The Flames That Bind Us (Daughter of Fire #1)

The cold breeze of Imarnia’s chilly night made the bright flames coming from my spread palms dance around, sending warmth to my face.

I could feel their heat on my skin, yet my entire body felt like I was freezing -and it wasn’t because of the chilly weather.

The moonlight above me made the shade of my flames look livelier, and it was a mixture of gold and the color of dawn. I have always loved seeing that color. It made me feel as if the flames had a magic of their own, and it always managed to make me smile at its beauty.

However, I was in no mood to even move my lips an inch.

It was already in the middle of the night, both Luxus and I weren’t able to sleep at all, so I stepped outside into the balcony in my room where I could see the dark woods and the tall trees.

I could never be able to erase my thoughts of what happened today. Whenever I try not to think about it, it all comes back to me. I also haven’t spoken to anyone -except Luxus- ever since I left the king’s study room.

The flames in my hands were so faint that I could barely sense their magic force. I could see the emptiness through them, and that only intensified the shame I felt.

They would be utterly useless if a werewolf or another creature attacked me. I would be killed right here and there. My magic is not powerful enough for fighting or even defending.

I made the flames before me disappear, feeling the cold chill brush my hair and shoulders. I sighed, leaning my arms on the edge of the balcony as I lifted my head and stared at the bright, full moon.

A Slifer who couldn’t even defeat a werewolf? For the gods’ sake! I once read about a little girl who was able to defeat a small group of river elves without a drop of magic, and those things were nasty.

But, me, a Slifer, had shaken in fear in front of that giant furball. I couldn’t even protect Luxus.

“Hey, Lux...” I spoke quietly, afraid that he would be asleep. But he was wide awake, clinging on one shoulder with his head near my ear. He cranked his neck up and hummed his reply. “Do you think that my decision was wrong?”

He knew that I was referring to my deal with the king. From the moment I exited his study, I wanted to go back and tell him that the deal was off, yet my legs wouldn’t move.

I had remembered what he told me, that my powers won’t increase if we didn’t bond. He said it with such a straight face that he didn’t seem to notice that he was asking me to become his mistress -or at least something like that.

“I understand why you agreed to it. Whether it was wrong or not, that’s up to you. I have known you for years now, and I know what you dream of becoming. Just know that I’ll be here no matter what.”

Luxus’s words made a weak smile appear on my face. I tilted my head to look at him and scratched his ears. He leaned into my hand and purred.

“Wise words.”

I think my cat is wiser than I’ll ever be.

Which brought me back to the king. I had no idea why people respected that man. He acts like a selfish asshole, and I have only been around him three times.

I wonder what the people of Imarina would think of him if they knew that he attacked a defenseless girl with his magic and decided to play with her shadow as if she was a doll.

Granted, I was the one who attacked him first and kept on doing so -or at least attempting to. But that still doesn’t give him the right to lash out.

He really needs to control his temper. And to think that sleeping with him is the only way I could be a full Slifer just disgust me.

And what’s more disgusting is that I had actually agreed to it.

Gods, I’m so pathetic...

Yet, I have never sensed such strong magic coming from anyone. Not even Lucius could hold a candle to what he has. And I believe what he did in the forest was nothing more than killing a bug, using a minimum of effort.

“Luxus, I’m sorry.” I breathed out, lifting my chin up to look again at the clouded moon.

“For what?”

Something stung at the back of my eyes, and I found myself recalling the image of my only friend being hurled into a tree. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to protect you from that werewolf. Instead, you were the one trying to protect me.”

I could feel his paw on my cheek. “Don’t worry about that. It wasn’t your fault. That monster got the best of you.”

For a moment, I wasn’t sure if he meant the werewolf or the king, but I guess there wasn’t really any difference.

My cat is so understanding, maybe more so than he should. I failed to protect him, and I felt like shit just thinking of that.

I cursed myself for being weak. Those years of training did nothing for me.

I mean, the whole point of wanting to be a Slifer is to be what I am and be able to fight for the people I love. And having people who I care about keeping me safe is not the way I wanted to live my eternity.

“Luxus, I’m going to become stronger. Definitely. I won’t let my fear get in the way of protecting you or any other person who deserves protection,” I stated in the most determined voice I could muster. “No matter what it takes, I’ll become strong.”

