Mallen and Iérti were led to a modern futuristic-looking gold and white building with water fountains outside. As they went in what looked like a grand hall, they saw a humanoid figure standing with his back facing them.

He was glowing yellow, literally shining like the sun in humanoid form, seemingly lit up with luminescent sunbeams from within his body. When he turned around to face them, his face wasn't visible. He looked he was entirely comprised of energy, vibrant and alive.

The vampire leaders stood watching in amazement as the golden yellow energy seemed to fold in itself, turning into the form of a man. The yellow seeped inside him, his face becoming visible as he allowed himself to be seen in man-like form. He was a handsome man with blond hair, Caucasian skin, and a cream-orange outfit. His eyes were brown with golden specks in them, as if illuminating who he truly was.

He looked at Mallen and as though he already knew them. "Greetings, vampires," said the Ileín. "An honor to meet you, Iérti Keresi, kindest man in the land, and Mallen Zaliċ, most powerful vampire in the land. I am Conrad Mieaghdouw, the Ileín. I expected your presence and therefore welcome you to my planet. Please, sit down." He gestured towards the gold chairs with plush royal blue seats.

Iérti went to cautiously sit down, but Mallen remained standing, suspicious. "How did you know we're vampires?" he asked the . "Are you some sort of seer?"

The Ileín sat across from them, not at all slighted. His manner was calm and courteous, not boastful or conceited. It was easy to have a conversation with him. "In a way," the Ileín said in response. "I'll start from the beginning, since neither of you know anything of this planet nor of its people.

"We came from planet Kasoka. All was good until humans became greedy and lustful for power. They discovered a way to live forever inside the body of a machine. That technology enabled humans to turn into machines. They willfully traded humanity for the immortality achieved upon becoming machines.

"Machines are much more advanced than cyborgs. They were created with the idea of perfection. Though at first it seemed like a good idea to gain enhanced beauty, perfect vision, immunity from disease, and the total elimination of human weaknesses and deficiencies, machines became corrupt. They looked down on humans and deprived them of a good life. Any stray human was rounded up and turned into a machine against their will. After they became machines, they were forced into eternal slavery.

"There were five corporations on planet Kasoka. Those five corporations controlled the entire planet and its people. Humans were forced to live in hiding. Machines hunted humans to add to their workforce. Humans were just doing what they could to survive.

"I was one of those who sought to find a way to defeat the machines. When a public job offer appeared out of nowhere, I volunteered to find out what it was and soon discovered it was a trap to enslave humans to an eternal workforce. I was turned into a machine against my will and was forced to work for Andel Corporation.

"I watched my friends die. I saw the bodies of suicide victims. I saw that and much worse. Any machine that tried to rebel was programmed into a mindless machine. I forced myself to keep my thoughts and emotions hidden, to never let them know what I truly felt.

"I rose to high rank and waited for an opportune time to see my wife again. I fell into despair because the machines had taken everything from me. They even took away my sense of touch; I was unable to cry physical tears nor feel any physical touch.

"I knew I could not live like this forever, so I decided to kill myself. I went to a restricted area where an alien yellow dust was located. The yellow dust is lethal to humans and machines. I jumped into the yellow dust expecting to die, but instead I became the yellow dust.

"The yellow dust helped me defeat the Machine Empire and put an end to machine rule. In addition, I took down the machine rule on planet Luena. It was much worse on Luena. With the Phoenix's permission, I evacuated humans from Kasoka and Luena, bringing them here to planet Magarra.

"Magarra is named after a very important woman in my life. She helped me stay sane during my horrible machine life. She kept me going each time I wanted to give up. I built a monument in honor of Magarra. That monument is located just outside this building, which serves as my place of residence. Her machine body is displayed in a specially designed casket that preserves her body. It is actually an Iredescent technology.

"This planet is a safe haven for humans. I am the one in charge of this planet. I make sure people live in freedom from machine rule. Magarra is one of the few planets in the galaxy where currencies and money do not exist. People live in harmony with one another. They provide and help one another. All greed, power, selfishness, and injustice are eliminated.

"I strive to make sure another machine empire never happens. I know that even after I'm gone, this planet will continue to be a safe haven. Many others will gather. This planet will forever be known as the planet of peace. It would've been a good refuge for humans of your former home planet Verdamnt, though it seems you already found homes for them on other planets. I believe that is best for your people; that way your vampire kind can reside alongside with humans in the same peace and harmony as on my planet."

The Ileín looked directly at Mallen and Iérti, who were silent as they listened keenly. "I know exactly why you're here. I assure you, those vampires will face the consequences of their actions, as well as some of those who came on the ship with you. Your coming to Magarra will forever change your entire lives. Both of you will no longer be vampires when you leave this planet. You will become something else entirely. Something unheard of, yet something that will change the course of history for another planet."

A cold chill seeped through Mallen while a flare of hope arose within Iérti.

I'll finally cease being a vampire, Iérti thought, feeling relieved. I might even become human again.

Mallen was troubled, hoping the Ileín wasn't being serious. He enjoyed being a vampire and did not wish to become human again, nor did he have the desire to become something else. He had no idea what the Ileín implied, and the fear grew to dread.

"Something else?" Mallen finally dared to say, his voice filled with fear. "You mentioned Iredescent. Are we to become Iredescents? I don't even know how they look like. Are they like vampires or humans?"

