"Don't be silly, Hanna! No, they haven't." Ayla let out before sticking her tongue out at me. I rolled my eyes at this before nudging her in the stomach.

"Oh great! The girl who just stuck her tongue out is telling me not to be 'silly'. I wonder if her opinion counts?" I drawled sarcastically, letting out a small laugh when Ayla nudged me back, a huff leaving her lips.

"Oh, but come on, Hanna! Man on the moon? Impossible." She said in a matter-of-fact tone before looking to the sky, her eyes squinted due to the setting sun as we sat outside on a reed mat in the courtyard.

"Besides, why would they want to go there?" She continued, a thoughtful look in her eyes and I turned my gaze to the sky with a shrug.

"Perhaps, they wanted to see life from a more beautiful angle." Arun spoke suddenly with a soft sigh, his head rested against Ayla's lap as he leaned his book on his chest. I smiled at his words.

"Is that to say life isn't beautiful right here, Arun?" I asked jokingly to which Arun tilted his head to look at me, a wilful look in his cat-like eyes that glimmered like emeralds.

"There's no beauty in chaos." He replied almost poetically and I pursed my lips, thinking deeply about his words. It was Ayla who broke the silence, leaning down and pulling at one of his golden strands. He let out a a small yelp as she tugged roughly.

"No beauty, huh?! You're forgetting that I live here and not on the moon, so I suggest you think before you say such nonsensical things!" She said roughly and I grabbed Arun by the shoulders, pulling him off Ayla's lap and towards me.

He edged closer to me subconsciously, touching his 'precious' hair in a panicked manner before turning to Ayla with a glare.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." He said hurriedly before getting up, almost as if he knew that Ayla would hurt him again. She stepped after him with an angered snarl as he all but galloped behind the fountain.

"Wait till I get my hands on you! Tell him, Hanna!" She shouted, turning to me as she circled around the fountain. Arun moved at the same speed, making sure that they were both constantly on opposite ends of the fountain. I laughed at their antics before getting up and looking to Arun sternly. Ayla watched expectantly as I cleared my throat, folding my arms.

"Now, Arun, you should know better." I began, looking as Ayla nodded before continuing.

"If we want to call Ayla hideous, you know we have to wait until after she's left the room." I finished, letting out an amused shriek as Ayla ran towards me. I ran towards Arun then as he grabbed hold of my hand and we ran around the fountain, Ayla following behind.

"You're both dead!" She shouted from behind us and I let out a breathless laugh as I ran. I could feel the stitches building from running and laughing too much, but couldn't find myself to care. Arun yanked me to the left as we barrelled our way through the corridors.

"Quick before the hag catches us!" He let out in a sing-song voice to which I laughed when hearing Ayla let out a small scream at his words.

Looking back at Ayla, I lost sight of where I was going until I bumped into a hard figure. Arun let out a small whimper as we toppled into each other and a heaving tangled mess on the floor.

I looked up hurriedly and breathlessly then to apologise, but stopped short when my eyes fell on Maya who didn't even spare us a look. Standing up clumsily, I turned to look at her, a look of concern on my face.

"Maya? What is it?" I asked to which she turned to me, her jaw clenched as she gestured to the office doors of Negus.

"Listen." She said and I turned my head head as Ayla came to a halt behind us and it was only when her heavy breathing calmed down that I could hear the sound of escalated voices, making Arun sigh deeply beside me.

The sound of Emut.

I tensed up at this, edging closer to the door, so that I was beside Maya. I could hear vividly then; the sound of Negus and Emut conversing was now very audible. Or, rather, it was Negus conversing and Emut shouting.

"It is your duty as it was your fathers." Negus's voice was calm, but strong enough to pass through the solid oak of the doors and I listened intently as Emut sighed heavily.

"I don't deny my duty, Negus; I never will. All I ask for is time to ready myself." He stated and I could hear the faint yet familiar sound of a teacup being placed on top of the desk.

"Time is something we have very little of. If a change must be made, it must be now." Negus responded, his voice firm and I stilled slightly on hearing Emut's words.

