with fairy blood were given the ability to wield elements.

The current circumstance was truly beyond his knowledge.

"I told you. I! Am! Human! Do I still need to spell it out for you? I don't even understand what you are talking about. What's an Enchanter and Mundran, anyway?" She had both her hands on her hips as she glared at him, emphasizing each word.

"You don't know?"

She crossed her arms and glared at him. "You think I would ask if I do?"

"You have a smart mouth."

"And, you're not answering my questions."

"And, I am supposed to be the one who interrogates you," he clarified then pointed at the chair in front of him. "Sit."

She ungracefully flopped on the couch and eyed him. "Now, what?"

He didn't know if he was amused or irritated. No one was this ill-mannered to him. As the Rei of the Ancient Clan which had the same authority as the king, no one was above him. Even other races revered him yet she continued talking to him casually.

"I don't know what you're scheming but it should be a common knowledge that even children know. They are the humans who can use magic while those who can't are called the Mundran."

"Oh right, I almost forgot I am in a magical world," she commented in a bored tone and sighed.

He did not get what she meant so he disregarded her words. He recalled the conversation with his siblings at last night's dinner. They had mentioned that the woman said that her hair was fake which was impossible.

There was no way a person could change the color of their hair no matter how powerful one was, likewise with the pointed ears that they had. No race could change their origin mark — a symbol of their race.

"Now, explain your hair color."

"I changed it and my original hair color would go back when it grows. I can't believe that is a problem here," she answered, nonchalantly.

"How?"

"Artificial colors, duh." She rolled her eyes which reminded him of how Dryann did every time she was annoyed.

But as far as he knew, artificial colors could only be used for products or food. There was no way that was true which led to more questions.

"How did you even come to our island without us being alarmed?"

"Honestly, I don't know why I am stuck here either. I just woke up on the beach, saw your brother, fainted a few times, did not even get a decent meal, and now, here, talking to you."

Aricson continued probing, not minding her impudence.

"What about the sword?"

She looked like she remembered something and gasped. "Oh my god! The sword! Where is it anyway? I would be dead if I lost it. That must've cost all of my salaries for a hundred years!"

"It's in my hands. We don't know what'll happen if it stays on your side."

She groaned. "I told you I have no bad intentions and I'm not even willing to be here. Besides, that sword is not mine and I don't even know why it's with me."

His eyes locked on her. Aricson had encountered countless people living for several decades, and he could tell she spoke of the truth. Nonetheless, granted that when danger ever arose, he had enough power to stop her.

"I'll bring back your things, but I'll keep the sword until you leave the isle. Don't you have a family to return to?"

"Of course! How I wish I could go back! Oh my god! I hate this! Why am I even trapped here?" Her gaze became clouded with uncertainties.

'And, what did she mean by trapped?' He thought. She was undoubtedly odd so another conclusion came to him.

"Are you perhaps cursed?"

"If this was a curse, then maybe I am," she said, looking away.

He approached her and grabbed the hem of her sleeve, pulling it down without a word. Erkhan cited she had a mark on her body.

"W-what are you d-doing?" She tried to struggle but he kept her in place.

He ignored her screaming as his eyes focused on her right arm. There was a sun-shaped birthmark that was a shade darker than her skin.

"Ferios."

Aricson summoned the spirits of fire. The Mago's language flowed fluidly from his mouth until a magic circle was completed under their feet. The intricate patterns gave off a faint red glow, floating a little from the wooden floor.

Nothing was amiss until the magic circle disappeared. The sun-shaped mark was not a curse. It was similar to a birthmark and nothing more.

She did not notice the magic circle, either. That further proved she didn't have an elemental flow since only those who had could see it. This was why humans were the most vulnerable race in Elith as the majority lack the ability to recognize magic.

"What do you mean by trapped?" He let go and inquired once more.

She quickly fixed her clothes and was about to move but he held her in place.

"You pervert!" she shrieked as she fixed her clothes. " I! Told! You! I! Don't! Know!"

Her eyes were seething as her pitch rose higher, confounding him where her courage to shout at him came from.

"Then, why are you he—"

She suddenly covered his mouth. He was caught off guard and stumbled on the chair. She had her knee on his side as she crouched with both hands on his shoulder. Her eyelids squinted, staring right through him, showing the wave of irritation flashing on those brown irises.

"Urgh! Listen to me. I have enough. I don't care anymore. I am not from here, okay? I should not have been here in the first place if not for the sword. The world I came from is nowhere similar here. You are everything that was not supposed to exist in my world. To put it simply, I am from a different world, get it?"

He scowled, trying to apprehend her statements. "Are you saying there's another world other than Elith?"

"Yes!"

She moved away from him while his frown deepened.

"You finally let my words get through your head. I know it isn't much believable and I feel the same at first too but I've been here for days. I had no choice but to accept the fact that everything is real. Oh my god..." Her voice cracked, and her eyes glistened.

'Hell'. Aricson let out a groan. It didn't take a genius to know what would happen next but he did not have time to prepare when she started to cry. And it was not a simple cry, she was bawling.

"I miss my mom and dad! I even miss my stupid brothers! I miss my annoying little sister! I want to go home! I don't care even if they become crazier as long as I'm with them!"

Heavy sobs filled the room, reminding him of how his younger siblings used to cry as if the world ended. But, they never cried after the accident that happened in their family. It had been a long time since he dealt with one.

Aricson could only sigh in resignation before reaching out to her and patting her head.