Kissing the Fae

Chapter 16 - The Achlys

If one would ask me between two things; save our lives and leave the Pixies alone without the power of illusion, or own it like I always wanted but with one condition?

Pixies won't give it for free. My answer would depend on the condition they'd give to me.

There's only one thing I'm sure of and will choose whatever the circumstances are. I will always choose to save our lives, but I'd assure everyone that we'll go home bringing the victory.

The power of Glamour. After this, I'll have to grow my wings. It would be hard but I trust myself on this.

I don't easily give up. There were times that I lost hope but gave up? I won't.

Mum didn't raise a quitter.

"I'm having goosebumps..." After a minute of silence, Deniz talked. "The Achlys. I've heard a lot of things about it and the Pixies. They were dangerous, and knowing that they were once part of the Acres Kingdom, I could feel the Pixies had the power."

I knew what he meant. Our kingdom was the hall of great leaders. They got power, all were powerful, and came from a well-deserving family.

The idea that the former leader of the Achlys came from Queen Mother's family was enough to tell that Pixies were strong.

From the stories I've read about them, Pixies really have the ability to take down the Acres Kingdom. However, the Pixies weren't enough to take them all.

"They are strong, Deniz..." I confirmed. "Pixies were powerful like any other fairies. After all, they were part of us."

They have built their own kingdom. After they gave up fighting us, they started to roam around our world to colonize the other realm. I haven't heard anything if they have been successful in leading other kingdoms, but Pixies tried to manipulate and convince people to work for them.

I'm not okay with it. But as long as they won't bother the people in my region, and the whole Acres Kingdom, I wouldn't take an action against them.

For now, I need them for my people.

"So, we all should be alert. But rest assured that they won't attack us once we arrive in the Achlys. They replied and I know they aren't someone who breaks their rules."

They were a man of their words. They set rules, they abide. That applies to any realm.

"I hope they won't," I heard Terran.

The little fairies were just flying silently. We've been walking in the same surroundings. No trees and life, an open place with all these dry c***k mud. Just by the look of it, no ordinary people could survive a place like this.

There's nothing here. You can't even find a motivation to live here just by the mere sight of it.

No signs of survival.

"What the..."

We all stopped when we noticed a barrier across us. It wasn't just a small or a simple block, but it literally covered the whole place like it was a dead end.

My brows furrowed as I roamed my eyes around. The black concrete, I knew it wasn't easy to break. We can climb but it was too high, and it has nothing to hold on to, so it would be hard for us.

We can't use our power. The Pixies might get the wrong idea and having a misunderstanding was either not a good idea.

They might think we're breaking in. When clearly, they have already expected us.

"I'm not seeing any doors to get through with," Deniz noticed. "Terran, you're the one who's familiar with the maps. Tell us where we're currently standing."

"Seriously, bro. I don't have any idea."

"Fake pathfinder," he rebuked. "We won't climb, right? If we will, Rani Letisha should have said that right after seeing the barrier."

"We won't," I told him straight, sighing. "I guess we were left with no choice but to wait again. The Achlys was just near, who knows? Maybe the Pixies reside behind that block."

"I can look to check, Rani Letisha."

I quickly shook my head at Rin's ridiculous suggestion. Does she want to die just like the bird?

"No. None of you three will fly to check whatever it was. Let us all wait here, okay?"

The Pixies sent us a message telling us to wait in a block. Assuming that this was the barrier they talked about, then we have to wait for them.

Is this barrier gonna open for us? I don't see a sign that it would break into two to give us a door towards the Achlys but, I'm already expecting.

After all, it's the Pixies. The world is full of surprises and one should always expect the unexpected to avoid shock.

"Will they serve us food?" Terran asked out of nowhere as we waited, sitting in the ground using nothing to keep the mud out of our butt.

"I hope so, too... We still have food but, for three days, I've been eating the same."

Terran quickly hushed him, glancing in my direction after hearing Deniz complained. I just shrugged, feeling the same way, and not wanting to argue about anything as of this moment.

I better save my energy. Besides, Deniz was right. Complaining about food wasn't right but as someone who grew up with a table filled with different cruisin, I kinda agree with him.

But it wasn't the right time for that.

"If Alistair was here, he'd probably let the sky showered us with gracias..."

I scoffed when I heard his name. That idiot... He refused to help me. Never again that I'd ask a favor from him.

Asking him that night was a wrong move, Rani Letisha. Never again.

