“It will be good; it will be good,” Luna repeated to herself.

  It was not that bad. Before, she was consumed by fears. She couldn’t have a day without a peak of alarm or a night without a nightmare.

  She was always scared, scared that she would be discovered. And then—countless options. Death, of course. The easiest, she supposed. Tests, experiments, interrogations? Her father, shamed. Her mother revealed, shamed as well.

  Would it cause a war, the discovery of what her parents did?

  Luna was managing her situation better compared to when her grandmother was alive.

  Now she could learn freely; she was able to talk to Taj freely. Not everywhere she could release him from Crystal. But in her library, they could talk whenever they wanted.

  Her library was protected by an energy barrier; Taj could project. Even if it was so weak, so blurry. But he could; his energy wouldn’t be detected.

  After her grandmother died, Luna started to travel. Moons, planets. Destroyed, reclaimed. Only these she could visit because there were not many people and fewer detecting devices present.

  What they said about traveling was right.

  To see Shadows cities, to see people, talk to them casually, discuss how they lived, what they feared, and what made them happy, was eye-opening for her.

  She understood that Unio lifestyle was not the only option, not the only way to live one’s life.

  Luna felt relief after her visits to Shadows. There were other paths for her to choose from. Completely opposite to what her grandmother always said.

  Her grandmother was very focused on their good name and the family’s importance. She wasn’t pleased with her at all. That her father had a romance with no one, as her grandmother called Luna’s mother…

  Grandmother didn’t know who her mother was. Her father never revealed it. Two reasons for that. One, the scandal; this kind of relationship was forbidden. To give birth to a child was also forbidden. The second was who her mother was. It was even more problematic.

  Clar. But, knowing this, wouldn’t her grandmother be pleased? What a surname—Clar. Prominent.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Luna sighed.

  … And the OFF. Their camps were different. More like the army, less careless. Yet, it also showed her that one could live life independently.

  There were multiple paths!

  That was a discovery that somehow blew her mind.

  Unio was so closed. As they said, ‘Unio way or no way.’ Luna believed in it her entire life, until… until she started to travel.

  Taj was right. He had told her that. But seeing with one’s eyes was always more convincing than someone’s talking.

  “But the situation now, it can be like domino,” Luna said to herself.

  She was spotted.

  Luna sighed again.

  “O?” Taj asked.

  “I am thinking about it all—places, parents, grandmother,” she said, feeling she needed to explain.

  “O, this. Your grandmother deserves no comment. Your parents, Luna, quite a romantic and quite an unfortunate story, no?” Taj asked, and without waiting for her to answer, he added.

  “Luna, even if you are scared about being dual, you manage. Your parents achieved what they wished for, and you are safe. You have two energies flowing in you, yet you are not destructive. You are alive and can live long. They wished for you to live; your father told me this not once.”

  “I know. It is…”

  “It is complicated. We both hide,” Taj said, then nodded. “If not for your mother’s death, Shadows would take care of you. They are different; they were already different from the people of Unio back then. I do not think they would cage you or do anything that would make you a prisoner or an experiment. They always esteemed Clar descendants. And Luna, you are the last. Think about your situation with the alliance, as we talked about it, as an opportunity to go back to Shadows. We could think about simply telling them the truth. If it isn’t postponed again, it could be a good situation, no? Luna?”

  “I am the last of the last, right?” she asked; her voice was sad.

  Somehow, this part grabbed her attention. She was the last.

  “Correct,” Taj confirmed.

  “I am here so disrespected. All think I am a disgrace, Nikola’s only daughter, but mother unknown, no energy, no skills. I am considered a useless, shameful kid,” Luna said tearfully.

  “Correct,” he said and patted her on her head, as usual, when he wanted to comfort her.

  His jokes were always poor. She snorted.

  “Eh, you are right; it is better to accept it and move on. And, you are right, again. Let’s see what happens with the alliance this year, and then… Taj?”

  She suddenly smiled.

  “I’m so happy my mom gave you to me in Crystal. Not that she stole you. When dad had died, I was with you; I was not left with only my grandmother. I am happy, Taj, that you are here. I am so happy. And also, only you know my real name. It is so good to have someone know my real name. An. The last time I heard it from someone else was ten days before my dad died; it was when he packed and left here for Moon Two, to the labs…”

  “Luna? The anniversary approaches.” Taj looked at her, as if asking something.

  “Yes. I am less scared now. Dare we go?” she asked, probing him as well as her fears. “But Taj. I didn’t finish the previous thought. I have the attention span of a kitten… What do we do about Lukai? For sure, he recognized me.”

  Taj didn’t have time to answer. There was a signal—someone was at the door.

  A minute later, it was certain Lukai had recognized her. It was he. He was at her door.