DAMIAN

"All hail Lurytendra, El Di Hipsodat. Queen of darkness. Healer of all, and the keeper of souls. I beseech you, protect her from herself, and all the darkness I fear she might welcome as her own." I pray, keeping my voice low so I won't wake her. Camille.

Changing my pose as I levitate myself in air, turning upside down. I do the ultimate Dihipian meditation pose. I close the gaps between my legs, my hands move from my side to press together like I'm about to clap but I leave some distance between them. I press my thumbs and index fingers together, spreading the remaining fingers. Joining the tip of the closed fingers: thumb and index finger together before hooking the rest of the remaining six fingers together. I then turn it so they'll face down. I bend my head down and begin my meditation.

I haven't done this in a while. The main purpose of doing it now is to calm my mind and head. I know it will work because It's helped me a lot on Di Hipsodat, but spending all this time on Earth has made me do without it because this planet represents every I detest.

The right to comment on things is the privilege I've never had. My father created me for one purpose and one purpose only, and it's to serve and protect the Elians, the royal family. The job is all I knew before coming to this planet. Before I came to Earth, on Di Hipsodat, I was a part of the elite Queen's guard. The commander of the Elian army, the Queen, trained me herself. All I knew was to fight, serve and protect, and I was good at it.

But I was sent here and I've never been more bored and useless. On Di Hipsodat, when I wasn't on duty, all I did was train. On Earth, there's no one worthy to be my opponent.

Before we left, the queen told us never to interfere in the humans affair even if her son, Ulrik was in trouble. All we were tasked to do was protect and guard Ulrik. As a warrior and someone who wasn't used to a mundane life, I didn't think I could do it but it was an order from El and I obeyed. That slowed me down because the moment I arrived on Earth I saw so many things that needed my interference but I promised my queen and I kept it going until I heard her heartbeat in her mother's womb.

My father named me, El-Dam-El, it means the Royal protector. I wore the meaning proud and never thought about what would happen if I failed to do what I was created for.

Right now all I do is think it because I have failed in doing that in so many ways. It makes me feel empty, and I'm not supposed to feel at all. But the moment George Holmes killed Ulrik sixteen years ago, I knew that I wasn't worthy of my name. I exist to do just one thing, to protect and I couldn't even do that right, and because of that so many lives were ruined. And then I spent those years doing nothing. So if I'm not a protector and warrior, what am I?

I wasn't created to feel anything, but that's also changing, at least I know why that is.

No one knows this but the first time I saw Camille was the day she was born. I was there when the sisters of the dark forced her out of her Mother. That day was the first time I felt something more than sense of protection. I couldn't do anything as they tore her out of her mother's womb because of the order given to us by El.

It was a dark day and I witnessed it all and stood still, crippled by an order I could summon courage to break.

Guilt ate me alive, so I searched the planet for a doorway to Inaral, the place of healing to find solace. I couldn't get myself to stop thinking about the birth I'd witnessed. It was the first time I couldn't get my thoughts under control, and that was when I knew Camille was special and I would be interfering in anything regarding in the future.

The island became my home for fifteen years and I returned, only I was very late. Father already gave Camille to The Starling. He abandoned her, and it made me angry. And for first time in my existence, I confronted my father in anger. He was as surprised as I was at my outburst, but he knew better than to trust her in the human world after what they did to her father and mother. He could kept her safe, I could have protected her. She would have known everything from the beginning and there wouldn't be the need to keep things from her.

They kept the truth from her, even went as far as erasing her memories. My father thought he knew what was best for her. He had every chance to get her away from those people and just tell her truth, but instead he made her figure everything out on her own in the most painful way. I voiced out my opinions, I made him know I didn't like what he was doing, toying with her life but as usual he was just following orders.

El-Gar-El, my father is as much the villain in Camille story as George Holmes but no one suspects a thing. He is most powerful being I know but somehow he didn't know about Ulrik's situation until Camille told us he was alive. I refuse to believe it because he's called the all seer and knower for a reason. He could have wiped George Holmes off the face of Earth. But he wanted Camille to learn by herself, and it's not even for a honorable reason.

