The First Syldine

13 - Almost

My body started shaking as I keep fighting my lower body’s transformation while thinking of ways to get myself out in the forest. I need to hide somewhere far from here.

“Naia???” Prince Rage’s right hand easily made its way into my air shield.

I am really getting weak right now, because of this internal war I am facing with myself. His hand felt so warm that it made me feel sleepy somehow, not to mention how soaked with rain I am right now.

“You’re cold! What’s happening? Are you sick?” he added and tried to go inside my shield.

Pushing myself to the limits, I strengthened my shield that prevented him from going in which made him look confused.

I turned to look at Aellah and she’s now flying toward us, specifically to me. My panic started to rise even more, hitting the level it never did before, or I am not expecting to feel.

“Sorry! I’ll be back! But please don’t follow me.” I said.

Almost about to cry, I decided to fly fast, away from everyone, with the remaining mana and physical strength I have. I went passed the Gnome and Undine who are now talking in the midair, still under the rain which has gotten heavier.

I didn’t look back, not until I made sure that I went away from Euphorium Forest. And luckily, really, no one ever followed me. They actually did what I asked them to! It is unusual, knowing Prince Rage, Zephyr, especially Aellah. I was thinking one or two of them will trailing me, but I have no one here with me, except for myself.

Without any single idea where my wings brought me, I just headed to a direction without a particular place to go in my mind, I decided to go down, to find a hiding spot.

There are lots of trees again, but I can say that this not anything similar to Euphorium Forest. It gives me of the cliff part I felt the first time I ventured out on the surroundings of our tree top that is standing pretty tall in the farthest part of Aersho.

I know that Euphorium Forest is one hella of a vast ground, and to think that this is one of its end is not really impossible, since I am also seeing euphores around.

Walking slowly, still trying to control my transformation, I saw this old, abandoned building, that seems also like a huge house with four floors and fences around. Its door is made up of wood and had windows with broken glasses. Seemed like someone used to live here but decided to find another home.

Or not?

My fear of being seen in my Undine’s form is bigger than getting inside the house and explore it a little. I just hope nothing spooky will show before me or I might lose the calmness I am getting back now.

With the typical sound an old wooden door makes, I made it inside the house, only to find it really messy, looking like the last time it was used, a fist fight happened. The interior is classy for my view, just like what Erutainees has behind its gate and inside its walls. This must be a Cheium’s property? I roamed for more and saw a balcony at the back, leading it to a garden, facing a lake with water changing its color.

Where am I really? I have this thought inside my head when I sensed people’s aura approaching this way.

I managed to hide myself on the second floor of the house, under a queen sized bed, in the farthest bedroom, away from the stairs. Because of the surrounding’s quietness, I can hear voices that came in inside the house too.

Are they the owners of this house? If so, then I really need to get myself out of here, before someone catches me intruding without any permission. I might get myself in trouble for trespassing because of this.

With the anxiety I am minding right now, my lower body’s transformation stopped, and I feel less cold now. Instead, sweat are now running down from my forehead. I shouldn’t go in here.

Kind of regretting what I did, I heard laughter from more than three people, and footsteps on the staircase.

As my nose gets itchy because of the dust, the sounds from the other people that are inside the house are getting louder.

“They found her in Minstrale’s market. But she didn’t look like her daughter.” a female’s voice said.

Are they Sylphs? They are talking about Aersho’s capital.

“That’s easy to do. Anything new?” an irritated voice answered.

That line reminded me of Pele somehow.

I shouldn’t sneeze here in the second thought. They might hear and catch me hiding!

I heard them opening the door of the room next to where I am hiding, now it is even more intense, isn’t it? Good job fate.

Shivering with fear, my sneeze went away, and I sighed deeply.

Their talk continues.

“Of course there’s more.” one with a high pitched tone said proudly.

“They were able to follow her on her way back home. The assassination is scheduled tonight.” the same girl added.

The one with a high pitched voice laughed so loud. And three more voices joined her in rejoice. While as for me? I covered my trembling lips with one hand as fear, confusion and madness enveloped my system.

Who in his world will want a fellow fairy’s death?! And they are actually happy about it!

“My biggest revenge is yet to come.” without her irritated tone, I can still recognize her voice.

“While for the other target, they are still looking around Aersho.” a girl with a deep voice said.

I heard a loud slam on the wall, followed by the sound of a vase that was thrown to the floor.

“They should hurry! Wynmisia wouldn’t be happy if this takes too long. I might be able to get our rewards before the grand day.” the girl with an irritated tone earlier, that sounds like their boss to me, ordered impatiently.

“We want the plan to be successful, right?” she asked her comrades.

“Of course, that trash has to pay a lot.” the first one to talk, with a girly voice answered.

“You didn’t sound so scary.” the girl with a deep voice answered and they once again laugh.

The atmosphere became awkwardly silent afterwards. As if there is no one inside the house. Nervousness started running inside my veins, even in the small ones. I took a deep breath before silently making my way out of my hiding place.

I have got to leave immediately. Suddenly their mana aura’s are raising to a high level, I can even feel it even if we are in separate rooms.

“Achoo!” I sneezed unintentionally and surprisingly.

That came out of nowhere! I really thought it was gone the moment my nose stopped being itchy! What a betrayal.

“I knew it, we have a visitor.” her irritated voice is now filled with anger.

Footsteps gotten louder, nearer to me. I don’t think going back under the bed is ideal. Flying away through the window is not a good option too.

Opening the center cabinet of the room, I scooped myself into it. Luckily it only has few clothes in it, that I made myself sit down comfortably, but not happily.

I heard them entered the room. And so with another trick from Mother, I controlled my mana from surrounding my body, I am hiding my physical body, and concealing my aura so that they won’t trace anything from me.

“I can’t sense her now…” the one with the girly voice said.

“I can’t find her.” the one with the deep voice followed.

“Search everywhere!” again with her loud, irritated voice.

“Let’s stop playing hide and seek now little one.” for once the irritated voice sounded so serious and terrifying at the same time.

My eyes grew wide when I felt someone is standing in front of the cabinet I am hiding in. And I heard its sound being opened slowly.

I am dead.

“I am home!!!!” a loud gleeful voice from the outside echoed.

“Damn. What a pest. Wynmisia shouldn’t know that we have a problem. Let’s go and see her.” the presence in front of the cabinet vanished.

“Maybe what we heard was a bunton.” the one with a high pitched tone said and I heard them close the door.

I am not dumb to actually go out the moment they made sounds of leaving the room, so I waited for minutes before heading out. To make sure that they already went downstairs.

Everything inside the house is nothing but silence. I tried to listen to anything by sticking my ears close the door but got nothing beside from my deep breaths. Thinking of how to get out, I noticed that this room is pretty big and gives the vibes of elegance, with its pastel green motif in colors, to its floral designs. The owner must have been a Pixie? Or a princess? Maybe a prince?

Yet as I was about to take my exit by using the veranda, a sparkling light caught my eyes. And it is coming from something I am not expecting.

“A diadem?” it is what the next in thrones wear to show their place in the societal hierarchy.

I picked it up and observed it. It has these real emeralds and diamonds all over! This is not a fake diadem! But what caught my curiosity is a crumpled small paper in between one of its spaces.

I get it and read what is written.

The sound of the diadem I dropped made me rush my way out, carrying puzzlement in one of my hands.