Trip to the Capital

    "Hey! Mal, the boys told me that we will be going to the capital tomorrow." Freda is so excited about our visit to the capital. I know they want me to have fun after what happened between me and Flynn. Thankfully, I avoided Flynn for how many days, Nick keeps me occupied the whole time, he made sure that I will not be bullied again.

      For how many times I caught Flynn looking at me, but I can't exactly point out how he feels about me, his expression is so unreadable, he is so good at hiding his true emotions, most of the time in the dining hall he looked so composed, while Avery is restless. There were times he was not around, I wonder where he went. I always feel my heart is in overdrive every time our eyes meet. I am still longing for his kisses, I know I am only fooling myself, but Serpentina gave me the pushed to hope.

     "Wow! Really? That is good news. I can't wait to see the Erthesia's capital, I am so thrilled to finally go there with you guys." I said to Freda enthusiastically, I want to forget Flynn even for a while.

     "It is time for us to get ready, I think I need to manicure your hands now, just like the old times." Freda giggled, how can I forget, she was my manicurist and makeup artist.

     "I have never been so ready, bring it on Freda."

     Freda is fantastic, in no time she was able to polish my fingernails and toenails. She applied something on my face, and even put treatment on my hair too. I can't believe her being a royal guard and a cosmetologist at the same time.

" I really miss doing this Mal, it is so refreshing to do girl things."

"Yeah! Thank you my dearest friend for making me feel beautiful again." I said to her after she had done all the beauty rituals. I hugged her, and we both retire to bed.

    The next morning we both wake up early, after we took a bath, she begins her make up session, when she eventually satisfied with her work she asked me to change into my outfit. I simply chose the maxi v-neckline halter purple dress, the simplest dress I can find in my closet, I don't want to be overdressed. Freda is wearing a knee length with a floral design dress.

As if the boys knew we are ready, they appear just in time. "Wow! You both look lovely." Said Hale.

    "Lovely is an understatement Hale, they are incredible, in fact you look both attending a ball, now shall we?." Nick said, offering his hand to me, I think I am not the only one who is aware of Freda's feelings towards Hale. Nick always makes it sure that he is with me, and left Hale no choice, but to be with my best friend, which I don't see any hesitation on his part.

I really admire boys' point of views regarding heart matters, I rejected both of them, still they look both unaffected by it. Girls really handle things differently, especially love matters, men in general are good at keeping their real feelings, how I wish I am one of the boys.

    "Let us go now, our carriage is already waiting for us at the academy's front gate." Said Hale excited.

     I feel overjoyed upon seeing the four formidable horses in front of the four-wheeled passenger vehicle. "Wow! Guys are we going to ride this thing?" I said, unable to accept that I can ride a real carriage for the first time of my eighteen years of existence.

"Yes, Malia, we want you to see the beauty of Erthesia from here going to the capital. Teleporting is a bit boring compared to this thing here." Said Nick ascending to the wagon, and offer his hand for me so that I can climb inside. It is so spacious, and I can feel that I am really in fairytale, except the Prince Charming is missing, what is wrong with me, I need to stop thinking about Flynn.

    Nick opened the windows and curtains of the carriage so that I can see the way we are heading. We are crossing a beautiful valley, I can see a bright and scenic waterfall cascading beautifully. The u-shaped valley is full of different plants. The colorful flowers planted in the roads are in full bloom, it makes my heart melt with happiness. I am really out of words to describe the place we are travelling.

    I never get tired, and did not feel bored during our whole journey because the hills and mountains are all in good shape. I can see the big trees and peculiar animals running beside our vehicle.

There are moments the horses take flight to make our travel time faster, they only go back to hitting the road, if there are scenic views that worth looking for. I like seeing the view in bird's eye view perspective, when we are in the air, it made our trip more exciting. Actually, everything that I've seen in Erthesia is worth watching for.

We are back on the road and nearing the entrance of Kentro the capital of Erthesia, where the palace is located. The ancient beauty of the capital is beyond amazing, the huge ancient buildings look like pictures found in a post card. I can see the palace located on top of a hill at the farthest side of Kentro. The palace looks gigantic even at a distance, it is the only building that looks so new and updated.

    "Ready to see your kingdom princess?" Asked Hale, and I was caught off guard. This should be my home, I imagined myself flying around this beautiful place together with my birth parents. My childhood memories could have been so different, perhaps I have suitors all over Erthesia, as per Serpentina I can dream.

    "Come on, guys! I am more than ready to explore this wonderful place." I said grinning to them.

    We all climbed out of the carriage and begin to roam Kentro. They brought me first to the museum, it was fantastic. I see many of my ancestor statues, and Erthesia's artifacts. I even saw the first cape and scepter of the first ruler of the kingdom, I feel a bit emotional seeing the things that reminded me of who I am.

     Then we come to see the biggest library I have ever seen, the building looks so ancient at the outside, but when you get inside you can see that the tables, chairs, and bookshelves are still new. Scrolls and books were arranged according to classifications, dates and events. I wanted to stay and started reading books, to know more about my heritage, but my companions are so eager to eat our luncheon.

     They bring me to the fanciest restaurant inside the capital. It was a floating restaurant in the surface of Kentro Lake, the place is serene and the soft, gentle breeze that touches my skin makes me sleepy. Hale and Nick ordered varieties of cuisines, I don't even know the names of the menus in front of me, but everything looks so delicious and flavorsome. I am enjoying our meal so much that I haven't noticed someone is looking at me in a creepy manner.

I can't ignore the way his eyes lingered on my face and body. He is wearing a black slacks, a black undershirt and black blazer. His build is sturdy, he is a fairy because he looks good, even he is sitting far away from us I can tell that he is taller than Nick And Hale. I tried to look away from him, yet I can sense him still gaping at me.

