When I next woke up, I saw a candle atmy bedside and screamed almost instantly. I backed away from it and landed in a pair of arms. I buried my face into the person’s chest andsobbed.

“Get it away, put it out, I don’t likeit, please, get rid of it, just get rid of it…” I whispered and beganhyperventilating.

“What, the candle?” I recognized Aura’svoice and nodded hurriedly. A handcaressed my hair and Aura soothed me with his words. “It’s alright now, Zelda,” he whispered to me“Please, calm down. We’ve put out allthe candles in your room, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“He…he burned down the orphanage…” Iremembered my latest memories and clung onto him tighter “He killed them all tolook for me, the nuns, the monks, the children, he killed the children!

“Who did?” Aura asked as he rocked meback and forth “Zack?”

“No, no…” I whimpered “He killed them,he…he…Can…” Aura’s grip tightened and Ibroke down into sobs. “So much fire,there was so much fire!”

“It’s alright now, Zelda, he’s gone,” Aurawhispered to me “It’s just you and me here…a-and Paradox.” My eyes snapped open and I looked up to seeParadox looming over us as Aura cradled me in his arms. Aura let go of me, even though I didn’t wanthim to, and stood up. He backed away asParadox crouched beside me and brought me into his cold arms, making me shiverin discomfort.

“You may leave us,” he instructed Aura.

“No, Aura, please,” I whimpered as Aurawalked over to the door “Please don’t leave. Don’t go.”

“Zelda, we have matters to discussalone,” Paradox said firmly as Aura hesitated then gave him a warning glower “Isaid to leave us.” Aura gave me ahesitant look but still left. Paradoxcaressed my hair as he cradled me to his chest. He was nothing like Aura. Aura’stouch was warm, gentle and soft. Paradox’s touch was cold, rough and his fingers were calloused from thebattles he fought in the past. Paradoxpressed his lips to my head and I looked up at him.

“I’m…sorry for making you feel worried,”I apologized softly.

“Zelda, why didn’t you tell me thatyou’re afraid of fire?” Paradox asked as he traced my cheek.

“I…I guess I didn’t really know howintense the phobia was,” I replied as I thought about it “But when…when Tiradesuddenly just…” My chest began crushinginwards again and I plugged my ears and covered my eyes to think of fluffyNekarose kittens to calm me down. Paradox rocked me gently but it just didn’t match Aura’s gentle rockingwhich soothed me. He dug his fingersinto my scalp and sighed.

“You came back with wounds,” he said“Because they’ve been inflicted by demon claws, they will scar. I’m sorry, we didn’t put holy water on soonenough because if we had then…”

“It’s fine, I’m fine…” I murmured butstill placed a hand where those claws had pierced my skin “He was going to dragme down into Hell.”

“He has no reason…”

“He’s one of Satan’s sons, he can dowhat he likes as long as he kisses his father’s feet,” I gripped my stomach tighter,tracing the scars.

“Satan’s son?” Paradox murmured.

“The youngest one.” Paradox’s grip nearly crushed me and I letout a short breath to have him loosen a bit.

“The Embodiment of Envy?” I nodded mutely and he clenched hisfist. “Did he try to tempt you toworship him?” I nodded again with apuzzled look and Paradox let out an angry growl.

“Why is this such a big deal?” I asked“He kept on tempting me then attacking me and tempting me once more…”

“He’s looking for his Soldier to fightfor Satan,” Paradox snarled “You’re a very strong soul, Zelda. He probably wants to turn you against us andhave Prebeta select one of us as one of Ethylias’s Heroes.”

“Paradox, what are you talking about?” Iasked as I shifted off his lap and back onto my bed. Paradox sat next to me, bringing an armaround my waist. I grimaced softly butendured the cold touch.

“Zelda, you probably don’t remember thestories your parents told you,” he said as he ran his fingers through my hair“A few centuries ago, a Seer predicted a clash between God and Satan. Satan wasn’t happy that God was targeting andvanquishing the darkness which he ruled over while God wasn’t happy with Satanspreading darkness over Ethylias. Theyboth wish for either a world completely in light or in darkness. So they struck a deal. They will choose seven souls to fight againstone another. This seventh of the planet willbe decided over the Embodiment of Envy and Prebeta.”

