" I... I missed you, Celesta. I missed you a lot but you don't even remember me. Of course, it's no fault of yours but it still hurts. " Jude confessed with a quivering voice.I was unable to understand what he was saying, many questions came to my mind like have I met Jude before? Were we friends? How Did I lose my memory? But I ignored them and just tried comforting him, I could ask him questions any other time. After all, nowadays it seems like all I do is ask questions." Jude it doesn't matter now what happened in past. I am here now with you and that's all that matters." He just nodded and smiled like a toddler. I couldn't help but smile back at him. In our exchange, we never noticed when the carriage came to the stop. A loud knock on the door finally brought us back to the world. " We are going to cross the second gate, Grand Prince I mean lord. How silly of me, You told me to only refer to as lord in front of milady. It completely slipped from my mind. " the voice was of none
Jude finally sat down on the seat but behind the table and I followed his suit and shifted towards the window side. So I could have easy access to the table.There were two black lunch craters on the box table with some tissues and spoons. Jude carefully kept food craters one by one in front of us both and then passed me a spoon. I was so hungry that as soon as he kept it in front of me instantly removed the lid. It was extremely hot like it was made and was just served on our table. Its aroma wafted into my nostrils and just increased my appetite. I was just about to dove my spoon into the delectable cheese potato layers when I noticed Jude's food crater wasn't even touched.Was he not hungry? How can he not after so much travelling? I looked at him to find him with his eyes closed and hands together chanting prayers to Goddess Sagaria. I couldn't help but stare at him and my hand automatically rose up and I graced my fingers on the amulet he gave to me last night. I remembered what
" Home..., home the word sounds so foreign to me."Jude just stayed silent as he sadly smiled at me and leaned against the window frame. " It's comforting to know I at least have one. There is somewhere that I belong to, somewhere that I can call home."" Celesta, everyone has somewhere that they belong to." " Don't be so sure about it."Jude just raised an eyebrow at my response and I just gave him a knowing smile. That's when I heard something making noise outside the window, I got curious and instinctively opened the curtain to see who or what was it.It was just a bunny but a very beautiful one. It had pristine black fur that shined in late daylight. It chewed on the lettuce and looked up at the window with its beautiful amber eyes. The creature in front of me was simply stunning and I couldn't help but kept staring at him until Jude disrupted whatever trance I was in and closed the window rather harshly. " My God Celesta, why can't you follow a simple instruction of not looking
" Why? I thought flying pegasus were quite common here like horses."" They aren't rare yet not that common. Mostly only rich merchants, noble man and royalties travel in the carriage run by flying pegasus. Common people usually use horses or burros."" So flying pegasuses will catch attention but walking pegasuses would be completely invisible to other people."" First a fall we are taking I travelled roads and for people, we by some unlucky reason come across which will be very few. They wouldn't be able to notice their wings because pegasus runs very fast. To them, it will just seem like a very fast-running horse carriage and I don't think common people will waste that much time thinking about some horse carriage.""Common people... so, even in this world classism exists. Unfortunate that even the world with magic and mystery couldn't keep discrimination away."" That's how society works Celesta. For a community to function properly it must have some sense of order, a system."" Sur
" You just knew? That's not a very strong argument Celesta."" What are you trying to prove by doing this?"" By doing what? "" Questioning my past, everything that I know about myself." " Don't be silly, how will I question you about your past when you don't remember anything about it."I didn't respond to his remark and just pondered about what he said and after some time, I finally spoke." I suppose you are, right," I stated grimly with my shoulder slumped down and my eyes cast to the ground." Now, don't be like that Celesta." Jude patted my shoulder comforting and gestured me to walk on a stone pathway as he continued, "That's why we are here. We are here to find out about who you are, and all about your past and the first step to learning about your past self is to accept that you know nothing about anything and get rid of all restricting beliefs that you have developed in time to make your life easy."We walked on the stone pathway and Mr Alden followed behind us. We made our
'Jude's warning did the opposite of what it was supposed to do, I thought as I tossed and turned in the bed and couldn't help but let my mind wander, ' What does he mean when he said that? What is going to happen tomorrow??'Questions swirled around my head giving me a headache as I continued staring at the white ceiling. I didn't notice when tiredness took over me and I fell into a deep slumber. Knock! Knock! - The sound came from the other side of the door waking me up but I just ignored it and tried going back to sleep when the door swung open and Jude peered inside and called, " Hey, Celesta!"I plopped myself up on my elbows and grumbled, " What do you want, Jude?"" Nothing, just checking if you were awake." " Well, thanks to you. Now I am."" Great. Why don't you change into something decent and come downstairs." I looked towards the window to check if it was morning already and it wasn't. It was still dark outside. " Why should I? I want to sleep and It's still dark outside.