The wind had ruffled the faraway trees, making them look like they were dancing a dance that only occurred in this kind of night. The distant lands before my eyes made my mind drift towards that old geezer and where the hell could he be.

Before I left the king’s study, he had told me that Lucius had visited him while I was still asleep. He explained to the king that he was leaving Vera. In other words, he was leaving me on my own.

Also, he asked the king to return my birthday present to me, which I had stuffed away in a drawer.

That old pervert didn’t even have the nerve to give it to me in person. Not that I wanted it anyway, but truth be told, I didn’t want to stay with the king for another minute, so I just grabbed it and left.

Although I was really tempted to tell the king he could go and shove that bracelet up my useless guardian’s ass. But I figured that won’t end well.

That bastard! To think that he had left without even saying goodbye.

I know he had thought of me as nothing but a task that should be delivered on time, but does he really not give a crap about me that much?

Would it kill him if he had bothered to say farewell? Was he thrilled to leave me in this lonely castle with an asshole king who hated my existence?

Where was he anyway?

Where was he going?

Gods, Lydia. Stop! That’s enough.

Stop thinking about these things. I should forget about him. I know that he won’t hesitate in forgetting Luxus and me, so why should I spare him one second of my thoughts?

I tried to ignore that annoying nagging feeling at the pit of my stomach that wasn’t really convinced, so I told myself I had to focus on what’s happening tomorrow -and how on Ignolia am I going to go with the ‘process’ of becoming a full Slifer.

**

I watched through tired lashes as the warm rays of sunlight were rising in the distance behind the high trees, slowly brightening the room with the first flickers of dawn. I could see Luxus still sleeping soundly on the pillow in the corner of my eye, his small body rising up and down.

Unlike me, he seemed to be able to drown himself in the blissful world of slumber.

All I could think about were the events of last night and what today has got in store for me. Not even this luxurious bed managed to close one lid or bring out one yawn. Granted, it wasn’t as luxurious as the princess’s, but it was certainly more comfortable than any bed I had ever been in.

I let out a breath as I lifted my head from the pillow and sat on the soft sheets. Even though I was exhausted as hell, my body wouldn’t get any rest, for my mind was too loud. I rubbed my eyes, trying to drive away all the tiredness.

I stretched my arms, arching my back and moving my neck from side to side to shake the achiness away. I glanced at Luxus, who seemed to be snoozing peacefully, and I could see his black fur slightly shiver from the cool air of the morning. I covered his form with the warm, heavy blanket.

Scanning the unfamiliar room, I couldn’t help but let out a sigh. This room was beautiful and spacious. Yet it felt abandoned, despite being spotless. It made me feel left out and lonely in a place I didn’t know anyone in, as if it was nothing but a large, empty space.

My room in Vera was a lot smaller and less extravagant than this -certainly less impressive. But again, at least it had a homey feeling to it.

I decided to get up and bathe quickly, trying not to be overwhelmed by the size of the bathroom. Using my fire trick to dry my hair, I walked into the walk-in wardrobe to pick out something to wear.

All of my clothes and suitcases were left at the inn Lucius and I were supposed to stay at during our visit to Imarina. The princess informed me she ordered servants to retrieve the bags and that they would be here tomorrow, meaning today. Meanwhile, some clothes were brought in so I could temporarily wear them.

And I had to say, I wasn’t prepared for what I witnessed.

Oh, great Ignoila! These were all for me?

All kinds of silk, cotton, and delicate fabrics were presented before me, and every outfit had a matching pair of footwear. They ranged from elegant short dresses to chic casual clothes. Some were inspired by the old-fashion, and some were very modern.

I even noticed a various selection of underwear piled neatly, with all shapes and sizes. Some I dare say were quite...bold.

It was simpler to choose undergarments, so I clasped on a regular pink bra and panties. But the difficulty rested in the clothes.

Usually, I just throw on whatever piece of clothing I see. And if I really wanted to change things up and dress more nicely, I would put on that one short, tight black skirt I owned. Now, how am I supposed to know what to wear?

I didn’t know what to choose, but I knew I wouldn’t even touch the elegant dresses because I was afraid I would taint them.

Finally, I had settled on an off-shoulder, long cream-colored sweater with a white camisole underneath and dark-brown leggings. For my feet, I picked the cream-colored flat shoes.

I looked at myself in the vanity mirror. Hmm, not bad. And surprisingly, they were my size.

