He dragged her along for a few more minutes until they reached a relatively quiet alley on the side, where they were more or less alone.

There, he let go of her hand and then turned around to face her, his green eyes looking at her quite intensely.

“Aurora,” he began in an authoritative voice.

“Arakiel,” she returned, meeting his gaze. She felt her wings unfurling as her irritation grew. “You know something about my family… do you? This… Aurore?”

“I have never met her if that’s what you’re asking.” Arakiel responded while Mellia took a position to the side, eyeing both of them.

To Aurora, however, she didn’t really matter right now. What mattered was her beloved and something he wouldn’t tell her when he should’ve known that she had been rather curious about this whole issue.

“I’m asking if you know something about her… and why you didn’t tell me if you do!” Aurora objected, pointed out. Her own heart still beat fast and she didn’t quite know how she should feel just yet, so she didn’t dare to take a guess.

“Alright… but promise me that you’ll listen first and then get mad.” Her love responded and she was starting to become quite angry already. Nonetheless, she nodded in affirmation.

“When I rescued you from the Maidenhold, I did not know about your family.” Arakiel responded and so far, she couldn’t hear any deceit in his voice.

“And?”

His gaze met hers without delay and so far, he didn’t seem apologetic at all.

“Just before we planeswalked after we established our covenant, I sought out information about our status with the help of the Transcended. It’s how I learned my class – and that you’re bound to me by the class system.” He went on before his voice suddenly became very quiet.

He uttered the next words with care and only after he was certain that no one else was listening – and still he wasn’t content. Calling upon her aspect, he caused the next words to be carried as nothing but the faintest whisper on the wind.

“There, I learned that your sister is none other than the bloody demigoddess Aurore ay Elysia, the Seat of the Golden Chrysanthemum of the Eternal City of Elysia.” He admitted in whisper just like that.

There it was.

The piece of information Aurora had sought to know for so long… and just like that, he had told her – had known about it for so long now. For nearly a year at this point.

Her heart beat faster, so much faster and she felt anger rise inside her.

“Why didn’t you tell me!?” She cried out as she made a step towards him, her hands clenched to fists. “You know I wanted to know for so long! Why wouldn’t you tell me!?”

“Aurora, you agreed to wait until I was done.”

Gnashing her teeth, she tried her best to focus and calm down because she did indeed promise that.

Nonetheless, she was fuming right now.

“There are three Houses in Elysia… one of which is the Golden Chrysanthemum. She’s a true demigoddess like my mother, Aurora. I do not know why she imprisoned you there, but there is nothing we can do right now – nothing! I sought to keep this from you because it’ll only bring you pain.”

“The pain of not knowing who my sibling is!?” She bellowed, causing some of the passersby to briefly look their way.

They hurried along right away, however.

“The pain of realizing that your sibling dumped you in a place that raises young girls as docile livestock!” Arakiel returned, growing louder as well. His expression also held anger. “You still remember what they did to you, right!?”

“Of course I do…!” Aurora shouted back, her whole body beginning to tremble with a mixture of anger, fear and something else she didn’t want to specify. It might hurt her too much. “How could I ever forget!?”

“Then you must understand that I wanted to protect you from it!” Arakiel pointed out and there was a grain of truth to it… yet Aurora didn’t want to see it, perceive it. She just wanted to vent her anger and when she began to accuse him of betrayal, one hand reached for her wings while the other coiled around her while his lips came dangerously close to her.

The gentle touch on her wings’ limb sent a shiver through her, one that let him easily lock her in his embrace while kissing her with eyes open.

He did not break eye-contact with her once, but the tenderness with which he relayed his affection to her caused her anger to melt almost as quickly as it came.

Her mind went along as well, noting quite aptly that he had done so to protect her. If her sister Aurore was truly a demigoddess on the Lady Alexandrite’s level, then there was nothing she could do now.

It did pose one question, though. Why was her sister – an immortal – a demigoddess ruling an Eternal City whereas Aurora had been nothing but an Evermaiden?

She felt her body heating up and if Mellia hadn’t been there, they might’ve done it here and now. She just couldn’t stay mad at him for long for it usually only converted into desire… but this was not the time and place.

