Chapter 168: Paranoia

The meeting was only an excuse to give Ambassador Yeza the chance to question Khan about the mutated Niqols. The other young aliens mostly exchanged superficial talks or probed each other's view of the relationship between the two species.

Creating a psychological profile of the recruits that the Global Army had decided to send to [The Pure Trees] could only help the Niqols since those humans would probably continue to occupy important political positions. The young aliens took note of how they reacted to various stimuli, be it teases, drinks, sudden questions, or statements that put some pressure on them.

Only Liiza struggled to make it hard for Veronica and understand how the girl's mind worked. Liiza was too anxious about Khan remaining alone with her mother, and having one of his suitors in front of her didn't help. 

Luckily for Liiza, Veronica's personality was warm, polite, and welcoming toward every odd reaction that she could have. Liiza even ended up in a daze at times when she immersed herself in her fears and paranoia. Her mother could make men fall to their knees with a single smile, but she had to wait for the event to end to understand if her boyfriend had managed to resist her.

"Is everything okay, Miss Liza?" Veronica politely asked when she saw that Liiza had remained immersed in her thoughts for more than two minutes.

The girls were in an ample room adorned with a thick dark-red carpet, artworks hanging from the walls, and a large window that showed the dazzling snowy environment outside the palace. Comfortable armchairs and couches occupied the center of the area and encircled a small table that had a few bottles and cups at its center. 

Veronica and Liiza sat on armchairs on opposite sides of the small table, and the latter had limited herself to fill two cups before taking anxious sips. She would ask preset questions whenever Veronica reminded her of her situation, but she never truly listened to her answers.

The situation worsened until Liiza remained silent for more than two minutes after Veronica's last answer. The latter had managed to wait calmly, but the faint fear that she might have done something wrong eventually appeared in her mind due to the Niqols complete and constant lack of attention.

"What do you think about the Niqols' customs?" Liiza quoted one of the preset questions that she had memorized earlier when Veronica brought her back to reality. "I believe it must be hard to adapt to our different ideas of decorum."

"I think about it as a priceless experience!" Veronica exclaimed while wearing a brilliant smile. "I think we should learn from each other while we have this lucky chance together. It doesn't happen every day meet a species which has evolv-."

Veronica halted her answer when she noticed that Liiza had stopped listening to her again. The latter kept her mouth on the cup's edges as she gazed at the room's exit. Her glowing eyes even moved left and right as her paranoia fueled her worry.

Veronica had long since learnt about Liiza's situation. A single conversation with Azni had been enough to make her aware of all the gossips inside the academy. Of course, Veronica had also heard about the rumored secret boyfriend that had made Liiza arrive at the party after the solar wind with pale cheeks.

In theory, the Global Army's orders saw the envoys expressing the utmost respect toward the Niqols, especially those with some political involvement or connection. However, Veronica had learnt how the aliens thought and behaved in the last month, which gave her enough courage to be more open. Her current approach wasn't going anywhere anyway.

"Are you worried about your man?" Veronica suddenly asked.

"Did you find the schedule in the academy welcom-," Liiza voiced as she snapped back to reality, but another question came out of her mouth when she understood what Veronica had said. "What man?"

"Everyone in the academy says that you have found someone," Veronica giggled before diverting her gaze and lowering her voice. "Is it the part of the sexual gratification true?"

"What?!" Liiza instinctively exclaimed before covering her mouth to remind herself about her composure.

"Sorry!" Veronica quickly added. "I know. It's too personal. I was just curious since I also have someone I like, but it's hard to compete when everyone is so pushy with him."

A wave of jealousy filled Liiza's mind and washed away the tipsiness that her anxious drinking had created. She knew who Veronica liked, and she was also aware of the pushy attention that he was receiving.

"My companions are so hard to approach about that topic," Veronica continued, "And the Niqols tell me to jump on him before the others. How does one even jump on someone?"

"You shouldn't listen to everything they say," Liiza stated from behind her cup to hide the jealousy that filled her face. "It's pointless to change who you are just to get a man."

"That's what I think too!" Veronica exclaimed. "Still, this man is so hard to approach. He is always there when you truly need him, but he is impossible to find otherwise. I can't really say anything to him after everything he had to overcome, so I'm lost. You looked like the only Niqols who could have a different view."