Now what? Luxus isn’t awake and won’t be for hours. Should I leave the room and go explore? I mean, this is my first time in a castle, and I am starting to get hungry, so maybe I should go to the kitchen?

But I didn’t want to get lost, and honestly, I was afraid I would bump into the king even in this early hour.

I walked out to the balcony, the morning air freshening my face, and inhaled the smell of hazed trees and grass. I glanced down and noticed that my room looked over a vast, utterly breathtaking garden, which led into the forest.

Perhaps I could go down there and check it out? There seems to be no one there, and I doubt the king would be into gardening. He didn’t strike me as the type to be interested.

Maybe I could also take a stroll in the woods, although I need to avoid any possible paths leading to a blood-thirsty werewolf.

**

Fresh air greeted me as I stepped downwards a stone staircase, into what looked like a miniature forest. A long, curved pathway led far into a bigger green opening, and the path was adorned with sand-colored bricks that had tiny spread-winged phoenixes carved into them.

At each of its sides were endless patches of colors. Plants and flowers of all shapes and sizes spread about and formed what looked like a rainbow.

I could hear a faint trickling of water at a distance, and I knew there were many fountains nestled somewhere between the tall bushes. The garden was more extensive than what my eyes could see from the balcony. I believe it could fit over a hundred people and would do so comfortably. And with the early light of the sun casting over it, the leaves and the flowers seemed as if they were glowing.

I breathed in the aromatic air, closing my eyes for a second and enjoying the warm feeling the sun reflected on my face.

It’s then that I heard movement coming from my far left, my eyes fluttering open at the sound of shuffling, and another one that sounded like something being cut.

I turned my head to the source to see the back of a woman. She knelt on the grass in front of a patch of tall, purple flowers, gently tearing them from the roots and placing them in a white basket that sat near her on the grass.

She was wearing a large, yellow hat with white birds sewn on it. It covered her entire head, so I couldn’t see anything except her lower body.

She didn’t look like a maid; she wasn’t exactly dressed like one. Her simple matching yellow dress seemed expensive yet appropriate for a day in the garden.

When I stepped closer, she dropped everything she was doing and turned her face towards me, momentarily gasping as she placed her hand on her chest.

Immediately, I recognized the brown eyes and the short, brown hair that stuck to her long neck.

“Oh, you startled me! I never thought that someone other than the maids would be awake at this kind of hour.” The princess of Imarina got off the ground, her surprised expression changing into a softer one.

“I-I’m sorry if I scared you, Your Highness.”

She smiled sweetly, waving her hand. “Oh, no need to apologize. I get easily distracted that sometimes a fleeting breeze alarms me. But what are you doing so early in the morning?”

“I couldn’t sleep last night.” I shrugged, not sure if I should have added any royal terms. I’ve once read that one should always address noble members accordingly every time they’re spoken to. But she didn’t seem to mind.

Her thin eyebrows creased, and she moved closer to put a hand on the back of my arm. “Are you alright? Is your body still in pain from the wounds?”

I was surprised that she seemed and sounded genuinely concerned. Her eyes traveled all over any exposed part of my skin to check if she missed something with her healing.

But physically, I was fine; even the aching was gone. Emotionally though...well, I don’t think that’s something she can fix.

“I’m fine, Your Highness. Really, there’s nothing hurting. I was just up all night, so I didn’t sleep properly.” I tried to reassure her, but mostly I wanted her to stop looking at me like I was an injured animal.

Her eyes stopped at mine, and there was something like guilt surfacing in there. But she quickly tore them away, turning back to pick the flowers.

“Well, as to why I’m here, I always wake up this early to do some gardening. It gives me a little peace, something to take the stress away. Besides, I quite enjoy their beauty, don’t you think?”

She held one up for me. “Yes, they’re beautiful, Your Majesty.” I wasn’t really paying attention to them. I was more interested in what made the princess of Imarina so stressed out. But this was probably none of my business.

“Thank you,” she grinned. “I like to put them in my room. And, you don’t have to be so formal with me. You can call me Lis if you want to.”

I didn’t know what to say to that, so I just nodded. Honestly, I didn’t feel like talking to anyone right now and just wanted to go on my way.

I saw her take off the oversized, grey gloves she wore and place them inside the basket. She seemed to do that slowly as if her mind was floating somewhere else. I, on the other hand, took my time in staring at her, trying to figure out the noblewoman before me.

