Kylon placed a tray on top of a circular table in front of him, causing a song of clinks to fill everyone's ears. A breakable tea set sat on top of the tray, along with a jar of sugar cubes—a usual scenario whenever the lord appeared. Seraphina had taken the liberty of moving the said table by the fire and two chairs for Kylon and her so that they were facing the Court Leader. Once everything was set, the two took their places and looked at Lord Aeron, willing for him to start his tale.

"I never thought I would live to see the day I tell this story." The man said, waiting eagerly for a cup to be handed to him as he watched the headmaster pour the kettle's contents out. As soon as Kylon dropped the saucer where the cup sat to his palm, he started sipping soundlessly.

"What exactly is this about?" Seraphina inquired. "I am curious to see how your tale is related to Valeriana's condition."

"Ssh." He shushed her. "Seal your lips and listen to me speak. I shall not ever repeat this again."

Seraphina obeyed and leaned back on her chair, shooting a glance at Kylon who mirrored her action with a shrug. He then handed her a tea, which she gently pushed away and refused. "Not for now, thank you." She told him, causing him take the cup and drink it for himself instead.

"I take it you know about the incident that has happened with Valemnia and the human world?" He asked them.

"Of course." They nodded.

"How many times had Valemnia tried to contact humans?" The Court Leader asked them, though they doubted if he didn't know the answer. He was obviously testing their knowledge.

"About three I suppose." Kylon said.

"It's four." Lord Aeron said in contrast to his statement.

"Pardon me for my forgetfulness then."

"Valemnians are now wary of humans because of our lack of communication with each other. Still, it cannot be denied that we did establish a connection with them numerous times long time ago. It all failed, however."

A pause filled the room as the lord took a few moments to drink his tea.

"The first time was way back, about two or three hundred years after the first kingdom was established. Back then, we were welcomed with open arms although a few mostly were doubtful of us." He paused to take a sip of his tea before continuing. "We continued to mingle with them, adapting their language and behavior along the way and they, in turn, learned ours as well. Up to this day, you'll notice the remnants of that connection we made and soon severed."

The two nodded understandingly at his explanation.

"We were hailed like deities far back." He chuckled. "And since the gate was open, some creatures such as dragons and other entities made their way down to their world. I don't know what happened to them now. But I'm guessing they continued to live among humans."

"It's such a shame." The lady knight whispered. "We could've had better relationship with them if it weren't for the interference of demons. It is because of those creatures that we were forced to cut our connection to the world, and the leaking of the power pressure to Valemnia proved to have almost been fatal humanity."

"That is true. Although, the second attempt wasn't as successful as the first." He said. "Everything ended the same. Even so, when we came back, they already made several stories about the existence of a variety of creatures that originally came from Valemnia. There was a notice in the progress of their religions and beliefs. The worshipping of several gods and goddesses was believed to have been the cause of our influence."

"I do wonder what they believe in now."

"It's ridiculous." Seraphina huffed. "When I came down to the human world myself, I'm in such disappointment that their stories had gotten much more absurd and nonsensical from the original tales. They've made up things like vampires and werewolves which doesn't at all make any sense."

"A story loses the truth in it as it is passed on from generation to generation. But surely they must've retained some of it as well."

"I have not done enough of investigation so I do not exactly know." Seraphina told them.

Lord Aeron nodded before continuing. "The third was when they drove us away completely in fear of our differences and power compared to them. We have not tried to communicate with them again since then . . ." He trailed off in a mysterious tone. "Until about two decades ago."

"Everyone knew that the last attempt failed miserably."

"Well, the truth was kept in secret." Aeron said. "As you know, only a select few were chosen for the mission—one of them being me."

"You?" They both repeated in disbelief.

"What is there to be shocked about?" He asked them. "Before the Court Leader, I was a Celeste." He chuckled.

"We know." Seraphina grunted. "It's just hard imagining you as one."

"Oh?" He grinned at them. "I occupied the position as First Knight among the twelve Celestial Knights during those times, serving as the hundred and sixteenth holder in the Sixty-second Generation." He said boastfully.

"Like we don't already know. Besides, the identities of those people were kept confidential. No one else knew—not even their family and close friends."

"As I recall, you're the hundred and eighteenth holder, are you not, Seraphina?"

"I am not yet in position, Lord Aeron." She shook her head. "Please do not rush to such things so hastily."

"Oh, so you soon will be." He laughed.

"Can we go back to the previous topic?" Kylon asked with a sigh.

"Right." He muttered with a small laugh. "In total, there were twenty-five elites sent down to the human world. Yet in the end, these people were never heard from again. Five of us were the only ones known to ever step back through the gates."

"It was said that they died in an encounter with humans."

"We didn't tell them anything like that. We said they were no longer with us." He told them. "No one said they were dead."

They stared at him in confusion.

"What?" Seraphina's brows knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"It was too peaceful in the human world." He sighed. "Save for small disputes and misunderstandings between themselves, humans were content and happy living their life. Earth was beautiful. It rivals the magnificence of Valemnian's grandest mysteries. The naivety of humans—that's the thing the keeps them safe."

"So if there was no engagement in battle of any sort, what happened?"

"As I said, that world was beautiful. Too beautiful, in fact. Too fascinating. The others in the group who went down to the human world became too enraptured with its locals." He chuckled. "They were enamored."

"You are saying?"

