They washed and tugged my hair before blow-drying it to perfection. My nails were filed and painted over with black. I had to submit to a facepack and tweezing but luckily no waxing. All the hair on my arms and legs had been singed off ages ago due to all the fire work I did.

I was shoved out of the parlor with a full face of makeup, yet still in my shoddy clothes. I had no idea how they already knew to put on a black polish because my invitation arrived later, along with a long, slinky black dress.

The material was smooth. Sifting it through my hands, it shimmered with an unseen glitter but it was just perfectly muted. It wasn't anything too fancy or over the top in terms of its design but Wafi had left the pricetag on.

I had to sit down before I had a panic attack.

It took a few moments to make those numbers disappear from dancing in front of my eyes but I eventually stood up and held it against me. I'll never know how Wafi found out my fit but it seems to be perfect.

The dress was bunched up at the chest, probably tight and definitely strapless. It higher on one side of my waist, the waves falling from it just perfectly enough to raise that side of my dress and show off a considerable amount of leg. It trailed a bit on the ground when I put it on, but fell a bit better once I put on the heels he'd sent too.

I carefully avoided any white piece of paper possible stuck on the box as I pulled out the strappy black stilettos. I didn't want to have two panic attacks in a day.

Just looking at them made my feet hurt. Luckily, the healer had paid extra attention to my ankle while I'd been snoozing. It was fixed but I was starting to wish it wasn't just to have an excuse not to wear them.

I sighed, careful as I tugged them on. I didn't need the pricetag to know they were expensive just the brand logo was enough to have me hiccupping. The shape of the gown with the added height made me look slender, almost elegant. If only I had a bedazzled silver clutch to go with it. I still looked good, I mean, I would catcall myself walking down the street. Damn.

I ran a hand over my hair, primping it a bit. The makeup the giggling ladies downstairs had done was exquisite. It didn't seem over the top or caked on. The eyeshadow was dark and smokey, the lipstick just red enough to draw attention to my lips but not overpowering to look at. My hair framed my face in delicate strands, tumbling down my back and over my bare shoulders in careful waves.

I twisted a bit in front of the mirror, to see how the dress accentuated my figure. It didn't leave much to imagination and my cleavage was certainly out to play tonight. Luckily I had the cups to hold it up. I glanced around the mess in my room. Why'd these dresses and shoes come with so much tissue packaging? I pulled my heels off so I could walk around the room, bend and clean up better to waste some time before leaving. It was written that transportation would be provided so I had to wait for a call to go down to the lobby.

It didn't take long for the call to come. The receptionist sounded rather flustered for some reason.

I nervously glanced up and down the hallway before click-clacking in my heels to the elevator. The attendant's eyes widened considerably. I gave him a soft smile. "Lobby, please."

There was an awkward silence in the small space as he continued to stare at my reflection and I continued to pretend not to notice. The lobby was fairly empty this time of the night. A few people coming and going, a few contenders from earlier sitting around chatting stopped to stare. I very consciously ducked my head and headed straight to the door.

I couldn't help a visible grimace passing through my face as I realised the car waiting for me was a sports car. Sleek, sexy and navy blue. I'm not the only girl looking good tonight.

I stifled a sigh as my eyes met Wafi's. He was casually leaning against the passenger side waiting for me. Time to do this song and dance again.

"Prince Regent!" I tried to sound flustered and surprised before nervously bowing. "I-I didn't kn-the receptionis-"

I could see his lips twitch in amusement at my act. He stepped forward as I bowed. "No need for that, Fiera. You're the chief guest tonight." He paused. "One of them anyway."

I hesitated a bit before straightening. "I feel honoured at being personally received by you."

"Please, no honoraries or titles tonight." He held out his hand, a warm smile on his face. "I'm just here to escort you to the party.”

I decided to stay speechless as I took his hand. He bowed to brush his lips against the back of my hand before pulling the passenger door open for me. Still looking slightly dumbfounded, I took my seat and let him close the door behind me.

