Heritage
Ninety Years Later

The wind rushing past me whilst I rodeFlora felt so good, especially since I wasn’t used to the hot climate of thedesert. Aura rode beside me on Cain, talland proud. I smiled beneath myveil. He looked so handsome andgrown-up. I slowed Flora down once wereached the village that stood by the oasis in the centre of the desert. Aura led on and we followed him to the nearbystand where we could tie our Floronies by the water trough. Aura dismounted and helped me down.

“Are you sure you want to wear thishere?” he asked as his fingertips crept underneath my veil. I swatted his hand away sharply and hesmiled.

“Let’s…” I sniffed back the tears and buried my face into his chest. He hugged me tightly as I took a deepbreath. “Let’s just replace the nearestflower stall.” Aura kissed the top of myhead and I followed him through the market. I absent-mindedly looked at the other stalls, my hand in Aura’s, as wemade our way through the market. Jewellery,clothes, hats, scarves, so many exotic merchandise. It felt strange to be away from the elvenkingdoms but it felt brilliant. Thaturge to explore within me just grew stronger.

“Here we are,” Aura said as we cameacross a flower stall. As Aura beganpicking a bouquet, I fingered the vibrantly coloured flowers curiously,admiring how exotic they were compared to the flowers at home. I watched Aura pay the stall-owner thenfollowed him to the graveyard. My tearswere already streaming down my face behind the veil. We looked at the gravestones as we walkedacross the dusty ground. Thank goodnessI took Aura’s advice and wore sandals with my kimono.

“It’s very warm today,” I murmured.

“Your veil is making it hotter for you,take it off.” I shook my head furiously.

“I don’t want anyone to see it.” I anchored Aura suddenly when we found whatwe were looking for. “Here he is.” We both stood solemnly by the gravestone andAura bowed his head whilst placing the bouquet down.

“It’s been three years since the warended,” Aura smiled sadly “We really miss you, Dune.” I bit my lip to avoid making any whimpers andsobs. Dune died during the last few yearsof the war. He and Vincent had retiredto this little village to get away from all the conflict. We then heard later on that a vampire hunterkilled him and Vincent went to volunteer to help end the war by allowingscientists take his body to turn into a Human Weapon.

“We know you’re not quite at peace becauseof what Vincent did,” I murmured as Aura came behind me to hug me tightly and Igripped his arms “But he did it because he wanted to help end the war. He couldn’t forgive himself for letting youget killed. And by the time we found outhe was going to sacrifice himself for science…it was too late.” Aura kissed the top of my head and heaved asigh. “It wasn’t in vain though. Paradox managed to end the war with hishelp. He defeated Zack and became theSixth Hero of Ethylias. He reallydeserves it, I’m so happy for him.”

“We got married shortly after the palacegot rebuilt,” Aura continued talking “We would have loved for you to bethere. You would have been a wonderfulmaid of honour.” I giggled and slippedmy hands under my veil to wipe my tears away. “And yes, I’m sorry. I nevermanaged to get her to take off her veil.” I turned and pushed Aura lightly.

“I don’t want anyone to see it, I toldyou,” I argued.

“Zelda, there’s nothing to be ashamedabout.” I sighed and pulled away fromhim.

“Come on, let’s go and get some water,I’m thirsty.” I took his hand and tuggedhim out of the graveyard. Aura squeezedmy hand tightly and I smiled softly. Hehad a good growth spurt until his aging halted at twenty five. My aging stopped at twenty but I didn’t growany taller. We stopped by a small caféand sat in the shade, drinking our water. I lifted my veil slightly so my lips could meet the edge of my glass. Aura watched me from his side of the tableand sighed. “I’m still not taking itoff.”

“Zelda, please. It’s ridiculous.”

“I don’t want to take it off and that’sthat.”

“Zelda,” Aura placed his glass firmly onthe table “What do you think’s going to happen?”

“I don’t want people staring at me.”

“Zelda you should be proud!” Aurainsisted “It doesn’t matter what you look like. It’s a symbol of your courage and it’s who you are.”

“That’s the thing, people will recognizeme and I don’t want any attention,” I growled back. Aura turned away and I directed my gazetowards the oasis. There was a younggirl climbing up a coconut tree. Herwhite hair with blue highlights made her stand out as she reached the palmleaves and placed her hands on the coconuts. She plucked them off before throwing them down to the children thatlingered underneath her. I smiled warmlywhen she took a coconut for herself and jumped into the oasis. She scrambled out quickly and ran through thestreets eagerly.

