Tiash Lumina

Tiash was sitting in front of the mirror in her room, wearing a white dress that made her looks more elegant. Any man who lays eyes on her will immediately be captivated by her beauty.

From behind, Yola was busy combing Tiash's long silky silver hair.

"Miss, are you nervous?" Yola said, who saw Tiash reflection from the large mirror in front of her while continuing to comb Tiash hair.

"Come on sis, there are only two of us here. Don't call me 'Miss!' And yes! I'm nervous," Tiash replied bluntly. Tonight's party was not just an ordinary party. But a special party to announce the future successors of Queen Elyosa. Of course, only nobles could attend the event.

Yola looked at Tiash through the mirror, then smiled softly at her. "Mr and Mrs Lumina have already left. Likewise, with other members of Lumina's family. Are you sure you don't want me to escort you?"

"No. Grim will escort me," answered Tiash in a low tone, slightly blushing.

"Grim? The captain of the Elyosa security forces? Ah, I see! So, He's your Xenatria, huh?" Yola teases Tiash.

"Uh, it's not like that!" Tiash's face became even redder by Yola's words.

Grim is a captain of the Elyosa security forces who happens to be on duty in an area close to Lumina's Mansion, he often meets Tiash when she was outside her house. Grim always escorts Tiash wherever she goes. Because of that, Grim decided to escort Tiash tonight.

Not long after, they hear the door being knocked. A servant informs that Grim has arrived to pick up Tiash.

"There he is! You can do this, miss!" Yola is encouraging.

Tiash hugged Yola tightly while whispering, "Thank you very much, sis."

Yola smiled and whispered back, "Be careful, Tiash."

Yola was not allowed to join the party because she was not from a noble family, and that made her worried a little. She has some kind of sister instincts, even though Tiash is not her real sister.

Plus, Yola suddenly had a bad feeling. But she didn't want to talk about it with Tiash. She didn't want to bother her just because of her hunch. Like it or not, she had to keep her anxiety to herself when accompanying Tiash to the main gate of the Lumina's Mansion.

Outside the fence of the mansion, Grim has prepared a luxury car which he borrowed specifically for tonight event. The car does not use wheels like cars in general. All the vehicles in Elyosa are already using anti-gravity technology.

"Are you ready, miss?" asked Grim as he gestured his palm at Tiash.

Tiash took Grim's hand that led her into the car. She didn't say a word, her mind was still busy thinking about how nervous she was for tonight's event.

Silence coloured the atmosphere in the car driven by Grim. Every now and then Grim glanced through the rearview mirror at Tiash who was sitting alone in the back seat. Tiash looked lost in thought as she stared out the car window blankly.

"So... Have you chosen someone to be your Xena?" Grim asked to open the conversation between them, immediately interrupting Tiash's daydream.

"Uh... Not yet" Tiash answered in a low voice, stealing a quick glance at the front view mirror to see Grim's face.

"I'm willing to be your Xenatria, Miss Tiash," said Grim as he smiled at Tiash through the rearview mirror.

Tiash didn't answer Grim's words. However, there was a faint smile on Tiash's lips and rosy cheeks. Her heart was now beating even faster than before.

[•X-Code•]

The evening party took place in the main room of the Queen Palace, a magnificent building located in the center of Elyosa. The Queen Palace is the center of Elyosa's government, as well as the residence of the Queen.

The current Queen of Elyosa is Serafina Windaga, dressed in an elegant and luxurious blue dress. She still looks pretty and elegant considering she is already over 50 years old. The Queen sat on her throne, she had just finished her welcome speech to start the party tonight. Next to her stood a tall, blond man in golden armour. Xaver Hemgard, Xenatria of the current Queen.

In the main hall, all noble families were chatting with each other. They formed small groups, accompanied by melodies from the musicians who added to the crowd for the night.

Tiash was with her parents. Her father and mother were busy chatting with nobles from the Firan family. The Firan family does not have a daughter for the future Queen's successor. They only have a few sons whose age does not differ much from Tiash, and a daughter who is still a toddler.

In the presence of Tiash's father and mother, a nobleman introduced his son. Tiash didn't really follow their conversation, but Tiash could guess where this family's conversation was going. Matchmaking.

Yeah, it disgusted her. All her life has been confined enough, now she must agree to an arranged marriage. "Don't I have the right to choose ???" thought Tiash irritably, yet again feeling the freedom of her life being taken away. She decided to leave the talk of noble families. But of course, Tiash still keeps her manner. She excused herself before leaving the place.

Tiash chose to stay in the corner of the room while sipping a drink she had brought earlier. She took a deep breath, thinking about what had just happened.

Then she remembered the book Claera gave her this afternoon. Tiash took the book from the small bag she was carrying. With high curiosity, Tiash opened the book again. She looked carefully page after page but still couldn't find a clue about the language used in the book.

Not long after that, 4 people came over to Tiash. They are Evalia and Loise, along with their respective Xenatria. The two noble girls had been watching Tiash from afar.

"Hi Tiash, where's your Xenatri?" asked Evalia while playing with her blonde hair.

"We could just attack you now! Hihihi" joked Loise who also has blonde hair.

The Phallan family is characterized by blonde hair with bright green irises. Unlike Tiash, the Lumina family has the characteristic of silvery blue hair and blue iris.

"I don't have one yet," Tiash replied reluctantly. She doesn't really like Evalia and Loise. Not because they came from a different noble family, but because of their glamorous and arrogant attitude. One time, Tiash found Evalia and Loise scolding and harassing an old man who works at Elyosa's garden just because he accidentally sneezed near them.

"Oh, yes! After the party, we want to enjoy the night sky at the top of the hill behind the Queen Palace. And we want to invite you too, only the three of us. We also won't take our Xena. Well, just take it as a sign of our peace. You know, this competition for the throne of Queen Elyosa makes me sick "said Evalia while still twirling some of her blonde hair with her index finger.

