Melissa cut the first slice of cake and offered it to Ana, who was already salivating at the novelty. Tariel and Anastácia walked closer, ready to receive theirs.

  “A simple human recipe, from more than five thousand years ago,” Jazzia informed, pleased to see everyone enjoying it.

  “Human recipes are appreciated on Xeranto,” Zircon said. “For us, they’re exotic.”

  “Tariel,” Melissa called her attention. “We discovered a few more details about your body. Do you want to know now?”

  Tariel nodded with a smile.

  “Your species is more intelligent than our first studies suggested. Which makes the mystery of Donna even more intriguing.”

  “Mystery?” Anastácia asked, her curiosity overcoming her shyness.

  “Everything indicates that the Seliums were highly developed. The human presence here was likely their doing. They are the gods from the stories you told us. But we found nothing that explains what happened. Not even ruins.”

  “We still have to search underground,” Kane added. “But that takes time.”

  “We know the Seliums are from Donna, and the possibility of this planet having a twin is extremely low,” Melissa continued. “Another curiosity: you, Tariel, are albino. At least partially.”

  Since Tariel remained silent, she went on:

  “I mean your species has a rare mutation. Your hair and eyes lack pigmentation, but unlike humans, your skin does not. The white of your hair is stronger and contrasts beautifully with your body’s tone. A rare beauty.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You get it, right?” Aninha left the other fairies and walked up to Tariel. “There’s no other Selium with white hair.”

  “Really?” Tariel widened her eyes and opened a sweet smile.

  I moved our chairs closer, our bodies touching. The soft sound of her breathing made my heart vibrate. But Aninha, mischievous, took advantage of our closeness and kissed Tariel’s cheek quickly. That was enough to make her almost lie on top of me, dizzy with happiness.

  “Look at that silly smile!” Aninha cheered. “Careful not to drool on Willian.”

  We laughed a lot. The joy was light, spontaneous. Until Milena turned to me. Her gaze already revealed the subject.

  “What do you want to do, Willian?”

  “I’d like to rescue the enslaved women and the abandoned children. As quickly as possible.”

  “We’ll arrange it immediately,” Zircon stated.

  “But…” Anastácia murmured.

  “You can speak, dear,” Sacha encouraged.

  “They can’t plant,” she answered, timid.

  “Anastácia is right. If you take the Seliums away, you’ll be sentencing the humans,” Melissa confirmed.

  I rubbed my neck. The discomfort returned.

  “There’s no pain in that region,” AX interfered. “What you feel is emotional.”

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  I smiled, embarrassed. It’s not like I could hide anything from the Sekvens, but there were moments when AX didn’t need to be so direct.

  “You can see the humans?” I asked Melissa.

  “You know we can’t.”

  “I… can’t see them either. If they want to survive, they should learn to do it with their own hands.”

  The bitterness took over my mouth.

  “They will all die,” Tariel stated.

  I touched her face gently.

  “They chose the easiest, most selfish and cruel path. Unable to deal with poisonous plants, but capable of dealing with ‘poisonous Seliums.’”

  I kissed her in front of everyone, with the tenderness she deserved. The Sekvens opened wide smiles. I continued:

  “Humans are a balance between two hearts: one kind and one cruel. And now… my cruel heart is screaming. The pain they caused you has become mine as well. And this side of me cannot forgive them.”

  “Human stuff!” Fofinho interrupted, breaking the mood. “We can’t help with that. This whole thing about forgiveness, good side and bad side… we don’t understand.”

  “That’s why he said he couldn’t see them,” Melissa explained.

  “We will build a small village right here, in this green field of Donna, farther south. There’s a beautiful lake there,” Kane said. “We will use pre-molded structures. We have hundreds available on Shoros. In a few days, it will be ready.”

  “But you two,” Melissa looked at Tariel and Anastácia, “will rescue the people and decide who goes to the new village.”

  “We love rescuing lives and turning them inside out,” Sacha confessed. “You must pull them out of darkness so their light can reach us. Just like you did with Tariel, Ana and Anastácia.”

  “We’ll do that,” I affirmed.

  “Anastácia, Julis, Willian and Tariel, come with me,” Melissa requested.

  In the large room, the brightness bothered me for a moment. Julis was examining Anastácia’s mouth.

  “Sit here.”

  She paused briefly and, without noticing the impact, announced:

  “We’re going to remove your teeth and shave your hair.”

  “No!” Anastácia stepped back, placing her hands on the regenerative capsule’s table.

  I thought about explaining the procedure, but Melissa wanted me to handle this moment.

  “You belong to me and I know what’s best for you,” Julis repeated, echoing classic Sekven lines.

  Anastácia covered her face, trying to hold back tears.

  “But…”

  She looked for me. I walked to her.

  Her eyes, full of fear, let a silent tear fall. I embraced her and kissed her lips slowly, so she could feel what I felt.

  “It won’t hurt,” I whispered. “And in a moment, you’ll come out of this machine beautiful, cared for… just like Tariel.”

  Tariel walked closer and surprised us. Maybe still under the fairy’s kiss effect, maybe to offer comfort, she kissed Anastácia’s lips — gently.

  Julis took advantage of Anastácia’s vulnerability:

  “Spread this powder on all your teeth. My hand is too big for your mouth,” Julis smiled lightly. “As for the hair: when you lie down, the capsule will dispose of it on its own, to make room for the new.”

  Anastácia obeyed. Seconds later, she spat the teeth into a container. Her hands trembled, and her eyes searched for refuge in mine. Tariel held her hand until the capsule closed.

  “She trusts you, Willian,” Melissa said. “You and Tariel must work together so she doesn’t get lost. Tariel is emotionally stronger, but she will be fine as long as she doesn’t feel alone.”

  “I understand… we’ll make sure she doesn’t feel like an intruder in our relationship.”

  A few minutes later, we were still talking about her when Tariel returned from the bathroom and hugged me with a smile full of intentions.

  “Hi…”

  The gesture — felt by the Sekvens even from afar — bothered Sacha, who shouted from the dining room:

  “I want to date!”

  And then, that serious creature, capable of shaking an entire universe, ran laughing like a girl. In that moment, Melissa matched the apparent age of her body.

  The Sekvens went to the third room of the ship, giving themselves to love with their partners. The absence of doors made me uncomfortable.

  “Come…” Tariel whispered, pulling me into the room with the natural boldness typical of the Sekvens.

  The Xerantos took Ana to meet Mirtis while I and Tariel gave in to our desires — heightened by the energy of the others that, even through walls, hit us mercilessly.

  I woke up to Jazzia’s voice, informing that the capsule needed attention. I was lying down, hugging Tariel, my hand over her breast. I inhaled her sweet scent and kissed her neck to wake her.

  The Xerantos had already returned. We were the last ones to enter the room. Everyone was there — even the fairies, who were doing cartwheels in the air.

  “Finally tasted the flavor of love?” Sacha teased Tariel with a mischievous smile.

  “I hope you ask for more,” Melissa added. “Congratulations, my love.”

  Tariel was radiant and, without thinking, moved to hug them. I pulled her back, avoiding the contact. She was comfortable… but my face burned with embarrassment.

  Like Fofinho said: human stuff.

  “Now you understand why we like it so much, right?” Aninha teased. “Look at your man… he’s redder than lava!”

  I couldn’t hold the smile. I turned Tariel to face me and hugged her tight.

  “I want to be like the Sekvens: I want to love you for eternity.”

  “And so it shall be,” Melissa promised.