Chapter 2

My head is buzzing. Gripping the blades of grass, I try to keep my balance. I've only been touching the ground for a few seconds, yet it feels like minutes. Swallowing hard, I fight to keep my stomach's rebellion at bay. I feel nauseous, as if I had been slammed to the ground and kicked in the stomach.

I sense Elis's thin arms and the stronger grip of her bodyguard lifting me off the ground. They're talking to me, dusting me off, but their touch feels like nothing more than a passing breeze, their voices as distant as a fading horn. I can't look up at my friend, who is shaking me urgently—my head is filled with a sound beyond comparison, like a mute person miraculously screaming out a lifetime of rage.

My eyes suddenly shut, drained of all strength, no matter how much I resist. It's hard to control yourself when your own body fights against your endurance. The unbearable must become bearable if I want to get through this.

Okay. Deep breath.

I feel the wind hitting my face, carrying with it the fresh scent of daffodils. Its silence soothes me; its strength empowers me. Slowly, I can sense my eyes finally opening after their stubborn refusal—until my nose catches a scent I can't associate with anything living or dead. My whole body trembles as the fragrance washes over me: daffodils blended with vanilla, the spiciness of peppermint, and something else—an additional aroma I can't identify. It doesn't belong to anything human. This combination is neither recognizable nor natural. It is simply… forbidden ecstasy.

My wandering thoughts are abruptly cut off, as if someone had yanked a string. My eyes snap open, and a wave of pure, honest terror crashes over me. I have no idea whether I'm sitting, standing, or lying down. As I start to move, I realize it's the latter.

"See? I told you it wasn't just heatstroke! Otherwise, she wouldn't be grinning like a satisfied little foal for the past twenty minutes!" Elis's playful voice reaches my ears, offering some reassurance, but the moment I sit up and look around, that feeling vanishes instantly.

"Bring some water," a figure in dark clothing commands.

I find myself in a massive hall—though it resembles more of an open-roofed terrace, albeit an elegant one. Towering white walls adorned with ornate arches and windows surround me. The ceiling is split in two: on either side, glass-built platforms rise high, while in the center, nothing but open sky yawns above. It's as if all the sunlight in the world had gathered here to breathe as one.

Yet, rather than beauty, an eerie unease takes over as I see who surrounds me.

Elis stands before me, two elegantly dressed women behind her. Beyond them, a sea of black-clad figures with stern, watchful expressions. Dozens of them. They even line the previously unnoticed staircase in neat, orderly rows, extending far beyond what my eyes can perceive.

As I try to get down, I realize I had been lying on a high table made of pure white marble, its base carved in intricate patterns. Elis swiftly grabs a goblet from one of the dark-clad figures and presses it into my hands.

"Are you okay?" she whispers hurriedly.

"Yes."

"Great. Listen—" she grips my hand, looking deep into my eyes. "I'm so sorry, okay? I really am."

"It's fine, but what is all this? Did we get in?"

Elis gives me an awkward smile, speaking so quietly that I barely catch her words. "If we get out of here, I'll explain."

My forehead instinctively wrinkles. "What do you mean, if we get out—"

Before she can answer, one of the elegantly dressed women sharply cuts me off.

"Tell me, girl, how did you get in here? Who let you in?"

I stare at her, confused. "My friend Elis, of course. Who else?"

"Tell me, girl, do you realize that no human can simply walk in here?"

Her words freeze me. Their attire and presence radiate something… angelic. Their appearance is unusual, yes, but I won't let them talk down to me like this. I've always had a short fuse for injustice.

"Well, since flying isn't an option for me—" I reply sarcastically, catching the controlled amusement in Elis's expression.

"Insolent fool," the woman snaps, which only irritates me further.

"I apologize if I've offended you, but we live in modern times. I know how your city operates, and I didn't just 'wander in.' I've lived among angels for years—they are my family. I have no intention of being disrespectful. And I know the laws."

The woman narrows her eyes. "If you truly know the laws, then you know that only those with permission may enter. Look at them!" She gestures toward the motionless figures in black. "Do you know who they are?"

