Staring at the morning lights, she smiled and prayed.

"Thank you, G.o.d...for not giving up on me. I lost sight after losing Zeid. I thought…. my life has no meaning without him and forgot that I still have you. In my thoughts, I even blamed You for letting it happen. I'm very sorry. It was never your fault. You are good and You don't plan evil things. It is us humans, abusing free will, and choosing to use it for evil. Our choices, rooted from desires, combined together, are what made this world a messy place. And now, we are captured by unknown invaders."

She paused for a little while and continued.

"Magi…..why did they come here? What happened to their planet? What's their goal? I still don't know a lot of things but I pray that You continue to be with me, and guide me along the way. Together with everyone here… may Your will be done…. And as for Zeid…. It was torture losing him... but….I know he's happy now, with You."

With teary eyes, she closed her prayer, "I promise not to let your sacrifice be in vain. I will protect this life you have given me...and protect others as you have protected me. Thank you…"

It was a very long night, both at the banquet and with Rania's life after Zeid died. But that "night" has now ended, welcoming a new dawn full of hope and future.

Knock-knock-knock!

The door sounded a few moments after Rania's prayer. Maids came rus.h.i.+ng in afterwards to greet her while bowing their heads. The head maid, as what she seemed to be, stepped forward to speak.

"Rania Caeles, human, from the house of Pémptos, you have garnered the favor of our king. You are now to be treated as a National Treasure for never in the history of Magi has there been anyone like you. From here on forward, you will have your own palace and move out of Pémptos. The king wishes for you to be…. 'Untainted' therefore, separating you from the rest of your race. You will also be given anything a woman desires, with maids at your waiting. You are also free to roam around your new palace and do whatsoever you like so long as they don't contradict with our laws and customs. Lastly, the king has scheduled for you to meet every last day of the month or whenever he pleases. We expect you to entertain him during those times."

Rania sighed. In her mind she thought, "National treasure, huh?"

One of the maids approached the head maid and whispered to her ear. The head maid's expression went shocked for a moment. Then, with a serious face she continued.

"One more thing. Though you may be free to do as you like and go wherever you want in your new palace, please bear in mind that you may NEVER ever enter, nor go anywhere near the 'Forbidden Chamber'. Currently, it is located near your new palace but that doesn't mean you can go there unless you wish to die a very miserable death. You have been warned. Now let us go. The maids will transport any belongings you wish to carry."

As soon as they open the door to leave Rania's room, a group of girls gossiping to each other welcomed them including Malum, the head of the house.

"It's such as shame that you're leaving so soon, my Odile. And to see you…. so… white." he said while looking at Rania.

Rania bowed her head and replied, "I thank you for guidance ever since I came here. And I thank everyone else for bearing with me."

"Huh!", Selena, who's just behind Malum, snorted. "How lucky of you, huh? Getting your own palace and all? National Treasure?" she said in a mocking voice.

"You're just jealous Selena.", said one of the other girls while laughing. "Rania, I hope we could visit you sometimes. You know, to see your new palace and perhaps play?"

"As if she'd let you ruin her place, haha!" said the other.

"I'm not gonna ruin it. I'm just gonna get the things I want from her place."

"Oh~ stealing are we?" said another.

"You could call it that, she's pure anyway so she doesn't have any worldly desires, right?"

"Silence!" exclaimed the head maid. "Let us through."

And with a bit more gossiping, they managed to get through the crowd.

Onwards they went, to Rania's new palace. On their way to it, a group of magi pa.s.sed by carrying what seemed to be a corpse covered by a large blanket. Some of the maids were horrified by the sight of it. Some, disgusted. You could hear them whisper.

"Another one, eh? They don't get tired do they?"

"This one's a child, probably wandered off without knowing what's inside."

"We should have left this chamber! Why did they have to carry it with us?"

"Apparently, it's attached itself to the 'Grand Palace'. No Magi could detach it."

"How could that be?"

"It seems like a 'Guardian' lives inside."

At these words, the other magi seemed to have felt a sudden chill in his spine. With fading voices, their conversation persisted. "A Guardian, eh? No wonder…"

After a few more steps, they arrived to "Meracus", Rania's new palace. Upon arriving, some of the maids were surprised with the beauty of the place. The whole surroundings were shouting white and crystals. The garden was beautiful as well, filled with flowers and trees of pink and white with a large fountain in the middle. The palace glitters in white and silver. You can find a few blue linings here and there, and silver embroidery in the curtains found in the hallway. The living room was comfy and warm and the dining area was large enough to cater 20 guests. All the furniture were exquisite and oh, the library, very magnificent. The books were neatly arranged and the tables and couches properly intact. There were guest rooms at the sides designed in a comfortable theme.

