27: Reality

Someone caress my hair while laying on my soft bed. I know it's my bed, I know the exact texture. I open my eyes, I'm here inside my room with mother beside me. So I'm still here? How many times do I have to kill myself to leave this world of lies?!

"Ashti, why did you do that?" she look so worried. I feel compassion with that expression. I look for my wound although it's gone. No doubt my mother healed me.

"I'm sorry. I was just..." I don't know what I should say after. Should I give emphasis that they are all fakes? I better not. In fact, I miss them so much. And since I miss this place I want to enjoy it!

"Mother, will you leave alone for awhile? Please..." I said like a child. "I swear I won't stab myself again," then I grin. At first she's doubting and somewhat concern. But in the end she agreed. But first she draw a star with her finger to my wrist and it marked. A healing mark. Only she can take it away. I thank her anyway. Then left

I stand in front of the mirror, I still look gross from the dusty journey. I take a bath. Alone here on my bath spa, I'm thinking of what I should do. Should I enjoy things now? Or think of a way to escape here, and how? It's too obvious, very obvious. The chain was gone and Haris doesn't knew about it.

He bow down to my mother, he never respect anyone not even Queen Elizabeth. My mother lost her gift from the King's attack last time so why can she heal? Well of course because she's fake. And I was informed that she's pregnant, my mother look so stunning sexy with her long white dress. She always where a smile on her lips and benign face.

No difference from the real mother. Also, why would the people here welcomed me like they miss me like I miss them? I know they want me to die because of my uselessness. I finish bathing myself, change my clothe, I chose the one with the nicest smell. A gray balloon cut dress. I fix myself with the mirror and finally feel comfortable!

I jump and jump on my fluffy bed while singing. I enjoy this, or maybe I'm crazy. A maid knocked on the door for lunch. I'm going to eat delicious food here, I'm sure they made it special for my come back. It made me excited!

At the dining room, Haris, Mishu and Aishmalen will eat with us. And as expected, all the foods served are tasty. I use fingers instead of spoon and fork, I feel more comfortable with that, I lick the savory left on my fingers and found them looking at me. My mother laugh.

"I can do that too," she said and does the same. She told me before that she grew in a poor village and act like an innocent maiden. While enjoying our meal, we talk about what happened during our journey. And practically, Mishu told the whole story where she joined us. Same with Aishmalen, yet Haris is anti-social so I speak for our story.

After those chatting and eating, I roam around the castle. I saw in the garden a field with medical plants. There are young woman like me planting and harvesting. And except for that, nothing in this castle changed. My eyes caught Haris leaving the castle even the cousins. I rush to catch up with them, why are they leaving?

Their chatting gave me enough time to reach them. I called for Haris, he look at me over his shoulder then face me.

"Where are you going?!" I said; chasing my breath.

"Look, we can't stay specially I still have to do something for this world, remember?"

"I'm coming with you!"

"No. You're better of hidden under your father's barrier."

"But—"

"Also, my mission is to save you and bring you home." I can't erase the grimace on my face. If we don't have the chain, which means we can be separated. And I hate that fact, like I'm losing my guard. He hug me during my huff and made my heart beat faster again.

"Thank you, Ashti," he said. He left me with a smile. I watch their backs as they leave me farther. I wish them a good luck for the world's salvation. He didn't even told me that he'll see me again soon.

There are stones gathered around, a layout of the castle's design. And with my desire to control it, I lift one stone in the air without touch, I can do the same to hundreds of stones around here and spin those like a tornado. I can easily control them. Am I gifted in this world? Then I guess it's enough for me to stay here, but I shoulnd't, because they're all fake! I have to find a way out of here.

(Haris)

Heavy breathing. A place darker than night is where me, Ashti, Elizell and Mishuzyñel right now. We're hiding under the giant crystal cave above Up-don waters. Elizell glows hair with a little fire, that serves light for us.

"Whoa your hair! Now I can see you!" a childish whoop of Mishuzyñel. Ashti is laying unconscious on my lap, crystals are shaking from the impact of explosions outside, and worst, my left waist is severely wounded. I need to cover the wound to stop bleeding but in this situation all I have to think is a great escape.

We were ambushed by an omnipotent man hidden under his cloak. Yet with Ashti's state I can't fight back. For now, everyone is fighting. Or maybe not anymore because he's here. He can change location countless times, he could be a god.

"Who is he?" Mishuzyñel complained.

"Look closely, that is how you act before. Being under the Queen's hypnotism." this man is after my mark.

Standing with my allies' territory is a great advantage.

"Mishu, block his path and run." I embrace Ashti with one arm and lift her.

"Run?! But you're wounded!"

"I said run!"

She block his path and we run, I'm with a fainted princess and two little princesses. I'm such an ultimate baby-sitter. Unfortunately, the mysterious man is now right in front of us. I look everywhere then above. I asked the two to hold me and I'll turn the pendant, consequently it failed.

