Aurora

Part 1, Chapter 9

Arrabella.nine

I groaned as I opened my eyes to the bright morning sun. I felt something stir against me and I looked down to see Zinnia snuggled up behind me with Tessa on her other side.

I stood up carefully, making sure I didn't wake them, before walking away to stretch. I sighed, putting my hands on my hips.

I didn't expect for us to be staying for a couple of days but that's how it had to be. King’s orders.

“Good, you're awake.” I heard Slone say from behind me and I turned to look up at her.

“That I am. You need me?” I asked her and she shook her head.

“I just wanted to tell you that Claire was sent to the warfront. Don't go looking for her.” She said and I sighed.

“What if we can't bring her back?” I asked and she looked up at the sky.

“After her first kill, she never was the same. I don't know how many she's had now. They treat her like a tool and nothing more. She's just a military weapon to our father. She just…”

“She can’t actually let herself become a tool.” I finished for her and she nodded.

“I won’t let father get to you and Acira.” She said, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“He’s already gotten to me, Slone. I just won’t kill.” I told her sheepishly and she shook her head, sighing.

“One day you will.” She whispered. My lips tightened into a thin line as I looked away from her, towards the horizon.

We stood in silence before a question popped into my mind.

“Hey… does the earth feel… off to you?” I asked her and she looked down at me, thinking.

“Well, the air has been feeling a bit odd these past few days. I wouldn't really know much about the earth.” She laughed softly and I rolled my eyes. “Why do you ask?”

“I don't know. The planet just seems so off to me, it feels… contaminated. When I was sending my magic through the air and through the ground yesterday, it felt like it was sapping so much more of my power than usual. It was like it was trying to heal itself. I ended up so tired, and I still am. I can just feel it tugging at my being, even now.” I sighed, looking up at the sky before closing my eyes and breathing in deeply.

“I can't give you much advice, but I do truly hope that everything is alright. But if you think something is wrong, then something must me wrong. You've always had a special connection with life, unlike the rest of us. Just don't worry about it for now.” She told me before releasing her wings and flying off.

I sighed before releasing my magic to the earth. My stomach grumbled and I looked down at my belly.

Where’s some food around here?

I jogged through the city, looking for a place to eat. My mood dropped as I saw people staring at me with resentment.

My pace quickened as I turned a corner.

“Hungry?”

“Oh!” I exclaimed, stumbling back. I looked around for whoever spoke.

“Excuse me? Down here!”

I looked down and saw a short, small person looking up at me angrily.

“Oh hello little man.” I said, squatting down to his level.

“I am not little!” He stomped his foot and I held back a laugh.

“Then what are you?” I asked him and he glared at me.

“I’m a Dargra.” He huffed indignantly and I raised my eyebrow.

“Oh, so you’re a servant for a high house.” I raised my eyebrows.

“I am not a servant! You racist!” He exclaimed loudly and I blinked, confused.

“A dargra is a servant for the high houses, little man.” I told him and he huffed.

“Dargra are a species, not a bunch of lowlife servants.”

“Then why don't I know this?” I asked him.

“Because we are not native to this country, you stupid racist!” He screamed and I held in a laugh.

“Okay okay mister dargra. You win. Now, you said that you had food?” I asked him and he brightened immediately.

“Oh yes yes, follow me!” He jumped before scampering away. I quickly collected myself and followed him.

He stopped in front of a restaurant and I sighed in relief.

“Thank you…”

“Ignis.”

“Thank you Ignis for leading me to this restaurant.” I told him and he nodded before running away.

What an odd little man.

I shook my head before walking in, taking notice that there were about two customers here. I walked up to the front desk and rang the bell.

“Coming!” I heard from the kitchen.

A tall, thin woman with a long cat's tail came to the front desk.

“Welcome! How may I take your- oh! Princess Arrabella! What an honor.” She stopped mid-sentence when she saw me, looking very surprised, before bowing low.

“Y-You don't need to do that.” I said, feeling uncomfortable.

“My apologies, your majesty.” She said, standing up straight. “What would you like?”

