Alana was in fact true to her words.

For the next one month, Alana, and her friends, showed that they were not people who kept empty promises. There, of course, was difficulty in the beginning, especially for Cynthia and Leon who had never really seen and experienced how trainings to prepare for a war were usually done. As for Alana, Lena and Lucian, let's just say, years of undergoing brutal training as human trainees under the Dragonesians led them to adjust to everything quite swiftly. There were taunts and mockeries by their new peers, who were obviously permanent members of Bronte, when one of them had trouble in fulfilling a mission during training. But it was nothing worse than what they had faced under Dragonesians.

All in all, everything was bearable. Whether it was being able to hold their breath under the water for several minutes, training to run faster than a horse, sword fighting, basic combat skills, meditation, games to amplify the thinking ability of the brain, all were endurable.

And with that arrived the most dreadful event ever.

Lucian soon realized that the fleeting crush he had thought he had on Cynthia had now converted into love. Pure, damning love, and he had fallen in this dumb mud called...love.

Four weeks. It took four weeks to discern the certitude that in fact, Lucian Haroise, who did not even care about such a thing known as love before, had fallen for Cynthia Kiorsa. However, this fact was far away from the actual reason why he was feeling dreadful. After all, Cynthia's emotions were still unknown to him. And day by day, her and that sly fox Stefan seemed to be getting closer than his liking. Lena did offer her help at times, although it was solely because of her why Stefan got the courage to even strike up a conversation with Cynthia. In Lena's opinion, she was a natural matchmaker, and she knew when she felt a pair was correct. A month ago, she felt the spark between Stefan and Cynthia and now, she somehow had been feeling it between the latter and her dumb childhood friend. According to Lena, it was the boy's loss for always wanting to do everything on his own.

At times, Lena even considered Alana and Lucian to be long-lost twins due to the similarity in personality they both held. It was wholesome and sometimes...exhausting.

Surprisingly, Alana and Leon seemed to be on a smooth sail with their own fluttering feelings. But in their case, the two were too afraid to spill out the long awaited confession and break the unbreakable friendship they had managed to build, eventually.

In conclusion, for the past month, Lena couldn't help but be proud of herself for being able to keep up with these foolish young teenagers in love.

"How do I look?" Cynthia meekly asked Lena, a red blush coating her cheeks.

"Oh my God," a gasp of awe left Lena as soon as she took in the view of the younger girl.

The elder Kiorsa girl was, in simple words...beautiful. Her long black hair was put up in an elegant bun, while curly locks fell to both the corners of her face. Circular, pearl clips were inserted inside the bun of hers, giving her a dazzling look. On the other hand, the gorgeous knee-length midnight blue dress that hugged her body, made the sixteen-year-old appear as even prettier than she already was. To compliment her overall look, a brass locket ornamented her neck.

"I never saw that locket before," Lena said mindlessly.

A soft smile appeared on Cynthia's lips. "I had it with me all the time; always, to be specific. My mother had gifted me this on my eighth birthday, but I never wore it. Possibly because I had no space for hoping to ever see my parents. I had thought of running away many times, but the fear of getting caught became my companion soon enough. And then, when I reunited with Cora, the hope, the desperation to hope for a better future grew within me.

Before, I didn't know if my parents were alive. I have no idea, even now. But what I do know is that my little sister Cora is alive, safe and secure, somewhere out there. And this is enough to make me hope for survival. This hope alone could give me the strength to keep Cora's picture inside the locket."

Lena hugged the girl in an instant, hearing her heartfelt words. "We will survive, Cynthia. We all will. And in no time, you will be leading a perfect life with Cora."

"Well, I do hope so," Cynthia chuckled as she separated herself from Lena. "Let's not talk about this anymore. I do not want to ruin my makeup by crying."

"Fair point," Lena joined in Cynthia's chuckling session before giving the girl a wink. "You look totally different tonight. Good different, of course. More like a combination of hot and pretty."

"You do not look too bad yourself."

Lena gazed at herself in the mirror with a smile. She did look good. And it felt surreal even getting the opportunity of dressing up, wearing makeup and attending a party, after years of harsh torture.

The girl's short blonde hair was laid back and accompanied by a red hair-band. To go along with the hair accessory, Lena was clad in a scarlet red dress, which reached till her calf. Unlike other days when Lena had no makeup on, today her soft features were hidden beneath a bold look. The girl had to admit that her makeup skills were out of the world.

Perhaps someday, when all will be good in the near future, with no oppression, torture or inhumane reign, Lena might find herself pursuing a career as a makeup artist. And she desperately hoped to get the chance of fulfilling her dream.

"Do I really need to go downstairs looking like this?"

At the protesting groan, both the girls turned their heads around to find an irritated Alana, standing by the open door.

And that is when the two girls realized that perhaps Alana had gone through the most transformation amongst the three.

One glance at Alana could make any individual certain that black was her colour. The way she carried the black, knee-length dress, hugging her body, even though visibly she was insecure, Alana oozed out the attributes—power and elegance.

Whereas, her shoulder-length hair was laid back, parted through beautifully so that each side of the wavy black hair rested elegantly on her shoulders. Plunging curls fell upon her eyes, occasionally bothering Alana. Above all, the delicate and tender feminine side that Alana was fond of hiding in terms of expressing a rougher personality, was too evident tonight.

