Aislin was happy but her joy was dulled now. Two days has passed since she won the decathlon, Anthony considered her just a friendly nod worthy and she was even given a certificate and gold medal. It turned out that one of the Symons brothers was checking her out and even tried to flirt with her.

Since she was not committed she had to come up with some serious excuse...well as serious as she could get.

"Albie, I have a boyfriend and we are in a long distance relationship." Yeah, a very long, in another dimension long relationship.

And he was not even her boyfriend, she would not allow for her feelings to go to the point where it will endanger Ayduin.

And two days have passed since Ayduin contacted. She saw him leaving the palace. She saw his mother, strikingly beautiful, statuesque lady, his army general who was very handsome and then an extremely model pretty girl who was eyeing him in a way she didn't like. Now she was dying to know how Ayduin looked.

She also saw a pure white horse with silvery tail and a weird pair of cloud grey eyes. It neighed happily when Ayduin sat on it clearly in love with his master. Folred looked even paler than usual or maybe because a long ride on the horse was scaring the wits out of him.

They both have talked for the longest time till he left for the place and she even accompanied him to a dark yet beautiful forest that had trees but of ice blue and rose pink in colour with dark brown branches. Unknown set of flowers blossomed on it and thought it was all cold and frozen, Aislin absolutely loved all of it.

But as soon as they went into darker part of the forest Ayduin introduced as the forest of Congelfos or frozen flowers, she was sure there was some meaning behind it, there was utter silence. She tried talking loudly, screaming in thoughts and even trying to think about him before going to sleep in hope like the other time he might come in dreams but nothing happened.

It was the third day and Aislin was worried, was her feelings out of control and curse started working already? No, No Ayduin was just a friend to her. She had gained the idea that Flames of Vita was dangerous else Ayduin would not have broken contact. Or was it like Ayduin said, there might be magic barriers that broke their bond.

She struggled out of bed and dragged herself to school. She attended classes in a daze doodling on her copy all the while, realising she was drawing an image of a desert, widespread like in her dreams.

Now she had no idea how to contact Ayduin, she was terribly missing, again!

This time she was not as sad though, this time she felt angry. Why did this keep happening? She herself has wasted so many days trying to stay away from him and now when she was in need of a friend he had gone silent. She realised how Ayduin must have felt when she vanished.

She was in no mood to go back home so she decided to go to the library and divert her mind by reading something good. She loved walking through the library and caressing books as she walked by. It was a little game she played with herself, the one where her fingers stopped would be the book she would read.

I sincerely apologise for the delay. Her fingers stopped as the voice filled her head.

What the hell happened? I was so damn worried, first, you tell me it is a dangerous place and then you go MIA on me. I had so many weird thoughts!

Ayduin was smiling now, happy to the point of giddiness almost feeling the shards of ice melting into warm water inside him. He never had someone so openly and unabashedly care for him, never had someone scold him out of worry and use so absurd words to do so.

MIA? What is that? He asked since he couldn't show any other feelings right now.

Aislin has vented out her anger and she realised that it has been on none other than Prince of a realm. But weirdly he wasn't angry or even a bit annoyed. Maybe the prince was a tiny bit scared of her wrath. Did she went out of the way and her worry revealed her feelings?

Missing in Action, it has been two days so I thought... She couldn't even bear to say the words out loud.

It has only been two days and now you get the feeling how I must have felt when you disappeared for much longer period than this. He said all serious now.

She knew that retort was somewhere on the way, she decided to let it go since she has learned her lesson.

I couldn't connect to you because there is a rule that we guardians need to follow. We are made to lose consciousness so that no one knows the exact location of the guardians. Once we arrive here, our senses return. It just a security method we follow.

So you have been unconscious for two days. That means we need to be in our senses to be able to connect. Aislin made an observation and felt uneasy about it.

What did you do for past two days? He asked not bothered about Aislin's observation.

Worried, studied and worried some more.

Why did you worry so much Aislin? He asked regretting that he asked it but anxious to know the answer nevertheless.

Aislin was tongue tied now. What should she say? The truth, the truth she created for herself.

Because I am all alone Ayduin and you are the only friend with someone I could talk to and share my pain with without the fear that my curse will affect you.

She tried her best to make it clear, there was no chance of her falling in love with him. She felt acute sadness when she said that but it was for everyone's good.

Yeah, I forgot I was your friend. He said it in a dejected tone as if she insulted him somehow.

The mood was getting weird and she did not want that.

So do you people have a welcoming party or something like that?

Yes actually there is a welcoming ritual for every guardian, nothing like a party but something like preparing the guardian for the dangers of his job.

Wow! Sounds exciting. Can I witness?

Sure, if you are not bored and tired of it.

Can I see other guardians?

No! This reply came out rather sharply.

Now what? What did I say to annoy you? She asked curious about his erratic mood swings.

Ayduin thought about what Folred has said about the Hunters being the most charming suitors and he didn't want Aislin to see anyone. It was not like he'd be able to meet him, still, it would annoy him if she somehow praised the hunter like she did him.

It is a rule not to reveal the identity of a guardian to an outsider. He gave the truthful yet a very lame excuse.

She was not a danger our outsider.

Fine, you don't trust me enough. She said clearly annoyed.

Ayduin immediately regretted his decision. He had hurt her unintentionally; she had no idea the only person he trusted enough to tell about his curse was her.

Nothing like that had this been true I would not have allowed seeing you a portion of this area. It is just I follow the rules. He said lying outright, not something he usually did.

He heard a huff and snickered a little. She was angry and throwing a tantrum.

Are you showing temper to Prince of Elm Lenora? He said getting into the playful mood.

Even as a kid he had never been in a playful mood but with her everything weird came easy.

She didn't reply but she muttered something unintelligent. It was amazing and exasperating; her anger was actually affecting him.

For how long will you be throwing tantrum Aislin? He asked amused at her using such cliché girl technique.

He had seen her mother using it on her father. The comparison made no sense yet it felt right.

Don't bother with me Prince, I am just sulking in your head and I will not see anything I am not allowed to see. Her voice was clipped.

Ayduin sighed. Since when it had been so difficult for him to say a no. Actually, all he did was refuse and shun away people.

Fine, you can be at the ritual and see whatever you want. He said surprisingly yes and had a feeling he would regret this decision.

***

I have no idea what I just wrote...I am a walking zombie! I really hope I am not making you guys run away from me because I love you all xD

Hope my sanity returns soon till then... try and enjoy this!