17 I Am Free

Winona's POV

"You can leave now, Winona! It is a pleasure to meet you once again." Champ declared, and he led me the way, and I realized it is already late in the evening, and I wonder how I will get back to the cave when it is very dark without using my power.

"You don't need to use your power, Winona; by the time you get out from our palace, you will be back into your bed, and you will wake up with no recollection." He added.

"What will happen if I can't forget about all this?" I asked.

"Ha! Ha! Don't make me laugh, Winona, it never happens." He replied.

"And what would it make me if I can't forget you?" I asked.

"Well, according to our ruling in the Dasos Kingdom, any powerful supernatural who became our prisoner here will be recognized by our rulers after we set you free, but if we captured anyone who has a dark soul, he could never get out from this place, and he will remain a prisoner. And if we set you free, it doesn't mean you gain our allegiance. But if by nature you are that powerful and you will remember our kingdom after you get out from here, you will have a lasting connection to our Kingdom, and you will be protected by Dasos army and by our King himself." He said.

"Did it happen before?" I asked because I can't stop myself from being so curious.

"Never, that is why our King promised to protect the one who can remember the Dasos Kingdom, and we never lose our hope, Winona." He said.

"Please don't get angry with me, Champ. I wonder why it is like that." I said, and he looked around, and I can tell he doesn't want anyone to hear what he has about to say.

"Well, Dasos Kingdom is also called the Oblivion Kingdom, it was from a long time ago, that the divinity punish this Kingdom because all its citizens are proud because of its abilities, that is why he put a curse all over Dasos forest that only powerful beings can enter, and no one will remember our kingdom even if we will bring the entire population in the Theseria Kingdom no one will remember about us.

It was the Divinity's way of punishment that no matter how powerful we are, nobody from the outside world will remember that we exist. And we can't leave this place unless someone will remember us, and that person must have a mighty mind power if he can't forget the Dasos Kingdom. And our King will honor and serve this person as his new King or Queen.

"As time goes by, our residents learned to accept the fact that no one will remember us. We survived because we are powerful beings, but every time someone will get inside the Dasos forest, we released the beasts from their cages. That is why the Dasos forest is known for its formidable creatures. But our citizens long to see what lies beyond Dasos forest since it was a long time ago that we have the freedom to travel from the different realms, but we are still hoping that someday someone will come as our only salvation." Champ added.

"You must go now, Winona, and if by chance you can remember us, you will know how to come back here. And now that you passed the test, you are free to roam around the Dasos forest, and no one will hurt you, and if ever someone from the outside world will try to harm you, the creatures that are sleeping inside the Dasos forest will rise, and they will protect you." He declared.

"Thank you, Champ, and I hope I can help your citizens because I know how it feels to live like a prisoner in your own home, but I think I will love your Kingdom, but I need to go now." I said.

"Okay, don't worry, we are now near the border, and I hope you will become our redemption, Winona." He said as he used his power to light our way, and I take my familiar into my arms, and I can tell Tac is pretending to be asleep.

I can see the beautiful white Castle when I looked back, and it is full of glamorous lights, and I want to stay if I am not only worried about Lizardo and Kai, I would ask Champ to hang around here for a couple of days.

"You are now free, Winona, goodbye, and I hope you won't forget the Dasos Kingdom and me." Champ said, and then I am shocked that he is fading away until I can no longer see him. The next thing I know, I am standing inside the thick forest of Dasos. I transform myself into my dragon form to light my way by blowing fire, and I use my magic to change my golden color into red. And this is the first time I shift into my dragon shape outside the cave, and I felt so happy that I found myself at the center of the forest and not in my bed inside the cave, and I remember Champ.

"Tac?" I said, and I am still holding her with my dragon hands.

"Yes, Winona, how can I help you?" She asked.

"Did you know that we get inside at the Dasos Kingdom?" I asked.

"What you mean? I am sorry, Winona, but I fall asleep and dreamed about something, but I couldn't remember anything." She replied, and I realized what Champ means, so I continue flying under the trees, and I felt so happy that I could go back to the Dasos Kingdom and meet their beloved King. I never think about any of it when I was in the Dasos Palace, but right now that I break their curse. I realize I can ask help from their King to save my mother if my mission fails.

I can't stop the rapid beating of my heart as we passed the heart tree, and even though I know Kai is no longer there, I light the dried leaves. When I get back to my original shape, I get inside under the heart tree leaves, and as expected, I couldn't find anyone. And now that Champ told me the beasts living inside the forest would become my guardians, I am no longer afraid to stay inside the woods. Still, I need to come home to the cave because I am sure Lizardo is so worried about me, and I still need to train so I can get inside the Dracousia Kingdom quickly.

"I couldn't believe you will forget what happened, and the protector was right. You won't remember anything about their palace, Tac." I said.

"Winona, I don't understand what you are talking about." She replied, and I told her everything that happened while we were inside the Dasos Kingdom.

"So, it means they can now get outside their Kingdom because you remember their palace and the protector." She said.

"I don't know what will happen to them, Tac, but I will go back to their kingdom before I go to the dragon realm. What is important now is we are safe. I thought the dragons took us, and I felt so happy when I realized someone seized us, and not the army from Dracousia." I said, and by the time we reached the cave entrance, I can't stop myself from feeling so nervous. And I realized Lizardo is not in the cave, maybe he was looking for me, and I felt so guilty that I left the shelter without asking permission from him, and I wish he will forgive me for what I have done.

I can tell Lizardo was here not so long ago because torches light the cave. I go to my room and get a clean dress, and I can't imagine myself wearing the same dress without taking a bath and eating anything. I don't know how I survived the three days with an empty stomach, and I realized I should get back to the Dasos Kingdom and unravel the mystery of their existence. I need their help if ever I can't save my mother alone. Joining the tournament is the best way to keep my mother, but I know it wouldn't be easy on my part to do the job since I will be under the scrutiny of the dragons because I will become a candidate, and I am sure they will monitor my every action.

If I want to save my mother, I need to play it right because I can never get wrong King Alexandrix gives me an excellent opportunity to rescue my mom by having this type of competition. I know my father died because I joined the tournament seven years ago, and if I only knew, it would be the reason that I will lose my father forever. My mom will become a prisoner in the Dracousia Kingdom, and I should have said no to King Julius and use my mind power over him to allow me to refuse his order. And how I wish I can undo everything, but I know everything happens for a reason.

I want to take a warm bath, so I walk back to the pool at the center of the cave and have a nice swim in the middle of the night. I warm the water using my witch magic as I concentrate on calling the fire element. I know I can heat it quickly if I am in my dragon form, but I am already inside the water, but I know because I am a dragon shifter, I can materialize my fire magic quickly.

I get up from the water and change into my sleeping attire, and I dry my hair using my air magic. I lay on my bed thinking about all the things Champ had said, and my mind was thinking about Lizardo and Kai, and I am hoping they will not give up on me, and I hope they are still waiting for me.