15 Lucia's Box

"Commander Rhys has been your mentor?" Hestu shrieked, astounded. I nodded, holding on to my bow as we make our way deeper into the woods.

I got up early in the morning to practice, but a letter was mixed among my archery equipment as I got to the field. Rhys had to be somewhere important, so he wasn't able to be with me today.

On the end note, he wrote to be prepared for tomorrow. What more tricks does he have up his sleeves?

Part of me felt relieved to be training without the bothersome Rhys, but the other part of me truly felt lonely. My practice didn't start so well; I never got even one bullseye this morning, probably because I had a change of breakfast this morning.

After Rhys bantered me non-stop for having too many fairy cakes yesterday, I decided for a change and had milk and toast for breakfast. This caught Blossom and the chefs by surprise. Honestly, I too.

I felt alone; the quietness of the field made me uncomfortable. It got more difficult for me to focus, so I decided to take a day off when I felt a tiny piece of wood hit the back of my neck. My eyes trailed where the piece of wood was thrown from, and I notice tiny figures waving at me on a tall tree. I recognized who they were in an instant.

I didn't have time to ask Blossom for permission knowing that she's also swamped, and since there is always almost nobody around the castle, I jumped over the castle fence. I headed in the Kingsto woods with the elves and Talus so we could practice archery together.

"WHAT!" I flinched as Talus yelled from his deep, loud voice.

"Commander Rhys, you conversed with him and even trained with him?" he cries in envy. I sigh, confused as to why they like Rhys so much. He may look intimidating and very much like a hero, but he acts more like a child. If only they knew how bothersome he is.

"Rose Ann, are you sure you're allowed to be out here? You might get in deep trouble if Blossom finds out you left the castle walls without her permission," she raised a brow at me while sounding concerned.

Honestly, she is right; I will get in so much trouble if Blossom finds out I'm no longer in the field. But I've been staying in that castle for days now. If Rhys had asked her about the festival, then it's improbable that she'd allow me to go tomorrow, but I want to explore what's outside the castle. I've been in these woods, basically came from these woods, but I remember it to be beautifully peaceful here and even wanted to set a camp.

Even if the castle is huge and spacious, I feel it's still a tad bit confining in there. There's so much that I've learned about my mother and me. My mind is still running with the information I've gathered. Going out might help to give me peace of mind.

"It's okay, and I'll be back by noon, so she won't notice that I was gone. Also, I think it's too late to go back now. We're already deep in the woods," I tell Maru, assuring them that it's all going to be alright.

Maru looks at me and then her surroundings before nodding, "you're right. And we've already reached our destination."

I look ahead of us, spotting three targets about the same size as the targets in the field. Below it is much smaller targets perfect for the elves. We stop in the middle; I look around and realize that we are standing in the middle of a circle. Tall trees surrounded us as the outer circle. Inside is plain grass with the targets.

"If you walk further in that direction," Maru points towards the north, "you'll reach our village."

"Wow, maybe I could visit your village soon," I say excitedly as I imagine tiny houses by the trees. Then I felt inquisitive, so I bend down to Maru and keep my voice as low as possible, "wait, where does Talus live?"

"Are you talking about me?" I jump in fright when I feel a rocky finger poke my back. I stand back up to face the rock-figured creature and smile at him, "I'm just interested to know what your living condition is like," I tell him.

"Well, I live further away from the elves near the river and the bridge."

My eyes went round, I've seen the center realm map, but I didn't see any river of bridge. Towards the north would be the Whispering Forest.

"The King of Beorene made the river after he attacked the next day when the Queen disappeared; it serves as a border from the land of the Beorene and Dazia," Maru explains.

"Wait, my mother was Queen right," I ask, and they all nod, "so when she left, the King of Beorene attacked? Why?"

They look at each other, then back at me and shrug simultaneously, "we don't know."

"Dazia almost came to ruins because your mother left," Aryll snaps, glaring at me. My eyebrows knit together. What is his problem? Why is he always grouchy towards me?

Hestu smacks the back of Aryll's head, his blue hat falling off, showing his messy white hair. He hisses at her before retrieving his hat.

"Aryll, come with me. Let's get more arrows, okay?" Pico adorably says, pulling on Aryll's sleeves. Aryll didn't argue and willingly went with Pico, and I watch them as they disappeared into the bushes and the trees.

