Being born different was one of the most blessed and cursed things that could happen to you at the same time. Not everybody accepted change positively and often change was bullied in form of loud shouting and cat-calling to being forcefully possessed or easily broken.

I was born wingless but I was from the species of The Warrior Pixies. At first people thought I was alien. You see, we stamp "alien" upon the things we have no knowledge of. And instead of finding more about them, we only shrug it away saying it was a "miracle".

My birth was a "miracle" in the Kingdom of Aravaan. Apart of being wingless and blonde haired, I was also born to a family of werewolves.

A pixie born amongst wolves, can you imagine?

And no my mother had no pixie lover or commit any kind of infidelity in her marriage. She is the Luna of our pack and claims to have never personally met a male pixie. Male pixies are very rare anyway, there are only twenty of them alive in the Forest of Blossoms.

Another reason of me being a "miracle" is the fact that pixies are never born from a womb, they are created by white magic of sorts that only the Oracles know of. Each one of us has a different power and a single powerful element that they can control. It's either land, water, air, fire or Nature.

I can control three of them.

Alien, I know.

I'm fine with them. The more power, the better I am in combat class. No?

But the biggest, most cruelest of all these things is that I'm short. The gods gave me everything but refused to give me height?

Like why!?

If they could make me so "alien" amongst the pixies that they don't ever talk to me, scared I'd kill them or something. Why wouldn't they just make me a tad bit taller?

I groan at my thoughts as I try to reach the jar of cookies that mother baked specifically for me. And my mother bakes the most delicious cookies, I tell you. My tongue pokes out of my mouth as I stretch upwards on my tippy toes to try and grab the bowl sitting in the first shelf above the bar.

And I reach it, my fingers brush against the heavy glass before I slip and it moves further away from the push of my fingers. I cry in frustration, stomping my feet on the floor like a toddler, "Kayden!" I cry out in the loudest voice I can manage as I try to call for my older brother to help me.

"Kayden!!!" I scream louder before waiting a few beats, tapping my foot impatiently on the floor. But when he doesn't come down on time, I decide to change my tactic. "Kayden! I fell and I'm bleeding!" I cry on top of my lungs which really isn't needed as his wolf hearing is extremely sharp and he could probably hear me when I called for him the first time.

I hear rustling and feet thumping and I smirk when I see my older brother enter the kitchen, huffing. His eyes take me over frantically before they come to rest on my face, where a smile is etched, "gotcha!" I giggle before doing a little dance of victory.

"Rise! How many times have I told you to not play these fucking games with me?" He growls loudly at me, well too loud.

"But you won't come when I was calling you, Kay! I'm hungry!" I cry out whilst kicking the ground with heels. I feel the sting of tears up in my nose and I rapidly blink to clear it, not wanting to make my brother worry.

But he notices, apparently wolves can smell tears too. Go figure!

He has his arms wrapped around me before I can take a step back. "Awh baby Rise! C'mon now don't cry," he coes at me before lifting me off the ground and hugging me tight.

Now I can't stop my tears as they tumble down my cheeks in stupid big beads. Don't you hate it when you're all fine and under control but the second someone gives you a hug or asks you if you're okay, you become a mess? "Ah! Let me go, you big bad wolf. Don't baby me!" I shout in his ear whilst trying to wipe off my tears. I really don't know why I'm crying but I think I'll just blame it on the fact that I'm hungry. And short!

But really it's because he shouted on me and my princess butt is not immune to shouting. Phobia to loud noises and all.

"Hey Rise! I'm sorry, please don't cry," he sways me gently before putting me on the counter and wiping my face of all tears. "Now tell me what you needed me for?" His teal eyes rake over my face kindly as he flicks my nose and I let out a soft giggle.

Timidly, I point towards the jar on the shelf, now embarrassed of being so dramatic in front of my brother. "Can you give get me that jar, please? Mom said she put my cookies in it." I say softly whilst looking at him with wide green eyes. He visibly gulps before scratching the back of his neck and taking two steps away from me.

