Valeriana could not hold back the complains rising up her throat. Corvan did not say anything at all to reply to any of her statements, and that fueled her anger more than anything else did as of the moment. The first-ranker seemed completely uncaring and was deaf when it came to hearing her out.

He went on with walking, entering the Twelve's residences without even looking back. Some were present in the lobby, namely Keelan, Brindon, and Tamara. The rest were nowhere to be found.

"What about the duels?" Valeriana cried out, running after him, trying gain his attention to no avail. "What about the festival! For Pete's sake! Corvan von freaking Vaushna de la Wylden!"

After the door shut behind them, Corvan finally turned to meet her eyes, his very own burning with irritation. "Stop this. The bridge will be crossed once it is reached."

"Are you kidding me? The bridge will be crossed once it is reached?"

Valeriana felt entirely confused and conflicted it made her squirm and restless. She raked a hand through the mess she was calling her hair, the ponytail now totally out of place.

"Of all people you could've pulled into this, why on Earth is it me?"

"Because you are the nearest." He said, turning his back.

"We aren't done!" She exclaimed.

Now, the three other members of the Twelve were as confused as heck. The magnitude of how they fought didn't always seem like this. Even so, their curiosity could not be satiated since none could even butt in between the two.

"Are you not satisfied of the offer I have given?" He asked. "I have said that I will aid you in your search for answers in exchange for your cooperation."

"That doesn't change the fact that this is all wrong!" Valeriana stomped her feet. "You're going to make me pretend to be your girlfriend just to get rid of that girl! And what? Make me look stupid? Haven't you had enough of making fun out of me? I know I don't stand a chance in winning against you but it doesn't give you the right!"

"Girlfriend?" Tamara gawked. "Isn't that the earth term for lovers? Are you serious?!"

"LOVERS!" Keelan squeaked.

"What." Brindon, who normally was poker-faced, showed the littlest bit of shock through the slight movement of his eyes widening.

"None of that had been my intention at all. Doing any of those things you've just mentioned is beyond me." His voice was dangerously low, his eyes slanted and his frown deeper. "If you think of me in such low regards, then so be it. But I have not necessarily lied about what I had just mentioned before. Making light of you is a fool's job."

Not necessarily lied? The ambiguous words he had just given away made Valeriana absolutely speechless. What in the world could he have meant?

He turned for the path leading to the stairs and walked away, but midway he paused. "If you really are against this, then I shall no longer force it. Even so, the plans do not change. I will allow you to choose and think it over. Keep in mind my offer and should you ever make up your mind, I will be departing through the Academy's portals tonight at midnight. You know what to do."

He then disappeared, leaving her there with the biggest conflict affecting her both psychologically and emotionally. She then looked down at the foreign jewelry embracing her finger and felt the sudden urge to go after the guy.

He left his precious ring.

The Wylden Cosmos? They really loved jewelries, didn't they? As of now, she had two necklaces, one bracelet, and one ring in her possession.

But the ring . . . it didn't feel right for her to wear it at all. No matter how beautiful it shone, the lovely molten glow the color of gold its very jewel possessed, and the soft firmness of the gold around her finger . . . her inner conscience whispered heavily.

"Valeriana? What's going on?" Tamara inquired. "What is with you and Corvan?"

She looked up, feeling stupid about feeling the way she did. "I don't know . . . I don't know! Heck, I don't know." She repeated, as though her English vocabulary lessons had packed its bags and left her brain long since. The girl could not think up of any other answer.

Tamara gave her a brow raise.

"I'm . . . going upstairs." She muttered, bolting for the direction of her room.

"Wait." The third-ranker came forward and tucked an envelope between her fingers. "It came for you. From your mother."

Her heart swelled at the news and the item sitting on her palm seemed more significant than anything else at the moment. She gave Tamara a smile, a wash of relief flooding over her.

"Thanks." She told her. "I appreciate it a lot."

She hurriedly made her way to the floor where she was staying in and locked herself inside her room. Valeriana found a good, comofortable chair by the fireside and relaxed on it, taking a deep breath before ripping the whole thing open.

'Dear baby girl,

How are you doing, Valery dear? I miss you so much already! Jareth here has been eating a lot of sweets behind my back now that you aren't here anymore! Apparently, he got the idea that there was one less person out of the way for his addiction to sugar! Goodness, you wouldn't believe how much weight he gained the past month. He had over fifteen pounds!' Valeriana's eyes widened at her words. Jareth gained fifteen pounds the past month from eating too many sweets? That sweets freak surely was having a good time without her there!

'Anyhow, you don't have to worry, I gave him a lot of things to do so that he would be distracted. I plan on sending him to camp but it's already too late since classes already started back here. I'm making him take extracurricular activities so he could get all those energy spent. But, considering how much he has been eating, the fact that he only gained fifteen pounds is questionable! His metabolism is outstanding. Even being his mother, I can't help but still surprised.'

Valeriana chuckled. "Who's a pig again? Jareth, you idiot."