I wonder, is the princess of Imarnia truly is what people say about her? She seemed kind to me and not at all conceited like that shithead of a brother she has. Then again, this is the second time I have met her, so I don’t really know a lot about her.

But she was kind enough to heal my wounds, and I am grateful for that.

“You know,” her voice brought me down from my thinking. She had her eyes trained on the basket in her hand, “I was the one who convinced my brother into letting you stay here. I even convinced him to offer you the chance of becoming a full Slifer.”

I had to say I wasn’t really that surprised. I kind of had a feeling that she was a part of it. I mean, the king did say he was doing it for his sister. But I didn’t expect her to bring it up.

I didn’t say anything. I just let her talk.

“My brother wished for you to leave and never come back, but I was the one that told him to make you stronger.” She placed the basket down, pulling out a small knife from her dress’ front pocket.

She still didn’t meet my eyes as she bent down and started ripping off the thorns of the flowers one by one.

“For eighteen years, I have suffered continuously. Worrying about my brother every minute of every day. You see, he never believed what the Fate Watchers told him about his own safety, but I did....”

Her grip on the blade’s handle became tighter, and I could see the wetness forming at the corner of her eyes. “I’ve always had this feeling that something terrible will happen to him. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve had nightmares about losing him. I know it’s unfair of me to have you accept all of this for my own reasons. You obviously didn’t want this either, and because of me, you’re stuck here.”

She stopped for a moment, her hands and fingers trembling slightly. I didn’t mistake the tear that streamed down her pale cheek, nor the cracking of her voice.

She heaved up a great breath, composing herself and going back to removing the tiny spikes. “Gabriel and I used you in a completely wrong way. Me for thinking that you were something to only protect my brother, without having an opinion in all of this. And for my brother, who thought of you as nothing but a way to prove that I was wrong. I sincerely apologize for this.”

Her apology unsettled me. Not because I didn’t think it was real, but because she shouldn’t be apologizing at all. It wasn’t her fault that things turned out the way they did. After all, I understood why she did it; she was just worried about her brother.

Even if he was a giant dick, he still shared her blood, and it’s reasonable for siblings to care about each other.

“You don’t have to say sorry, really. I mean, yeah, sure, I didn’t want this either. But I kind of had a hunch that I was going to end up here. Not the way that I’d expected, though.”

I saw her visibly flinch at the last sentence, and the guilt in her eyes intensified. I wasn’t sure if that worked or not, but for a couple of minutes, both she and I didn’t say anything.

But the silence didn’t last long as I heard her draw in a huge breath. “Lydia, can I ask you a question?” Her attention was entirely on me this time, but she looked a bit reluctant to ask. “You don’t have to answer if you want.”

“No, it’s alright.” I nodded.

She chewed on her bottom lip, toying with the petals of the flower she had in her hands. “I was wondering, why did you accept the deal? I mean, you said that you also didn’t want this. You could have just said no and walked away.”

I looked down, my chest rising as I fumbled with my fingers, circling my thumb over the smoothness of my fingernail. “To become stronger.”

It was easy answering the question, but as I did, the image of Luxus’ small body lying on the grass and the reflection of my terrified face surfaced back in my mind.

“Stronger?” I could tell she wanted me to explain further.

“Don’t get me wrong, greed is not why I want to be strong. I just want to become what I am; a Slifer. It’s what I have always wanted. I want to be able to use full fire magic. I want to protect the people I love...”

My thoughts returned to my frightened expression as the werewolf gripped my face between its merciless claws. And it made me feel shame and anger all at once.

“I don’t wish to be terrified of anything. I’m tired of being afraid; I don’t want to be afraid anymore. I don’t want my hands to shake in terror as I watch my only friend getting hurt out of trying to protect me. I don’t want fear to control me.”

I hadn’t realized that I was clenching my fist, my hands quivering with a deep rage I was dying to pour out. I was so angry at myself for failing to keep Luxus out of harm’s way. I was embarrassed for not being able to fight properly or generate a stronger fire.

Most of all, I was ashamed that I had willingly sold myself in order to obtain everything I’d ever dreamt of having.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, squeezing it tightly. My hard expression softened when seeing the princess’ warm smile. There was some kind of gentleness that erupted from her. “It’s okay to be afraid. Without fear, you won’t be able to know your weakness. And by knowing that, you’ll be able to grow stronger.”

