Kissing the Fae

Chapter 8 - New Journey

"I don't understand, Rani Letisha. Why do they want you to have the power of illusion when everyone knows that it was usually used by Pixies?!"

Neither of us doesn't understand why.

My mind has stopped functioning since the meeting ended. The urge to chase His Majesty to question him was strong, but my alter-ego told me not to.

I couldn't help but think that my father was trying to kick me out of my position by giving me tests that I admittedly haven't mounted since then. They knew it wasn't my will to lead, and now they're testing my patience, just waiting for the time to come that I'd give up my title which won't happen.

It won't be easy... Deep inside, my heart is losing hope for no one knows who owns the power of illusion.

The Pixies — the bad fairies usually possess the power of Glamour. They have the might to create an illusion to deceive others, but they can't use it against us, fairies. Pixies are known to be red Faes, they manipulate other creatures to see the good things in them.

If they happen to be ugly, some can't see it.

It would vanish in the eyes of the victim. Unfortunately, no one knows where they hide. The Pixies stopped showing themselves to Faes, just because we would hinder them from executing their evil plans.

The dominion of Glamour has so much to offer. Pixies used it with their bad intentions, while the Faes use it for a good purpose.

Sadly, the power was only offered to some. It was rare for good fairies to have it. No one knows who among us has it, even my mother doesn't own it. No one in history has reported that one of us has it. Until now, there was no written chronicle written about the ones who contain the power.

"I don't have wings," I stuttered. "Unlike you, I can't fly. My power is limited only; I can read minds, heal, and grow plants, then communicate with the hamadryads. I have the best senses, Rin. But the power of Glamour and wings, I don't have."

Now, I doubted myself more if I could pass it all. For some, the obstacle was too easy. They can pass the challenge without a sweat but I know it wouldn't be the challenge... if you have it.

They would find something in you that you don't possess. However, I thought it would be the directors who would decide.

But to think that it was His Majesty who personally listed it, I honestly don't know what to feel.

It wasn't an unfair decision nor selfish. He clearly has the right to do it.

When he sat on his throne, I knew he wasn't my father but my ruler. A ruler who'd want a better and trusted leader to rule his kingdom, it was His Majesty that I was looking for and not my father. It was the King who made the decision, but his order was a fatherly volition; to kick his daughter out of her stand just so she will be free.

But I'd like to think that it wasn't as the thought makes me angry.

It was the decision of the King of the Acres Kingdom and me— being his follower must oblige as his words are the law.

"You will develop yours in time, Rani Letisha." Zah tried to shoo my worries.

We were back in the Enchanted Forest. The night was now too dark, and my mind was clouded thinking of a way for my wings to show up.

I'm a wingless fairy. I can't fly, unlike the other fairies. I don't possess their sparkling wings that shone at night.

My mother has one, why can't I?

I'm the daughter of la Reine, the former leader of the Faye region now turned to be the Queen of the Acres Kingdom. She's a goddess of wisdom, a woman of hope and strength, a lady of perfection but why don't I possess the wings my mother has?

His Majesty is my father, the King of our kingdom. The prime leader in history; the powerful King.

Yet why am I lacking in many departments?

"I've been training my whole life wishing and hoping for my wings to show up! But until now, I still can't feel it..."

Where did I go wrong?

"It will show up in time, just Letisha..." Tia assured me. "It takes a lot of time to have wings. We will help you get through all these, okay? Please, let us not lose our hope."

"Of course, we will always be here for you, Rani Letisha."

They assured me yet my insides were still left troubled.

“What if it won’t?” I bawled.

I don’t mean to lose hope but thinking of it, it made me doubt myself if I could go on.

But d amn, Rani Letisha.

I still haven’t started yet and I’m already thinking of losing. There’s a way that one hasn’t been found yet, including me, and whatever it is, I’ll do anything to dig into it.

My wings need to grow. For everyone to be safe from the hands of predators, my wings have to grow.

“It will, Rani Letisha,” Rin countered. “You will grow your wings and that, we promised you.”

The Enchanted Forest turned cold. It has always been this cold at night, the branches of the trees swaying as the wind blow, making me shake a bit. It was the type of coldness that reaches my bones, numbing my fingers, and my heart that was left wide open to welcome the icy wind.

Raising my head, I looked through the small space between the big trees to see the dark sky.

