The next morning dawned, bringing new hopes and plans. After going through their morning routine, Xiran and Aselia had a morning meal with the rest of the family.

The dining hall erupted with their jokes and laughter. The sun appeared to shine more brightly because everyone was in a cheerful mood. After the meal, Sulran borrowed Xiran for a while.

"Can you accompany me? I want to show you something," Xiran gave a nod and followed his uncle. Leaving the ladies to their girl talk and banter.

Sulran took him to a spaciously elegant room where a table and two chair-like structures had been propped. A silver pitcher and glass laid on it.

"Come, Xiran!" Sulran guided him towards the table and once they had settled down. He filled his glass with red liquid from the pitcher.

"Moiga keeps some fresh blood stored for her rituals so I requested some from her. I hope the taste is bearable," Sulran offered the glass to his nephew with an understanding smile. Xiran was touched by his uncle’s gesture. He had never imagined he would be so understanding and the fact he kept his secret and arranged it on his own told him the kind of man he was.

"I very much appreciate this, thank you," Xiran picked up the glass and with an appreciative nod, he began to down the crimson liquid. The taste was exquisitely different from what he was used to but in a good way. He relished the taste. Sulran watched him with satisfaction.

"I am sorry you have to watch me drink this," Xiran was apologetic as he downed the last drops. But Sulran picked up the pitcher and refilled his glass.

"It’s what you need to stay alive, you don’t have to apologise for something you have no control over. Drink up, you have a long day ahead and need to make some life-changing decisions. As much as I love my Sernera, women are not easy," he added the last part as barely a whisper. This made Xiran chuckle, and a surprised smile twisted his lips.

"Ah! I thought women on this planet were compliant."

"Lesson number one my dear nephew. Women are complicated and you adjust according to them, not the other way around. If you want a happy, peaceful life," Sulran manifested his wisdom to Xiran in a hushed voice and Xiran understood who had the upper hand between Nirjla and Sulran. The silver-haired vampire cheekily nodded and finished the glass, careful not to drop any on his pristine ivory garb.

Sulran then took out a cylindrical silver box from the tiny pouch that hung with his metallic belt and gently placed it in front of Xiran.

"What you requested, I hope it’s according to your taste."

Xiran picked up the box and removed the lid to inspect the product inside. His eyes bulged in astonishment seeing the beauty of it. His perfect brows arched and a satisfied smile pulled up on his bow-shaped lips.

"How did you get these colours? They don’t exist on Tromalius," Xiran asked, his eyes still fixated on the object.

"I am a traveller or did you forget? Sometimes I bring souvenirs along and these were from a planet where they had these in abundance," he replied with a sense of elation.

"Ohhh! I forgot. This is beautiful though and just as I had envisioned it. Thank you so much for this. I can never repay you," Xiran finally lifted his gaze, and so many emotions swirled inside him. His heart was all gooey and mellow from the affection his uncle had been showing him. This is what he had missed throughout his life. A close blood relation on whom he could rely.

"Family helps, it doesn’t repay," his endearing sentiments enveloped Xiran in a comforting embrace and his chest constricted with overwhelming emotions.

"Go take your girl out now. Show her this world, your world, our world," Sulran reassuringly added, seeing Xiran all emotional. And Xiran hid away the small box in the folds of his garb before nodding and getting up.

They left the room and went to fetch Aselia. Women were still huddled together and Aselia was telling them about the different kinds of fruits Altair had. The other three ladies were watching her with starry eyes, their mouths watering hearing about the delicious fruits with rich flavours and various colours.

"Sorry to interrupt but I need to borrow my Leia," Xiran reluctantly added. His heart swelled at the sight of her mingling with his family.

"She is not only yours, she is ours as well now," Sayla smirked at him and wrapped her arms around Aselia, making the elven girl lean in her embrace.

"Of course, of course. Just need to borrow her for the day," Xiran apologetically answered and Sayla reluctantly let her go.

"Have fun, both of you. Sulran have you arranged the place for them?" Asfarla asked.

"I have and Tetris will take them," Sulran gently answered his mother.

"Who is Tetris?" Xiran queried as he bent down to hug his grandmother.

"You will see."

Xiran and Aselia bid farewell to the ladies and Sulran led them out front. They were not prepared for the sight that met their eyes.

A divine creature which they could only relate with a pegasus stood mighty against the pale grey backdrop of the misty sky. The pure white creature had its enormous wings stretched out which seemed to be extensions of his dorsi region.

Its snow-white mane glistened under the sunlight and seemed velvety soft to the touch as it swayed under the light breeze.

"Woahhh! Is that a flying horse?" Aselia squeaked in excitement, her eyes enlarging at the magnificence of the creature that stood majestic in front of her. Xiran had halted in his steps as well, he wasn’t expecting to see a flying horse here.

A surprised ’wow’ was elicited from his throat as he watched Aselia rush up to the resplendent creature and began stroking its snow-white coat.

"His name is Tetris," Sulran introduced and Aselia began to ruffle its mane. It stared at her with its big blue eyes and let out a small ’neigh’ as if enjoying her touch. She patted his head with so much affection that Tetris closed his eyes and began rubbing his muzzle with her arms, clearly loving her touch.

"Well, Tetris is adorable," Aselia kept patting him without any fear and he wrapped his feathery wing around her as Sulran and Xiran watched in astonishment. Tetris had never done that on meeting someone for the first time. Aselia giggled at his action and kept rubbing his soft mane.

She was fearless when it came to animals and they seemed to always get attracted towards her.

Fireflies in that meadow he took her, Rony, butterfly-styled creatures and now this pegasus. They all seemed to love her from the first go.

"What a magnificent creature he is. I didn’t know you people had flying horses," Xiran addressed Sulran who was simply enjoying seeing Aselia and Tetris mingle.

"We have plenty of creatures here. Falcarins are one of them. They are mostly owned by influential families because of their rarity and difficult breeding. Only one of them is born every 50 years," Sulran informed Xiran, revealing what these beautiful creatures were called.

"They indeed seem rare," Xiran stepped forward and gently stroked the velvety soft coat of Tetris. It smelled like wildflowers and musk.

"Xiran! He is gorgeous," Aselia was still cocooned in his wing when he lifted and perched her on top of him.

"And, he likes you," Xiran couldn’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy from the horse. Only Xiran wanted to lift her in his wings, not a horse. A small growl left Xiran, his eyes narrowed at the winged horse and Tetris side-eyed him and neighed in return, his wing covering Aselia as if challenging him.

Aselia and Sulran watched the exchange and burst out laughing at their actions.

"Aww, Xi! Are you jealous of a horsie now?" Aselia teased stroking his smooth wing.

"Uncle! Your horse is a meanie. He is trying to steal my girl shamelessly, right in front of you," Xiran pointed and complained, his mouth forming an innocent pout.

This sent Sulran into fits of laughter, and he bent over while clutching his stomach.

"Alright, once you get back. I will have a word with him," Sulran reassured, still laughing. While Aselia ushered Xiran to her so he could climb Tetris as well.

"Now be good Tetris and take them to the falls," Sulran stepped closer and stroked his big ears and Tetris intelligently blinked back at his owner. Xiran had climbed the sturdy creature and it was all sinewy muscles, Tetris was one fit flying stallion and he was about to take them on an unforgettable journey.

"Just hold on tight, Tetris will do the rest. Have fun," Sulran waved at them as he gave the final instructions. Xiran held Aselia’s waist from behind as she clutched the horse’s mane in her hands. He flapped his graceful wings, disturbing the air all around it and it cushioned and uplifted them.

"Wow!" Aselia shouted in excitement as they became airborne and gradually rose towards the sky.