Once inside, I gave in to the urge to roll my eyes and yawned wide right as Wafi stepped into the driver's seat. He laughed once the door was closed. "'Honored at being personally received by you'?"

"Not everyone's a royal." I shrugged. "I just portrayed what others were like around you. Honestly though, I didn't expect you to show up."

"I was about to send a car." Wafi started driving, heading to the exit. "But I really just wanted to spend some time with you."

"I'm touched." I replied dryly. "You clean up well by the way."

"Thanks." He nodded to the guard at the gate. Once out, he accelerated a bit before speaking. "I'm glad that dress fits you."

"Don't stay glad for long because I'm returning it." I turned to glare at him. "You know how much I hate your gifts."

"My gifts?" He sounded offended.

"Yes, your gifts. Stop splurging on me!"

"Well, I did look through your cupboard a while back and I'm sorry to say that you did not have an evening gown." He shrugged. "I had to improvise."

I groaned, resisting the urge to rub my face. "You came to visit me during the Trials, put in a spa and parlour appointment for me, sent me a very expensive dress and pair of heels, then show up personally to pick me up. What will people think?!"

There was long silence as I let the question hang in the air. "I hadn't thought of that." Wafi admitted quietly. "I'm just so used to the idea of you now that it all seems normal to me."

"Well, I'm the normal one to the people who don't know and this certainly isn't normal to them!"

"Calm down. There will be no extreme rumours about us."

"Really? Did you buy the gossip mills too?"

"Fiera..." Wafi trailed off exasperatedly. "This is the first time we've been seen together in public. The meeting during the Trials was normal. Nobody will connect the dots to us being in a possible relationship."

He'd said it. I grimaced at even the thought of those implications considering our real life predicament and I could see even Wafi was a bit disgusted.

"You're right." I decided to say. I wasn't sure myself. "Let's just enjoy tonight."

"It's best you calm down. Uncle was quite interested to have a proper introduction with you."

"Oh boy." I mumbled under my breath, hiding the fact that I was nervous to be officially introduced to the Fire Regent. "More royals."

Wafi and I kept up casual banter throughout the drive. It was never awkward between us anymore. Our silences were comfortable and the ease I felt around him natural, like he'd been a part of my life all along. We rarely ran out of things to talk though. He got such few chances to visit me and we have about sixteen years of separation to catch up through.

"I've never gone skydiving." Wafi admitted as we pulled into the parking lot of yet another lavish hotel.

"It's fun." I reassured as I reached for the door handle. "You barely have to do anything. They strap you to a trained dude who does everything- from pushing you out, to pulling the chute open and even landing."

"Let's go together." Wafi said as he opened the door. "We should atleast do some sibling activities."

I shushed him as he said that, glancing around the luxury car filled parking lot like a paranoid conspiracy theorist. "Someone might hear you!"

Wafi chuckled, rolling his eyes as he joined me in stride and held out his arm. I placed my hand on his elbow and he tucked it against to his side like a true escort. "I didn't tell you this but you look good."

"I didn't need you to tell me, I know I look good."

We walked into the lobby where a suited guard pressed the button for us because apparently we were too incapable. There were bodyguards dressed in black loitering around the place. I could barely make out their element pins but they all seemed to be mingling quite well on their own way.

Eyes strayed to me and there were nods of acknowledgement sent my way. Some seemed a bit surprised, or skeptical, like they couldn't believe this expensively dressed brat had come second in the Trials. I did seem worlds apart from the Fiera in the grounds at the moment.

I turned away from observing them observing me as the lift dinged open. The attendant didn't need a prompt as to which floor, he just pressed the topmost button.

"Ready?" Wafi whispered to me as the lift dinged to the last floor.

"Nope."

"Great."

Is it some sort of unspoken rule that all hotels have to be designed the same? Do they buy all their off-white or cream coloured marble from one place? The only difference in this lounge was that the bar was against a wall not surrounding a pillar in the middle of the room. Well-stocked, of course.