No stars have been caught in the gloomy heaven. It was as if the lord of the sky was in deep sorrow, giving us shade.

I always admire the sky. It brought me peace, despite its darkness, there was something in the sky that calmed me. It's how I came to wish to fly, to see it close in my eyes. After all, the sky is the most beautiful art one could stare at.

I've been staring at it for years, witnessing the sky turn blue from grey, starless or not, it still drew me closer.

But not when I think of his name.

Alistair...

Shaking my head, I lowered my gaze.

Thinking of him refusing to offer me help made my blood boil. It wasn’t because of anger, as I understand why.

He’s still probably mad at the idea of me, using him, or anyone of the three. He hated it, just like he despised Deniz for playing with us. But it was all in the past now and it wasn’t clearly my fault.

I thought I liked him, so I confessed. Only to learn that it was all because of Deniz’s mind games. Am I to blame? No. Both of us were just victims of someone's game and I deem not to experience it again.

Never again. I guess withdrawing from them helped me learn.

“Are you ready for this new journey of ours?” Rin quipped when morning came.

Zah and Tia were getting ready to come with us for this new journey.

Today, another trek will need to be unlocked. I can’t just sit and wait for my wings to grow, I need to get my a ss up and start finding ways to conquer the challenge. I'm not losing my hopes now, not when there are people willing to lend their hands to help me.

Wearing my armor, I looked for Rin sitting in the book above the small table near my bed.

Even though I'm not ready for this, I guess I'll have to say yes as there was no choice left. To survive is my goal, and giving up will never be my aim. I was born not to succumb, but to conquer every obstacle that was thrown at me.

Mum raised a fighter. A woman carved me to be strong whom the cruel world couldn't shatter.

“I only have limited time to surpass everything, Rin. And yes, I’m ready... I need to...”

I will always be ready. In the name of success and the Faye region, I will succeed.

It may take a lot of time and effort, questions and doubts, fail moments and tears, still, I will strive hard to get through it. I may stumble in the process of winning, I wouldn't mind getting wounded if the goal is to win the victory.

“Alright, then. Shall we go, Rani Letisha?”

I blew a deep breath. We do not have clear plans for today, and it may take time before I come back to my region, but here we are, getting ready with no direction.

"I need to talk to the Queen Mother first, Rin..."

Which I did...

We traveled far from the Acres Kingdom to reach the Queen Mother's place. As we got near the large oak tree, my heart started to beat in anticipation.

The Queen Mother hid from everyone after her forced renunciation. It was a heartbreaking event for each of us, and we might not understand her feelings for we were not in her position, my heart is still with her. She abdicated helplessly, and if I were born at that time, perhaps I'd be there with her. It may not be a big help for her to stay on her throne, I'd make sure that she wouldn't feel alone.

I've heard a lot of good things about her. A woman her age, said she was an excellent former queen before my mum. There were a lot of books written about the Queen Mother's reign, and how she was abdicated for being a woman, and after her King died.

The directors just let the days pass after the king died to execute the force renunciation. They succeeded, but not when His Majesty took his throne and chose mum to be the mother of the whole Acres Kingdom.

Imagine the counselors' agony... I just wonder why they always plan to kick the former and even the current Queen.

I mean, for what purpose? Besides, if they keep on thinking of ways to kick the Queen, who do they want to sit next to?

Do they have someone in their mind? If yes, who?

"The tree grows each day, Rani Letisha. How does the Queen Mother's do it?"

I stopped when we're few meters away from the red oak tree whose leaves could cut one's skin.

It was the Queen Mother... She chose to shift into a beautiful yet dangerous tree in the late former His Majesty's exquisite garden. They've built this together, even though I have witnessed the majestic kailyard countless times already, it still didn't fail to amaze me.

It still felt the same as the first time my eyes laid on the splendid view.

"There were some fairies who always visited this garden, Rin. Only those who have the permission to enter the yard," I said.

From our position, I could hear soft music playing in the background. There were some beautiful creatures flying, round animals, and the white horse laying on the grass, eyes were on us.

It was beyond beautiful. Majestic... Just like the late King and Queen, the magnificent herbaceous border undoubtedly presents the forgotten rulers.

"Queen Mother..." I uttered when I noticed its branches move even without the presence of the wind.

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