Heritage
The Clash

Aura and I entered the dining halltogether and sat at Gardenia’s table. Irefused to look over when Paradox called for me to sit with him. Gardenia frowned at me.

“Youshould sit with the Prince,” shesaid.

“Yes I should but I don’t want to,” Ismiled forcefully.

“YourHighness, as flattering as it is to have you sit with us,” Gardenia’s dark yellow eyes darted around the tablewhere other elves wearing golden attire and serving their food onto their goldplated dishes “It would be moreappropriate to sit with the royal family and their guests.”

“Well, I would prefer to sit down here,”I shrugged it off and picked up a bunch of grapes that looked like the ones Ihad for my breakfast “Here, Aura, try these.”

“Ah, thanks, Your Highness,” Auramuttered as he took them from me timidly.

“Aura,” I sighed.

“YourHighness, you may have lived with humans most of your life and have found Aurabefore you found out that you were a princess. But please, as you are a princess and as you’re engaged to the Prince…”

“I’m not marrying Paradox,” I saiddismissively and the hall went silent.

“But…”Gardenia looked lost and sheglanced up at Paradox apologetically.

“Please, Gardenia,” I smiled softly tothe knight “I would like to spend time with Aura and either I eat here or Auracomes with me to Paradox’s table to eat there.”

“YourHighness, our rank is much lower than yours and we must respect youproperly…” I raised my eyebrow at her clipped tone. But before I could open my mouth to retortback, a hand landed on my shoulder gently.

“Zelda, a word,” Paradox said frombehind me.

I gritted my teeth together softlybefore rising from my seat and following him out of the dining hall. I jogged lightly after him and kept my eyestrained on his heels. I could lift myeyes and see the ends of his long dark hair just barely reaching his hips. My hair was just as long but I couldn’t helpbut wonder. Wasn’t it inconvenient forhim? When engaged in battle, does hejust let it hang loose or quickly ties it up so it won’t get in his eyes? Or is there some sort of elven trick to keepit in place? I was so lost in mythoughts that I didn’t notice Paradox stopping and my head smacked into hisback. I jumped back, startled, and lookedup at the prince as he turned and looked down at me. His face looked solemn until he smiled.

“Zelda, is this about my earlieroutburst?” he asked and I stepped away from his outstretched hand towards me“I’m sorry if I made you upset. You hadquite the temper tantrums when you were just half a decade old. Always storming off and hiding in yourmother’s favourite hedges…”

“I don’t want to marry you,” I said inthe bluntest way possible. Paradox’ssmile faltered and he frowned.

“Is this because you don’t remember me?”he asked slowly “I know, it’s been thirteen years and I’m quite sure…”

“It’s because I don’t want to getmarried in two years,” I decided to try to be more sensitive “That’s toosoon. The past eight years when I wastrapped in Zack’s care even have been a blur for me.” OK, I admit it, that was a pretty horrible lie. Paradox frowned deeper.

“Well, why not?” he asked “Is it becauseyou’re uncomfortable with sleeping with me?” Oh God, I was so not thinking about that until you mentioned it! I couldn’t repress the shudder and steppingback a couple of paces, nearly tripping over on my kimono. Paradox gave an encouraging smile and steppedforward. “It’s alright,” he said “Iwouldn’t force you to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

“That’s not my main issue,” I saidfirmly “At least it wasn’t.”

“Then what is it?” Paradox pressed on. Oh gee, how do you break news to a person whoseems to have strong feelings for you that you don’t want to marry them? I swallowed as I folded my kimono more acrossmy chest. I took a deep breath andclosed my eyes to help relax myself.

“I don’t want to marry because it willhold me down and stop me from travelling around Ethylias.”

“After dealing with Brodka and resolvingthe Prebeta conflict with Envy’s Embodiment, we can go travelling,” Paradoxpromised me and I pulled away from his hands that reached out toward me.

“I don’t want to marry you,” I repeated,running out of things to say “Because…because…” My mouth opened and closed as my brain refused to function. I lowered my gaze as Paradox’s aura felt abit darker.

“You hate me,” he accused.

“Scared of you,” I corrected “Scared…ofyou…” I saw his shadow over me when Ifixed my gaze to the wooden floorboards.

“Scared?” he echoed. I nodded slowly and winced when his bluefingers came under my chin and stroked my skin softly.

