9 - Urban Legend

From a far I can see someone playing with burning rocks, he was sitting in front of a lake, making it hard for me to see his face, but I am sure that he’s a man.

As I was about to reach for him, a strong wind blow came my way, carrying my weakened body.

“Naia?!” I heard someone’s voice and when I opened my eyes, the similar ceiling to our dorm’s room greeted me.

“How are you feeling?” grabbing my hands, it was Prince Rage who helped me to sit up.

I looked at him confusingly, trying to remember what happened.

Without me knowing, tears started to run down again as flashbacks of the earlier incident finally hit me.

I felt shivers and hugged myself.

“They are now talking to Pele and everyone who were involved. You can rest until you want. We won’t let this slide.” he said.

I wanted to shake my head and have myself the justice I need and want but I am too exhausted to do so.

“I brought food, if you would like to eat.” he offered and I just smiled at him, mouthing thank you for assisting me.

Minutes have passed and all I can hear were his deep, big sighs.

“It was my fault.” I looked at him.

“Why? You’re not involved with this.” I answered him.

He gave me a glimpse of his small smile.

“We dated, back then. I was into Pele but grew to dislike her because of her arrogance.” his story started.

Laughing with his answers, I looked at him with a little disgust.

“I know, I know that it was a bad idea. We separated ways when I started this change in the rules in Ignisen, which she totally opposed.” I nodded as I have come to the conclusion of why Pele’s picking on me.

“So she’s picking on me because of you?” I asked and he nodded.

“To add that you defeated her in the Duellos, her ego and pride can’t handle loss, especially to someone she considers weaker than her.” he added.

“Specifically to a Yare like me.” I finished his thoughts.

We both laughed because of her childishness, but I cried in pain as my muscles were not healed enough yet.

That power earlier, I don’t want to see it again, I might even harm anyone close to me or myself in return.

“Are you feeling finer now?” Prince Rage looked at me and I nodded with a genuine smile.

“I have a request your highness.” I said and he looked so serious while listening to me.

“Don’t expel Pele, I’ll face her in the games.” I firmly said.

Worry registered on his face but I reached out for his hands, to show my determination. What she did to me is something that can’t be punished with an expulsion. That’s too easy for her to go away from her deeds.

Of course I will spend days in hard work and training, mastering my Mother’s teaching, risking everything. Pele’s damage on me, not just physically, but also emotionally, mentally and morally, I won’t let her to just forget what she inflicted on me.

Yares must rise. Not just because of me being one but also, I don’t think the kinds of Pele Alva shall rule Retheale. She’s not worthy of any fairy’s role model.

She’s really far from Mother’s description of how a Feya is.

“Alright. I’ll talk to the masters. But I have a condition.” he said as he held my hands back tighter.

“What is it?” is he going to make me his slave? Personal assistant?

“You’ll train under my supervision.” I dropped my jaw.

Why is he meddling in this?

“I told you, it is probably somehow my fault. I would like to help you.” he let go of my hand and scratch his neck’s back.

An evident sign of shyness.

Though this might benefit me too, I mean he’s known to be a great student at his age and the next in throne for Ignisen.

I nodded in response and he his lips curved, showing the biggest smile I have ever seen from him, or from anyone here in Erutain.

“Now that we have settled the agreement, you should take some more rest.” Prince Rage said.

I don’t have any appetite so that’s the only thing I can do for now.

Take rest self, because the road ahead will surely get rougher and harder to walk on starting tomorrow.

“I’m going to leave when your friend comes back.” he said as he helped me lay down on bed.

Certain movement of my body brings in pain, from muscles to bones. I need to wake up after he leaves, so I can heal myself.

“Favor your highness. Can you tell me stories? I am new here, in Eltia. I would love to hear urban legends from your nation.” I asked to him.

“I will bring you melgos in return.” I added when he looked hesitant upon my request.

He moved his chair closer to my bed side and coughed twice before starting.

“This one’s from Eltia, said to be one of oldest tales, and the book is missing for years already.” I listened carefully to him.

“Retheale once never had the rule of marrying someone from the same race. They let fairies do what they want and love who they want.” with my eyes closed, I imagine what he was saying.

