Chapter Twenty One: Cornered

It had been four weeks already since Jaelin was punished. In the Ziran world, a month is a total of seven weeks. So, two months were really too much for Jaelin without her superpowers.

It was the midday meal time. Aria ran to catch up with her following Ixin's orders. Although she was unaware of how deep things were between them, she listened to his words and told the fire knight to get back to him.

"Is there anything you want?" Jaelin demanded in a low voice when she stood up at the entrance of his bedroom.

"I'm hungry. Get me something to eat," The night leader replied coldly. It was crucial to know more about who she was, her heixin and her relationship with his brother. Was she the one whom was mentioned in the legendary books and stories of Ziran. His mind was running lots of similar questions and couldn't, yet, conclude anything just from her heixin.

"I'll be back," Bowed and left with no more words left for her to say to him.

Julian and Ethan were mid way to the Lunar Eris. He wanted to satisfy his fiancé or, at least, to ask for her forgiveness before the marriage. He was thinking only about her while trying to forget about Jaelin. Ethan left certain missions with Ian and Evander to take care of in the capitol as to investigate more about the whereabouts of Jaelin.

"How can we find anything about her? I'm already tired touring the whole capitol," Evander complained frowning, sitting down on a bench near the entrance of the capitol.

"We shouldn't question our missions. We have to find something about her," Ian replied, was determined on sticking to the orders. He was the serious type with a calm resting face. He had always wanted to be one of the king's subordinates, to help the light kingdom and people prosper and in peace.

"We searched every corner, every house and found nothing! Where should we go now?" The flora knight questioned resting his head on both his hands.

"If we can't find anything in the capitol, then, we'll have to get out to the other cities," Ian turned to look at the entrance, clenched his fist and froze.

"Are you out of mind!" Jumped his fellow in surprise. "There's no knight or anyone who can summon a superpower outside the walls of the capitol!" Continued reminding.

"We've no choice Evander. She's a mystery and remember when she was ten? She used her fire ball to attack those bullies. Nobody gets to use superpowers at that age," Reminded the water summoner.

They decided to head out of the capitol to look in those far cities where normal humans were living there.

"Brother, are you okay?" Sinian tried to connect to his brother's mind since he didn't get any response from him neither saw Jaelin going back to the secret garden. Fortunately, the telepathy connection worked.

"I'm fine. I need to rest. Did you get back to the night capitol?" Ixin replied when he was lying down on bed. Two days had passed since he was injured and Jaelin was in the kitchen to get him his dinner.

"Yes. How's Jaelin?" Lied the younger brother as he was still in the wooden cabinet.

"Stop your obsession about her and focus on your duties. Father is appointing you a night king soon," Commanded the elder brother, looking outside his balcony from the bed.

"You are more suitable for ruling than me. Why should I be the next king?" Carelessly Sinian claimed.

"Repeat that again and you won't see me again," He threatened coldly when he cut the connection and sighed deeply.

Ixin wasn't but an illegitimate son for the whole kingdom. He wasn't from the night land either. His mother left him at the night palace since he was a demon. He was one hundred years old and had cultivated enough to prove that he was eligible for becoming the night leader. The demon king approved of him only because of his abilities and broad-minded.

"Your dinner is served," Jaelin entered his chambers announcing coldly. She had decided not to mess with him any further.

"Have you prepared it yourself?" He got up heading to the table that was facing his bed.

"I'm no good when it comes to demons' meals," Replied, was about to leave.

"Where are you going?" He sat down with a straight back holding his chopsticks.

"I must eat as well then explain to the masters everything,"

"Sit down," He ordered.

"But I.."

"I said sit down. Eat here with me," He invited as she was surprised with his calm attitude. She sat down quietly. It felt awkward for her to stay there. It was her first time sitting on the table with the great night leader, Ixin. "Why aren't you eating?"

"I'm not used to the demons' food," She replied quietly.

"Try this. It's not cold," He grabbed a plate with roasted potatoes and roasted chicken and put it beside her. She took her chopsticks taking a bite.

"This is so delicious!" Her eyed sparkled as she kept taking more. He chuckled eying her with a warm look.

"Try this one too," Ixin offered another dish.

"I didn't know there are such delicious meals of the night land," She claimed smiling as she was enjoying the food, while he was enjoying looking at her, lowkey with a cold face expression.

"You shouldn't leave here until your punishment period is over. Try to practice here and forget about Sinian," He spoke calmly as her smile faded with the sadness expression.

"Is it because he'll be throned as the night king?" Questioned the fire diva quietly.

"It's also because I'm trying to protect him. Our father has high hopes in him and if you truly care about him, don't mess with his reputation further," Warned the night leader reasonably.

"But I like him," Confessed Jaelin looking down at her food.