Countless plans on how to make Veronica give up on Khan mixed with her jealousy and filled her thoughts. Yet, Liiza wasn't nearly as good as her boyfriend when it came to pretenses and lies. She feared that her words or behavior could reveal something if she became too involved in the conversation.

"Why do you like him?" Liiza asked after deciding to let Veronica focus on her own feelings.

"I don't really know," Veronica revealed while wearing a genuine smile and fixing her eyes on her cup. "He probably lies a lot, and he definitely has secrets, but he is also incredibly reliable, strong, and driven. Also, I know his heart is in the right place even if everything he has experienced would give him a free pass on being an insensitive idiot."

Liiza fixed her glowing eyes on Veronica while continuing to hide her face behind the cup. She could see the girl's affection in her expressions, but she couldn't feel jealous about that when her words complimented her boyfriend so openly. Liiza actually felt a bit proud to be with Khan.

"He seems the kind of guy who would give up on the world for those important to him," Veronica said as her smile became slightly playful. "I don't think that's exactly a good thing, but I feel warm when I imagine myself as one of his important people."

Liiza had to drink to suppress her blush. Veronica had made her think about all the sacrifices that Khan had made for her. She also recalled the hesitant and twisted words that he had voiced during their intimate moments. Khan's mind could reach dark places, but it felt too good to be at the center of his bright thoughts.

"Is everything okay?" Veronica repeated when she saw that Liiza had fallen silent again.

"I'm sorry," Liiza responded quickly, showing that she didn't forget about her surroundings at that time. "I-, I have someone but don't say anything to the others. Let it remain a rumor."

"Of course!" Veronica promised as her eyes lit up. "How is he? You are so beautiful, so he must be handsome. Are you keeping him a secret because of Ilman? Is it because of your mother?"

Veronica had lowered her voice during her last line, but she didn't hide how curious she felt about Liiza's situation. Everyone believed that her man belonged to tribes that could cause troubles for her mother, and the Niqols had quickly grown excited at the idea of a forbidden relationship.

"I won't say anything," Liiza announced as her voice gained sweet tinges. "He is just the best."

Liiza found it strange to have that type of conversation since her unique situation had forced her to give up on friendships and similar relationships. She had never gotten the chance to talk with another girl so openly, and even Azni couldn't fill that role since her schedule often conflicted with Khan's free time.

"Tell me more about it!" Veronica begged.

"My lips are sealed," Liiza giggled before bending forward and pointing at Veronica's cup. "Why don't you tell me more about your hesitation about jumping on your guy?"

"I need another drink for that," Veronica stated before hiding her laugh behind her hand.

"Don't worry," Liiza assured. "This palace is built on drinks."

.

.

.

The meetings lasted only a few hours, and each group gathered in the hall on the first floor afterward. They moved back to the palace's entrance, and inspections happened among all of them to understand how that event had gone.

Brandon and Kelly had been with two Niqols who often exchanged words with them. However, everyone could see how a wall existed between them and prevented the arrival of honest laughs or casual conversations. They had done nothing but voicing political ideas and hopes connected to the relationship between their species during their meeting.

Gabriela, Rodney, and George were in a group with three Niqols, but only the two boys seemed to have dropped the manners required by that political event. They often joked with their escorts, hinting at how successful their meeting had been.

Helen's situation was quite surprising. She had been alone with a tall Niqols who radiated nobility with all his gestures and expressions. His manners were calm but firm, and Helen couldn't help but respond with faint flirts and attractive smiles that made her appear as Yeza's younger and inexperienced version.

The surprising aspect of the two was that the Niqols appeared attracted by those gestures, and Helen didn't hide from his attentions either. They were basically flirting in the open by the time they reached their companions.

Liiza and Veronica's situation was quite peculiar since both girls had ended up drinking a lot after their topics had digressed to more intimate matters. They had never revealed anything specific, but it was clear that their conversations didn't involve the relationship between their species. Their unstable steps also proved how they had limited themselves to have fun.

Nevertheless, Khan and Ambassador Yeza created the most surprising scene as they regrouped with everyone in the hall. The two appeared to be at ease during their conversation. They were talking about something superficial which seemed to involve the Lysixi seen in the tunnel, but a few details in that scene left the other humans and Niqols speechless.