"Aren't we going to shoot some arrows," Hestu breaks the silence snapping her fingers at us, "then, let's get started!"

We went on our separate ways, each claiming a target except Talus, who stood on the side munching on some fruit I don't recognize. I fiddle on the strap of my quiver before finally taking a breath, pushing away what was bothering my mind. My hand reaches behind for an arrow, and I place it on my bow. I lift my arms, pulling on the string, letting out a breath before loosening my grip. The arrow flies straight to the bullseye.

Talus claps and cheers beside me, making me smile, and I look at him. That's when I noticed it, behind Talus, in the middle of a bunch of trees not far from where we are, I see the top part of a cottage roof. Familiarity washed over me; it must be the same cottage I came from.

Unknowingly my legs started moving towards the cottage's direction until I feel rough hands grab my arms. I halt, turning my head towards Talus, "is that the cottage?" I ask him.

Maru and Hestu now rush over to us, and Talus eyes what was behind me, "yes, that's a cottage."

"I have to check something," I tell them, removing Talus' grip.

They eye each other before nodding, "let us come with you; it's not safe in there."

What do they mean it's not safe? I came from that cottage.

We slowly make ourselves towards the cottage, going through thick bushes and large trees. It looks so near, but it took us a while to finally see the cottage's full exterior. We stand in front of the almost destroyed cottage. It's the same as how I last saw it, the broken door and the smashed windows.

I move forward to get inside when I am stopped by Hestu, "wait, you can't go in there!"

"What do you mean? I came from this cottage that day," I tell them, and they gasped in unison.

"Y-you mean you came from there?" Talus stuttered, and I look at them confused; why were they frightened of an old cottage? But as I inspect the cottage, it looks eerie.

Turning to face them, I put my bow behind me and fold my arms, giving them a look, explain-yourselves.

"This was the exact location of the Kingsto tree, the tree with a portal. When the tree was destroyed, the fairy elders still felt the portal and built this cottage. One night a fairy elder went inside to inspect the cottage and mysteriously disappeared; she never returned. Creatures avoid this cottage because those who step inside will be lost forever," Hestu explains until she runs out of breath; Maru taps her shoulder, telling her to relax.

"The tree was destroyed, but the portal stays open," Talus finishes.

If the portal is still active, it's still possible to go back to the human realm. My hand navigates to my chest, behind my dress's fabric, where the pendant is hidden. Since I'm already here, then I must try.

"Wait out here. There's something I want to try. And don't worry, I'll be fine," I assure them with a little smile.

I swallow hard and turn around, facing the cottage. It's not even spacious; there are no other rooms; it's just one squared room on the inside. There's nothing to worry about. The elves and Talus would be able to see me pacing around from the outside through the broken door and windows.

So I take small steps until I reach the cottage porch. I peek inside from the doorway, empty. It's as it was how I left it, but I have to try it here again.

I lift my leg, stepping over the broken door and inside the cottage. Silence and the stench of decaying wood welcome me. Tiny rays of sunlight seep through little holes from the roof. I walk to the center of the room, my back facing the entrance.

Taking off my necklace, I look around, making sure that they cannot see it. I hold the pendant in my hand, letting out a sigh.

If the portal is here, then the chances of this working are quite high, "please, bring me back home," softly I say, eyeing the necklace. Nothing's happening, and it isn't glowing.

"Take me back to the human realm," I say again, a little louder.

Silence. I'm still standing in the middle of the cottage. My necklace is unresponsive. Then I must be wrong; this necklace doesn't work. It must be another thing that brought me here. I hide the pendant back inside my collar.

I hear Talus shout from outside, "hey Rose, are you talking to yourself? don't stay in there for so long!"

Both my hands drop to my sides. I continue examining the room. As I take a step in the back left corner of the room, I hear the wooden floor creak. My head drops down as I step on the floor again; it moves like it's loose.

I bend down, my hands feeling the floor, realizing that it's a false wood. I lift the wooden plank piece; my eyes widened as I see what is hidden inside.

There's a box hidden inside with a name carved on top. I read the name, "Lucia," wondering who that could be. I dig both my hands inside to get the box out; it's a wooden jewelry box just right in size. I try to open it but only find it empty.

Eyeing the name, I try to recall when I have heard of the same name before when my memory begins completing the puzzle, that day inside that bright room with the Dahlia flower placed in the middle.

"Granddaughter of Lucia," the voice said.

This belongs to my grandmother.