~ [Music Recommendation: "Don't Think Twice" by Hikaru Utada (this is my theme song for Rania and Elliot

~ Recap from previous chapter ~

​​

"- You can't tell me because you don't want me to worry?" Elliot interrupted her. "But not telling me about it, also makes me worry. So it's better to tell me instead. Let's work it out. Maybe there's something I can help you with. It's better to lift the burden together - that's what you always tell me. So why don't you … share your burden with me, too?"

Now, Rania felt her heart squeeze and sting at the same time.

"Elliot is really kind," she thought to herself. "He notices the simplest of things and always offers help. He always listens, too … listens and understands. Now my words to him are coming right back at me. I could still remember the time I first met him … If I compare it to now, it's like night and day. The Supreme really chooses well …

How I long to see the day of your ascension …

The day that the world would recognize your brilliance …

I truly believe that you can achieve it …

Even if … I won't be there physically …

I promise I would be with you in spirit … my King …".

~ End of recap ~

"Elliot … I -" Rania opened her mouth but she didn't know what to say. She simply closed her mouth afterwards and looked down on the ground, remaining silent.

Elliot gave her a few minutes to think but she still wasn't responding so he stood up and approached her.

"Ugh," Elliot sighed. "Fine, I won't pester you about it if you don't want to say it". He then patted her head and pulled her into an embrace.

Rania's eyes widened in surprise. She lifted her arms to push him away from her … but she stopped midway, and grabbed his shirt instead. Her heart twinged as she buried her face on his chest.

"Since when did this hug feel so familiar and comfortable?" Rania asked herself, her face giving a faint blush. Unknowingly, she was already closing her eyes and relinquishing the moment. "Can I be selfish for a moment? Just this once … Can I enjoy my time with him while I still have it? And can I wish … to be with him for a little longer?" she thought again as her fist curved into a ball on Elliot's chest.

Elliot felt Rania's hands clenched and slightly trembled. He lifted her chin to look at him only to see her wretched expression. He felt his heart break seeing her so sad.

"Please tell me what I can do to take that sadness away," Elliot softly whispered to her.

Rania gently shook her head, "I'm sorry. I'll be fine. It seems I made my son worried again".

But Elliot wasn't convinced.

"I told you not to call me that again," he smirked, though with a painful expression.

Suddenly, Elliot drew his face closer to Rania as he lifted her chin, and much to Rania's surprise, Elliot did as he warned before.

Gently pressing on hers, Elliot locked his lips unto Rania's.

In her surprise, Rania was unable to stop Elliot. She tried pushing him afterwards but Elliot only tightened his embrace towards her, and locked her in one arm, and the other holding the back of her head.

"Elliot, don't -" Rania told him off when their lips parted for a moment.

But Elliot didn't listen. Instead, he pressed his lips further and started moving, wetting her soft lips in the process. What once was a simple touching, grew into a more passionate and warm kiss. It was sweet and painful at the same time.

Rania's emotions bursted in her chest. The feelings she kept hidden and tried her best to stop them from growing … overflowed. As tears fell from her eyes, she responded back to Elliot's loving kiss.

Their hearts beat together as they closed their eyes and just basked in each other's feelings and emotions, flowing out in a sweet and heartfelt kiss.

"I tried my best to stop it," Rania thought as she continued kissing Elliot back, "but I can't anymore. I'm so sorry … sniff … I - I can no longer stop myself. I've already fallen so deep".

And Elliot himself, felt his heart beating loudly in his chest, as if wanting to escape. He couldn't control it either. He would let go for a second, and kiss her back again, wiping each falling tears in her eyes in the process.

"This feeling that's raging within me, wanting to escape and just … burst out. Could this be …," Elliot asked himself. He too, refused to let go of Rania's lips. "Could this be ... love?"

Halting for a moment, they caught their breath and gazed endearingly into each other's eyes. Their faces, both flushed red and their hearts, still pounding hard.

"Elliot … I -" Rania tried to tell him but Elliot hushed her, gently tapping her lips with his forefinger.

Elliot smiled tenderly at Rania. "Let me say it first".

Rania gasped. Not in her wildest dream did she ever think that …

"I love you," Elliot confessed.

Rania's tears flowed nonstop again.

"I, too … sniff … I love you," Rania finally admitted, in a soft murmur.

Ahhh … what a blissful moment it was. At last, two hearts reached each other, in a magnificent feeling we call "love".

No, it wasn't just a feeling ...

Because feelings come and go ...

But this one was something more …

Far more than just a feeling ...

Far more than just a longing …

It was love in its fullness and most pure form …

"Unconditional love".

And so, Rania and Elliot continued their emotional kiss for a couple more minutes until their feelings calmed down in their chests.

If only good times like this could last forever ...

However, darkness always lurks in the shadows ...

While a lot of things transpired in the life of Rania, Elliot, Luna and Ducis, along with our other friends, Selena, Clavis, Azalea and the king, Calum, certain events were also taking place in some of the noble families that lived outside the Grand Palace. Especially in the mansion of the Reus household, Nefastus' noble home.

A stern-looking man, with dark green hair and eyes, could be seen sitting on a swiveling chair from his office, gazing through the room's clear windows, staring at the clear sky. He wore a classy, black suit, and shiny, leather shoes. On his hands, was a torn piece of paper he kept on swirling around with his fingers.

"Hmmm," the man hummed as his serious face pondered unto something. "Perfection, huh?" His voice, very deep, and almost menacing. Turning to another man, who looked like a servant, standing behind him, he commanded, "Gather all the experts you can gather and have them decipher these words for me". In an instant, the torn paper in his hand doubled and he gave the other to his servant.

"Yes, master," the servant bowed. He looked at the torn paper and read the words in it.

And the paper wrote:

"Oh king, oh king, be strong and take heart!

For the Supreme is great and His counsel is just!

Listen to the words given to His chosen:

'When night meets day,

When dusk meets dawn,

In the beauty of the twilight,

Perfection will come.

And out of the three,

The greatest will rise."

"This is …," the servant paused. "What specifically do you want to find out, master?"

"The meaning of the second part - beauty of twilight, perfection, and also the last part - what 'three' is it pertaining to?"

"Understood," the servant nodded. "I will gather everyone I know". Then, his body slowly disappeared in the shadows.

The stern-looking man went back on staring towards the sky.

"Prophecies … destinies … I will make sure they don't come to pass. I will have my glory, the honor I am due. And I won't let a mere human interfere with it".

===============

Hi Beloved Readers!

A new month is starting and I decided to make some changes for privilege chapters. If you want to read advance chapters, here's the tier adjustments I made and they will be effective this August.

● Tier 1 - Beloved Readers: 1 Chapter, 1 Coins

● Tier 2 - Beloved Supporter: 2 Chapters, 49 Coins

● Tier 3 - Beloved Admirer: 3 Chapters, 99 Coins

● Tier 4 - Beloved Avid Fan: 4 Chapters, 149 Coins

● Tier 5 - Beloved Benefactor: 5 Chapters, 199 Coins

Let me know what you think of this arrangement in the comment section! I'm still trying to balance out the pricing, sorry for that. For those who do not wish to purchase privilege, no worries! You can still unlock them via fast passes! You can get 3 fast pass per day by logging in, voting with powerstones (pls vote for me) and voting with energy stones. You can find the daily challenge in the app under "Profile" and go to "Rewards". Hope that helps!

Thank you very much for all your support!