Found You Princess Raiona

‘I do not feel safe disclosing that information.’ I hope that was enough to stall him while I think of an excuse to leave. 

Though I may have been more suspicious than helpful in my case.

Actually, why do I want to leave? It’s my first time talking to anything that is not Celphi. And this area seems safe enough.

’What about you? What are you? A fairy?’ His eyes widened at my question. He exchanged glances with butterfly and they flew a bit more closer to me.

Oh no. I said something wrong. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

But I also needed to know more about this world. Can’t help asking.

‘Did you just say “fairy”? Bumblebee asked with shock all over his face.

I’ve gone done offended one of them now. Thanks me. How am I able to speak with these creatures by the way? Was it from Celphi’s kiss?  

The bumblebee fairy and I engage in a stare down as I bit my lips close. The butterfly fairy landed on my ankle gently and started to shake glitter off from her wings, leaving a huge amount on my ankle and then spreading it on my legs via more wiggling.

 Fairy dust? What effects does fairies here have? Is it healing? The bee fairy is too calm now. He was such a commanding little scamp earlier. I have to do something. Quick.

’Ah my head hurts.’ I said as I touched my head.

‘Maybe this is the effect of the poison mushroom on me. I’m losing my memory. Please tell me where I am and who you are. I’m scared.’ I said as I hugged myself and feigned distraught.

’Huh. Fancy that. Suddenly you’re poisoned. Very well then. My name is Magnus’, bumblebee said with mocking tone.

‘That is Tincy on your foot and the other one is Nams. We are dispatched to investigate abnormal occurrences in this world, also to save creatures who are stuck in unfortunate circumstances, such as yourself, and also to keep an eye for the missing princess’, he made sure to concentrate on my reaction as he said that.

Princess?! UH-OH. Big uh-oh. Am I now on my way to being executed?

A cooling and then numbing sensation spread on my foot, then all over my leg, like how topical menthol felt like. The color of my foot slowly changed from purplish green to normal, the swelling easing. With the pink powder sprinkled all over my shin, ankles and toes like caster sugar on cakes.

What exactly is she spreading on me? It looks like cinnamon powder, but pink. Is it from her wings or her power of sorts?

’Thank you Tincy.’ I smiled at my tiny nurse. She curtsied at me while hovering on top of my injured foot. So cute. 

’My name is Ina. Thank you both for keeping me safe.’ I looked at each of them. A sudden feeling of familiarity and safety washed over me.

‘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 carefully selected my words.

They both looked at each other and started to fly closer to my face so I held out my palms for them to land on.

’This planet is called Meu. We do not know exactly how huge it is yet due to plentiful obstacles in crossing the major oceans but within the islands that are on the map, King Arye is the leader of all kings’, Magnus buzzed but it was almost like he was enunciating word per word properly just to get his point across clearly.

‘He is the strongest warrior alive and most importantly, makes swift and calculated decisions that are centered for the greater benefit of everyone who follows him’, he continued.

He must have a lot of respect for this king. There is no way I could be the lost daughter of such a creature. Let alone an heir to a whole kingdom. And not just any, by the looks of it a strong one too. If they had everything under control then what was the point of transporting and calling me here? 

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

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

‘The kingdom is a place of great peace and beauty. The swans lived there first and then the nomads lions came in to offer swans protection in exchange of place to stay. The rest of the kings seeking protection for their wandering colony ended up seeking solace under King Arye’s care as well. Hence he became the King of Kings.’

Well isn’t that a happy ending? I don’t see where I fit in there.

‘Enemy wise, nobody can stand up to the Noble Elysium. There are those who try and steal from us, invoke chaos, but nothing lasting,’ Magnus said with certainty until he realised who he was speaking to.

‘Well 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 was the reason a lot of stick around the kingdom to this point of time. We have awaited her return.’

But I am not. I just am not.

Tincy noticed the concern and discomfort on my face and went in to hug my cheeks with her tiny body. I lightly tapped her back.

‘Thank you.’

We all remained in the same position for a few minutes. With my eyes closed, I felt the warmth of Tincy on my face and Magnus on my palm. 

Is my silence is perceived as an admission of guilt? I did not do anything wrong though? To my knowledge at least.

‘Do you know of a way to return me from where I am from?’ I asked and before I could open my eyes, I was aggressively uprooted from my spot.

’Stop! You’ll hurt my small friends!’ I could only assume my violent yanking could’ve gotten tiny Magnus and Tincy thwarted horribly to the ground.

When I looked down, they were both airborne, and unharmed. But very angry. I looked back at my captor and to no surprise, it was Celphi.

‘Tight! Too tight! Your tails are very tight.’ I slapped on his tails as he started to move away faster than the current took me away. The sight of my fairy friends quickly fading into the forest. Reaching out to them as if my hands could reach. They become like little flying dots within seconds.

*cough*

’I can’t breathe.’ I struggled to say as his grip tightens.

With a purpose, decisiveness, hypersensitivity to surroundings, except for myself it seemed, Celphi efficiently slipped through obstacles and terrains with ease.

’Celphi!’ 

So you’ve zoned me out huh?

*smack*

‘Sorry. Let me breathe’, I gasped.

He snapped back to reality and looked at me with concern. Still on fast pace.

‘Were you hurt? That must've been a scary experience.’ He asked with genuine regret in his eyes.

’I have been very careless. One bird escaped and went in the same direction as yourself. Your bell must’ve fallen off cause I only heard one bell eventually and I pursued the source’, Celphi explained with urgency and panic in his voice, not at all the calm one I know.

‘You and the bird probably took different paths at some point. Plus the noise of the whole landscape suddenly changing and rumbling from all around me. I am deeply sorry Ina.’ 

He transferred me from his tail to his arms and was hugging me so tight that it didn’t matter which part of him was holding me, tail or hands, I still can’t breathe.

‘Sorry for disappearing to far as well. I promise you I wouldn’t have selected being engulfed by the ground on a random rainy day. It was all too fast.’

Celphi carried me like a bride, smelled my hair and just being overall apologetic, affectionate and clingy, as if his favourite toy that was lost had just been found. I avoided his craving eyes by all means. I could feel it on my face. I could almost hear what he was thinking inside his mind. And I wasn’t in the mood for it.

I wonder if the fairies are going to be ok.

‘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 surround his sky blue eyes, reflecting my face, my brown eyes. Enquiring into my soul. The question? ‘Do you forgive me?’  His rapid and pounding heartbeat knocking on my chest as I held unto him.

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

I knew very well what he wanted. I could understand it. He probably thought the worst of all scenarios. Me being hurt. Him losing me. And then finding me again.

Sigh.

In spite all of this, I really couldn’t bring myself to dislike Celphi. 

I know that he means well. I just know it in my heart. That’s how I am able to stay put beside him. In better circumstances, I would’ve gladly accepted him and his advances. I really would’ve given in to him.

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.

Uhuh. Just because I am feeling compassionate doesn’t mean I am open for taking. How does he even know what I am thinking , that I am not angry?

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.