“It doesn't really matter, just some food please. For my sisters and I.” I told her and she nodded. “How much will that be?”

“Oh no, it's on the house, your majesty.” She smiled and I shook my head.

“No, I'm paying, I insist.” I said firmly and she looked at me nervously before ringing my food up.

“T-That’ll be-” She was cut off as the front door slammed open, causing me to jump slightly.

“Drea! My favourite kitty, how have you been?” I heard a gruff voice say behind me, but I didn't dare turn around.

“What are you doing here, Beus.” She blinked nervously, glancing at me before quickly looking back at him.

“I came for my money, of course. I hope you didn't forget that you're really behind on your payments.” He laughed and she paled.

“I don't have the money.” She huffed and he sighed.

“Look, I don't want anyone to get hurt. Just hand over the money.” He said.

“I don't have any money.” She gritted her teeth and he sighed.

“Can't say I didn't warn you.” He said before  stepping closer.

I looked at him in the corner of my eye as he began to swing. I quickly gripped the hilt of my sword and immediately blocked his attack.

“I can't let you do that.” I told him and he laughed. I ran magic through my limbs before shoving him back harshly. I began collecting magic in my sword, readying to strike.

“That was a mistake.” He growled before charging at me. I moved my sword behind me before slashing it at him, releasing my magic in a wide arc. He flew backwards into the wall as it impacted him. Quickly, I drew an enchant in the air.

“Bind!” I shouted, pushing on the glowing green enchant in the air. It disappeared into millions of tiny little rose petals. Golden ropes flew at the man, wrapping around his arms and legs before he could get up again.

He howled in rage as I took this time to catch my breath.

“Mommy? What's happening?” I whipped my head to the side to see a little girl run out of the back room and grab Drea’s leg in fright. A little boy followed her soon after, looking at me with wide eyes.

While I was distracted, I didn't realise that the man had broken free of his binds and had lunged for me.

“Look out!” The boy exclaimed just as I was tackled to the ground. I let out a cry of pain as his full weight crushed me.

“You stupid girl. You don't mess with the Crimson Sun.” He said as his weight lifted off of me a bit. Seeing the small gleam of metal in time, I quickly moved my head to the side as the knife buried itself right beside of my head.

“Arra!” I heard Slone exclaim and I gasped in response.

“Protect the other people in here.” I wheezed as I head butted the man. He rolled off of me in pain and I quickly scrambled to my feet. I looked to my left to see Acira creating a wind barrier around the three.

“Arra, you're bleeding!” Tessa gasped from behind me.

“I'll be fine.” I told her. I pointed my sword at him and watch him look between Slone and I.

Then he bolted.

“Oh no you don’t!” Slone gritted as she cracked her whip onto his wrist before yanking him off of his feet, back towards us. Before he could recover, Slone knocked him unconscious.

“I love how that was so easy for you.” I rolled my eyes as I relaxed. I looked over at Acira, who had already dropped her wind barrier.

“Drea, are you alright?” I asked her as I walked over. The two children clinging to her were looking at me with wide eyes and I felt bad for scaring them.

“Y-yeah. Thank you.” She blinked before looking down at the children. She rubbed the top of their heads before stepping back. “I'll make you that food.” she said before rushing off to the kitchen. The two children that were clinging to her stood still.

“You guys wanna see something cool?” Acira asked the two, smiling. They looked at her blankly before slowly nodding. Acira slowly began to float off of the ground and they came to life, looking at her in wonder.

“How are you doing that?” The girl asked Acira and the boy slapped her arm.

“She's obviously magical, Cecalla.” He scoffed.

“No dur, dargra-brain.” She squinted her eyes at him and he gasped in disbelief.

“I'll have you know that I'm really smart for my age!” He screeched and they glared at each other.

“Yeah right Mateus, you're dumber than any Forax I know.”

He gasped. “How dare you!”

They stared at each other fiercely for several moments before they both started laughing.

“I hate you Calla.”

“Love you too Matt.”

“I’m Acira!” Acira exclaimed, cutting in at the oddest time and the stared at her for a moment before all three started to laugh.

Suddenly, my stomach started to growl.

“Where's that food?”