Serene’s POV

Kilamin went back after spending a day with us. Making me promise next time I will only call him in an emergency. He didn’t provide me with the details of what went on between him and Mariela Sensei but he said they had decided to see if it will work.

Mariela Sensei had called me and thanked me for stepping in not realizing she would mean so much more to me if Kilamin and she were to get married in the future. But revealing his true identity was something I wanted to leave that entirely to Kilamin.

Ayrden and I were sitting in the library, researching for our next assignment. Ralph sauntered over to us and sat across me.

"Heya! Ladies," he greeted us in his sing-song voice, his eyes shimmering with excitement.

"Heya! Ralph."

"Serene, tomorrow is Zeph’s birthday. We have to plan something." He confided in a hushed voice.

"What? He never told me about his birthday. Every time I asked him, he swiftly changed the topic." I shook my head in amusement.

"That’s because he is not very high on birthdays and doesn’t like attention. He likes to keep occasions simple." Seriousness laced Ralph’s voice.

"At least we have to get him a cake and gift, we can also plan some games," Ayrden added in her beautiful voice.

"Yes, let’s plan but we will keep it simple, so he doesn’t feel overwhelmed," I stated while taking out my quill and diary to note down what we needed to do.

Firstly I needed a gift for him and wasn’t sure what to get him. We were on a curfew and couldn’t visit the market in Hexum Realm, so that was out of the question.

Then it clicked, Mariela Sensei, I had to ask her for help. Ayrden and Ralph divided the duties of cake and decorations, we would use the Aurorean Common room for the celebration while I decided to invite our friends and visit Mariela Sensei.

"Don’t tell him under any circumstances, where I am?" I requested and they nodded vehemently.

Exiting the library I headed for Mariela Senseis’ study.

I knocked on her door, "Come in," she replied in her authoritative voice. Turning the handle I entered her study, she beamed at my sight.

"Serene, how are you dear?" Sensei greeted me with a smile, she never used to smile before.

"I am good, Sensei." I stepped closer and she offered me a seat. Her desk was strewn with books and vials and was busy mixing potions.

"Anything you needed?" She inquired giving me her full attention.

"Actually yes, it’s Zeph’s birthday tomorrow and I wanted to gift him something unique. I was thinking about some kind of potion I could make for him with your help." I asked sheepishly.

"Let’s see. I think I have something for you. It’s a vanishing potion. Very difficult to make and I have only made it once, ingredients are hard to come by and I had been collecting them for years, amassing them from all the realms. With war brewing, I thought we would need it and I have been looking forward to preparing it. Let’s do it together. What do you say?"

She asked me with a straight face. I had never seen a vanishing potion before, only heard about it. Since it was almost impossible to make, very few people attempted to create it.

"Can we pull it off Sensei?" I questioned, not sure if we would be able to do it.

"We will, I believe in ourselves." She got up and made her way to the bookshelves and after searching for about five minutes she finally pulled out an ancient-looking leather-clad tome. Opening a certain page she handed it to me.

"Read this very carefully Serene while I take out the ingredients and components we need." She instructed me before heading to the gigantic cupboard in her study, opening it Sensei began to take out miscellaneous Petri dishes, containers, vials, dried plants, preserved animal organs and other ingredients that were required.

I began to read the complex method that was required to make it. We spent hours reading the process and preparing for it before finally beginning.

Mariela Sensei guided me every step of the way as we followed the complex method to concoct this potion. Sometimes we made small talk.

"So, Kilamin grew up in the castle? He told me your father took him in as a child." Mariela Sensei inquired. The thought of him being so near to me yet so far away made my heart bleed.

"Yes, he lived with us since childhood. His exceptional powers always made him stand out and he was the youngest person in our history to get commissioned into Fae Forces. He was only fourteen-year-old and he is also the youngest General." I beamed with pride, listing the exceptional qualities of my brother.

"I see, he is unique. I have never met anyone remotely like him." She replied with a twinkle in her eyes and I could sense the admiration she held for my brother.

"Yes, only if he would open up a bit to someone too." I giggled a bit and Mariela Sensei gave me an amused look.

"He does open up with me though." She gave me a knowing smile making me chuckle as I said:

"You have no idea how glad I am to learn of it."

We had some fun talking as we worked together until the night fell. It had taken us almost 10 continuous hours to finally brew up the potion. It needed to simmer on low flame overnight and be cooled in dark for a few more hours to finally give a dark purple shade. That would show that it had been concocted perfectly.

Mariela Sensei told me that I could leave and she would take care of the rest and once it was fully prepared by tomorrow evening, I could come to retrieve it.

"Thank you so much Sensei, I am very obliged." I smiled at her, she had helped me tons.

"No problem, Serene. I am just glad I could return the favour for helping me with Kilamin. You lifted a huge burden from my heart by asking him to talk to me. I can never repay you for that." She patted my head and offered me a huge smile.

We wished each other good night and I headed for my room. Every muscle in my body was aching because of standing and working for such long hours but it was worth it. Everything I did for Zeph was worth it.

Turning the corner that led to the stairs of our room I was suddenly yanked from behind and pinned to the wall by my shoulders.

"Ahhh," before I could punch whoever it was my eyes were met by the charcoal ones belonging to the boy I loved. He was wearing a scowl on his face and his dark pits had anger emanating from them.

"Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I was? I couldn’t find you anywhere and no one seemed to know where you were. I even went to Shumal Sensei and she said you were with Ayrden. I went to Ayrden and she said you were with Shumal Sensei. Ralph sent me to the library and Mikasim sent me to the grounds. Were you all playing tricks on me? Because I swear I didn’t like it one bit."

His worries made him look so cute, his sensual lips twitching in anger, inviting to be kissed. So instead of answering his barrage of questions. I just grabbed his face and pressed my lips to his. His eyes grew wide as the surprise of my action hit him. Grabbing my waist he kissed me deeply, not wanting to let go. When he finally did, both of us were out of breath.

"What was that for?" He questioned me with a slight smile, his anger evaporating.

"It was my apology for making you worried and not considering that you might be looking for me. I was with Mariela Sensei, she needed my help with something and we lost track of time. I am sorry." I slipped my hands around his waist and hugged him close, placing my cheek on his robust chest. He kissed my head in return.

"It’s alright, I was just worried. I couldn’t find you and no one seemed to care about it as if they knew where you were but refused to tell me, enjoying my pain." He whispered in my ear, his arms squeezing me closer as if he couldn’t get enough of me.

"They must be teasing you because it’s always fun to tease you. You rile up so quickly." I stepped back and poked his nose making him scowl once again, this made me laugh.

"So, you like teasing me?" He questioned.

"Ahm!" I tilted my head at him. He stepped closer and jailed me between his arms, his lips sensually grazing my neck, making my whole body tingle and tense up.

"How about I tease you?" He blew in the crook of my neck, and I couldn’t help but shudder at his advances.