The usual eccentric, Melry, held up her hand, “Before beginning our discussion, I have some inquiries that have haunted me during my time here.”

“Upon meeting the King of Falling Leaves, Kyo, he expressed his decision to refrain from involvement regarding our Feyrishian Race and the trials of our Crown Prince, Carter. The King and his family have chosen to distance themselves from this matter. Is that correct, Princess of Falling Leaves, Nesha?” Melry stated

“Yes, Guardian Melry, that is what King Kyo stated before these meetings took place, but I would also like to state again that I am not a Princess of Falling Leaves nor have any relation with the Autumn Race,” Nesha stated with squinted eyes.

“If that is true, are you not his daughter? If so, then you should be distanced from this meeting, but you are representing our Crown Prince?”

“Yes, Guardian Melry, but as stated, I have already been exiled as the Crown Princess of Falling Leaves and am now only Nesha of the Rosen Blades. My being here is simply for the mission issued to me by the Seedling Union and the Gods of Genisis to watch and care for your crown prince until it is deemed to no longer be necessary.”

“Is that so? Does your mother agree with… King Kyo's action of exile or any other decisions he has made in his time as king?”

“I fail to see the relation, Guardian Melry, or the importance of the matter.”

“I see,” Melry stared at Nesha before sitting back in her seat, “Then I have no other questions. I apologize for bringing the meeting off track.”

“It is fine, Melry,” The disembodied voice echoed throughout the room, but the sound of it made Nesha anxious, “Then…”

Suddenly the door opened, and a man with long green hair walked into the room, “The child is awake…” Before he could finish, Nesha dashed past him, a blur in everyone's vision, causing the Feyrishians’ eyes to widen in surprise.

“Thank you, Sivie of the Rosen Blades, for relaying the information in a timely manner. Vanir, please ensure that Carter is recovering. If so, bring him here. If not, then care for him. We shall wait; as for you, Sivie of the Rosen Blades, could you wait outside until they return with Carter.” The disembodied voice echoed throughout the room, causing Sivie to squint his eyes, looking for the source.

Moments after, Sivie left Carter’s room.

He immediately recognized the face of the girl half hiding behind the door frame, with long brown hair that fell in a way to almost hide her blue eyes. As Carter had termed her, the ghost girl was always around every corner like a ghost haunting him, but he knew there was no ghost, at least not here; no, this girl lived here. Maybe? Carter didn’t know, all he knew was that this girl was always nearby watching him, and he did not like it.

The staring contest between the two continued for what felt like hours. Then the sound of rushing steps grew louder and louder, causing the girl to jolt and panic before rushing off.

“Sara!” a yell echoed through the hall before a woman with bright burning red hair stood in the doorway, “Carter.” the woman's breath seemed labored as she looked at the eyes void of emotions staring back at her, causing her breathing to worsen.

“I’m glad to see that you woke up faster than expected.” a small smile tugged at the woman’s lips as the words flew out of her mouth, “How are you? Do you need anything?”

Carter briefly looked at the woman before shaking his head and lying on the bed.

“Oh, then I will let you rest more; you still seem a little tired.” the woman said with a pained smile.

Closing the door behind her, a sigh escaped her lips, “Now, where did Sara run off… Sara, I can see you,” Nesha said, eyes squinted at the girl hiding at the edge of the hallway. Sara’s body jolted, and a shriek escaped her mouth as she tried to run, but a sudden gust of wind and now the little girl was held in Nesha’s arms. Sara tried everything she could to squirm out of this vice-grip hold she found herself in, wondering if this was how it all would end, tears formed in the corner of her eyes.

“Stop squirming and let your sister hug you. Things have been so busy the last few days that I haven’t seen or spent time with you or Mother.” Nesha said while rubbing her face against her sister’s face.

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“Nesha, please stop!”

“Only if you talk to me, Sara.”

“Fine.” the little girl said with a huff, pouting as Nesha put her back on the ground.

With the most serious face, Nesha had ever seen on her little sister, “Who is the boy?” Sara asked

“The boy? Carter, why the sudden interest, Sara?”

