Chapter 2

Few minutes before Nash enter the room.

"Is Nash still planning on staying there for a year?" Ivelisse asked her husband. "Perhaps I should go to Earth."

"Just let her," Roven responded. Ivelisse's brows furrowed as she looked at him.

"Roven!" Ivelisse exclaimed, suppressing her anger. "It's been almost five years since we last saw her, and you're telling me to just let her be?! There are already lots of 'what ifs' in my mind... I don't want more 'what ifs'"

"Mother, you're overthinking stuff. I'm sure Aunt Terry and Uncle Vicor are looking after her." Celeste said, reassuring her mother. She did say that, but she also had thoughts in her mind, 'I do hope she won't change even though she's slightly annoying'

"You think so?"

Celeste smiled and nodded.

"But what if she won't return this year?" Daniel unintentionally said. Celeste glared at her twin brother.

"Stop making mother worry!" she telepathically told her twin brother.

"Roven..." Ivelisse looked at her husband.

"Should we force her to return?" Vincenzo remarked. "I could go there and force her home, what do you think, mother?"

'Tsk. That brat... making her mother worry.'

Before Ivelisse could respond, the door swung open.

"How insolent!" Vincenzo yelled as he glared at the one who barged in the dining area.

"I'm home" Nash entered the room, her voice brimming with joy.

Her family was taken aback, as they had not expected her to return just as they were discussing how to force her back. Silent air has surrounded the hall with the people's shocked faces, facing the door where Nash was.

Vincenzo was the first one to break the silence that had descended upon the room as he maintained his serious face, "Oh look... we were just talking about you. And you even brought a dog."

"Arf!"

He pretended to be uninterested, but he felt relieved that her annoying little sister was finally back and healthy. 'Thank the highest, she's still the same.'

"You're finally back," Ivelisse embraced her daughter, trying not to cry because she didn't want her daughter to regret her life choices.

Ivelisse wanted to appear unconcerned about her daughter's absence from her family during the four years she was away from them. She knew Nash would get swallowed by regrets and may lead her to stuff she didn't want her to do.

"I'm sorry, I took too long to return."

"No, it's fine. As long as you're well and unharmed."

Ivelisse escorted Nash to a seat next to Celeste.

"Tell the guards to station themselves on every side of the castle 24/7 and increase the patrolling knights" the emperor whispered to the butler.

"I already told them, your majesty."

"I had intended to return in a month, but something compelled me to stay longer. I didn't expect it to last for almost five years though." She explained. "Don't worry, I'm not dumb. I went to a regular school and learned proper etiquette under Aunt Terry's tutelage."

She didn't mention her training with Vicor.

She faced her father and smirked, "Don't you miss me?"

"I don't,"

Nash's lips pressed in a thin line in disappointment. Yeah right, I bet you felt my demon awaken as I trained.

"So, what are you talking about before I come in?"

"We were planning on taking you by force, but since you're already here, that won't happen anymore," Celeste explained.

"Eh? Why did you think that I wasn't going to return?"

"Sister, you've been there for nearly five years, and you're about to turn seventeen, it's already your coming of age. What do you expect?" Celeste continued.

All of the events that were about to occur entered her mind and she began to think about them. Oh right... the coming-of-age ceremony.

Coming of Age Ceremony...

It happens every 1st day of the year. It is a ceremony for ladies turning 17 in that year. Noble or not they will be blessed by the high priest.

It's only April 2nd, so I still have time before the coming of age. But I don't think I may be able to attend. If they accept my decision then I won't be attending the ceremony; but if they do not, I won't still attend since I'm considering a contingency option.

"Father, I have a request for which I would appreciate your approval."

"Don't. It's only trouble, as usual." Vincenzo interrupted.

"It isn't!" Nash exclaimed. She glared at her older brother. I'm not a kid anymore.

Her oldest brother Vincenzo has always hated her because of how spoiled she is. She acts as though she isn't the Imperial princess, and doesn't take anything seriously.

"Vincenzo," Ivelisse scolded her son. The twin siblings simply keep their mouths shut and wait for Nash to talk.

"Tsk,"

"It depends on what you want," Roven answered.

"Later, I'll tell you. I'm too hungry to talk." She just used that as an excuse because she feels anxious about saying it now.

In the middle of their meal, the butler, Vernon, noticed something that made them glance at Nash. "Princess, I apologize for interrupting and I don't mean to disturb you,"

"Sure, what is it?" She resumed chewing as she looked at the butler, waiting for his question.

"Why are you wearing gloves in your right hand?" Nash coughs and drinks her water immediately.

"I apologize! Please forgive me for noticing such a thing!" Nash waved her hand, trying to stop him.

"What happened?!" Celeste grabbed her right hand and removed the gloves off. "Eww!"

Hiding inside the gloves is her burnt hand. It's wrinkled and pinkish red in color. It doesn't look disgusting since it's already an old burn so it's mostly just loose skin.

"What happened?" Finally, Roven asked. He had noticed it earlier but didn't bother to ask. He thought it was merely a piece of accessory.

Nash hesitated for a moment before telling them what happened. "I lose control of my demon right after I get to Aunt Terry's. Aunt Terry's healing abilities failed to suppress it, at the same time that day, they were boiling water so I thought that it could help. I put my hand in it and immediately passed out. My hand was dressed when I woke up."

In the past, if I lost control of my demon, it was father who would suppress it because he, too, has a demon inside.

How did Nash become the demon vessel?

Nash was on the verge of death due to a lack of inner power, or PNEUMA, as they call it. An individual's PNEUMA should be balanced, but Nash's only consumed 50%. As a vessel of a demon, Roven has a demon inside him, so he pushes half of it inside her daughter, who would die if she failed to have a balanced PNEUMA, and turns her into a vessel as well to balance her PNEUMA.

While having just 50% demon, Roven is still alive because he was able to balance it. Since Nash was just an infant then, she can't regulate her Pneuma, so she can die from an unbalanced Pneuma. Also, the only one who can balance a PNEUMA is the one who owns the PNEUMA.

Roven can now only use half of his demonic power at this time, but he is still powerful even without it.

Nash has gravitational power, which accounts for the other half of the equation.

Pneuma is not present in some individuals, referred to as "ordinary people". Because of the strength of their life force, they were able to survive.

...

"Should a doctor be summoned to cure your hand?" The butler asked but Nash shook her head.

"Of course she'll say no," Nash chuckled as Daniel said, "She must think it's cool to wear a glove"

Her family let out a sigh.

...

Nash excused herself and went to her room to take a bath because they started talking about politics, which she didn't understand.

"Later. Dinner." Roven said, "Your request"

"Of course, dad. It's my request, and if you accept my decision, I'll be satisfied for the rest of my life." She bid her goodbyes and went straight to her room to take a bath with the help of the maids' assistance.