Five Years Ago:I was now standing in front of a mysterious tall man dressed in all black with a hood on his head and a strange mask on his face. His emerald green eyes stared at me calculatingly. I was scared and trembled as I covered my face and took steps back inside." Please don't hurt me ", I whimpered." Hey, calm down. I am not here to hurt you on the contrary I am here to help you." The masked man said in a very gentle voice as he stepped inside." Help me?" I questioned as I slowly uncovered my face." Yes, you know to adjust to this environment and to teach a thing or two, so you can survive here on your own." He said very casually as he looked around. I just stared at him in slight confusion, not afraid of him anymore." Why don't you sit down and let me explain myself? "I sat down on the simple black armchair next to me and asked," Who are you?"" That doesn't matter, Celesta." He said as he turned towards the door and locked it. I clenched my white skirt nervously as I
Back to Present:" Strange man dressed in all black? " Jude asked in a somewhat displeasure and alarming way." Did he do anything to you? Did he hurt you, dear?" Sir Edith asked me with a worried look on his face." No, Uncle, on the contrary, he helped me understand their custom and way of living better and made sure that I will be able to survive there alone." I smiled as I said that.Sir Edith gleamed at me when I called him uncle but Jude on the other hand glared and continued his querying," I wasn't informed anything about that. Who was it? How did he look? Did he give you his name?"Jude asked several questions about Clian with an unpleasant look on his face. I had a gut feeling that it wouldn't be wise to give Jude, the name of Clian. So I just decided to hide Clian's identity from him at least for now." No, he didn't give me his name. Nor he removed his mask from his face while he was with me. I don't even remember any of his distinctive physical features and his voice was al
" I love you, Clesta. More than I will be able to ever convey in words." She smiled at my confession, " I love you too." She replied which came out more as a whisper because of how weak she was.I placed a kiss on her head and she raised her hand to cup my face when suddenly a sharp hiss pierced through her lips.Her hand fell on her chest. As she clutched her thin medic gown, tears welled up in her eyes. Her face contorted as agonizing pain erupted inside her body." Jude-" She mumbled under her breath as she started having trouble breathing." Celesta, love, listen to me. Try to breathe, take deep breaths." I didn't know what to do.All I could do was comfort her cupping her face, just chanting for her to breathe. I was completely helpless as she struggled to breathe and I didn't know what you do. So, I just started shouting at the top of my lungs, " Someone, Help!! She is unable to breathe. Is someone here, please? please! help her!!" I shouted like a maniac clutching her to my b
There she lay on the infirmary bed looking beautiful as ever. Her eyes were closed and slightly scrunched as if she was having a nightmare. I walked towards her and settled down beside her bed. I combed through her hair that was sprawled around the bed and then held her free hand which was not in the capture of syringes. That's when I noticed black marks sprawling out from her chest as they were slowly capturing and sucking her life. I raised my hand towards her chest that was revealed through the hospital gown, I traced the markings they felt like burning in contrast to Celesta hand's that I was holding. That's when I noticed how she slightly twitched, ' If only I could take away the pain.'I kissed her knuckles, softer than my lips, and moved my other hand from her chest to her hair, combing through them as I remembered how it used to always calm her down.For some time I just spent their sitting staring at her. If she had been awake she would have blushed at my behavior and swatt
(Back in the past)I stood there my eyes trained toward Celesta's room waiting patiently. The infirmary was unreasonably quiet and empty. There was not a doctor or nurse in sight nor any patients, which was incredibly strange as the infirmary was opened for every royal staff - maid, workers, soldiers, and even nobles from time to time. So not having anyone around in the infirmary is quite unnerving, 'Is there a particular reason behind it? it must be related to Celesta?' I decided to inquire to the King." Your Highness, is there a particular reason for the infirmary being so empty? or is it just a coincidence?""Yes, we have decided to keep information regarding Celesta's state hidden. As to not create chaos among the general pricers. I would also suggest you do the same. It's best for the kingdom and Celesta."I nodded at King's explanation understanding his point of view. That's when suddenly Queen Sophie erupted from Celesta's ward. I automatically straightened my back preparing
" What?! but why will I not come with you." Ralph argued with me now irritated. " Because who will drive the carriage back home safely? You are not planning to leave it here." " Well, and why don't you stay and drive carriage home back safely and I go with Sir Elijah. " " Because I was the one who took oath in front of King, not you, kiddo." " Don't call me that I am adult more than you to be press-" he growled at me when Ralph got cut off." Enough!! with two of you! This is not the time to fight. my niece needs me, and I will not be late because of two of you decided to throw tantrums." Sir Elijah shouted, finally losing his cool. " Jude is right, Ralph. You must stay and take a back carriage home this time from a safe route. Where there is not an entity sitting and waiting to eat you alive." Sir Elijah snatches the vessel from Ralph's hand."Now here, Jude, let me show you how it is supposed to be done."Sir Elijah took a deep breath opened the potion bottle and took two drop o
