The story so far:
----Zuri waits for Aija to wake. When she goes to check on Luka, she hears Nala talking to Z'our. Thieron tells Aija he's in love with her. Aija tells him she hates him. Thieron is stunned by Aija's non-acceptance of him. Thieron accepts Irih'va's offer to work for the Crown. Rei gets back with Vincent. Wiet publicly executes Gale members, Rei is upset that he isn't able to do more for his people. Luka speaks with his former mentor and tells him he's quitting the Ithi'hra. Aija and Irhi'va speak in the Throne Room. When Irih'va kisses her she kisses him back but realises she cares more for Thieron. Irih'va is devastated when Aija leaves. Ruyanir is scared for Ze. She hopes he wins. Ze wins against Na'thwir. Zuri and Nala attend the Red-Moon festival. The Gale releases their video on the Main-Lands. They bring the Leadership down. Mike Wiet escapes, Rei asks Je'ai to catch him. Aija accepts Thieron.
----Ze is blessed and becomes the Ema'i of the Zayr. Thieron gives Aija the blade-blessings. Irih'va tells Thieron Ea tried to destroy Earth. Aija and the others go to Earth.
----Wiet is captured, Rei talks to him.
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****36.2 AIJA****
Sunlight brought out the varying shades of wood of the walls.
Aija eyed them, counting five different types of wood that made the walls of the Core mostly to calm herself. She felt her heart pounding in her chest. She hated the heaviness of it, for while it told her she was alive, it also reminded that she could lose it all in seconds. Ever since she'd had a blade strike her chest in Zya'ara, her heartbeat made her queasy.
And what she'd heard just now made her ill.
She hadn't meant to overhear the conversation; she'd only been searching for Rei. She'd waited for Thieron; when he hadn't come, she'd sought her brother to ask if he knew what was happening with Ea. She's come to his office-room to find the door slightly ajar. Aija had tiptoed closer, unsure whether to enter, listening to the raised voices floating out. Mike Wiet's laugh had taken her off-guard.
Everyone knew the Leadership's Representatives surly, grating voice thanks to his video-messages that were aired frequently on DigiScreens all over the Cities. It was a voice that reflected how highly he thought of himself.
Aija had peered into the room through the slit. Wiet, tied to a chair, hands at the back, looked haggard. He'd laughed at her brother, gone on to accuse Rei of making a mistake, that the Earth, half-ruined, wouldn't suffice for everyone.
She took one last glance at the wooden walls, gleaming under the sun's golden rays, and left before someone caught her eavesdropping. She sauntered through near-empty hallways, with no destination, brooding over Wiet's words. He had twisted ways of trying to achieve what he believed in. Even so, Aija knew Wiet was correct. If not them, some generation in the future must face the full consequences of a half-liveable planet infested by radiation, human-eating beasts, along with dwindling resources and large populations. Unless Rei set up solutions for them right now. Aija knew Rei was capable, but Wiet's words consumed her concentration.
"Aija,"
Ba'diur approached her from the other end of a hallway. She'd forgotten that he and Var-Inu were still on the South.
"Hello," she greeted him with a bow as she would on Ierne.
Ba'diur grinned, returning a bow. "How've you been?"
Aija shrugged.
"Ah'n?"
"I haven't seen him yet."
"Right," Ba'diur shifted his weight from leg to leg. "It shocked even me to see Ea, there, like that...," he cleared his throat. "I can't imagine what Ah'n must be going through. I know he hates us, but could you tell him Var-Inu and I are there for him?"
Aija saw Ba'diur's hope pervade his eyes. Thieron may never agree to take help from them, but, "Sure, I'll let him know."
"Thanks, you take care, Aija."
"Hmmm,"
The Ytai opened his mouth as if to add something else, but shut it instantly, smiled, bowed, and left. Aija stood, seeing Ba'diur disappear into a room at the far end of the hallway. Var-Inu stood at the door, watching her, smiling when she caught him. She didn't return a smile, and the man went back into the room, leaving her alone in the corridor. She hadn't liked the knowing-smile he'd given her; it slithered on her skin, pricking bumps over it.
Needing to be needed somewhere, Aija headed to the Dining Hall to ask if they required help handing out food-packages. Zuri, Nala, Luka, and Xan were at a table having lunch. Zuri waved at Aija.
"Why don't you eat something?" Luka asked when she joined them.
"I'm not hungry," Aija sat beside her best friend.
It was the first Luka had spoken to her in days. It wasn't awkward between them, but it wasn't exactly entirely alright. Aija knew what Luka felt for her; she'd seen the pink in his aura in her presence. But she didn't know how to handle it between them, for she didn't feel the same way. Luka hadn't mentioned his feelings to her, she hadn't asked, and Aija supposed it'd remain that way.
