“Sure Prince Kai.”

         “Please call me Kai.”

         “If you are sure then I will call you Kai.” She smiles shyly.

He takes her hand, and they walk into the corridor the only light in the room is from the moon that shines through the opened windows. Spanx stands still as she remembers seeing this scene before.

         “Spanx are you alright?” Kai asks as he looks at her with concern in his eyes.

         “Sorry; yes, I’m alright.” She shakes her head as she rubs her eyes.

         “Are you sure you’re alright?”

         “Yes; it’s just that for some reason I feel like I have been here before; but that couldn’t be possible.”

         “What do you mean?”

         “It must have been a dream.” She says as she once again looks at Kai.

He looks back at her.

         “It was a dream. There is no other explanation. I followed a young woman through here she was heading this way.”

Spanx starts to run slowly.

         “Spanx wait!” Kai follows after her.

She uses the flashes from the dream as a guide. She makes her way to where the young woman and the man had met. Before she can get to the exact spot, she is stopped; with one hand, lightly over her mouth so she doesn’t scream. She turns to look at Kai, and he lets go as he points to where she was about to go. Standing there gazing at the star filled sky Ari stands by himself.

         “You always did love this spot; you chose it every time you had happy or sad news to share. I miss you every day Myra.”

Ari uses the air to send a blue and red rose into the sky. He watches as they glide through the still night sky. Then he walks back into the castle.

         “Kai; are you be able to tell me who Myra is?” Spanx asks.

         “Myra is Ari’s late wife. Eighteen years ago, Ari lost his wife and child. Shortly after Myra had given birth there was an attack on the castle from Asriel’s monsters. Most of the people believe that Myra used herself as a decoy so the other children could be saved.”

         “What happened to the child that belonged to Ari and his wife?”

         “It’s believed that before Myra used herself as a decoy for Asriel she left the child in one of the neighboring villages. The only other two possibilities are that Asriel took in or killed the child.”

         “That’s really sad.” Spanx says as she casts her eyes downward.

         “Ari did search for the child, for an entire year. Until the king my father asked him to stop. My father had just taken the thrown in Asriel’s attack my grandfather was killed.” Kai says.

         “I’m sorry about your grandfather Kai. And for Ari he lost his lover and his child before he even met them.”

The two of them look at each other.

         “Oh, please forgive me. My actions where impulsive and I was very rude to you. I’m sorry.” Spanx bows her head.

         “Please raise your head. There is nothing you need to apologize for. Oddly enough we are right where I intended to take you. This is the tea garden. Nights with a full moon like tonight the garden is at its peak of beauty.”

When she looks up at him he’s holding a pink rose. He slowly moves and places it next to the black one in her hair.

         “Now your hair ornament matches your dress.” He says with a smile.

         “Pink means admiration and gentleness.” She whispers to herself.

         “What did you say?” he looks at her with some surprise.

         “I’m sorry; please excuse me.” She turns away and quickly leaves. She avoids going back to the hall the banquet is in.

Kai looks at the moon. Left feeling confused about what happened he too leaves.

The two of them both enter their chambers.

***

Spanx wakes up to a loud bell. She sits up and rubs her eyes then stretches. As she yawns she climbs out of bed she looks over at the table; sitting there is a tray of breakfast along with a purple hyacinth lying beneath it is a note that reads: I’m sorry for my actions at the banquet.

The door opens so she turns to see one of the housekeepers walking in.

         “Good morning lady Spanx, this is your guard uniform. Training starts each morning after breakfast.” The housekeeper says still in the doorway.

         “Ok thank you.”

The housekeeper sets the uniform on the dresser. She gives a bow then she leaves the room.

Spanx eats the breakfast once she finishes she goes over to the uniform. Once she’s changed she heads to the training spot early. Everyone including Zain, Kai and Myreal are there.

Another loud bell sounds as Captain and Ari show up.

         “Alright, looks like everyone has gotten here early. Let’s start by dividing into groups of two. We will try this out as a team-based operation first.” Captain says.

         “Captain there is an odd number when you compare the number of guys and ladies.” Luna says.

         “Ari please call the teams.” Captain

         “Teaming with Captain will be Kai, Myreal, Argo, Luna, Rexen, Specura, and Syi. I will be teaming with Zain, Remigen, Flora, Nellen, Zora, Maxen, and Spanx. You are here to protect the castle being man or woman doesn’t matter when the goal is the same. We will start with same elements against each other. Then it will shift between defending and attacking; we will keep from injuring each other by using the old armor statues. Due to having different elements Syi and Spanx will partner with Captain and me to begin.” Ari says.

The training starts out well and continues until Zain and Kai begin to get competitive. Everyone turns their focus to the two of them.

         “That doesn’t seem likes it’s just a competitive thing. There is more to that than we know.” Spanx says as she watches.

         “What do you mean?” Ari tries to see what she does.

         “You can see it in their movements. This is more to them than a bit of family competitiveness. Is there a way to stop them?” She looks up at Ari.

Ari looks at her then away quickly.

         “Captain we should put a stop to them quickly.” Ari says as he starts to walk over.

The two of them try their best to put a stop to the fight, suddenly it takes a wrong turn, and Kai gets injured from the fire arrow that Zain uses. Captain and Ari lift Kai.

         “Training is dismissed!” Captain shouts as he and Ari support Kai to the medical wing of the castle.

As everyone leaves Spanx watches as Zain stands still staring at the spot Kai landed.

         “Zain are you alright?” Spanx gently touches his shoulder; he jumps.

         “I’m sorry.” She takes a step back.

         “Why didn’t you come back to the Banquet? Where did Kai take you?” he turns around to look at her.

         “We went to the tea garden, but after the flower I went back to my chambers for the night. I didn’t know you had been waiting for me to return. I’m sorry Zain.”

         “Did you even get the note I had sent to you with the tray of breakfast this morning?” he looks at her he’s eyes sad.

         “The purple hyacinth was from you?”

         “Who else could it have… you thought he…” He walks away frustrated before he finishes his sentence.

She wanders the castle lost in her thoughts. As the day turns to night she heads to the garden. Hoping the flowers will cheer her up. She reaches out and touches one of the flowers; at her touch, it starts to wilt.