Realm of Wings

Kallan, still baffled by Jade’s movements:

At the moment where she was confused at what she did just now, my men were able to capture her in the rooted cage. Her anger had risen even more, now that I had trapped her and she was unable to do something about it.

“Get me out!” She gritted her teeth, endlessly using energy to try and break through the strong roots. Trying to burn through them even, but the wood was created by pure energy so she couldn’t do a thing against them. And the cage was too small for her to reach for her blades to slice through it.

It was difficult to see her like this, also because all this time Trixie was arguing with me about this situation too.

“Let her go! If you want to wed her, you might want to show her your good side!” Trixie said in her mind, for me to read.

I know that I had somewhat decided for her to become my wife, but I have the obligation towards my realm and future kingdom to protect it from any threat available. I can’t just let my dick decide for me, to have my way with her and put a crown on her head without thinking this through! I can’t trust this woman, just because she doesn’t know about us. She could still be a murderer or a thief, but not showing it to us, right?...

“Really? If she was a murderer, she could have killed you numerous times already! And if she wants to steal anything she could have easily persuaded one of the men to summon a portal to Kyalthemar! She doesn’t need us, but she decided to show herself towards us, as we were the lucky first Fae to have found her. Would you rather have one of the Aether to have found her?” Trixie asked me in her head after reading mine, while raising her eyebrows and lifting her arms to increase the craziness of her question.

“No!” I shouted out loud, which made Jade stop her endeavours to break the cage. I can imagine her to be curious as to why I would have burst out like this, as she couldn’t have heard what Trixie had thought of.

The Aether Fae… I can’t let them have her. They are the Fae that are living beyond the rift, on the other side of our planet. Ages ago, one fae had created the rift to separate the two halves of our planet, to end the war. But while doing so he created this passage through our lands that we can’t cross. Each and every single person that had ventured through the canyons, through the mountains and straight through the magic wall that went across our globe, didn’t make it back.

But even though we weren’t able to cross into their side of Kyalthemar, they were somehow able to get into ours. Making it impossible for us to determine when or where they would show up and attack us. Which was another reason why my father’s beliefs about the Fae getting strong and muscled up, were easily accepted as we needed the extra strength to protect our people.

And not only because we weren’t able to pinpoint their next action, we became buffed, but also because of the strength that the Aether possessed and the fear that they could induce upon anyone that had ever faced them.

They might have the same powers as we did, the core energy balls and mesmerizing talents and such, but because of their unlimited supply of power, as the original fountain of magic was placed at their side of the planet, they seemed to be more enhanced in their skills. They were stronger, bigger and faster in everything that they did. And because they were living near the original fountain, they even still had their pointed ears showing off the true Fae origin.

And when they decided to attack us, they were calling us the freaks of Kyalthemar, as we weren’t true to the Fae race without our pointy ears, even though one of their kind had created the rift in the first place!

But there where they had the original fountain, we had several fountains on our side as well. But because they were formed from the energy of the first one on the Aether side, but now lost their connection to it, they were depleting themselves over time and we had to enrich the fountains over and over again with items from the other worlds. Hence the reason we went to Earth too.

For generations, this had worked and we were in no need of getting through the barrier at all, as new magical items were created over time in the other worlds. So, we had to work a little harder, but in the end, we had somewhat of an unlimited supply of energy too.

“Besides, what if this item that Jade wants to have, could replenish our fountains for years?” I thought in my mind, for Trixie to have read.

“And then what? You won’t get to marry her as she will never trust you! Where will you find yourself a suitable wife then? You pick one from the pile of dumb bimbos back in E’ne Belanore? Good luck!” Trixie scolded and walked over towards the rooted cage. “Besides, what has she done to you? All she did was telling us the truth!” She continued her scold towards me, while not looking at me at all.

“Release her.” She said towards the green-winged men.

They looked towards me, expecting my approval to listen to her command. I could have easily just ignored Trixie and commanded for them to drag Jade towards our home on Kyalthemar, as that is what my initial plan was. But somewhere I knew that Trixie was right, somewhere I knew that Jade had been nothing but truthful indeed. Which we hadn’t been completely towards her, as we only told her about our sort of Fae and not anything about our planet or the Aether Fae. It was just that my obligation of safety towards my realm was completely taking over at some point and rational thinking was thrown out the window, I guess. I just didn’t want to tell her everything.

Her power to dash back, her power to heal, her amazing agility and strength and intelligence, it was just all so confusing to me. What is she and what is she doing to me? One moment I want to have her and the other I want to dispose of her!

I looked at Jade, still pondering over what I should do. Her amber eyes were squinted towards me, anger filling them to the brim. Yet, her composure and stance showed nothing but calmness and determination.

“You’re coming with us to Kyalthemar to our city E’ne Belanore. I’m not losing you out of my sight. Is that clear?” I asked her.