"Well those," he says backing up until he's at the entrance of the kitchen, a sheepish look on his face. "Why don't you ask Nancy to make you something else?"

"No," I frown, "I want my cookies," I look at him in confusion before looking up at the jar again. "Give me my cookies, Kayden!" I pout.

His eyes widen before he turns, "yeah well those. Iatethemalllastnight." He says in one breathe but I'm able to catch it, a shriek leaving my lips. "Sorry, Rise." He shouts before he runs away at werewolf speed leaving me fuming in the kitchen.

"Nancy!"

*

That stupid excuse of a big bad wolf!

Ate all my cookies!

I'm going to unman him for his mate when I get home!

I huff, mad at my brother as I'm making my way through the thickly crowded hallway of the school, bumping and pushing people until I make it through my locker.

Bullies!

Bullies, everywhere!

Why would they give me the top locker when they know I'm a little pixie?

Not more than four feet and eight inches tall!?

Huffing, yet again. I look up at the locker in longing.

What would I give to have wings? I pout longingly.

Suddenly, I'm lifted off the ground and raised to the level of my locker by huge hands. No, I'm not kidding when I say they're huge. They literally can circle my waist with their length.

"Now, isn't it my favourite wingless pixie?" He laughs, I roll my eyes.

"Raban,  You bully! I'm the only wingless Pixie in existence." I roll my eyes but open my locker nevertheless. Taking advantage of my new height I quickly retrieve the books I need from my locker.

"Awh! c'mon shorty, you know I love you." He teases, tickling my sides as he suspends me midair with his ridiculous wizardry.

I giggle, trying and failing to save myself from the merciless onslaught of long fingers, "Raban, stop! will you!"

"Say it, you love me too." His joy is contagious as he pokes my tummy repeatedly.

I'm breathless to this point, so I'm quick to surrender to his demands, "Fine!" I huff, soft giggles escaping me still. "I love you too, Raban." I spread my arms out to him, smiling innocently at my best friend now that I'm on the same level with his six foot two frame.

"Yay, Rise!" He hollars, making me laugh even more before enclosing me in a hug.

"Raban! Put my little pixie down right now!" Comes the voice of an exaggeratingly enraged Lileena.

"Lili!"

"Fuck! Lili!"

Me and Raban exclaim at the same time, happiness from me and exasperation from him. We pull back to look at our other best friend, the third corner to our very diverse triangle.

And there stands Lili, in all her royalty. Her whitish hair sways as she taps her right foot against the floor, watching Raban and me with her wide violet eyes which are now narrowed at the big mountain of muscle holding me. I cheer. He groans.

"Alright, alright! Can't even have a little fun because of you," He murmurs, placing me down on my own two feet.

I'm quick to escape his cage of arms to dive into Lili's, "Lili! I missed you!" I exclaim.

She chuckles, squeezing me. "I missed you more, shortie! Sorry I had to leave you alone with this crazy wizard." I know she's giving a mean look to Raban over my head as she says this. "Princess duties and all," She huffs, before releasing me.

Yes, Lili is a princess, the Fearie Princess of the Kingdom of Aravaan. She is tall, 5'9" and so beautiful. She has long, vanilla coloured hair that reaches up to her waist and sharp violet eyes, surrounded by dense, long lashes.

She's the school's IT girl. Of course, she'd be cause she's a princess!

And my second mother. Although she's only a week older than me. But I guess my small height makes people feel protective of me and view me as a child, huh?

I roll my eyes at my thoughts. Suddenly, I'm lifted off the ground, yet again by a very blessed in the hand department, wizard. He places me on his shoulders like I weigh nothing before he approaches Lili, "Hey!" I cry, grasping his chestnut mane to steady myself.

"Shh, you were in my way, shortie." He laughs before hugging Lili. "How's our princess?" He asks, tracing Lili's cheek.

Aaaaannd Raban fancies Lili.

