THE hardened bubble broke into pieces, and the rocky shore of Yuva greeted them. When the air swooshed, it gave them a chill down their bones. The night sky was so dark because thick clouds covered the moon. “Wow, I can’t believe we traveled this fast to reach this island. The temperature is so cold! I’m used to the tropical weather in Glana.” Hisila expressed her astonishment, and she added, “And look at the misty border of Hanum. Once we cross it, we'll reach the peninsula and enter Mora. By the way, is there a way for us to go directly to Firth?” Kafle shook his head. “Approaching Firth in this condition is like giving away our lives.” “I understand.” Hisila smiled meekly. She only thought about it because Hanum’s land was a crescent shape, and Firth City was a small island in the center. “That's one hell of a fog. I bet visibility is compromised if we get through it.” Jie studied the long stretch of heavy mist covering the sea, preventing them from seeing the horizon. He ev

NIRVANA METROPOLIS THE second full moon had brought panic to the remaining Ardhians on the surface. Aelec and the hunting team ensured the safety of their people when Ethros and Nyssa were taken away. It had been months since they left, and they had no way of knowing if they were safe. All of them would be forever stuck on the island, isolated from the rest of the world. “We are under attack!” Finn came running from the wooden watchtower they made a few days ago. “The enemies have come back!” “Everyone, hide back in the cave!” Alec ordered. “I know they'll return. What do they want from us?” Kali gritted her teeth as she helped the people hide. “We can't go back underground now. The monsters will feast on us, and this time I’m sure our people will be extinct.” “A swarm of dragon riders, just like before. What are we going to do, Chief? We can't fight back. We're just too few.” Finn held his bow tight. “First, we need to ensure the safety of the kids. You, Kali, and Amri, secure F

IT CAME as a shock to Jie to watch all his companions pay their respects to the female elf meditating under the moon’s light below the altar. The crest of the royal family, which was an intricate pattern of a silver dragon, gleamed steadily.“Wait, Grandma? Is that your true form? But how?” No words could ever describe how perplexed he was. Realizing that Izora was a princess was so mind-blowing. Not just any princess, but the sole surviving royalty of Hanum!“All of you may raise your heads.” The princess's voice was soothing in Jie’s ears. She met his gaze afterward. “Yes, brat. I was forced to take that child form when my mother was murdered. I am Princess Baharini, and I will reclaim Hanum from the empire!”Jie felt a shiver down his spine when the princess declared it. Although it wouldn’t be easy, he admired her tenacity.“Wait, you being the princess of Hanum…” He stopped midsentence, trying to grasp the idea, “Then that makes you the holder of the Agua! Isn’t it?” Jie’s eyes w

“KAFLE, we need to return to the palace!” Princess Baharini clasped her crystal flute tightly. He was looking at the vast sea, going in the direction of Firth. But the thick fog hindered her elf's sight. Kafle refused to look back. “We can't do that, Princess. Your mother had meticulously planned this for your safety.”“How can we cross that fleet? We'll be slaughtered like they hunt a whale in the sea!”“I am strong enough to get us through. We'll get to Mora unscathed.” Kafle sounded confident. He knew his power was at its strongest when he was in touch with the water. And with the surrounding ocean, he could weaponize it.“No, I can't let them harm my mother!” She gazed around. “I can't believe they put down thousands of our warriors securing Firth! My sense of smell is so strong that I know the blood of our kind has been spilled on this water.”“And that's one of the reasons why you need to survive, Princess. Firth is surrounded, and who knows what type of sorcery they did to eli

KAFLE returned to the queen’s chamber and found the princess sobbing as she tightly hugged her mother. “Mother, don't leave me this way!”“Forgive me for wanting to reunite with your father and brother too soon, leaving you here alone to carry all the burden of this decision.” Queen Zotza’s tears kept cascading down her cheeks.“Mother, no. Please… I can't do this without you.”The queen gazed at Kafle from a distance. “He will take good care of you.”“No!” Princess Baharini strengthened her embrace. “Why does this have to happen?”“We cannot escape fate. This is bound to happen so that another era will be born.” Queen Zotza had a hard time catching her breath. The poison was slowly taking her heart, and even though she could stop it using the power of the Agua, she chose not to do it—for the sole reason she’d take with her in death.“Fate? You call this fate? I’ve always admired your brilliant strategies, Mother. That is why Hanum is standing strong against our enemies. But how come