DECISIONS

Growing up, I always felt like I didn't quite fit in with everyone else. Finding a sense of belonging was a struggle for me. Leah was the only one who made me feel accepted, but others constantly reminded me of my differences.

I remember how difficult shapeshifting has been for me, unlike other things that came easily. While everything else seemed easy, I struggled with it for ten long years. And that's why the king had to lend me a sword as my physical weapon until I could master it. The closest thing I'd experienced to shape-shifting was my stomach protruding whenever I eat too much food. Few months ago, it suddenly manifested effortlessly one day while we were practicing on the field.

"I don't think I can ever shapeshift like you guys," I'd often say, exhausted from trying and failing.

"Ignore what others think and just be yourself," Leah would advise me.

But it was easier said than done. And I often found myself trying to please the king because I looked up to him as my protector since I was young. I wanted him to be proud of me for saving me that day.

But when I turned fifteen, my priorities shifted. I grew increasingly headstrong and self-assured, placing less importance on gaining the king's favor and more on asserting my own identity. I just wanted to have fun and show others that I couldn't be intimidated as I was more powerful and faster. I guess it's all fate. Fate had chosen this path for me, but I wanted more than just being a half-human girl in the palace, I wanted to experience life at it's fullest, not stupidly but carefully and calculatedly.

While we gathered, waiting in the grand dining hall, where the huge table and chairs meant for the palace Xenos surrounded us, I paced nervously, weighing my options. Should I immediately inform the king about my suspicions regarding the Auragmite's location, or should I continue to observe?

"Are you okay?" Gor asked, noticing my agitation as he chewed on a vegetable.

"Yeah," I replied with a nod

"Why don't you sit down?" Leah gestured for me to sit beside her.

I sat next to Leah, observing the chefs as they worked behind the counter, preparing dinner. I could overhear the executives whisper about the king among themselves while they also sat, waiting for dinner.

"Have you heard anything about the king?" one of them asked.

"No, it seems he's still very upset," another replied.

"I heard it's possible he might want to meet with the human tomorrow,"

"That's true, the human with super strength that April brought" someone else added, casting a glance at me. I shot them a puzzled look before they turned away.

Their words made me tense. If the king wanted to see him soon, I needed to act quickly.

"Why is dinner taking so long?" I asked, standing up. "I'll be right back." I walked to the counter where they were preparing dinner, watching them go about their business.

"Are you making any for the prisoner?" I asked one of them

" Uhm! No, we weren't told to," he replied.

"He hasn't eaten in days. You don't want him dead before the king gets to see him, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll prepare some for him," he replied, almost turning away before hesitating and turning back. "What should I make for him?"

"I'm not sure, anything, he'll take anything" I chimed in, then headed off.

I had two plans, but I chose to go with plan B, which meant going against the king, a plan worth risking my life for. It would be difficult to do it without the king noticing. If he found out, especially at a time like this, as Leah said, he might kill me. But I was still prepared for whatever consequences I guess.

After dinner, while everyone was preparing for bed, I sneaked out, following the servant who was to deliver Rex his food.

"Hey, Mimo!" I jumped in front of him with a big smile.

"April!" he smiled back.

"How's it going?" I asked.

"Not bad," he replied. "What are you up to?"

"I was on my way to see Leah when I saw you and thought I'd say hi."

"Oh, my!" he exclaimed, protecting the food he was carrying from slipping out of his hands.

I had directed an energy beam to subtly shift the plate of food he carried, while simultaneously concentrating my mental energy on the paper, gently manipulating it to insert itself into the covered food swiftly, without him noticing. Such stunts demanded intense concentration, but I had spent years focusing and training on how to manipulate objects that I had mastered to the point of being able to perform them effortlessly, almost instinctually.

"Careful!" I exclaimed, offering a helping hand, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Thank you," he responded with a warm smile.

"I'll get going now. Catch up with you later," I smiled and walked away.

'Phew! That was… not bad,' I exclaimed with relief. 'I suppose this is the path I've committed to' I mused quietly as I turned my gaze to watch him depart, thinking about the decisions that had brought me to this point.

I sneaked around the outside of the palace making my way toward the rear of the palace building. I went in a roundabout way to stay away from the guards who were watching. Moving quietly from one shadow to another I concealed my presence, making sure no one noticed me.

I stood near the opening of a cave that led out from the palace, hoping the human would understand my message. My intention was to aid his escape by guiding him through the hidden route I had devised, a secret passage connecting the dungeon to the outside world, a contingency plan in case I was ever imprisoned. The hidden passage would lead him to safety at the rear of the palace, where I crouched, shielded by a barrier of wood to remain undetected.

The palace stood on a hill, overlooking the community below nestled in a valley with every corner guarded.

After a few hours passed, I began to sense his powerful aura drawing near. Its strength and intensity left no doubt that the Auragmite could indeed be within him.

I extended my hand and used my powers to shift the stone blocking the entrance, revealing the human who held the Auragmite, visibly startled to see me there.