As for Rania's bedroom located at the next floor....it was a room fit for a princess. Large windows and curtains, a princess bed, beautiful display cabinets, soft couches, and a whole room of dresses, shoes and accessories! There's also a section for study and another for musical instruments. In the balcony, you can find tables and chairs set up for tea with a view of the garden below. And if you extend your vision forward, you'll see the other palaces nearby. A little further more was the palace gate and after it, you could see the town square. Looking at this view, one would feel as if they were transported to another world.

Rania stayed in the balcony while the maids fixed her belongings. Even she was amazed by the beautiful sight. After admiring it for more than a few minutes, she leaned her head eastward and scanned the view there. She walked towards the end side of the balcony and as she approached the end, she was surprised to see the skies extending below the ground. Were they that high up?

A few more moments and the sea of clouds cleared up only to welcome the ruined cities below. Yes, wherever they are, it was a place floating in the sky! In her months of staying here, this was the first time that she realized the whole place was somehow floating in the air. She guessed being with a bunch of Magi, you shouldn't be surprised anymore.

But what caught her attention most was the ruined cities below. With frowned eyebrows she thought, "What a tragic sight. Our world, reduced to ashes. Where is salvation? Until when will you be a prisoner?"

"We are now done, my lady. We bid you farewell as we will now be returning to our posts. Your maids in waiting will stay outside your room. Should you need them, feel free to call them out."

"Thank you."

Time pa.s.sed by and with nothing to do, Rania busied herself reading books. Sometimes she would get lessons from scholars and from time to time, be visited by her old housemates who snuck to get inside. No human visitors were allowed at her palace as if humans were the only ones capable of corrupting her.

Rania appreciated the thought of her former housemates visiting her even if they were only doing it for fun or to steal. She didn't tolerate the stealing but instead told them that if there's something they want, they need only ask and she would give it to them. Little by little, she gained friends from these evil and scheming girls. And not much longer, she managed to influence them and..change them.

These girls who used to wear moss-green, telength dresses, changed their colors. From dark green, to moss green, to light green. And now, a pearly beige. This resulted to their transfer of houses from Pémptos to Tétartos. But even in Tétartos they seemed different. Rania then, requested to the head maid if they could stay at her palace instead. The head maid reported it to the king whom simply agreed to the request. Thus, Rania gained her first housemates by the name of Rose, Lily and Iris.

Losing four ladies in total, the house of Pémptos has now decreased to sixteen and this angered Selena. "Who does she think she is?!"

With rage in her eyes, Selena stormed her way to Meracus, on a silent evening. She was determined to ruin Rania. "That girl, I really hate her!"

On her way, she met two, drunk, young n.o.bles in their 15. She didn't greet them but continued walking. This angered the two and with a flick of a finger, she's now floating in thin air.

"Let me go! Put me down!" she yelled.

"And why should I, you disrespectful b.i.t.c.h? You're just a human and you dare pa.s.s us without even greeting? Where have you learned your manners?"

"Clearly, Malum did not teach her anything." said the other in a mocking voice.

"Now, now, what should we do with you?" the guys smirked.

"I'm feeling quite cold tonight, why don't you warm my bed?"

"But she's a candidate."

"Surely, the king doesn't even know her so he won't bother. One less candidate is no difference. Plus, I heard they're virgins."

Hearing this, Selena grew scared. "No! I have to escape." she thought to herself. She then reached for her stiletto and threw it to the guy making him float.

The man's magic got interrupted and Selena fell to the ground.

"Argh! You b.i.t.c.h!"

Moving fast, Selena ran away from them as fast as she could. She didn't care where her feet brought her. She continued running without looking back. But the men chased after her. They were faster than her. Catching up to her, they grabbed her hair and pushed her to the ground.

"You worthless trash dare run away?! Let's see what you can do now."

"Heeeelp!!!! Someone! Please!!!", now sobbing, Selena cried for help.

But the place where they were seemed totally deserted. The two young men were now beginning to remove her dress.

