The Revelation of Awakening: Part 2

Cold. The water was both frigid and refreshing but, as she found herself caught within a series of underwater currents, panic began to set in. As she was pulled deeper and deeper, the water grew colder… darker. She puffed out her cheeks, filling them with air like a squirrel would with acorns. Every oxygen molecule she’d managed to save was more precious than the gleaming gold and ethereal emeralds that had been carved into the cavern walls. The irony was too real: the very thing that had saved her from Ahzef could also be the very thing that took her life; she’d been underwater for over a minute, and the thought of drowning wasn’t a pleasant one, but how could she not be afraid of drowning when her lungs were screaming for air? Her thoughts were growing muddled; it took every ounce of willpower not to open her mouth and inhale a gulp of ice-cold water. How was it that the same fleeting oxygen molecules that made themselves cozy inside her lungs were related to the ones in the water, like some kind of unwanted, extended family?

Just as she was ready to accept what seemed like an inevitable drowning, she was ejected into an expansive chamber as the current finally released its hold on her. She floated, weightless for a moment before she began to sink; her oxygen reserves were critically low. Swallowing the last little pocket of air contained within her cheeks, she twirled around, trying to reorient herself in the dim water. Everything looked the same, no matter which direction she turned! Which way was up? Down? How deep was she and, where was the surface?

She was lost inside a watery labyrinth with nowhere to go. Her lungs felt like they were going to shrivel up and die if she didn’t find air soon—too soon. Suddenly, a faint glimmer of light broke the water’s surface, finally giving her the direction she needed, but she was sinking faster than she could swim. Still, she’d passed the two-minute mark; if she didn’t at least try to swim for the surface, she’d let everyone who was depending on her down. She started for the surface but found herself swimming in place. Between her already weak muscles and oxygen-less lungs, she didn’t know what else to do. She could try to lose the dress, but that would take too long, even if it was weighing her down. Time was both her friend and her enemy, and right now, it seemed to be siding against her rather than with her.

“But when is it ever?” she thought. “After everything I’ve been through, just to drown in some strange, underwater cavern.” She struggled, attempting one final stroke, but the cold water had sapped her stamina, and oxygen remained out of reach. “A watery grave is better than no grave at all I guess.”

She closed her eyes and allowed her arms to float in front of her, sinking deeper and deeper with each passing second. The light seemed so close, but she felt so far. Her back hit the chamber floor, expelling the last miniscule bits of oxygen her lungs could cling to. As she watched the air bubbles rise to the surface, she couldn’t help but smile. No one ever said fate was fair, but it didn’t seem right everything had fallen on her shoulders: the nightmares, the sudden abduction by Ahzef, and the pain she’d put her friends through for her sake… The list went on. Now, all she could do was allow her back to rest against the stoney floor as her life ticked away; she’d become another specimen some diver would find in a few centuries—that is, if the universe even survived that long. The truth was, she had no idea what Ahzef and the rest of the devils were truly capable of.

As her arms finally came to rest at her sides, the backs of her hands hit something… unnatural: it was metallic, smooth, and grip-able—something she could close her hand around. Her eyes shot open as she flipped herself over, coming face-to face with… an inverted door handle? Whatever it was, she didn’t care. If there was even the tiniest fraction of a chance it could save her, she’d take it.

Faint light flickered from the surface, illuminating a golden chain and what looked like some kind of drain plug, though it was surprisingly small. As she anchored herself above the strange object, adrenaline flowed through her veins, fending off the fatigue.

With a muffled pop, the plug came free, followed by a chorus of clicking and whirring. Before she could react, she was being dragged through the water again. The current was too strong to resist, no matter how tightly she clung to the chain. Water rushed through the new opening, threatening to trap her between it and the cavern floor as it rushed into the small space. She managed to pull her leg free, pinning herself overtop the drain as it began to close, but there was still too much water left for her to make it to the surface. Wherever the water was rushing off towards, she anxiously urged it to drain faster.

