06. Hidden Tales

I remained puzzled the entire walk we made towards the top. I almost lost my breath yet I proceeded to keep alive until we reached the destination. "It is still not the top, Terra, you need to hike the stairs in order to eventually reach the most top," I mumbled to myself and let go of a sigh.

It is a good way to encourage one's self, am I right?

My thoughts are troubled and I do not know what I must do to keep calm. His words as if slapped my face, how come I'd be in danger? Ever since I discovered the woods, it has become my favorite spot and indeed it gives relaxation. I wonder what causes me to be in danger once I go back there? I cannot recall anything ever since I woke up in the middle of the forest. Perhaps something wrong had transpired?

"You seem to be overthinking, what is it?" Ezekiel spoke and reached for my hand. I paused from almost trudging on the stone stairs of the hill and finally decided to get any help from him.

"It made me curious all of a sudden, all my life, I have never been in danger," I smirked at him the moment he glanced at me and I saw him shaking his head in disagreement.

"You become more careless as you grow up," he stated and proceeded to traipse his feet. I did the same and I took a hold of my other arm as it began to tingle once more.

"Perhaps my arm is bleeding, we have been walking for almost an hour and my heart could not calm, it keeps on beating hastily." I halted from walking once again and touched my chest, feeling my heartbeat.

Indeed it was thumping in my chest.

"I told you to not walk up here, you can have a piggy ride on my back, I cannot afford to see you gasping for air, milady." A smile escaped from my lips upon seeing his worried complexion, I hastened my way to come near him and without asking permission, I got my chance to ride on his back.

It feels great, I can say.

"... I told you to be more careful, Terra!" He yelled because of surprise, I felt my arm tingling in ache and I simply took a deep breath to finally overcome it.

I should get used to this kind of discomfort, I desired to protect the kingdom and how am I able to do that if I don't want to get hurt?

"What are you waiting for? Let us persist to march! You told me to ride on your back, are you even certain about it? I bet you'd get tired or both of us would fall down these stairs." I jokingly teased him around and I viewed his countenance. Funny.

"You seem to be in a hurry, do not make any unnecessary movements, you might fall." I heard him speak and I just let out a chuckle and cling onto his neck to prevent myself from slipping.

"Careful, you are nearly wringing my neck," he grumbled.

"Falling over could be hurting, yet probably it is way better for me to fall on you, am I right?"

He did not bother to respond to what I muttered and so I momentarily kept quiet.

Meanwhile, as we stepped on the stairs, I was peeking at his reaction. I could see that he appeared to be exhausted yet he still did not mumble anything or inform me about it. It seems that he was enjoying the moment we have.

There, I smiled bitterly at the thought that it is quite meaningless of how fate played tricks on me. I could confess that I am enjoying my day with Ezekiel and the happiness I unfailingly felt towards him would always appear to be better than how I feel towards the Prince.

"Here we are," I was back on my senses the moment I heard him enunciate. I let my sight roam and it captures the nicest view I have ever seen. I felt so perplexed by what I beheld.

"... I feel like I am seeing the entire world," I whispered as I gaze on the view, with my lips parted being astounded.

"You can wander your feet in the area," he gently lowered his body so I could simply jump off from his back. A wide smile could not be erased from my face and I held tighter on his hand as if I was afraid to be left alone.

"What do you call this mountain?" I asked him and followed him around.

I heard him chuckle before he could even respond to my question. "It is the East Mount, the cropland is over there, yet I tend to bring you here so you could have a space for yourself to think calmer."

"East Mount?" I paused for a moment when I recalled something from behind, the name sounds familiar to me. "Is this the place where Lorelei often visits?" I asked him and he gazed at me as if he was baffled.

"Lorelei? Is that the prophetess?" He throws back a question and I stood still of my location, thinking of how I must explain it to him.

"She is a prophetess?" I gawked at him before eventually realizing what he just told me.

"I already mentioned it, she frequently visits here considering that this mountain is sacred. She can hear the firmament's voice for it speaks to her," I felt so dazed upon hearing his statement. It made me think vastly as I recall the memories I had with Lorelei, I often encounter her along the way and I stalk her presently.

So this is where she perpetually go? I was forcing her to let me come with her yet I eventually found myself being in this place...

"Is that her gift?" I asked once more and he nodded as a response. Now I am about to feel envious of how Lorelei got the skill to talk to the heavens.

"I envy her for having such ability," I mumbled, yet I flinched in pain when Ezekiel recklessly pinched my nose.

"Aw! What is that for?"

He glared at me and brushed his hair using his fingers, "Everybody has their giftings, Terra. In your case, perhaps you already found yours but failed to recognize it."

Odd. Must I hope?

"Now that made me even curious," I retorted, and once more I watch how the thick clouds gently move above.

He replied with a laugh and gently pulled my arm, leading me over a huge tree. As we reached it, he took one of its leaves and gave it to me. I made a confused look at him yet he stood still and faced the sky.

"Let there be peace in our territory," he wished and let the leaf dance along with the wind and flee before our sight. I stayed there bothered.

What is that for?

"Can you simplify what you did? I am a bit ignorant of what is happening, is this part of our tradition?" I could not help myself but to throw questions the moment he faced me, I swear I have no idea of what just transpired.

"... Stop making me smile, Terra." I rolled my eyes at him and merely crossed my arms as I gaze at him. "I am not making you smile, do I seem to be a humorist?" I hissed at him.

"I need an explanation," I demanded and I saw how he restrained himself from laughing.

"Are you not aware that we have a God?" He questioned which made my brows meet. It sounds strange, I never discern such a thing to exist. Do we really have a God?

"What?"

"Who made mankind?" He threw another question at me and it seems to remind me that I am a fool.

"I have no idea, I thought we existed because it is our fate to breathe?" I retorted and plainly look at him with boredom.

"There is something greater than that answer," he responded and chuckled.

"You know I am not able to explain it way further, and I am not satisfied with my answer as well."

"I perceived that you haven't read the history of the world," he commented and flashed a wide grin at me. How could he say such a thing right in front of my face? Is he trying to say that he is way smarter than I am?

"There is a book of how we started to spawn?"

"You are right,"

"Let me see it," I demanded once more, yet he threw a plain look.

"It is hidden from our sight, Terra. We never saw it again, it was way back when I was a kid." Disappointment coated my entire complexion as I listened to him. How unfair!

Well, it is a bit unfair to think that I never had the chance to even take a glimpse of its pages.

"That is quite a mystery, what do you think? I wonder who hid that book? It must have been very intriguing for it was snatched from everybody's sight. What a shame," I retorted and took a deep breath. I settled my mind and sat on the ground, why do I feel that there is much of a mystery hidden before our eyes?

It appears to me as a problem. Are they blinding us? Am I even dumb to be deceived?

"What are you thinking?" He suddenly asked and so I eyed him.

"I wish to unravel this enigma," and I smiled widely at him, which cause his expression to change and he glared at me.

The moment his expression shifted, he eventually threw a glare at me and warned me. "Stop what you are about to do, Terra."