When he eventually let go of her, her breathing had become moist and heavy all the same and she quickly fluttered both wings and body to cool off a little – as much as was possible in this dry heat.

“Thy boldness never ceases to amaze me,” Mellia commented from the side, causing Aurora to blush a little while Arakiel chuckled.

“Aurora has every right to be angry, but it serves no point right now.”

“I will be angry with you all the same,” She responded in a pouting manner while straightening her dress as best as possible. He, too, had been rather touchy – not that she minded. “But no matter what you do, I will never not be grateful that you took me away from this place.” She ended up saying fondly nonetheless. She meant every word a hundredfold.

“And I am ever glad that I did… for it rewarded me with the love of my life.” He returned affectionately and after a few more tender exchanges, they agreed to move on.

It was a small outburst, but it had been necessary all the same.

A little later, they reached a fairly large plaza whose centerpiece was a rather large fountain that depicted a man and a woman who wore surprisingly little. Both seemed to dance around a pillar of sorts that acted as the fountain’s source of water, while the star-shaped basin held crystal clear water that the bronze-skinned akh or any other guest used to cool off a little in the heat.

It was something Aurora did right away and when she realized that the water was pleasingly cool, she nearly buried her head in it.

It had grown quite hot, after all – much more than she had to endure in the minor plane’s desert.

To her left, a large, well-maintained street of white slabs aimed straight for the massive reddish pyramid in the background, yet Arakiel pointed towards a sizable building right on the corner of the plaza and street, saying that this was their goal. It had several levels and a myriad of little towers, alcoves and oriels. The main facade’s color was white, but all the little additions had different colors, ranging from a soft pink over a gentle yellow all the way to a tender, lush orange.

The most eye-catching thing about the building was sign of a hammer and anvil flanked by a pair of laurels, however – all in what had to be naara, given just how radiant it gleamed in the sun.

A pair of burly looking men were just in the process of exiting the building, their expressions showing quite happy customers, if Aurora had to take a guess. She also realized that the entrance hadn’t been made with winged guests in mind and so far, her additional limbs had probably caused a bit of attention, but not nearly as much as she thought it should have.

In fact, her pride got a little humbled by how few people were looking her way, but maybe that was just the way of this plane. Nearly all the people at the lake had been handsome, pretty or downright beautiful – and Aurora was wearing a truly shoddy dress and hadn’t been able make herself presentable.

They arrived at their destination at last – and entered without further delay.

Aurora stepped into a surprisingly small chamber considering the fact that this was supposed to be a store. The floor was paneled with finely grained wood, just like the counter in the corner, whereas the walls were chalked white, even if most was hidden by rather large, very colorful carpets. There were only very few pieces of merchandise locked in little boxes of glass and all of them appeared to be pieces of jewelry.

A rather handsome bronze-skinned man occupied the counter, his short dark hair and well-groomed beard topping a truly impressive set of chiseled muscles that the man had no intention of hiding. On his skin, Aurora counted three different tattoos. Two on his arms and one that stretched all the way across his chest. He wore a short, sleeveless earthen-colored vest and a pair of puffy white trousers.

The shop owner’s red eyes looked up and examined them quite intensely and when his eyes fell onto Arakiel’s left hand, they widened a little.

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It was only then that she realized that he actually wore his mother’s signet ring… and she hadn’t even noticed it until yet.

Aurora felt just a little bit embarrassed, not that she’d ever admit to it.

“Rakim ibn Kadir – pleased to make your acquaintance, child of Alexandria,” the man greeted in a buttery-smooth voice and got up, walking right past them towards the entrance door which he locked right away.

This unsettled Aurora a little and although Arakiel seemed fairly tense, he didn’t make any sudden moves. Instead, he spoke up, saying. “The pleasure is mine, Master ibn Kadir. This is Lady Mellia ni Alexandria while the beauty here is Aurora li Arakiel… and I’m Arakiel ni Alexandria.”

It was the first time Aurora heard him say his full name – in fact, it might be the first time that she had heard that term at all.

“Rakim is fine,” the bronze-skinned man responded calmly and then beckoned them to follow in a kind tone. “Follow me, I can tell that this might take a bit longer.”