Without warning, bright orange lights illuminated the cramped space—no bigger than the interior of a small sedan. She hit her head against a side wall, finding herself sucked in as the drain expanded. Blood dispelled in the water as she rubbed her head. Waving her hands, she cleared the bloody cloud, subsequently discovering a large button that read WATER EXPULSION.

With haste, she pushed the button, a fresh influx of oxygen forcing the remaining water from the room, which suddenly presented a new problem: the water was being expelled so fast there was nothing left to suspend her above the floor. She plummeted several feet, unable to break her fall, as she landed on her hip with a sickening crunch. A brief, albeit paralyzing, wave of numbness shook her as she sat there, dazed and confused.

After several minutes of trying to catch her breath, she wrestled herself into a sitting position, eager to finally examine the small chamber she’d been sucked into, but nothing in particular stood out: the walls were made of grey concrete and the entrance she’d been sucked through was made from steel, interlocking teeth. She moved to stand but was met by a stabbing pain from the hip she’d fallen on—definitely broken.

“I wouldn’t try to move if I were you, Princess. You were supposed to use the rungs on the walls before expelling the water,” a male voice came.

“If I hadn’t almost drowned after being sucked in here,” she said, stopping to catch her breath, “I wouldn’t have been so apt to push a button that expelled all of the water in the first place.” She looked around for the source of the voice, catching the emerald-green eyes of a young boy who was hanging from a doorway several feet above her head. “And… Princess? Why does everyone keep calling me that?”

“Stay there. We’ll come and get you. Just don’t move, or you could hurt yourself more.”

“What do you take me for? Some kind of sadist?” she said, unamused.

***

Lacia found herself escorted down an expansive hall lined with the same engravings that lined the sleeves of her dress, now in a sopping wet heap in a bag on her lap. The same jewel-laden ornamentation she saw as she was dragged through the water had been engraved into the walls and floor; white marble reflected the shimmering colors onto the ceiling.

She wasn’t sure what to make of the place. A part of her liked it; she vibed with the post-modern décor, especially: crystalline chandeliers hung from tall ceilings, casting a luminescent white glow through the corridor. The open-floor plan made every room she passed seem spacious and comfortable, filled with vivid tapestries that resembled faraway lands: lush forests amidst the backdrop of clear skies, towering cliffside views of seascapes, blazing sunsets over mountaintops and sandy beaches— Where did they get such incredible images?

Craning her neck around, she caught a quick glimpse of what she assumed was some kind of common living space. Plush floor rugs were thrown across the floor indiscriminately. Comprised of exotic furs, they looked softer than clouds, and the grey and black tones didn’t clash with the stark walls and floors. In the corners, several desks littered with papers, maps, and open books filled the space. She wasn’t certain, but they looked to be made from a dark, wild cherry, wood that offered just enough contrast they gave an air of importance, careful not to overload the aesthetic.

“I appreciate the sentiment, really,” Lacia said, refocusing, “but you didn’t have to throw me into this wheelchair. I wasn’t going to fall over. I’m not that clumsy… Plus, with some crutches, I’m sure I’d be just fine.”

“We are here to ensure that you come to no further harm, Princess. Please excuse any unorthodox measures,” the same boy, or was he older than she thought? replied. His brown fair was pushed out of his face, revealing a fair complexion and curious eyes. “I don’t mean to displease you.”

Lacia frowned. “Yeah? What are you going to do next? Roll me in bubble wrap?” She examined his lean figure, but what she was most curious about was his attire: a navy-blue long sleeve ruffled shirt, belted around the waist, with rustic, brown leather pants all put together with a white shirt beneath the ruffled one. “What’s the deal with this place, anyways? You’re dressed all fancy.”

Several looks of confusion crossed the faces of curious residents, or whoever they were, that had emerged from the myriads of rooms that lined the halls to witness the commotion. Hushed whispers erupted mainly from the women, but a few older men also seemed surprised to see her, as if she were a long-lost family member they hadn’t spoken to in years.

“If anyone should be confused here, it’s me,” Lacia pouted. “First of all, you keep calling me ‘Princess’. Second, I almost drowned, and I still don’t know where I am. Third, I’ve never seen people with such… interestingly shaped ears, and what are those markings on your faces?”

