The silence was deafening alongside the rattling of the insects of the night. The stranger's brown eyes were glimmering with golden underneath, trying to pin me down with his gaze. I would have been intimidated by his presence if it weren't for the purpose I was here for and the blood in my veins. There was no space for fear or submission in what I did and who I was."I can ask you the same question." I retaliated with firmness. "Why are you following me?" I asked. He changed his position and went to lean on a tree on the side. "I've never seen anyone here in this forest. I was curious as to why a female is roaming the woods in the dark, alone at that. Aren't you afraid of the danger lurking in the shadows?" He queried with an expressionless but still ruggedly handsome face and I went to a tree across him to copy his stance."I am not afraid of anything. Warriors do not fear, they conquer the danger." I responded with my arms crossed. His eyes raked up my body from the toes the head
The enchanted lake, as called, was truly enchanting. If you didn't know about its properties before, you definitely would have guessed after you saw the lake. The sun shone in the vast sky above the water and made it gleam blindingly but that was not the last thing forcing my eyes shut in every few moments. Something simmered beneath the water level, attracting the eye and rejecting the view of the mysterious glow, at the same time.Pausing my aching limbs, I closed my eyes for a short while. I'd been trying to reach the shore on the opposite side since before the sunrise but there was still a little more distance left. The work had exhausted me tremendously and the last time I ate was last night. If it was about crossing land, I would have gotten it done long before, but water was never my strongest pursuit. Water and I never had the best of relationship, except the time when I am not inside its currents.Pushing myself a little more harder, I finally reached the shore and sprawled
"This...is the Elf' castle?" I asked to no one inparticular but a humming of agreement replied to me from behind. The castle was something I could never have imagined in the wildest of my dreams. It looked so out of the time, like its structure came from a hundreds of years in future. Turquoise blue cones were adorning the multiple towers and balconies of the pink-ish building, making it look so extravagant. Different patterns and sculpture were designed upon the balconies beautifully."Enough drooling for now. We should get in, shouldn't we?" Irun mocked me and I rolled my eyes at her. The whole walk here she annoyed me with her stupid questions and accusations of me trying to invade their Kingdom despite Roe reminding her what Mydia had said, repeatedly. Apparently, Mydia was an Elf female who could see future sometimes, in glimpses, like the high priest.The both Elves led me here with them to the castle through the dense forest. In the middle of the path, thick mystic fog had sw
Dinner was served for me in the room I was staying in. So much for being a 'guest'. But I guessed I could not blame them, though. I came unannounced and unwanted. I was the bearer of the bad news for them, bringing war to their doorsteps and endangering the lives of their families. I was entitled to their hostility. Swallowing the bitter feeling I focused on the food on my plate.The plate was actually made of a big leaf symbolizing the way they were attached to nature and still ate in tree leaves like ancient people. Even each of the dishes were completely vegetarian. Nonetheless, the food tasted heavenly. Placing the used plate and the water beside the bed I got ready for bed. But before my eyes could get closed, a light knock on the door interrupted me.I stood up from the bed to open the door and saw Mydia standing there with another female. "Can I come in, Seraphina?" She politely asked."Yes, of course. Please come in." I said leaning sideways to give her space to enter. "You
I sheathed my sword, put my daggers in the holster at my thighs and hid an extra dagger at the backside of my belt and concealed it with the long hood I always wore. Today, I will either earn an ally or me coming this far from home would go in vain. Last night, Mydia assured me that Queen Sylva will agree for the alliance but I was still nervous.This was my first step at proving myself and if I lose on the first attempt I didn't know where to go, from here on. I just prayed to the moon goddess that I was on the right path and today goes in my favor. Taking one final self-assuring breath and putting a face of indifferent confidence, I opened the doors of my chambers and took in Irun standing in front of me. "Took you long enough." She commented and started walking right after. After a short while of silent walk, Irun spoke again. "So, what do you think will happen?" I thought about it for a bit chewing my inner cheeks. "I don't know. Anything can happen. What do you think?" I counte
After the successful agreement with the Elf Queen Sylva, the two royal siblings and other castle residents came outside the castle to bid me farewell. The humble people had insisted on packing me food for the long journey, even after I politely refused. Mydia reminded me for the second time to keep the emerald green magical stone safe with me. That reminded me of stopping at my grandma's coven on way back to the castle.Irun and Roe accompanied me to the enchanted lake, which was considered the border of the Elf's Kingdom. Apparently, there was a path that circled the lake, so I didn't have to cross the lake by swimming all the way. At the lake, I thought that when I've reached this far, it would be a waste if I don't get a little of the healing water with me. So, I dipped the pitcher I had to contain water, and filled it to the brim. Then, it was time to bid farewell to the elf females beside me."Now I must depart. I hope to meet you again." As annoying as it was, Irun's personalit
I visited grandma on the way back to the castle. She told me about the stone that Mydia had given me, that it was actually a part of a broken key. The key that locked the exiled creatures in the secluded part of the world, which no one knew where it really was.According to the legends and myths, the key was destroyed to avoid the possibilities of someone freeing the creatures, before their time. The broken parts of the key were three stones. First stone was the protector, which refused the creatures to cross the border and the second one, manipulated fire. The fire surrounded the border so no one would come near it.The final and the third stone was actually a source of power. It drew energy from non-living beings like stones, mountains, soil and water and used it as a physical owner to the other two stones. Which meant, the security was always active. It was meant to be like that until the creatures were free to return. Until the war.All the three stones were distributed by the god
"What are you doing in my room, Alpha King?" I asked quietly, eyes casted down, body frozen where it stood. "How was your trip?" He asked instead, tilting his head. "You didn't answer my question." I replied. "You didn't acknowledge my greeting." He countered. His infuriatingly cocky and smug expression dancing in his voice. I shook my head and stared at the ceiling above me. "What do you want, Alpha King?" I asked impatiently, tapping the door with my nails. Sheets rustled, indicating his movements and my eyes shut on their own accord.The next thing I knew, he was standing in front of me and not even an arm length's distance between us. His scent seeped in through the pores on my body, chasing any remnants of tiredness away, awakening every cell of my being. "You are a stubborn little thing, aren't you? But know this, I can do this the whole night with you. And about what I want," He leaned closer. His mouth just an inch away from my ear, his breath caressing my jaw. "I really w