He dash to me in a blink of an eye and hit exactly my wound. I was blown away, roll and clattered. Just for a second, I glance in front of me and he's there.

"Mishu! Take Elizell away with you!"

"No!"

I see his hand holding the necklace. He got it and grip to scatter in pieces. I can't stop my agony when he cover his fist with thick rock to make another shot to me, however Mishu hindered the attack by shielding me of her crystals. She caught his attention and I'll like to ask them to leave but I cough blood. Slowly their movement are paralyzed. Until they totally became a stone, a statue-like curse.

He use telekinesis against me to raise my marked hand. I can't control myself. He made a rock sword instantly by his hand. With those gifts I think I know who he is. Afterwards, we're surrounded by fire until it grows bigger and hotter. Here at the middle of the tornado of fire means this burns great amount of the area.

Fire scorched him. And in front of me, fire forms a human image with fire wings, a King. He look at me with the eyes of indignation but not for me. The fire vanished with the air and view the wide damage caused by this King. The man under the cloak is still on his feet, the King face him and with one hand he burn him with a dreadful fire.

That attack is the strongest attack of a fire specialist I've seen. Could be stronger that how Mishu use her gift. The King lay down his hand and the fire ceased. The water in front of me is forming human shape too, I'm positive it's Aishmalen.

"Found yah!" he ease the pain of my wound. Just like how he does with Ashti before.

"Thank you," I said by force in embarrassment. Perhaps I didn't asked him to make me owe him.

The fire reaches the cliff from the waters of Up-don. Such great damage. Good thing the knights at the seashore manage to defend themselves from fire. The mysterious man covered his skin with rock, his cloak was burned. The King dash forward to him. For a short moment the mysterious man raised his hand upward and was shot by an arrow, his arm parted from his body and landed near me. It was Queen Elizabeth using diamond bow from behind.

Because of intense ache he failed to pay attention to the King approaching him. He wield his sword and slash him slant from shoulder to waist. The wound mark releases fire until it burns his whole body. He's gone wild like an exorcist. And it's cool to see how the King watch his opponent burning.

And just like fire, the man disappeared with the air without ashes. He escaped.

※ ※ ※ ORC ※ ※ ※

All is now well. The whole Whatever spot was burned, the knights are resting, healing their wounds and me, I strip my upper clothe to let Zandro cure my wound. I'm sitting on a wooden bench with Ashti laying asleep here. The King talked to me asking about how things started.

"On top of the cliff, a grass land, I took Ashti there. While staring at the fireflies she fainted. I felt a strong energy of an enemy and found that man wearing cloak. I can't restraint his power and I was hit. I chose to run away and ask help to the people here. And I'm sorry, I think I made things worst," I said humbly.

"That's a best way too to keep the princess safe."

"Hey!" Queen Elizabeth shouted. She grab the King's clothe to pull him closer to her ferocious face. Just like she did to me before.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Look you should-" he's raising his hands, a sign that he won't fight back. A King like him is scared of his Queen. Sounds hilarious but that's love.

"I told you to stay at the palace and manage the kingdom, right?!"

"Well... yeah... but—"

"Then why did you left the kingdom?! Who's left in charged?!"

"Don't worry. My attendant is trust worthy—"

"And do you think I trust him?!"

"Maybe you should calm down fir-"

"Our kingdom is at risk?!"

He kissed the Queen. I don't need to doubt if they're husband and wife. And their daughter is Elizell. And from now, both little princesses are still cursed.

"Calm down," he whispered. She let go of her clothe.

"We still have problems to deal with here," she said. The King fold his arms and exhales fire from his nose.

"By the way, I am King Russell. I came here for back up. And I made a perfect decision. I came here alone. And it would be better if we go back to our nation right now."

"After my troops rest and our daughter recovered."

"And the bad news is, their current status is the same," I said. "I'm sorry. I told them to leave but you still have to teach your child about obedience," I added.

Aishmalen is there guarding the two. But I'm more concerned about Ashti. Is she's under a comatose? A dream? And who did it? Only King Nemesis can.

"That man, he's powerful," King Russell said. I look at him waiting for the continuation of his sentence. "I saw his face."

"Do you know him?" Queen asked. He stayed in silence for a moment before speaking again.

"The long lost king, King Xavier."

Startled and disappointed. How could a god like him be controlled? The question bounced back to me, how could a god like Holland died by their hands? I breathe deep to cease the negativity of my mind.

"This is will be a top secret. Ms Tough must be aware of this too, but she's been missing too."

"Haris, keep this truth a secret from Princess Ashti." King Russell is worried. Based on his expression, King Xavier is a good friend to him.

I nodded, "I'll keep it a secret."