There was no pity in her eyes, no guilt. Just pure kindness. It somehow oozed out of her like energy, and it hit me as to what kind of person the princess of Imarina was. She was one of those rare people that managed to care about everyone and everything.

“Everybody has something that they fear, Lydia. Even my brother. He might act all high and mighty, but truly, he has something he fears too. He fears losing his loved ones, even if he doesn’t exactly show it. I understand that you might find this hard to believe.”

The king fears?

She was right. I did find this hard to believe.

He doesn’t seem to be that kind of person. But then again, maybe I don’t know that much about him.

Princess Lis smiled at me before she grabbed her basket and tugged it in the crook of her arm. “If you’ll excuse me, Lydia, we have a long day ahead of us.”

“No, not at all.”

She seemed sorry, like she didn’t want to leave me. “I do wish that we could talk more. I would like to know more about you. But, King Morrison is arriving this evening. He’s staying for The Honouring Day. Since Freyr is not very far, he’s the first one to arrive.”

She brushed my hair from my shoulder and gave me a firm look. “I do expect you to be present at the feast held tonight in honor of him. It will be in the garden, so you’ll be able to see the servants preparing. I would like to introduce you to him. Now, I really better be going. See you soon!”

And with one last brightening grin, she headed up the stone stairway, and I watched her disappear inside the castle.

The Honouring Day? That’s right, I remember reading about that in school.

Lucius once told me about how he used to attend it back in his prime days. It’s held once every ten years, on the eleventh day of January, the day Imarina was founded. Being that Imarnia was the first kingdom to be established, the festival is always held here.

What I knew about it was that the kings and queens of the four kingdoms gathered in a vast festival, in which they honored and blessed the main five gods that created this world and the mortal realm.

First, they start by blessing the One God; Azareth, which from him came all the magic that is known in this world. He created several other gods to possess the different types of magic, which he had divided among them.

Legends say that before he had created all those other gods, he lived alone in this world with no nature, no fire, no water, and no winds. So, using his magic, he had made the four elemental gods that Slifers came from.

Cassius; the Stone-Handed God. Atticus; the Obscure God. Aeliana; the Sea-Haired Goddess, and Decimus; the Burning God.

They created air, fire, water, and earth, while Azareth brought magic to our world. But it was different in the mortal realm because Azareth thought that magic existing in both worlds would bring disorder.

I don’t know exactly what the kings and queens do in the festival, but I think it’s where the magic of the sky, light, ice, and darkness are all merged to form a magical sphere or something like that.

Anyway, it’s a significant religious event where many people from all throughout Ignoila are brought together. It’s where food, music, magic, and culture are celebrated.

Personally, I would love to witness it. But I don’t know where I am going to be till January, and I have promised myself that the moment I’m finally at my full power, I’m leaving Imarina with Luxus.

I would like to go to Trinivan. It’s really far away, and I’ve always wanted to see snow.

I should probably get going before this garden gets crowded with servants preparing the feast for King Morrison’s arrival. I could already see a few maids and servant boys coming down carrying tables.

I still wasn’t sure if the princess was serious when she said I was to attend the feast. I mean, what am I going to do among rich and noble people? I would probably look alien to them. And honestly, I don’t think I still want to face the king yet.

**

“Whoa! That is some huge crowd!” Luxus exclaimed, his red eyes traveling very fast over the sparkling people beneath us.

I nodded, seating myself on the tall, wide edge of the balcony while cradling him on my lap. My legs dangled over the marble railings onto the open air, and funnily enough, no one seemed to notice.

To think that sitting in this kind of position would get people to look up, but they were so busy that they hadn’t bothered to know that a girl and a cat were watching them from above.

The feast was here already, and everything and everyone were so bright.

The decoration was just so beautiful that I didn’t recognize the garden I was in this morning, with pixies’ stones of light used to make it even more colorful.

There was nothing better for me to do, so I just sat here all day, admiring how magnificent the servants made the garden look. Everyone invited appeared as if they were coated with diamonds and precious gems. The women absolutely shined with their expensive, elegant dresses and jewelry, hair styled perfectly, and makeup done flawlessly. On the other hand, the men looked dashing, from old-fashioned but sophisticated outfits to more modern ones.

I caught sight of Princess Lis, and a smile appeared on my face.

