Chapter 2. Aurora's Jeweled Bride of Choice

      "I remember. I really remember now," said a girl floating in time space. Smiling happily, it was as if the burden within her had vanished with the memory. Kalina recalled, having been drawn into the bluish-white light produced by the necklace her future mother-in-law had just worn. Memories of the past like a dream came swirling back into her mind. Where to meet the real eagle demon named Gavin. Also a tragic love story ending in Gavin's death that disappeared in ruins. Kalina's tears fell, remembering also her parents and her future husband Elard. The memories that seemed to have been lost have now returned.

     Argh! Byur! The girl screamed before falling into the water. "Am I going to die?" she muttered. Kalina could see several black shadows until she finally closed her eyes.

Some time ago in the Nigella Kingdom.

      The future leaders of the stealth clan were in a pool of water, where at the spring there was a statue for placing flowers and a jewel that began to glow brightly as a man dressed in white chanted. Nearby, a shirtless young man waded into the water at belly level. Fixing the crown that didn't quite fit on his head for a moment before returning to the ritual.

       "Shall we begin, Uncle?" asked the stout young man.

       "Please approach King Arsen!" said the man then took a handful of flowers and sprinkled them on the head of the young man called King Arsen. "Please for the future leaders of the demon clan who have entered adulthood and are ready to lead come forward," he added.

     "Elard, Gavin, Lamont, Fazwan come in!" invited King Arsen as he touched the gem, "may the power of the Aurora gem bless the Nigella Kingdom." King Arsen summoned loyal followers from the representatives of each demon race.

     The four shirtless demon youths entered the water one by one. They were performing the maturity ritual just like King Arsen. The religious leader wearing a white robe read a prayer and then grabbed a flower like what was done to King Arsen earlier. The religious leader then left the pool along with the five demon youths who were staring at the direction where the Aurora Jewel was. They then submerged themselves into the water for a few moments.

      Suddenly, a very dazzling bluish light appeared from the Aurora gem. The elders and some members of the kingdom were startled and immediately stood up. So were the five young men who were immediately surprised as they stood up from the water.

 "Oh my, why is this?" asked Elard, who was the successor candidate of the tiger demon race. 

      The ape demon named Fazwan replied, "I don't know."

       The Aurora gem floated into the air, they turned their heads slightly, all closing their eyes in unison as the light grew larger and more dazzling. When the light dimmed the aurora gem disappeared and was replaced by a woman who seemed to float in a state of sleep.

      "Oh my, what's going on?" asked the Queen Mother in confusion, the old woman standing by the pond then grabbed the hand of a beautiful girl standing next to her.

      "Who is that girl?" The girl vaguely saw a floating figure.

      The light completely dimmed, the girl's body fell into the pond where the young men were bathing.

      "Oh my!" shrieked, King Arsen immediately picked up the body of the drifting girl.

      "Who is that girl? How did she get into the palace, when we keep this place tightly closed to prevent outsiders from entering and disrupting the coming of age ritual?" Elard wondered at the beautiful face in King Arsen's arms.

      The five youths noticed the girl's beautiful face where the white knee-high dress was soaked.

     "It's a bride!" screamed the religious elder who had performed the ritual.

     Everyone turned to the religious leader staring in astonishment. They widened their eyes simultaneously. The Aurora jewel would choose its vessel destined to become a bride. It had been told for generations and was considered a myth.

      "I thought it was just a myth," complained a girl near the Queen Mother.

      "It's not a myth, Anantari, it's a real thing that happens," the Queen Mother explained with sparkling eyes. "The bride will appear as a savior from destruction," said the Queen Mother.

     "Whoever marries the bride of Aurora's jewel selection, it is as if the man gains strength and power at the same time," explained the religious leader.

      "I want my son to marry that girl!" squeaked the Queen Mother smiling.

      "But Queen Mother, hasn't it been decided that King Arsen will marry my daughter Anantari?" Another middle-aged woman of the tiger race stared at Anantari's face alternately with the Queen Mother.

       "How is it, huh? I don't want to waste this rare opportunity." A light voice came out of the Queen Mother's mouth without guilt.

Selfishness creeps into the Queen Mother, for her who has eaten a lot of salt and pepper of life, the presence of Aurora's bride is an extraordinary thing that she doesn't want to miss. Although power and wealth are already abundant. It's just that the old woman wants her children and grandchildren to be the best. She was afraid if there was another demon figure or even someone once who had power beyond descent. As a king whose children would inherit the throne from generation to generation, they had to be stronger to keep the balance so that it would not be easily shaken.

       'Why is the Queen Mother like this, she was the one who matched me with King Arsen. Then now?" Anantari complained in her mind, slapped with bitter reality.

      The Queen Mother walked closer, "Take the girl to the Eastern Palace!" she shouted.

       The young men who were still in the same place rose to their feet to leave the place. At the same time, Kalina, who was considered a bride, began to be disturbed by voices. The girl slowly opened her eyes which immediately bulged when she saw herself in the arms of a man.

     "Argh!" she shouted and pushed Arsen's body. The girl fell from the king's arms. "Who are you?" she asked, still shouting at the strangers surrounding her. "Am I in the afterlife and met the inhabitants of heaven?" she squeaked looking at the strange clothes they were wearing.

      "Are you all right?" asked Anantari and held out her hand.

      "Mom," Kalina called out, causing everyone to turn to Anantari.

      Anantari frowned in confusion and immediately retracted her hand, while the people around her also started with a look that could not be described.

      Noticing something strange, Kalina looked around. She smiled as she saw Elard walking over. However, the smile faded when a man looked up from where Elard stood. The heart seemed to stop beating, a strange sail running through it. The longing was as endless as the dry land now covered in a soothing drizzle. A happy gleam shone in those eyes.

      "Eagle." Kalina said again. The girl recalled what she had just experienced. 'Did I get thrown back in time?" she asked.

      "Hey, kiddo. Are you okay?" The Queen Mother's voice startled her.

 "Don't come any closer!" A squeaky voice screamed in fear and hugged his knees.

      "Hey, we're not bad people." Anantari said again with a worried look on her face. "Come on!" she invited, holding out her hand.

     Kalina took Anantari's hand, and the girl noticed the friendly smile of the woman who looked so much like her future mother-in-law. She also realized something, 'I was swallowed by a light and came to a strange place, did I travel through time?' Kalina's vision returned to pitch black. 

Continued....

@lovely_karra