"They fell in love." He said. "Such a dangerous thing."

"Each one of them? As in everyone?"

"Not all, of course. That'll be too unrealistic."

"How come no one ever said anything?"

"Do you realize what this means? Out of twenty-five people, twenty of us chose to stay behind. If this happened to us, what do you think will it do to our kingdom?"

"They'll . . ."

"Yes, there's a chance Valemnians will stay in Earth rather than our world instead." He explained, beating them to it. "And if that happens, demons are sure to follow. In turn, the peaceful life they lead will be destroyed. Danger will be wherever we go. Unless we face it, it'll be inescapable."

"So are you saying that Valeriana?"

"May be the daughter of one of my closest, old friends." He chuckled. "Do you think that with the numerous times we attempted communication, there won't be any . . . say 'flings' or 'affairs' or I even dare say 'romantic relationships'? Some of these humans may actually have Valemnian blood in them despite it being diluted. Some of them may actually be 'half-bloods'."

"Half-bloods? Impossible."

"Well, I must admit it's a rarity to see one. And this is only one of the conclusions I've managed to come up with that are reasonable enough." Lord Aeron thoughtfully stated. "Half-bloods aren't that stable so they're put in constant danger wherever they are. It's rational to say that most of them don't last long to live a full life."

"Yes. Right from the very beginning, she already showed characteristics of being a Valemnian. Being able to see demons, there shouldn't have been any doubt. If she is what you say she is, of course." The Headmaster said. "But we've already discarded the idea of her being a half-blood. It simply isn't possible. Half-bloods are too . . ." He breathed heavily in confusion.

"They are . . . too . . ." Seraphina mulled over the thought. "Impossible. I don't know what kind of word best describes it. Every citizen of Valemnia knows that their existence is hardly something to consider."

Aeron then smiled. "That is true."

"The existence of half-bloods are not acknowledged." Seraphina then told the lord. "Most Valemnians consider their existence as an abomination. Besides, they are more susceptible to being turned into demons rather than full-fledged Valemnians. Not to mention their condition isn't stable."

"I also decided that it was out of the options. Valeriana being a half-blood? Ridiculous. Everyone else would've done the same."

"So they did." Seraphina nodded. "I did as well."

"Well it is true that most half-bloods don't survive after birth." Lord Aeron said. "Human bodies are simply too weak to handle the power flowing within the blood of Valemnians. Truth is, it's impossible for the two to get together."

"Half-bloods aren't that fortunate."

"Yes. Their situation is a bit complicated. They aren't above, but they aren't less either. They stand on the very center of the balance and if it tips, their lives will be in danger."

"They can't be too 'human' and they can't be too 'Valemnian'." Kylon added.

"Correct." He answered. "Once a half-blood becomes too 'human', their bodies become too weak that they can no longer handle the intensity of the strength their blood carries so they die. However, once a half-blood becomes too 'Valemnian', they go blind and mad, seeing as the power they have can no longer be contained."

"I think the situation favors weak Valemnians."

"Yes. The higher the level of power, the higher the risk and vice versa."

"So you're saying Valeriana is a half-blood?"

"If she is, I'd like to conduct further tests regarding half-bloods. You see, we still lack knowledge regarding their . . . 'situation' and I think it will be convenient to have a live . . . sample."

"It's really ridiculous for you to end up suggesting Valeriana being a half-blood. Although, coming from you Lord Aeron, I shouldn't have expected anything less."

The lord laughed at the statement of Celeste Academy's headmaster, all the while grabbing another cube of sugar to drop into his tea. "Well, I've been researching. Ever since Valeriana came here, I intended for my knowledge regarding these half-bloods to widen. Valemnia doesn't have that much information about them, you see. For now, the information I hold is limited."

"This is confusing." Seraphina shook her head.

"I know how you feel." Kylon sighed. "We've been too narrow-minded all along."

"We all can't help but say Valeriana's 'human' since she practically grew up on Earth her whole life."

"I guess that's true."

"But then, how did Valeriana survive if she was a half-blood?"

"Perhaps her parent was a weak Valemnian?" The lady knight suggested.

"A 'suppressant' might also be a good explanation. If she has considerable amount of power as one—or should I say half?—of our kind, then, she might've been given something to keep in, correct?"

"That is also a possibility." The Court Leader nodded in agreement, forgetting his tea for a few moments since he got too engrossed with the conversation they were having.

"A suppressant, you say?" Lady Seraphina paused to think. "Well, now that I remember, she had a bracelet she said she always wore ever since she came here. However, for some odd reason, nobody else was able to see it."

"A bracelet? It is possible that it is the suppressant."

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, then?"

They exchanged glances.

"It means that it's responsible for keeping her stable, if she is a half-blood." Kylon muttered.

"But the incident with the demon . . . she lost it during that time." Worry creased the lady's face.

"If our conclusions are correct, we have to find that bracelet." Lord Aeron said. "If Valeriana is a half-blood like what I concluded, then her life is in danger. The longer she spends away from that little trinket increases the chance of the balance tipping."

"But if we don't find it? It fell into a demon's dimension. It's not possible to get it back."

"We have to try." He told them. "Also, I'll try to find something that'll be able to hold a spell for her protection."

Kylon raised a brow. "I don't think you need to. You already have one."

The three went silent.

Lord Aeron started giggling which made the two roll their eyes. "Oh, I have forgotten. Pardon me."