Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Kathy explained everything that had happened inside that hall. She told them about the shadow and they were surprised because according to them when people go into the hall of their memories, their mind helps them find what they are looking for. Cynthia concluded that Kathy's mind was blocked by a very powerful shadow magician who was even more powerful than herself. Kathy was dejected and disheartened by the fact that Cynthia couldn't help her.

”Do you remember encountering any sorcerer while on earth?” Hala asked.

”No. I would remember if I did.”

Kathy played with a ball of fire in her hand. It was the only thing she could do. It was difficult and stressful to start but she could create a small ball of fire. It felt good to do something that weird and not be judged for it. No one looked at her weirdly for playing with fire.

Her mother and father left with Cynthia leaving the siblings to bond in Triton’s room. Kathy found out that Triton was married. When she asked him if he was married, he was confused because, in Lunae, they didn't know what marriage was. They called it the soul bond. A couple decides to be bonded to each other and the acting oracle bonds them to each other under the moon.

Miah was the name of Triton’s soul bound. From the way he spoke of her, Kathy could see how much he loved her.

”Where is Gabriel?” Kathy asked Triton who was seated on a strange-looking couch. She just remembered who she came with.

”Who is Gabriel?” Triton asked.

”The guy who brought me here.”

”You mean General Atlas, ” Triton stated.

”General? He is a general?”

Kathy couldn't believe he lied to her about his name.

”Yes. One of the best in Lunae, ” Triton replied.

”Where is he?”

”He is training the young fighters at the training grounds.”

”Can you take me to him?”

They walked out of the palace and down a sandy path arriving at the training grounds in no time. The training ground was not just ground, it was a huge arena. Men and women were training on every side.

Kathy's eyes scanned the place for a particular set of green eyes. She found him standing on a high platform, watching the fighters and barking orders now and then. The fighters were divided into groups of ten. From what she could see, each group had a supervisor. Gabriel looked like the general supervisor. He watched everyone dressed in only a pair of leather pants and combat boots. His chest was barren of hair but was very muscular.

Kathy and Triton strode to the platform and people bowed and cleared the way for them. Everyone stared at Kathy. Gabriel saw her then jumped down from the platform. He bowed to Triton then to her and that made Kathy quite uncomfortable.

”General, ” Triton greeted back in a curt tone.

”Can we be alone?” Kathy said to Triton.

He was about to protest when she said, ”Please.”

He sighed in defeat. ”I will leave my sister in your capable care. Do not let her out of your sight.”

Gabriel hit his chest and said, ”I will protect the Luna Princess with my life.”

Triton nodded slightly and left.

Kathy felt like a kid who was left at her ballet class. She could take care of herself.

”How do you do, Luna Princess?”

”The last time I checked my name was Kathy and you called me that.”

”I apologize for that. I shouldn't have taken your name without permission.”

Kathy resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He was making her uncomfortable with the formal bullshit. She preferred the old Gabriel she talked to on earth to this stuck-up General. She felt multiple eyes on her and looked back to see people still staring at her.

”Everyone, back to training!” Gabriel yelled. And like that, everyone started training again. Kathy couldn't believe he held that much power.

”Can you take me back?”

”Yes, but Luna and her soul bound have to permit us before we leave Lunae.”

Kathy nodded in understanding. The Luna's soul bound was her father. She understood that in Lunae's hierarchy, women held more power than men.

He offered her a seat on the platform. She thanked him after seating which he returned with a small bow.

”You can only return with that portal at Airis tower. As a Royal, you can return whenever you want to. A common person would only return on a full moon except accompanied by a high-ranking.”

Kathy tried to digest what he said but decided to ignore it after she deemed it needless. As long as she could return to earth, nothing else mattered.

”Why did you lie about your name?” she decided to ask something simpler.

”I was bound by Lunae's oath of silence on earth.”

”Even for something as simple as a name?”

He nodded slightly then stood up as they heard footsteps approaching. Kathy stood up as well.

”Lady Elara,” he greeted with a bow.

A lady with hair as white as snow walked up to them. If not for the hair, Kathy could have mistaken her for her mother. She looked so much like Hala. She had the family's blue eyes but lacked jet black hair.

”General, ” her enchanting voice greeted. Kathy was enthralled by her voice, it was mesmerizing.

”What brings you to these grounds?” Atlas asked.

With a dazzling smile, she said, ” I heard that my sister's child had finally graced our lands.”

No wonder she looked like Hala. They were blood sisters. Kathy felt that there was something off about the lady. She got a strange aura of bitterness from her.

