16 The Village of Farenlite (1)

Vladford and I both came down hand in hand. On the way down, we saw Smith by the bottom of the stairs.

"Do you have plans to go outside, my lord, my lady?" Smith asked.

"Yes Smith." Vladford replied. "Could you please prepare a nice warm coat for the lady."

"Certainly, my lord." Smith bowed politely. "Would you take weapons with you?"

"Yes, we will." Vladford replied. "As I can see from Hilna's face earlier, she would want yo go somewhere. It is safer to go with weapons now that fiends are running about."

"I understand, my lord." Smith replied. "I will prepare my lady's bow and arrows then." He excused himself and retreated to the back of the estate.

In these four years I have practiced myself using a bow and arrow and it is safe to say I am really a genius with it. Vladford had thought me of the basics but I was able to enhance my skills with practice. My weapon of choice is now the bow and arrow. I also have a light weight sword with me just in case and Vladford also thought me how to use it.

"Where do you think Hilna would like to go?" I asked.

"If it is still around Wisteria, then I believe it is still safe." Vladford replied. "You know Hilna, she can't stay still in one place longer."

"Hehe, I know." I laughed.

"Do not worry, I will protect you." Vladford said.

*ARF*

Van barked as if saying he will protect me as well.

"I know boy." I pet Van. "But I can take care of myself as well."

These four years my magic abilities have been growing. I can control shadows as I please. I can also use them to spy on other people. I can hear anything in shadows in a specific radius around me. I have been trying to expand the radius in my four years here in Heathfield, but I can only expand it for a few yards from me.

Hilna and Jacob has also awakened their magic abilities. Ice magic for Hilna and wood magic for Jacob. It is rare for other people to have elemental magic based on the five basic elements based on the mana stones. Like how the descendants of the Heathfield family, the caretaker of the fire mana stone could be the only ones to control strong fire magic. The branch families could have weak fire magic but only those of direct linage can inherit the flames of the fire bird.

Smith came back with my bow and arrows and my light sword.

"Be careful out, my lady." Smith said while handing me my weapons. "Please take care of her, my lord."

"It is a certainty." Vladford replied. He took my coat from Smith's arms and put it over my shoulders. "Shall we, my lady." He offered his hand.

"Sure." I replied with a smile and took his hand.

We walked out of the door hand in hand and saw Hilna and Jacob not far. They were with their horses and Hilna was waving excitedly.

"Oh my gosh, it feels like an eternity since I have seen you guys." Hilna said. "This man here has been hogging you for himself."

"And I am not embarrassed about it." Vladford scoffed. "We were having a peaceful time before you called."

"Heh, if I have known better, you two might have been doing naughty things." Hilna said jokingly.

I instantly blushed thinking about what Vladford and I were just doing before they called us.

"Ahem!" Jacob had cut in maybe after seeing me embarrassed. "Well we called you two because maybe you two would like to know that snow lilies started blooming in Farenlite."

Farenlite is one of the villages found east from Wisteria. I have not yet seen these so called snow lilies because whenever they started to bloom, a snow blizzard will come and they will be blown away before we knew it.

"They bloomed earlier this year and it is good that the weather is still clear now." Hilna said. "If we want Rose to see it this year, we need to go now."

"Yes, I want to see it!" I said in excitement.

"It is now or never." Hilna said with a triumphant look. "So, what do you say Vlad?"

"Do I have a say on this?" Vladford sighed. "Let's go then."

I jumped in excitement to see the snow lilies. I only saw them in the game. There was one side quest between the male protagonist and the female love interest and the graphics was so amazing. There was a spot in the village of Farenlite where this snow lilies bloomed and it was amazing. Of course the chemistry of the male protagonist and female interest became more solid after that side quest.

"I will get our horses first." Vladford said and left to get our horses.

**

The journey by horse back from Wisteria to Farenlite will take an hour and a half. It was just a quick out of town trip and we can get back before the sun sets.

"How did you know that the flowers are already in bloom?" I asked Hilna.

We were currently on the road towards Farenlite on horse back.

"I have someone in Farenlite watch out for the snow lilies." Hilna replied. "He just sent me a letter by falcon last night telling me they just bloomed."

"It is fortunate that the weather is okay." I said. "The flowers had been very elusive since I started living here."

"It is not just elusive…" Vladford said. "It is said that the blooms are an omen."

"An omen?" I asked in curiosity. "But why is that? I have heard that they are a beauty to behold."

"That is what makes it an omen, lady Rose." Jacob replied. "For something so beautiful, they said there would be something bad to balance its beauty."

"They said that every time the snow lilies bloom, a harsh blizzard would follow." Hilna said.

"Now that you say it…" I trailed out and in truth there always had blizzard after the flowers had bloomed. That is why I wasn't able to get to see them.

"The snow lilies only blooms once a year, and then a blizzard will come to destroy them." Vladford said. "How ironic…"

"But the sky now is clear." I said looking at the clear blue sky. "Maybe it is just coincidence?"

"We will never know." Jacob said. "Only the lord of light will know the truth."

I was deep in thought when we saw the village from afar.

"Let's have lunch in the village first." Hilna said. "I know a tavern that cooks the most delicious rabbit stew. Race you there." She excitedly smiled and kicked her horse to dash towards the village entrance.

"Hey, be careful!" Jacob dashed after her.

Vladford and I were left on the road. I looked at him playfully.

"Race you there." I smiled and kicked my horse. "Hiyah!"

"Rose!" Vladford was caught by surprise but was able to dash forward with his horse.

I smiled feeling the wind on my face. I am enjoying this out of town trip already.