“Is he your new husband, your child, or maybe a new brother? Maybe he is a monster that is going to take my place?” Nesha looked at her sister with confused eyes, trying to process the questions and what to say.

“Sara, are you jealous,” Sara froze at the icy tone and the cold stare her usually warm and loving sister was giving her. Her father's voice overlapped with her sister's; as she watched her sister’s mouth move, Sara cowered and shrunk as the seconds passed.

“I’m so sorry, Sara, I’m so used to Char that…” Nesha said, holding Sara tightly in a hug. “I’m sorry, but Carter is special. His situation… is just…it… I’m sorry… I just can’t tell you.”

“But when can you? I want to know. I can help, too, even if he is a monster!”

“I’m sorry. Maybe when you’re older.”

“But when will I be older? That’s all I hear when you're older! I wanna know now, not when I’m older!”

“I… Sara, I really don’t know…but… I hope you…” Nesha’s mouth closed, and her eyes stared into the burning eyes of her sister; not sure what emotions were burning in her at the moment. “Sara, I’m sorry… I’ll tell you more when you’re older.”

With a betrayed look on her face, Sara ripped herself free of Nesha’s embrace, “STUPID OLDER! I hate that word.” Sara said, her voice growing weaker as she ran away from Nesha, “I hate adults!”

“Are you sure that was a wise decision, Nesha? It seems you upset her quite a lot.” said a man with short icy-blue hair.

“It is rude to spy on others, Vanir,” Nesha said in an emotionless voice.

“Well then, princess, I would suggest not to have a private conversation in the hallway outside a patient’s room, especially a conversation that is so… vocal,” Vanir said with a smug grin.

With a huff and a glare, Nesha spoke in annoyance to the man, “It matters not if it was wise or not. It was a decision to ensure my sister's safety, at least for the short term. And as I have stated many times, I am no princess, at least not any longer.”

“Oh well, Princess Nesha, like you, she too is a princess, so she will be exposed to the darkness, and not only that, but she will have to live in it, unlike yourself, so better now than later,” Vanir said seriousness now in his voice.

“It doesn’t matter. I will protect her for as long as it takes.”

“Much like you did for Carter or your own brother.”

“Shut up, you failed as well, and yours is worse than mine.”

A sigh escaped the lips of Vanir as he paused, “Princess, I am aware of my and my people's own failures. I… no, we do not need anyone else to tell us how far we have fallen or what we need to climb back up.”

“Sorry”

“It is fine,” Vanir turned slowly, walking back toward Carter’s room, “Now come, everyone is waiting; we have much to discuss about the boy and… Thank you. I cannot express enough how much help you have given. Even though none of the blame for what has happened should fall on your shoulders, you are kind enough to take some from ours and help us. Now, we must get the boy and return to the meeting.”

A sigh escaped Nesha’s lips, and with a nod, she followed, “Vanir can your people stop calling me princess? Please, I do not like that word.”

As Vanir opened the door to Carter’s room, he turned to Nesha, “I am sorry, Nesha, but I can not, and if you do not understand now, then I am sure that you will someday, until then we will continue to address you as such, so please bear with it.”

“Hello again, Carter,” Vanir stared into the eyes of Carter, who was now sitting on his bed.

“Loud… cannot sleep,” Carter said with a scrunched face.

“That is fine; you have a meeting to attend now,” Vanir said, his face calm as he watched Carter walk to him in his sleepwear, “I’m sorry, Carter, but you will need to change.”

Carter pointed at the dresser, “Empty.”

Vanir nodded lightly, touching the top of Carter’s head and all his clothes changed, “Come boy, time is ticking.”

Carter nodded and closely followed Vanir leaving a stunned Nesha wondering where these Feyrishians get these strange techniques. As they approached the meeting room, they saw Sivie standing against the door.

“What are you doing outside? Isn’t the meeting going on,” Nesha asked, question marks in her eyes, to which Sivie only shrugged and opened the door, so they could walk in.

“Ah,” a voice echoed through the room, “Glad you can join us again, but we have already finished. You are no longer needed; bring the boy back to his room.”

Nesha, Sivie, and Vanir looked upon the meeting in shock. What happened in the short time that they were gone?