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Liana was walking around the clan which she had been in for the past few days when she suddenly saw Liz walking towards her.

(Liz) "There you are, Liana. I was looking for you."

(Liana) "You could just have asked someone to find me. It's quite obvious that I don't come from here."

Liana did indeed look very different from the people in the village. Apart from being paler than most, as the majority of people in her kingdom were much darker skinned than her and Lillian from spending much time in the sun, her hair colour was very different. It was a golden blonde, while most of the Clan members had black or brown hair, with the exception of Lillian and Liz.

Liana had never asked, but always wondered why Lillian had silver-white hair and Liz herself had platinum blonde hair, completely different from the usual brown hair paired with hazel eyes. From what she heard while exploring the Clan, the Chief's family always had unique hair and eyes. Their eye colour almost matched Liana's, hers being a beautiful shade of cerulean. Liz laughed and said,

(Liz) "Yeah, that would be quite obvious, seeing that a few people said that you have been walking in circles for the past fifteen minutes."

(Liana) "Oh…"

Liz chuckled.

(Liz) "Come on, let's go find Lillian."

They entered the great hall and saw Lillian sitting on the throne-like chair, while a few men stood in front of her, talking in low tones. They waited near the entrance until Lillian finished talking. When the men finally started streaming back out of the great hall, Lillian spotted them and walked over to them.

(Liz) "What's going on?"

(Lillian) "Some matters that aren't very pleasant. Let's go somewhere more private then I'll tell you about it."

Liana wondered whether she would bring them back to the room they were in the last time, but Lillian didn't seem to have that intention. Instead, she led them out of the great hall and into the house which Liz had told Liana was hers and Lillian's. When they had gotten into the house, Lillian led them into a room that Liana gathered was a bedroom, judging from the king-sized bed in the middle of the room, then to a cupboard on the far wall. She waved her hand, and it turned into a door. Liana thought it was similar to the hidden room in her house, just that the spell used seemed more complicated. When they were inside, Lillian closed the door, and it disappeared. She waved her hand, and some chairs and a table appeared. She finally said something, breaking the silence.

(Lillian) "Liz, give me the update on your training."

After they all sat down, Liz put her elbows on the table, resting her hands on her face.

(Liz) "Not much, really. My magic is still going up quite fast, and my training is to keep the pace of the level going up. It's slightly more vigorous than last time."

(Lillian) "Ok."

(Liz) "Why'd you ask so suddenly?"

(Lillian) "No particular reason. Just wanted to make sure your training was okay. Do you want to train under me? I'm relatively free at the moment. Then you and Liana can train together. Would you like that?"

(Liz) "Sure. If Liana's okay with that."

They turned to Liana.

(Liana) "Sure. Also, there's a question I've been meaning to ask."

(Lillian) "Go ahead and ask."

(Liana) "Do the tattoos always appear at the same place?"

Liz and Lillian looked at each other, then back at Liana and started chuckling. Lillian, at least, managed to stop herself from laughing. Liana looked confused.

(Lillian) "Sorry, it's just that no one has actually asked such a question before."

She frowned slightly as she said,

(Lillian) "Though you're one of the very few who've seen it."

Liana didn't know why or what it was, but a strange feeling arose as she heard Lillian say that. She pushed it back down and said,

(Liana) "Err… Sorry if it's like strange, but I really do want to know."

(Lillian) "No, it's okay. The tattoos do appear on the same place the first time, but after that the person who has them can choose where they want it."

(Liana) "Oh… Where does it appear?"

(Lillian) "On the right forearm. Most people don't know that, so it's impossible to duplicate the tattoos."

(Liana) "Oh ok. Thanks."

(Liz) "What were you talking about when we came in? Is it serious?"

(Lillian) "Not really."

Liz frowned.

(Liz) "It looked serious."

(Lillian) "Hmm… It was about the people who wanted to go out of the clan for an extended period of time. There is quite a big group of them and the elders, or leaders as you know them Liana, of the clan, don't want to let them go because they don't trust them as it is rare that big groups go out together like that. I managed to make them let the group leave, but they insisted on sending a scout to follow them. They originally wanted to send ten, but I only allowed one. The group will set off tomorrow morning. They are supposed to be visiting the tenth biggest clan, The Blue Devil Clan. The elders think they are using that as a cover. I told them that I will get a message when they reach there, so they can't be going anywhere else."