“Prebeta…” I tested the name on mytongue and then remembered “She came to help me. She saved me.”

“They’re fighting over you to be their warrior.”

“I don’t want to be their warrior!” Isnarled and glared up at Paradox “I won’t! I don’t even know the first thing about fighting!”

“You certainly managed to hold against ademon,” Paradox commented.

“I was acting out of pure instinctthough,” I argued “I don’t have a sense of coordination, I just know the basicminimum with katas and I can’t even remember the first one!”

“But you survived a demon attack twice,”Paradox pushed on “You’re stronger than you think, Zelda. That’s why they want you to fight for them. Your soul is so powerful and if Prebetachooses you, you’ll automatically earn a place in Heaven when you die. Your soul won’t have to continue wanderingand achieving a perfect life to go into Heaven. You’ll be able to rest at long last.”

“But I want to earn my place, not simplywin it from being chosen as a warrior!” I protested.

“It would put your parents’ souls atease,” Paradox decided to hit a personal spot “I wouldn’t normally persuade youinto anything, Zelda. But to be acandidate to be one of Ethylias’s Heroes isn’t an opportunity to scoff at.”

“Well I’m scoffing at it!” I got to myfeet and Paradox followed me across the room to the door “I refuse to be a pawnin a game between Satan and God!”

“Zelda, this is about the fate ofEthylias!” he argued, his hand resting on my shoulder “You’ll be fighting forus, for the whole of this seventh of the planet!”

“I don’t want to carry such aresponsibility!” I bellowed at him fiercely “Look at me! I can’t even walk by you without you grabbingme!” I violently shrugged his hand offme and glared at him. “I don’t likebeing labelled as important, can’t you understand that?! Being a princess, being your fiancée and nowbeing one of Ethylias’s Heroes? It’s toomuch! I can’t stand it!”

“Zelda…I…” Paradox stepped back with a soft look in hiseyes “I’m sorry, if you’d told me I wouldn’t have…” I turned away, grimacing softly. He’s right, I should have said something tohim. With a soft sigh, I opened thedoor.

“Sorry, I’m just a bit confused…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Paradox sighed“It’s strange really. You act just likeZereria. I keep remembering that you’renot really her.”

“Zereria?” I echoed and turned to him“Did you know her?” Paradox blinked inconfusion and frowned.

“Of course, she was your mother.” My heart lurched. My throat went dry. I stepped back and closed my eyes.

“My…mother?” I whispered “My mother’sname was Zereria?”

“Zelda, is something the matter?” I felt my tears trail down my cheeks and Iturned and ran. I clumsily navigatedmyself around the palace, replaceing a route outside to some gardens at theback. The chilly evening air passed andbrushed against my skin, giving me shivers. I shrugged it off and ran through the gardens, needing fresh air andsome time alone to clear my head. I mademy way around the shrubs and hedges, through two trees which arched over like adoorway, leading to a cliff with a beautiful view of a waterfall. I sat down on the stone bench nearby andshivered, curling my body up as I watched the water cascade down into the riverbelow. I closed my eyes and beganreflecting back to those days when I snuck up to the attic to learn about theelven world from Zereria. Mymother. Zereria might be a common elfname, but who else would just show up and help me learn about elves and theirtraditions? And why didn’t she tellme? Tell me that I was herdaughter? Tell me that it was Zack whohad killed her and the rest of our family? Could she not bring herself to say it? Was it that painful to reveal such a vital piece of information to me? The more I thought about it, the more Irealised I might have wandered down to the path of becoming one of Satan’sSoldiers. If I knew Zack had killed myfamily if I had been ten years old, I would have judged too quickly. I probably would have killed Zack, if I evenhad the potential to kill, then Cannabec would have found and claimed me. But it still pained me on the inside. Ever since I turned up at the orphanage, allI ever wanted was a mother. She didraise me in a way, I had always seen her as a mother figure after getting usedto visiting her.

“Zelda?” I had been so deep in thought that I hadn’t noticed Aura standing by thearching trees. He held a spare kimonoout towards me which I gratefully took as he sat down. We sat in silence for a while, Aura fidgetingnervously. I sighed softly.