    I want to tell them about him, but I am afraid if he has the power to overhear what we are talking about. I am beginning to panic, I excused myself and asked Freda to come with me in going to the restroom, however the man in black automatically appeared at the door of the ladies room, obviously he can teleport.

    "I have been waiting for this day Princess, my Lord has never been wrong about you being alive." He said in a powerful voice that make my knees become frail. The color of his eyes are black, I can perceive his dark energy looming around the area.

In an instant Freda shielded me with her body, but automatically he attacked Freda by sending a magical power coming from his hands, I can make out the black lights are enveloping her whole body, that is enough to knock out Freda.

     "Hey! Mr. I think you got the wrong person, I am Malia Blaze, I am not a princess, I am only a half fairy." My voice is trembling, I get on my knees to help Freda to stand up, but he hit Freda very badly. Her skin is full of bruises and a black color started creeping on her arms.

     "You can't fool me, I know who you are, you look exactly like Queen Thalassa, you are the lost princess." He said looking at me victorious. "Now all you need to do is come to me, and follow everything that I am going to say, I don't want to hurt you, but one move and I will give you a piece of my power, enough for you to know that I am not joking." He is extending his hands to me, I am still on the floor trying to save Freda.

      My mind can't function properly due to the fear that something might happen to my best friend, this man is powerful enough to defeat Freda in one blow, how am I going to counter him, I am a newbie in this world of magic. In one swift movement he captured me by the neck, I released Freda because I am beginning to suffocate.

     "Easy there princess, don't worry the Dark King is the only one who can decide your fate, but if you resist, or try to fight me, I can take your arm or leg." He said while trying to pin me on the wall, I am too afraid to fight back, he handcuffed me an instant, the metal rings are encircled with blinding lights, and my wrists get hotter every second.

Freda's figure is still motionless, the idea of losing Freda made me so angry, I kicked him in his leg, but he is too strong, he is yanking me away from Freda, and I try my best to withstand his grip.

     "Release her!" I heard Nick and Hale said at the same time, behind us, then suddenly I break free from my captor. Both Hale and Nick are now facing our enemy their wings are now on display. I am so glad that he is alone, He fights strongly and I can see my friends charged at him at the same time, he had been attacked so many times, and received blows all over his body, it left him no choice but to retreat. The moment he was gone, the cuffs were off too, but left dark marks on my wrists.

Hale carried Freda at once, and Nick made a portal for us to go somewhere safe. I didn't expect us to be brought back to Nick's quarter in the academy. Hale lays Freda on Nick's bed gently. Nick is extending his hands, I can see his body glows, and blue lights come from his hands passed directly to the body of Freda. We all waited, yet Freda's body remains immobile.

"I think I can't heal her, aside from the fact that I used up some of my energy fighting that man, it seems the dark light that hit Freda is not so easy to cure." Nick said sounded so hopeless.

"What we are going to do now? We can't go to the headmaster, we didn't ask permission from him to go to the capital." Said Hale in the same tone with Nick.

    "There is only one person who is powerful enough to help us." Hale said and left the room immediately. I didn't have a chance to ask him who can assist us this time. I started crying, I don't know what to do if Freda can't make it. She is like a sister to me, she is breathing weakly now.

It feels like hours, before Hale returned together with Flynn, I am stupefied to see the dazzling crown prince of Erthesia. He looks at me fervently, I can see the worries in his eyes, I got conscious, I had smeared mascara under my eyes because of my tears, then he checked up the body of Freda seriously.

He extended his hands, different shades of blue lights coming from his hands go directly towards Freda's body, slowly the black marks disappear from her body, and her breathing comes back to normal, until she opened her eyes and shocked to find Flynn in front of her. I suppressed my tears, I don't want Flynn to think that I am weak.

"Are you okay Malia?" I am so glad to hear Freda's voice again, my tears began to fall into my cheeks. I don't care if Flynn is around, I am so glad he healed her, I embraced Freda closely, I was not able to talk, I only nod my head.

For the first time I bowed down to Flynn, and kneeled before him. "Thank you so much for saving my life during our examination at the Magical Forest Prince Flynn, I don't know how to thank you at this very moment for saving the life of Freda as well, I am so grateful for your kindness." I said, I am still crying in front of the prince.

     I can feel his motion towards me, he tugged me upright and looked me in the eyes, then he wiped my tears away, and examined my wrists and hands. I can feel the electricity again coming from his grip, I can see the change in his face from worry to anger. The pain I feel suddenly vanish, the prince healed me one more time.

    "Who did this to you?" Flynn asked, he is now holding my hands. I don't want to take my hands away from him, I feel so warm and safe being so close to him. He is looking at me affectionately. The arrogant Flynn is gone.

"I don't have any idea who he is, he is wearing black clothes, and he is so sturdy and strong." I answered him, my body begins to shake remembering the fearful incident at Kentro.

"I guess he is from the dark realm, what he wants from you Malia?"

"I don't know, I think he has mistaken me for someone else." He stared at me for a long time, I can feel the rapid beating of my heart, and I am so afraid of him to find out that I am lying, the man with black suit already knew who I am.

    He slowly released my hands, and I suddenly felt cold without his touch.

"I need to go to the capital to investigate this matter, how come someone from the dark kingdom was able to get inside to Kentro undetected. This means something, Hale, Nick can I talk to you in my quarter?" Flynn asked my friends.

    "Of course Flynn." They both said in unison.

   "Can I send Malia and Freda to their room first?" Nick asked Flynn.

    "Don't bother Nicholas, I will be the one to do that, I think both of you need to rest. We can talk tomorrow." He said with finality in his voice.