Chapter Twenty-Two: Suspicion

Jaelin suspected that the night leader had told the masters about her. So, she decided to go back to the secret garden since she promised Sinian to comeback. Her days felt empty because she had always been accompanied by him. Surprisingly for her, emotions were growing faster than she thought and she was well aware that she had to tell him about those feelings. If they were mutual it'd be better, and if not, then giving up would be the right thing to do. This wasn't the only thing troubling her. It was more than that. The fact that his elder brother was against her from the very beginning and went that far when punishing her and enslaving her just to protect his brother from being around light knights. Another thing, her foster father was disappointed in her for roaming around with the next night king, which was the fact she had forgotten about when she was having fun with him. Her masters whom were so angry at her for her unclear behaviours and not giving a proper explanation about those recent events. Moreover, escaping her responsibilities and hiding in her room just to be unseen by others, because, after the battle, she was totally seen and known for her actions done at the Peace Era day. Everything didn't seem to go right only the fact that she was growing feelings fast for the only one who kept her company, Sinian. So, instead of going to the masters to see them in the great hall, she sneaked out again, thinking about nothing, no consequences, just him. She believed that love could conquer anything and that they both can face everything together.

"Sinian! Are you here still?" The fire diva shouted as she got closer to the wooden cabinet. "Have you left already?" As she kept calling, he used his air superpower pulling her from behind. As she lost the balance to stand up, he held her with both his arms where their hearts won the race against time.

"Were you looking for me?" He questioned with his quiet calm voice when she turned to face him after letting her go.

"Ah, yes! I thought you'd go back again to the night land since I took long to get back here," she explained more than she should. Her eyes rolled around just to avoid looking at him for a longer while. She knew she would drown in a pink sea of rollercoasters and there would be no way back.

"What are you looking for? Also, you're back late this time, did anything happen?" He asked, trying to draw her attention to look at him directly.

"Oh, no no! I'm back here to learn more and practice just as we used to do! Are you in?" Jaelin faked the laugh. Was distracted by too many things inside her head.

"Yes, we can practise more if you want."

"Great then! Let's start!" The girl hurried to the woody stand to start but Sinian felt that something was wrong with her. He approached with his charming looks with slow steady steps, analysing her face expressions and the looks on her eyes. The way she was avoiding him was more than a way to absorb her insides she had been hiding.

"Jaelin," he called but she acted as if she heard nothing and continued to bluff around about the xiaofang practice. He called another time but the same thing happened again. His patience ran out from worrying. Sinian used his cold wind to wrap her inside of it and pulled her to him. She widened her eyes when she found herself surrounded by his arms and having his cold stairs aiming at hers. "I've been calling you. What on this enchanted land happened to you?"

Her core shook with the tears running on her peachy cheeks. He could guess her actions and expressions just by few glances, which made her bursting into tears. He hugged her tightly to his chest and tapping on her right shoulder comforting. "What's going on?" The air demon whispered closely.

"Everything isn't going the right way. I've messed up. I'm just losing everything because of my clumsiness," expressed Jaelin as guilt was running down in her fallen tears.

"Why are you saying this? Why do you think you're losing everything?" Comforting he was.

"My foster father is disappointed because we're hanging out together. Your brother hates me too because of that. The masters are let down by my actions and mostly because I haven't even explained or apologized. I even ran away just now because they know by now and want me to explain why and how it happened. And more and more is just playing inside my head," expressed Ms. Su wiping her tears.

"And do you think that by escaping and avoiding these things they'll actually disappear?" He started when he grabbed both her shoulders, bending down a bit to face her as their eyes met.

"I know it won't. However, they're restricting me more. They're expecting too much from me while I, myself, can't do anything anymore without my heixin. The only thing I find fun, is you and being around you." She answered sincerely with painful eyes and a low voice. The wind was caressing them and playing with their hairs as they were drowning in each other's eyes. "I'm happy around you, learned lot of things and can't help but always want to be with you. I don't know how to explain this because I've never felt it before. All I know is that I'm certain about it and it's strong that I can't handle it," expressed the fire girl further and confessed how her heart felt about him.

"So it's the same," he chuckled as his eyes sparkled. "You're not the only one feeling this way. I also can't help but want to be around you all the time," Sinian smiled when his looks were drowning in her cute details. Her green deep eyes, small nose, going down to her moist fresh red lips. He stared for a while and leaned his head approaching. She effortlessly closed her eyes slowly the closer he got. He, then, pressed his lips on hers. He reached his hand to wrap her waist and get her closer to him as she held his jaw with her right hand and his shoulder with the other one. Time stopped. It felt like magic. She had not felt that way before. His warm breathes hitting hers, the wind blowing smoothly wrapping them to each other, and his touch when his fingerprints slid on her neck. However, as she was going lost slowly in the moment, she remembered Ixin when he saved her the previous time. Suddenly, something started to break inside Sinian, he felt a deep pain in his heart which made him part away from her.

"Are you okay?" Jaelin asked worrying.

"Yes. No worries," He smiled as he pulled her from the arm to hug her. "As long as you're with me, I'm all good," He continued whispering as she blushed.

