Thank you for reading on ! We provide free access to all our stories, but maintaining this platform requires ongoing costs. To keep the site running and continue offering free content, we display advertisements. You can close the ads anytime, or upgrade to premium membership ($5/month) for an ad-free reading experience while supporting our mission. You can also earn premium for free by completing simple tasks. We truly appreciate your understanding and support!Lissana sought a quiet spot to read the letter that Tarik had sent her. But it was difficult to find peace with Uzziel trailing behind, insisting that he practice his swordplay nearby. "I can't right now, Uzziel. I have something important to do," she said, trying to brush him off. "You don't have anything important to do. You just want to read your letter," he countered, his tone teasing. "It's important to me," she replied, her patience wearing thin. "I'm your cousin. If you think of me as a brother, you should pay me more attention than you do to Tarik," he insisted."Why do you want to be like a brother to me? Sometimes you're just so annoying," she shot back. Lissana turned to leave, but Uzziel remained where he was, watching her with a mixture of frustration and concern. "I'll see you when I finish reading my letter," she called over her shoulder. Lissana hurried to a large tree, settling into the soft earth as she eagerly opened the letter. She was excited to see the words Tarik had penned on those pages. In the letter, he described his kingdom beautifully, sharing how wonderful it was and how much he cherished their time together.He spoke of his love for her, which surpassed even that of his closest friends. After finishing the letter, Lissana leaned back against the cool grass, gazing up at the blue sky visible through the leaves. In that moment, she longed for Tarik to be with her. "Does he still not say when he will return?" Uzziel asked, breaking her reverie. Lissana sat up quickly, irritated by the interruption. "No, he hasn't mentioned it, but I suspect he might be delayed for a while." "Ha... I don't understand why he doesn't come back.Why does he insist on staying in the human world?" Uzziel remarked, rolling his eyes. Lissana found his annoyance grating. Since childhood, she had been closest to Tarik, but now, even though he claimed she was his best friend, deep down, she knew that their bond had changed, and it might never be the same again. It was a thought that troubled her greatly, but she refused to accept it. It wasn't just the years that separated them; it was time itself that had distanced them. She hated that Tarik was gone, but she had never voiced her feelings, nor would she.noveldramaLissana continued to receive letters from him, believing that they arrived daily in the human world. However, they often took a week or two to reach her, as time in the land of the fairies passed so quickly compared to the human realm. Sometimes, she worried that she would never be ready to return to the human world, that she would grow older than her parents. These thoughts lingered in her mind during meals. "Lissana, Lissana," Maya called, her voice breaking through Lissana's reverie. Uzziel shook Lissana's arm to get her attention."What's going on?" "Mother is talking to you," he said, glancing at Maya. "I'm listening, Aunt Maya," Lissana replied, trying to focus. "What do you think?" Maya asked. "When do you think you'll be able to return to the human world?" Maya and Cassian exchanged glances, and Cassian asked, "Why are you asking this question?" "Time here passes differently than in the human kingdom. It doesn't affect the fairies much, but I'm human. If I'm gone for too long, I'll be older than I am now," Lissana explained, her brow furrowing. Cassian chuckled at her worries. "You don't need to worry about that.We are guardians, so we age more slowly than normal humans. Your mother has elven blood, which means she doesn't age in the same way. You'll return home before you become an old woman." "When will that be exactly?" Lissana pressed. "When you can defend yourself," Maya replied. "I can defend myself," Lissana insisted. "Not yet. When you can fully harness your powers, you will return home. Until then, keep training," Maya encouraged. "What if I can't do it? What if I can't fully use my powers? Does that mean I'll have to stay here forever?" Lissana asked, panic rising in her voice."Of course not. You will return soon. When the war ends, you will come back home," Maya reassured her. "And what if I don't want to go back?" Lissana challenged. "Do you want to stay here?" Cassian asked, concern creeping into his tone. "No, I just asked out of curiosity. It's not that I think I want anything like that," she clarified. Cassian's expression turned serious. "You are a princess, Lissana. You are the hereditary princess, just as Tarik will be king in the land of the fairies. You will reign in Cosset." "Uncle, I'm not forgotten.I know there are responsibilities I will have to fulfill someday," Lissana replied, her voice firm. As a fairy, Maya had always resented the rules that constrained her destiny. "But you are not obligated to do anything that doesn't resonate with you, Lissana. Never forget that. You can do what you want, pursue what makes you happy." "Maya!" Cassian interjected. "What? This is how I chose to live, and that's why I'm with you. No one should dictate how to live," Maya said, her voice resolute. "Choose the path you want to take, Lissana.No matter how difficult it may be, live for what you want and for your convictions. Live for yourself, without regrets. It doesn't matter if others are happy or not; you are the only one who must be happy," Maya advised. Uzziel piped up, "Is that also for me?" "Of course. Live as you wish, because the only thing that matters is your happiness," Maya replied. When the meal concluded, Lissana and Uzziel were the first to leave the table. Once they were alone, Cassian turned to Lissana. "Why did you say that?" he asked. "Because this is how I chose to live.I hate the word 'destiny' or 'obligation.' I despise when others try to decide what's best for me. I loathe the idea of being forced down a single path when there are so many to choose from," she confessed. Cassian took her hand. "You are brave and strong," he said gently. Lissana wandered to the garden, where the door to Cosset stood. She reflected on Maya's words. Had she ever truly considered that she could live as she wished? With a deep sigh, she murmured, "Am I really free to live as I want?" She gazed up at the beautiful sky.If she were to ask herself whether she wanted to return, she realized she was torn. The land of the fairies had become a significant part of her life, yet the human kingdom still beckoned. Even though her parents and uncles had decided she would one day return, she didn't know if she could truly call either place home. "What will my home be?" she wondered aloud.