“Zelda, are you worried you don’t lookbeautiful?” I turned back to Aura andshook my head. “Please, take that veiloff. For just a moment, so I can seeyour face.”

“Aura,” I cautioned.

“This will be the last time I ask of you,I promise.” I gave him a stern glarethrough my veil before lifting it up so he could see my face. He paused for a moment before smiling widerand leaning forward…to pull the veil straight off my head.

“Aura!” I cried as he held it out and Icovered the right side of my face “Give it back, people will see!”

“Zelda, it’s alright,” Aura soothed“Stop being so vain. Since when did youcare about what people thought?”

“But it’s hideous, it’s nothing to beproud of!”

“You fought against Cannabec andsurvived. Yes, you didn’t kill him orfeel achieved enough to say that he’s paid the price for taking your familyaway but it’s alright. You should wearthose scars with pride.” I pulled myhands away and glared at him, pointing to the three large jagged scars thatmarred the side of my face. The nextthing I remembered after transcending into my final limit was that I woke up inthe medical tent. There were bandagesaround my face, around my body and the nurses said that they didn’t have holywater due to the fact they didn’t expect Cannabec to appear. I would have these hideous markings for therest of my life. Thankfully the worstthing Cannabec ever did to me apparently was nearly take my face off.

“These remind me of him every day,Aura,” I said “His laugh, his face, his voice, I can’t forget him. He won’t leave me alone.”

“Zelda, it’s alright,” Aura soothed ashe leaned over and gripped my hand “He’s chosen his Soldier and now all he’sgoing to do is sit back and keep an eye on Zack’s soul. It’s going to be alright, we don’t need toworry about anything now. The war isover, the fight for our seventh is sorted, there is no need to worry aboutanything anymore. But for now, let’scontinue to explore Ethylias. We’re notfar from the Hyacin Mountains, remember?” The mountains of blue rock…of course. I took a deep breath and nodded, silently holding my hand out for myveil back. Aura shook his head though.

“Aura, please.”

“How about…if you win the race to theFloronies?” Aura smirked and placed six gold coins onto the table as paymentbefore dashing off.

“A race?!” I said incredulously beforegetting up and chasing after him “Aura, wait!” I chased after him through the crowds and when I realised I couldn’tkeep up, I teleported to the Floronies and waited for him patiently. Aura came around the corner, gasping forbreath and giving me a soft glare.

“You cheated,” he said as he approachedme.

“You never set down any rules now giveme my veil back.” I gasped as Auraplaced his hands on my hips and picked me up, kissing me softly.

“Alright,” he grinned as he placed meback down and fished my veil from his pocket.

“Excuse me?” I froze when that girl with the white andblue hair approached us nervously. Itensed and backed away, covering the side of my face.

“May we help?” Aura asked with a sinceresmile.

“Are you…Queen Zelda?” I remained silent, looking away from theyoung girl. She looked like she was inher early teens.

“That is Queen Zelda,” Aurasupplied. The girl held her breathbefore coming closer and held up a bowl of white strips.

“You’re one of my heroes!” she saidbrightly “Would you like some coconut?” I looked down at her uncertainly and glanced at Aura. He smiled encouragingly as I glanced down atthe bowl she held out for me.

“Um…I thought coconuts were green?” Isaid a bit warily.

“They’re white on the inside,” the girlsmiled a little, her amber coloured eyes glinting in the sun. I reached forward and took a little piece.

“Thank you,” I said politely as the girlturned to Aura and offered him some. Inibbled the strip. It was a bit sweet soI pulled a face inadvertently.

“Oh, you don’t like it?” the girl lookeddisheartened.

“No…” I said as I swallowed “I’m notreally a sweet lover.” I handed my stripto Aura who happily munched down the coconut.

“Well I’m glad I met you!” the girlgrinned before stepping away “It was an honour to have you come to ourvillage.” She bowed before turning andrunning off.

“See, nothing to be ashamed about,” Aurasmiled as he helped me mount Flora. Hekissed my hand and I lifted my other hand to trace the gouges through myface. Thank God Cannabec didn’t claw myeyes out. I looked to Aura as he untiedour Floronies and mounted Cain. I smiledand handed my veil back.

“It’s been a while since I felt the windon my face,” I said before digging my heel into Flora and rode out of thevillage. Aura followed me and we headedoff towards the direction of Vigour Village. Who knows what else we’ll see? Itdidn’t matter. As an elf, I have all thetime in the world to explore alongside my dear husband. I smiled happily as we rode under theafternoon sun.