She turned to Kathy. ”Welcome back to Lunae, young Princess. The family never remained the same after you left.”

”Hello, Miss Elara, it's nice to meet you, ” Kathy greeted.

”Call me Aunty. Finally, the heir has returned, everything will change now. Your mother has been miserable for so long. Finally, her heart can be at peace.”

Kathy smiled at her and said, ”You have a nice voice.”

”That is due to my Siren genes.” she laughed lightly and that sounded fake to Kathy.

”I have to go back to the women. Call me if you need anything,” Lady Elara said and pulled Kathy into a hug.

Kathy felt so much malice coming from that hug, it chilled her to her bones. It was as if she could feel every of the woman's emotions. She hurriedly stepped away from the woman making the latter frown in confusion.

”Sorry, I don't really like hugs, ” Kathy lied quickly.

Gabriel shot Kathy a look which she ignored. Elara nodded and walked away.

”Gabriel, um, Atlas. Something weird just happened, ” Kathy said to Atlas after Lady Elara left.

”You can call me Gabriel if that pleases you. What happened?”

”While she spoke to you, I got a strange vibe of malice from her. Then when she hugged me, I felt it so strong that I could tell what she feeling,” Kathy explained.

”We should talk to the healer. She might have an explanation.”

Kathy then felt uneasiness coming from Gabriel. His body tensed up all of a sudden.

”What is wrong?”

”Something feels strange. I sense a strange aura in the air. Stay close to me, Princess. I have told the warriors to arrange themselves in the shielding position and be prepared for anything.”

”You are scaring me, tell me what is wrong?”

Suddenly every fighter came close to them forming a circle around both of them. Kathy could feel the tension coming from everyone and that amount of tension made her fearful. She wondered why she felt people's emotions.

”Watch out!” Gabriel yelled and pushed her out of the way just in time for an arrow to hit the place she was previously standing at. Kathy crashed into the ground with Gabriel hovering over her protectively.

”Guard the Princess! Two trackers to the roof, the shooter just left. The rest of you keep the circle, ” Gabriel yelled. He got off her and helped her up.

The circle became tighter as the fighters moved in. Kathy could only watch in fear and hope that nothing bad happens.

”Someone grab the arrow and follow me. Four of you come with me.”

He pointed to four warriors who looked like they had been taking steroids from childhood. The four warriors, the man holding the arrow, and Gabriel guided Kathy to the back of the arena.

”Can somebody tell me what the hell is going on! Why did someone just shoot an arrow at me?”

Kathy was fed up with being kept in the dark. The men ignored her and kept on pulling her towards the castle. Since they wanted to be stubborn, Kathy decided to be stubborn as well. She stopped walking.

”I won't go any further until someone explains what the hell is going on.”

”Princess, please allow us to take you to your parents, you will be safe in the castle” Gabriel pleaded but she wasn't having any of that.

He tried to gently pull her forward but she dug her heels into the ground.

”What is going on?” she gritted out.

”I am sorry, Princess.”

She cocked a brow at his sudden apology. He then picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, ignoring her protests. The men trudged to the castle with Kathy on Gabriel's shoulder seething. They had no right to treat her like a kid. She knew within herself that they were only trying to protect her but something inside of her just wanted her to be difficult.

Her parents, brother, and the rest of the blue-eyed people were standing in the hallway when they got to the palace. Gabriel gently put her down then her parents and brother scanned her for any visible injuries.

”Has the culprit been captured?” Hala asked.

”No, Luna. He or she is still on loose, ” Gabriel replied.

”What were the guards on a watch doing at that time that they didn't notice the intruder on time? What if something had happened to my child?”

Kathy could barely recognize her mother at that moment. She was so cold and angry. That was Luna Hala speaking. The men looked down in remorse. They stood like kids being scolded by their mothers.

”I apologize Luna but there was no way they could have noticed, ” Gabriel tried to defend the guards but that was a very wrong move.

Hala was furious.

”You dare defend your incompetence!”

The clouds outside were gathering with the promise of rainfall. Kathy assumed that it had something to do with Hala's anger.

”May the goddess forbid that I challenge you. We believe that the intruder used shadow magic, ” Gabriel said.

Everyone but Hala, Kathy, Aerial, and Triton gasped. Kathy's immediate family was already aware that a shadow magician was close by.

”How sure are you? It could have been the guards trying to shift the blame. A shadow magician hasn't been spotted in years.” Aerial spoke for the first time since the explanation started.

Gabriel raised the arrow that was covered with black smoke.

”This could only mean one thing, someone wants the Princess dead.”