“Full of questions, I see. All those years away, and you’re as annoying as ever,” a deeper male voice chuckled. “I can’t blame you for forgetting, what with that memory block and all, but it seems it has begun to unravel. So, allow me to refresh you.”

“This just gets crazier by the minute, I swear,” she grumbled, avoiding the gaze of the new figure before her. “Wait,” she whipped her head around, “is that you, Kilhan? And why do I know your name?” He seemed to be wearing the same attire as the boy pushing her chair. In fact, everyone seemed to be wearing similar clothes, minus varying color and style differences. “This is beginning to overwhelm me…”

“See? You’re beginning to remember! Now, let me jog that memory a little more.” Kilhan knelt before her, level with her gaze. “Lacia, you are part of a rare race of humans who can use magic but, most importantly, a race that is tasked with a very important duty of which we’ll discuss in a minute. Lacia, you are Iliern. Our longer ears, especially around the lobes, are proof of that. The markings you asked about are granted to those who have obtained seniority status.”

“Hika mentioned that I was part of the Iliern bloodline before I fell into the pool at that altar,” she said to herself, “but I didn’t know what she was talking about…” Lacia paused for a moment to think. “So why don’t I have those same ears, and how does one go about obtaining ‘seniority status’, as you put it?”

Kilhan dismissed the boy pushing her wheelchair as he took over the pushing. “Everyone else can go about their business as usual. I will tend to Lacia, er-hem,” he cleared his throat, “the princess from here. We will celebrate her return later.”

Several Iliern shuffled about, struggling to get a better view of Lacia before returning to their duties as normal, grumbling as some disappeared behind closed doors. Kilhan wheeled Lacia into a room of her own, softly closing the door behind them. It seemed they were due for a lengthy conversation.

The room itself was enormous—certainly fit for a princess. A translucent white silk shawl encircled a large bed in the center of the room, lined with red and white throw pillows and a gorgeous red comforter; it had to be at least four o five times her size. Next to the bed was a bookshelf full of old fairytales, young adult novels, and various other works, some regarding the history of the Iliern. In the corner opposite the bed stood a small desk and chair. White papers were neatly stacked atop the surface of a type of wood she’d never seen before, but it looked expensive and something that only someone with an incredible amount of power would sit at.

Elsewhere, piles of plushies filled various shelves and cushions, forming makeshift walls of soft, colorful creatures, however, the room remained windowless—to be expected of an underwater labyrinth, she supposed. Against the back wall was another door, partially cracked to reveal an expansive private bathroom ordained with multi-colored towels, a large wall mirror, and plenty of makeup and skincare of which she questioned what girl ever needed so much: cases of red and pink lipsticks, oils, and clear glosses, eyeshadow palettes and mascara tubes, enough powders to set off a smoke alarm, and jars of moisturizers and eye creams.

“We’ve updated your room through the years, hopefully to your liking. We don’t engage in much contact with the surface… for reasons. Still, we were pretty sure this would be to your liking, with what contact we do have.” He closed the door with a soft thump. “To answer your earlier question, your lack of definitive Iliern features can be attributed to your parents, and seniority status is given to those who have given great contributions to the family.”

“I see… Well, aside from that,” Lacia wheeled her chair over to the bookshelf, pulling a novel from the thicket of literature, “you guys really think I’m into this kind of thing…?” She read the title off: Lukos and Tobern: Forbidden Love. “I really do appreciate all of this, but I really don’t have much of an interest in romance novels. I don’t think I’ve ever really enjoyed these,” she said, face flushed as she quickly replaced the book on the shelf.

“My apologies. I can have those removed if you’d like.”

“No, no! That’s okay! They… can stay.” Lacia turned her chair around so he couldn’t see her embarrassment.

He pulled the chair from the desk and placed it near the bed, motioning. “Alright. Let me give you a little history lesson, Lacia. It may not jog your memory completely, but there will be some new information I think you’ll find useful.”

Lacia turned the wheelchair around and placed her hands in her lap. She wasn’t big on History in school, but a lot had changed in the last two years; she vaguely remembered sitting through Alurian history that one rainy April morning before her life made a complete one-eighty.

