Dear Mama,

    An illness has fallen upon me and my husband. Raina is healthy and strong, and the Sword of Sun is still safe. But I fear that my life may be at an end. Please take the Sword of Sun and Raina, you are the only one I trust to protect them. 

    With love and respect,

                            -your dearest Lea-

    Raina and Xander had found shelter in a small cave in the rocky valley. Xander had helped her fix up her wounds. Her white dress was stained with blood and torn. But she got rest and felt better in the morning.

    "So," she started, rising unsteadily to her feet. "What is your full name?"

    "Alexander Leo Pilkar." Xander said. "But just call me Xander, please." 

    "Right. So, Xander, why are you helping me?" Raina picked up her sword, just in case this was a trick.

    Xander stared at the sword with his pale blue eyes. He

smiled knowingly, then answered, "Because I knew your father. He was best friends with mine."

    Raina thought. "My father never mentioned the last name Pilkar before."

    "That's because they only met during his sickness," Xander said, sitting down. "My father was a doctor. He tried his best to heal those found with plague, but it soon got him and he died."

    "I'm sorry," Raina said sympathetically. 

    "Yeah, but we should get going. Captain Komani will be sending out soldiers by now to find us."

    They left their cave and soon entered a forest. Raina's 

head swiveled as she heard a sound in the trees. Raina ran towards the sound and found a large torn down building. Standing beside the broken windows was a girl. She was dressed in a flowery white dress and flowers decorated her long, black hair.

    "Who are you?" Raina asked as Xander came up behind her. The girl stared at them for a moment.

    "I am Odelia," she said softly. "I am a NightBloom Sister. Who are you?"

    "I am Raina, and this is Xander. We are looking for something."

    "What? I might be able to help. Our leader, Mother

Sun knows many things."

    "Okay-wait, did you say Mother Sun?"

    "Yes. She is the leader of the NightBloom Sisters."

    "Did she have a daughter named Lea?"

    "Why, yes, she did." Odelia stared at Raina, then exclaimed, staring at her sword, "You are Lea's daughter Raina! Mother Sun will be so excited that I found you!"

    Odelia beckoned for them to follow as she ran deeper into the old building. Raina saw that some of the stained-glass was still intact and saw images of glowing women with swords and wondered what they meant.

    "What was this place?" she asked Odelia.

    "This used to be the castle of the NightBloom Sisters, until it was attacked and torn down by the people from Sun Village."

    Odelia then stopped and turned to Xander. "You do not possess powers?"

    "Not that I know," he replied.

    "Then you must wait up here. Mother Sun would be disappointed if I brought outsiders inside our home."

    Xander nodded and stepped back as Odelia led Raina toward a flight of stairs that led into the ground. There were few torches and they descended in almost complete darkness. Soon, they reached the bottom and entered a 

large room filled with three more girls. A fourth figure  stood in the center. She had red hair and red eyes. Raina guessed that she must be Mother Sun. Though she looked about Raina's age.

    "Odelia," one of the younger girls asked, "who is she?"

    "This is Raina Sun," Odelia explained.

    Mother Sun's eyes widened as she stepped toward Raina. She stared into her eyes and felt her hands. "Yes," she whispered. "You are my daughter's daughter, and you have been blessed with her powers."

    "Wait," Raina said, withdrawing her hand and stepping backward. "Does that mean that I am a witch?"