THE following day, Eleand woke up early because Lifa was already busy cleaning around. He just saw her out from the bathroom with illuminating flowers at hand. Lifa paused when she witnessed him already awake.
“I already prepared your bath. You need to look presentable because you will eat breakfast along with the Lady.”
He got up and immediately went inside the bathroom. This palace never ceased to amaze him. He was startled to see the bathroom, spacious enough for its use. There was this pool-sized jacuzzi! He couldn’t care less what kind of magic was used here, but he needed to refresh himself to catch the breakfast with Aserah.
Eleand swiftly moved as he could straight to the walk-in closet. He pondered for a moment about the proper clothes to wear. He chose the light blue tunic and black pants. He couldn’t help himself to smile to see various footwear in a row. He picked the black leather boots. He did not wear a cloak because the morning temperature was not that cold.
Eleand was nearly out of the room when he saw the amulet from Aserah lying close to the flower base on the small table beside the door. He should wear it for his protection.
All his hesitation disappeared when he didn’t feel anything weird upon wearing it. Until he noticed every tiny detail from afar that he knew his mortal eye could not see. Maybe this was the amulet’s power. It will bestow her the gift of faerie eyes.
He wondered once more because there were so many weird creatures around the enormous hallway outside his room. Or maybe there might be a special occasion today that these faeries wandering around the palace?
He had to step back a few times because of these peculiar things he could not identify. Some of them had wings like a bird, some like bats and butterflies.
Eleand breathed out to get used to them. He should normalize seeing them anytime because he would be staying here.
He raised his head, cleared his throat, and went walking down the stairs.
Amidst the stairs, he bumped into another weird being—a male faerie with a wolf mask. He scrutinized him and shook his head.
What is your problem? He shrugged off and continued to walk towards the grand dining hall.
Now he could see vividly every intricate detail of the palace outside the council room. Giant gold chandeliers were flaunting in the ceiling. The interior design was nearly the same on every side. The green and gold were the most prominent in their color palette. Maybe it was the color of Noyuh, judging some of the hanging green flags with the gold insignia.
Ancient symbols and carvings were visible in every corner. Surely, magic lurked around these symbols perfectly chiseled and designed in these walls.
His curiosity went far as various groups of faeries seemed busy around.
Why were they not here yesterday? He couldn’t be so sure that faeries must have day-offs and holidays.
Interesting.
Winzi’s teasing voice covered his head. But she could not see her around.
You see them because you’re wearing Aserah’s amulet, Moron!
Eleand paused upon hearing those words. Does this mean these faeries were just here, and he couldn’t see them because of his mortal eye?
Exactly!
He heard Winzi’s evil laugh. The little witch was making fun of him again. Maybe she was just bored, and she chose to toy around him. She got to be kidding about him unseeing these creatures before.
You can take a look outside. I’m serious.
Eleand hurriedly walked towards the main door of the palace. He saw four guards standing there, and they wore gold armor with a long sword on their hips.
The guards looked at him and crazily grinned as if they remembered his stupidity last night.
He looked around outside. Countless faeries were there. There were a group of pixies playing in the sprawling garden. But the faerie warriors were more in numbers than his estimate count. They were busy sparring on the ground.
In the waterfall nearby, he witnessed a group of male faeries similar to Ahldrin. Only the wings were ivory white. It seemed like they were practicing aerial combat.
If these creatures were just here all along, then they must be his audience last night! He suddenly felt the rising temperature in his face, especially when he heard the sinister laugh of Winzi.
“Darn!” he cussed. Murmuring it over and over. He never felt this kind of embarrassment in his life. He could imagine them laughing at him last night while he thought he was all alone.
Eleand went back to the dining hall. It took him a while to gain back his confidence, and he walked back inside level-headed. The faeries he met along the way smiled at him in amusement.
“SO, how’s the effect of the amulet?” Winzi immediately asked with unconcealed excitement when Eleand finally reached the dining hall. The faeries belong in Noyuh’s High Corps, sitting comfortably there.
“It’s fine,” he lowered his eyes. Of course, they knew about the stupidity he did last night.
“Have a seat,” Nahil said, smiling.
Eleand chose to sit far from them since the table was huge and so many vacant chairs. But there was a warning from Asera’s eyes. He stood up and seated beside Ahldrin and Winzi. While Zanti was in his front, and Aserah was in the middle of the huge dining table.
“Starting today, you will join us at breakfast time,” Aserah said.
Eleand agreed. He surveyed the foods on the table— fruits, meats, and vegetables. Lifa was in sight, busy preparing for drinks along with the other two faeries.
“So, you’re Eleand. We are not properly introduced. I’m Zanti,” said the trouble-looking faerie in front of him. He wore a black tunic with gray linings—good thing that he was not wearing the black hood that he saw yesterday. His eyes didn’t miss the intricate tattoo on his left arms down to his fingers.