Julian and Ethan were traveling from the light capitol to the Lunar Eris. The faster they reach, the more they gain time to get back for the ceremony preparations. Their kung fu was good enough to make them reach the school by the morning. Ixin had already gone back to the great hall to discuss some matters with the masters. The light king entered with his subordinate to the big hall, finding the night leader there giving cold looks when their eyes fall into each other.

"Greetings to the masters," started Julian, bowing with Ethan.

"King Julian, please, rise. You're the light king and you shouldn't bow to us anymore," Master Shin spoke gently as Ixin chuckled.

"I still am not officially the light king, master. I still hold respect for you no matter what my title is," replied the water knight smiling.

"So, you're doubting yourself for becoming a king," Ixin provoked as the masters knew there was no way for them to stop the electric vibe between both of them.

"I think you misunderstood my humble speech, night leader Ixin," He confidently answered as they kept a fierce eye contact for a while.

"Hmm. What's the sudden visit about, your highness?" The great master asked to cut off their vibe.

"I want to spend few days in here, before the wedding ceremony is held. Because, by then, I won't be able to come often as before. I'm paying farewell to my light chambers here," he explained, not wanting to bring the real reason behind it in front of Ixin or he'd use that against him.

"You're always welcome here, Julian," master Hao concluded then turned to look at the evil demon. "When will you get married, night leader Ixin? Isn't it the right time for a demon to do so?" He continued asking.

"Yeah, right. It should've happened two hundred years ago for you," master Lu agreed while Jin was quiet not wanting to say anything.

"I don't think I'm urged to get married yet. It's none of anyone's business," he replied coldly as the masters rolled their eyes sniffing from his disrespect.

"Master Jin, may I host you at my chambers this evening, please?" As Julian invited, Ixin got suddenly interested in what was going to happen and what their conversation would be about. Jin accepted his invitation then left outside alone, followed by the demon leader.

"I see you're worried, Jin," began Ixin with his famous attractive smirk.

"How can I not be when the only child I've raised and watched for her whole life is becoming daring and not afraid of what would happen outside," He anxiously expressed while walking in the main garden.

"She doesn't know, does she?"

"Know what?" The master acted as if he didn't understand what he was talking about.

"You know exactly what I mean, master. I also know why you all are protective of her," Ixin smirked hugely as Jin felt confused for a while but tried to hide it.

"I don't know what you mean. We are protective of every guardian who trains here."

"She's Jinya's descendant, isn't she?" Ixin announced when he stopped walking as master Jin widened his eyes and froze in front of him.

"You're mistaken. She's got an aunt and she was sick, that's why she's been left for me to raise her," the master clarified not wanting to continue talking.

"What's her name? Unless it's confidential or maybe crucial to know."

"Iren. It's Iren. I bet she's dead by now," he replied coldly then left while Ixin was surprised for a while, widened his eyes and had some flashbacks of the past. He decided to disappear for few days, far away from the sects. He called Jasper through telepathy as he was on the way to the secret garden.

"Your highness," Jasper replied when Ixin was a bit absent-minded.

"I need you to call for Zelo to watch over Julian, every step of his until tonight. For Jaelin, I'm sure Sinian will want to take her again to the garden, then to the night palace. Stop him from getting her out of here. Keep her company often, just don't let Sinian take her from here," he instructed furtherly.

"How about the assassin? Shouldn't I follow him?" Questioned the silver-haired demon as he was looking at both lovers being affectionate.

"Just do as I said. For the assassin, keep on tracing him. Jaelin should be here facing her masters," as Ixin concluded.

"I don't think she'll do that today," Jasper claimed when he was watching over them.

"She escaped again. Damn it!" Growled the night leader clenching his teeth as he cut the connection and directly left the school while Jasper found the assassin's hideout, where he was watching at both Sinian and Jaelin.

"What are you going to tell Jin tonight?" Ethan started when they both faced each other drinking the glittery tea in the light chambers.

"We need to ask him about Maxim's book. He's the only one who can approve to help, because he cares about Jaelin," Julian replied when his friend didn't understand.

"What does Jaelin have to do with Maxim's book?"

"Do you think the light board will accept her as a knight after being punished by Ixin? I just wanna use this as a leverage for Juli. Otherwise, even if I want to help knight Jaelin to be one of my subordinates, Queen Anna won't agree. She'd kill her rather than entering the palace," The light king explained further.

"But since she won't accept her, why using that to get Jin's help?" Ethan got confused while his leader sighed.

"Since when did you become stupid? I'm just using it to get the book or else I won't even know where it is or how to get it."

"Julian, you're scaring me. Few days ago, you were head over heals for her. What happened to you on the way?" Sarcastically laughed the brown haired knight.

"I gave up to my fate. Also, we found Ixin here this morning. He is supposed to be in the night land. What do you think he's doing here?" Julian took a sip from his tea.

"You mean, he's been here for her?" Wondered Ethan.

"A lot of attention is on her ever since she got punished. Also, her punishment was severe. At first, I thought Ixin wanted to provoke me, but seeing how he's sticking around, makes me more suspicious about the whole thing. If he were to just provoke me, he'd never show up in the Lunar Eris again," The light king enlightened his subordinate which made him rethink everything that happened during that day. It arose suspicion.