“Those who choose to ignore the past will only be forced to repeat it in the future.” She gave a defeated sigh.

“Indeed. Now, listen carefully. You’ve been called ‘Princess’ several times by now, not just upon your return to the Iliern here, and I can see that you’re quite confused, so let’s start there.” Kilhan procured a book that seemed to appear in his hand like magic. He turned the pages in a flurry of ink and images before stopping on a page a little more than halfway through. “Look familiar to you?” He swiveled the book around for her to see.

A beautiful young woman, about Lacia’s age, struck a passionate pose wearing the same dress she had been wearing at the obelisk with Hika—turquoise greens and shimmering golds. In one hand, she wielded a brilliant lance made of pure light, but it was significantly more imagistic than any of the lances Lacia had been able to summon. Maybe it was just the way the painting seemed to exaggerate its color palette, but it still exuded power and elegance all the same.

“Am I… supposed to know who this is?”

Kilhan closed the book. “I didn’t expect you to know, but I thought I would try anyways,” he said. “That woman… was your mother.”

Lacia sat in the wheelchair, unmoved. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together: the dress, the Iliern, and her mother. It had become clear that her “parents” were not who she thought they were, but that would have to be a conversation for later—including the Amana last name. Her identity felt more like a cake mix than it did the sugar-filled delicacy that would eventually arise from the batter, but she wasn’t surprised. After everything she’d been through, nothing surprised her anymore. She could wake up in the morning and find aliens trawling through her non-existent backyard and she’d let them.

“My mother… She looked like she was my age in this picture,” she said, thumbing back towards the painting after Kilhan handed the book over. “Eaukea Iliern… Is it pronounced like Yuu-Kay-Ah? And, wait— What about my—”

“Father? And, yes, your pronunciation is correct.”

Lacia nodded.

Kilhan returned to his chair, placing a pillow of his own in the seat for a more comfortable experience. “Your father was a kind man— I’d met him several times. When Eaukea crossed paths with him, she just couldn’t let him go.” He chuckled. “Your father, Lyukos, was a mortal man, but Eaukea just couldn’t resist. She told him everything and that eventually led to your birth several years later.”

“What do you mean she told him everything?”

This was the first she was getting to hear about her actual parents, no longer forced to live under the false impression of people she thought she knew but ultimately didn’t. Upon the realization that most of her life was more a lie than anything else, she couldn’t help but wonder about Mana and the rest of her friends—especially Aria.

“You see, your mother was the last to hold the title you now hold. She told your father all about her duties as a princess, which I’m sure you have some idea of by now, the risks associated with her power, and ever-present threat of the devils.” Kilhan leaned back in the chair. “She told him that loving her could mean death and a life of constant peril, but he didn’t care. Even when she told him she couldn’t always be home, as much of a wife as most women, or able to financially support her half of their shared life, he just smiled and told her not to worry.”

“What does it take to find someone like that?” she thought.

“Unfortunately,” Kilhan continued, “after she became pregnant and later gave birth to you, Eaukea fell incredibly ill and was forced to transfer her royal title onto you, her daughter. There were many risks associated with this, however, because you’re only half-blooded.”

“Ok, so she was the princess at the time, but because she was so sick, she had to transfer those duties on to me? What about me being half Iliern made it so risky?”

“In order for you to gain awareness of the unseen world around you and increase your magical affinity, your mother had to give you her blood—enough of it to replace the non-Iliern blood of your father. You were a newborn, and Eaukea was horribly ill. To make matters worse, we had never performed an Iliern blood transfer before.” Kilhan’s shoulders tensed, his large muscles flexing as stiffened up. “There was a high chance that your body would reject the power given to you if your blood was not as close to full-Iliern as possible.”

She rubbed her side, frowning. “Well, I might have something to say about that, but… What happened to my mother after the blood transfer? And what about my father?”

“We’ll come back to that later,” Kilhan said as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Right now, you need to understand the responsibilities that come with being princess. This isn’t like the fictional stories you were told as a child. There is an enormous load on your shoulders.”