(Liz) "Oh. So, it really isn't that serious."

Liz laughed.

(Liana) "Oh! I just remembered I wanted to ask you something else."

Liana turned to Lillian.

(Lillian) "Sure. Go ahead. Then later I can ask you something."

(Liana) "You know the greeting that Erich used? I saw John using that as well when he greeted you. Then later on Bridget used it too. What is that greeting?"

(Lillian) "That's our greeting that shows they are still loyal. The actual name for it is The Loyal Greeting. Come, I'll show you."

Lillian put her right hand into a fist, then put her left hand's palm onto the front of her right hand's fist.

(Lillian) "It's like the traditional Adrenian greeting, just the other way around, and the left hand isn't on the tip of the right hand's palm."

(Liana) "That's interesting."

Liz put in,

(Liz) "It's like renewing the vows of the Loyal Eagles every time they use that greeting. The more often they use it, the more we expect of them. And it's only supposed to be used for someone that is very high up, the chief, the sister of the chief…"

She laughed. Lillian continued where she broke off.

(Lillian) "And sometimes the elders too. But usually people use a different greeting for the elders. Don't know why they are called the elders though, as most of them aren't even a decade older than me."

They all chuckled. When they all stopped laughing, Lillian turned to Liana, smiling gently as she asked,

(Lillian) "Any more questions?"

Liana thought for a while, then nodded and asked,

(Liana) "I presume Hunter and Erich are brothers? I noticed that Hunter had an accent when I first heard him talk. Then I noticed Erich had the same accent."

(Lillian) "Yeah. They are twins. The way most people use to tell them apart is the scar on Erich's face. They grew up in Germany, which is why they have an accent. Hunter's real name is Jaecar, which actually means hunter. Erich and Jaecar Jimenez."

(Liana) "Oh. How did Erich get the scar?"

Lillian frowned slightly but explained.

(Lillian) "Before they came here, they were attacked by a relatively strong group of bandits. Erich got the scar shielding his brother before I got there."

(Liana) "Wow."

Lillian nodded and smiled.

(Lillian) "Yeah."

She chuckled. Liana asked yet another question.

(Liana) "You know the other day, you mentioned something about sleep talking, then Hunter, then you asked Hunter to get Erich. But you didn't even mention the room to Erich. Why?"

Lillian thought for a while, then replied,

(Lillian) "Well, if Erich's voice was used, the person who used it could probably read his mind. And you don't necessarily need to be thinking about it if they want to know something."

(Liana) "Wow. The way your mind works never ceases to amaze me."

Lillian smiled.

(Lillian) "Okay, now I have a question for you."

(Liana) "Sure."

(Lillian) "Why did you seem so okay when you found out Drew was working against you?"

Liana sighed. Liz looked at the two of them in surprise.

(Liz) "Who's—"

She broke off, knowing she'll find out later, and it might not be a good idea to ask just yet. Liana turned to Liz.

(Liana) "Drew was my friend. When we were younger, I played with him and another friend. That friend was the closest friend to me and meant more than anything else to me. One day, when we were playing, we walked farther away from the village then we usually did. It was because Drew led us there. When we finally stopped, the trees were so thick you could barely see anything else. Drew told us to wait there while he went to get something. We waited for quite a while, then suddenly he came back with the intention to scare us, and we were caught off guard. My friend got such a shock she screamed and ran. When we finally found her, she had tripped and hit her head. She was bleeding so much I wasn't sure what to do. I had to decide fast, and I decided I would use my magic to heal her. I told Drew to go call for help, and I would stay with her. He left, and I used a healing spell on her. But what I didn't know was that he didn't actually go away, so the two of them found out I had magic. I told him never to tell anyone, but he did. I put a spell on him, to threaten him. It… kind of worked."

(Liz) "Kind of?"

