After the rain subsided, the smell of earth after the rain filled the air. Miranda would usually enjoy this smell, but this time, she only worried as she stood in the middle of the meadow with bare feet, the wildflowers almost shining after the rain, droplets of rain still falling from the petals and leaves, a cold breeze caressing Miranda's damped hair which had turned to a dark colour due to the rain.

She'd been waiting like this for hours and never did once thought of leaving. She wouldn't leave — not until Edric came.

Miranda looked at the sun which wasn't hiding behind dark clouds anymore and realised it'd take an hour or two for the sun to set and she wouldn't be able to wait after that. She would have to return to her camps, for the final preparation and it wouldn't matter even if she didn't want to return — her father would find her, for she was his right hand.

She pressed her forehead tightly, dropping her head, looking down as drops of water fell from the tips of her hair. She clenched her jaw, biting her cheeks, feeling tears in the corner of her eyes. Her hand reached her eyes, pressing them firmly, not letting the tears fall as she fell to the ground, no more being able to stand as she sat on her knees, covering her eyes.

She swallowed, muffled cries coming out of her mouth as she placed a fist on her mouth. Tears fell, reached her jaw, her chin, lateral tears colliding with each other. They fell and all she could do was let them fall.

Her thoughts were all full of Edric. Edric dying, Edric struggling beneath her sword, Edric crying after seeing his parents, Edric losing his mind, Edric looking at her with disgust, Edric hating her, Edric pushing himself away from her — all she could see was just Edric.

She wouldn't kill him — she would never be able to kill him.

"But what about mother?" She asked to no one particularly, crying silently, breathing harshly.

She suddenly felt footstep coming towards her.

"Mira,"

Mira.

She didn't even realise how fast she'd wiped her tears as she stood up in an instant. He was behind her and she had no idea how to face him without shame and guilt in her heart.

"Mira," Edric stepped forward, as he realised how fragile Miranda was looking as she stood there, hunching, her clothes sticking to her skin, her hair all drenched and damped. "Have you. . . have you been crying?" His heart wretched seeing her in a state like this and he wondered what could've possible happened for his moon to feel so lost.

Edric reached for her wrist, grabbing it gently and making her turn around to face him. She wasn't looking at him, she wasn't looking at anything. Edric held her cold hand, the warmth of his hand already making Miranda feel secure and sound.

"Mira," Edric said, his voice softening, tilting his head. "Look," he said quietly. "Look at me,"

"Is it your father?" Edric tried to guess, his hand still connected with Miranda's.

"You are going to die. They are going to kill you," her voice was quiet, so quiet Edric would have never heard it if it wasn't for him being close to her.

"Miranda, we talked about this—" Edric left her hand, backing away.

"I know! I know we said we wouldn't talk about you getting killed by the Ezèrian. That we will quietly spend time together as much as we can. But Edric. . . ," she finally looked at him, her eyes teary, glistening in the corners of her eyes. "You are going to get killed. They are going to kill you. You are going to die."

Edric felt his heart almost knotting and twisting. He licked his lips, swallowing the lump in his throat. He came forward, closing the distance between them once again. "I'm scared, too," he managed to say, his head bent down. "I'm so scared I no longer know what sleep is like. All I think about is how they are going to attack us and we would be able to do nothing. We are all so so scared, and everyday—"

Miranda suddenly came forward, taking Edric aback as she grabbed his arms, staring at him with wide eyes, her eyes no longer having any source of light — they were crazed. "And that is why. . ." Miranda began, licking her lips, nodding her head frantically. "And that is exactly why you should let me do it. . ."

Edric pushed himself away from her, backing away, his eyebrows drawn together. "Do what?"

"Let me use the Protection Spell!" her eyes were wide, so wide Edric was feeling almost uncomfortable around her and her sudden change of demeanour.

"Miranda, you should calm—"

"No!" She said, grabbing his arms again, this time more firmly. "I'm a Gifted Ezèrian. I'm a Fire Manipulator and a Protector. I can protect souls. I'm a protector of souls. I can use the protection spell on you and then. . .   and then nothing will happen to you. They . . . They won't be able to hurt you. You. . . You will be safe! My spell will keep you safe! Edric, are you hearing me—"

Edric wrapped his hands around her body, resting his chin atop her drenched hair. "Mira. . ." he began, not being able to find the right words, his hands placed on her waist, his grip so light Miranda almost didn't feel him. He brought his hand into her hair, caressing it, soothing it and drawing circles.

"Mira, you're not listening to yourself," Edric mumbled as he felt two hands gripping his shirt firmly, Miranda's face hidden in his chest as he heard muffled cries coming from her and they only grew in sound by each second. "I have said this before and I will say it again,"  he placed his lips on her hair, pecking it softly and broke himself away from her.

He looked at her, his eyes softening when he noticed she wasn't looking at him. He brought out his hand and cupped one of her cheeks. "Don't use the Protection Spell on me. Use it on someone else — someone who actually deserve it. Someone you're going to dear with your life—"

Miranda's eyes turned more watery. "Edric, you are the only person in my life—"

Edric leaned in towards her and pressed his lips into hers.

***

a little reminder for the readers in case anyone forgot it hehe ! there are two types of ezèrian out there — one is a normal ezèrian and another one is gifted ezèrian. normal ezèrian is someone who only manipulates natural elements and nothing else while, gifted ezèrian can not only manipulate natural forces, but are also gifted with another magical power. an example is miranda who is fire manipulator and a protector.

a few things about protectors:

i) protectors use a protection spell on the person they want to, which will make the other person be safe from all sorts of danger — even death. the other person would practically be immortal when they have a protection spell on them.

ii) the cost of protection spell is one:  it requires the spell caster's half of their life span. the protection spell takes the spell caster's half of their life span, turns it into an energy and thus, the energy is used as a shield.

iii) the protection spell, in under any circumstances, will not work if the receiver of the spell has any type of power in them,  for the protection spell only works on powerless bodies, bodies that have nothing to protect them. so if edric were to receive protection spell on him, the first and foremost thing that he'd have to do is transfer his current possession (his white wings) to someone else and be completely powerless.

iv) protectors can use their spell on only one person.

v) the eradication of the protection spell is still unknown. anyone who has ever tried to break the protection spell only ended up meeting the gods above. the spell books only give vague answers, for protectors are rare and most of them never really wanted it to wear off.

this is for the readers who are reading the prequel first . ik im doing tell and not show but there isn't going to be any mentions of the protection spell as that's not a subject for this book, but rather for the original book. and even if this book has some mentions of the protection spell, it will be vague and confusing for the readers who haven't read the main book, which is totally okay ! so this is for them. do lemme know what u think of it ! would love to know.

and that's all i have to say for this chapter ! also, things are about to get serious so buckle up let's go !