The Forgotten Queen

Lies and Choices

Shadow figures surround Aiden. Aiden glared at the figures, clenching his fist on his shadow sword.

Two figures lunged toward him. Aiden stepped aside, causing one to stumble past her and attack the other. The blade slashed the figure's lower abdomen, then stabbed the other's back.

The two shadows disappeared into black smoke. The five other shadows did not dash away. Instead, three lunged forward, but Aiden stood his ground and was ready.

As Aiden fought the shadow figures, a person watched in silence. Aiden increased his pace and swiftly moved, cutting through the three shadows. The two remaining shadows jumped at Aiden while his back was turned.

Aiden turned swiftly, swaying his sword, and cut through the shadows. The shadows disappeared, and Aiden was no longer surrounded. He never loses any breath.

He felt a presence behind him. Aiden turned on his heels and the tip of his blade to Kai's adam apple.

Kai smirked sly, and Aiden narrowed his gaze at Kai. Kai glanced at the black shadow blade, then back at Aiden. Aiden sighed, and the sword disappeared into smoke, then walked away from Kai.

"You call that training?" Kai asked. He stood in his spot, watching Aiden whip a cool, wet cloth.

Aiden remained silent with he nake back facing Kai. Kai chuckled under his breath, strolling towards a pile of training swords. "My father always tells me that 'training by yourself is like fighting yourself. There will be no growth as you are both the same.' He was weird." he said.

"What do you want?" Aiden asked, throwing the cloth back into the bucket of water. He did not turn to Kai, kept his back turned.

"I am not your enemy..." Kai said with a training sword in his hands. He stared at the dull blade, studying it with great interest.

"So?"

"You need to trust me."

Kai lifted his head, and his eyes met with Aiden's. They stared at each other in silence. Aiden smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "What do you want from me? I am nothing more than a knight," Aiden said.

"A knight that has eyes and ears. You know my family has an endless wealth..." Kai said, strolling towards Aiden with a sly smirk. Kai stood face to face with Aiden. "I need information in regards to the council."

Aiden glanced at the clear blue sky and then down at Kai. He sighed in disappointment and shrugged his shoulders. "Sadly, I am no outsider and have never been into those meetings. You have approached the wrong person."

"Wrong person?"

Aiden nodded his head.

"Her Highness trusts you with great faith, and I know she would address her matters with you."

"If you want someone close to Her Highness, then I suggest Edward!" Sara said, walking towards the two men. She glared at Kai, clenching her basket close to her side.

It was past lunchtime, and Aiden did not come to the hall for his lunch. Sara wanted to check on Aiden, ensuring he was not doing anything stupid. Mostly she was concerned that Aiden would return to the Black Mist.

"Lord Blaise," Sara said, lifting her chin and staring at Kai. Kai grinned at her, stepping back and gazing at the brave handmaiden. "Here is your lunch!" she said, pushing the woven basket to Aiden.

Aiden groaned, taking the basket and staring at Sara in confusion. He did not know what Sara was thinking, but he knew she would be just annoying. "Huh... Thanks," he said in confusion.

Sara and Aiden were silent, turning their gaze to a smirking Kai. Kai slipped his hands into his pockets, glancing at Sara and Aiden. "Forgive me... I should have asked this request with both of you present," Kai said.

"As this 'knight' said, we know nothing..." Sara said, nodding at Aiden. Aiden glared at Sara, but she ignored him and grinned ear to eat. "You need to have a word with Edward."

"We all know Edward is a bit... Anyway, are you all comfortable within the camp?" Kai asked.

"I know it has been a couple of days, but I just need to know," he said.

Aiden and Sara glanced at each other, then back at Kai, and both shrugged their shoulders. "There's nothing to complain about," they said.

The trio was silent, staring at each other in tension.

Suddenly, a horn blew, echoing through the camp. The trio glanced at each other. Kai walked away from the training ground without saying a word to Sara and Aiden. Sara and Aiden glanced at each other, then followed Kai.

The entire camp approached the edge of the Black Mist. Murmuring hummed within the crowd.

Excitement was in the air, and the trio got closer to the crowd. One by one, a person went down to their knees and bowed their bows. When the people at the back knelt, a gasp of excitement escaped Sara's lips.

Aiden, a soft smile graced his lips. Kai grinned ear to ear, then knelt down and bowed his head. "The gods have blessed us!" everyone cheered.

Isla walked through the people, approaching the trio; Kai, Aiden, and Sara. Sara squealed and ran to Isla, throwing her arms out and wrapping them around Isla's neck. Isla chuckled, embracing Sara, who cheered in glee.

Sara pulled away from the embrace and examined Isla, ensuring no harm fell on Isla. Her clothing was in one piece, with no bruise, no hair missed. Sara sighed in relief, then embraced Isla again.

"Thank the gods..." Sara said, tightening her embrace.

Isla chuckled, embracing her best friend. "I thought you made a new friend with the enchanted horse," Isla said jokingly.

Sara pulled away from the embrace, lifted her chin, and pouted her lips. "That thing was a boring chat," she said, rolling her eyes.

Both Sara and Isla giggled. Isla over Sara's shoulder, staring straight into Aiden's eyes, and she smiled warmly at him. "Sir Aiden, have you missed me?" Isla asked.

Aiden playfully rolled his eyes and strolled toward Isla with a smirk. He tilted his head to the side, hummed in thought, then stared at Isla. "Thank you for putting my worries at ease. I did not know where I would get my next pay," Aiden said.