(Liana) "Yeah. He ended up asking my parents. My parents banned him from ever going to the castle or see me again. My other friend, however, kept her promise. But soon after, she got into another accident because of Drew again. I used my magic to heal her again, and the two of us grew even closer. Drew was jealous and was always trying to get the two of us apart."

(Lillian) "Okay… That explains."

Liz thought of something.

(Liz) "How did you even find out that Drew was working against you?"

Liana turned to Lillian. Lillian sighed.

(Lillian) "Sorry Liz, I did it again."

(Liz) "What did you do this time?"

(Liana) "She saved my life."

Liz raised an eyebrow but said,

(Liz) "Oh. Explains. What exactly happened?"

Liana was surprised by Liz's reaction. She thought she would have been a little bit more surprised, but then she figured Lillian did this quite often, since Lillian had said she did 'it' again. Lillian told Liz what happened, leaving out the fact that the arrow hit her quite close to her heart and that it was poisoned.

(Liz) "Lil, you should have just pushed her away another direction. Or let Drew take the arrow. Why do you always take it for people?"

Liz thought for a while, then seemed to realize something.

(Liz) "Ohh… That would explain."

Liana turned to her with a puzzled look on her face. Lillian and Liz glanced at each other, then Lillian said,

(Lillian) "We might as well tell her, Liz."

(Liana) "Tell me what?"

Lillian looked around, then turned back to Liana.

(Lillian, under her breath) "How to tell you…"

(Lillian) "Liz knows your true identity…"

(Liana) "Oh. How?"

(Liz) "I recognized you."

(Liana) "How? Your clan is so far away from where I stay, have you seen me before?"

(Liz) "Yes, I have. I visited the castle once, when Lil went to have a meeting with your dad. We played for a while, but Lil thought it would be safer for you if you didn't know who I was. Do you remember a period in your memory that you played with someone, but you can't remember their face?"

(Liana) "Yes… But that was like, four years ago. And how did I not see Lillian?"

Liz glanced at Lillian.

(Liz) "She… Has her methods of not being seen. She wanted to erase your memory of the whole day and replace it with something different. But she decided against it and just erased my face from your memory."

(Liana) "Oh. So, when you first saw me, you already knew who I was?"

(Liz) "Yeah… Sorry…"

(Liana) "It's okay. That explains your look when you first saw me. And what did you mean by it would be safer for me if I didn't know who you were?"

Liz turned to Lillian.

(Lillian) "You remember that day when we were heading here, and two people 'recognized' me and tried to run away? The reason they recognized me is because well, I have gotten rid of quite a few bandits, gangs, or other sort of groups of people who threaten people or hurt them. Some of them have members that are still alive and on the loose. Most, if not all of them want to take revenge on me. Though most, like the two that we encountered, are afraid to face me without a big group. Liz probably already told you that I don't even tell some people my name. It's not very… safe. For them, I mean."

(Liana) "Oh. That explains."

(Liz) "You know, I was thinking, the arrow that Lil deflected for you, Liana, what if it was actually meant for Lil?"

Lillian looked at Liz and raised an eyebrow.

(Lillian) "How would they even know that I was there? I was only there for barely a week before the incident."

(Liz) "Hmm… Good point. And they will have a hard time finding you… But there still is the possibility."

(Liana) "You are kind of right. But if it really were true, why did they aim it at me? And right at my heart too."

Liz's eyes widened.

(Liz) "It was aimed at your heart???"

She turned to Lillian. Lillian seemed to look at nowhere but Liz.

(Liz) "What… Why didn't you tell me it was so close to your heart? Couldn't you just tell me what really happened?"

Liz had a slightly distressed look on her face as she said this. Lillian sighed.

(Lillian) "See. This is why I didn't tell you in the first place. I had stepped aside to update King Zander about the situation. We continued talking for a while until I heard something. I turned around quickly, knowing that it was coming from a flying arrow. Within a split-second, I knew it was heading straight for Liana. I did the only thing that passed my mind that wouldn't get anyone else hurt. I took the arrow myself. What I didn't realize, was that it was poisoned. I saw Drew's face, and immediately I knew what had happened."

