Found You, Princess Raiona

‘I do not feel safe disclosing that information.’

I hoped that was enough to stall him while I thought of an excuse to leave. Though honestly, I was probably coming across more suspicious than cautious.

But why did I even want to leave? It was my first time talking to anyone who wasn’t Celphi.

’What about you?’ I continued, ‘You never answered me. If you aren’t fairies, what are you?’

He exchanged knowing glances with butterfly and they flew a bit more closer to me.

Oh no. I’ve said the opposite this time and I still offended them. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

‘Fairies aren’t very nice creatures.’ Butterfly fairy commented.

Ah! So I basically called them horrible people. Amazing.

‘We aren’t fairies.’ Bumblebee fairy explained. ‘Only one other person called us that before.’

Someone other than me called them horrible names too? Who could ever do that? They’re cute!

Bumblebee fairy and I locked eyes in a silent standoff. I bit my lips shut.

I’ve gone done annoyed one of them now. Thanks me. Also, why can I even understand them? Was it because of Celphi’s kiss?

Butterfly fairy fluttered down onto my ankle and shook glitter from her wings. She dusted it over my foot, sprinkling it like pink sugar, then wiggled to spread it further up my leg.

Fairy dust? Healing magic?

I wanted to ask why she was helping me, but I was too afraid bee fairy would pull something off so I kept my eye on him. He had been sharp and commanding earlier, until something made him relax.

Suspicious. I need more details.

’Ah, my head hurts.’ I pressed my temple. ’Maybe this is the mushroom’s poison in me. I’m losing memory. Please… tell me where I am. Who you are. I’m scared.’ I hugged myself, feigning distress.

’Huh. Convenient. Suddenly poisoned, are we?’ Bumblebee smirked. ’Very well. My name is Magnus.’

He pointed at the rest. ’That is Tincy, on your foot. The shy one is Nams. We’re dispatched to investigate unusual disturbances in this world, to rescue stranded creatures, such as yourself, and to watch for the missing princess.’ He paused, watching me closely. ’Princess Raiona.’

Princess?! Big uh-oh. Execution incoming?

A cool numbness spread across my ankle and leg, like menthol cream. My foot’s swelling eased, the ugly colors fading. Tincy had finished dusting my skin pink with her glitter, like powdered sugar on cakes.

Is it from her wings? Magical power of sorts?

’Thank you, Tincy,’ I whispered, smiling at my tiny nurse. She curtsied mid-air. Adorable.

’My name is Ina. Thank you both for keeping me safe.’

They both smiled and rejoiced at my statement. Warmth washed over me. For the first time, I felt that I could trust someone here other than Celphi.

‘Though, I really was being sincere, I have no recollection of who I was.’ At some point of time that is.

‘So I am grateful for your company and patience. You wouldn’t mind telling me more about this place and what is happening around right? If you have time.’ I asked carefully.

They exchanged confused glances, then flew to my hands. I cupped my palms, letting them land.

’This planet is called Meu,’ Magnus began, enunciating carefully. ’We don’t know its full size. Oceans block exploration. But among the islands we charted, King Arye rules as King of Kings. The strongest warrior alive. A decisive ruler, who always acts for the greater good.’

His voice carried reverence. I couldn’t imagine myself tied to someone like that. If they had everything under control, why summon me here at all? Or is Celphi lying?

‘How does your kingdom work? Voting system? Territory? Any enemies?’

Why am I getting invested? It’s not like I am going to stay.

’The swans lived here first. Then nomad lions came, offering protection in exchange for sanctuary. Others followed. Whole colonies seeking shelter under King Arye. He united them all. That is why he is King of Kings,’ Magnus said proudly.

A perfect fairytale. And yet, I didn’t see where I fit.

’As for enemies, none can stand against Noble Aelysium. Some steal, some provoke chaos, but nothing lasting.’ His tone dimmed. ’Not until Princess Raiona’s disappearance. Or death.’