“Lux, look at how beautiful the princess looks.” I pointed a finger, and his ears perked up. He let out a low whistle.

She wore a long, high-neck dark blue dress that was tight near her waist then widened when reaching her knees. The dress had small, glittering silver butterflies embroidered from the left side to the top. Her short hair was all slicked back and appeared shiny. She accessorized with a delicate-looking but eye-blinding silver diadem atop her head and two matching butterfly earrings.

She was animatedly talking to a group of women, and she seemed so at ease and natural. Not to mention, a handsome brown-skinned man was standing next to her with his arm around her waist.

“Hey, who do you think that is?” Luxus mused, and I noticed he was looking at the same man.

“I think that’s her fiancé. I heard she was engaged.”

There was no mistaking the giant, glistening ring on her left hand. Or the intimate look those two exchanged at each other.

Blushing, I felt like I was intruding into something I had no business in, so I glued my eyes elsewhere, trying to find which one was King Morrison. But I didn’t think he was here yet.

I’ve only seen a poorly-drawn depiction of him in my school’s history books, but until now, they only made an announcement when the princess and her brother entered the garden.

I was really intrigued to know what he looked like, and more so about his magic. He can use Sky Magic, which technically is the use of lightning and thunderbolts.

“Lydia, why don’t you just go down there? This is ridiculous. You deserve to have some fun,” Luxus remarked, and I tried to ignore the narrowness of his eyes.

I sighed, not really wanting to go through this again. “I told you, Lux, I don’t really feel like going. I don’t want to run into the king. I’m content with observing. Besides, look at them! I could never fit in.”

“That’s stupid. Just wear one of the dresses the princess gave you.”

“It doesn’t feel right wearing them now that my old clothes are back.” I stroked his head, but he moved it away from my reach and turned it to look at me.

His whiskers flinched, and the look on his face seemed distasteful. “But your clothes suck.”

“Hey!”

I was a bit offended at that, glancing down at what I wore. “It’s not that bad!”

He did a double-over then turned away unconvinced.

That little ball of fur!

My clothes weren’t that horrible. They were just humble. I know that a thin-strapped white dress and flat shoes weren’t considered ‘classy,’ but they were nice. Although, it wouldn’t hurt if I could try something a bit fancier now and then. Just not tonight.

My thoughts were cut off by the sound of two stomachs growling, mine and Luxus’.

How could this be? We just had two plates of dinner brought to the room, and somehow we’re still hungry!

“Do you see what I’m seeing?” Luxus drawled, his eyes attached somewhere left.

“What?” I followed his keen sight only to have my eyes land on a long table filled with various, mouth-watering food. As if on cue, our stomachs whined and that empty, piercing feeling increased.

“My gods! Look at the size of those shrimps!” Luxus was ready to pounce off and away to the tempting table, but I secured him in my arms.

Although I couldn’t look away from the different types of cuisines laid so neatly, nor could I shut my eyes from the six-layered cake in the middle.

I swear I could hear the food calling out to me, and I suddenly felt as if I hadn’t eaten in years. I forcibly tore my gaze off and distracted myself by looking elsewhere.

In a moment, I had lost my appetite when my eyes landed on King Gabriel, who had his wide back facing my direction. He was wearing a black cloak wrapped around his strong shoulders, and it was draped all the way to his ankle.

I remember seeing that all his clothes were black. When he entered the garden with Lis, it was as if his sister was glowing while he was dipped in darkness.

It’s incredible how these two contradicted each other. Even when they arrived, she was beaming while he kept a deadpan expression.

I could see him conversing with a couple of men who might have looked both respectful and afraid. Some women also shared the look, while others were stealing glances at him, their eyes full of something that could be easily considered as lust.

What did they see in him? Yeah, I get he’s probably the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, and he had that aura of authority that many people, including me, would find attractive. But he’s a total shithead.

He’s rude, ill-tempered, and overall just terrible. I guess you could say that he was a good king. But as a person, he wasn’t very decent.

Yet, I can’t keep my mind off that first time I met him. I still couldn’t get over the fact that I actually thought of something as embarrassing as him being on top of me. It was like something inside me had shifted then exploded. It honestly irked me, and I wished I could have erased that.

I mean, what happened there? I haven’t really thought about things like that over the course of my eighteen years.

Come to think of it, I wonder what it would feel like when the king would sleep with me for the first time. Should I be even thinking of that? I mean, a huge part of me hoped that it would never happen, but a small one was curious.

