The First Syldine

16 - Caion

A day passed before my water power fully healed all my wounds, in addition to Princess Nepturime’s medicines and Mati’s aid.

As the others are busy gathering words about the Graksias and Pele’s group, we are still trying to see the cases differently and individually, even if we are highly getting the vibes of Pele being involved.

“Are you ready Naia?” Prince Rage asked.

I nodded at him even though I am not that sure of travelling to Ignisen. As it is my first time to venture out further than Eltia, Pele might have more power and influence in Ignisen. Not that I don’t feel safe around Prince Rage or I am doubting his protection over me, it’s just that I am not having these good feeling towards this, but I have to, I have to stay by his side. I am also worried about him handling this alone.

“We’re going now. Be careful everyone.” he said too all of our friends, making it seem like he is a leader of a secret group. He kind of fit into the role though.

“Take care Naia, and come back home.” Aellah said as she hugged me.

We decided to travel by feet and wings, having cloudhorns would might make us stand out in the sky.

Prince Rage’s excuses to the headmasters? Is to visit his father falling to illness, and I will be the one accompanying him, which was easily bought by the headmasters themselves. I mean, if the King of Ignisen is sick, the news would be heard all over Retheale or the nation itself, but Prince Rage invented such in a just a midnight.

“Are you really feeling fine now?” he asked as we started flying in the midair, with the rays of morning sun across the green sky.

I just nodded again at him. I was really about to distance myself to him, the feeling of attachment I have towards him only gets deeper day by day, and it will be really hard for me to keep this, especially that I am a cursed Syldine while he is Salamander, a Cheium, a prince next in throne.

Not just the curse I have is bothering me but also our status, our differences in Retheale’s society.

Of course, not that he will have the same attachment to me back, but I don’t think I’ll keep this for long, it is better for me say what I feel. That’s what Mother told me too.

“You know, it really bothered me, I think I saw a faint light from your thigh when you passed out that night. It was familiar, that color, the heat, the sensation.” he said and my thoughts are in mess again.

“Maybe it reminded you of the fireworks, during summer festival in Ignisen.” I almost stuttered in answering.

He smiled to me.

“Maybe I guess.” he answered and we continued on flying, having this silence around us.

I kept myself busy by enjoying the beauty of Retheale. Truly Mother isn’t bluffing when she said that my eyes would want to see more of this world the moment I get out of our tree top, our comfort zone.

I can’t really wait to see Mother again, tell her my stories, what I have seen, tasted, experienced, even if I already know that her adventures are far greater than mine, talking to her is one of things I am missing so much.

My childhood was filled with colors and stories because of Mother, whom travelled across Retheale since her teenage days. And staying in Aersho for long made her meet my father, by fate or coincidence, she was still happy about it. That it happened, that I happened afterwards.

I took a quick glance on Prince Rage, looking seriously, drowning in his own thoughts. I just can’t imagine the burden he is carrying at such young age, well also for the other Cheiums, but he looks so worrisome, in this particular threat.

Originally, the travel time to Ignisen from Eltia will take 6 hours, but because of the shortcut Prince Rage discovered a year ago, we managed to cut our arrival in 2 hours.

“We will enter here, this is the castle’s back and underground door. I don’t want anyone except my father to know that I came home without any announcement.” he led me pass a wooden door located at a forest near the castle.

The pathway was dark, not until he closed the door and snapped his fingers, making all the lamps on the walls glow.

For a secret passage, this is cleaner than expected. I was assuming it would smell stinky and have some kinds of pests but nothing seems to be near my imagination.

“Thinking why this passage looks like this?” he asked me and I nodded because of curiosity.

“Only few Cheiums and creatures can actually stand my flames. When I built this, without my father’s permission, I blessed it with my power and seal, so most likely, I am the only one who can use this.” he said with light giggles.

“And that’s what surprises me too, you don’t seem to be bugged by the heat of my blessing here.” he added with a unconvinced tone.

Now I ams taring to wonder too. Is it because the Undine powers I have? Undines have the highest fire resistant level as water negates flames of Salamanders.

“You are really a mystery Naia Lysse.” I heard him whispered but chose not to respond.

If I defend myself over this small matter, he might corner me and ask about my background, details and everything.

We managed to get inside a big room, with a throne, I suppose in its far end. There sits a not so old looking man, with dark red hair, wearing a golden Cheium dress for men and a robe.

His crown is made with red ruby gemstones and the crest of Salamanders, a fire ball, a blazing one.

“Oho, what do we have here.” he enthusiastically said and stood up as we approach his stead.

“King Agni, father.” Prince Rage greeted him and I knelt before them.

“This is Naia Lysse, a fellow Erutainee.” he introduced me.

“Good morning Salamanders’ King Agni.” I kept my head bowed as I speak.

“What’s a Stoiche’s business today with me?” he asked.

“Father, listen. She’s a crucial witness to the doings of Draksias as of the moment.” his father gave a surprised sound and coughed after.

“Give me the details.” he ordered us.

Prince Rage told King Agni everything, including the whereabouts of Pele’s group, what I saw beyond Euphorium Forest, the letter, and Wynmisia.

“So you suspect Pele’s conspiring against her own?” King Agni asked ad we both nodded.

I can see the anger in King Agni’s eyes, the moment I mentioned King Anvindr and Wynmisia, but he’s trying to keep his cool and composure.

“That Wynmisia would not really stop. As she was exiled because of the suspicion she really did cause Anvindr’s death, she still has the guts to cause another wreckage to Retheale.” with his closed fist the Salamanders’ King said.

“I will aid you Rage, but I need to talk this out to the other nations.” he suggested.

“But Father! We do not know if Wynmisia has more allies inside the walls of the royal bloods. We can’t afford to expose ourselves to them and be their targets.” Prince Rage said.

And I am agreeing on that. Knowing she got Pele and her group on her hands, I doubt that she has a little back up on her evil plans.

We might be facing a bigger demon soon enough if we will not move under the tables. We can’t let them win.

“Alright, then I need to talk to you in private.” King Agni walked towards another door.

“Excuse us for a moment Miss Lysse.” he added.

Prince Rage nodded at me before he passed by the door and left me alone. The room was bigger than I thought. It walls are almost filled with books, from bottom to the ceiling with painted flames of different colors, and a dragon.

A dragon is a mythical creature that symbolizes the Salamanders. The Undines are represented by a Hydra, while a golem is for the Gnomes and griffin for the Sylphs.

Flying to the top as I am searching for a book to read, to kill some time, I spotted one brown glowing old book and felt enticed to get it.

“a pair of wings and a tail

hands who can ablaze the earth

no more curses but hail

Retheale’s saving hearth”

I am the type of a reader who will first look in the middle pages, to see if any line would catch my attention, and looks like I need to keep this book, or maybe ask for King Agni’s permission to borrow it?

I heard a loud thudding sound inside the room Prince Rage and his father entered. Decided to put back the book and see what happened between them, I hurriedly flew towards the door, stick one of my ear to it and listened to their talk.

I am not usually an eavesdropper but with this intense aura I can feel from them, I cannot help myself but to pry a little.

“That’s the only solution I know. You know that this was foretold, Wynmisia, the Draksias, the fall of Retheale, everything.” I heard King Agni’s deep voice.

“But what if we are looking for nothing? We have spent years believing on that written prophecy, but we never found anything.” Prince Rage answered.

“We should focus on defeating Wynmisia, not some Cheiums hunt.” he added.

I heard another thudding sound, as if King Agni punched the wall or table near him, their auras are getting stronger minute by minute.

“The fact that you are existing means what was written were all true. So do it Rage Caion.” King Agni said with his authoritative voice.