‘We just want our princess Raiona back, we miss her.’ Tincy looked in my eyes directly as if asking for permission from me. To let their princess out. ‘She gave many a reason to stay. We have awaited her return.’

But I am not. I just am not. Well at least, it wasn’t execution.

Sensing my discomfort, Tincy hugged my cheek. I tapped her tiny back gently. ’Thank you.’

For a while, we sat like that. With my eyes closed, I felt the warmth of Tincy on my face and Magnus on my palm.

Is my silence perceived as an admission of guilt? Do they know who I am?

I figured there was no reason for me to deny it anymore.

’Do you know of a way to return me to where I came from?’ I whispered.

Before I could open my eyes again, something yanked me violently from the ground.

’Stop! You’ll hurt them!’ I panicked. Terrified my violent uprooting could’ve gotten tiny Magnus and Tincy thwarted horribly to the ground. Thankfully, both we’re already airborne. Safe, but furious. I looked back at my captor and to no surprise, it was Celphi.

‘Tight! Too tight! Your tails are very tight.’ I slapped at them as he carried me off at high speed.

The sight of my fairy friends quickly faded into the forest. They become little flying dots within seconds. No chance of catching up to us.

’I can’t breathe.’ I gasped and coughed.

Celphi efficiently slipped through obstacles and terrains with ease and decisiveness.

’Celphi!’

So you’ve zoned me out huh?

’Celphi!’ I slapped his chest.

‘Sorry. Let me breathe’, I gasped.

He snapped back, loosening just enough. His eyes were frantic. ’Were you hurt? That must have been terrifying.’

’I was careless,’ I admitted. ’It all happened so fast. I was carried off before I could process it all. I’m sorry.’

He transferred me from his tail to his arms, holding me like a bride. His face partially buried against my hair.

’Will you ever forgive me, Ina?’ His voice trembled. ‘I followed the wrong sound. I thought I’d lost you. Again.’

He hugged me so tight that it didn’t matter which part of him was holding me, tail or hands, I still couldn’t breathe.

‘I promise you I wouldn’t choose being engulfed by the ground on a random rainy day. Sorry.’

His heart pounded so hard I felt it through his chest. His normally calm eyes burned with desperation. I tried looking away but it was getting hard to ignore his longing. I could almost hear what he was thinking.

The weird telepathy thing we shared wasn’t going away no matter how much I ignored it. I could feel him say “Please don’t leave me ever again” even without hearing him say it, amongst other words of clinginess.

I don’t want to talk about your feelings right now, unless you’re going to tell me the truth. I wondered if he heard that loud enough. His downcast eyes confirmed it.

Sorry…

‘Oh yeah, I hurt my ankle when I was jumping.’ When I had a look at my foot, I realized the poisonous mushroom was still attached to me by the rope. I pulled it up to my arms so it’s not dangling in the air.

’Hey is this really poisonous?’ I looked up as I was finishing my sentence and was met with his handsome face up close.

His white eyelashes fluttered. His sky blue eyes reflected my face and my brown eyes. Enquiring into my soul, ‘‘Do you forgive me?’’

Wrong move on my part. Should’ve continued avoiding his gaze.

In spite all of this, I really couldn’t bring myself to dislike Celphi. I knew that he meant well. I knew it in my heart. I was able to stay put beside him as I waited for his long overdue explanation because my trust and affection for him was growing.

In better circumstances, I would’ve gladly accepted him and his advances. I really would’ve given in to him. But this just wasn’t the time. Maybe next time. I wouldn’t mind if we have a redo of my first kiss.

It’s like he directly heard my thoughts, word per word. The reflection in his eyes eventually changed. They weren’t showing my eyes anymore, they were instead mirroring my lips. And I could see his facial expressions change from caring and upset to desperate and devious.

Did he just hear the last sentence? Men I swear! Ami was right!

His lips changed from expressing grave concerned sadness to smirk. He was inching closer when I decided to one him up. I touched his lips first. With my poisonous mushroom, or succulent.

Taste that.