1: Horizenia’s demands

She still remembered that day.

It had rained and the soil was damp and smelled earthy.

Selly had been inside when she heard a knock. Deciding to answer the door, she wrapped herself with a scarf and headed out.

The sky was already turning into a mixture of black and golden-red hues, a promise of changing seasons.

The young woman who looked no more than twenty stood by the entrance. Spotting her late-hour visitor walking towards her with the help of a cane, she decided to meet her half way.

“Mother priestess,” Selly’s face lit up as she bowed at the older woman. “I have been thinking about paying you a visit lately but here you are.

At her words, a girly chuckle escaped the old woman’s lips.

“The sky is rather colorful today that I felt like stretching these old legs of mine.”

The woman bowed even deeper than she did, “Apologies for arriving unannounced.”

Holding mother priestess' hand, she led her towards a pavilion by the garden.

Shortly, a maid arrived with a tray, the kettle emitting steam which was a stark contrast to the weather.

“Mother priestess.” She greeted and left as quickly as she came.

The priestess nodded as her face crinkled at the fleeting maid, she walked too fast for a woman, she thought . She then reached for the kettle but Selly was quicker,

“Let me.”

“You may be younger but I know my place.” The woman persisted. “Please allow me to serve the keeper of Agal.”

The fresh aroma of the tea wafted in the air and mingled beautifully with the different scents emitted by flowers that surrounded the pavilion, bringing in a sense of tranquility.

Selly leaned back on her chair, not wanting to make her stubborn guest uncomfortable.

“I see you have made up your mind.” She said as she poured tea in Selly’s cup then hers.

Selly did not respond.

What was the point of denying it when it was the priestess herself who brought it up?

Besides, no one could really hide anything from her. Not even the king of Erichon would hide his wildest of thoughts when she was around.

The old woman took a sip and sighed.

“Your mate yearns for you and has been trying to reach…you?”

At her words, Selly’s calm facade crumbled and her eyes turned glassy with unshed tears.

“It is not in my place to stop you but if possible please do re-consider. There is too much at stake.” She took her hand into her wrinkly ones.

“The kingdom of Erichon needs you.”

Patting her hand, she wiped a lone tear from Selly’s supple cheeks.

“It's unfair to you, I know. But it's also hard for everyone. After all, no one could have foreseen you getting a mate.”

That's right. Regardless of which kingdom they were from, all previous keepers of Agal were never mated. Such was the life of keepers of their world, which was why Selly was overjoyed when she found out she had one.

“Forgive me for being crude with you child but perhaps it was not meant for you two to share a lifetime.”

“How could you say that?” Selly broke down in tears, no longer able to hold it in.

Her life was becoming unbearable and her mind, a beautiful mess.

Taking a handkerchief, she dabbed her runny nose. “Tell me, mother priestess, if we were not supposed to meet then why did he reach out to me?

Remorseful, the priestess tried to explain but her words only added to the growing agony. Hopeless, minutes passed as she watched in silence, waiting until Selly gathered herself again.

“As for why he chose to contact you is beyond my comprehension. I can only see so much as my vision is limited when it becomes a matter between worlds.”

A memory of a drowning man flashed as Selly recalled the repetitive dream she had had for several weeks.

In her dream, a man struggled to stay afloat but the currents were too strong while she stood by the shore helpless as the river with pitch black waters swallowed him little by little.

She couldn't see his face but his upper middle back had a glowing rune that she identified to only belong to her mate.

Selly stared at the woman, “I have a feeling that if I do not find him soon, something bad might happen to him and I won't be able to see him again.”

“It's like he calls for help and who better to be there for him if not me, his fated mate.”

Watching the sky as she stared into nothing, she narrated the vision to the priestess.

“...I told his majesty that I will not be agreeing to marry king Veryl when I already have my own mate.” She said between sniffs.

“And he told you no.” The woman completed her sentence knowingly.

Selly clenched her jaws. Her life was not her own. It has never been.

For the first time, she felt the weight of being a veil keeper of Agal, the world of supernaturals weighing heavily on her shoulders.

She wished for a way out. She hoped there was a way to step down and give the responsibilities to a willing person, after all, most people wished the Goddess would have chosen them to keep the veil between the human and the supernatural.

It wasn't that the king sent her to persuade the young lady but she knew better. There was no way around it, one of the two parties had to suffer to keep the peace that was subject to uncertainties.

Bracing herself, the old woman stood up, having taken only a sip from the tea cup.

“I know that I am being selfish,” She said, her eyes softening upon contact with Selly’s, “but if you choose to leave, there will be war. And where there is war there's death.”

With those words she took her cane and walked away prompting Selly to stand up.

“I will come back after I find my mate.”

The old woman stopped in her tracks, seemingly contemplating about something.

“As soon as I mate and get marked, I will…come back to Erichon.”

“The journey you are embarking on won't be a smooth one. Storms await ahead.” She said without turning to see her reaction and took off.

Selly could only stare at her retreating back.

When she got outside the gate and was sure that Selly couldn't see her, the priestess wiped her tears and climbed on her carriage.

Time flew by and Selly sat on her bed holding a letter with a royal seal on it. The king had sent it. Inside of that letter was her fate, her kingdom’s, and that of Agal.

The young and ferocious king of Horizenia’s demands were clear. If they didn't offer Selly as a replacement bride then he would wage war against Erichon.