He led them into the back of the shop, into what might be considered a truly luxurious living room that scented of soft chocolate and mildly sweet honey. It was lighted by several white crystals that been placed throughout three different spots in the room, yet they managed to illuminate it quite well. Several large pillows invited weary legs to sit down and rest while the room’s temperature was notably cool and very pleasant, quite unlike outside. Aurora couldn’t out the source of the cold, but it was probably some enchantment.

Rakim ibn Kadir snapped with his fingers right after entering, causing a scantily clad dark-skinned woman to suddenly step out of the table’s low shadow.

Mellia yelped in surprise while Aurora had nearly cried out as well, yet she dug her arms and hands into Arakiel instead, who acted as comfort whether he wanted to or not.

“Make some tea,” Rakim said and the woman vanished dissolved into the shadow as quickly as she had come.

“What was that!?” Mellia exclaimed in a slightly terrified voice while Rakim chuckled. “Don’t mind my slave. She’s thoroughly trained and harmless.”

Then, he turned around and gestured towards the pillows. “Sit down, please.”

Aurora saw him eyeing them quite closely – her especially.

Whatever happened, she was quite certain that she mustn’t ever antagonize this man, because he seemed to recognize something in her.

Arakiel sat down in front of one of the large pillows and leaned against it while Aurora sat down right next to him, ensuring that she could lean against him. Mellia took the space on his other side.

Rakim then sat down on the opposite side and given the way he let himself fall into the pillows, he was quite used to receiving visitors or guests.

“Now then, tell me what the venerable Lady Alexandrite could possibly want from little old me.” Rakim replied quite sardonically, but his eyes kept sizing up Aurora.

“My mother beseeches the vaunted Rakim’s services,” Arakiel began, but the man burst out loud.

“Pah! Your mother never beseeches anyone. She demands and rightly so!” Rakim called out while making a dismissive gesture. “So, what exactly does Alexandria want?”

Arakiel cleared his throat and then spoke up in a quiet voice, saying. “My mother wants you to forge me a so-called ‘soulsparked link’, although I am not sure what it is.”

Rakim’s expression shifted a little, once again darting over towards Aurora. Then he nodded lightly.

“I see… that seems reasonable. What else did she say?”

Arakiel looked the man straight in the eye, saying. “She further demands that you fashion me a hilt to house it. Lastly, you are to create a catalyst for Aurora here… and that’s the major orders.”

“Seems like quite a tall ask,” the man began when the shadowy woman suddenly appeared once more, bearing a tray with four little cups of decorated ceramic.

She was pretty, beautiful even – but her posture was one of utter obedience and fear. She feared Rakim with every fiber of her being.

Aurora gave her a polite nod, but the woman didn’t even acknowledge her. Instead, she was about to fade into the background when Rakim spoke up, ordering. “Prepare two rooms for our guests here. And tell your sister to wait for me in the workshop.”

Then, she faded into the background.

“Who is she?” Mellia inquired carefully.

“An unruly customer who thought she could threaten me with her background,” Rakim replied curtly adding. “Spare that one no thought… she’s not worth it. Your requests, on the other hand – do… so please continue.”

“My mother wants you to equip my little sister and I to the best of your ability. I am told that doing so to her satisfaction will fulfill your favor.” Arakiel went on and Aurora wondered just how much his mother wanted Rakim to do.

“What are your levels?” Rakim queried as he looked them over, starting at Mellia.

“Mine class is that of an Ascendant Enchantress of the Nature-Astral crosspath,” she began. “The level is 3.”

“And you?” Rakim asked further.

“I’m a level 6 Mortal Ascendant of the lord type,” Arakiel answered truthfully, having briefly entered communion with the Transcended prior to coming here.

“And she’s your link, isn’t she?” Rakim asked, focusing Aurora once more.

The way he looked her over – it made her uncomfortable.

“Aurora is my seraphine if that’s what your asking.” Arakiel affirmed.

“I see… that is quite the tall offer… but it’s doable. How much time did Alexandria give me?” Rakim then inquired and judging by his tone and posture, he was expecting a rather unreasonable answer.

“Two weeks,” Arakiel affirmed, causing the Constructor to laugh out loud.