She smirks, "I'm quite alright," She bites on his finger before releasing it. "Now put her down before I call my guards,"

And Lili? Well not so much.

I think...

I can almost hear the smile in his voice, "Anything for you, Princess." He mutters, causing Lili to flush a deep red. They stare at each other of a minute, Lili's eyes are large and wide as she gazes at the jerk under me.

"Awwh, that's really cute you guys!" I say sarcastically. "Why don't you guys go ahead and kiss. No no, don't mind me. I'm good up here swatting flies," Folding my arms, I huff. Looking away.

My eyes are instantly caught by deep grey ones. The connection taking my breathe away and almost making me lose my balance on Raban's shoulders.

There in the entrance of the Hallway, stands the Prince of the Underworld. His huge frame almost taking up all the space of the door. His think raven coloured hair falling upon his forehead, a few tendrils touching his eyes. He has an extremely masculine face, tightly locked jaw and unrealistically high cheek bones cornering his long, intense eyes. His nose is sharp, pointed and narrow. Standing proud over insanely soft, plump lips. They contrast against his pale skin with a pinkish hue.

His frame is large, too large. He must be almost 6'3" and muscular. With broad shoulders and a thin waist.

I quickly snatch my eyes away when I catch a smirk on his face, seemingly after finding, I was checking him out. My cheek burn scarlet.

What's Supreme Royalty doing in a Warrior School?

The voice of Lili distracts me from my thought, pulling me back to the present. "Raban, let her down. NOW," She commands, tapping her foot with her hands on her waist.

Raban chuckles, amused. "Yes, Princess." He mock salutes before throwing me up in the air with a gust of magic wind.

"Hey!"

I punch him once I land safely in his arms and he let's me on my feet. I stomp my feet, childishly. "Lili! He always does this to me!" I groan.

Lili just chuckles, wrapping a long arm around my shoulder and starts walking us in the direction of the class.

"It's not my fault that you're created so tossable!" I hear Raban laugh behind me before his thick, heavy arm also settles on my shoulders, almost crushing me.

"Get your hands off me, you filthy little wizard!" I throw his arm away. "I'm upset with you for five minutes!" I pout at him.

"Oh c'mon, Rise. You know you love me," I elbow him in the stomach to show him how much I love him but it seems to not affect him in the slightest as he winks at me. I huff in frustration.

Lili laughs at us as we walk. We turn to enter our Magical Arts classroom, sitting upon the third bench that we share amongst the three of us.

"I've heard Prince Killean is visiting school," Lili absent-mindedly mutters.

Oh, I forgot all about it!

"Oh yeah! I saw him at the entrance," I say, turning to face Lili, sitting at my right.

Her eyes widen, flashing between violet and blue. A clear indicator she's nervous. "No way! I thought Father was only trying to make me uneasy. When did you see him?" She asks, and I feel Raban's frame lean over me to listen to our conversation.

"Just a few minutes ago, in the hallway when Raban had me on his shoulders." I reply. The memory of those stormy greys flashing in my eyes, making me jittery.

But why?

"I've heard he's looking for a Warrior to accompany him to the Majestic Ball of Gods," Raban say from behind me while playing with my blonde hair.

"Why would he want to take a Warrior, why not a date?" I ask, looking up to Raban's jaw over my head to see his eyes.

"No idea, sweet cheeks." He drops a kiss on top of my head before looking back at Lili. "What did the King say?" He asks.

"He said he wants me to "impress" him enough to take me to the ball," Lili shrugs, playing with her hair.

I feel Raban stiffen behind me before he mutters,"Of course he would say that," i almost hear him roll his eyes before he goes back to his doodling when the teacher enters the classroom.

My mind wanders off to the piling thoughts of stormy greys just as Miss Ginger starts her lesson on colourful spells and their use.

*********

I hate being short, I swear.

I pout my lips when the long people of our trio, with their long legs and big strides leave me behind in the swarm of students to attend to their upcoming classes.

I stomp my feet, groaning when people start bumping against me and crushing me in the process of going to their respective classes.