I felt a bit of anxiety at seeing all the Royals in one place. I was honestly hoping I wouldn't have to meet any of them till my official introduction to the public as Wafi's sister but here we are.

"You're crushing my arm." Wafi whispered to me as we walked in.

I belatedly realised that my hand had clamped down around Wafi's unintentionally. "Sorry." I mumbled as I smiled to the watching Royals. I released my hand as I moved away from Wafi and he began introductions.

I partook in a lot of strong, steady handshakes as I tried to remember their names. But did it really matter? I mean, I would have to call them by their title anyway.

"Never took you as one to be fashionably late." I heard someone say from behind.

My confusion faded away as I turned to see Sean and Christopher standing there.

"Hey guys!" I greeted cheerily. Giving them a once-over, I nodded appreciatively. "You both clean up nice."

"Thanks." Christopher shrugged, a smirk on his face. "You didn't do as bad either."

I cocked an eyebrow. "As bad? Come on, I look amazing."

That elicited chuckles from them. Sean rolled his eyes. "Aren't you the modest one?"

"Not the worst thing I've been called." I laughed. "How are you guys healing?"

"I'm fine now." Christopher spoke up first. "Father sent over the healer."

Sean snickered. "I'm healing the good old-fashioned way."

"That's nice." I nodded. "But our injuries were way more serious than yours."

"You stabbed me."

"I slashed you." I corrected. "And if a healer sealed the wound, it should take a few more days for it to vanish. Hey, in the end atleast you got a good scar."

"A consolation prize for our second runner-up." Christopher snickered smugly.

Sean glared at him. Before I knew it, he'd lightly punched Christopher in the ribs making Christopher go pale, inhaling sharply in pain.

"Whoa." My eyes widened a bit at his reaction. "You need a better healer."

"I..." Christopher tried to regain his composure. "... asked him fix mostly bruises and my arm. Bruised bones... take too long."

"Ouch." I grimaced. Reaching out, I pressed down on Sean's left upper arm. He inhaled sharply, moving away from me.

"What'd you do that for?!" He hissed in pain.

I grinned at them as they tried to get through the pain. "Tit for tat. But I just really wanted to see how your 'natural healing' is going."

"What about your ankle?" Christopher asked, his eyes lingering on my bare leg.

"Fixed. The Prince Regent sent over his healer."

"Ooh." Sean straightened, a curious twinkle in his eye. "Someone likes you."

I grimaced in disgust. A similar expression passed through Christopher's features but he was quick to hide it.

"Ew, no." I shook my head. "He's not my type and way older than me."

"Not your type?" Surprise passed through Sean's face. "How is he not your type? He's everybody's type!"

I cringed, unsure how to answer that when Christopher came to the rescue.

"Everybody's type?" He turned to Sean, cocking an eyebrow. "Is that a confession, Sean? Are you coming out?"

"What?! N-no! I was just surprised is all. I mean, even girls from my batch drool over the two of you."

"Well, I'm taken." Christopher answered dryly, turning away.

"We know that all too well." I sighed, stopping a waiter for some champagne. "In fact, I think it's the next problem on top of my list."

"What is?" Sean piped up. Christopher casually walked away to greet another Royal. He didn't like the story.

"Well..." I turned to give Sean my full attention. "Were you there during the Initiation Dance?"

"Nope. But I heard what... happened..." Sean trailed off as he realised where I was going with this. "No way..." He breathed out.

"Yes way." I sighed, taking a swing of champagne.

"Do... Does Christopher know?"

"Yes. Yes, he does."

"Is that why you guys had that stare-off before your fight?"

"Yes."

"Holy hell."

"Mhmm."

"Elizabeth is going to..."

"Kill me?"

"Worse."

"Kill me twice."

"There you go."

I raised my glass, forcing a smile. "I'll drink to that."