Lacia’s face remained unchanged. She’d certainly had her lack-of-thought moments, but from what Kilhan had told her, she’d already assumed that being “princess” didn’t mean fancy dresses, luxury lifestyles, and pampering. However, she didn’t think it meant being attacked by power-crazed devils, either. Still, what all did Ahzef and the other devils actually know? The devils didn’t know who she was or, if they did, they certainly hadn’t let on to the fact. There was a chance she could use her positioning as a weapon; what they didn’t know could hurt them.

Kilhan cleared his throat. “Your mother was known as the ‘Maiden of Stars’. She loved to swim up to the surface at night to lay under the stars. Seeing as we are hidden beneath an intricate, cavernous, water system, there is no way to see the sky from here, but the heavens brought her immense joy, hence why she went through the trouble. However, it was because of her magic that she received such a name.” He pointed to the book. “You see, Eaukea was gifted with a very special type of magic called Hokoyoun.”

Lacia perked up. “That sounds eerily similar to the hihoyou Aria, Hika, and I performed two years ago, but I guess that’s to be expected.” She laughed. “After all, it seems my mother is who I should be thanking for the wreck my life has been lately. Err… Sort of lately, I guess…”

“Yes, I suppose you could say your mother is to blame, but it was against her best wishes she had to impart such a gift onto you. Unfortunately, you may not like this next bit. Even so, I ask that you go into it with an open mind.”

“I didn’t like being attacked by devils and having to uproot my entire life, but here I am. I’m not afraid of what you have to tell me.” Lacia furrowed her brows as she stared down at the book. “I don’t like a lot of things, Kilhan,” she looked up, “but I would hate if I wasn’t given the full story.”

He gave a half-sigh, half-chuckle, stroking his rust-colored beard. “Yep! That’s definitely your mother’s stubbornness, no doubt! Very well.” He sat up in the chair again, his broad shoulders leaning over the back. “As you are the princess born from the Iliern, you are the one tasked with securing the border between the Reverse World and Earth. There are rare instances where you may be asked to defend both Earth and Chiipha. The worlds are flooded with magical energy because of something called a Yewn, a metaphorical “key” that allows the wielder access to unrestrained power. But,” he cautioned, “there is one more barrier that prevents the devils’ ascension: the Erill Gate. If this gate is breached, or its power begins to wane, it allows the devils greater access to these worlds.”

“And you think this is what the devils are after? This gate and the Yewn?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, now. While the Yewn is certainly attractive, it is impossible to obtain. That is… or it was. Right now, your primary duty is to guard Earth, but the princess of Iliern is supposed to work in tandem with a similar princess from Chiipha,” he emphasized.

A look of unexpected shock crossed Lacia’s face. “And what happened to her?”

Kilhan’s face drained of color, recounting the grisly details. “She was consumed by the same devils you now flee from, and no ceremony was ever held to officially replace her. Your mother found herself locked in the same frightening battle as the princess, but this was a time when the devils were much, much more powerful. You’ve been lucky to escape up until now.”

“Tell me everything, Kilhan. I’m not a squeamish little girl. Give me a chance, please.”

He crossed his arms, grumbling. “The former, and currently last-known, Princess of Chiipha was indeed consumed— No… It’s more so she was devoured, down to the last morsel like a hungry wolf. She was caught completely off guard by Ahzef himself, but they—the devils—played with her first.” He turned away, closing his eyes as he shook his head. “She was restrained as they broke every bone in her body, one by one, before they stripped her in front of your mother.”

Lacia’s mouth formed into an aslant frown. “Ok, yeah, that’s making me a little uncomfy, but I have to know everything about the devils if I have any chance of stopping them so, please—continue.”

“This is definitely your daughter, Eaukea,” he laughed before continuing. “For weeks, the princess was paraded around Chiipha. She was their trophy. She was starved until she grew delusional from hunger. Of course, this sowed doubt within the people because if she couldn’t save them, then who could?” Kilhan turned back towards Lacia. “She was skewered with metal rods onto a board, bleeding until it was soaked red. Your mother had the unfortunate privilege of watching as she suffered.”

