21 Chapter 21: Journey to the past

Meanwhile the events of Terlan and Ilaras Journey

Terlan and Ilara both sat quietly at their carriage, a few mintues after they had waved good bye to Naera and had set off towards the castle.

Ilara silently hoped that Naera would be alright by herself. Her gaze directed towards her cousin as the ride stretched onwards to their destination, occasionally experiencing a bump on the road here and there.

To any other girl, he looked like a handsome, regal prince paired with gentle and kind eyes.

To other men, he has an intellect unlike any other. Versed in magic, swordplay and battle tactics. He was firm when it comes to pursuing truth and justice. A man of honor and grace.

But to her, she still sees that small little boy who cried with vigor and stomped the ground in displeasure, when told by his nanny that he couldn't have too much dessert or it will make his toothaches worse, as though it merely yesterday.

She remembers him as that pouting little boy, eyes filled with despair, stubbornness and innocence as he clutched on to a poor foal about to be killed as it was deemed useless when it broke its legs almost beyond repair.

He advocated about the unfairness and cruelty of the act, and claimed

'If I had broken both my legs, would you all deem me useless as a Prince and future king?!'

She smiled fondly, as to her memory of that simple, sweet little boy who already at a young age, showed signs of his greatness as a future king. A young boy with empathy and a strong sense of what is fair and just.

But, she also remembers a teenage boy who was only a few years younger than her, a boy in the cusp of manhood; cry tears of pain, anguish and betrayal.

She remembers as he begged her not to go. Not to leave. How he reminded her of a promise not too long ago, that they'd stay together to support each other in that awful place, where it seemed that their only allies and confidants were one another.

Yet, despite that. Despite how this boy, who at the time, did his best not to show any form of weakness. Most importantly crying as he was almost a man, begged her and cried as though he was still that little boy who hugged that poor foal, she still decided to leave.

The most hurtful memory in her mind was the look of sheer hurt and betrayal in his eyes. As though she had left him in a pit in order to save herself. Which was basically what she did. She left him in that awful place to save herself, and left him to fend for himself in that goddess forsaken place.

Terlan noticed that she was looking at him in deep thought.

"Are you alright? It seems like you were in deep thought. Is there something troubling you?" she lightly shook her head.

"No, I was just wondering how Eferdinlyle is doing? Does his legs trouble him at all?" he smiled lightly.

"Well, he's still a mighty strong horse. And thankfully, his legs seem alright. I thought that it would trouble him as he grew into adulthood as the magic I casted when I was small wasn't perfect, but I got him checked and they said he was alright and that his legs are as strong as can be."

"That's good to hear. I still can't believe you gave him such an awful name though."

"Hey! Eferdinlyle is a wonderful and regal name for a horse, thank you very much." she laughed and rolled her eyes.

They settled into a comfortable silence as the carriage rode on. The wheels occasionally bumping unto the uneven road and the sound of hooves clacking into a sort of rhythm were the sounds that could he heard as they drove on.

They'd stop once they reach a gate and show papers to pass through, going deeper and deeper into the heart of the city. Getting closer to the castle and once more into the place which she desperately ran away from.

Both of her hands where clenched into a tight fist at the very thought of it. She heard the driver state that they were already halfway in the Wall of Ruluio and are nearing the Wall of Marok.

It had only been a few hours, it seemed the she either didn't notice the time pass too much or the carriage was just truly fast.

Either way, she didn't like the thought that they were nearing their destination this quickly.

Terlan saw her apprehension and reached out to hold her clenched hands.

"It's going to be alright, Ilara. I'll be beside you every step of the way and you are not going to be forced to stay."

At his reassuring words, she smiled hesitantly yet genuinely.

"Thank you. I'm going to be fine. I know this means a lot to you and if it can make up for leaving you all those years ago, even just a little bit, then this fear will not stop me. I won't run this time."

Terlan smile back to her.

"Thank you, Ervea."