Mother’s an Undine, and my father was a Sylph belonging to the best military unit of Aersho, yet he died in the last war, and so leaving me and my mother in pain and longing.

Mother said that because of Retheale’s rule, Father can only visit us every once in a while, that’s why we lived in the farthest tree top in Aersho, to be near father’s work place, even if Mother wanted us to be in Hydreid’s, to be under some kind of protection our close relatives offered.

“A twin offspring from a Shade and Wisp couple was born that time.” he continued and I was drawn into the story more.

Light and dark.

“The boy had the power of light, and was called Aether, while his twin sister Reathe has darkness ruling in her.” as expected! It was like of what I have read from the library!

“They grew together, balancing each one’s powers and were called the Yin and Yang of Retheale.” he added.

“Both were treated as the world’s gemstones, for the day they were born, the mana flow in Retheale grew larger and stronger, as if the Pandarens blessed the twin’s birth.” I bet their parents were proud of them.

I can imagine the two sparring with each other, throwing beams of white and black auras at each other but laugh at the end, laying down on grass, exhausted, but happy.

“Yet Reathe succumb to the darkness. After her eighteenth birhday, she first caused her parents’ death, by consuming and offering their mana to evilness. Before she went straight to her twin brother, who can’t afford to hurt her, even after killing their parents.” I bit my lower lip as I was not expecting is story to be a tragedy like this.

“Aether tried everything he can to convince her twin sister to turn her back against the evil. He faced her, fought until they were both bathing in their own blood. But Reathe was stronger, more powerful and aggressive than Aether. Their mana levels and element powers are not far from each other in scales, but Reathe has her own ways of fighting, deceiving, cunning, scary. In the hope that his twin sister will be contented after doing a ritual to steal his power, after being the first fairy to have not just one element power, Aether admitted his defeat, saying he wishes her sister to be happy at last. Reathe was secretly jealous of Aether, for he gets the more praises ever since, even if she was hailed as the stronger one in them. It is because of the wrong impression about Shades, that they are naturally wicked, while the Wisps are the hope of the world. Reathe unconsciously grew hateful towards everyone, especially her twin brother, even if Aether did everything in order to protect Reathe from the judgements of other fairies. But it was only the start of Retheale’s doom. Reathe caused havoc around every nation, controlling both light and dark, she killed thousand, or even hundred thousands of innocent fairies, claiming that the Retheale should bow to her feet as the Pandarens chose her to be the next, the one and only queen for eternity.” I felt goosebumps, imagining what Retheale looked like in the story.

“The Pandarens showed themselves at last, being led by Drakilus of the Shades, they sealed Reathe’s power that caused a great war in Retheale, having its nations as their battlefields for almost a week. They said she was not only a threat to Retheale but also to the other worlds.” he continued.

Other worlds?

“After her defeat, she was buried somewhere deep and far from anyone’s reach, and so the Retheale’s rule was established. Everyone feared that the history, though it was depicted as a legend would repeat. They are preventing the birth of a fairy who holds more than one element within.” he stopped talking, just right in time I am feeling sleepy and tired, from thinking his story.on, controlling both light and dark, she killed thousand, or even hundred thousands of innocent fairies, claiming that the Retheale should bow to her feet as the Pandarens chose her to be the next, the one and only queen for eternity.” I felt goosebumps, imagining what Retheale looked like in the story.

“The Pandarens showed themselves at last, being led by Drakilus of Shades, they sealed Reathe’s power, as she was not only a threat to Retheale but also to the othe worlds.” he continued.

Other worlds?

“After her defeat, they put her body inside a glass, big enough to enclose her physique and aura range. They put a spell around it, suppressing her powers so that she can't do anything but to sleep eternally. The glass, called lacrima was buried somewhere deep down Retheale's core and far from anyone’s reach. And so that is when the Retheale’s absolute rule was established. Everyone feared that the history, though it was depicted as a legend, would repeat. And they said that if that will happen, Reathe will be stronger, around ten times more as she was before, for her body in slumber might be regenerating, absorbing every power it can. They are preventing the birth of a fairy who holds more than one element within.” he stopped talking, just right in time I am feeling sleepy and tired, from thinking his story.