"Of course!" I say confidently. "Angel guardians. And yes, they're human!"

"Exactly. Humans who have been granted permission to be here. Unlike you. Your little friend's invitation means nothing. That's why the alarm system activated immediately, paralyzing you within seconds."

I'm speechless. I don't know what shocks me more—the information or the sheer arrogance in her voice.

"If you were truly as knowledgeable as you claim, you'd know we aren't foolish enough to let just anyone stroll in—or to allow people to simply read about us online. Since you brought up the modern world," she adds with a sneer, "this alarm ensures that meddlers like you forget they ever heard of us. That is what will happen to you as well. But first—"

Her sharp words are interrupted by the other woman, who has remained silent until now. Her voice is softer, kinder.

"But first, please tell us—who let you in?"

Though I prefer her tone, I still don't understand. I could repeat my answer, but they've already made it clear—Elis wasn't supposed to be able to.

"Honestly, I think it's you, since I woke up here."

"It's definitely not us!" – I heard that arrogant voice again. "Tell me, child, are you deaf, or just pretending to be?"

"Dahlia, enough!" – spoke the voice of the more sympathetic one.

"But it's obvious they're lying! They shouldn't have woken up! How do we know they didn't conspire with a traitor of ours, who brought them here to leak secrets to their kind?" – she rattled on nervously.

"Enough!" – said the kind woman firmly. "With this accusation, you're insulting your own kind as well… Questioning their loyalty is unacceptable!"

"But you know just as well as I do that what is fiction today can become someone's truth tomorrow. We hide behind the belief that our existence is too unbelievable for the human mind to grasp, but let's not forget that the world is changing, and there are more and more big-headed lunatics out there." – they continued to argue.

Yet, the kind woman simply smiled soothingly and placed a hand on the nervous woman's shoulder.

"The world will always turn in its own cycle, even if we are stuck among them. Because we are not driven by anger, emotions, or the tension of the situation. But by a pure heart. Return to your quarters, your duties await you there. Leave this matter to me."

She spoke with such calmness that even I forgot the heavy feeling that had been weighing on me. The arrogant woman bowed without a word, gave me one last sharp look, then turned towards the exit. A handful of dark-clad figures followed her in disciplined silence. Their sheer presence exuded strength and unwavering determination. Seeing them in real life only deepened my desire to be among them.

"And you, my child, come with me." – the velvety voice addressed me again. "Elis, you too. You must be hungry and tired."

The mentioned girl, who had been unusually quiet, huddled close to her bodyguard, now lowered her gaze and crept towards me hesitantly.

The crowd finally started moving. No need to explain the order. The woman led in front, followed by a dozen dark-clad figures, and then there was us—trailing behind like two awkward fools. More guards positioned themselves behind us, presumably in case we tried to escape. But why would we? Or were they just replacing the bodyguard Elis had brought along for her own protection, who had been standing around the whole time as if he were on an exclusive family vacation?

"Psst," – the blonde hissed behind me. "I swear, if I had known you'd turn into Sleeping Beauty the moment you crossed that gate, I wouldn't have brought you here." – she whispered.

"I wanted to come, it's no big deal," – I tried to smile.

"Oh, but it is, and a huge one at that." – she grimaced.

"What do you mean?" – I looked at her in confusion.

"This woman, the one playing hostess for us, is a good friend of my mother's. So it's 100% over for us."

As we walked behind the large group, my legs nearly froze with fear, but I forced myself to keep moving.

"Then I have no chance of explaining that the Swiss school was a lie?"

"Oh, honey, that's the least of our problems right now." – she gave me a look. "The real problem is my mother. She wasn't exactly supposed to bring you into our world. And if it comes out—because it will—that you even received education on our laws and systems, then first, she'll be in deep trouble. Then me, for being so irresponsible." – she rolled her eyes. "And then you, for lying."

Before I could respond, the wind suddenly rushed through my hair. The long corridor had ended.

I found myself in the middle of an unbelievable clearing. The grass was lush green, and daffodils covered the land. In front of me stood a medium-sized building, elegant yet welcoming. Its architecture had a distinctly Italian feel, with warm yet muted pinkish tones. It was adorned with flowers, archways, and grand terraces. Beyond it, I could see peaks rising toward the sky.