"I wonder what the Pixies look like," Terran blurted out and it piqued my curiosity. "I haven't seen one... Or all of us, even Alistair, haven't encountered a Pixie yet. I've heard the last time they went to the Acres Kingdom was Queen Mother's term."

That was true. We haven't seen a Pixie, even in the books, they weren't drawn. And since they were once part of us, I wonder if they still look like a fairy or they totally changed.

"We will see about that later," I replied.

Do they look scary like what other people described them? Dark creatures like their place? Do they have pointed black horns and teeth? Some said they looked like a witch, well, technically, they were considered as one.

A bad witch. A fairy witch who pulls witchcraft.

The fairies were all beautiful. I just don't know with the Pixies. Among the other divisions, the Faye stands out if beauty is involved. I mean, we all are unique and beauty is subjective. But in the eyes of everyone, I knew my region won.

"It's taking so long..." Tia complained beside me. "They knew we were coming but still, they let us wait, again."

"It will open soon," Zah assured. "Pixies just really love seeing the annoyed faces of their guests, I think. So, all we could do was wait for it to open for us, Tia. There's clearly nothing wrong with waiting unless it would be just for nothing."

Tia sighed deeply. "Our Rani Letisha here... She only had a limited time, Zah. I knew it would be hard once the barrier opened and it would probably take a lot of time before we got what we wanted. I'm just worried..."

"Tia, it's fine..." I smiled at her genuinely. "It will be worth it, I promise."

Every promise I've made, I felt like I was stabbed in the heart. I'm scared of what-ifs...

I knew I shouldn't think of negative things but it's possible.

What if I failed? What about the promises I've made not just to myself but also, for everyone who expected a lot from me? It would be my biggest downfall. Seeing them slowly losing hope, hating me for disappointing them, for breaking their trust...

I don't want to see it from my people.

Once I got home, I wanted them to smile at me as I announced the big news. The good news that Rani Letisha, the princess of the Acres Kingdom and the leader of the Faye region, will remain in my position.

La Reina and la Roi would be happy, too. But I knew, sadness would make its way down to the deep of their hearts.

All I asked was for them to support me. To guide me and be there for me in my journey.

"Rani Letisha! Princess!"

I was a bit baffled when Terran called me until I followed where his eyes were settled, and with hopes rising in me, my feet moved to stand up from the ground as my kins witnessed how the block broke apart.

"It's finally opened..." Rin whispered beside me, and I agreed with her silently.

My heart started to pound hard.

This is it, Rani Letisha. The Pixies of the dark place, Achlys finally opened its door for you.

We all gathered together. The opening of the barrier made the ground vibrate, even releasing steam underneath.

I can't see anything. Only darkness. Empty as the block finally separated, giving us the way.

"This is the Achlys," Deniz announced. "Looks too dark, Rani Letisha. And hearing those scary voices and dark smoke, this is no doubt, the Achlys."

"It's the Pixies haven's after all... I would doubt if it's full of life, Deniz." Terran fired back at him.

"Let us all come back, alive. I don't know how long we'd stay inside but promise me, all of us will be here. Alive."

Everyone nodded. A smile of assurance left their lips.

“We promise you that, Rani Letisha...” they said all together.

When I was a kid, my goal was to be better. A good child, an excellent leader everyone will look up to, a concern for everyone’s safety.

It never occurred to me to give up the position I have in the Acres Kingdom. Whatever happens, being a ruler would be my priority even if it means setting aside my happiness.

The Acres Kingdom... My mum and dad took care of it for years. It was the home of my Queen Mother who got abdicated, the realm my family built for everyone.

Now that it’s my turn to prove my capability to lead, I’d make sure to win.

“It’s cold...” Zah muttered when our feet finally sat on the ground of Achlys.

Glancing behind us, the bug block was now slowly closing its door. Now that we’re inside, there’s no turning back.

“Our goal was to get the power of Glamour, everyone. No fight... But if you think you have to, please do so and do everything to survive in this dark place.”

Deniz gently pats my head. The reason why Terran chuckled when I glared at the owner of those deep blue ocean eyes.

“We will, Rani Letisha. We are all in this together, okay? We will help each other get through this.”

“We are also here,” the little fairies lined up in front of us. “You will be our leader, forever. And we, your people, won't leave you behind.”

No one will be left behind.

“Welcome to the Achlys, Rani Letisha...”

When we heard a dark voice, we all stood at each other’s back, getting ready to fend.

“Ah, the beautiful princess of la Reina and the la Roi of the Acres Kingdom. You came here, finally...” It was followed by a witch-like chuckle.

Then, later on, a small dark fae appeared in the vast darkness.