He tried to smile and acknowledge his deathly presence. Among the faeries sitting around him, Zanti had a frightening aura. Even if he smiled often compared to others. It made him curious about the magic he could wield.
A moment of silence passed, and Eleand didn’t hesitate to eat. Even he was not used to eating breakfast. The foods were perfect in his appetite. He could not just properly express it. He had not seen the need to compliment them since they could easily read his mind.
Zanti asked him again. “What is the thing you like the most in the mortal world?”
“Nothing special,” he simply answered. Most of his time was spent running their business and more on family time. Too bad that his marriage failed.
Zanti clicked his tongue. “I see. I’m inviting you for a hunt. I heard you’ll stay here for a while.”
“Hunt?” His eyes broadened. He despised hunting back in the mortal world because he believed animals should not suffer a cruel death for fun.
“Can you wield a sword?” he asked again in between chewing a ripe grape.
“Sorry, I can’t.” He swallowed the berry before he continued, “I’m not good at using swords, but I can say that I’m quite better in archery.”
Zanti nodded in approval. “That’s awesome.”
Winzi’s skeptical look reached his sight. Her one brow raised and appeared doubtful upon hearing his words.
“We’ll go hunting today. I’m bored. We’ll need to wait for a few days to attend the council meeting in Argia.” Zanti just finished eating.
“Okay,” he clasped the glass and drank some water. He instantly regretted that he flaunted his archery skills. What if something has gone wrong? Worse, what if Zanti was planning something sinister because he was a human?
But on the second thought, it was for his own good. He trusted Aserah, and Zanti was trying to be friendly. Besides, it was better if he could look around Noyuh, and hopefully, he could find some clues where Elida went.
THE hierarchy of the Aserah’s Inner High Corps was discussed to Eleand while they were eating. Ahldrin was the Army’s General, Nahil was the Second-in-Command, Winzi the Seer, and Zanti was the Spy-Assassin.
He was right about Zanti’s murderous presence. The thought of being with an assassin in a hunt made his body shiver. But surprisingly, Zanti made him feel at ease compared to Ahldrin that looked uninterested as usual.
The High Corps was given an individual task this day, while Eleand was assigned to be with Zanti for a hunt. A golden bow was handed to him as a weapon.
“Where would you like to hunt? Do you want to try the Winter Region?” Zanti asked when they were nearly out from the palace.
“I’m not ready to freeze,” he smiled. He simply hated winter because he could not stand in the cold for long.
“Okay, then we’ll try the forest of Aderawiel, that’s the Autumn Region. Then tomorrow, we’ll explore the other regions so you could go around Noyuh.”
“Thanks.”
They glided to the stairs. They bumped into two guards and bowed to Zanti. The Assassin nodded in return. But Zanti paused when he saw Nahil talking with a pixie.
“Hey, Nana!” Zanti called her.
“Why?” Nahil raised her brow when she turned in their direction.
“Would you like to come with us?” Zanti winked.
Nahil rolled her eyes in return, “I’m in-charged guarding the palace. You better be back here early because I need to go somewhere tonight.”
Zanti went serious. “Going where?”
“I’ll be attending a ball in Alsache.”
Zanti shrugged and looked at him. At the same time, he was amazed watching Zanti and Nahil. He could feel that something was going on between them. But he couldn’t ask.
“All right, let’s move.” Zanti held his shoulder, and a black mist surrounded them.
Eleand felt dizzy again. They were covered in a dark haze at his consciousness was on the verge of collapsing.
