Difficult Truths

The evening breeze made its way through my windows, rattling the blinds and calming me. My mum sat beside me on the bed, hands woven together in fear. Dad stood by her side, occasionally giving her encouraging rubs on her shoulder.

"We are a race called the Elara. My real name is Althea and I was…..well still am the heir to the throne of Naltaniera. Our realm was known by many names. The beyond, the enchanted realm," she looked up at the ceiling, a distant look in her eyes. "Eryndor was my home. My parents, the former rulers, ruled over all of Naltaniera on the thrones of Eryndor and I was next in line." She looked down, tears forming in her eyes.

"Your mother-" My father attempted to assist her.

My mother placed a shaky hand on my father's, shaking her head in disagreement. "This is my story to tell, Trevor." She gave him a sad smile. "I'll be fine." She heaved a heavy sigh, returning her misty eyes to me.

"I ran away. It was too much, I didn't want to rule. But of course that would never be considered because it was supposed to be my duty. However, I had a brother and a sister. I thought leaving wouldn't do any harm. Killian my brother, would be next in line, they had nothing to worry about."

She looked at her hands in regret. "It's all my fault." She let out a quiet sob. "My parents didn't see Killian to be a worthy ruler, and on the day of the coronation, my sister Xylara was abruptly chosen. Killian was enraged. He fled Eryndor, swearing to never be under the rule of Xylara. Nobody knew where he went, but Xylara being the kind, sweet, and innocent little sister, after years of meaningless pursuit finally tracked him down."

She wiped her now puffy eyes. "To be honest, I wish she hadn't. After all those years, Killians' anger was even worse. He killed Xylara when she tried reasoning with him, but she killed him as well." She let out a bitter laugh. "Ironic isn't it? My brother and sister fought over everything, but their potential in magic was always at the same level no matter how hard they tried. However, Xylara was always kind. She had a soft spot for our brother no matter how many times he acted callously toward her. It must have been so hard for her to hurt him then."

My mother pulled back her wayward hair as she continued. "I lost both my siblings that day, and so did Eryndor and Naltaniera, a wonderful ruler." Sighing, she continued. "If only it were just that. Elarans don't fully die, they live on in an essence. It's shaped like a rock, but glowing in the color of the deceased's magic. That essence can be controlled, destroyed, or brought back to life, but only by the most powerful of sorcerers. However, we believe Killian is an exception. We believe he's controlling numerous races regardless of being in his essence form. The night he and Xylara fought, there was an attack on Eryndor. So many died, so many lost, so many injured."

She stood up, pacing back and forth. "Unfortunately these attacks never stopped. From time to time, attacks would break out in random cities or villages all over Naltaniera." She entwined her fingers. "I don't think they'll ever stop. Killian has lost his mind, it's not about the throne anymore it's just mindless and meaningless destruction." She stopped, waving her hands in the air out of frustration. "I mean the human realm too? How dare he?"

Her pace quickened as she became more and more frantic. "Camila." She stopped abruptly at my dad's voice.

"I'm sorry." She shook her head in pain. "I'm the cause of all this, and my daughter has been chosen to put an end to it all. Perfect punishment."

"Hm?" I raised my head in confusion. "I'm sorry what? Me? Chosen? I don't understand?"

"Nobody understands prophecies, my child. But they stand true all of the time. You were chosen to stop Killian, to put an end to the suffering in Mythosia." My mother chimed with a twinge of sadness.

"Yeah, but why me? I knew nothing about all this until this very hour and you expect me to be some kind of savior? Savior to a whole other world that I know practically nothing about?! You want me to fight to my death. You-"

"No! No, Mavis. Why would I want that? I'm your mother."

I shook my head in denial. "You say you're my mother, but you want me to fight someone who a whole realm hasn't been able to stop for years! That doesn't seem like what a mother would put her daughter through!" I pumped my clenched fists into the soft mattress, standing up abruptly.

"Mavis, none of this is in my control. It never was! Do you honestly think I wanted any of this?!" She raised a shaky hand to her chest.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am. You were supposed to know sooner, to be taken to Naltaniera to be trained and prepared, but you're my child. If I'd taken you there, you wouldn't be. You'd just be some instrument for the Elarans and Druids to work on and upgrade. I needed you to have a normal life, with me here to shield you from all that there is."

I sat back down and she kneeled before me, taking my hands into hers. "There's still so much you need to know, to learn, to understand, but this is all I can say for now. I wish I could erase all this, for you to be purely human and have no otherworldly worries." She looked down at my enclosed hands. "If you're angry it's alright. I understand, I just….I just wanted and still want you to be happy."

I turned my face away with hurt in my eyes. "How can I be happy, Mum? I can barely wrap my head around half of what you've said." My eyes prickled. "And there's more? Mum, I don't know how or what to think. What do I do now?" I asked halfheartedly.

"We don't expect your answer anytime soon, but you're needed in Naltaniera. You need to train. You are the most powerful, my child. I know it's hard to believe but I feel it, anyone from our realm would feel it as well. Right now you don't know how to control it, you don't understand it, but with the right teachers and only the right, you will blossom into the Elaran that you are."

"….so I'm supposed to leave my whole life here behind? To start over somewhere I know nothing about?" My lips quivered in disbelief.

"I'm so so sorry, Mavis. I know that no amount of apologies can make things better, I know. We just-"

"I need space, Mum."

She nodded, tears filling her eyes again. "Yes, of course. We'll be here if you need us. Always." With a sad smile, my mother and father left me alone with my rampant thoughts.