“When…you killed those men…” I murmuredsoftly “It was…it was terrifying with that cold look you possessed. I can’t possibly marry someone who is socold-blooded…”

“Cold-blooded?” I cringed at his chokedhurt tone. Paradox tilted my chin up andI was forced to meet his gaze. “Howcould you call me cold-blooded when you know what Brodka has done?”

“You refused mercy to those who beggedfor it,” I argued.

“They’re humans, they deserved it!”

“Then you’re no different to Zack!” Isnapped and slapped his hand away “Yes, they may be humans, yes I understandhow you feel against them after what Zack has done but no matter what youthink, they are part of life too. Thosemen you killed, they have loved ones back in Aurallion. And with the way you killed them, the humanswill only build up their prejudice against us.”

“Humans are a waste of space,” Paradoxsnarled and turned away, storming to the other side of the room “How can youtake their side? They are mortal, theyare easily corrupted and they are nothing but filth.”

“Humans have potential to be great andit’s amazing with what they can achieve in such a short lifespan!” I argued.

“They want to wipe the supernaturalraces out because they feel intimidated by us!” Paradox raised his voice.

“That’s only Zack and his conspirators!”I barked “And Zack’s only taking action because of Canna-!” My hand flew up to my mouth and I bit down onmy thumb hard to avoid saying Cannabec’s name out loud. I glared at the floor as Paradox turned andadvanced towards me.

“He killed your family.”

“I know,” I said around my thumb beforepulling it out “But hating humans won’t bring them back.” I looked up at his cold blue eyes as hestared me down. He sighed softly.

“Zelda…I can change if you really wishit,” he said “Forgive me for scaring you and going against what you believe,had I known you’d be frightened…”

“Please, stop it,” I interrupted him “Mymind’s made up, I won’t marry you.”

“I can change!” Paradox insisted “And wecan travel to anywhere you wish on Ethylias after we marry.” There was just no clarifying with this elf,is there?

“I don’t want to marry you,” I pushed onand turned away as Paradox got onto his knees and clutched my shoulders.

“Zelda, I can be the husband you want, Ipromise you!” he implored me and grabbed my chin to direct my face to his.

“Paradox, I don’t want to marry you,” Irepeated “I mean, come on! It’s beenwhat, thirteen years since we last saw each other? What if I’m not the wife you want?”

“We have two years to get to know oneanother better,” Paradox tightened his grip on my shoulder “And to help recoveryour amnesia. Please, Zelda, don’t dothis to us…”

“Us?” I repeated as I raised an eyebrow.

“Our marriage will bring hope to theelves, we can restore the elven kingdoms and fix all the damage the humans havedone together. Zelda, if you won’t marryme for love, then do it for the public.”

“That is ridiculous!” I protested as Islapped his hand away from my face “I am not marrying you because that’s whatthe general public want!” Paradox openedhis mouth to argue before his eyes scanned mine. His grip loosened.

“It’s about Aura, isn’t it?” his voicedropped and I could hear a dangerous rumble in his throat “You don’t want tomarry me because you’d rather marry him.” Well that hit the nail on the head pretty solidly. I took in a deep breath and nodded. Paradox stood and hung his head. “I can’t believe this,” he muttered as hewalked off “Someone from a knight’s family, ridiculous…”

“Status isn’t an issue of mine,” Ifolded my arms with narrowed eyes glaring at his retreating back “Where are yougoing?”

“I’ll challenge Aura to a duel.” Oh God, why are the males always the stupidones?! I hastily stepped forward andteleported in front of Paradox, shoving a hand on his chest to halt him. I glared up at him as the petals fell aroundus.

“And what makes you think I’m going tochange my mind over such a dispute?” I asked with a soft snarl “Aura can barelystomach the sight of a vampire feeding of a rabbit, let alone being able to getcaught up in a bloody duel!”

“Then what do you suggest for me to do?”Paradox snarled back.

“Accept the fact that I’m not going tomarry you in a million years!” I raised my voice “You’re a nice elf, Paradox,but I can’t see myself being your wife!”

“But I am far better than him!” Paradoxhissed “I can protect you better than he can protect a mouse!”

“I don’t even care about protection, Ican take care of myself!” I shouted at him.

“You won’t need to take care of yourselfwith me!”

“I! I! Ugh!” I threw my hands up. “That’s it! I give up! Boys! I’ll never understand them!”

“Where are you going?” Paradox demandedas I stormed off.

“Out of the palace grounds where I canthink!” I shouted over my shoulder.

