AFIRE: fight for the Earth begins✓

11.4 LUKA

The story so far:

---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees. Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him.

---- Aija is invited by Etrie for a Harvest Stopping Mission. Aija tells Zuri about Quinn – she's to meet him as an order from the Leadership. Kuna, who works for Etrie, picks Aija up for the mission. Etrie partners Aija with Kuna for the night. Aija agrees to work along with Etrie on Harvest Stopping Missions.

---- Ze catches Aija returning early in the morning with two unknown men. He worries if she is doing something wrong by dating one of the men she is with. Ze decides to talk to the girls about it. Ze talks to Zuri about Aija – she too has seen Aija with the unknown man.

---- Ze tells Zuri about his cousin Volt and his wife Remi. Zuri tells Ze that Aija likes him – he already knew. She also tells him about Aija's order of engagement.

---- Zuri confronts Aija about the men she'd been out with.

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****11.4 - Luka****

The house was quiet, so much so that he could hear two of the cats scampering around downstairs.

Thieron had gone to meet Ba'diur, and Nala had locked herself in her room. She was upset about Zuri. Ever since he had told her about Aija, Nala had been concerned about what to do.

Luka was surprised Nala had even any sort of feelings towards a human. Nala didn't like them and took pleasure in Harvesting souls. Now, Nala locking herself in her room was indicating otherwise. So, there did exist a human who could make Lalana of Ytèan feel this way. And, it was Zuri; Aija's best friend.

Aija. He liked the way her name sounded. He had learned of her name from Nala. Guess there was a human he found interesting too.

Not that Luka hated humans. He was just doing his job.

Thieron hadn't appreciated Nala's sudden backing from their visit to Ba'diur's place. She had stayed back at the very last minute, and Thieron had been suspicious of her. She never said no to Thieron. It was probably the first time she had said no in all the years that they had known each other – and they had known each other for over hundreds of years.

Luka decided to speak to Nala. She had to make a decision soon.

He went upstairs and knocked on her door.

"Go away!" she yelled in Ytèan.

"I'm coming in," Luka informed her and opened the door to her room.

"Luka!" she screamed.

Luka entered the room to find her in bed, under a heap of blankets. He sat on a chair beside her bed an incredulous expression on his face. The brave, strong, confident Nala was sulking at home, locking herself in her room. Oh, how love changes people....

"This isn't the Nala I know."

She rolled her eyes at him.

"Come on, Nala." He said. "I know how you feel."