The entire house is a little awkward because of Aren, the former prince who was the leader of the hunters once. Only Gabriel talks to Aren normally. Mirai and Pebby avoid him. Raye ignores his existence. Kresi is always silent around him. Aren is used to seeing her non-verbal gestures rather than hearing her voice.

"You can't come with us, Aren," Kresi speaks to him for the first time. Her voice is eerily cold, filled with a distant accent of the lower realm. He flinches -- an unwanted reaction from the night she talked to him through the connection that he had with his mother's mind. He hates this reaction, but his body doesn't listen to him.

The girl is younger than him now. She's powerless. Besides, he knows that she wasn't in the wrong. She wanted revenge for her friends. He also wanted revenge for his mother. But this cycle had to end somewhere. He ended it, thanks to Ari's words. Hating someone might be a choice. What about fear? Why is he still afraid of her? She's not a harbinger anymore.

He steels his heart. This is about his little brother. "Why can't I come with you?"

"Drawing a true name is a dangerous task." Kresi stares at him with a straight face. The former prince's fear is clear to her. That night must have left an effect on him. Even his channels were broken because of the torment that she gave him through the link he had with his mother. She takes a sharp breath. How is she going to get retribution? "It's not safe for you to be around us."

Before Raye could open his mouth and say that he wants to come along, Kresi gives him a cold look. "You too."

"Are you going alone?" Pebby asks her with a concerned voice. "The gates can only be accessed by the gods. Dark Realm is far from here. It will take two days to reach the castle of the Dark God. We should come with you. Our home is in the Dark Realm, albeit it's a little far from the Dark Castle."

"No, I don't want you to come with me. It's too dangerous," Kresi says to them. "I know a shortcut. It should take a day to reach the Dark Castle directly if we take that route."

What kind of shortcut? Raye's ears perk up. The world has changed. Though this new world is better, there are also some limitations. But Kresi offers him no explanation.

Gabriel watches her solemnly, knowing full well that it's useless to argue with her if she has made up her mind. Kresi's reasons aren't unfounded. There is a danger in being close to a nameless creature. Even if Ai seems not dangerous now, he shouldn't be unestimated. Being in the dark castle might be best for his son until his son receives a true name.

"Isn't this unsafe for you too?" Mirai questions her quietly. "You might also get hurt. What will we do without you?"

"You will start living the way you did before I came back to life." Her tone is calm and unbending, clearly not wanting to argue anymore. Mirai, Pebby, and Raye stuff their protests in their hearts. Before she died, Kresi was the leader of the cursed children.

There was a rumour that she killed a royal bloodline in Milegia, participated in the war secretly, controlled the politics of the lower realm, and even cause a war between two countries. Though Mirai and Pebby aren't sure about the rumours, Raye and Gabriel know the truth. This girl had fought with the beasts in the underground realm and tore open human beings in front of others to entertain them. Even if she can't channel ehr right now, she shouldn't be underestimated.

"Mirai, why do you worry so much? It's our Kresi." Raye walks to her side and wraps his arm around her shoulder. Aren knits his brows, not saying a word. The gesture might seem okay between two men, but Kresi is a girl and Raye is a man. He has a feeling that Kresi still treats them all as if they are kids. Though she has a strange mature look in her eyes, there's also a certain ignorance toward the functionality of this world. Perhaps, he's overthinking because he had a crush on the girl with golden eyes once.

"I know." Mirai whines, "I will be sad if she is gone again."

"Me too." Pebby's lips tremble. Her eyes turn misty. "We are family, Kresi. How could we go on living the same way after you are gone again?"

Kresi lets out a sigh. "I won't be gone. There's no need to worry."

"I am worried," Aren interrupts. "You can't even channel ehr now. What if a spirit beast attacks you? You are forgetting that God Cina still holds a grudge against you."

She blinks her eyes, surprised by his words. Worried? Funny! "Of all the people whom I have wronged, he's the least important one on that list. If he comes to get a beating, I will satisfy his desire with happiness."

"..." She's talking about a god, right? All of them gulp except for Ai who is looking at her with awe.

"Tch!" She clicks her tongue in distaste. "He was acting all high and mighty. Belan broke the contract and she chose her own death. How is that my fault? I only said that she was going to die. When did I say that it would be an eternal death?"

That's true, but… Aren frowns at her. Why didn't she say these words during the trial?

"Whether I say it or not, Cina won't stop hating me. If he comes, I will deal with him." She looks at her hands that can't sense any ehr. It's a problem that she can't channel ehr. Noras won't agree to open her channels. Should she ask the Renasir? It might be too much. She will see in the future. Her priority is Ai's true name. "I guess that you are afraid because I can't use ehr anymore. That's a handicap, but it's not a big issue."

How is that? He can't even imagine a life without magic. Aren glances at Gabriel who doesn't seem surprised by Kresi's words. Raye gives her a heavy nod, knowing that she has survived in an environment where she couldn't do any magic against her opponent. Mirai and Pebby don't argue anymore. Only Aren can't understand why these people are so easy going about this.

Little Ai has been hearing them argue for a while. He writes something on the notepad and gives it to Kresi. Kresi takes the notepad hanging in the air and gives a glance to the words. She shakes her head at him. "Boy, you can't go back to that place again. It will be difficult for her to draw a name if the thread that connects you to this world becomes weaker. Don't use your abilities until you receive a true name. Do you hear me?"

The child holds her hand, giving her a nudge. She releases her breath. Maybe she should find another way to prevent this kid from using his abilities.

"Kresi," Aren calls her name, feeling awkward when she responds by raising her brow nonchalantly. "I am coming with you whether you like it or not."

"Because you are worried about me?" She sneers at him. "I didn't know Arenyr Starfire would worry about his mother's murderer too."

"Shut your mouth." He scowls at her darkly.

"I will shut my mouth if you stop saying ridiculous things." Kresi crosses her arms. "We are talking about a nameless creature. Did nobody teach this prince about them? Maybe the prince has such a big heart that he wants to become his brother's food."

Aren clenches his teeth. Nevermind! He hates this girl. Who does she think she is? "I don't require a commoner's permission. He's my brother, royal blood. If you and Ari aren't afraid of being close to him, why do you expect me to be? Even someone like me is better than a cripple who can't channel ehr."

Little Ai curves his brows, wondering why they are fighting when he doesn't want either of them to go with him. He wants to meet Ari alone if it's possible…

The former prince bites his inner cheek. Why did he call her a cripple? He shouldn't have lost his temper. But the girl seems unaffected. She rolls her eyes. "Is cripple all you can come up with? The prince is too sophisticated for this commoner's company."

Pebby covers her mouth to hold back a snicker. Mirai and Raye burst into laughter. Even Gabriel smiles. Aren grimaces at all of them. Are they laughing at him because he couldn't come up with a worse insult?

"If this graceful prince wants to come, then I won't stop him. I also won't acknowledge his presence. He's responsible for his own safety." Kresi turns to Gabriel and others. "I am sure that you are not as wise, kind, and courageous as this holy prince. Mirai, leave now with Pebby. She's with a child, isn't she? You should be staying at home with her."

Sophisticated. Graceful. Wise. Kind. Courageous. Holy. Each word has a loud sarcastic hint. Aren's heart fills with bitterness. This girl's words cut deeply.