They want to know how far her powers can go. They want to know if she's worthy, so they made everything about her a test: the trainings, the powers, the control of the Elsword.

Camille has defeated George and she thinks all her troubles are over, little did she know that it's just getting started. There is more coming. And I've tried to tell them that she isn't a full-blooded Dihipian, she's also human. They don't care about that.

That's why I need to clear mind and head. Camille needs me more than ever now and I plan on interfering in everything that concerns her from now on.

Her powers are getting stronger by day and she's beginning to doubt herself, something she shouldn't do. Her connection to El is very strong, too strong. She is like Grandmother but there's more to it but I do not know what it is.

I fear something bad is going to happen to her. I don't know what I will do if something happens to her. My feelings has changed, it's starting to grow and I don't know how to not feel like this but–

My ear catches the movement as my eyes open when I hear a groan leaves her mouth. Breaking out of the pose, I let myself down on my feet, my body tingles as soon as my feet connects with the smooth woodwork on the floor of my cabin house. We're back on the Island, where we've been since the vacation.

The Island is a place that exists between life and death of the Dihipians. It is the thin line between the two, and it presents itself as an island because it's what the controller wants.

Yukimura isn't helping Camille train because he knows he can't handle her. I'm training her myself and she hasn't given me any reason to think she'd fail. Camille is strong and I've never met anybody like her. I come from a place where everyone I know is a fighter but no one of them are like her. She's unique.

I'm not surprised to see her clutching the comforter tightly. Ever since she defeated George and saved her parents, she's been having trouble sleeping even though she refuses to admit it. My father thinks they are helping by making her shoulder all the burden. They think making tough decisions will make her a good leader. It's just killing her.

We train, we talk but I'm not much of a talker, it doesn't stop her from being nosy. I don't think I've ever met anyone curious as her. She wants to know everything about me, about Di Hipsodat but I don't want her to know me, The real me at least. I'm still El's loyal subject and I don't think I can defy her if she asks me to do anything. If Camille knows this, she'll think I'm just a lapdog. She'll see me as I am, weak.

Camille doesn't sleep much, so I stand guard around here. Anytime she closes her eyes to sleep, she screams. She's never been the one to have a good night sleep since her birth but this is different, and it's getting worse especially since there's no Roman around to whisper sweet nonsense to her ears.

Stopping right in front of her, I freeze when I hearing her murmuring, I'm not concern about what she's saying but the language she's speaking. It's Dihipian and Camille doesn't speak the Dihipian language, it's strange because she's using the native dialects. The one only few people use.

I study her face and notice the strain look on her face, beads of sweat and the line on her forehead. Her shirt is wet from the sweat, and the whimpering sounds she's making.

There is only one thing that makes her freak out like this and it was when she used to dream about getting burned alive, but she defeated the nightmare and hasn't thought about her parents since they abandoned her again. She cries whenever she dreams about Roman but this is entirely different.  She's scared but I know her, she doesn't scare easily. Something is going on in her head and I'm going see what it.

And there's only one way to find out.

I shouldn't do this but I need to know what's going on in her head. Camille is an empath that can sense other people's feeling by just touching them, she can look into memories too as long as it's what the other person is thinking about. She's looked into my memories many times than I count but she doesn't know that she gave me access to her own memories too.

I squat in front of her, and place my hands on the bed. I keep my gaze on her for a moment before dropping my hand on her hand clutching the comforter. Her body are always warm but today it's cold. Too cold and yet she's sweating.

I close my eyes and look inside her. Opening it when I know I'm in her head, this way I can see what she's dreaming about. I'm standing in a cave. I recognize where this is. It's Azra's cave. I'm not afraid of anything but the sight of this place terrifies me, always has. Azra is El's dragon, her most powerful weapon. Although the dragon isn't just a pet to El-Laura-El, he is a part of her. Their souls merge when she commands it.

Seeing the bodies, bones, leftovers from Azra's lunch is something I got used to. I look ahead and see Camille standing in front of Azra, and El isn't around. What is she doing? I think to myself as Camille walks closer to where Azra is standing.

