She nods as she follows the masked guard.

“So, have you gotten any more cadets this year?” she asks.

“Not as many as we used to have,” the guard sighs. “You were our best cadet— you would’ve made a good trainer.” They turned left of the entrance hallway to the main office. “It was nice to see you back, Emeralds. I need to take care of disturbances at the city square.”

Rosalie nods as she opens the office door. The silver-haired lady at the desk looks up and nods.

“Emeralds, what a pleasant surprise,” she says in her thick Ceorolian accent.

“Vol Avelia,” Rosalie inclines her head. “You know.” She says, surprised.

“Emeralds, as the Vol of the guard, did you not think I would have noticed the shadow monsters lurking around my city?” she motions for Rosalie to sit. “It was your parents’ wish. They did not want you to become one of them. They wanted to tell you at the right time, but it never came.” She looks at her with sharp eyes. “The Yakollavans were originally from faraway lands — even past the Sea of the Otherworldly. They were known as the ancient shadow monsters — no more than a legend, a whisper of the truth. Only very few of their kind had survived — and even fewer of the descendants who’d inherited their powers. Regardless, they are at the top. They’re stronger than us, faster than any Werewolf or Vampire, or even a child of both.” She says, waiting.

“Oh. Oh no,” Rosalie says in shock.

“You have a third nature, Emeralds. You are a true descendant, but you must choose to wield your shadows before they control you. I am no expert, but you will have to train — push yourself to the limit more than you ever have before to control your shadows. You are a strong girl, Emeralds. This is just another obstacle for you.” She leans forward. “Make sure that you pass it.” Rosalie says nothing as she walks out the door and into the Main Hall.

“What took you so long, Rosa?” Chase says, eating another grape, nodding his thanks to the uniformed servants who bring out the tray of food.

“I’m going to have to leave...,” They stared at her blankly.

“Indeed, you will, Rosa.” Adrian walks into the spacious meeting room. “Vol Avelia filled me in. Here’s the address you’ll need.” He hands her a small golden envelope. “Just consider it another one of your missions...” He patted her shoulder.

“What? Where will she go?” Caspar crosses his arms. “We’re still waiting for an explanation for all of this, you know.” Rosalie looks at them and sighs.

“We go where you go, Rosa. That’s always been the deal,” Chase adds as he munches on a frosted delicacy.

“You know, invention boy, I haven’t seen you drool over these designs yet,” Caspar motions at the colorful ceiling symbols. Chase scowls.

“OK, first, don’t call me invention boy. You don’t go admiring the designs — no matter how amazing they are if you’ve got these refreshments!” Chase says. “And I don’t drool.”

“So, where will you go?” It was Erris who asked.

“You know, I still don’t like you and I definitely don’t trust you. But Vol Avelia said you might be able to help me—,”

“What? No way! How come shadow-guy gets to go?” Chase and Caspar had halted their teasing.

“Yeah, we’re a team Rosa ...,”

“Fine. If Adrian doesn’t need you for the MKA right now, then I guess we could all go,” Rosa lets out a breath. “I have to learn how to control my shadows according to Vol Avelia—before they can control me.”

Erris tenses at this.

“Sounds dark ... You hear that, Caspar? We’re in!”

“What do you mean?” Caspar frowns as he turns to Rosa.

“It means that the same thing that happened to me might happen to her.”

Erris looked pale.

“My uncle tricked me into trusting him, which made my shadows trust him. It’s our number one rule — don’t let anyone ever control your shadows. It’s like they’re controlling your soul...,” He arms himself. “If we’re going where I think we’re going, we have to start our journey — now.”

“And where exactly are we going?” Chase asks.

“We’re going to Aqrabuand — The Land of the Merpeople.”