Just as my gaze was getting lost in the breathtaking scenery, my friend nudged me, signaling to turn around. That's when the real magic struck.

A full-fledged metropolis loomed in the distance. The mountain peaks seemed like tiny pillars compared to the towering structures. The clouds looked more like decorative carpets than formations in the sky. The entire cityscape was indescribably modern, yet elegant, refined, and still held a traditional, reserved essence.

But my wonder didn't last long. One of the dark-clad figures gently indicated that it was time to turn back and enter the building. At that moment, most of our escorting group halted outside. With swift, synchronized movements, they turned to face the departing direction but remained motionless.

Inside, we were ushered into a vast room, and without a word, the door was shut behind us.

Peering through the window, I saw the kind woman step outside, and at that moment, the once-still figures moved as one, following her.

Turning back from the window, I noticed the blonde girl throwing herself onto one of the beds with a frustrated sigh after peeking through the keyhole.

"Of course there are at least four guys stationed outside the door!" – she grumbled. "We're not damn criminals!"

Silence gripped me. The weight of guilt pressed heavily on my chest. I had unknowingly dragged us into this mess and put everyone in danger. Not only would I never become a guardian, but they would have to escort me out like some troublemaker.

"Hey," – I felt the bed sink slightly as she sat beside me. "Don't mope, Red Riding Hood. At least you look stylish while doing it." – she tried to cheer me up.

"Listen, El," – I turned to her hopefully, but before I could continue, the door burst open.

A short woman appeared, urging us forward.

"Come on, girls, hop-hop-hop! The table is set, and the rulers have arrived!"

With that, she spun around and gestured for us to follow.

"Rulers?" – I asked, bewildered.

"They respect our kind here. That's what they call us—those who aren't like us but live among us." – the blonde clarified. "More specifically, our mothers."

"That was fast," – I swallowed hard.

"They were notified the moment you passed out." – she gulped and gave me a nervous smile.

We arrived in another room. A long table was set, already occupied by people whose eyes I wasn't eager to meet today. The room was filled with dark-clad figures, but no one else.

Once we were led in like prisoners, we took our seats and began eating in stiff, uncomfortable silence.

Just as the quiet became more suffocating than soothing, Elis's mother, Clara, spoke.

"This meal is called the meal of repentance," – she addressed me more than her daughter, who likely already knew this. "It means that whoever accepts it acknowledges their mistake and, through their presence, seeks the forgiveness of those affected."

Her voice was surprisingly calm and composed. Then again, that was Clara—always a strong yet fair woman.

"Simply put, we are humbling ourselves and temporarily crushing our own status and dignity. Mom's just putting it nicely." – whispered the girl next to me.

"No whispering, Elis," – John, her father, said firmly. "Since you're young adults, we expected mistakes like this. Maybe not in such an important place or in this manner, but youth is rarely about predictability."

He took a bite of his food.

"This kind of humiliation is nothing compared to what could have happened if no one let you in and you ended up paralyzed outside." – Clara added.

"By the way, why Oli?" – John asked his daughter somewhat distractedly. Well, yes, they are quite similar in personality.

To this, the girl gave a half-smile, which expressed confusion, as Clara returned to a more serious tone.

"I have no intention of limiting your future or will, Avarka. We have supported you in everything, and we still do. No one asked you to go earn money or do anything that serves our benefit. Our benefit is that you live your life well," – I thought I could hear the maternal love in her voice, which made me feel doubly grateful for everything.

"Unfortunately, even using our good relationships, we couldn't arrange things without consequences. Since there was no other way, we acted according to the possibilities," – John looked at us firmly.

When they take turns speaking like this, I know they're tense, no matter how much they try to hide it.

"However, we told you, Avarka, that we had planned you to be our personal guard, which is why we educated you for years. But in the end, we changed our minds because we didn't want to expose you to danger. As a result, you still wanted to try, so you attempted to sneak away." – Of course, it wasn't like that, they never meant it, I always wanted to be that, but we can't ignore the fact that they're watching us.