I only knew so little about sex, and it bummed me that I would have to experience it with him. Obviously, he’s an expert. I’ve heard stories about how men and women fawned over him or how some of his past lovers spoke proudly of him in bed.

I didn’t really seek out these stories. It’s just that the girls and boys in my school talked. Even the boys swooned over him, but it’s known that he has no interest in the same sex, unlike Queen Adria and King Calix.

“Err...Lydia?”

After all, he’s older and definitely knows more than I do. He would know exactly what to do, wouldn’t he?

He would know where and how to touch me. But do I want him to? Well, the obvious answer was no. But the little voice at the back of my head told me it wouldn’t hurt to acknowledge the feeling.

They say that the first time hurts. But would the king be attentive to all my needs?

I somehow doubted that. He would most likely just stick it in and be done with it.

Oh, gods, that’s right! I forgot about his um...thingy.

Thanks to Lucius ′ diverse adult magazines, I know what the average one looked like. I remember being horrified for a week when I first learned how sex worked.

“Lydia?”

But is it right to be thinking of something like that? I don’t particularly like the king, but I will have to accept that sooner or later -I preferred later -he was going to make love to me.

Is that right? Make love? That doesn’t feel like something the king would do. You have to have feelings for one another to make love. And all he and I had towards each other was spite.

No. This will be just sex, with no gentleness or affection involved.

It made my stomach churn, and I couldn’t help but think of what will my first time be like. Am I going to be fully naked before him, or will he just stick to the lower side?

What about him? Will I get to see every inch of his skin?

The image of him without any clothing made my face heat. I’m probably going to see a naked man for the first time -well, unless you count Lucius’s bare hairy ass walking around drunkenly in the middle of the night. Ugh! That was a sight I never wish to behold.

“Uh...Lydia?”

This is frustrating. I didn’t want to think about him, but my thoughts stayed still and wouldn’t shift anywhere.

What frustrated me more were those images in my head, those scenarios!

The king’s back, moving fast on top of my heated body, our skin coating with sweat as heavy breathing sounds and moaning fill the darkness. I knew it was wrong of me to imagine that, but I just—

Wait...

Why does it feel like I’m leaning in?

“Lydia, watch out!!”

I didn’t have the time to comprehend anything, and before I could even blink, my body tumbled down and fell off the railings.

Luxus and I screamed as we plunged into the empty air, the giddy sensation creeping up to my stomach and all the way to my head. I held tightly onto Luxus while the wind rushed up to my face and made my hair a flying mess.

The bushes beneath me were getting closer, and with a blink of an eye, my entire body collapsed on them, hissing at the feeling of small twigs scratching and cutting my skin.

My face was buried deep in the green plants, the lower half of my body hanging over my head. And some of the leaves and tiny twigs entered my mouth. I struggled as I tried to fix my upside-down figure, using whatever strength I had to pull the top half of my body. And to my utter relief, I quickly managed to do it.

I groaned as I rolled on my back and placed my hand on my spinning head while using the other to yank Luxus’ tail out.

What the hell just happened?

My surroundings felt like they were going in circles, but somehow I was able to hear loud gasps and an odd silence suffocating the air.

Just like that, I knew that I had fallen down a balcony in front of hundreds of high-ranked, noble-blooded individuals. And to make the matter worst, they had probably seen my bright pink panties when I was in my upside-down state.

Damn...

My blurry vision was getting more apparent, and I could see three floating heads above me. They seemed to be saying something, but I didn’t make it out at first. And after what felt like minutes, I was finally able to see and hear well.

The first head belonged to Princess Lis, the second to a brawny, handsome bronze-skinned man with braided brown hair, and the third to a beautiful woman with long, bright pink hair that seemed to shimmer. They were all looking at me with concern, surprise, and confusion.

“Is she okay?” asked the man.

“Oh, dear. Lydia, can you hear me?” said Princess Lis.

“So...she is beautiful!” The pink-haired woman beamed.

The man rolled his eyes at the grinning woman. “Lysa, not now.”

Who? What? Huh?

**

Well, that was the most embarrassing thing that had ever happened to me in my entire eighteen years of existence.

After I fell from that stupid balcony, Princess Lis took Luxus and me away from all the chattering people and healed the scratches on our bodies.

