Homecoming Princess

The daystar has begun to set outside, shadows stretching across the magical silk lining. The wind was chilly, but not cold enough to stop guards from actively patrolling the immediate vicinity. The team had stopped to rest for the night.

I turned to Pan, who was waiting for me to speak. ‘Pan. How did I end up on Earth?’

I’m ready.

Pan didn’t answer immediately. His gaze dropped to his hands. He rubbed one thumb across the inside of his palm.

‘You disappeared,’ he said softly. ‘Just. Gone. One moment, we were all in the palace. You had just finished screaming at your parents. It was a bad fight.’

‘Why?’

‘Because of Celphi,’ Pan said very gently, carefully studying my face, as if fearing that I would be angry at this.

My eyes drifted to the still unconscious man beside me. I didn’t remember anything, but a strange ache stirred in my chest when I looked at him.

I hope he can’t hear any of this.

’To be clear, the chain of events started around him, and his existence as a dragon, but it wasn't him that pushed you to earth.’ Pan clarified.

Ok, that’s better.

‘You were trying to protect him,’ Pan continued. ‘The court called him dangerous. A rogue. Your father was worried about the kingdom’s safety. And most importantly yours.’

‘Did he do anything bad in particular?’

’At that time, he didn't. But he was a young creature who was growing and learning. He was very sensitive to the feelings around him. And at that point, the emotions were high. He must’ve felt the oppressive controlling feelings of the elders, who only wanted safety of course.’

’That’s horrible.’

Being from an orphanage myself, I know how much the environment can affect a growing youth.

‘He probably thought he was being pushed away before he could have the chance to be someone.’

’Of course!’

’There is also the deal about him being a late egg hatcher, but that is something he should tell you himself.’ Pan paused, then continued. ‘So yeah, eventually he was absorbing only negative feelings. He lashed out.’

’Naturally. Hurt people hurt others’

’No, not in the rebel kind of way. When I said dragons absorb negativity, they really do. So that’s most of what he had inside him. The fear of him from elders, the angst from you, amongst other things.’ Pan looked at me seriously, making sure I am still with him.

’It probably looked like when Celphi and Mede fought over you. He wasn't himself. He was just an unstoppable ball of energy back then. Negative energy that is.’

What a pure creature. He reflects the hearts of everyone back to them.

‘And, when he had this one episode, he was biting himself crazy. Like he was going to bite himself into half. You just had to intervene.’

’And then I got bitten…’ I looked at my birthmark. No, my promise bond. It was a mark to signify my bond to someone after all.

It’s not just a random mark now. Nor ever.

Pan nodded solemnly.

‘He was probably biting himself because the person he cared for, me, was unhappy. Because of him. And it was just slowly eating at him, at his energy.’

Pan nodded even more slowly and deeply this time.

‘Oh Celphi.’ I hid my face on his chest as I teared up, not caring if I woke him up.

Pan allowed me to regain my composure before continuing the conversation.

’Some elders wanted to banish Celphi. Or to send him away for a while and then take him back when he’s more mature.’

‘And Raiona wasn't having any of it.’

‘You defied them. Loudly. Publicly. You stood in the throne room. Along with Celphi, dragged there against his will. He said he was happy to do as the elders said.’

’Oooff that would’ve annoyed me now. I can’t imagine actually defying an actual Princess Raiona.’

Pan looked at me with pride in his eyes. ‘You were so brave. And so stupid.’

That sounded like me. Maybe.

I gave a soft, dry laugh. ‘Sounds right. Still am.’

‘And to top it off, the elders thought it was a good thing to divert your attention to something else, like getting you engaged to Riye.’

‘Oh of course! Cause why not!’ I said as sarcastically as I could. ‘Let’s divert the attention of the young mistress.’

‘On your engagement day, the elders did take Celphi away. With Cephi’s consent. He vowed to come back to you later on.’

‘And then hours later, you were gone. Your room, your scent, your essence, all of it, erased. Like someone had plucked you out of Meu and shoved you between worlds.’

‘Someone?’

Pan whispered. ‘We thought it was a third party,’ he said, voice dropping. ‘A magical force. Sabotage. Maybe even a failed assassination attempt.’

My stomach turned. ‘Assassination?’

Marik’s mother? Or Marik himself?