Everyone noticed how Khan was wearing a different robe. Yeza's fame was far from a simple rumor, so the others immediately connected it to the scene. The Niqols felt amazed that Khan had actually managed to make Yeza get under his clothes, while the humans experienced different reactions, which went from envy to pure astonishment.

Liiza and Veronica almost froze at that scene, and no one noticed their peculiar reaction because everyone was busy staring at Khan and Yeza. The two didn't even see that they had worn the same face since they were too busy inspecting Khan's new robe. They couldn't ignore what that detail meant, but the boy didn't hesitate to make their confusion intensify.

Khan had noticed how Veronica and Liiza were having fun, and the sight of his girlfriend's honest smiles made him truly happy. He knew that Liiza had trouble making friends due to her past, so seeing her so relaxed brought him joy.

Khan revealed an honest smile when he looked at the two girls, which made them divert their gazes in confusion and awkwardness. Veronica ended up blushing even, but Liiza regained her composure. She knew that the gesture was for her, so she started to doubt whether Khan had cheated on her.

Yeza's relaxed approach to the conversation also stunned the group inspecting the scene. Her laughs, smiles, and light touches on Khan's shoulder remained captivating, but she didn't seem to do them on purpose. They resembled a consequence of her habits, but she didn't back them with the intention of making Khan fall for her.

The confusion and astonishment couldn't last long since Professor Supyan waited for everyone at the end of the corridor and forced humans and Niqols to separate. The two groups exchanged the usual polite bows and smiles before splitting to return to their duties. 

Liiza remained still for a few seconds in front of the sliding layers of the palace and its closing doors. She was tipsy, and her confusion didn't help her situation. Yet, a strange urge spread inside her as her fears intensified. She felt the need to confront her mother about her meeting.

The Niqols and Yeza had grown used to Liiza's behavior by then. They knew that she would leave in a matter of minutes, so they didn't even bother to talk with her as they resumed their tasks inside the palace.

Liiza could wait a few minutes and climb the familiar staircases to reach a dark room that featured one of the largest windows in the palace, a big bed, and a vast wardrobe that covered an entire wall. Her mother was there, browsing through the various clothes to pick something more comfortable now that the meeting had ended.

"[It's rare for you to visit me]," Yeza said as she recognized Liiza's unique aura. "[You usually are already flying away by now]."

Yeza didn't stop browsing among her clothes, and Liiza made sure to close the door behind her as she reviewed the questions prepared during her walk there. She couldn't just ask about Khan, but her unique position gave her access to things that other Niqols might ignore.

"[Did the human know a way to revert the mutated Niqols?" Liiza asked.

"[No]," Yeza sighed. "[Apparently, reverting that state would require new mutations, and that would only affect their bodies. Their minds are long gone]."

"[Understood]," Liiza announced while pretending to leave.

Her plan relied on everything she knew about her mother's personality. Liiza had used the word human on purpose to bait out Yeza's reprimands, and she fell for that trap.

"[That boy's name is Khan]," Yeza corrected. "[He is actually an interesting boy. I believe he will become an important figure among the humans, so we should keep him close]."

"[What makes him interesting]?" Liiza voice while suppressing a smile.

"[His resolve is off the charts]," Yeza scoffed while peeking out of the wardrobe and showing her surprised expression to Liiza. "[He didn't only refuse me because of his Niqols girlfriend. He even stabbed his own leg to resist me after I insisted. I had to make him change after all the blood that had fallen]."

Yeza laughed, and Liiza reminded herself to shake her head in disgust. That was their usual interaction, and Yeza didn't address the slight hesitation that her daughter had shown.

"[He reminded me about your father]," Yeza continued while bringing her gaze back to the wardrobe. "[I wonder if he'll fail his woman in the same way]."

"[Dad didn't fail you]," Liiza snorted before opening the door in a hurry. "[You just can't expect love if you sleep with other men]."

"[That's what I used to think before Deni]," Yeza sighed again, "[But I ended up being right all along. Love simply isn't enough at times. You have his same character, so make sure that you can follow through your emotions before making important decisions]."

A third sigh escaped Yeza's mouth when she heard the door of her room closing. She knew that Liiza would probably never understand her reasons, but she didn't care as long as she could prevent her from making the same mistakes.

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Author's notes: 3-4 hours for the second chapter.