Every time I thought about it, my face turned red, and I wanted to shout. The guests were giving me strange looks, and some were laughing at me.

After the princess had healed me, I quickly disappeared out of sight and went to the woods, for I didn’t wish to show my face any longer than necessary.

The princess tried to persuade me into staying, but I thanked her and was out before she could even say ‘you’re welcome.’ I just wanted to go back to my room, but the path was blocked by swarming people, so I chose the nearest place I could go to.

I would have teleported to my room, but I felt uncomfortable in exposing my magic like that. It was bad enough when the guests did not remove their gazes from my hair and eyes. Besides, I wasn't sure if the garden or the inside of the palace were fireproofed.

Luxus wasn’t with me. He decided to stay at the feast and enjoy himself at the food table.

That furry little bastard! He was lucky that no one seemed to pay attention to the small, black cat and instead had their eyes attached to the stupid girl that fell from a balcony.

However, I liked being here. It was quiet, and the weather was damp like it would rain any time soon. But I enjoyed it.

I have always loved the woods more than any place. It’s just that anyone would feel peaceful and free in here. I just hope I don’t run into another werewolf, though. I don’t think the king would actually help me this time, considering the deadly glare he gave me back at the garden.

I honestly don’t know what his deal is? Then again, I did fall down from the balcony in front of his guests. He must have been embarrassed too.

“Gods, Lydia! Why can’t you do anything right!” I yelled in frustration to the trees.

If only I wasn’t having those treacherous thoughts, this wouldn’t have happened. It was shameful and wrong for me to think that. If I had stopped right there, I wouldn’t make such a big fool of myself.

I breathed out a long, shaky breath, trying to clear my head as I rubbed my temples.

Get it together, Lydia. Just don’t think about it. Forget it ever happened. All you need to focus on is how will you return to your room without getting another round of stares.

“A mermaid smiles by the shore,

Stretching her hands to the sea.

And as the water flows,

She hums along a melody.

Sad it may be, joyless the sound,

The mermaid grins,

Stringing pearls for a crown”.

A soft, pleasant voice rang in my ears. It was faint but still audible as it seeped through the trees, singing a song I’d never heard before. The voice was so serene that it stopped my thoughts, and I wondered where it came from.

I’ve read that pixies tend to sing whenever they’re in groups, but that voice was singular. I decided to find out the source, using my hearing to try and find which direction to go.

I walked further into a clearing where I could still hear the singing and another dim sound of running water. It wasn’t very far away, and as I got closer, I could feel something strange in the air.

At first, I didn’t pay much attention to it, but I couldn’t mistake the enormous amount of magic force as I was nearing.

The hairs on the back of my head stood still, and my body momentarily shivered as I felt the raw power overwhelm me.

What the hell is that? I’ve never sensed this type of magic before!

Not even with Lucius or the king.

“Tears line her face.

Her throbbing heart aches.

As the silver moonlight bathes in her eyes,

She smiles again and says goodbye”.

I stopped in my tracks when seeing the figure of a woman. It was like a silhouette. I couldn’t see anything except that she was wearing a long dress and had long hair.

She sat near a stream, the bright moon above casting a silvery glow to her and the crystal waters. She couldn’t see me, for I hid behind a handful of thick branches. But even still, she seemed absorbed in her own world.

Why would anyone be in the forest in this kind of hour? Well, I certainly came here to hide from my embarrassment. And that woman didn’t look like a pixie; she was far too large to be one.

She seemed to be enjoying the water, running her hand across the surface then making tiny, twinkling drops trickle down from the tips of her fingers. All the while, she kept singing the rest of the song.

I felt like I was probably invading her privacy and that I should just go back and mind my business. That’s right, Lydia. Nothing to see here.

I was about to turn around when something happened that made my legs pin into the grass. My mouth dropped open as the scene before me unfolded.

She stopped singing and instead hummed a deep tone. But as she did, she extended her arm over the stream, facing her palm downwards, then flexed her wrist, and the water moved.

It floated up and followed the movement of her hand. She spun her forefinger in circles, and the patch of water imitated the action. She made it into small loops, steering, hovering, and then making it practically dance to the melody that emanated from her.

It hit me that the magic power I felt earlier was coming from her, and yet I couldn’t believe what was happening in front of me. There was nothing that I could do but stand here and watch the water bend to her will.

It can’t be...

She’s a Slifer!?