“So why didn’t she intervene? Why did she just watch?” Lacia was furious now. “I can’t stand people who sit on their hands, advocating for some kind of action, yet don’t do anyth—”

“She was pregnant with you. Your mother did everything she could, but she had to ensure Earth’s future remained intact, at all costs. If she’d allowed herself to be captured by the devils as well, we wouldn’t be sitting here today.” He stared straight into Lacia’s eyes, startling her. “After the devils had grown tired of their new plaything, they peeled the flesh from the princess’ skin as if it were nothing more than the peel of a banana. After that, after she lost her voice from screaming, they plucked the bones from her body, crushing them into powder as they stewed her organs in her own blood… They managed to keep her alive, albeit briefly, even after they’d ripped her heart from her chest.”

“…And after that…?”

“After that, they took whatever was left of her and mockingly ate it, raw, in front her people before slaughtering them like pigs.”

All color had drained from Lacia’s face. After ditching the waterlogged dress, an Iliern woman had come by, offering to fix her hair and makeup, but not even her lightly-blushed cheeks could retain their glow; Kilhan’s story was grisly, horrifying—gut-wrenching. She could feel her stomach gurgle, muscles contracting from the sudden increase in acid almost as if her body knew the added stress could potentially exceed its limit. Still, he’d given her more information than she ever would have managed to dig up on her own. For that, she was more grateful than he could imagine.

She wheeled over to the end of the bed, ramming the wheels into the bedpost as she used the force to propel herself onto the bed. Sliding into the pillows, she was amazed how silky smooth the sheets were. Sure, she wasn’t like the princesses in the fairytales her “mother” had read to her at bedtime as a little girl, but she sure didn’t mind being treated like one. Even the nightgown she’d been given for eveningwear was perfectly tailored to her measurements, ensuring no accidental slippage, strap-breakage, or unwanted undie reveals.

“Before you scold me,” she said, wrapping her arms around a pillow, “I want to say thank you for this. I can’t help but feel like the last twenty or so years of my life have been a lie.” She blushed. “Hearing you tell me about my mother and father has eased my mind a little bit, but what will happen to Chiipha if there’s no new princess, like me, to guard the border between it and the Reverse World? I’m not strong enough to protect even my home right now.”

She thought she had a lot to think about then, two years ago. Considering everything she’d just been told, she almost wished she could just go back to the way things used to be: playground recess, animal crackers and juice boxes at lunch, and poetry in the evenings when she got older. Protecting Earth, by herself, was an enormous task, and she still wasn’t sure she was up to the challenge. Without an assist from Chiipha, it would be near-impossible to protect one world without sacrificing the other first.

“How many people died when the princess was, uhh, you know… And how long ago was it?”

Kilhan shook his head, refusing to provide any further elaboration. “Do you understand how important, and dangerous, your role is? The devils have the former Chiiphan princess’ powers, until a new wielder is found, but until then, if you are caught, your magic will be stolen and Ahzef and his entourage will be able to procure a Yewn.”

“I understand that,” Lacia said exasperated, “but how do I learn to control and use this power, this magic? I’ve been able to use it in desperate times, but I can’t actually use it when and how I want yet. And what if it’s not enough?” Kilhan got up from the chair, refusing to answer any further questions; it was growing late, and their conversation had dragged on longer than expected. She attempted to follow him as he walked into the doorway, but her broken hip had other plans. “Kilhan,” she demanded, “When you come back, I want to hear more about my real parents, my mother’s magic, and the Yewn, ok?”

He stopped in the doorway, turning around to give Lacia a small smile. “I’ll tell you everything you want to know but, for now, you need to let your body rest. You will meet the same fate the princess of Chiipha did if you push yourself before you’re ready.” He snapped his fingers, extinguishing the lights in the room. “Goodnight, Princess.”

She gave a soft exhale, falling back into the silky sheets. “Goodnight, and thank you again, Kilhan.” He closed the door with a swoosh of air, leaving Lacia to ponder her thoughts until sleep came. “I’m not some fragile flower… Just give me a chance to prove how serious I am…”