The Fairy Queen

Chapter 10

To Sylin, it was the gateway. To Meryl, it was an abandoned mine cave with stalactites building up along the walls and ceiling. A tremor wracked her body once more making her feet buckle. He glanced at her shortly before removing his cloak and covering her body with it.

She didn’t stop trembling but it was better than the thin shirt and shorts she was putting on. They walked through the cave in silence until they reached it. Meryl felt a strange energy and something akin to a call from the other side. It felt warm, like she was finally returning where she belonged. Was this what he meant when he said where she was wasn’t her home.

“Princess?”

Sylin looked back to see her frozen in place. Her still golden eyes met his.

“What’s over there?”

“Home.”

Going through the gateway felt like walking through a plastic film. It was nearly midnight when they left but when she came out, the sun was shinning brightly in the skies. She could hear bird calls loudly even though they were coming from far away.

They came out at the edge of a cave. Everything from there on felt like stepping on mowed grass with how green the ground looked. It also gave a strange kind of feel.

Pain shoot through her spine, her legs giving out. Before she fell, Sylin caught her. She was looking more unwell by the minute. There were bags under her eyes and her vision was becoming unfocused. Her eyes were already turning back to their normal dull brown color.

“Forgive me Princess.”

“Hmm? For?”

She was swept off her feet and into his arms like she weight nothing. With the way he carried Lukas earlier, she probably did. Those tinted wings spread again.

“You might feel a bit nauseous but please bear with it. We have to reach the palace right away.”

Sylin’s words were like a mumble in her ears. She nodded, feeling increasingly groggy. He held on tighter and took to the air. Even with her mind in a foggy state, she felt the sharp sting of the wind and gravity on her face. For a moment, everything felt clear and she felt… Euphoria.

Then she lost consciousness.

Sylin landed in front of two huge wooden doors. There were two guards who saluted him; a simple military salute where the right index finger was pointed to the heart and the rest held in a fist. He nodded and they opened the doors. After he was gone, they started to whisper.

“Is that the Princess?”

“Probably not. He must’ve picked up a reckless doll again.”

“Haha. Think they’re doing it on purpose?”

“Duke Sylin is very handsome. Any fairy would be happy to be with him.”

“Why are you talking like that? Do you also want to be with him?”

“People like me dare not think such a thing. Come on, look ahead. The captain would be mad at us if he caught us slacking off again.”

The halls echoed as he walked through them. He was the only one in there so it definitely felt significant. Everytime he came to the palace, there was always guilt in his heart, eating away at him. The scars on the wall, they were a reminder that the fairies failed their queen. He failed his Queen.

The girl in his arms tossed and groaned. Even though she was out, the pain was still enough to make her squeeze her face in discomfort.

A fairy growing out their wings was no easy task. Fairies are born without wings. Slowly, over the course of their life, as they absorbed mana, they started to grow their wings. It was like growing a teeth.

If for some reason, the wings broke, they would grow back again. This time, the growth would be slower but the pain could be compared to having a bone broken over and over again.

However, if a wing is pulled out, it would never grow back again. Most fairies that have their wings pulled out die from the pain, mana loss and blood loss. Even the ones that survive eventually die from it.

A fairy that has survived most of her life without her wings was unheard of. The Princess was definitely the first. It would most likely cause an uproar.

There were other echoes in the hall, a foretelling sign that someone else was there. His instincts screamed at him to run as far as he could with the Princess but he held his peace. He knew who was coming; the most troublesome Fairy Duke in the kingdom; Duke Hephit.

“S-Y-L-I-N. Spar with me.” His flowery gentle voice came before his face. White hair in a bob with short bangs in front, bright grey eyes on a baby face with dimples when he smiled, he didn’t look like much of a threat.

“I’m busy,” came Sylin’s cold reply.

“B-But I came to the palace everyday to wait for you!”

“You are a Duke. Carrying out your duties are more important.”

“But they’re boringgggg.”

“That matters not to me.”

“Hey! What’s that in your arms?”

Hephit was not a gentle person by any means. If he found out about the Princess, it would be more trouble for Sylin.

“It is none of your business. Would you please excuse me.”

“Eh.”

Denying Hephit only made him more curious. He smirked, unsheating his weapon.

“Don’t you even think about it.” Sylin glared.

“Boo. You’re so boring.”

“Duke Hephit. I. Am. Busy.”

“Fine. I’ll come back later.”

Sylin got rid of him now but he would definitely be back later. He would also find out about the return of the Princess. Sylin would admit it, he was curious.

What would Duke Hephit do about it, seeing he was the Duke of the dark fairies?

It was a trivial thought. It was not worth his thoughts. Everything in his mind was focused on the girl in his arms.

She was finally back. Their Princess.