She brings her head back down and looks at Jīvitaya. "We should probably head back now, it's getting dark."

"Why, does the forest get more dangerous after nightfall?"

"Well yes, but all forests do that, even the ones on Earth. It's because we, as in beings that appear like us, aren't adapted to the night and there are dangerous creatures that are. But that's not why I want to head back."

Jīvitaya frowns. "Then why?"

"I don't want to be near the well after dark, and I want to eat some food, don't you?" Jīvitaya smiles softly at that, and her stomach rumbles. Her mother lets out a tinkling laugh. "I guess I was right!"

They head through the woods back to the palace, not realizing that the well behind them flares up again with its dark light. The spot remains flickering in Jīvitaya's mind like a beacon, but she pushes it aside. If it's so dangerous that no one will go there, then she shouldn't let it pull her in. Despite knowing that the well is dangerous, she feels sad for the girl in the story. What did they think she committed? By the time they arrive back at the city, the sun is almost set. When they get to the palace, it is fully dark, and both the Laial and Kysanden are pacing. As the girls emerge into view, the Laial practically lunges forward, stopping just in front of Nitheina.

"Where have you both been! You've been gone for hours!"

Jīvitaya stares down at the ground, but her mother places a comforting hand on the Laial's - her father's - shoulders. "We were in the woods, Alder."

"What were you doing?"

"Making sure Jīvitaya didn't get herself into trouble."

Her father looks over at Jīvitaya, and she waves at him sheepishly. He runs his hand along his face and sighs. "What were you even doing in the woods, you don't know the dangers yet."

Jīvitaya retorts back. "Just because I don't know all the dangers doesn't mean that I can't take care of myself! I'm not a little kid. Besides, I have Laira to protect me." From her side, Laira lets out a huff.

Jīvitaya's mother's face twitches into a brief smile, but her father's face looks set in stone. Her mother saves the day, or at least saves Jīvitaya from feeling her father's wrath for the first time in her life.

"Alder, let us eat before we all collapse from hunger. It's late and I know my stomach is grumbling."

As if on cue, Jīvitaya's stomach grumbles, as if it wants to echo the sentiment. Her mother laughs and her father's face finally cracks into a tiny smile.

"Very well."

He leads them to a small circular table set up in a courtyard, and they all sit down in a chair, Kysanden next to Jīvitaya, with Jīvitaya's mother on her left side. Almost instantaneously after they take their seats, a small group of people carrying trays enters the courtyard. As they distribute the plates, the royals thank them, and Jīvitaya happily follows suit.

She looks down at her plate to see something that looks very close to foods on Earth, just with subtle color variations. She takes a bite of the bird meat on her plate and is pleasantly greeted by the flavors of honey and garlic intermingling with the bird meat, which is like the most flavorful piece of chicken in existence. She internally moans at the flavor combination and beside her, her mother quietly chuckles. When Jīvitaya looks at her quizzically, her mother explains.

"Your aura is showing how much you enjoy the meal."

"Aura?"

"It shows your emotions with a band of light around the edges of your body."

"Oh." Jīvitaya doesn't know how to feel about that.

"I can stop looking at your aura if it bothers you."

Jīvitaya shakes her head. "No, it's fine, but thank you."

Her mother nods and they finish their meal in silence. The servers then bring out dessert, and Jīvitaya is surprised to find that it looks exactly like the dessert from Gaia that she loved so much. She lets out a startled laugh and eagerly takes a bite. Not only does it look the same, but it also tastes the same, just with infinitely more depth and overall, tasting so much better. When Kysanden looks down at the dessert and back to Jīvitaya's face, he lets out a bark of laughter as well.

Jīvitaya's mother looks at him, confused. "What's so funny, Lilar Kysanden?"

He corrects her. "Please don't call me Lilar, I prefer to just be called by my name, or in her case," he nods at Jīvitaya "Kys."

"But what was funny?"

"This dessert." She still looks confused and he elaborates. "On Gaia, they served this and Jīa adored it. She was so sad that we left before we got the recipe, and I guess she now gets to have it for the rest of her life."

"Jīa?" Jīvitaya catches a glimpse of flickering light - from gray to a lighter color - around her mother as she speaks.

Jīvitaya responds to her mother's question before Kysanden can do so. "That's Kys' nickname for me. What about it confused you?"

"It's just . . . that was what we were going to name you." Jīvitaya sits there dumbfounded as her mother continues speaking. "In regards to the dessert, it originated here on La'Vi'Ai, and there was a traveler from Gaia who visited and took the dessert back with him. He must have tried to recreate it and it seems he was successful."

Jīvitaya nods and devours the delicious dessert before yawning just as she takes her last bite. Her father catches a glimpse of it and laughs.

"It is probably time to retire. Would you like us to show you your room?"

Jīvitaya frowns at this, confused. "It's not the same one as before?"

"No, that one is a guest room, your new one is not."
Her mother notices Jīvitaya's whirling thoughts that must be presenting themselves in her aura and adds to her husband's remark. "We're hoping you will stay here, that's why we chose the room we did."

Jīvitaya smiles. "I don't see why I wouldn't want to stay. What about Kys?"

The Laial speaks again. "His room is near yours, don't worry about not being able to find him."

Jīvitaya nods and they lead her to her room, Laira on one side of her and Kysanden on the other. When she enters the room, she gasps at how similar it is to the room she had on Earth. Like her old room on Earth, the bed in this one is set into an alcove with a giant window, but this one is open to the elements.

"Won't I fall out?"

"No, try to put your hand out the window."

Jīvitaya tries and finds that the edge of the window is hardened air. "How . . ."

"All La'Vi have the power of air. Soon we will learn what other powers you have, if you have any besides air, and teach you how to use them. Of course, I think you have at least nature as well, likely a bit of spirit, and maybe more. Do you like the room?"

Jīvitaya spins in a circle. "I love it!"

Her mother grins and exits the room. Kysanden is about to leave the room as well when Jīvitaya calls him back. "Kys?"

He sits on the edge of the bed. "Yes?"

"How long are you going to stay now that I've found where I belong?"

"However long you want me to. I don't have anything to go back to, not really. My father likely disowned me for saving you, remember? And I like you, and I like this planet. I have a younger brother who could take my title as Crown Prince, so I have no reason to leave. Now sleep, or you're going to pass out."

Jīvitaya tries to protest. "But I'm not tired!" Her body betrays her and she lets out a long yawn. She flushes. "Okay, maybe I'm a little tired."

Kysanden laughs. "Go to sleep, Jīa."

He leaves the room and with a sigh, Jīvitaya blows out the candles situated around the room, plunging the room into darkness. She slides beneath the covers of the bed, enveloped in warmth. Laira jumps onto the bed in lynx form and curls up in Jīvitaya's arms, her whiskers gently tickling Jīvitaya's cheeks. Jīvitaya smiles and kisses Laira's fuzzy head before letting herself drift into sleep.

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What powers do you think Jīvitaya will have?

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.