'Anyway, dearest, you're turning eighteen, aren't you? Will you come for a visit? It would be lonely to celebrate your birthday without you! And eighteen, oh goodness me! You're turning into an adult, finally! I won't allow a simple cake-blowing! There should be a big party!'

It was really sweet of her mother to be this thoughtful about the whole idea, but she had to disagree with her on this matter. It was common tradition to be throwing as much as a grand ball when one turned eighteen, but how was she supposed to do that with everything going on?

Parties were a no. Her mother knew that. The gathering of too many people at once was one of the things she hated the most. There seemed to be something strange about these events that made her feel either bored, out of place, or restless.

But, strangely, all those feelings disappeared when she came to Valemnia. Somehow, this world had a wholly different air around it. Its citizens weren't like those back home. Being with them didn't feel suffocating or uncomfortable in anyway. The awkwardness she felt being with strange people back home never once bothered her again ever since she came here. In fact, she felt free.

Now that she took notice of it, despite all the unwelcoming attitudes and the feeling of their accusing stares crushing her at first, she realized for the first time ever that it was almost like she belonged.

Didn't that seem weird or what? The unexplainable phenomena was incomprehensible, but it was there. As much as it was ironic.

With the thoughts of earning their trust and proving herself weighing her mind, she failed to see the changes that she longed to happen before.

Being with the Twelve was fun. Finding about herself was . . . fun.

How could she be having fun? She was practically on the verge of losing her life a couple times, thanks to all those duels, demon attacks, and dangerous missions. She kept on endlessly getting pushed around by certain people, and they made her do things she had never ever done before in her entire seventeen years of life.

Sighing, she looked back down at the forgotten letter in her hands. Being a Valemnian made it all the more reasonable for her to be having these feelings, but if this truly was where she was supposed to be-where she actually belonged-then what about the place she grew up in? What about the place she called home for almost eighteen years?

Sure, Earth might be on the verge of destruction because of humanity's selfishness-but it had an incomparable beauty. Valemnia had its own definition of being beautiful as well, but Earth was something it could never replace.

Earth would always be her home, she realized. But if all these were true . . . that she was actually someone who originated from this world, then Valemnia was where she belonged.

To summarize it all, she had to choose. Her home? Or where she actually felt like she belonged? After all, would she actually want to return? If these thoughts were already starting to run around her head just after a few months of her stay, what exactly would happen if she managed to finally finish those eight years?

Shaking her head, she decided not to think about it anymore and focus on the letter in front of her instead.

'I know you won't like a party, though. Just thinking about a boring celebration makes me unhappy, but I guess it can't be helped.'

Well, at least the issue was solved. No parties.

Would the headmaster allow her to go back, though? Probably not. There were a lot of things she had to do. Considering the time that she and the others spent away from the academy, she had a lot of catching up to do.

Ah, the stress of having a lot to do. She was going to go mad.

'I just wanted to greet you a Happy Birthday, my dear. I'm still preparing a present for you since I can't really think of something. Is there anything you want at all? This is your eighteenth birthday after all. What you want is yours.'

"Oh, mom." She wistfully sighed.

'I just wanted to say that we've missed you. Me and your brother. Don't forget to write back and update me with the good things. You can tell me anytime if you have problems too. We'll always be here for you! But you have to come visit once a year! I won't allow you to not show your face from time to time. Alright? That's all I ask of you since I gave you my blessing studying there in Brazil. Otherwise, I'll go to you there myself! I didn't ask any questions when you just suddenly left and disappeared, so show some respect and come home!'

Valeriana could not hide her shock. "Brazil?! The hell? What in the world . . . ? Good gods, Lord Aeron, that man!"

'Come home, Valery dear. We love you so much.

Love, Your mother.'

She folded the letter back and slipped it inside its envelope. She put it on her lap and leaned back, staring at the ceiling above her.

She just stared, letting the moments sink into her head.

Valeriana then took out a pouch from her inner pocket and brought out the most precious thing she currently possessed.

The effervescent crystal vibrated comfortingly on her palms and she gazed at its soft, glowing beauty.

"Cifaro." She muttered. "A lot's happening, huh? I'm glad you're with me." A sigh flew from her lips. "I remember your words. I'm trying to listen to them."

It answered her with a sharp reflection of light from its inner core, spilling warmth onto her skin.

Valeriana felt herself smile. "I remember what you told me about the original Celestial Knights being thirteen and not twelve?" She told him. "Who's the last person?"

The soul crystal moved an inch, taking her aback. It shuffled against her fingers, as though trying to tell her something.

"Uh . . . um . . . sierra . . . sierra vu eldon sith."

Cifaro transformed to his sword form, and Valeriana drew him from his sheath. Sometimes, he came with a sheath and sometimes he didn't. It made her wonder sometimes.

She flicked the blade away from her and stared at the surface instead. A strange image of two eyes opened and gazed back at her.

"Oh my god." She almost screamed. "Oh my god. Cifaro?"

'Lheuim ansur, 'tis I.' The sound of his voice instilled calmness in her soul. It also made her eyes grow heavy with tears.

"I'm so glad . . ."

