Chapter 29: A Strange Moment

After much relaxing in the temple it seemed to become close to sunset without anyone realizing it. Silva was mostly busy catching up with her friend while the others found other ways to relax.

“Well, that was the best sleep I had in a long time,” Lisa said feeling relaxed.

“I am glad someone is able to relax,” Silva teased.

“Yeah…Hey,” Lisa caught on.

“Ha-ha, sorry Lisa, that was too easy,” Silva apologized.

“Yeah, whatever, Silva,” Lisa said embarrassed.

“Well, it is nice to see the old Silva back…I was beginning to worry about you,” Raquel said, taking a seat next to Silva.

“You never cared about my wellbeing before, are you getting soft?” Silva slyly said.

“I really don’t care about your welfare, Silva, it is nice seeing the old you, I missed it,” Raquel confessed.

“I am glad you care a little bit Raquel, I guess you are a softy after all,” Silva teased.

“Alright stop, Silva, you are making me nervous,” Raquel teased.

“Well, it sure is nice seeing three lovely ladies chatting about in this cool air,” Rufus said walking up towards her.

“Yes, and it seems you just got over the hangover rather quickly,” Silva slyly said.

“Not so loud, my head still hurts. Who knew one sip of temple booze will give me this huge hangover,” Rufus said, holding his head.

“I am sorry Rufus. Since the city does not have strong alcohol, we keep it here for travelers to enjoy,” Lilianna confesses.

“That makes sense,” Rufus answers.

“Ok, I am bored. Seth, I thought you told me Terrance was on his way here. The temple is not far from the guild hall, where is he?” Silva asks, getting impatient.

“I will check on that,” Seth offered, taking out his com.

“There is no need, I am here,” Terrance said, surprising everyone.

“Terrance? You surprised me, how did you get here without the girls,” Silva asked surprised.

“Well, about that….,” Terrance began.

“Mommy!” Greer and Grace yelled, running to hug Silva.

“Greer. Grace. What in the world are you doing here?” Silva asked in shock.

“We wanted to see you mommy and we did not want to be left alone again,” Grace said, hugging Silva.

“That is great honey, but that is not a good reason to leave the safety of the guild. I would have come to visit you after my business in the temple finished. Seriously Terrance this is very irresponsible,” Silva said, getting a little angry.

“We are sorry mom, but it was not Terrance’s fault, we followed him here, so please do not get mad at him,” Greer said, not trying to be mature.

“Very well, I apologize Terrance,” Silva said.

“It's fine,” Terrance said, a little sad.

“Don’t be so hard on Uncle Terrance mom,” Greer said.

“Ok, you can stay, but I hope you girls at least left a note telling Gale where you are,” Silva said, acting motherly.

“Um…not exactly,” Grace confesses.

“I will handle telling Gale, spend time with your girls,” Raquel sighs as she takes out her own com to notify the guild where they are.

“Thank you Raquel. Now my sweet girls, you may stay here for the time being. Lilianna will enjoy your company,” Silva said, caving into her daughters.

“Yeah,” Greer and Grace said, overjoyed.

“Now before I lose you, care to tell me what you have discovered?” Silva asked.

“Oh, Uncle Terrance can tell you? Bye mother,” Greer said, running with Grace to see Lilianna.

“Well, Terrance spilled it,” Silva said, a bit annoyed.

“Are you sure?”

“Just say it!”

“Very well, as you know you were given goddess magic by our great goddess Solaria. You are to be the next goddess after completing your training. As you know in ancient times, goddesses are born from pure energy resonating in our great world. They are celestial beings with powerful magic. Over the years, the goddesses did not want to be seen as ignorant, so whenever a goddess dies they choose a pure innocent soul not corrupted with evil will inherit their magic. Which can be anyone.”

“Yes, I know all of that, but tell me what I do not know,” Silva interrupted.

“Yes, as you know magic in this form always comes with a price.”

“And this price?”