"Forget about it. It's worthless," He replied putting down his chopsticks and stood up. "Prepare the bath for me," Continued as he left her there clenching her fist and about to cry. She remembered how she had been treated by the other guardians since her parents were dead and unknown. She had been bullied more than her friend, yet, she stayed resilient and strong. She fought all her dark thoughts throughout the years and used that deep anger and fury to turn them into her superpower. It helped her to get stronger and more resilient. However, at that moment, all she could think of was the talks of the bullies about her being illegitimate and a lonely monster.

After few minutes, she pulled herself together and headed to the bathroom. She found Ixin already undressing. The knight froze at the sight of his muscled well-built body. His back was well-structured and his broad shoulders drawing more of a long V shape since he was tall. Ixin noticed and turned to face her.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned as she blushed and turned not to look at him.

"You told me to prepare for your bath!" She shouted flushing.

"You took long. Now, if you excuse yourself. Unless you want to join," He smirked glaring coldly at her while she got out. Her heartbeats were bumping faster and she started to feel confused again.

The next morning the masters got the news of the light king coming over the school. Three days and he would be arriving. They decided to talk to Jaelin first, to hear her out about what happened ever since she had been punished.

Jasper went to see his leader after Jaelin left back to her room. He had his eyes on Sinian that whole day as he was ordered.

"He's still there. He was practicing and I made sure he doesn't sense my presence," The silver haired demon reported.

"I knew he didn't go back to the capitol. He's never lied to me before. Now that he's bewitched, let his father take care of him," Ixin smirked putting on his black and dark purple outfit.

"Also," Jasper started as Ixin turned back to face him. "Someone else was there watching. I guess he was there to watch his highness," He continued as his leader clenched his face then turned to face the view of his balcony while the other was behind him.

"Who's that?"

"Forgive my incompetence. I haven't seen his face but he seemed to be the knight who attacked knight Jaelin," Explained the subordinate.

"Is he after Jaelin or Sinian? Or both?" Questioned the night leader.

"Not sure, your highness. He was hiding in the shadows and I could only sense him through my wind."

"Keep watching him and Sinian too. I need to go somewhere for few days. If things get chaotic call me by using the telepathic connection," Ixin warned as he was checking his own heixin and how long he could suppress it more. Ever since his mother left him at the night palace gates, she sealed his heixin so he wouldn't lose control. He was only left with the lightning superpowers to take care of himself. So, that seal was fading away slowly the more he got stronger. He couldn't afford to let it fade completely, or it will expose his real identity.

"How about the capitol? Zelo and Yeona are still there waiting for his highness, Sinian," Jasper wondered anxiously.

"It's his own responsibility. I'm merely a leader, demon Jasper," Ixin claimed as he was done with checking his heixin and turned to face him again. "I'm now responsible on helping him ascend to the throne, then leave. Other than that, you all will be his subordinates, each holds responsibilities and help keeping peace between the two clans."

"I'll follow you anywhere you go. You are my leader," Jasper admitted showing loyalty.

"Don't say that again! You can be punished. Now, you know what you gotta do. Dismissed," The demon leader warned as Jasper bowed and left for his mission.

In the next morning, he got up, checked his injury and decided to let the masters know to watch over Jaelin more.

"Night leader, Ixin. Have you recovered already?" Master Hao started as he entered the great hall.

"How can he not and it's me who healed him. Humph," Groaned the great master when he side-eyed him.

"I'm here to remind you to watch over your knight. If she messes around with the next night king, I'll make sure she won't see her heixin again," Threatened the night leader coldly.

"What do you mean by messing around with his highness?" Master Shin questioned, grabbing his small beard.

"I guess it's on her to answer that question. So, as her masters, make sure she's punished properly," Ixin reminded and turned back to leave the hall to have his morning meal at the dining hall.

"What's going on? What did she do this time!" Master Hao growled. "Master Jin, weren't you watching over her all this time? What's this gibberish he's saying!" Master Jin stayed silent and calm.

"Summon her here now and we'll know," Master Lu suggested as he called for Aria to summon her.

"You are summoned by the masters in the grand hall," Aria informed Jaelin as she was getting ready for that morning.

"Good morning. Did they not teach you how to greet your seniors?" Replied the fire diva calmly.

"What good comes from seeing you! Humph!" The little girl answered, crossing her arms to her chest when the other one stayed silent. It didn't get to her because she heard far worse than that before.

"I'll meet them after having breakfast. Thank you for informing me," Jaelin pronounced politely when she was styling her hair.

"They're waiting for you now! How can you be this arrogant after all that you've done?" Aria shouted as Jaelin glared at her coldly without saying anything.

"Did you see the night leader there?"

"Why asking about him? He already left! All because of you!" The guardian attacked and left her alone in the room slamming the door.