'I cannot do this often since it will cause the energy reserve to be depleted faster. I cannot spend too much of it. It will be harmful to thee.'

"To me?"

'Thy energy I borrow to transform.' He said. 'There is a way to lengthen this but it's a story for another time.'

Valeriana wiped away her tears "It's fine. I'm just so glad to see you."

'I am not technically Cifaro but an image of him. I am the sword and the remnants of who he had been.'

She grew confused at that. "What?"

'I am as much as who the Holy Guardian beast could have been. I share his memories and his wisdom. Thy questions, I will answer at my best.'

"Thank you. So Cifaro is really gone?"

'His soul has departed. He is no longer here.'

She felt saddened. "I see. I guess I'm happy for him but sad for myself in a way."

'I understand.' Sword Cifaro paused. 'You ask about the original Celestial Knights.'

"Yeah, kinda."

'Hildeguard Vaushna, Degenhard Veralidaine, Syker Versailles, Keevan Keiffer, Cetrine Nevan, Philieze Llier, Mhilette Twidben, Louanne Lou, Fhalley Yves, Brion Jarez, Quartz Klodenschetter, and Dilandau Polare.' He enumerated expertly, his tongue twisting deftly as he pronounced their names.

This made Valeriana's head on the verge of exploding.

'They are the twelve. The thirteenth remains a mystery. His real name is unknown but he goes by Ghallana Helder.'

"Ghallana Helder." She repeated. "Anyhow, can I ask you something else? What do you know about the parasitic demons inhabiting the aura?"

'This one has seen it, of course. I have prompted thee to bring me out. It is unknown to this one what they are but they seem to be bred demons of some sort. They are not one of the original kinds.' Sword Cifaro said. 'The technique seems to be this way--block the points in the aura where the soul is fed and filter the energies all the while tainting it. It is unsure whether the effects had been permanent, but that does seem to be the case exactly.'

"I heard . . . the guardian beasts on the Arlandian continent are acting strange. Could this be the same with what happened to your pack?"

'That, I am not sure. But yes, it is possible. Remember the sequence first, even so. Front, back, left, and right. Arlandia is the last of these.'

"Yes, but I feel like we're missing something. I wonder if our intepretation of that riddle was actually right." She trailed off. "It's all so easy if we actually managed to solve it that fast. There are still some things vague. What is the star, even?"

'Thou makest a point.' Said Sword Cifaro. 'Why dost thou not go and investigate with the young lord to find out?'

"But . . ." Valeriana combed back her hair in frustration. "I . . ."

'Nobilities are often forced to marriages, Lord Corvan tries to deny this fate so he has perhaps sought thee out to help in the fulfillment of this endeavor. Hasn't thou not seen how that woman acted?'

"I haven't even been on my first date and you say I should accept getting engaged without even a proper proposal?" She huffed. "I have higher standards."

Sword Cifaro chuckled. 'Yes, but it is perhaps not to be taken seriously. Think of the benefits thou shalt gain from this. Dost thou not seek the guardian beasts? This is the best moment to go and seek the next blessing.'

"You make a point. But to say it should be not taken seriously . . . where is my worth as a girl here? I'm not some fiancee for hire." Valeriana trailed off, a strange ache in her chest. "What about the festival and the duel?"

'Did thou not hearest what the young lord has said? The bridge will be crossed once it is reached.'

"That's crap!" She exclaimed.

'Listen, Valeriana. What is thy priority?'

"To find answers."

'This is the next step. If the young lord says he'll help, I am quite sure he keeps his word.'

"Should I go?"

'Why dost thou not answer that question?'

"Okay . . ." She sighed. "Okay . . ."

The image of him grew faint, even his voice.

'I shall have to leave soon. Think of it this way, young one. Treat this as a mere game and nothing personal. We all do things that seem unlikely for the sake of important things.'

"But where's dignity? The guy wants to lie to everyone, where's the pride in that?"

'Perhaps. The course of action to be taken will be up to thee. Goodbye, Valeriana.'

"Cifaro! Cifaro, wait!"

His image disappeared from the blade and the sword itself morphed back to its crystal form. Valeriana felt mentally and physically drained that she found herself crawling to bed. As she laid still on her stomach, her eyes spied on a velvet casket sitting on top of her table. Sitting up, she left the comfort of her mattress and reached out to the item.

She opened it silently, the sight of the brooch given to her by Corvan greeting her. Beside it sat the handkerchief he had thrown at her face when she went all ballistic on him, sniveling out of frustration and personal insecurities back in Preluresia. She must've been quite a sight back then.

Admittedly or not, she appreciated Corvan's rare display of kindness during such instances.

Zion must've been right about this. But was he right about Corvan liking her that way? She had been trying to keep her mind off of it for a while, thinking that such a notion was impossible to even occur.

She and the idiot devil hated each other to the core, yet, why do they assume such things? Sure, they got along sometimes and Valeriana enjoyed their bickering more than a person normally should it was quite stupid. Sighing at the utter confusion swirling around her brain, she closed her eyes and instead slapped her own cheek to pull her back to reality.

Midnight, huh.

Should she stay or go?