"No, you will not become Iredescents," the Ileín said calmly. "Iredescents are humanoid beings with sparkly skin and wings or fins. They look very much like humans, but are a different species entirely. In the future, you will meet Iredescents and find them to your liking. However, you will be neither vampire nor human nor machine nor Iredescent."

"Then what are we to become?" Mallen asked, feeling defensive. His voice was full of emerging anger. "Do we not have a say in this, or do you just do as you please? We each have our own wants. You don't get to control who we are or what's to become of our lives. I don't want to become whatever it is you say we'll become. I wish to remain a vampire forever."

The hopeful look fell from Iérti's face. "I wish to become human again," he said, his voice striving for what he hoped to become true someday despite the impossibility of it. "Please grant me this. I don't wish to become anything but human." He breathed deeply, saying, "I want to be able to see my wife and daughter again."

Mallen bit his lip, feeling a pang in his heart.

The Ileín looked at Iérti with a sympathetic expression. "I understand and empathize with your desire to become human. Sometime in the future, you will be instrumental in destroying what you hate most. But first you will need to learn a dark truth: a truth about your past. It will shatter you to the core, but it will give clarity to you."

Iérti stared at him, astonished. Empathize? Why on earth would he want to be human? He's the most powerful alien in the galaxy. I highly doubt anyone else has the ability to see the future. Anyone legit, that is. What does he mean about my past? What dark truth?

Mallen felt dread at the mention of dark truth, knowing it meant the truth about Iérti's family. He felt cold and uncomfortable, afraid the Ileín would tell Iérti about Katlyn and Olivia.

Please don't tell Iérti, Mallen pleaded, speaking to the Ileín in his mind. I beg you.

I won't be the one who tells him, the Ileín responded. An Iredescent will be the one to tell him.

Mallen felt a hint of relief tug at him, but also a lingering fear. I guess as long as we don't go to Iredescent, we'll be fine, Mallen thought to himself. He was surprised the Ileín was able to speak to him telepathically, but he was equally relieved he was able to do so and thus have private conversations with him.

The stood gracefully, briefly glancing at the windows. "You'll need rest; it's almost dawn," he said.

Iérti reluctantly stood, wanting to learn more about the Ileín, but he knew they had to leave before the sun came up or they would be stranded in the Ileín's residence. Mallen was unusually agitated, almost in a hurry to leave. Iérti thanked the Ileín for his kindness and hospitality as Mallen seized his wrist to make him leave faster.

Once they got outside, Iérti said, "Mallen, are you alright? You rarely act this way. Why are you upset?"

"We need to get to the ship ASAP," Mallen muttered in response, nervously running a hand through his hair.

Iérti said nothing further.

When they got to the ship, Mallen paced around, wanting Írásom and the others back already so he could leave planet Magarra as soon as possible.

When Iérti tried again to ask what was going on, Mallen snapped irritably, "I want my wife back on my ship. The sun is about to come up and I have no idea where she is. On top of that, I don't know who the Ileín is, but it angers me when he thinks he can control everything, even random strangers on his planet. Who does he think he is, talking of turning us into something else? What a load of bull. We gotta get out of here as soon as Írásom gets back."

"Mallen, he said we will no longer be vampires. I'll finally have a chance to see my wife and daughter again."

"Get real, Iérti! He's a seer. I don't trust seers; they sound too much like witches and the like. I'm not one to fraternize with fortune-telling wise people with magic powers and such."

Mallen looked out the window, disappointed when he didn't see Írásom and the others on their way back. "We gotta get off this planet as soon as possible. Forget what we came for; the Ileín can take care of the enemy vampires if he so desires. I'm outta here. Not my kind of planet anyway."

Mijoria was better, even though it's too urban for me. I like Voldvell the best; it's very quiet and peaceful. We can move back to Voldvell. We'll avoid Iredescent at all cost, Mallen thought to himself, never wanting Iérti to learn the dark truth he'd been hiding from him. I'll see to it we'll never go near that planet.

Iérti seized Mallen's shoulder, forcing him to turn around and face him. "Mallen, this is perhaps my only chance of ever ceasing being a vampire. You know I never wanted to become a vampire, yet you turned me against my will. The Ileín says we are to become something else, and I believe him. I have hope I'll no longer be a vampire."

"He wants to control us, Iérti. He is not to be trusted."

"Anything is better than being a vampire."

Mallen looked hard at Iérti, his eyes fierce and intense. "I gave you life. You would've died had you remained human. And you're ungrateful for what I've given you?" he said, his voice raised in anger. "I gave you a home, my own castle to live in. I gave you clothing and ribbons and anything you could ever want. I've never done this for anyone except for you.

"I allowed you to become the vampire leader of the land. I didn't object when you spoke of peace; instead, I upheld you and supported you. I've always been at your side and I always will be. You're more than a comrade to me, Iérti; you're my friend. Something I've never had in my life."

"You were led astray by your own arrogance and conceit," Iérti said back, his own eyes blazing. "You have changed, I'll give you that, but this is my chance to finally become something else, a one step closer to seeing my family again. To redeeming myself."

"You're in no need of redemption," Mallen muttered, turning away from Iérti. "You're a far better man than me, Iérti. Your wrongdoings don't even top my list of sins and all the crime I've committed in the past."

"You're not that man anymore, Mallen. The past shouldn't haunt you anymore."

"And yet it does." Mallen stormed away, feeling tears sting his eyes.

Iérti froze, unsure what could possibly haunt Mallen to this day.