XUHE had frozen the cape covering Reta’s body until it was fit enough to get back to her feet. And despite the embarrassment, Reta continued to mock Malaika and her team as if nothing had happened.“Careful, next time.” Xuhe flew at a safe distance, and Yulli shifted to his wolf form to follow the male elf.“Bold of you to assume you’d win against us!” Reta laughed hysterically. “We are the elite warriors of the army of Axum.”Malaika looked around, and it was a slow motion in her eyes. Despite her protection, it appeared ineffective.She first saw Kane, who was at a disadvantage because he could not shapeshift into his animal form. He tried to engage in close combat, but his opponent was the archer who kept a safe distance while firing hundreds of arrows nonstop. Kane only defended. But because of his huge build, he found it hard to engage in the same stealth as the archer. Until four of the ice arrows hit him, and he fell on the ground, bleeding. Then there was Luan, fighting side

MALAIKA bid her goodbye to the Halan delegates. She forced herself out of the infirmary since her health greatly improved after she awakened. Seti and Attisha embraced her tight. The two shifters cried and refused her to let go. At the same time, Yulli stood beside her in silence, observing his fellow warriors for their departure.“I will be all right here. Yulli is with me,” she assured the two.“We will wait in Hala.” Seti finally stepped back.“I promise to improve my healing magic so I can be useful to everyone when you’re back home.” Attisha was still sobbing.Darkis beside them cleared his throat. “I-I ask the commander if he’s willing to take me in. I will train to serve the Halan army. I’m so glad I’ve met you, Princess.”“Best of luck, Dark. You’ll enjoy the serene environment at home. Come on. They are waiting.” Malaika wiped her tears as Attisha loosened her hug. She’d surely miss them, specially Alleki. His return to Axum might be longer than expected with all these intern

THE SEAMSTRESS arrived after an hour. She was a plump middle-aged elf that looked friendly. She went in as if the house belonged to her.“Hello! You’re here, at last. I’m Tamni.” She looked around. “Where’s your kid? I can’t believe you will leave her unattended. Is that a common practice in Hala?”Malaika and Yulli looked at each other. And as if on cue, Xoxo came over in her child form, yawning.“You mean her?” Malaika turned to Xoxo. The shifters heartily laughed. “Don’t get us wrong, Miss Tamni. That’s Xoxo, my magical creature. Believe it or not, but she used to be an axolotl.”“Oh,” Tamni gasped, looking amazed. “I think she is a cute little human.”“Sure, she is. But please, don’t indulge her by giving her so much chocolate. She might not want to be back in her animal form.”“I’ll bear that in my mind.” Tamni winked at Xoxo. While the magical creature mischievously smirked as if there were unspoken words between their glances.Tamni got her tape measure from the satchel she had

“EVERYONE, attention! Once your name is called. Please proceed to the stage,” Professor Prife announced. Malaika and Yulli observed how the Reception was done. The headmaster cast a spell creating three medium-sized ice tables. While the remaining professors simultaneously made translucent magic circles at each table. At the same time, the headmaster’s assistants put four glasses each on top.Malaika studied each glass, and she asked Niusa about it. “The glasses represent the four classes of water affinity, right?”“You got it, princess. We will cast our energy to the glasses, and it will determine our water-type magic.”“I understand,” she nodded. Malaika got a grasp of the so-called Reception. When the students were called, they stood before the table facing the crowd. The headmaster would give a signal for them to start, and the other professors oversaw each table to ensure everyone’s safety. The first glass contained contaminated water, the second had circulating water vapor, t

IN THE main village of Hala, General Iljun gathered the high-ranking officials of the army. They were inside his private residence to ensure this meeting would not get much attention from the elders.It took him a while to return from patrolling the borders since the tension of the uprising had not subsided. A lot of elves tried to sneak in, and worse, the villages near the boundary almost got into trouble if their presence weren’t there.“I was investigating the uprising lately with the help of Rikrus...” General Ijun stood before a large board where a map of Virina. His visitor’s hall was massive enough to accommodate everyone.Alleki and Valin were facing each other in the front, where a huge rectangular wooden table was at the center. All the halan delegates who participated in the Aqua Festival were also present since they were promoted as unit heads for their respective squads.Everyone listened as the general spoke. “Some of you may not know, but I’ve been doing reconnaissance