Pan’s eyes flicked toward the sleeping Celphi, then out toward the covered entrance. He spoke cautiously.

‘Someone wanted you off the board. Maybe dead. Maybe just not found. Maybe they failed. As you were eventually traced to earth. You were carefully hidden with no memories, no powers, no link to this world. Nothing that would help you return.’

Do I tell him I think it’s Marik’s mother or… does he know already?

‘Other than your bond with Celphi.’

Pan looked up in recollection. ‘Queen Tiaret’s health is unstable, and it became worse after your disappearance. The whole kingdom felt your absence.’

I don’t want to say that it makes sense, cause it doesn’t. But I can connect most things now. I want to ask why they didn't try harder but I also don’t know the extent of the efforts done yet.

‘And how did I get back?’ I asked. ‘One moment I was falling from the balcony, and the next, boom. Sky tearing. Drowning. Chaos.’

He paused. ‘I was with the Queen Mother at the time. Keeping her stable. So I wasn’t there when the summoning circle was prepared.’

‘Summoning circle?’

Pan chuckled to himself. ‘Oh yeah. It was grand. They’d been trying for years to bring you back. Couldn’t succeed until your 21st birthday. Turns out death is a very useful timing mechanism for summoning.’

‘Did I die on earth?’ I asked with furrowed brows. ‘Can I not come back anymore?’ 

‘Also how did you know for sure that it was me that was coming, not another person?’

’Your connection with Celphi.’ Pan said as he nodded towards his sleeping form. ‘And I do not know a lot about the mechanisms of summoning, so unsure about Earth things.’

I see. Then if they went with the soul bond, the actual person bonded would get pulled. I really am Raiona then…

‘If you weren’t there, who was?’

‘The magical birds of all kinds, swans, cousins of phoenixes, a few other star crested types, formed a constellation for summoning.’

‘Oh that sounds so colorful and whimsical! Sounds a lot like what I would expect in terms of a magical and mythical world.’

Pan had a cute expression on his face as he nodded in agreement.

‘I came back to the medical wing just to find dozens of winged humans flapping around in pain and needing urgent care.’ Pan said in a gentle complaint. Brows furrowed and face puffed up.

’They were physically and spiritually exhausted from getting you across realms, so much so, that it probably took Celphi one flick of his tail to render them hurt and steal you away.’

Ouch. I must apologize to those folks on behalf of Celphi later on. Or make him apologize himself.

‘Where are the rest of the guards?’

’There was a diversion. Someone had made ruckus within the Aesylium and within the Bull’s community.’ Pan squeezed his chin as he thought about it.

’Riye and Mede had to go separately to address each report.’

’That couldn’t have been Celphi.’ I said in defense.

’I did not think so as well…’ Pan hesitated, ‘However…’

’With how it turned out, he does look guilty.’ I said, finishing his thought for him.

I appreciate that Pan is careful not to say anything about Celphi that will upset me.

Silence between us. Then a low thud came from outside the carriage. Followed by a muffled Riye.

‘Let me in.’

Pan smirked at the curtain. ‘Later,’ he said. ‘She’s mine for now.’

Riye sighed, but it sounded more like a growl. Then retreated.

‘Riye stormed around shouting about sabotage.’ Pan sighed dramatically and melodically. ‘I got feathers in places I didn't expect to ever have feathers on.’

I couldn’t help but laugh at the image. 

Now poor Riye becomes the topic.

Pan’s smile faded slightly as he looked back at me. ‘Mede went looking for you the moment he found out that you were finally summoned successfully, but were taken.’

He looked at the corner of the carriage with a fridge looking compartment.

What other things are hidden in there? What's the connection?

‘Set out all his subordinates. All of them. Anything that could fly and track.’ He continued.

‘The neighboring kingdoms found out too obviously. The word spread. The Aelysian Princess has returned. But she’s lost.’

He leaned forward now, voice even lower as if his normal tone wasn’t already like a whisper.

‘You became the most wanted person on the planet once more, Ina. Alive, for ransom. Dead, for chaos.’

Of course. I gulped.

‘Riye tried to go after Mede. To stop him. But Mede was so fast. He nearly got himself killed tracking you without stopping.’ Pan shook his head with a breath.

‘Riye wanted to strategise to prevent people from knowing that you were here but lost. That just means anyone who found you had dibs on you.’

’I could understand both sides.’

