On the eighth day away from the academy, Ha-Yoon woke up to the sound of Si-Woo's snores. She nudged him gently, her eyes bright with excitement. "Wake up," she whispered, "Minhos going to be here soon!"

Si-Woo groaned, wiping the sleep from his eyes. Despite the thrill of the previous week, the routine of his daily serenity training had resumed, leaving him feeling depleted and achy. They had been informed that there would be no training today, and Minho was expected to come and escort them to meet the other family heads.

"What time is it?" he mumbled, stretching his arms above his head.

"It's almost dawn," Ha-Yoon said, her voice filled with excitement. "We don't have much time. Get dressed!"

Si-Woo groaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked around the room and spotted a set of clothes laid out neatly on a chair beside his bed. The garments were unlike anything he had ever seen before, made of a shimmering material that seemed to change color with the light. "What are these?" he asked, picking up the shirt. It felt like the softest silk he had ever touched, but it was much lighter, almost as if it were made of air.

"Those are your formal wear for the council meeting," Ha-Yoon said, already dressed in her own set of fae attire. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she watched him examine the clothes. "Minho said they were made especially for us. They're supposed to represent our bond with Ondur."

"Minho must have dropped these off yesterday when I was out for a walk last night," Si-Woo said.

Si-Woo slipped on the shirt, feeling the cool material cling to his skin. The pants were a bit tight, but as he moved, they stretched to fit him perfectly. He looked over at Ha-Yoon, who was already dressed in a flowing gown that made her look like a fairy tale princess. "Do I really have to wear this?" she grumbled.

"You look beautiful," Si-Woo said, trying to hide his amusement.

The dress was unlike anything Ha-Yoon had ever worn before. It was a symphony of colors that seemed to shift and flow like the very essence of Ondur itself. The fabric was light and airy, made from a material that was not of this world, and it billowed around her like a cloud of rainbow mist. The bodice was intricately embroidered with gold thread that wove in and out of the fabric, creating delicate patterns that sparkled in the early morning light. The skirt fell to the floor, layered with translucent panels that revealed glimpses of the ground beneath.

Si-Woo, on the other hand, was dressed in a tunic that matched the shimmering material of Ha-Yoon's dress. It was tailored to perfection, hugging his torso before flaring out slightly at the waist. The sleeves were adorned with a pattern of feathers that looked as though they were made from the purest silver. The pants were snug, hugging his legs like a second skin, and the boots that came with the outfit were made from the hide of a creature Ha-Yoon could not identify, but they had a softness that suggested they had been worn in by years of use.

As they both admired their new attire, Ha-Yoon spoke up, "I can't wait until my bond with Tic and Tac is strong enough that they can stay with me all the time."

Si-Woo nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and I wish Z could be here now too. It feels weird not having him around." He paused for a moment, his thoughts drifting to the majestic creature that had chosen him as its master. "But I understand," he added, "he still needs his mother."

Ha-Yoon's eyes softened at the mention of Z. "It's amazing to think we both have such powerful bonds with creatures from another world."

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Minho's knock on the door brought them out of their thoughts. Ha-Yoon rushed to the door, pulling it open with a flourish. "Master Minho!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with excitement.

Minho's eyes widened as he took in their new attire. "You both look... extraordinary," he said, his voice filled with admiration. "I knew this was a good fit for you two."

Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon beamed at the compliment, feeling a newfound confidence in their abilities and place in the fae world.

Minho, dressed in stunning black attire, looked every bit the part of the legendary warrior he was known to be. His hair, as dark as the night sky, was finely combed back, revealing the sharp lines of his jaw and the proud tilt of his head. His midnight blue eyes, a mirror to the depths of his soul, searched the siblings for any signs of doubt or fear. They followed Minho out of the house and onto Lemmy. The air was cool and crisp, and the wind felt invigorating against their skin.

The flight to the new royal palace was indeed stunning. The siblings had only seen it once before, under the cover of darkness, but now, in the soft light of dawn, they could fully appreciate its grandeur. The palace was nestled in the center of Yohen, a gleaming bastion of power and beauty. The towers reached up to the sky, each one topped with a spire that glinted in the sunlight. The fae architecture was unlike anything they had ever seen, a blend of organic curves and sharp angles that seemed to defy gravity.

The landscape below had been transformed in the short time they had been at the academy. Where there had once been sparse vegetation and the occasional fae creature, there now lay a sprawling metropolis, with buildings and bridges connecting to other lands. The waterfall they had passed by on their initial flight to the palace looked like a mere trickle in comparison to the mighty river that now flowed beneath them, feeding into the vast sea below. The river was a lifeline, bringing water and sustenance to the people of Yohen.

As they approached the palace, Ha-Yoon could feel her heart racing. This was it. They were going to meet the fae leaders, the very beings who had decided their fate and allowed them to stay in Ondur. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

Minho led them through the grand corridors of the palace, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. They arrived at a pair of large, ornate doors, the sound of raised voices spilling out from the chamber beyond. Ha-Yoon's grip tightened on Si-Woo's arm, and he offered her a reassuring smile.

"Remember," Minho whispered, turning to face them, "stay calm and respectful. These are not just any fae, but the rulers of the realm." He took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock. But before he could, the door swung open, revealing a scene of heated debate.

A group of fae officials, dressed in a riot of colors, were gesticulating wildly, their voices a cacophony of dissonance. In the midst of them, a man in a white cloak, his eyes a piercing blue, spotted the trio. "Pronu," Minho called out, his voice cutting through the din like a knife.

Some of the noise in the room fell silent as the fae in white materialized beside Minho, his eyes flicking over Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon. He dropped to one knee, his head bent in deference. "Yes, Headmaster Minho," he said, his voice smooth as silk.

"This is Pronu," Minho announced, his voice proud. "He is one of the three limbs of the military family, and my right-hand man."

The graceful fae rose to his full height, his wild grey hair a direct contrast to the sharpness of his eyes, which bore into Si-Woo and Ha-Yoon as if sizing them up. The siblings couldn't help but feel a shiver of awe and a touch of fear. Although all the fae headmasters were high-ranking serein users, Pronu's presence was almost as commanding as the headmaster's, yet there was something about him that suggested a lethal grace, a hidden power that lay just beneath the surface.

Princess Deane emerged from the throng of fae officials, her own eyes filled with a gentle warmth that seemed to soothe the tension in the room. "Pronu doesn't say much," she said with a small laugh, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder. "But when he does, everyone listens."

The siblings exchanged a nervous glance as they were led into the chamber. The room was vast, the ceiling so high that it seemed to disappear into the heavens. The walls were adorned with intricate fae designs, their vibrant colors and intricate details telling tales of battles won and lost, of alliances formed and broken. At the far end of the chamber, a long table had been set, surrounded by high-backed chairs. A fae of great importance occupied most chairs, their eyes on the siblings as they entered.