Kissing the Fae

Chapter 11 - The Asbel

Is it something to be happy about?

Knowing that a Jaybird actually talks — an animal who only eats the Queen Mother's fruit — how am I supposed to react after discovering that only me can hear it?

It talks. It was loud and clear. I know there's a lot of mysteries going on in and outside of the Acres Kingdom, however, I didn't know about this until now.

I'm today's year old when I've learned that I can actually understand a bird.

Or perhaps it was only the Blue Jay whom I could hear.

I only know one person who has the ability to communicate with air animals. It was the leader of the Sylphs, the prince of the air.

Alistair...

“Rani Letisha...” Rin called when I was silent the whole time since I discovered the idea.

We stayed for a bit for me to recover the shocking truth.

In my whole life, I thought I could only communicate with plants. The hamadryads, those big trees, can shift and talk even in their natural form.

Until now, we were still at the border of the Asbel. The guys went somewhere to look for food as the thing that Queen Mother’s gave to me was all unfamiliar weapons.

Meanwhile, the Jaybird fled. But he hasn’t got the acorn yet. He would be here, said Terran earlier when it fades from our sight.

“Uh... I guess I can talk to birds,” I uttered.

“Well, yes. You can... But we have to make sure that your ability is exclusive only with the bluebird.”

“Right,” Tia added who parched next to Rin in the branch. “We’ve seen and heard a lot of birds sing, Rani Letisha. But you didn’t hear what it said.”

Maybe they were solely singing like a normal bird?

I mentally shook my head, dismissing the thought.

In the first place, why am I thinking about it too much? In our world, nothing is impossible. We lived where magic existed, our surroundings are filled with extraordinary creatures.

It wasn’t actually a surprise but why am I making such a big deal out of it?

The Jaybird can talk and even shift to an old man, as Terran and Deniz revealed. And my only purpose was to give him the Oak’s tree nut so we could go to the Achlys.

That’s it!

It wasn’t a big thing to think much of, Rani Letisha. Get hold of yourself and just focus on your goal.

I stood up from sitting in the wood and nodded at Tia.

“You’re right... And it wasn’t a big deal, little fairies. I mean, I haven’t discovered all my abilities so maybe hearing a bird talk is one of those hidden powers.”

I tried to smile afterward. It doesn’t matter, Rani Letisha.

Achlys. Achlys... I should think of ways to go there. My mind should only focus not only on our safety but on ways to get what I came here for.

“Rani, we only have these fruits. The trees here in Asbel are slowly dying because they stopped producing food.”

My eyes went to the two who just got out of the woods.

Terran was holding the fruits, and Deniz on the other hand had a stick he used to get rid of the high reeds that blocked their way.

That’s what I noticed. The Asbel is slowly losing their natures. Trees and plants are dying, and even though I wanted to heal them, I can’t because I need their leaders’ permission.

Sure, I’ve planned to heal the small trees that happened to be the Jaybird’s nest. But then, it was only the tree that I’m planning to bring back alive.

Who knows what happened? Nature may be my haven, my life and all, and there’s probably no reason to not heal them, still.

It’s against my rule. I’m not in my territory to decide on my own.

“It has always been like this since the Queen’s daughter died. They stopped giving attention to their kingdom, and now look at this...” Deniz tittered.

I’ve heard about the sad news. That was three years ago... I couldn’t imagine the pain the queen went through.

“It’s alright... I think we could find something in the other areas.”

“Of course, we will...”

We waited again until the Jaybird came. I sighed in relief. I thought we would wait until the sky turns dark and I’m not wasting any time here.

“Where is the nut?” It parched on its tree and stared at me with his blazing eyes.

I wonder if he knows if I can understand him earlier the way he stares at me.

My eyes went to Terran. “The Acorn...”

“Oh, right.”

He handed me the nut. My gaze went back to the blue Jaybird and I couldn’t help but study its features.

It has sharp blazing eyes, prominent and bright colors mixed with white. It wasn’t that big but I have a feeling that it could be dangerous and also, questions as to why it only accepts the Queen Mother’s fruit.

Why? Does it have a special place in its heart?

The old man hiding inside this bird, does the Queen Mother have a special place in his life?

I don’t want to jump to a conclusion, so I brush the thought away.

“Here...” I stepped forward, handing him the acorn. “In exchange for this fruit, you must show us the way to the Achlys.”

It stared at me for a second before he took the nut, and nodded a bit.

“I will not take you there,” he said. “I could only give you a way towards that dark place.”

“How can we make sure that you’ll give us the right direction?”

“This fruit is from the Oaktree of my queen... I will not betray her by giving false information to someone whom she trusted.”

With that, he whistled, and for a second, he disappeared. Then, another bird landed on the place where the Jaybird sat.

While I was left, feeling baffled. His Queen...

What does the Jaybird mean by that?