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"𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘦𝘯 𝘖𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘷. 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 36𝘵𝘩, 𝘴𝘪𝘳."

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"𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘦𝘯 𝘖𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘴𝘦𝘷. 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 36𝘵𝘩, 𝘴𝘪𝘳."

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

━𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲, Raina nods her head as she is pulled into a conversation with another one of the Queen's unpleasant guests.

The woman in front of her seemed to have no motivation to stop talking, so Raina let her babble on while squinting her eyes behind the woman at Alexander's retreating figure as he walked out the room with a guard.

"So what do you think?" A voice broke her thoughts, Raina quickly averted her eyes at the woman who questionably stared at her.

"Definitely a marvelous idea" Raina hummed before spotting Alina talking to the King's spiritual advisor, "As much I would love to chat with you about it, I have to go and see someone."

Letting out a relieved sigh, Raina made her way towards Alina gently grabbing her arm, before looking towards The Apparat with an apologetic smile, "Excuse us, but General Kirigan needs Alina and I ready for the dinner."

□ □ □

Dramatically opening the door, General Kirigan let himself in, "These are the two who claim they found the Stag?"

The man standing on the right pointed to the other guy beside him, "No, sir. He did."

General Kirigan let out a hum as he stopped in front of the buzz-cut man, "And you are?"

"Malyen Oretsev. Tracker with the 36th, sir."

Staying rooted in his place as shock filled him, Kirigan scrutinized him, remembering all the times Raina would talk about a person named Maly. With his mouth agape, he slightly breathed out, "Maly. What a surprise."

Briefly glancing at the palace guards before fixing his stare at Maly, "Leave us."

Clearing his throat, he continued, "So...There are a lot of deer in the wild. How do you know you found the right stag?"

Mal looked at Kirigan in the eye, confidently replying, "I am"

Quickly getting a map that was laying on the table, Kirigan placed it down, "Show me where."

"North of Chernast" Mal answered back.

Shaking his head, Kirigan handed Mal a pencil while pointing to the map, "No, precisely. Mark it for me."

Clicking his tongue on the roof of his mouth, Mal placed the pencil down looking at Kirigan, "Not until I see Alina,"

Deeply breathing in, Kirigan goes to reply before being interrupted by Mal, "And Raina."

Tightening his grip around the edge of the desk, Kirigan glared at Mal, "I beg your pardon?"

Not fazed by the hostility in his tone, Mal continues, "I know them. We're friends. If you let me see them...I'll tell you where the Stag is."

Letting out a slight chuckle, Kirigan raised his eyebrows, "Do you know how many claim to know the Storm Summoner and Sun Summoner? Try to get a meeting with them just to be in their presence?"

"Ask me anything about them," Mal desperately asks. "Even though Raina and I haven't known each other for long, I still know about-"

Squinting his eyes, Kirigan leans on the desk scoffing, "You do not know Raina,"

Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, Mal opens his mouth although is interrupted as General Kirigan suddenly starts to pace around the room. "And if you do know her in the short time you've communicated with her,"

He stopped in front of Mal, "You would know her favorite sweet or flower-"

"Lava cakes," Mal chuckled as he remembered about his and Raina's previous encounter in Kribirsk. "Especially the mini ones which are apparently easier and more delicious to eat. As for the flowers, she likes lilacs. Not the pale violet ones though. The pure white ones. She would say it reminds her of her dad.

Gaping in disbelievement, Kirigan stood up straight as his thoughts went back to the times when Raina would always collect lilacs and make her own bouquet out of them. He always thought she was merely bored and like the scent the flowers give. Who would have believed that those white lilac bouquets actually held a meaning? Saints, how stupid could I be?

"Can I at least see Raina now?" Mal asked.

Momentarily pausing, Kirigan nods his head, "All right. I'll have you shown to a room here. And, assuming that she proves you right...I'll bring Alina to meet you later,"

Wildly shaking his head, Mal stutters, "Bu-but how about Rai-"

"Fair?" Kirigan interrupts him impatiently. There was no way he would let Raina meet this... new friend.

Mal nods his head slowly, finally accepting the fact that he can only meet Alina. That doesn't mean he can stop me from seeing Raina.

"Nadia'' Alina called out as she stopped in front of the Squaller. "Have you seen Raina anywhere?" she asked.

"She and the General went there a few minutes ago" Nadia replied as she pointed to the direction where she has last seen them.

"Where have you been?" Raina cried out only to be stopped as Aleksander presented her with a fresh bouquet of white lilacs. "Oh-Thank you!"

Aleksander stepped forward cupping Raina's cheeks with his hands, "I know I have been acting a bit different but it's only because-"

"Raina! There you are," Alina grinned as she rushed forward taking the surprised Storm Summoner in a hug.

Aleksander frowned at Alina. What is she playing at? It doesn't matter though, for now, all he needed was Alina's trust and her powers...and he would do anything to achieve them.

Pulling back, Raina couldn't help but smile at the joy rushing through Alina, "I forgot to tell you earlier but your performance was exceptional."

"Yes. Yes, it was but let's head to dinner shall we," Kirigan butted in.

Shaking her head, Raina took a few steps back, "You both go ahead, Genya had asked for me but I couldn't talk to her properly,"

Grabbing Raina's free hand, Alina pursued her mouth, "You'll meet us, won't you?" she asked.

"I'll see you both later."

□ □ □

For the past ten minutes, Raina has been wandering around trying to find any trace of where Genya had gone.

Spotting a guard near the fitting room where Marie and Genya are supposed to be, a look of puzzlement crossed Raina's face. No guards were supposed to be stationed there.

Curiously approaching the guard who was leaning against the wall before straightening himself, gripping on his leg. Raina swiftly caught up to him, grabbing his arm, "Are you hurt?"

Turning the guard around, both eyes meet each other causing Raina's stomach to twist with surprise, guilt, bliss, and uncertainty.

"Kaz" she gulped.

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞!

mal's finally here yes. jealousy jealousy *starts singing the song*. and the moment we all have been waiting for. KAZ!

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xoxo NS