The First Syldine

17 - Aerisse

I was lucky enough to distant myself before Prince Rage, followed by King Agni went out of the room. They both look like suppressing their anger, towards each other perhaps or to someone else.

“We are leaving Naia.” Prince Rage said as he walked straight towards the door we used earlier to get inside the King’s room.

“Just why won’t you listen to me Rage Caion?” King Agni uttered but Prince Rage kept his phase.

I ran following him but before I close the door, I took a glance on the Salamanders’ king, only to see him with worry and pain.

Prince Rage was all silent until we made it outside the palace again, back to the forest where these roselions grow. It is my first time to see huge red roses called as roselions, but I cannot appreciate its beauty, not with this awkward atmosphere Prince Rage is giving me.

“Would you believe my father wants me to fulfill something I do not even know if it is really existing. Not to mention that it will break one great rule of Retheale.” he whispered, as if he is being careful on what he is saying to me.

“Would you still stay by my side if I were to tell you a big secret?” he stopped walking and looked me in the eyes.

I felt my heart skipped a beat, and now every beat is soul consuming. As if we are talking about something our lives depend on.

“What are you talking about Prince Rage?” I asked him.

He gave me a faint smile as he shook his head.

“It’s nothing really important. Let’s now head to your mother.” he said and started growing his wings out.

“Even if your darkest secret will be safe with me.” I said unconsciously.

As for me, I am not the purest Stoiche out there, some may label me as the worst living in Retheale today.

I bet he didn’t hear what I have said and I followed him immediately in the air.

Aersho lies in the west of Eltia, southwest of Ignisen. And for Prince Rages trick, a two to htree hour travel time has been cut off again. We arrived at the borderline after almost an hour of flying.

I can see wiels, flying eels that lengths more than an average height of a young fairy. The clouds in Aersho are thicker than any of the regions as we have different kinds of flying creatures here. A moonbit is my favorite. I had one moo rabbit when I was a child, but it died after 5 years and I believe she now resides in one of Retheale’s moons.

“Lead the way Miss Lysse.” Prince Rage uttered.

I knew it, something is really up with him. Only if I can help, but I don’t want to let him know I have heard what he was talking about with King Agni earlier.

It just might make him angrier.

Starting to head to the farthest tree top in Aersho’s west, I saw Minstrale from a distant, being attacked! The screams of Sylphs are echoing loudly, houses and other infrastructures are starting to fall down.

“Prince Rage!” I shouted as I heard explosions near Aersho’s castle.

He looked mad and anxious at the same time.

“Go ahead to you mother, I’ll follow your scent after I check out the capital.” he ordered me as his red blazing aura starts to envelop his body.

“Be careful…” I mutterd.

“You too. If Draksias found their way to your place, never fight against them, make your way out and wait for me.” he ordered and I nodded.

We parted ways, and fear is now all over my body’s system. I really wish Mother is safe inside our house. I can’t forgive myself if something bad happens to her. I already lost my father, I cannot lose her too. I have so many plans for her after I break my curse.

As I see tall frozen pine trees, I sped up my phase, I am now entering the so called cursed forest in Aersho, the Calamine. Calams are poisonous berries that no one will ever dare to find other food resources here. And so Mother chose to live here, to avoid other fairies in interacting and watching us.

“Mother! I am home!!!” I began shouting as I reached the tallest pine tree near a cliff. I rushed flying but fell to my knees in devastation after what I found.

Our door is broken, and I can see blood on the floor, blue blood, an Undine’s blood color.

“Mom!!!” I ran inside and saw Mother in her Undine form, her tail cut in half and her upper body having severe, deep wounds.

“No!” I hugged her body, trying to use my healing powers on her but she won’t react to me, no matter how many water power I give to her, nothing happening.

“This can’t be….” I cried to myself.

I hugged her tighter, in the hopes of a miracle, even if I am to offer my own power to her, I will do it, for the sake of my Mother.

“Ae--- Aerisse…” it is her voice, barely breathing, I can feel her eartbeat a little.

I started crying, maybe I can still save her.”

She held my hand, but loosely.

I looked at her with my crying eyes, I can feel the heat from my aura that’s starting to build up around us.

I can perform it! I have read the life sharing technique from before! I can do it with my Mother. She said she was able to do it before, with her friend that was almost eaten by a shale when she was living in Hydreid. She did it successfully, so I can too!

“N---no……” she tried to grab my hand harder and closer.

“Y---you cannot waste your mana here.” she reached for my cheeks and cupped it.

She stared at me, with her eyes reflecting both pain and happiness, I cried even more.

“Let me save you Mother….” I pleaded.

The technique will fail if one body is refusing to do it.

“I cannot let you die.” I added and continue crying.

“R—remember when I said your birth is a blessing? Not the otherwise? I meant it. You don’t have to save me, but Retheale.” I cannot understand any of what she said.

Retheale again? Cheiums are there to protect it! How can I save something big as Retheale if I cannot even keep my own mother safe?

As my aura is getting bigger, I can feel my Undine mark burning up again, but the agony it gives is nothing more than what I feel in my heart now.

“You are the Syldine we are waiting for…. I’ll be guiding you from above my dearest Naia Aerisse Airylisia.” she whispered and her hands fell.

I was stoned. To see my Mother turn into fine blue ashes being carried away from me by the west wind.

“Mother!!!!!” I shouted in madness.

Whoever did this to her shall pay, a life for a life.

Picking up her favorite white dress now covered with her blue blood, I flew few inches from the floor. Observing everything. Nothing was stolen, their target is my Mother alone herself.

I closed my right fist and shouted in pain again.

The heat from both of my powers are nothing to me now. I can even go outside in finding who killed my Mother in this form. I don’t care if other fairies will see me, call my existence forbidden. But in the name of love and justice, I will use all my power to avenge my Mother.

“You will all pay!!!!” I cried as my powers went out of hand too.

A tornoado came out from my left side and a whirlpool was formed on my right., destructing my house from both sides.

“I will slay every Draksia in Retheale.” I said as my Undine’s tail showed itself.

My vision’s getting blurry, my head is spinning round, but I am so eager to start hunting down all Draksias, to find my Mother’s killer.

“Naia?” a familiar voice made me somehow calm.

The fury that was built up together with my two colored auras subsided. I turned around to see someone with a red aura few steps away from me.

“Is that you Naia?” the fairy started walking towards me.

“Do not go near me!” I shouted and started throwing air spheres.

“Hey it is me!” he continued.

“I said don’t go near me! You killed my Mother, didn’t you?” I shouted again and now with my other hand water blades are flying towards that fairy.

“What? What happened here? Calm down please.” he kept on erasing our distance.

“Stop! You won’t kill me too. I’ll behead you before you can do anything to me!” I made sure to form an air sword and pointed it towards the fairy.

“What happened to you?” he was close enough for me to recognize him.

The feeling of assurance, safeness, I lost the grip on my sword and felt my body became heavier than ever.

“Don’t close your eyes! Stay with me Naia!” he said as he held closer and carried me.

“Rage Caion….” I whispered.