"WOW..." Joaquin raised a hand and tried to reach the sky. Penelope watched as realization and awe dawned in his face. She felt conflicted— he's still Joaquin, she's sure of it. But somehow, Penelope felt that something in him changed. "Why does this look different than my last memory of it?"

It was dark and she could only see the side of his face because of the moonlight. The party had reached its peak and everyone was busy socializing. Only Joaquin was bored enough to call for her non stop until Penelope give in and accepted his invitation to walk back to their tent.


"Are you mad at me?" Pen tried to hold his arm. Joaquin twisted and grasp her hand to intertwine them with his. "Why are you acting like this?"

"How can my Penelope do something wrong?" Joaquin raised a brow at her. His expression was still full of affection but the darkness gave his silhouette an eerie sense. "You're overthinking things. We're fine. Actually, I'm considering something at the moment."

"What?" Pen observed him for a few more seconds. He still casually looked back at her. It gave Pen the illusion that he can see her face.


"Well, I came here to be your props man, right? I was never really vital to this case. I'm blind— of course, what else could I possibly do to help my beloved? None. Now, now. I'm thinking of changing that part, Pen. I will be useful to you this time. You will be able to rely on me."

"Joaquin..." Pen held his wrist and stopped on their tracks. "Who told you that? That you have no use— come on, Joaquin. I never thought you'll feel like this."


"Ah, yes. I never thought of myself as useless too. But whenever I'm left alone in that deserted tent with no one to talk to... I feel sad, my love. How about I help you guys? Lance can never really do his stuff well since Samael has been on his tails since he got here. Don't you think?"

"Joaquin!" Penelope closed their distance and raised her hands to hold his face. "You don't need to force yourself. Don't exert unnecessary effort when I'm here to do it in your stead. All my life I've been insecure of my Beta status. I wanted to be an alpha so I can be stronger, I once wanted to be an omega so I can feel treasured and loved. This is the only moment of my life where I felt I have someone to protect not because it is my duty but for the reason that this someone, is my mate. Let me do this for you. Let me do the dangerous things for you."

"Am I supposed to feel happy for that?" Joaquin's eyes was discernable the more that Penelope looked at it. "It was never a happy feeling, Pen. Waiting when are you going to collapse or make a mistake is making my head hurt everytime I think about it. I don't want that to happen... but possibilities are called possibilities for a reason."

Penelope laughed. "You need to trust me more, Joaquin. Trust me more. I'm yours, so have confident in what you have."

"I still want to help. Allow me to do what I can. It will be a waste coming here and do nothing, Pen."

"Fine... fine." Penelope was enveloped by Joaquin's familiar scent. An involuntary whimper went past her throat. She missed his scent. It was only a few days of hiding it under a heavy smell but it felt like almost a week already.

She lunged and hook both of her wrist on Joaquin's nape. Delivering a swift kiss on his mouth. "I missed you..."

Joaquin stood quiet but his uneven breath says everything about what he feels. Penelope can feel his hot breath fanning on her neck. "I need to apply that nasty spray again when we get inside."

"Let me stay like this for a little longer." Penelope can feel her eyes warmed with tears. She felt like crying, for no reason. "I... just needed to hold you."

Joaquin sighed loudly. He finally gave in and lifted Pen on her feet. "I badly wanted to see you, Pen. I wanted to see your real face."

Penelope's closed eyes opened abruptly. Joaquin shrugs like he said nothing before putting her down. "Careful on your step. There's a pool of mud in there earlier."

'Can he actually see me?' Pen didn't ask and let Joaquin lead the way for the both of them.

He seemed elated. Penelope didn't want to change his mood. They are finally okay now. That's everything that matters for her right now.

IRLAN LANDED on the roof with no sound. He looked down to where Lance stood with his mouth open. Irlan debated taking Lance with him. 'He will just drag me down. This guy can't shut his mouth for ten seconds. We will get caught.'

"Wait for me!" Lance mouthed before changing his form. Irlan was horrified when he revealed his elven blue fire appearance. Large ears with blue pointed hair and fiery blue eyes, he smelled like matches. Irlan hissed at him before throwing out a scent dispersing charm. "You won't be able to hide your scent in this form!"

"I know you'll make me a scent-changing spell." Lance spread his hands. His feet eventually left the ground and steadily flew to Irlan's side. "Hi. Am I flashy enough?"

"So you don't know how to fly without spreading both your arms? What are you? Twelve?"

"Stupid kid. It's hard to balance my body if I won't spread it like this. I tend to fly sideways and that doesn't look cool, yeah?"

Irlan didn't want to give him lesson on an inappropriate moment such as this time but he couldn't stop himself from scolding the man. "That's inconvenient. What if you get attacked when you're on flight? It seems that you don't practice."

"Aw, you worrying about me, kid?" Lance sighed. "Fine. I'll answer you with honesty. I am Joaquin's guardian. And most of the creatures that I have to fend off of his back are those wolves and, humans and sometimes vampires— see? They don't fly. None of those have wings. Flying will cost more energy."

"Still. Flying will give you an advantage once you mastered it. Your wings are intact, your power is pure—you, yourself is a prince. Why waste all that potentials and fly like a dork? You can be a superhero but you chose to be average."

"You're in a bad mood. Did something happen?"

"Nothing happened. I'm usually like this when I see someone like you."

Irlan navigated without a trifle through the roof. His keen senses ablaze with consciousness. "I grew up with a bunch of kids who had the aspirations of being the best out of everyone. I was once loved by my classmates because I'm an average. I'm not someone who will take away their spot, and so they saw me as a pawn and not a candidate or a worthy opponent. Everyone fought for their right to bring fame in their clan's name. I, myself, never thought of succeeding it. I saw the pressure. I saw them change themselves into something they are not just to pass. Later on, I became neglected. I was the last in every list and the forgotten one. I suffered because I have nothing special in me. Then, my accident happened— and I realized that I have to be what I want to be using my own will and efforts. I don't have to be born with the strongest magic. I just have to cultivate my power for it to be special among everyone. It happened. In the end."

"While you... born with the money, the looks, the title and the power to make it, didn't do anything to make yourself grow. As though you expect the nature to give you the breakthrough without exerting sweat to it. It irritates me. I hate it."

Lance gaped. "Woah, calm down."

"I am calm!" Irlan rolled his eyes but the redness of his eyes made Lance feel like crap. "If you want to protect Joaquin in the future, be a better guardian."

Lance knew he only meant good. He nodded to him with a hand laid on his chest. "You have my promise. I will become stronger."

"Once you have someone you dearly wanted to protect aside from Joaquin, you will know the need to become stronger." Irlan looked back at him and enunciated, "We live to protect our weaknesses."