Querencia World Book3: The Mystery of The Mermaid Fortress

Chapter 9 Exiled

Maiden Louverielle cast us away from the Maiden Fortress, her feeling of mingled dread and anger makes the Maiden completely berserk.

Before she loses her temper, Master Xavion urges us to leave. The chain in Raiden’s feet breaks, and he can swim in his dragon form.

As we walk further away from Maiden Louverielle, I almost turn my head to check on our Maiden. I want to at least check on her for the last time, but before I do, Master Xavion warns me “, Do not look back or else you will increase the Maiden anger, and she might cause danger. No matter what, do not look back at her.” his voice is firm.

I know I cannot let the Maiden let loose of her bottled emotions. We need to be far away to calm her nerves.

We hit the water, and the Kraken is waiting for Master Xavion; he still rides the Kraken for Raiden is too weak in his dragon form, he swims slower.

We manage to swim in the same phase as Raiden. Our journey is undeniably longer compare to our travel going to the Fortress.

Suddenly, it hits me that we are swimming far away from the Fortress that I endeared. My family, it crosses my mind, I stop swimming and get Master Xavion's attention.

“Master Xavion, my family, how about them if I am leaving the Fortress. My mother will worry.” I remind him.

“I know, I will ask my friend, Caesar, who is a ghost to deliver something in your house, a letter perhaps, informing them that the Maiden chose you to journey along with other mythical creatures for a research study,”

Master Xavion's brilliant idea amazes me. I smile timidly as his idea. I do not have anything, in particular, I carry with me. I only have myself. The fact that I have the opportunity to travel with powerful mythical creatures like dragons and the wizard is such a privileged.

Raiden does not say any word throughout our travel; he is quiet. We reach the Enchanted Fortress, and the sunrise is almost there.

Raiden dragon form can attract anyone's attention, and the least we want is to trigger the Elders that a dragon is staying in the mythical borders and not living in their sanctuary.

The Elders will get suspicious when they know a dragon sighted in the Enchanted Forest. We are careful not to get caught. We let Raiden hide in a cave deep in the water until he is not changing into his human form.

Master Xavion and I wait in the land even though I convince him to let me stay with Raiden to take care of him. Master Xavion best advise me that is it is safe not to see a dragon change its form, whether to its human or dragon appearance. The dragon aware of that; they are avoiding to change in the eyes of any humans or mythical creatures.

“The dragons can enchant someone if they change their form. If a dragon wants to charm a person's heart, they can do it freely. It is one of the dragon’s power. Raiden uses that technique to overrule the heart of his wife, Maiden Rosille; she is unable to resist the power of her own heart,” Master Xavion explained.

“The dragons are extraordinary creatures who can bring out a flair inside you that you do not expect. It is mostly the most unwanted feelings a person harbor. The feelings that are afraid to feel by someone but dragons have that power to cast that fear away and embrace those emotions. For a Maiden like his wife Rosille, it is a turning point for she breaks a sacred Maiden rule. Raiden meant to suffer for enchanting a Maiden, for he breaks the nature of law in the mermaid's community. Each creature lives by respecting each other, and if one breaks the rules of one existing law, that creature is bound to suffer the consequences of his act. Raiden's cage for a long time by his daughter is his punishment. Any of us do not have any right to question that. I favor freeing Raiden for he suffers long enough,” Master Xavion narrated.

My knowledge about dragons multiplied. I know about their power, and they can easily charm anyone they wish too. The dragon is mighty in every way, but as I witness Raiden, health weakens. I realize that even a dragon that falls in love can be beaten by it. No one can escape the power of love, and that is the bare reason I find it scarier.

I take a mental note about dragons' charms and power. I need to protect myself if I want my dream to be a Maiden comes to life. I need to prove to Master Xavion that I am serious about it.

I am startled when a man comes out in the water. He wears the silk fabric cloth of the Maiden Fortress; it is waterproof. The man has muscles, and he is bulky. He is handsome and has that striking aura. He has long, wavy hair. He is tall; he is years older than Master Xavion.

“Raiden,” Master Xavion blurted out.

The man has dark gray eyes when he is in human form; still, his gaze is fiery. He walks prominently as if his body recovers.

“How do you feel?” Master Xavion wanted to assure his condition,

Raiden stares at his arms, and he closes his fist and opens it. It seems he is feeling his body. He is anxious about his looks; he stands near the water and glares at his reflection.

“It has been so long since I transform into a human,” his voice still weakening,

Master Xavion nods “, I know it will take time for you to recover since it has been years before you transform again, but we need to go to the Elf Village. I will ask Matrius to check on you to heal you in the internal damage you have inside, caging you in that cave for too long, weakens you,” Master Xavion reminds him.

