That night, messages flew. Seriti revealed the truth: Her father was the warlord of Medupi the owner of the Alke mines, former Zulu royalty. She was his thirty-seventh child.
Her mother, Botho Palesa, was the fifteenth wife. She belonged to the nearly extinct Leboa tribe, women born with strength, nature affinity, healing power, and beauty that nations feared. A tribe massacred for being "too powerful." Only 150 remained in Azania. A slow genocide wrapped in politics. Li Chen listened in growing horror. Seriti seemed untouched by self-pity. "We survived," she said softly. "And we will continue to." For months, they grew closer dates, debates, moments of stolen quiet. Li Chen confessed that he was in Medupi on assignment. But never said he was the son of a well-known researcher family in Daxia—nor that he served the empire. Seriti didn't mind. She had a secret too: Her tribe produced only females and Bahati the gender blessed, male but capable of carrying life, embodying nature's gifts without the usual biological limitations. Bahati births could produce female heirs, Bahati heirs and, rarely, a male heir with perfect nature affinity. When Li Chen heard this, he understood that if he married Seriti, he would have daughters or one rare son who carried the Leboa legacy. He didn't care. He already knew he wanted her.