"I'll think about it," Tiash replied briefly with a smile. She thought, maybe it's a good idea to accept their invitation. If indeed what Evalia said was true, it could be something new in Elyosa, where the candidates for Queen Elyosa declared peace, so that there would be no more bloodshed in the struggle for the throne like the old days.

"You better come, Tiash! Hihihi," said Loise while turning her body leaving Tiash behind.

"We'll be waiting for you!" Evalia continued while following Loise. The two cousins ​​left Tiash, who again sipped her drink.

Tiash's mind was running out of place, her face looks annoyed remembering about the struggle for the throne of Queen Elyosa. She also remembered about her not having a Xenatria yet.

[•X-Code•]

Before the party ended, Serafina the Queen of Elyosa stood up and then floated a few meters. The current Queen Elyosa's abilities have something to do with gravity. She can manipulate the gravity around her at will.

"Before this party is over, I want to announce something," she said from above. She deliberately floated so that all attention was on her. The plan worked well, all the eyes present in the room were on her.

"So far, the position of Queen Elyosa has been contested through battles between Xenatria from the Queen candidates. I want to change that rule. At the end of this year, at the end of my tenure as Queen of Elyosa. I will hold a vote that will be followed by all the adult Elyosa population without except for determining the next Queen.

The candidate for Queen Elyosa this time is only three people. Evalia from the Phallan family, Loise from the Phallan family, and Tiash from the Lumina family. They don't have to fight like what I did 25 years ago. I don't want any unnecessary bloodshed here. That's all. "

The decrees of the Queen Elyosa, Serafina Windaga made the nobles chaotic. The majority of them disagreed with her. Finally, there arose debates between supporters and those who did not agree with the Queen's decrees. But after all, Serafina's decrees as Queen Elyosa can't be contested anymore.

Tiash was stunned in the corner of the room. She was amazed by the Queen who dared to make that kind of decision, changing the Elyosa tradition that had been running for a long time.

Tradition in Elyosa does require Queen-to-be to fight using their Xenatria. Of course, many lives were wasted from the grand event to seize the Queen's throne. But this time, the rules were changed just like that by the Queen. A very big change for Elyosa.

Actually, Tiash didn't really want the Queen's throne. But she must participate as a candidate for Queen Elyosa. That's what made her restless all this time. Tiash, who has a loving character, certainly doesn't want anyone to be hurt. She hopes that Evalia or Loise can be elected as the next Queen Elyosa.

But Tiash didn't realize that Serafina's decision was very profitable for her. The people of Elyosa certainly chose her as the successor of Queen Elyosa, given the nature of Tiash who was always friendly and polite to all citizens of various classes, even to the lowest class. This is what makes Tiash famous throughout Elyosa. The news even reached to Queen Elyosa ears, Serafina. Maybe Tiash's attitude was the reason for the Queen to change the rules.

This decree made the Phallan family feel a great threat. They wanted the Phallan family to occupy the Queen's throne for their own benefits. It doesn't matter if it's Evalia or Loise, the most important thing for them is power.

Unconsciously Tiash's lips smiled sweetly, she couldn't wait to tell Yola the good news.

[•X-Code•]

Tiash left the Queen Palace, in hurried. Grim, who had been waiting outside from the beginning, had prepared a car to take Tiash home. But Tiash said that she would attend a small gathering on the hill behind the Queen Palace.

At first, Tiash refused when Grim offered to accompany her. But Grim insisted on escorting Tiash. Inevitably, Tiash had to accept Grim's offer. The two of them hurried off to the place where Evalia and Loise were waiting.

Elyosa is indeed in a large Ark floating in the air, but inside it is specially designed like being on land. There are mountains, hills, rivers, and even beaches. All that can happen because of their sophisticated technology.

On the path leading to the hill, a man in shabby clothes and a hat was busy cleaning the dry leaves that littered the road. Unconsciously, the man nudged Tiash as he walked backwards while sweeping the road.

Seeing this, Grim rushed over to him and grabbed the man's shirt collar. Then Grim raised the man up high. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! DO YOU WANT TO DIE HUH? !!" shrieked Grim with emotion.

Grim took a laser gun from the holster pinned to his waist, then put the muzzle of the gun on the old man's head until his hat fell off.

Tiash could clearly see the worried face of the man who already had many wrinkles on his face. "I-I'm sorry, sorry!" said the man nervously.

Tiash who saw Grim's harsh treatment immediately took a deep breath. "STOP!!!!" Tiash's loud voice made Grim gasp. In his entire life, it's the first time he heard Tiash screaming that loud.

For Tiash herself, it was the third time she had shouted. The first time she shouted angrily was when he found Yola was being beaten by her father because she was caught reading the book Tiash had lent her. Second is when Tiash helps an old man who is being mistreated by Evalia and Loise.

Grim abruptly let go of the man he was gripping until the old man fell.

Tiash walked over and touched the old man's shoulder. "Excuse us, are you okay sir?" said Tiash softly with a sincere smile. There was an expression of regret behind that smile.

The man was silent and did not say a word. He bowed respectfully to Tiash, after taking his hat that fell on the ground, he left the place.

While Grim was silent seeing Tiash's attitude towards the man.

Tiash looked at Grim with a sharp gaze. "Grim, I have an answer for your question," said Tiash without taking her eyes off.

"You will never be my Xenatria. Go home. I don't want to be escorted by you anymore," said Tiash as she left Grim who was nailed to the foot of the hill.

Grim could only clench his fists tightly as he glared at Tiash from behind. His chest was filled with regret that was so suffocating. He only had good intentions, but his way of expressing his good intentions actually plunged him into hatred.