"When I realized you were paralyzed, I let you in." – Clara spoke up firmly.

I knew that the fallen ones have the same instincts and power as they did in their full form, but I didn't know they had such great perception.

"Thank you," – that was all that could leave my throat in a quiet voice due to the shame I felt.

"Unfortunately, despite all this, the lunch is just our atonement," – John added.

"You must return on the first day of recruitment next month and serve three full months. During that time, you will work as a dark-clad servant." – I heard his voice drop in tone.

I thought I sensed disappointment in it. Elis's face was cold, and I felt how she was tearing herself apart in her own silence. A spark awakened in me that at least I could endure the consequences and get a taste of the life I had been waiting for.

"But until then, we all go home," – Clara spoke loudly.

"Honestly, I hope that these three months are not just to serve as a means for you to come back home without further consequences, but also to make you realize that you're lucky you don't have to expose your life to constant danger," – she tried to speak in a teaching manner, but I heard that somewhere deep inside, she was scared.

"Just like you, my daughter," – she looked at Elis sternly.

"You will also suffer a bit from the consequences of your actions, knowing that Avar will undergo life-threatening training. But we will try to minimize the external risks of your tasks. Now, let's go home."

Although we had only been here for an hour, I had lost my sense of time. We didn't really know how to speak to each other. We just silently walked like two little schoolchildren. The intense feelings came after we reached the gate, escorted by the dark-clad figures, a gate I had never been able to see without feeling nauseous. Though, with the naked eye, it was not so easily noticeable. Behind the building, farther from the city, we stopped in a barren valley surrounded by mountain peaks.

"The car is waiting on the other side," John spoke up, then crossed over to the nothingness I sensed with Clara. Elis and I stepped across the magical line, both with gloomy faces, when I experienced something even more interesting than my initial entrance. It was as if time had stopped, and there was an alignment between my physical body and me. I froze in my walking pose, like the rock left behind, my face scanning the other side, watching the car, and listening to the chime of Swiss cows' bells while my hair fluttered in the wind carrying the scent of Rindanofi narcissus.

"Mom isn't coming! She won't move!" Elis's desperate voice hit my ears as she desperately tried to drag me over, but it was as if my body had become a solid pillar. I couldn't even move a finger. I was present, but so very present. My heart was pounding in my throat, but no words left my mouth, and my lips wouldn't move.

"Don't tug at her, Elis. You've attracted the attention of the guards on the other side with your flailing!" Clara ordered firmly.

"Darling, are you okay?" She gently stroked my face, but, just like everything else, I didn't feel it particularly. Nor did I feel it when Deliah, the walking arrogance on two legs, rushed by me, accompanied by a group of darkly dressed people.

"Just what I needed!" My friend rolled her eyes in irritation.

"Elis!" Clara commanded. "Deliah, my sister," she greeted kindly. "You said the girls could come with us. We've honored your request. The next requirement won't be due for another two weeks. What else do you want from the poor girl?" My adopted mother justifiably asked.

The arrogant woman only furrowed her brow.

"Did you really let the girl in, sister?"

"Why do you ask?" They stared at each other, their gazes locked in a firm confrontation.

"Maybe because the one who let her in, won't let her out, and it's odd that if it's you, why you wouldn't know about this. Come on, let her out!" She ordered aggressively. As Clara looked into my eyes, I thought I saw pity in her gaze. I felt that she couldn't help, and it hurt her. John and Elis watched with similar concern, as fear flooded through me. Was I scared? Oh, I was so scared! Even though my body was incapable of movement, my inner self was overwhelmed with uncontainable despair. Suddenly, I felt it again, that cruel, nauseating feeling that once again threw me to the ground. I heard the impact of my body hitting the ground as I fell sharply backward, toward the direction of the Rindanofi border. But before I lost consciousness a second time, I also smelled it, I felt how it blended in my mouth, in my nose, in my very being, as it enveloped me and helped me get through the internal suffering. It was as if that inexplicable scent exhaled a breeze on me, and beside it, the embrace of narcissus, vanilla, peppermint…