Selena cried and thought, "Why is she so lucky and I'm not? We're both dragged into this mess. She only lost her fiance but I lost my whole family! Why is she the lucky one? Why can't it be me?"

Roll...roll…..roll

Something suddenly came rolling on the floor. As soon as it stopped, Poooofff! A thick smoke came out of the white fur ball looking thing. The whole place was now filled with smoke and dust. Selena was grabbed by the arm, away from the men who were now hurting their eyes.

"Come! Quickly, run!" a woman's voice whispered to her.

Selena was a bit blinded that time due to the smoke but she continued running holding the hands of whoever helped her. For the first time, she felt thankful. After a minute, the blur on her eyes were gone for her to see her savior. And it was none other than…. Rania.

"You!" her anger came back to her. She stopped running.

"We have no time to delay. Just one more turn and we'll be at Meracus. Come"

With hesitation, Selena answered, "....No!... I'd rather die than be saved by you!"

She then ran off towards the other direction which was none other than the Forbidden Chamber.

"No! Stop!" Rania tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen.

Tap tap tap...

The sound of footsteps can be heard. One, in front of Rania, belonging to Selena, and the other, at the back, from the two men who're now catching up to them.

Selena stopped in front of an enormous door. It was so big that it almost reaches the ceiling. It had a large, circular emblem of a dragon in the middle with vines around it. There were no door k.n.o.bs for you to hold it or pull it open. Seeing it as such, Selena decided to push it for it to open. With all her might she pushed the door.

To her bewilderment, the vines surrounding the emblem suddenly grabbed her arms trying to suck her in.

"No!!!! Aaaaaah!" she screamed out loud.

Rania who was nearby at the moment grabbed Selena tightly. But it was of no use, the vines were too strong. The guys had also caught up to them.

"How lucky of you. Of all the places you'll run off to, you went to the Forbidden Chamber. Hahahahah!"

"Choose now, we'll help you get out there but we'll f.u.c.k you afterwards, or die in agony inside. It's called forbidden for a reason."

With tears flowing on both her eyes, Selena cried. "This is all because of you. I really hate you. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."

"Do not blame others for your own decision. You are the sole responsible for any decision you make. Your decision shapes your future. So don't ever say that again.", as harsh as the words maybe, Rania said it with kindness.

"I - …." with nothing to say, she cried.

"Selena", Rania called her dearly. "Don't cry. Take heart and be strong. And with all your might, strive to live and push forward."

"Why are you saying this?"

"Before I went to you, I instructed the maids to call for help. The king has blessed me with protection and they should be coming any moment now. When that happens, I want you to run towards them."

"Wait - you seem as if.."

"This chamber, I read about it. These vines, it only takes one person at a time. That's why we've been stuck here for a while and its not moving any further. It won't take nor let go but if one sink in deeper, then the other one will be pushed out."

Selena can't believe what she's hearing. She stared at Rania, confused. Shaking her head she spoke.

"You heard me when I said I hate you, didn't you?"

"Yes...but…. I don't hate you. You hating me doesn't mean I should hate you back."

"You're stupid! The soldiers, they could -"

"No, they can't. Just as they can't transport this chamber, they can't do anything about these vines."

"You don't know that for sure. When they arrive -"

"No. When they arrive, they'll just push you in and let me out. I don't want that."

"Then they'll just blame me in the end and I'll die."

"No you won't. I told the maids that I'm saving a dear friend and that they should protect her... should anything happen."

"You! - "

Rania smiled for the last time and pushed herself deeper. Unconsciously, Selena tried to stop her. The guards were now approaching and the nasty little n.o.bles fought their way to escape. Beams of light came flying everywhere. Just a few more and Selena will be fully out of the vines grasps.

Rania was sinking when she saw a knife flying towards Selena. With all her might she pushed herself out to block it. Selena saw it too and she tried to grab it by her hands.

Phhhoooosk!

The knife landed at Rania's back. Blood came gus.h.i.+ng out of her mouth. Little by little her white dress got drenched with red blood. Selena screamed in agony. "Nooooo!"

"The National treasure!" shouted one of the guards.

Everyone stopped.

With her last strength, Rania smiled at Selena and pushed her out.

Finally released, Selena looked back only to see….

Rania…

Being sucked by the vines…

Until none of her could be seen.

Only her blood stains left on the floor remains....