No one cares for little individuals in this world of tall people!

Suddenly, I'm yanked by my hand to one side. A weird type of sensation goes up my arm from the touch, much like the time when once Raban put the invisible snakes spell on me and I felt snakes crawling over my body all day.

But that was a bad, bad sensation...

This although... hmm.

"You think too much, little one." A thick, husky voice says as I'm pulled into another hallway.

His eyes swirls with wisps of grey as they look down in my green ones.

And suddenly I'm in a trance, peeking into his two grey storms of eyes. Looking closer, there is a white ring that surrounds his pupils perfectly. His eyes are the perfect visual of looking at the eye of a storm from above.

Breathtaking...

His mouth curves into the symblence of a small smile and I find my sense finally returning, my conscious follows it in the form of embarrassment that coats me cheeks.

Bow, you idiot. He's the Prince of your fricking existence.

Oh right!

I bow my head finally listening to my subconscious, " Your H-highness," I stutter. Cursing myself mentally for being so nervous.

Very cute! My subconscious slaps her forehead.

"Risalvia," He nod, my full name slipping off his lips with ease.

How does he know my name again?

"Because I'm your Prince, little one." His voice is firm but his eyes shine with mirth when my own, wide ones snap up to meet his.

Did he just read my mind?

"Yes, I did kitten. You talk too much in your little head," He murmurs, turning to walk away from me.

I watch his broad back walk further away from me,creating distance between us that is undesirable for me. My heart clenches in longing.

What's wrong with me?

"Go to your class, sweetheart." His voice rings in the empty hallway just as he dissappear into thin air. I'm  finally able realise the frantic beat of my heart once his presence is gone, my breathing has increased and I pat my chest to calm myself. What kind of magic did he do on my body,  and hoe can he teleport without a portal?

What is he?

I don't remember reading about the specie of the Supreme Royals. I think it's because they don't want people to know their weaknesses. Smart War Strategy is what they call it.

Knowing too little about your opponent can result in  them to plan a collapsive war strategy, giving you an upper hand on your enemy.

I think about it the whole time, as I walk to out Combat Training class. I see, Raban and Lili are already there, sporting their combat attires.

I pout at them grudgingly when I catch their eye. They seem apologetic, giving my innocent looks as I make my way to the changing rooms to change into my attire.

After five minutes, I'm armoured and guarded as I make my way to my traitorous friends. "Risie!" Raban exclaims, pretending to be nice."I thought we lost you," He scrambles to pick me in his arms before spinning like meeting me after a very long time.

I huff, pinching his nose, "You guys are so bad! You forgot about me," I kick my legs, wanting to be put down.

"Awh! Sorry cutie. We didn't realise when we lost you in the crowd," Lili coos as Raban drops a sloppy kiss on my cheek, annoying me.

"Hey!" I wipe my cheek and am about to hit his beautiful face when I feel a strong presence in the room.

Coach Gilbert enters the room followed by Prince Killean and the room comes to a standstill.

I clutch Raban's shoulders when the weight of his power settles upon my shoulders. It seems like Raban and Lili are having a hard time keeping themselves up as well.

So does everyone in this room.

His eyes come to meet mine, darkening instantly when he assess the arms around me. Raban instantly, let's go of me. Leaving me to stand on my two feet.

Okay that wasn't such a good idea.

I groan, trying to keep upright by his sheer display of power now that Raban's support is gone. I sway upon my feet as I try to firmly plant them over the ground.

After a beat everyone in the room bows, finally realising "who" is in the room. My knees hit the ground with a cruel thud, no wonder getting bruised but I'm too thankful to not be standing on my feet anymore to notice that.

The power is lifted, absorbed back into his body as he steps forward. "Rise!" His voice booms in the huge classroom, bouncing back from the walls with clarity.

I feel everyone stand around me, Raban's arm coming down to help my shaky figure as well. I sway on my feet, losing my balance before quickly leaning against his body for support. My energy draining in seconds.