Cynthia and Lena couldn't help but chuckle, seeing Alana noticeably being a shy mess.

It was more awkward than insecure to the girl who never had even imagined dressing up, or applying makeup.

It all felt very new but nice to Alana Thornheart.

"Well, well, well, someone's going to have a hard time breathing tonight." Lena's taunting remark was clearly directed to Leon. Surprisingly, Alana understood the meaning behind the blonde's words and immediately dashed out of the room, not being able to control her blushing cheeks anymore.

Alana was mad. Madly in love with Leon Heirora.

Leon found himself having a hard time breathing, thus proving Lena's words to be correct.

Being generous, as she liked to call herself, Luxuria had announced about one week ago, that a party will be hosted within the quarters of Bronte. All were invited to enjoy the night and dance, gossip, drink and eat to their hearts' content. The reason for hosting a sudden party was because Bronte had received a news by their spies, two weeks prior about the war being waged sooner than expected. Probably, in less than two months time, and they needed to be prepared for anything...even death. Hence, this party was nothing but an enjoyable get-together before going into a war, which will define their fate ultimately. In fact, the authorities of Bronte had prepared the dresses and other requirements for its members, so that they could have an amazing night, after years of struggle.

"Would you like to dance?"

Alana flinched at the sudden voice. She calmed her heart down before glancing at the handsome Dragonesian before her. She had never seen him in a suit before. And oh did he look good in that. The fun fact was, Leon wasn't even wearing a coat. He was simply in his pants and the upper white shirt, with his sleeves rolled backward, thus giving a good view of his arms.

"Surely." Alana sighed in relief when she found her voice. The girl took the male's hand and was guided by the Dragonesian to the centre of the party hall. A soothing, soft music was being played in the background as couples and others danced to their, as Luxuria had initially quoted, hearts' content.

"You must be warned," Alana spoke in a hushed tone when the Dragonesian swiftly pulled her closer to him, by her waist, "I am no good dancer."

"Same here," Leon giggled as he began swaying their bodies together, after intertwining the fingers of his left hand with Alana's right. "Why don't we just let go for once and dance the way we want?"

With that being said, Leon twirled the girl around gracefully and caught her again in no time.

"Have you always been this flirtatious, Leon?"

"And why do you think I have been?" Leon leaned closer, intentionally to tease the girl.

"This is exactly why. Also, it's all in the eyes, sweetheart." Alana, who was pretty competitive herself, leaned away with a cheeky grin. :Makes me wonder, how many girls you have flirted with, humans and Dragonesians alike."

"Just you." Alana could swear that she wanted to have her jaw hung open in surprise at Leon's sudden boldness. She wasn't even understanding from where he was getting all the courage.

"Well—"

"Excuse me, please. May I dance with him now, if you don't mind?"

A third voice caught the two's attention. They found a stunning, red haired girl, beaming at Leon. Alana glanced at Leon and found him hesitating for some reason. Again, she didn't know what was going on inside the male's mind, hence she stepped back, giving the other girl space.

"He is all yours." With a tight-lipped smile, Alana was forced to release the words.

Before Leon could even respond to anything, the girl walked away from there and to the balcony. All alone.

In the meantime, Lena was truly having the time of her life, as she glided across the floor with a charming partner she had found herself. Perhaps, she might even ask the handsome stranger out on a date after the war was over. Lena made a mental note to make the boy she was dancing with currently, be charmed so much by her that he wouldn't be able to turn down her confession later. One thing was sure that even Lena hadn't realized before. She was the true definition of wild and bold.

As for Cynthia and Lucian, well, the two somehow found themselves tangled up in a battle of heated stares.

"You look beautiful."

Alana smiled breathtakingly at Leon, before saying with a teasing smile. "I remember you telling me the exact same thing, back when we were still at our throats."

"As far as I remember, you were the one who was always ready to slit my throat," Leon said with a chuckle as he took his position beside the girl, under the moonlit night.

"What happened to the girl?" Alana asked nonchalantly, her mind replaying could be images of Leon and the other girl dancing through the night.

"I did not dance with her."

"What do you mean you didn't?" Alana asked, facing the Dragonesian, "I thought you did—"

"Nope." Leon shook his head after emphasizing the P especially. "I wanted to dance with you tonight, only. Sadly, you left before I could turn the girl down."

"What are you implying?" Alana asked, her voice barely above a whisper, turning her gaze away from Leon. "That I was envious of that girl or something?"

A chortle left Leon's throat. "I never said that, Alana."

"But you meant that—"

Alana's breath hitched when abruptly, and quite unexpectedly, Leon pulled the girl to his chest by turning her around. His fiery gaze burnt through Alana's skull.

"I am going to be clear." Leon said, firmly. "Do you like me, Alana Thornheart?"

As if caught in a daze, Alana, for the nth time in front of Leon, let her guard down.

"I love you, Leon Heirora."

Alana said it. Alana finally said the words out loud, letting go of the heaviness thus, that had been forming on her chest.

Those three words, and eight letters, are what it took for Leon to take the next step.

Without any delay, Leon locked his lips with Alana's in a passionate, loving and heated kiss that he would make sure, Alana will never forget in her entire life.