If any of my orphanage siblings get caught up somewhere, I would be beside myself too.

‘But in the end, Mede found you. You were with Celphi.’

I nodded slowly. Remembering pain. Fire. Wings. Ash.

Pan’s gaze softened.

‘They fought. Pride on line. Maybe love too. They fought to the death over you. Mede turned to ash. Celphi nearly didn’t survive. You…’ he paused, smile trembling, ‘You almost didn’t come back from it either.’

Ash? After Celphi’s sack business, was the ash I was drowning on actually Mede?

‘Where is Mede?’ A question I’ve been wanting to ask.

I remembered the excruciating pain on my back from Mede’s bond.

If the mark is there, then Mede is still fine. I firmly believed this.

‘He’s healing. It’s better to leave him for a while. He is extremely sensitive at the moment.’

My heart almost broke at the thought of Mede also in a life or death health crisis.

’Let me see him!’

’I know you’d say that.’ Pan smiled to himself. ‘But if you were to see him, he’d only be hurt.’

My heart broke then.

Why would my presence bring him pain? Is it the bond? This is the worst. Can’t even thank him. Can’t even contribute to his healing process, at the very least. But… at least he is alive.

‘It’s my fault. I should have listened to him. Even if I was clueless about this world, I could’ve just made it easier for Mede.’

I looked down and grabbed Celphi’s hands. There was no response. ‘And Celphi.’

‘Hmm… I think you could be seeing this from a different angle, Ina.’

When did I ask him to call me by my name? What other nonsense have I been sprouting while I was on my poisoned state?

‘Mede is hurt because he doesn't want to show himself to you. Not because of anything else.’

How is that any better? He doesn't want to show himself to me, which means it is still my fault.

‘How did you all know where to find me?’

’Mede told us your potential whereabouts. He’s felt two moments where you were fearing for your life.’

Must be the bond.

‘We managed to find the first hideout. There was blood of scorpion men everywhere. It’s blue!’ Pan exclaimed.

’And we found small traces of your blood on the door area, signifying that you were alive somewhere. For how long, we didn’t know.’

Must be the time Marik darted some poison into me as I followed the escaping soldier out… wait a minute. That was the same soldier that tried to kill Marik. The one that ended up stabbing me instead. So was Marik actually just stopping me from following that soldier into a certain death?

As I looked down at my hands, I realized I was shaking. While I was mulling over the details, Pan ate some more sweets from a random pocket under his white robe.

Can I ask Pan about the evil Queen? Marik’s mom? How much does he know?

I tucked the wrapped red gemstone into my clothes, and wrapped the blanket over me.

I need to ask for a bag or pockets in clothes.

‘So here we are.’ I whispered.

Pan tilted his head, a little smile still there. ‘Yeah. Here we are. And after all that, you're in a blanket burrito, listening to me ramble, while Riye paces outside like a lion with a thorn in his paw.’

I couldn’t help but smile, despite being worried and shaken.

‘Hey,’ Pan added, more gently. ‘You’re safe now. We’ve got you. No more getting lost across realms. Alright?’

Am I ready to accept this? Accept that I was Raiona? Accept that I may not be able to get back anymore? If I got sent to Earth before, I can go back too, no? Or do I have to almost die again?

‘Were we always like this?’

Pan’s voice dipped low. ‘You and Mede were always louder. Braver. You pulled the world into your orbit. Riye took a while, but he always had eyes on you.’

He paused.

‘I was just happy being there.’

I opened my mouth to say something. Maybe to apologize again, maybe to ask more, maybe to say that I am not Raiona again. But before I could…

Shall I give it a go?

I crawled and looked out the flap gently. Creatures of all shapes, sizes and colors, hovering around the carriage. Some noticed me as soon as I lifted the lid. One excited, one blushing.

The current me doesn’t deserve to be loved this much, but I guess I can explore the Raiona part of me. These folks deserve a chance to be heard. I do miss home. I really miss the kids. I hate to admit this but I miss studying. I miss hospital work. But these folks must feel the same way. They missed what was supposed to be ‘’me’’ a long time ago.

I looked at Pan and truly smiled.

‘And my parents?’

‘Alive. Still ruling. Still grieving.’

‘Take me home, Pan.’

He nodded. Not missing the change in my expression.

‘Of course, Princess.’