Sean gave me an apologetic smile and clinked his glass against mine. "Hey, atleast you're trained now."

"We both know there's no way I can stand up to Elizabeth." I continued after we both took customary sips. "I'll just have to keep running away from her."

"Not possible." Sean denied me any hope. "You hurt her boyfriend, and got called out as a couple by the announcers. From what I heard, she all but broke someone's neck."

"Oh boy." I raised the glass to drink again but it was empty. Sean flagged a waiter down for me. "Thanks." I said as he handed it to me. "Might as well live it up before she hunts me down and kills me twice."

Sean chuckled. "Hear, hear."

The evening was going quite mellow, perfect after a day of such exertions. It was fun talking to Sean. Christopher would occasionally pop in and then drift off to handle his royal duties. There were felicitations for the three of us. We got handed bouquets and boxes of chocolate by the Regents once more. Wafi took me aside right after that was done.

I was led to the Fire Regent who excused himself from a conversation with the Light Regent to turn to me. There was an interested twinkle in his eyes as he observed me.

"Well, hello Fiera." He began easily, the tone of his voice welcoming. "It's nice to finally meet you." Wafi turned and left, saying something to about medicine. I nervously watched him go before replying to the Regent as I tried to keep calm.

I tried to keep my voice level as I bowed my head a bit. "It's nice to meet you too, Regent. I believe Wafi must have talked about me?"

He laughed throatily. "Not really. He said that it would be better if I get to know you myself." His eyes shifted to Wafi with a gleam. "That you were more than he could've ever imagined."

I blushed slightly, glancing at Wafi before turning back to him. "That's an overstatement. I'm not really that special."

"From what I've seen so far, that's not true." He smiled warmly. "Mich must be proud."

"Probably." I shrugged, mine absently wandering to him. "I haven't gotten a chance to talk to him one on one. I was hoping he'd be here."

"I didn't get a chance to converse with him." He waved his hand. "Royal obligations didn't give me an excuse... But you must've been a handful to raise."

"So he says." I grinned mischievously. "I like to think I was just helping him gain experience."

The Regent burst out laughing. It was loud, drawing attention to us. He shook his head at me as he calmed down.

Wafi chose that moment to come back. Holding out a glass of water to the Regent, he turned to me. "What's so funny?"

"You had to be here for it." The Regent answered for me. "She's a witty one."

"Thank you, Sir Regent."

"Oh, please." The Regent started turning away. "Call me Dominic or Uncle. You're family."

I turned slightly red, a warmth filling me as I nodded. "Yes, Reg-Dominic."

He laughed once more, finally turning to head away and Wafi following after him. I blinked a bit, trying to get oriented with the real world again and trying to figure out why I'd said the Regent's first name. I couldn't exactly call him Uncle in front of everyone. I'm not supposed to be related.

"Hey." Sean called out from behind. I turned and he handed me a full flute of champagne, taking my empty one and placing it aside.

I cocked an eyebrow at the gesture. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to get me drunk."

He chuckled, taking a dip out of his own glass. "Why would I do that?"

"Indeed. Considering that being Fire, I have a higher tolerance." Made even higher by being part Water.

"Certainly would be useless." He shrugged. "I would say don't worry about it and just enjoy the party."

"And I'll drink to that advice." I raised my glass before taking a sip.

"Today's been a good day." I sighed after a while of casual silence. "But I'd really like to hit the hay."

Sean turned to me, a dark twinkle in his eyes. He leaned in as he spoke. "Maybe I could help make this a good night too..." He whispered to me, trailing off purposely.

I watched his face. There was a soft smirk on his lips. He was cute, I did admit that earlier. Curly brown hair, forest green eyes. Don't doubt that he has a fine body too.

Ah, what the hell. Might as well end this night with a bang.

Pun not intended.

I grinned at him as I tossed the rest of the champagne back. Licking my lips slowly, I leaned in to speak as well. "What are we waiting for? Call your car around."