A bright smile formed on his lips. “That’s quite literally impossible – and Alexandria should know this. But I think I know what I’m supposed to work on. As for the rest, try four to six months instead.”

“This long?” Aurora gasped, having expected her beloved and his sister to react likewise – yet they did not.

“Crafting an artifact is quite an undertaking, young immortal.” Rakim explained, addressing her correctly right away.

She shouldn’t be surprised, yet she still flinched a little.

“Worry not. If I thought you a danger, you would be collared and bound the moment you entered my home.” The Constructor went on in a perfectly leveled tone.

He lightly shook his head, whispering words that were so soft that Aurora doubted anyone but her could hear. “And yet I am stunned by Alexandria’s audacity.”

The man then cleared his throat, picked up a cup of tea and downed it in one go after which he got up.“You, Arakiel. I need to speak with you in private.”

Her beloved got up more or less right away, almost as if he had expected the question. Aurora intended to join him, but the bronze-skinned smith shook his head. “Private meeting, no girls allowed,” he said somewhat jokingly.

“Should we remain here, then?”

He affirmed, answering. “Someone will fetch you in a moment.”

“It’s alright. We won’t be far,” Arakiel placated after which the two men left the room through another door than they had entered.

Aurora then picked up the cup alongside Mellia and both went for a taste.

It was slightly bitter, but very tasty. More importantly, it had just the right temperature.

“Should we be worried?” Aurora then asked quietly, causing her love’s sister to shake her head.

“Mother’s instructions were quite clear. We must place our trust in this man even though he isn’t a member of our house.” Mellia replied, sounding a little absent-minded.

“What is a soulsparked link?”

“I do not know.”

“What hilt does Arakiel want?” Aurora pressed further, but Mellia only shook her head.

“I do not know.”

“What are the Lady Alexandrite’s plans for him?”

This caused Mellia to look over towards her.

“Mother’s plans elude me. But her affection for Arakiel is genuine… especially now.”

“What changed? I still remember her admonishing him in all sorts of ways.” Aurora went on while wondering when or if she had ever spoken to Mellia like this.

So far, the Enchantress had mostly ignored her, yet right now, the question caused quite a bit of emotion on her pretty face.

“You happened, seraphine. I am not aware of the exact details… but your covenant is very precious to my mother. You are very precious to my mother… as long as you fulfill your intended role.”

Mellia had broken character once again, yet the way she looked at Aurora left little doubt that she was quite serious at the moment.

Aurora only hesitated for the briefest moment before she spoke up, asking. “And what is my role?”

“To serve my brother and our House.” Mellia replied calmly.

“I am no longer an aurea.” Aurora pointed out.

“Your collar didn’t make you an aurea,” Mellia replied much to Aurora’s surprise.

“It did not?”

The Kalanite Enchantress pointed towards Aurora’s head. “Your mind does and as long as that doesn’t change, there will be no problems.”

She then waited a short moment before speaking up once more. This time, she looked straight into Aurora’s eyes. “I will tell you this because you saved me from the seelie and a fate I do not even want to begin to imagine… so listen well. And do not tell this to Arakiel. This is our girls’ talk.”

Aurora fulled towards towards her, wondering what exactly she intended to relay.

“My mother bestowed me a way to ensure and enforce your obedience. It is in part the reason why I accompany both of you. I do want to stress that it wasn’t my wish, but my mother’s orders are absolute. As long as your actions serve House Alexandrite, you can retain your free will.”

Aurora didn’t quite know what to say at first, but this certainly exceeded anything she had thought possible to hear.

“Why are you telling me this?” She asked instead.

Mellia gave her another smile. “I like you… and I don’t want to hurt or force you, so please stay a good little immortal?”

A part of Aurora wanted to object, but another part rightfully pointed out that it didn’t matter.

She was dead-set on guiding Arakiel to greatness and so far, it seemed to align with his House’s wishes. As long as that remained, there was no need for any unnecessary opposition.

So instead of speaking up, she just smiled and nodded.

In that moment, one of the doors opened and a blonde, golden-eyed woman entered, beckoning them over. Apparently, a special kind of bath had been prepared just for them.

Now that was something Aurora had no intention of refusing.