“The chosen ones who take on the training in the temples and become full fledged goddesses have to sacrifice their humanity. Whatever humanity they had before becoming a goddess will be taken away from them once they become goddesses.”

“Humanity, huh, if you excuse me, I will be in my room, Raquel please watch over the girls for me,” Silva said walking away.

“Yeah, sure,” Raquel vaguely responded.

“Huh, Silva, what’s wrong?” Lisa said as she was running past her.

“That went better than I thought,” Terrance said, breathing in relief.

“What did you say to her?” Lisa is upset , punching Terrance in the face.

“I simply told her the truth,” Terrance said, cleaning up the mess on his face.

“You couldn’t keep it to yourself huh. It is upsetting enough that she was given this gift and never wanted it. Now you can see why she did not want to complete all of these tasks because of what it was doing to her. What kind of monster are you? And I suspect you did not tell her the other part about how to save her humanity huh,” Lisa mentions.

“That is for another time when she is ready to embrace her destiny,” Terrance says.

“Right, keep any more secrets from her. If you are going to hurt her, you will have to answer to me,” Lisa warns as she threatens him.

“Yes, I promise you. I only do this to protect her,” Terrance answers.

“Yeah, keep telling yourself that,” Lisa angrily said walking away.

“Alright, that is enough, you two, we are all here for Silva and if you do not agree then leave right now,” Rufus warns.

Little did they know, the hours went by and it seemed Silva would not come out of her room. Not even her daughters could cheer her up.

Once she could sense everyone was asleep, she snuck out of her room and went for a walk around the garden area where to her surprise there was a grove of cherry trees standing there. She wanted to take a closer look at them, but to her surprise Terrance was already there.

“I guess you couldn’t sleep either huh?!” Silva shouted.

Terrance turns to see Silva behind him and is a bit surprised.

“I could not sleep either, so I thought I would admire the cherry trees here. They are so beautiful.”

Silva stared up to the trees and could not help stare. “Yes, they are beautiful, Lilianna planted them for me when I first arrived here after leaving home for the first time. I told her these were the trees I’ve missed the most from home since it reminded me of someone I met who always gave me hope.”

“Yes, and did you remember the day we first met under those trees?”

“I remember and we said our good-byes,” Silva wondered.

They could not help stare into each other’s eyes for a moment hoping their love will once again reignite. Silva changes her eyes towards a bite and claw marks she notices on his hand and legs.

“Ha-ha, what happened to you?” Silva asks.

“Oh, Rajah happened. He heard what happened to you and sneaks up to attack me. He is very protective of you.”

“Ha-ha, yes he is. He always has been. We are family after all. Ha-ha, I can see that.”

“Are you sure?”

“I cannot let my knight look like this, besides I have healing magic from my family traits, so it will be fine.”

“I only say this because you never like to use any type of magic.”

“Yes, but this can be our little secret. They're all done,” Silva said, removing her hand from his wounds.

“Thank you. Do you remember all of those times where we used to train together and we would heal our wounds together while watching the stars?”

“I do remember.”

They continue to stare into each other's eyes.

“Um…Terrance since this is all about the truth. There is something you must know.”

“What is it?”

“A few days ago, my political fiancé arrived unannounced.”

“Your fiancé?”

“Yes, his name is High Sorcerer Julian. He is the nephew of the Guild King. He arranged for us to marry me to have magic back to my home. Long story. You have to know, I am not in love with him since I am in love with you.”

“You love me?”

“Yes, I have been in love with you ever since we met under the cherry trees when we were children and again when I returned home. What I am trying to say is that I love you and you are my true love and I believe we are destined for each other. I am saying all of this now because I want it to come from me before I lose my humanity. I cannot be with you now, but some day.”

“I waited for this for so long. I think I can’t wait anymore,” Terrance said as he wrapped his arm around her. “Do you think we can share one kiss and keep it as our secret?”

“Yes, we can,” Silva agrees.

And so Terrance and Silva share their first kiss after a long time under the cherry tree as a wind of cherry blossom petals float around them. It really is true love under the cherry tree.