"Hey! You alright? " Raban whispers in my ear, Lili's hand places itself upon my arm as well.

"Yeah, I think." I reply before shaking my head and standing up on my own support.

"Hello, Warriors," Professor Gilbert speaks, addressing us. "Supreme Prince Killean is here with us today, as you can see. He's in search of a Warrior to accompany him to the Majestic Ball. So today, we wouldn't be learning anything. Just demonstrating what we've already learnt in the past classes. The Prince will assess your skill and in the end, choose his companion. So pair up and start fighting!" He claps his hands, shu-ing us away.

"Hey! Rise..." Lili's cut off by Professor Gilbert's stern voice.

"Princess Lileena, please come here." He says.

I look back at The Prince seating himself upon a high chair.

Well, high for me.

As he takes in the scene before him, his eyes catch mine briefly before they come to rest upon the approaching Lili towards him. His lips curve into a soft smile, before he mutters something I can't really catch from this distance to her.

"Were you alright back there?" Raban's voice startles me from my ogling.

I look back at him, smiling, "Yeah, the power was just a lot for my fragile frame," I giggle, winking at him.

He chuckles as he ruffle my straight, knee length blond hair. "Thought so, baby. Wanna fight?" He smirks, producing spears in his hands through magic.

"You got it," I smile innocently at him before backing up a good distance away from him.

"We can use our abilities right?" I ask him once I'm standing a good ten feet away from him.

"Professor didn't say anything about not using them," He winks, throwing the spear in his right hand towards me with a speed unknown to the human species.

I panic.

Wielding the air, I diverge it away from me the very last second before it can hit me. "Raban you idiot! At least give me a head start before pulling off crap like that!" I stomp my feet. My hands still shivering from the sudden rush of adrenaline.

"Sorry, sweetheart. But the enemy won't care if you're ready or not. Here's a head start now!" Without wasting a second he throws a colourful ball of energy my way. But I'm prepared for it now.

Creating a bow of air with my palms, I stretch it open, widening my hands just as the ball strikes in the middle. Dissolving into nothing.

I smirk.

"My turn!"

"Oh shit..."

I hit him with a whip of wind before he has the chance to finish his sentence, throwing him against a tree bark with the impact.

He groans, "What the fuck, Rise. I wasn't ready!" He sneers just as he stand up on his feet.

"Sweet! But the enemy won't care if you're ready or not," I repeat his words back to him as I give him my most innocent look before clenching my fists. " I'm sure you won't be ready for this too!" I create two whips of air in my hands as I start to hit him with them in quick succession.

He growls, producing bows with magic and douging the blows with the his best of ability.

Tapping my foot on the ground, I force it to move downward. Creating a mould in the ground just at his feet. He steps into it, losing balance and falls on his face.

I chuckle, "Raban, you're too easy!" I clap my hands laughing as he turns around with a dirt caked face.

"You little nymph!" He growls before tackling my unready form, sitting on top of me, he holds my hands up my head. "Huh! Who's easy now?" He smirks. Creating a spear of magic before his chest.

"Awwh! You're too cute," I chuckle, looking at the vines of a nearby tree. I wield them with my eyes, maniplating them to crawl against the ground before wrapping them around Raban's unexpecting hands, ordering them to pull him off me.

And they do, dragging him off me. They suspend him against the branch of a tree by his hands. "Rise! Put me the fuck down!" He begs.

"Look who's begging to be put down now!" I laugh, creating more vines and tickling his tummy with them.

He laughs loudly, arching to save himself from the onslaught of persistent vines. "This is for the morning, jerk! See how it feels to be on the receiving end of the tickle torture?"

"Rise! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Please put me down baby, I won't tickle you ever again," He wheezes through his laughter, breathless. I know he would break his promise just tomorrow but oh well.

I snap my fingers to compel the vines to release him. He falls unceremoniously on his butt, whining. "You're so cruel, Rise!" He groans, rubbing his butt.

"And genius," a thick voice says from behind me...

****************