“Her name was Zereria, she told me,” Iwhispered.

“Who?” Aura asked timidly.

“The spirit woman. She told me her name was Zereria. Paradox told me that my mother was namedZereria. She was my mother, Aura.” Aura went silent as we listened to thewaterfall in front of us.

“Are you sure they’re the one and thesame?” Aura asked.

“No but it makes sense, doesn’t it?” Ilooked up at him “She practically raised me alongside Zack.”

“But…wouldn’t she be living another lifeor something now?” Aura frowned in confusion “Or be up in Heaven?”

“No, her spirit probably remainedstagnant when she realised I was still alive,” I shook my head “She must haveseen me escape and knew who killed her so wanted to remain on Ethylias as herselfto make sure nothing happened to me.” Igritted my teeth and bowed my head. “Howcould I have been so stupid? The more Ithink about it, the more obvious it becomes! She looked exactly like me! Purple eyes, black hair and even the same nose! How couldn’t I see it?”

“Zelda, calm down,” Aura said as he tookmy hand in his. I felt my cheeks heat upwhen he squeezed my hand and I looked up at him. He gave me a sympathetic smile and I buried myface into his chest, sobbing pathetically.

“She was my mother,” I whimpered as hehugged me gently “My mother!”

“It’s alright, Zelda, it’salright.” We reclined on the bench,hugging one another as I cried my sorrows onto him. We lay there for a while and I beganshivering from the cold.

“Aura, you want to go back inside?” Iasked.

“Yes,” Aura sat up “But I don’t think itwould be a good idea to go together.”

“What? Why not?” Aura’s eyes darted overto the palace and he fiddled with his hands.

“His Highness wouldn’t like it.” My eyes hardened and I sat up.

“Call him Paradox, he isn’t here,” Isaid “And I don’t care what he likes or doesn’t like. To us, he’s a total stranger. We can respect him because he is above us.”

“Above me,” Aura muttered.

“Don’t you dare label me as a princess,Aura,” I held a stern finger up to him.

“But, Zelda, you can’t deny yourheritage,” Aura argued “You can shout and scream all you want, you’re stillroyalty by right of birth.”

“Then don’t point it out every twoseconds!” I snapped “You’re my friend, Aura. And I don’t care what Gardenia may have told you about me, I want you totreat me as the Zelda you knew in Aurallion.”

“I am,” Aura argued a bit feebly “Lookat me, I shouldn’t be sitting next to you! I should be at least three feet away from you! I should be calling you ‘Your Highness’ or‘My Princess’ but I’ve been calling you by your first name because I know youwouldn’t like that!” He got up andmarched towards the cliff, looking down at the waterfall with a sign. “And you’re engaged, Paradox. If he had caught us, he might have everyright to get rid of me! Or probably cutoff my hand just from touching you!”

“He does not!” I argued and stood up tochase after him “If he wants to get rid of you, then he’ll have to get rid ofme too! If he wants to cut off your handfor touching me, then he can cut off my hand for touching you! I may be engaged but I am certainly not goingto marry him!”

“He’s perfect,” Aura said flatly “Lookat him, Zelda. He’s a prince, he’shandsome and he’s charming. He’spractically been worshipping the ground you walk upon ever since he realisedthat you are his fiancée! He’s devotedto you and is pretty much able to give you anything you could ever want.”

“He kills in cold blood,” Ideadpanned. Aura stared at me insurprise and I grimaced. “We were thelast to arrive because some human soldiers stopped us, claiming his land asZack’s. He may have killed out ofself-defence, but he killed the ones that fled from him. They begged for mercy, he refused them. Not one shred of remorse did I see fromhim. I don’t want my husband to be ascold and unforgiving as that. I’d ratherdie a virgin and childless than to be bound to an elf like that. It would be horrible for me to marry someonewith no remorse and knowing that he has killed hundreds of lives.” Aura opened and closed his mouth then bowedhis head.

“R-Really?” he stuttered. I nodded firmly.