“Can’t take your eyes off of me, can you? You almighty highness.” She commented with a snarky smile, at which Trixie had to stifle a laugh.

“You better watch your tongue, or I’ll put something in there to shut you up!” I pointed towards her.

“Fine by me, but you should know that I bite my lollipops instead of licking them.” She crossed her arms and my men’s jaws dropped to the ground in astonishment.

Fucking hell, this woman is going to be the death of me someday! But I hate to admit that I like her snappy attitude, just a little too much… “She is your responsibility.” I had decided towards Trixie at which she rolled her eyes. I nodded towards my men and they released the roots.

Jade just stood there, waiting for the roots to have disappeared into the ground again, but then suddenly summoned a ball of energy and threw it towards me. With ease, I pushed it away by transforming my arm into my obsidian black and the energy ball surged its way against the wall behind me.

“I don’t like you.” She sneered. Okay, I guess I deserved that.

“I only did what I did-

“Yes, yes, because you have a role to play.” She interrupted me. “But that doesn’t give you the right to just cage anyone annoying to you and keep away their things for them to not have!” She nodded towards the pocket in my pants, there where I had the stone tucked in. “Just because you fear the unknown, doesn’t mean that you get to decide what should and shouldn’t happen!” She bellowed, stepping closer while swirling energy between her fingers.

“Give me the stone.” She commanded me, not asking for it nicely anymore.

“What are you going to do with it?”

“How should I know!? I don’t even know what it is! All I know is that it has the same mark as there is on my arm! So, give it to me!” She said while she reached for it, at which I stepped back.

“Rune.” I corrected her, at which she raised a brow. “It’s an old Fae rune, meaning protection. Do you have any idea why you have that rune on your arm? How long has it been there?” I asked her, ignoring her angered state of behaviour.

“Why should I tell you? Everything I say or do will only raise more questions for you. You haven’t been believing me from the first moment we met, so why should you now, hmm?” She angrily said while standing right in front of me.

I sighed, she was right.

I sincerely hope that I’m not making a grant mistake here, but I have to wave my white flag for her to make it clear that I do not wish to be her enemy. My fingers rimmed around the edges of the box that was still in my pocket, and when I reached out for it and she raised her hand to receive it, I stopped mid-air and held on to it.

Trixie stood behind Jade, completely choosing her side, waiting for me to say something nice in return. “Traitor.” I thought for Trixie to hear me.

“Stubborn ass.” She returned and I squinted my eyes.

Jade snatched the box out of my hand and put it into one of her own pockets instead. “Thanks, your highness.” She spoke with foulness in her tone.

“Jade, please.”

“What?” She snapped.

“I’m sorry.” I said under my breath.

“What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you.” She said while putting a hand behind her ear and leaning in forward.

Oh, she is going to drag this out, isn’t she? Fine… I guess I have to follow through on this white-flag thing then.

“I’m sorry. Alright? If I’m going to trust you I have to let go of my fear of the unknown. You don’t know anything about your past either, so I guess that we are supposed to be on even grounds. My apologies for not believing you.” I said loud and clear for everyone to hear.

“Apologies accepted. But if you command your men to create one of those cages again I will rip your balls off first, before I get to rip their wings off. Is that clear?” She snapped to me and turned her head towards my nature soldiers as well. They gulped for a moment and looked to me for reassurance.

“Fine.” I agreed. It’s not like I don’t have other measures to trap her in. I smiled on the inside, thinking of different ways to keep her tied up on my bed…

“Now, if you don’t mind, I need to see that the monks are all right.” She said as she walked into the hallway. Trixie followed her, together with the red-winged soldier that she had healed earlier.

Jade, walking through the halls to find the other monks:

“Good job, girl!” Trixie said softly at which I turned my head to her and stopped walking.

“Why is that? Hasn’t anyone else argued with him before?” I asked her with a scoff.

“No! He is a Prince and our future King! Only his parents or Trixie get to talk to him that way!” Angela, the woman whose wing I healed, said.

“Well, he’s not my Prince and nor is he going to be my King. Besides, I don’t care what people think of me.”

“You are going to make him fight for you, aren’t you?” I suddenly heard someone say, sounding to me like it was close, yet muffled as if the person saying it was holding a damp cloth in front of their mouth. What was that? And why should he fight for me?

I looked towards Trixie but I hadn’t seen her mouth move, nor did Angela say something. I looked around me but there was no one else in the hallway, and while looking inside one of the rooms from where we stood I couldn’t detect someone either. Where did that voice come from?

“Anything wrong, Jade?” Trixie asked me and I shook my head.

“No, never mind. I thought I heard something.” I replied while shrugging. “Let’s go.” I continued my search and both of the girls followed my lead.