Luka studied her a second longer before getting back to his food.
"Anything on Ah'n and Ayr'i?" Aija asked.
"Nothing," Nala answered.
Aija pouted, shoulders slumped. Zuri offered her a piece of orange from her tray. Aija took it, biting into the fruit; the juice filled her mouth, the sweetness remedying her ailing mood by a shade.
"What's wrong, Ms Niyarah?" Xan handed his share of orange to her. When she declined, he bent over the table and placed it in her palm.
Aija felt guilty; she should get her own food-packet. "I just need to do something,"
"You just can't sit still like Ah'n," Nala narrowed her eyes.
Aija felt the heat in her cheeks rise. No one had said anything about her and Thieron being together. It'd been easy acceptance as if it were an eventuality. Only Zuri had commented, 'I'm happy you're doing what's right for you.' In conversations, Aija did hear a lot of 'Aija and Ah'n,' along with 'Zuri and Iro'h,' like it'd always been that way. Aija appreciated how comforting it was.
"Then let's go to Apper Town," Zuri suggested. "I'll introduce you to my family. I'm sure we'll be back by the time they are done with Ea."
Aija didn't mind. She focussed on Luka and Nala for their approval. They exchanged a fleeting look, so much information passing in that second between them.
Xan gushed. "Let's go!"
"Come on, Iro'h," Zuri gave her a cutesy smile.
Nala eyed her, amused. "Fine,"
"Luka?" Zuri asked.
Luka shrugged.
****
Aija hated what she saw in Apper Town.
The air, inhospitable, the roads, pot-holed, the houses, rundown.
When Zuri declared, 'We're home!' Aija had loathed Mike Wiet. She didn't know what Rei intended to do to him, but whatever it was, Wiet deserved worse. Apper Town wasn't as filthy or dilapidated as the Open, but it was on the course. Aija couldn't believe Zuri had grown up here, feeling ashamed of her Mansion. Even when Zuri had told her about her visit to Aija's home, she hadn't mentioned anything about the opulence with disdain. Aija would now be offended if Zuri didn't hate her for the luxurious life she'd lived.
Xan stood next to her, in the King's front-yard, equally mortified. The only ones seemingly unbothered were the Ytai.
A full moon shined above them; Zuri took it in for long moments and knocked at the door. Zuri's brother, Alex, answered the door, and what ensued was what Aija could only describe as cheerful chaos. With hugs and kisses to Zuri from the rest of the Kings to pleasantries from them to the family, the home was filled with warmth.
Xan stuck to Aija as he always did when she was around. But this time, she suspected it was more so because of the apparent disparity between Innermost and Apper, and Xan felt as contrite as Aija.
Aija apologised to Zuri's parents for lying when they'd come to Innermost, seeking information on their daughter. They accepted it effortlessly, saying Aija had no choice then. It made her feel lighter, though it wasn't much of a sin.
After the dinner Imani insisted they have, Zuri took Aija and Xan around her house. It wasn't much; two rooms, one for her parents and one for the siblings. When they returned, they found Luka helping Imani with the dishes and Noah and Nala in conversation in the backyard. Noah was as tall as Nala. Aija had noticed that among Ytai, Nala was actually short.
"Are you worried?"
Zuri grinned. "No. Nothing scares Iro'h or Noah. I'm sure it'll be fine."
Aija was impressed by Zuri's confidence. Then she had a sudden realization; she went still, and Zuri noticed.
"What?"
"Zu?"
"Yes, Ai,"
"Do I have to introduce Thieron to my family?"
Zuri's eyes widened. "Oh, that'll be one intense meet."
"I don't know if they already hate him based on what Rei's told them."
Zuri chuckled. "I can't believe we're having this conversation. We've come a long way, Ai. I like where we've reached."
Aija slid her arm over Zuri's elbow, holding her close, and rested her head on Zuri's arm. Zuri kissed her on the head.
"Ms Niyarah?"
"Yes, Xan,"
"Can I bring Vaughn? Not right away, before we leave to Ierne. I want to be with him."
Aija heard the wistfulness in Xan's voice. "Of course, Xan, you can bring him anytime."
Xan smiled. "Thanks, Ms Niyarah,"
"I can't wait to see Vaughn," Zuri chimed.
Xan blushed.
They waited as Noah came, expression unreadable. Behind him, Nala watched warily for Zuri and Aija's reactions.
Noah smiled at his daughter, "I approve," he murmured and went back inside.
Zuri grinned, seeing her Nala relaxed, running her hand through her hair, a soft smile lacing her lips.
"Zu,"
"Yes, Ai,"
"I like where we've reached, too."
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