Asahina’s apology meant that she did withhold some information from him, but Alem’s disappointment was not expressed because he knew that this was a possibility from the start. He had taken her in and had a right to ask questions in exchange for his aid, but he believed that in her fear and mistrust of the outside world that it would be best to wait. So, Asahina was not entirely honest, but this was the time to be honest with him. She explained, much to Alem’s surprise, that she was considered a princess to those within the Empire. From what he could tell her darkened face twisted a bit from the term, proving to be a minor hint of her displeasure with it. Alem’s expression had changed from his normal plain stare to one of genuine surprise. His eyes widened by just a couple inches, averting them from her face and down towards the ground. He held no love for the Sultan or his family, but if they were after Asahina for any reason, it must be that.

[b]“The day the Empire came was the last day anyone had seen or heard from the Sultan.”[/b] Alem said with a hushed voice, standing back up and turning around to face the opposite wall. He walked a couple paces, his eyes never leaving the ground. Even with his back turned it would be clear that what little Asahina had told him meant much.[b] “The Sultan had a daughter: Princess Jasmine. He disappeared along with her that day. She is a Princess by bloodline, and was known to be kind …but you,”[/b] Alem looked over his shoulder at Asahina, [b]“You can remember the exact detail they told you before you were taken. You can remember something like that, yet not of your own status as royalty? It does not add up. If you’re not a Princess like Jasmine is, are you something more than your blood?”[/b] The answer was on the tip of his tongue, but there were still some blanks that needed to be filled in. Asahina, whether a true royal or not, was important. What did she mean by ‘no darkness’? Did it have something to do with what she appeared as now, and why she looked this way?

[b]“Asahina, you are not from here, which means you have answers I couldn’t find.”[/b] Alem’s patience was incredible, but after yesterday’s events and the lives that were at risk Asahina would notice that his tolerance was not at its peak. She knew things that could help him, could help Agrabah and its people, and she was too busy in self-pity to give them. [b]“I need you to stop holding back and tell me all you can, now. What do you mean by no darkness in your heart? Does it have something to do with those shadows that drew to us yesterday?”[/b]

Alem turned his body around completely to face her once more, eyes narrowed not in aggression but thought. 

[b]“You’ve had time to feel sorry about your predicament, and I regret to inform you that you can no longer look down towards the ground to wallow in insecurity and fear. Lives are at stake, and the longer you take to realize this, the more people are at risk because of it. Speak, Asahina. Do so quickly.” [/b]