“Zelda, no!” I heard Paradox shout as Iimagined the orphanage and in the blink of an eye, I was standing amongst thecharred ruins. I looked down andflinched, stepping away when I saw that a burnt arm had been lying across myfoot. I looked around the smokingremains and grimaced at the pitiful sight.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered to the dead. There were bodies everywhere. Charred, black, nothing but ashes. I felt sick. I retreated into the woods and to the open plains outside, seeing thegrooves embedded into the grass where Cannabec’s feet have been after he hadtransformed to chase after me yesterday. Not far away were the trees that had been sliced in half by hissickle. I made my way to the bank of thelake, taking off my kimono before stepping into the water. I splashed some water on my face, bringing meto focus on my thoughts.

What was wrong with Paradox? What good could ever come from fighting? I don’t understand it, I like Aura, I likehim a lot. It doesn’t give the greenflag to Paradox to go up to him and challenge him to a duel though. Or was that some sort of traditional thingamongst elves? If so then that’sridiculous. I can have a say in who Iwould to be with for the rest of my life, right? My decision can’t be made just because ofsome petty duel. Ugh! I dove into deeper waters before surfacing,running my hands through my hair. I needa swim.

There was a small island in the centreof the lake so I swam towards that. Itfelt good to release some tension from swimming. It felt especially nice to swim in the nicecool lake under the summer sun too. Ireached the bank of the island and looked back across the lake with a wistfulsmile. We normally came here forswimming lessons at the orphanage. Theyounger ones would play around in the shallows, the slightly older ones wouldplay in the deeper waters, the eldest would swim to the island and back andthen the ones who were particularly athletic would lap around the lake. I lay myself out on the grass underneath themassive tree and took a deep breath of fresh air, listening to the birds andphoenixes sing their songs.

I must have drifted off because when Iopened my eyes the next time, the sun was setting. I sat up and looked around, smiling as thefireflies and evening faeries began to come out to enjoy the night. I stood up and focused on the spot where mykimono was. The petals fell in a neatcircle around me as I bent down to retrieve the kimono and lay it across myarm. I gazed back at the setting sun andgrimaced. I didn’t want to go back tothe palace, I didn’t want to face Paradox. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth when I remembered anotherissue. This whole being Prebeta’s ChosenHero. As if I didn’t have enough on myplate!

“Prebeta,” I called out. Nothing. I stood there, feeling a bit awkward. “Prebeta?” I wanted to haveanswers. I thought she would be able tocome and answer them but if she isn’t answering my call… “Prebeta!” Not even one sign or a hint that she was listening or coming! I took a deep breath and pulled out my fansfrom the sleeve of the kimono. I openedthem and briefly mediated in front of the setting sun to clear my mind. When I felt the last of the sun’s rays leave,I took another deep breath and exhaled slowly, my heart picking up itspace. “Cannabec.”

“You called?” I did not jump. I opened my eyes and saw Cannabec lazilysprawled out in front of me, a wicked smile adorning his face. “What can I do for you?” he purred.

“I want to know more about this conflictbetween God and Satan,” I replied.

“You’re going to have to ask the rightquestions,” Cannabec shrugged. Ibreathed in softly and sighed.

“How long has it been going on for?” Iasked and Cannabec sucked in a sharp breath.

“Let’s see…” he hummed “I believe thewhole argument began five centuries ago, perhaps? I don’t know, I’ve never kept much track onevents. But I do remember that it wasfour centuries ago when my brother, Soraco the Embodiment of Gluttony, chosethe first of Satan’s Soldiers. So forthe Ethylians, it’s been four centuries for them.”

“And this is very important toEthylias?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Well your little prince probably went abit overboard with the explaining,” Cannabec shrugged nonchalantly “It’s onlyto determine the ratio of light and darkness on Ethylias. God thinks light is the best element he’sever created and didn’t bother to create something to counter balance it. Satan, at this time he was one of God’sclosest servants, created darkness to balance the light. As a result, he was sent down to Hell wherehe now rules over.”

“So all of this has to do with Satancreating darkness?” I said “That sounds a bit petty.”

“Zelda, what do you replace is wrong withdarkness?” Cannabec asked. I opened thenclosed my mouth. He grinned. “Exactly, there is nothing wrong, it’sperfectly fine!”

“But it can be used for horriblethings,” I argued.

“Please, that’s the people who are usingthe darkness, not the darkness itself,” Cannabec scoffed “And if it weren’t fordarkness, there’d be no vampires and you would have never met Dune who helpedyou out when you were in a bind.” OK, hegot me there. I sighed and shook myhead.