Isla rolled her eyes and chuckled. Aiden chuckled softly, smiling warmly at Isla. "It is good to see you are safe," he said, then bowed to her.

Isla was surprised to see Aiden bow to her. She glanced over at Sara, who also bowed to her.

"Welcome back, Your Grace."

Edward's voice catches Isla's attention. She glanced over at him. He warmly smiled at her, then bowed. "The gods blessed us with your safe return," Edward said.

"It is good seeing you, Edward," Isla said.

"Edward?" Wolf's voice filled Isla's head. She glanced over at Wolf, who stood beside her. His eyes narrowed at Edward as he rubbed his chin. "His the Holy Priest?" he asked.

Isla turned away from Wolf, nodding slightly, and smiled at everyone around her. "Please, everyone, be at ease!" Isla said, seeing the entire remained knelt.

As everyone rose, Isla turned her gaze to Wolf's direction and saw no one paid any attention to him. In fact, they passed him like he did not exist before them.

Wolf smirked devilishly, glanced at Isla, and winked her way. "I told, no one would pay mind to me," he said.

"Let's talk inside," Edward said, gently tagging Isla's arm.

Isla turned, allowing Edward to take her to the center tent. Kai, Aiden, and Sara followed behind them. "Did your trip go smoothly?" Edward asked, walking side by side.

"Huh..." Isla glanced over at Wolf, who stared at one enchanted horse. "It went... well, but there is something I need to address with you." She glanced away.

Edward furrowed his eyebrows, glancing at the enchanted horse that Isla stared at. He noticed Isla's strange behavior, but he shrugged it away as

entering the Black Mist could change at the same time.

"Tomorrow morning, we will leave for our journey back to the kingdom," Edward said as they entered the tent. "I shall send word to the capital in preparation for the celebration."

"Edward, I need to tell you something," Isla said.

Sara, Aiden, and Kai stood behind, listening to Isla and Edward's conversation. Isla took a deep breath and nervously cleared her throat. "I have received no magic," she said.

Edward frowned his brows. He shook his head and stepped forward, staring into Isla's eyes. "I have been to the spirit world but not seen 'worthy' for the powers of a Guardian..."

Silence filled the tent. Edward stared at Isla, hoping she would joke, but Isla stood tall with her head held up. Edward sighed, stepping back and nodding. "We leave tomorrow," he said, bowing and walking out.

Isla kept her back facing Kai, Sara, and Aiden. They watched Edward exit the tent, then glance at each other. "Isla?" Sara said, stepping forward.

Sara stopped, seeing Isla shaking her head. Silence embraced everyone again, and Sara glanced over at Aiden, who slightly shook his head. "I would like to be alone," Isla said.

"Of course!" Kai said, turning to Sara and Aiden. He nods, telling them 'to give Isla alone time,' and they all quietly leave.

Once Isla knew she was alone, she released her breath and stumbled forward. She bent, holding her knees and calming her breathing. Isla could not believe she had lied to her loyal friends.

"What's wrong with you?" Wolf asked as he strolled into the tent. He looked through the items within the tent.

"Why can't I tell them?" Isla asked, glaring at him.

Wolf shook his head, taking a book into his hand. He examed the book and placed it back where he found it. "It has been so long since I have been in the outside world," he said.

Isla stood straight and sighed. "Why does this matter? This is confusing, and I do not know what is happening."

"I was the last child to be sent into the Black Mist," he said, staring at a painting of the first Guardian, Trivia. "Age six..."

Isla became quiet and stared at Wolf's back.

"I don't know my parents, not even my birth mother. I sent my few years with the Temple Palace, then sent into the Black Mist. A scared six-year-old surrounded by darkness. I do not know how long I have been there, but I know it was long because a sharp pain consumed me."

Wolf took a deep breath, turned on his heels, and stared at Isla. "I felt death was coming to collect my young soul. However, the Spirit World Guardians helped me, taking me to the spirit world gate and establishing a new collection."

"I became the Keeper of the Spirit World gate, such an honor if you say so," he said with a smirk.

He sighed and glanced over his shoulder back to the painting. "As Guardians, we are tasked with protecting the people, the magic, and Spirit World. However, after the first Guardian's death, a leak and someone was leeching from the magic. And for many years, the leakage worsens, and the Spirit World guardians will continue to push the mist to find the person."

"But who could have the power to do that?" Isla asked.

"Anything is possible," he said, looking back at Isla. He smirked and folded his arms across his chest.

"I still do not understand. Why now?"

"You have the gods' favor, and whoever is doing this will reveal themselves."

"And how sure you that they would do?"

Wolf hummed, strolled towards Isla, and placed his hands on Isla's shoulders. "Because you did not connect with the Spirit World. Remember, I did not come out from the Black Mist, and my connection was cut... Almost killing me."

They stared into each other's eyes.

"After the death of Trivia, the Black Mist appeared and continued to expand. Things happen for a reason, and the person responsible could be one of our own."

"What if it is not? What could be the people outside our kingdom?" Isla asked.

"We will see..." he said, smirking devilishly and stepping back. "Just pray that it is not someone you care for..."

Isla stared at Wolf's back as he walked out. She worried that she had made a big mistake trusting this third Guardian. However, if he could be honest, she would save everyone from the traitor. Also, put an end to the Black Mist.

Isla took a deep breath and lifted her gaze to stare at the painting of Trivia, the first Guardian. She sighed and shook her head. "I hope I made the right choice," she said and walked out of the tent.