Iliya couldn't figure out what to do next, her heart ached but so much so her broken strength and faith. 
    And as she watched the new moon from one of the city tops, hanging on a cliff, memories of Pradai surfaced, flooding in like quick clips in a blue spiral. 
    She smiled as she burst into tears. "I'm sorry, Pradai" She said in tears. 
     She had managed to carry her leg as it was all through it all, pretending that it never existed, but it was apparent and was hurting so much like her heart did. 
    She didn't have to give up, and there was no other option than to find another way, which would need a lot of thinking. 
     Her heart beat was all she heard, since the night was a quiet and peaceful one.
    But she heard footsteps approaching, on turning around, she caught a young warrior halfway toward her with one of his legs raised up. 
     He smiled sheepishly "Hey, sorry. Didn't mean to creep you out…" 
    "It's okay—" 
    "But what are you doing here?" He moved closer to her and immediately fell on his knees. "Forgive me, my princess" 
    Iliya sighed. "Is it so obvious?" She said, shaking her head. She already had enough trouble to carry about the warrior's greetings. 
   He stood and went to sit beside her, his face flourished with admiration. 
     Iliya slowly turned her face to him and he smiled, but it was rather uncommon for anyone to sit with the princess, let alone come closer to her in such proximity. 
     "Umm, can I help you or something? As you can see I'm trying to be alone here…" 
    "No offense, princess. I come here too, just like you. To think, open up my heart to the moon goddess, enjoy the air and the peace the night brought" 
    Iliya nodded her head in agreement. It was only a few people that did really come to that please and she knew all of them when they were little kids, so he was lying.
     "You don't really remember me?" 
     "Should I?" 
    "Oh, that's cold…" 
     "Like the night? No doubt" she said, looking up to the sky. 
     "I've missed you so much," he said with a smile. 
    "Huh?" Iliya looked closely at him, paying more attention to his facial features. When she couldn't ascertain if it was a fact, her face was puzzled. 
    "Nooooo…" he shook his head. "Don't tell me you have forgetting me" 
    Iliya sighed. "Look warrior, I'm in some kind of personal, emotional and mental crisis. I'm not really in a good place to be doing you know me, I don't…" she threw her head to both sides. 
    "So please. By all means, refresh my memory, I'm back home anyways" 
    "It's Peregrin, actually, you're the one who named me Peregrin" he said with excitement in his tone, if anything, he was genuinely happy. 
    "Uh huh? And why would I name you Peregrin?" 
    "It was as a reminder to you that you love to see outside of our kingdom, explore other places, and see things everyone else won't see. You always believed that there could be a world, entirely different from ours"
     Iliya smiled. "Yes, you're right… Peregrin" 
    Peregrin tried to touch her hand, but she rolled it away like she didn't know he was going to touch her. It just wasn't the time. "Are we this close?" She stared at the sky. 
   "Yes, we were…" he said with a sigh. 
    Iliya turned her gaze to him again, scanning all over his body, a wrinkle grew between her eyes. "Why are you wearing that?" 
    "What?" He asked, looking at himself. 
    "The dress meant for warriors" Iliya replied abruptly. 
    "Oh" he exclaimed with a chuckle. "It's mine" 
    "What?" Iliya's face broadened. 
     "It's mine, and actually, I'm a squad leader" 
   Iliya chuckled, followed with an outburst, almost embarrassing herself. "You don't say mmm…" she held her mouth. "Squad leader, ehh?" 
   Peregrin didn't say a word. 
    "I remember you, Peregrin. I do, why would I ever forget you?" 
   He was happy to hear that. 
    "You always made us laugh…" 
    "Which got me into trouble, ahahaha" he said with a chuckle.
   "Yeah? Do tell" her interest peaked. She could do with some distractions. 
    "Well, it's a long story and I would rather spare the details, so if you really don't remember the details vividly, it's okay. I woke rather keep it that way, it's so much embarrassing hahaha" 
    "Whatever it was, you were a kid, so it's nothing —" 
    "It was something. It nearly got me banished, it not for you, you saved me, saved my life as well and I made a promise to you, that I will always look out for you and will someday pay you back" 
   Iliya smiled, as much as he did. "Well, that's a pretty story. But banishing a boy?" 
   Peregrin shrugged. "It wasn't so fair but I deserved it then, but thank the Lords, our Lord Eradnel is full of mercy and compassion. 
     "Uhh…" Iliya shook her head. "Tell me about it…" she quickly brushed it off, it would remind her of her pain again and she didn't want anything to come in between her peace, at least for the night. 
    "Like I was saying… you made us laugh, and you just did" 
    Peregrin smiled. "Thanks for the compl—" he held back his words as soon as he figured out what she meant. 
    Iliya held herself from another outburst and nodded her head. "You're many things, Peregrin, but a squad leader? I don't think…" 
    "No need to argue, so" it was his turn to observe peace. 
    "You're everything, but as much as I know, Squad leaders have this special mark from the defenders… I mean, it's great that you're aspiring for something great…" she said with a comforting smile. 
    Peregrin stared at her for a while and then closed his eyes and placed two fingers on his forehead, making a circular motion, four times over and a spiral like a water wave appeared on his forehead and it was as bright as the moon, glittering like a body of stars. 
      He opened his eyes within a time frame as little as two seconds, and Iliya got to see something yet amazing and extraordinary. 
    It was like holy bodies of water lived in him and showed up through his eyes. 
    "Wow, what's that feeling?" Iliya questioned, absolutely stunned. 
    "It's life, energy, peace and strength" Peregrin replied once his mark disappeared. 
    Iliya gulped. "You are, really" 
    "Like you said, I'm everything…" 
    Iliya nodded her head. "Sure you are" 
    "Heard of the four elemental dragons and how each race has theirs with their elements? Elves were blessed with half of each… water and fire. My mark would be as bright as the Golden sun in the day time, but when nightfalls, it's the power from the moon. The only thing that's left out are the dragons, some believe that they truly exist, but…" he shook his head. "I don't know" 
     All the while, Iliya was thinking of how he would be useful to her. "Peregrin…" she said in a bright, low tone. 
    "Yes? My princess" 
    "I think I would need that favour repaid now" 
    Peregrin smiled. "Really?" 
    "How would you like to go on some adventures with your princess? Just like old times…" 
     "Absolutely!" 
     "Prepare your squad, we have some battles to fight. We leave at first light"