"You met her in Fritez City?" Xiran asked in a surprised tone.

"We wouldn’t have sent her there alone without a backup." Yurian’s words made sense but Xiran didn’t understand how they communicated or met and he was sure Yurian won’t reveal all the secrets to him.

"And I guess you won’t tell me the details," Xiran asked politely.

"Sorry, can’t do that."

"I understand, one thing more. How come you don’t have a scent?" Xiran was very inquisitive on this front, he had never come across someone who didn’t have a scent or could completely mask it.

"It’s part of my many charms," Yurian replied while straightening his back and puffing out his chest, he wore a haughty expression on his face. This made Xiran chuckle and he could see why Aselia was comfortable with him. He was comical and clever, he knew how to dodge questions.

"I can see that," but Xiran had a hunch about what and who he could be. He didn’t press the boy further just gulped down the blood he offered. After finishing, Yurian took his leave from him but spoke in a hushed voice before departing:

"She deserves to be happy and if you can grant her that then hang in there and I will make sure she comes to terms with her feelings for you."

"I will never give up on her." The determination in Xiran’s voice relaxed Yurian and he knew Aselia won’t find a better person to be with. Yurian nodded at him and left.

Aselia lay on her bed after returning from visiting Xiran. Conflicting emotions were drowning her, and she couldn’t breathe properly in this sea of gloom she had created for herself. She didn’t understand what to do.

Her phone pinged which lay on the side table of her bed. She had acquired it back after her return. Grabbing it she saw the notification of a text from an unknown number. Who must be texting her on her private number? A handful of people had her number.

She swiped and opened the text which read:

[Hello Aselia, it’s me Rivan. I just want to talk to you. Let me know when can I call you.]

Her heart thudded so loud in her chest that she could sense it might explode. Her body quivered, how did he acquire her private number so quickly?

Well, there was only one way to find out. So she texted him back:

[What do you want Rivan?]

A few seconds passed and her phone pinged again with his text message:

[I know you are a hunter and you have Xiran. He doesn’t have the answers you seek, I do. Call me.]

Aselia stared at the screen with a mind full of doubts. How was she to trust him and what was his ploy? But he said he had answers. So she hit the call button and Rivan picked it up on the first ring.

"Hello! Aselia. How have you been?" His calm voice chimed in from the speaker, he spoke as if talking to an old friend.

"Get to the point Rivan." She shot back, she didn’t have time for his games.

"Alright, but first I need to know if my friend is still alive." She could feel how hard he was trying to keep his voice straight and composed.

"He is, I just need answers about his father and if he took away my memories of the day my parents were killed. You said you have answers, I want them."

"I can’t give you the information about his father because that’s something he has forbidden me to do under any circumstances. But I can tell you about that night and what transpired, everything I know I will tell you." Rivan was clear on what he could offer her.

"I can’t set him free until he tells me everything about his father. I won’t rest in peace until I have killed that wretched being." She shot back unable to contain her disgust for the man. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"I understand your hatred for him and believe me Xiran despises him more than you do. Work with him not against him and you will get what you have been looking for. I know deep down you care for Xiran." Rivan was trying to negotiate on the behalf of his friend, he wanted to resolve this with peace.

"As long as he gives the information I desire, I promise to set him free, then we don’t have to cross paths ever again. My target is his father and I won’t breathe freely until he is dead. Your mission will be to keep your friend away from me, I hope we never have to see each other again." Saying this physically hurt Aselia, her body didn’t agree with her decision and the pit of her belly writhed in pain, she had to bite her lip to stop herself from screaming.

Rivan was taken aback by her decision but he knew once she will know the reality, her cold heart will automatically thaw.

"Aselia, I can’t take his life decisions but I can tell you his truth and then you can decide what you want to do. 18 years ago, we came to know about a plan Xiran’s father had concocted. To attack your city, but we were too late. When we got there, he had already massacred your entire neighborhood, we were only able to rescue a few kids, you were one of those kids. He saved you." Aselia took in a sharp breath at his words but continued to listen:

"Hunters arrived late as well they were able to save a few people, but Xiran’s father escaped, but he had seen Xiran rescuing those kids. I stayed at a distance with transport, so he didn’t see me. Once we had escaped with the kids, Xiran wiped the memories of all the kids of seeing him rescuing them, so they won’t remember him. He handed them over to me so I would drop them all at an orphanage we trusted. He knew his father would come for him, he didn’t want to take any risks. So he wiped his memories of that incident as well. Yes, he can wipe his memories too, he can select which memories he wants to keep and which he doesn’t. This way he kept you safe, kept all those kids safe. His father got him afterward but he couldn’t get out the information because he didn’t remember it. That’s his truth, which only I know and now you do too."

Aselia was hyperventilating by the point Rivan finished. Xiran was telling the truth to some extent, he had no memory of her because he had wiped them. Just to keep her safe, he must have gone through immense torture. And now he was going through it again, to protect her.

"And how did you connect all the dots and discovered that little girl you guys saved was me?" Aselia questioned wearily, her voice quivering, her palms all sweaty, and her body shaking.

"I carried out a thorough investigation and visited both orphanages to find out the truth. I was told before that you died at the age of 10, but my investigation revealed that you were alive. If we hadn’t rescued you as a child, I would never have been able to uncover the hidden truth. Your tracks were well covered, I had to use a lot of resources to obtain the information and your personal phone number, and I remembered your real name." Rivan’s words chilled her heart, he knew everything about her, he had rescued her, and he remembered her name.

"Did he take any more memories from me? 18 years ago and in the past few months as well?" Aselia wanted to be clear on this front, about how much he had made her forget.

"As far as I know, he only erased that little part 18 years ago. He never touched your memories in the last few months." Rivan knew Xiran hadn’t touched her memories for he had discussed it with him.

"Got it," she replied trying to stay calm.

"Let him go Silah, all he has ever done is to try and protect you. I know he won’t want to wage a war when you are involved but I won’t sit quietly forever. I won’t let him suffer or die." Rivan had given her his verdict and left the decision with Aselia. If she won’t comply, he had decided he will hunt their headquarters down and rescue his friend. No matter the cost.

"And I told you, all he has to do is tell me about his father and we will. Until then sit tight, I won’t let him die. Don’t worry, he will be back with you safely."

"I will keep in touch and make sure you keep your promise." Rivan cut the call after that. Leaving Aselia filled with more turmoils and confusion.

She wished he hadn’t taken her memories, letting her remember him. She wished she could ask him the reasons but he had erased his memories too. No wonder she had bonded with him, he had been her saviour without her knowing. What other secrets did he hold?