Liana continued from there.

(Liana) "Right before she passed out, she told the guards to arrest him, and that she would explain everything later on. Close to the end of that day, Eric, the peace village chief, came to visit me. He told me his men had investigated, and they also told me why Lillian had told the guards to arrest Drew. When she woke up two days later, she explained it to me again."

Liz listened to the whole thing, turning to Lillian at the two days part.

(Liz) "Two days… And you didn't even tell me."

(Lillian) "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but I didn't want you to worry. And nothing worse could have happened. You know that."

Liz sighed, stood up, and walked over to Lillian's chair, put her hands on her shoulders and said,

(Liz) "I know. Sorry. I know you always try not to make me worry."

Liana looked at Liz.

(Liana) "Has this… Happened before?"

Liz chuckled.

(Liz) "Heh. You wouldn't believe how many times. Lil, what level poison was it?"

(Lillian) "I'd say it was a level six Poison spell, but not necessarily fired by the person who cast it."

(Liz) "Why?"

(Lillian) "If the person could cast a spell that was that high level, they could have put an aiming spell on it. They won't have missed."

Liana and Liz looked at each other, then back at Lillian.

(Liana & Liz) "Aiming spell?"

Lillian looked at their shocked faces and laughed.

(Lillian) "Heh. I forgot you guys don't know what an aiming spell is. It's a spell that some people use when they are using bows or things like that. It makes the arrow, for example, to follow its target. Unless hit by another spell, or it hits a shield spell, or a normal shield, it will definitely hit the target. Or unless you're fast enough to deflect it."

Liz's mouth dropped.

(Liz) "Whoa. There is actually a spell that can do that?"

Lillian nodded.

(Liana) "So why do you say the person who shot the arrow didn't cast the spell?"

Liana asked. Lillian tilted her head to one side and said,

(Lillian) "Well… This spell is unique. It had to be cast by someone who has maxed out his or her magic. And someone who has maxed out his or her magic, would know all the spells. They took a lot of calculations to shoot the arrow directly at Liana's heart, and if they missed her heart, she would still die because of the poison. The aiming spell needs to be cast by the person using it. Now do you know why I say that the person who shot the arrow didn't cast the spell?"

Liz and Liana looked at each other, then back at Lillian. They nodded.

(Liana) "That explains. But seriously, why did you take the arrow when you knew it could have killed you?"

Lillian raised her eyebrows.

(Lillian) "How did you know that?"

(Liana) "Just a hunch."

Liz glanced at Lillian.

(Liz) "That's quite interesting. How long have you known Lil for? Usually people don't guess that she would know these things."

Liana chuckled.

(Liana) "Heh. A few weeks? But unlike others, I was told some things about her too. So, it's kind of expected."

Lillian frowned.

(Lillian) "Hey! I am not that predictable."

Liz grinned.

(Liz) "Well, you did tell her some things that you wouldn't tell typical people."

Lillian smiled.

(Lillian) "True."

Liz gave her a quizzical face.

(Liz) "But what I'm wondering is why?"

Lillian frowned.

(Lillian) "Why?"

(Liz) "You don't trust people easily. For you to trust someone so much that you will really give them your true identity…"

Liz broke off. Lillian thought for a while, then nodded but didn't reply. Liz raised her eyebrow at Lillian. Lillian sighed, raising up her palms in front of her as a sign of defeat. Liana, watching this, started laughing, which made Liz and Lillian both stare at her. Liana saw them and said,

(Liana) "Sorry. But it's just so funny seeing you two talk like that."

Liz and Lillian started laughing too. After Lillian had regained her composure, she said,

(Lillian) "It's nice to let off a little steam. Rather than having to deal with matters all over the Clan."

Liana raised her eyebrows.

(Liana) "Don't the elders help you with that?"

Lillian sighed.

(Lillian) "Yeah, they do, but a lot of the time I end up having to settle it myself because they cannot make up their minds."

Liana and Liz looked at each other, then started laughing. Lillian said it in such an annoyed manner that it was too funny for them. Soon after, Lillian joined them too, glad to be able to relax, even if it wasn't for long.