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“Mirella it is,” he said enthusiastically. “Do not worry about Professor Ludwig. His ego is bruised. But he’ll get over it.”

“I hope you’re right,” I said, worry seeping back into my voice. “He’s more or less my boss. If he fires me, I will have to leave Mazeria. I worked so hard to get here that I would be devastated. The Syllens have been my whole life since I learned about you.”

His silver eyes widened, and he slightly recoiled in surprise.

“Since you learned about me?” he echoed, baffled.

I nodded. “In my Galactic History classes in high school, the Temern chapter had an entire section exclusively dedicated to you. It spoke about how you were the first Edal to reach adulthood and how it revolutionized the treatment afforded other members of your species with your incredible empathic powers.”

He nodded and scratched the golden feathers at the base of his neck in a way that I interpreted as embarrassment. It was adorable.

“Right. It’s always strange to hear that I’m in history books,” he said sheepishly.

I smiled. “They talked about so many of the wonderful things that you accomplished. And one of them was about how you brought so much awareness to the fact that the Syllens were not fossils, but merely a dormant species that needed to be protected until their awakening. Ever since, I’ve been obsessed with them.”

“Wow, that’s amazing!” he said with a strange glimmer in his eyes. “It’s funny what triggers set people on the right path for their lives. And you’re certainly in the right place, at the right time. I absolutely loved what you said during the meeting. We need people with your passion and knowledge as far as the Syllens are concerned. The UPO will undoubtedly want to talk to you about working with them.”

My jaw dropped.

“Are you serious?!” I exclaimed

He nodded. “Mhmm.”

I frowned and gave him a dubious look.

“You can’t be sure about that. I mean, I couldn’t get a position with Pirenei, and I barely managed to secure an adjunct position here. I’m not quite sure what I’m lacking except for more years of experience. But something apparently makes me an unappealing candidate for all the places where I really want to work.”

“I can definitely be sure,” he said smugly. “Especially as far as the current situation is concerned. I work as an advisor to the UPO on various projects that have absolutely nothing to do with my matchmaking agency. And I’m one of their primary advisors alongside Ambassador Mares where the Syllens are concerned. As you said yourself, I brought awareness to their real status.”

“Wow! That would be great!” I said with a nervous giggle.

“More than you realize,” he said in a mysterious tone that I couldn’t quite interpret. “It’s also a great thing that you are single with no children. Your resettlement here will happen faster.”

This time, I visibly recoiled.

“How do you know that?” I asked in a hesitant voice.

The corner of his beak slightly quirked into what I assumed to be a Temern’s version of a smirk.

“Because I pulled up your file the moment you put the professor back in his place,” he said in a factual manner.

“Jees! May I ask why? Did you think I was going to start trouble?” I asked, unsure how I felt about it.

He shook his head. “No. I wanted to make sure you were exactly who I hoped you would be. We must act fast before things worsen. Like you, I don’t believe that the Syllens are behind those attacks. Mares and I will meet with Taelen, the lead warrior of the Syllens of Drossara, first thing in the morning. We need the right people with the right mindset to help establish good communication. If all goes well, you will get to meet him, too.”

My knees nearly buckled as I gaped at him in complete and utter shock. His chuckle snapped me out of my dazed trance.

“Are you for real? This isn’t some sort of cruel joke, is it?” I asked, my voice slightly shaky from emotion.

“It is real,” he said, this time with a very serious expression. “I will make sure that you meet Taelen tomorrow.”

I pressed my palms to my cheeks, overwhelmed by emotion.

“Oh my God! This is a dream come true,” I whispered.

“Yes, Mirella. It is, in more ways than one,” he said, his gaze intense.

I frowned. “Why do you say it like that?”