MIXED emotions of wonder crossed Eleand’s face when they reached the mountainous part of the Autumn Region. They walked for over an hour after Zanti’s teleportation, but he did not have the slightest idea what they were searching for. Everywhere he looked, the plants and trees were in the season of fall. The leaves were red and yellow, while the other trees were completely out of leaves.“What kind of animals are we trying to catch?” Eleand could not endure asking questions because it would be better if he got an idea, so he wouldn’t be surprised if it was another weird and frightening creature. Besides, he was still alert whether Zanti might do something to him. However, the Assassin proved himself that he was trying his best to be friendly.“We are not hunting animals. We’re going to catch a Migus. It’s challenging.” Zanti smiled.“What is that?” His
ON the golden throne, Aserah stood up when Zanti and Eleand came around. A moment later, Winzi and Ahldrin suddenly materialized from sight and appeared out of breath. Ahldrin’s arms were bleeding.“What happened?” Aserah’s forehead creased.“I was roaming around Croea when I saw a threatening vision,” Winzi said, not even blinking.“What vision?” Ahldrin asked. His wounds were slowly healing. Every faerie of royal blood can heal themselves fast unless heavily wounded. It would take time for the body to recover.“I’ve seen the Ancient Queen along with her trusted cadre, visiting the Golden Palace.” Winzi looked agitated.Aserah nodded. She silently gritted her teeth, but she composed herself. She needed to add more warding spells to the palace.“How about you Ahldrin, you rarely got wounds in a fight. Who did this to you?&rdqu
MEANWHILE, on the other side of the throne room, Eleand met Winzi’s gaze. Her silver eyes were glimmering as she gave him a warning. This little witch immediately ran into him when the intruders came inside, a female faerie in black and a male that looked like a warrior.Winzi was communicating with him in his mind while holding his shoulders.Don’t look at them. Just look at me.She followed Winzi’s command. He could sense the danger; he couldn’t control his body as it trembles voluntarily just in the presence of the female faerie in black. He could hear her talking with Aserah. Her voice was dangerous and sweet in her ears. Maybe it was a typical attribute of one faerie—enchanting.The intruder’s laugh was soft but sinister. An invisible force made him look in her direction. Even Winzi was trying to block his sight.Thanks to the gift of faerie eyes, he coul
INSIDE his room in the Golden Palace, Eleand came back to his senses. He could still feel the sweat forming on his forehead. He saw something. A bloodbath. He vividly visualized hundreds of bodies bathing in their blood.He had a frightening dream. It was so unpleasant that he felt throwing up. Maybe this was just the after-effect of the presence of the Ancient Queen because he saw her in his dream. Although her face was blurred, he was sure the slaughter was her doing. Darkness was everywhere, and the queen held a bloody sword. The pommel was a black diamond in the hilt of her sword. There was no remorse in her face when she slew a hundred warriors.Shit, he cursed more. He slowly got up and leaned his back on the headboard. His throat dried because of his nightmare. Maybe the evil queen cast a spell on him?“Thank the heavens. You’re awake.”He spotted Winzi emerge from the terrace
ELEAND stared at the faeries minding their own business outside the Golden Palace, and in his hand, he held the book of magic Aserah gave him. He had a lot of things going in his mind, but he made sure that his goals were clear. He had to survive and endure everything to be able to wield strong magic.He stood few meters away from the main door when he went back to his senses. Some faeries looked at him and mostly didn’t even care. He would always look forward to getting back here.“Are you ready?” asked Winzi behind him. He was caught in awe because of the white fur cape resting on her shoulder.Eleand figured that she knew what he was thinking. Winzi rolled her eyes and scrutinized him from head to toe.“What is your problem?” he asked with unconcealed irritation. He just didn’t like the mocking smile plastered on her face.“How many times do I have to tell you
“TAKE it easy. He won’t bite.” Winzi reassured Eleand after she was satisfied making fun of him. This witch was lying! The beast ran fast, going to their spot, and Eleand was ready to shoot. But it suddenly transformed into a male fae. Just like everyone, his appearance would make those human male magazine models envious. His pointed ears and tanned skin were impeccable. There was a triangle mark on his forehead. His long red hair smoothly flowed, and his vibrant green eyes somehow looked friendly. “I guess I have visitors.” The faerie smiled at them, then turned his attention to Winzi and winked, “Hello, Princess. I’m glad you paid a visit.” Eleand drew a deep breath and relaxed when he heard his welcoming voice. Then he almost laughed when he witnessed how Winzi blushed, and her cheeks turned reddish than normal. Now he got an idea of Winzi’s type—wild faerie beast. “We are going to Fariyah’s temple, so I dropped a visi
THE guards arched their heads down to acknowledge Winzi. At the same time, Eleand was apprehensive when he entered the temple. Winzi just tilted her head to the guards, and she guided him inside.The vast hall startled Eleand as they strolled. Six large blue chandeliers were hanging on the ceiling, the intricate details on the wall were painted in gold.At the center of the hall, there was a colossal statue of a woman made of ice. The sculpture held a lance. Maybe this was the representation of Fariyah.“That is the ice statue of Viera, the Goddess of Winter,” Winzi said upon reading his thoughts. She even rolled her eyes and spoke again, “She is Fariyah’s ancestor.”“Nice,” he was amazed to know. It seemed like the source of the mythology from his world had a basis.They were both stunned when a female faerie emerged from nowhere. She wore a white hooded swirling gown. Her
ENKILLE provided him breakfast when he woke up in the morning. She proudly showed him the walk-in closet where his clothes were neatly hanged. All were winter clothing and several battle armors.“Today, I suggest you wear special armor and a fighting suit because Fariyah will test your strength. Physically and mentally. Best of luck!” she said when he finished his meal.She immediately left after giving him some advice for his first day of sparring with the priestess. Although he was agitated thinking about what could happen, Enkille reassured him that everything would turn out good if he did his best.Eleand chose the appropriate clothing according to Enkille’s advice. He picked the black suit with silver linings. That combination became his new favorite for an unknown reason. He just really loved dark colors.He went down with his golden bow. Better be prepared because he could not wield any other weapon.