“What happens when you choose your Soldieror when Prebeta chooses her Hero?” I asked.

“Things are a bit different between theway we choose our Ethylians,” Cannabec said as he sat up “We, Satan’s Sons,tend to choose the ones who have potential and ask them to become our Soldier.”

“But you…”

“You asked a question and I’m answeringit, so zip it, missy!” I closed my mouthand glared at him. “We make our mark onthem and give them a little boost in power to help them fight against theEthylias Hero they’ve been paired up with. Normally it would be someone close or against them in every waypossible.”

“So if you chose me…” I trailed off.

“Then Prebeta might choose someone like,I don’t know…Aura?” I tensed and movedback slightly. Cannabec grinned. “Just pulling your leg, dear,” he said andtossed his hair out of his face “Anyway, God’s Guardians, they go about it abit differently. They observe us withour choosing and select candidates to become one of Ethylias’s Heroes. When one of those candidates kills our Soldier,they get split into seven different souls and are scattered around the sevenththat they’ve been assigned to protect, lying in wait for the grand finale.”

“When they kill the Soldier?” I repeated“So your Soldier…is guaranteed to die?”

“Well, yes,” Cannabec shrugged “But theyget reincarnated over and over with their power intact, ready to be called uponwhen Ethylias’s Sentence Day arrives.”

“And when is that?”

“Eh, eighteen years after the seventhSoldier and Hero have been decided,” Cannabec shrugged “There are fivealtogether so far. Opitham, theEmbodiment of Pride, and I still need to get a move on with our choosing.”

“You still haven’t chosen yet?” I raisedan eyebrow.

“Well you haven’t said yes yet,”Cannabec pouted.

“I’m not ever going to say yes,” Inarrowed my eyes at him sternly. Cannabec sighed heavily.

“Such a pity,” he mumbled.

“And when chosen as your Soldier, it’s aone way ticket to Hell, isn’t it?” I murmured.

“Look, Hell is a place to punish soulswho have sinned heavily,” Cannabec raised his hands “But that’s only a part ofHell. The other part is for Satan’sworshippers. That’s where Satan’sSoldiers will go, if they succeed.”

“And if they don’t?” I raised myeyebrows in alarm.

“We’ll see what Dearest Daddy does withthem,” Cannabec grinned and I shivered.

“That doesn’t sound very appealing,” Icommented.

“Hey, it helps get them be more aware ofthe situation that’s at stake,” Cannabec sniffed. I sneered before shivering and rubbing myarms when a cold breeze passed by. Ijumped when I smelt burning and felt a warm fur cloak land on my shoulders. I began breathing deeply when Cannabec’sclawed fingers buttoned it up around my body.

“What…why?” I whispered as he patteddown the green flames.

“You’re welcome,” Cannabec mutteredsarcastically “I thought it’d be a nice look to you and you looked cold.”

“…Fur.”

“It died of old age.”

“…You’re a demon.”

“Yes, indeed I am,” Cannabec smirked.

“…This is a technique to try to tempt meto become your Soldier.”

“Damn it, found out,” Cannabec huffedand folded his arms “It’s not fair, Soraco found his straight of the bat,Alcorence managed to scare his to the point where he agreed, Hendroid befriendedhis, Morphen chose a Satan worshipper and Ecodemo found someone in a vulnerableposition.” I narrowed my eyes and tookthe cloak off.

“I’m leaving,” I stated as I took myfans and kimono, handing the cloak back. I focused on the palace grounds and the last thing I saw was Cannabec’ssmirk before arriving at the palace grounds. There was a clatter of metal and I turned to see Aura had been trainingwith a sword again.

“Zelda!” he exclaimed and ran over“Where have you been?! There have beensearch parties going out looking for you and everyone’s been in a panic sinceyou disappeared from Paradox and…” Ithrew myself at him and hugged him tightly. I buried my nose into his hair and breathed in the vanilla scent hepossessed.

“Mmm, you’ve bathed recently?” Imurmured softly with a blush.

“Uh…uh…yeah…”

“With vanilla and…Fruma berries. My favourite combination.”

“R-Really?” Aura stuttered.

“Mm-hmm…” I closed my eyes and relaxedinto his hold. I didn’t let go, I didn’twant to let go. I just wanted to stayhere and be with Aura. Just forget abouteverything apart from Aura.