3: THE TALKING TREES III

When she saw a tree that is glistening in light blue, she hurriedly touched it. It was the only thing she could do now. But when she looked back, the darkness was still enveloping the forest. She closed her eyes hoping that her parents will save her—hoping that this will not be her last day.

"There you are, my dear princess Elani." Princess? How did she know my name? Elani gawked at the woman in front of her. She was wearing a pale blue gown that stretches to the floor. She was petite, no slim. Her pretty blonde hair was also long and wavy. She was wearing a small tiara with a blue jewel on her head. Her crystallized eyes are darted towards Elani.

She touched the cheek of Elani. She seemed to relax now. All her nightmares, all of her horrors, and worries were washed because of this woman. Her cold hands were burning underneath the skin of Elani sending bolts to her spine. She felt no warm but the presence of the woman was engulfing the overwhelming feeling of her touch. Why? Who is she? The woman kneeled and held the hands of Elani.

"In the darkness, there will be light. Fear not because I will be here with you forever." She smiled assuring the child. Elani was still puzzled. What was this woman talking about?

The woman stood up and swayed her hands in the air, making the darkness into light Elani was still holding the stranger's hand. She is not sure to trust the woman.

But she made the darkness, light. Should I give her my trust? She asked herself. It was too light that Elani had to close her eyes with her hands. As soon as she put her hands down and opened her eyes, she woke up.

It was just a dream.

It was the second day of the adventure and Raphael was the first one to wake up. He slept outside where he can protect his daughter from bandits or stray animals. Raphael always wakes up in the middle of the dawn as he was trained to do so.

After he woke up, he went to find fruits for their breakfast. They didn't bring food because it would be a bother to always get fruits in the forest. It's not hard to find fruits, every tree in the forest bears a different kind of fruit.

Raphael also was curious about the tree yesterday. He went back to the tall red-leafed tree in the middle of the forest.

"I know what you said, old tree." His voice was hoarse as if he was threatening the tree. The tree shrugs and it turned its dark brown trunk to see who was talking to him. The tree opened his eyes to see the WinterSonata.

"You dare to scare her off?" He continued as he gritted his teeth and he started breathing heavily. His fists tighten as he holds his temper.

Us evi velianesmi evael.

The tree answered, "I'm not threatening anyone."

"And you think I will believe that? Drop the language." The tree let a chortle.

"I am precise that I'm not threatening anyone, lord Raphael." He turned his back to the lord. The old tree knew who Raphael is. Everyone knows who he is.

"But you do believe it is the right time for her to know who she really is and stop believing that she is a daughter of the Helewys family?"

No one will know.

He remembered it very clearly. The day Elani was born and when duchess Ryleia died. He remembered what Olivia had told him that no one will know. No one should know.

"Give me that apple of yours." He asked. Raphael looked up as the tree sways its leaves and many apples were falling onto the ground. He catches just one apple and leaves.

Raphael searched for more fruits. It's rare to find a dark red apple in Vally Forest. He was searching for more juicy fruits for Elani will not like the taste of the apple he has. He knows Elani—she loves minty and juicy fruits.

He looked at the horizon in search of a green-leafed tree or at least blue. Soon, he stood in front of Ryleia.

The duchess has been buried here for a decade. Her leaves are healthy and colorful as well as her fruits. Her blue ponkans are blooming and looked juicy.

Raphael smiled May I, Milady? He pointed his index finger to a ponkan. The ponkan broke itself slowly from its branch and flew to Raphael's palm. He placed the fruits in his pocket and walked back to her daughter.

Take care of my daughter, Ruf.

He heard it but when he looked back, the tree was only swaying due to the air but he heard it. He heard Ryleia's sweet honey voice. Why not Ryleia talk to him personally? Why does she need to communicate with him through his head? He shook the idea off. Maybe he was hearing things he shouldn't hear but he answered it nonetheless. I will my duchess.

When he came back, he knocked on the ice door many times to wake up Elani.

"Yes, father. I am awake." Elani sat down on her blanket. She rubbed her eyes and stood up. She brushed her hair and turned it into a ponytail. She brought back the things to her bag but it's not turning invisible to this, she groaned.

"Okay, this is the day." She reminded herself and smiled. "Start the day with a smile."

Raphael whispered ancient words. Soon, the igloo was melting from the top to its wall and Elani saw his father deadpanned standing in front of her.

His hands again are shining in light blue. He tucked his hand into his pocket and threw Elani an apple and she catches it dumbfounded. Raphael hadn't noticed what kind of fruit he threw. He was thinking of something his hand was on his chin as they started to walk.

Elani had bitten the apple she was holding. The sweet apple was soon burning in her mouth. It was a sweet and spicy apple! She opened her mouth and fanned it with her hands. A small tear was forming on the sides of her eyes.

"What's the matter now?" He asked. He was sure pissed. It was early in the morning and her daughter is already getting on his nerves. He looked over to Elani and saw the red apple.

He widened his eyes in his astonishment. He gave the wrong fruit! He took his water jug inside his bag and gave it to Elani. The latter took the jug and drank at least all of the water.

"I'm sorry, daughter. I gave you the wrong fruit—that should be mine though I accidentally threw it," He tucked his hands and gave Elani the blue ponkan. "This is yours." He was sympathetic and a smile formed on his flat lips.

"What's in the apple, father? Why is it spicy?" She said when she was relieved from the fire inside her mouth. She threw the red apple and she saw it burned. The apple burned itself.

"These trees are dead bones, Elani. The fruits they bear are their traits. For example, that red apple I gave you earlier, he was a Seguviper when he was living. It was spicy because of his temper. Almost all Segnale and Seguviper have bad tempers and you should not test their patience especially Malaya."

The words of Raphael were hardly to sink into Elani's head but when she heard that these trees are from dead bones, she shivered. "You don't have to worry, Elani. You will soon know what the hell I'm talking about so now, eat. That's minty and sweet ponkan eat it now before it melts." He said as he was looking for fruits.

"Melt?" Elani was bewildered. How can a fruit, melt?

"Yes, eat it now, Elani," Raphael said slightly pissed. He doesn't know how to handle things with children.