I look around and notice we are in the Forbidden Forest; Master Xavion starts to walk. We instinctively follow him. Raiden is still limping even he looks strong in his human form; he cannot hide the fact he is in pain.

Master Xavion glance at me, “, Miara,” he seems confirming if he says my name right,

“yes, Master,” I confirm

“you been drag in this situation, but it is your fate. As I promise you, I will let my friend, Caesar the ghost, tell your parents you are doing a mission assigned by the Maiden for that they will not worry over you. My friend already sent the letter.” Master Xavion declared

"He is here," Master Xavion blurted out.

“What is the news, Caesar?” Master Xavion says out of nowhere,

I turn around, and my bare eyes try to find who is Master Xavion talking, too. I remember that his friend is a ghost.

“Master, the young mermaid's parents are in tears when they are reading the letter that comes from the Maiden, but the reality is that it is a fake letter. I use the seal of Maiden Louverielle. I did what you say. I made the letter, stole the maiden stamp, and sent the letter to her parents. I watch their reaction, and they are crying out of happiness. Lately, their daughter has been receiving a task from the Maiden. They believe that Maiden Louverielle is fond of the young mermaid and her dream to be a Maiden is not in vain,” Caesar reported,

I only hear his voice but hearing the news, I do not know if I should feel grateful or not. Knowing my parents is not visibly showing me their support to my dreams but discovering they are happy for me for the fake statement that Master Xavion did. I am half heartened.

“Caesar, have some manners, show yourselves and introduce your self well to my friends. You do not have to worry; they are our colleagues and allied. You can show yourself to them,” Master Xavion appease his friend,

Caesar, the ghost, appears right in front of me, and I am surprised. My eyes widen that I pass right through him,

I turn around to see him again, but he pokes me at my back, and I face him,

“Hi there, beautiful, young mermaid. I am Caesar, the ghost. The most reliable allied of Master Xavion. My family in the human World saved by Master Xavion's parents; In exchange for their kindness, I follow him around, and I pledge to help him to win his war against that evil who also did wrong to my family, friends in Human World. I am here to help Master Xavion win his mission and avenge my fellow humans and his parents who help us,” Caesar full of determination.

“A ghost from the human World,” I softly spoke.

“yes,” Caesar affirms.

Caesar floats in the air; he is transparent; I pass through my hands through his entire body; I touch nothing.

Caesar gazes at me with his wide eyes as I am doing that. I smile awkwardly, scratching my nape. He laughs, and it affects me too. I giggles.

“Young mermaid, I am a ghost. I have no flesh and bones. You can see me because I allow you too.” Caesar, enlighten me.

I am amazed; he is color white, but his appearance still apparent. I can see him wearing a long sleeve with a vest and khaki pants. He has an Akubra hat that he wears. He usually takes it off when he is greeting someone.

Caesar has that giddy personality, he is lively when he talks, and he usually jokes around. Caesar's memory is vast, and he talks non stop. He narrates me how he becomes a ghost to the history of his family trees, the funny stories in their World, and he reveals it to me as if we do not meet just an hour before.

Caesar's company sure takes the boredom away. On the contrary, Raiden is silent, and he never talks. Caesar makes the long walks bearable and fun.

Master Xavion and Raiden are both not talking and listening to Caesar's stories. Listening to Caesar, lighten my heart; I do not notice we are in the Elf Village.

‘Here we are,” Master Xavion informs us.

As I glimpse at my surroundings, it is astonishing. I never see a place as enchanting as the Elf Village. The tress is all beautiful and glowing; it seems it is emitting its light and aura. The pile of stones and rocks each are all sculpted in an artistic, natural way. The bountiful splendid nature is a gift to the eyes. Some tress bare some fruits that are pleasing to the eyes, the colors are vibrant, and it looks delicious. It can make anyone who looks at it instantly feels hungry.

The swaying flowers in the field of green valley, the big trees in the middle of the Village that have green leafy vines. The rocks that surround the big trees are moist with green algae and some green, fine grass.

I never imagine I can go to places as wonderful as this. I thought our Fortress is fun and alluring. I never thought that another Village is as good as our Fortress. I watch elf kids running here and there, laughing and giggling. The place is peaceful and calming.

A man with blonde hair, pointed nose, his face almost perfect angle, blue eyes; He is dress in a formal, expensively decorated suite with diamonds and other gemstones. He stands prominently in front of us.

“Welcome, Master Xavion, to Elf Village,” The man bows respectfully to Master Xavion.

“Matruis, I expect, you know, why we are here,’ Master Xavion gently spoken.

Copyright:

This story is solely my ideas and creative thinking. Please do not copy, use, distribute, or reproduce.

© January Garneth.2020. The Mystery of the Mermaid Fortress