She doesn't appear to be scared of him. Azra, on the other hand looks scared. Camille raises her hand in his direction. I wait to see what he's going to do. The Azra I know would burn her to crisp or eat her if he's in the mood for raw flesh. Instead he lowers his head and let her touch him, allowing her to pet him.

What is going on here?

I close my eyes, breaking the connection, removing my hand. My eyes meets with Camille whimpering, still in her sleep. I stand up without taking my eyes off her.

She looks like she's having a good time. Why does she looks like there's something wrong?

Actually I'm more concerned about the fact that Azra is in her dreams. To her, it's just a dream, in reality, it's really happening. Azra only communicate with El-Laura-El. And Camille is just her granddaughter, nothing more.

What is going on? Because what I witnessed is not Camille petting him, it appeared that way but that's not real. They were bonding. I–

I feel a power surge past through me, throwing me away. My back connects with the wall before I feel something impale me to the wall. Looking down, I see a familiar dagger in my torso.

"Camille!" I call out her name and she wakes up instantly like she's waiting for someone to wake her.

She pushes the comforter off her body, and turns around, giving me the view of her bottom and bare legs. She rise to kneel on the bed, stretching like it's a good morning. Yawning like she hadn't stake me with a dagger.

"Ohh," She moans as she yawns. "I had the best sleep ever and the sweetest dreams." Still not turning back, she raises her hands above her hand, stretching again.

"Oh yeah? What did you dream about?" I ask curiously. "And turn around." Demanding.

This isn't the first time she'd stake me. Sometimes she explodes, letting the Elsword multiple, hitting different places. I'm her alien target. It's a good thing I'm immortal because I would have died. Living with her isn't fun.

Although, this is the first time I'm seeing her wake up happy. Maybe it's a good thing that Azra appeared in her dream but I don't have a good feeling about this.

"I don't remember what the dream is about but it's a good one, I'm so happy," She says as she runs her fingers through her hair before packing it in a bun. "It's a good thing right? I mean, I–" she gasps when she turns around and sees me, her eyes moves to the dagger in me. "Holy fuck!" She gets out of the bed, rushing towards me. "I am so sorry."

Before all this began, she couldn't summon the Elsword because El didn't allow it, but ever since she used it to defend herself from the demon George summoned into Ulrik, she's been letting it out in her sleep. I don't understand the concept though. The Elsword is living inside El but somehow it comes out of Camille's body. Still don't get how it works.

She stops in front me, looking guilty. She places her hand beside my head and uses the other one to remove the dagger, and it's disappears immediately it touches her palm. Her markings glows as the swords goes back to where it belongs before it stops.

After Camille defeated George, she's been wearing The markings of the old gods of Di Hipsodat with pride. She doesn't even bother to cover it anymore because it's a part of her now. The markings symbolises the power flowing.

"I'm sorry," she pouts.

"It's okay. How did you sleep?" I ask again, searching her eyes for the answers her mouth can't give me.

She shrugs one shoulder. "Like a fucking baby, I didn't even scream today." She smiles and I'm glad she's happy about it, which is why I won't tell her about Azra, since she doesn't know. "Maybe–" She takes a step towards me. "It's because you slept next to me last night, maybe this is a sign that we should start sleeping next to each, I mean the couch and floor can't be comfortable for you."

I only slept beside her last night because I was worried.

Her big blue eyes stares at me with hope but I can't give her what she wants. Ever since she kissed me last semester, she's been acting different around me. I understand that human have physical needs but us, Dihipians don't. I don't want things to be awkward between us, so anytime she brings it up, I change the subject. Maybe it's time we have the talk.

"Listen, Camille, I can't sleep next to you. I was there last night because I wanted to make sure you were okay, I left as soon as you fell asleep."

The smile on her face fades into a frown. "Okay, look, Damian, I know things have been awkward since we kissed and anytime I bring it up, you change the subject. I like you very much and you might not know what that mean because you aren't human, but have you ever thought about being with me?"

I shake my head. Never. Yeah, I feel something more for her after we kissed but I never think about being with her. She's of royal blood. I can't think about her like that.

"What?"

"I've never thought about being with you because I can't be with you. I don't want to be with you." I look into her eyes, and I watch the light in it dim. "Pack your bags, we're going back to The Vale."

It's time we return.