“Aura, if I was ever to marry…” My cheeks began to heat up as the words gotcaught in my throat. I swallowedthickly. “I would marry a warm andgentle person.” Aura dared to meet mygaze and I could practically feel the world around us disappearing as I gazedinto his beautiful eyes. “I want him tobe caring, compassionate and sweet. Someone who knows what I like and dislike. And I would know what he would like anddislike.” I felt myself smile and blusheven more, my heart pounding in my chest. “I would want to protect him with my life rather than have him protectme. I would want him to never be afraidto speak his own mind, even if he is rather shy about it.” Were Aura’s cheeks going red? “I’d like him to be gentle and comfort mewhenever I needed him. And this may be abit petty for me, but I’d rather have a beautiful husband rather than ahandsome one.” Yep, Aura wasblushing. Furiously. I gave him a warm smile and we leaned intoeach other, our foreheads touching. Myheart sped up as we leaned in closer when…

SNAP!

We sprung apart. I turned my head to the direction of thesound and saw a figure flee from the scene. We both felt a tight constricting sensation in our chests, I could senseit from Aura because of his flinch.

“Was that him?” Aura dared towhisper. I swallowed.

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Iwhispered. We gave each other a glancebefore Aura excused himself and ran off. I watched him go sadly and sighed. Guilt flooded me. Even thoughParadox was cold, he still had feelings. But guilt alone wouldn’t push me to marrying him. If I married him out of pure pity, it would havebeen more painful for him. Maybe feelingsmight come up if I remembered any memories of being with Paradox when I was ayoung child or maybe I’ll stick to my initial choice. If I was to marry anyone, it would be Aura. I wouldn’t call it love, not yet. I would call it an infatuation, which I wishto turn into something more. Aura waswarm and gentle, I would rather be with him than Paradox. I shivered as a cold breeze passed through mykimono and decided to wander the gardens. I looked at the different flowers on display. Flowers that I have seen many times before,flowers that I had only seen in books and flowers I had never ever known oftheir existence before. I stopped at apatch of white flowers the glowed silver in the moonlight. I crouched down to sniff one and smiled atthe sweet scent.

“Souloom Blossom,” a cold voice made mejump “Mia’s favourite flowers.” I turnedto see Brenda step out of the shadows, still dressed in her bronze colouredarmour. She ran a finger over her whipat her side, making me desperately wish that I had my fans on me. I swallowed and stood up, meeting herhardened gaze. Her bronze coloured eyesglared down at me, daring to make a wrong move or say a wrong word.

“Who’s Mia?” I asked carefully.

“Your sister, when she was alive,”Brenda replied “The Prince had this patch planted especially for her when shevisited. When she was still engaged tohim that is.” She narrowed her eyes andwalked over to me, her heeled boots clicking against the path. “I could tolerate her, she was a bit of anairhead, a little bit dull and generally kept to herself. But you…why would the Prince ask to have hisengagement with you instead of her? Whatmakes you so special?”

“What makes me special enough to get thecold shoulder from you?” I raised an eyebrow at her sneer “You still don’tthink that I am the Zelda that was supposed to have died long ago?”

“No, I know you are Zelda. Unless you just happen to be an imposter thatcan teleport using Lura Petals like the Royal Family of the Central Kingdom.”

“Lura Petals?” I mused “That’s whatthey’re called?” Brenda was now right infront of me, towering over me with a sneer.

“I never met you when you were youngerbut with the way the Prince spoke about you, I immediately knew he was deeplyinfatuated.” Was she actually being coldtowards me because I’m Paradox’s intended? I studied her face carefully and blinked in realisation when I came toan obvious conclusion.

“You love him, don’t you?”

“I do not.” She could deny it all she wanted to but evenI could see that she had feelings for Paradox underneath that cold visage ofhers.

“Then why are you here?”

“I was told to escort you back to thepalace. His Highness is anxious for yourhealth.”

“Liar, he would have come out himself.”

“Don’t talk as if you know him,” Brendasnarled as she gripped the handle of her whip.

“I know him well enough to guess what hewould do in various situations,” I took another step back warily “But please, Iwould appreciate it if you did escort me back.” If looks could kill, I would have died instantly when Brenda gave me avenomous glare. She turned away andbriskly walked off. I followed herhastily, struggling to keep up with her pace and holding the kimono to mybody. I took another glance up at thedark palace that loomed over the gardens and sighed softly, allowing theservants to run me a bath and get my room ready for the night.

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