( Back in the past)Swallowing some air I finally made my way inside the hall. It was filled with people, some dressed very extravagantly while others were very modest. It was quite easy to tell that this was quite a global event. I looked around trying to spot a familiar face but it was so crowded I wasn't able to. I roamed around looking for Sir Elijah and mistakenly called out some strangers resembling him.After what it, felt like an eternity passed. I finally sat down on a chair and dejected, ' There is no way I will be able to find him here.' I murmured to myself as I took a sip of some red wine handed to me. "Jude?! Is that you" I looked behind me in pleasant surprise to find the man I have been looking for. There stood Sir Elijah with a confused look on his face."Sir Elijah! " I exclaimed as I stood at once to face him."Wow, it is you. No offence young man but I never took you to be interested in potion and science you always strikes me more of a sword man. That's why I am q
'Ralph!! Ralph!! come out!! We have landed!!!' I shouted for my brother to come out of the carriage.After a couple of seconds, Ralph finally staggered out of the cloud of smoke while dragging the storage box behind which was still producing the smoke. ' Why are dragging it with you, I finally was able to escape the smoke by getting out of the chariot and now you are bringing it back for me.' I took some steps back while yelling at him.He just shook his head and muffled out, ' No, No, I am just_-Coughs-' and then he bend down with his hands on his knees and took some breaths. Finally, he stands upright again and then kicks the storage box to the ground that had still smoke clouds coming out of it. The liquids spill on the dirt and slowly start seeping into it. Once the liquid disappears, Ralph walks to me while adjusting his coat and says, ' If you want to solve a problem, you should always dig at its root, rather than hacking away its leaves and stems.'I just rolled my eyes at hi
( re-telling of past)' hahaha, clouds of disguise ready to fly, who says that.' I mocked Ralph.' One who actually found out a way to cross the valley without being shredded into pieces rather than sitting on a rock doing nothing.' Ralph sneered at and I just laughed it off. ' I will not lie, little brother, you outdid yourself this time but will this cloudy smoke be able to conceal our whole chariot from the view of spirit.' ' Yes, it will. This smoke has high density and is quite stable because it is more solid than it is gas.'' huh? How does that answer my question?' I asked in confusion.' Well, by that I mean this is not see-through, it is quite opaque. If anything you should worry about it is how will you drive the carriage. Plus, this gas has a constituent, which does not enable it much movement. So it will help us appear more like a regular cloud and less like a smoke rocket.' Ralph explained.' Sounds good. So, what are we waiting for? Let's do it! ', I said. Now surrounde
- Knock!! - Knock!!, a loud knocking sound came from the front door, pausing me. Celesta and I, both looked at each other with alarmed looks on our faces, wondering who was it. Sir Elijah noticed our startled expression and informed us, " My apologies, It must be my companion. There is no need to be alarmed."Then he got up and continued, " Excuse me, but I will be back in some time. Please until then continue with your story without me." Sir Elijah, left through the front door and as soon as he did, I couldn't help but grumble, " he brought his companion here. I thought, I especially told him to come alone and be very discrete about it."" There must be a reason behind it, he wouldn't just bring a companion without the reason." Celesta reasoned with me." There is no reason enough to risk your security like this. It's just incredibly careless and disrespectful on his part. " " If you are so offended by it, then go out and talk to him. Complaining to me about my uncle wouldn't help.
" Old Owl Lake? What is it?" Celesta asked interrupting my retelling of the past." It's a valley with a large lake where an old owl spirit lives. You may say it's its turf." Sir Elijah answered " Does not sound that bad." Celesta commented. " It will if I told you that if someone tries to cross the Old Owl Lake valley and the Old Owl spirit catches them. It asks them three questions and kills them in a very gruesome way if they are unable to answer even one of the questions." I informed making Celesta' pupil wide."What?!! Kills them just for not being able to answer a question!!" Celesta exclaimed." Exactly, now where was I before you jumped in, oh yes, Ralph just told me that we would have to cross Old owl lake if we take the shorter route and I gave the most reasonable reply one would give after listening to that, ' Have you completely lost your bloody mind!!! You call crossing Old owl lake a small problem like it's a minor inconvenience and not a death wish!!!'' Will you calm