"I won't do it, Negus." I heard the deep thunder of his voice reverberate through the oak doors and his anger was something that was very strange and unfamiliar to hear.

In my short time here, Emut had always been calm and collected, not allowing his emotions to sway his words or actions. Yet, now the sound of his voice changed that; he was upset.

I was surprised that the sound of his anger was slightly frightening to me. It shouldn't have been the case yet I had slightly flinched. Shaking my head at my silliness, I leaned closer to hear Negus's reply, but could only hear the hum of his tone. I sighed at this to which Maya let out a small grunt besides me.

"Father wishes to relinquish his role to Emut fully." She said in a somber tone and I processed her words before turning to look at the door.

"And, Emut does not want this?" I asked, feeling Ayla and Arun lean in beside me as they also listened. Maya let out a small sigh at this as she leaned against the stone wall.

"This discussion happens quite often between the two and I'm at war with what to do to help. Maybe, he just doesn't wish to lead us." She said, sounding uncharacteristically sad and I moved closer until there was an inch gap between us. Maya tensed slightly when I placed a hand against her arm, but chose to say nothing.

"You know him- he lives for this. Perhaps, it's something else." I suggested reassuringly and Maya sighed at my words before looking to the door, the saddened annoyance so clear in her eyes.

"Whatever the case, I just wish it was easier." She answered vaguely and I nodded at her words before dropping my hand and opening my mouth to speak. But, the sound of the office door creaking open made me snap my gaze towards the direction of the noise. I felt Ayla take a sharp intake of breath and Maya stand up rigid beside me as Emut stepped out. His jaw was clenched in a way that showed he was still angry and his eyes looked less like the gleaming sun, but more like magma. I waited for him to turn and look at us; to smile and show that everything was in order.

But that didn't happen.

Instead, I watched as he walked straight past us, his gaze straight as he exited out to the courtyard and out of the gates. No one moved for a moment after this, just looking between the office doors and the direction that Emut had walked. Maya chose first to move, stomping her way into the office, the door shutting behind her with a thunderous slam that made the silence all the more unbearable.

Arun let out a small sigh at this before turning to look at me. He withdrew his hand from my own as he smiled. I hadn't even noticed when I had placed my hand in his.

"We should get the table set for dinner." He said jovially in a bid to lighten the mood, but nothing he would do or say would make me feel lighter.

I nodded half-heartedly at his words, watching as he gestured to Ayla who was stood with a frown on her face.

"Let's go then." He said aloud and Ayla nodded before moving to me and quietly linking her arm through mine. I smiled slightly at her gesture as she pulled me to the dining hall, but I couldn't think of food right now. Not when Emut was upset and tensions were high. It wouldn't feel right.

"Where did Emut go?" I asked, my voice breaching the heavy silence and Ayla sighed at my words as we walked behind Arun.

"I wouldn't know. He probably left to cool down." She said and, suddenly, the memory of a few nights came flooding back and I stopped in my tracks. I let my mind go back to the memories; the place where Emut had taken me.

Ayla halted too then, looking at me with a deep frown.

"Hanna?" She questioned, bringing me back to the present and I pursed my lips as I turned to her.

"I think I know where he is." I let out, a soft murmur. Ayla turned to look at the gates then before looking at me hesitantly.

"I'm going to go to him, Ayla." I continued, noticing the discomfort on Ayla's face at the idea of me being out in the dead of night. She only sighed at this.

"Hanna? Ayla? Are you coming?" Arun's voice called and both our heads snapped to see him looking back at us, a small smile on his face.

Ayla glanced back at me then, a thoughtful look on her face before turning to Arun.

"Hanna's going to wash up before dinner. We'll both set up the table, okay?" She said and I squeezed her arm thankfully. Arun nodded at this as Ayla moved forward. She turned to me briefly as she did.

"Be quick." She whispered simply before walking alongside Arun. I watched as they turned the corner before looking around tepidly and making my way towards the large gate of the courtyard.