“Ace? I think you might have hit your head on something while you were in Tereau, because there’s no way that it’s possible.” I said as I pictured out the size of the bark surrounding Tordis. “There’s no way that you can manage that on your own!”
“That’s the reason why I have this thing in the first place.” He says while gesturing at the orb inside the bag. “It will provide me the magic that I lack to fully restore the tree.”
I placed my hand on my hips and breathed deeply. “Where the hell did you get this crazy idea? And how sure are you that this is going to work? Don’t tell me reading all those fantasy novels in my realm fueled this idea. Ace, I’m the one who should be coming up with crazy ideas! Not you.” I pointed at him. “You should be the guy who gives out LOGICAL solutions. Not some fantasy theories!”
“Logical?” Ace raised a brow at me. “Have you forgotten what my magic is? I can revive dead plants. My gift is the oldest one there is. Having this magic brought up again after so many years must have its reason. Isn’t that enough proof?”
Our voices must have been loud because the children were now coming to our side to see what we were arguing about. “What’s wong?” Nora asked as she looked from me and then to Ace. “Your Auwa is not looking good.” She says.
Ace kneeled down in front of her. “It’s nothing to worry about Nora.” He assured her. But obviously lying to a child who can see an aura is not really that effective. Her brows furrowed with worry.
“Lies.” She told him and her eyes were a bit teary.
“It’s just…” Ace paused. “Your brother has to go and help the others.”
“I thought they told us to stay put?” Stella asked. When I saw Ace was about to glare at my sister, I stood behind her and glared back at Ace disapprovingly. As if a miracle happened, Ace looked surprised and looked away immediately.
No one glares at my sister. No. One!
“They did tell us to stay put. But they will need a bit of help as well.” Ace says and kissed Nora’s forehead. “Therefore, I should go.”
“Prince.” Kellar moved to the front. “Are you going alone? Let me come with you.”
“I don’t need a child to babysit.” Ace says as he grabbed his bow and sheathed them behind his back. When he started to move, I blocked his path.
“Hold on. If you are going then I am coming with you.”
“Are you fu-” He was about to curse when he remembered that Nora was here, listening. “Are you insane?” He corrected himself. “The king is after you.”
“But I thought you said that your mission is to revive the tree of Tordis? Not to attack the king.” I pointed out. “Let me come with you to...wherever it is that you are planning to go to.”
Ace gave me a look. “And what of the children? Who will protect them? Who will protect Nora!?” He demanded.
I paused and turned to face Stella, Nora, and Kellar.
Kellar stepped forward. “Your highnesses, if ever the princess will join you, I can protect them to the best of my abilities. I am not the best but I am a decent fighter.”
I looked at Ace and pointed at him. “See? He will cover for me.”
“I can also use my magic to protect us as well.” Stella says and grinned at Kellar.
Ace watched the two of them before he grabbed the sword from his belt and handed it to Kellar. “There’s nothing special about that blade. But I am giving it to you so that you have the means to fight.” Then he looked at Stella. “As for you, since you have a good bearing with your magic, just use it to stop the intruders. But never kill. You’re too young for that.”
“I can freeze the door once the two of you leave.” My sister said in a deadpanned tone. Clearly unamused with Ace’s assumption that she would even think of going for the kill. “Better?”
Ace frowned and pointed a finger at her. “Hey, don’t get too cocky. Not after I helped save you.” He says.
Stella simply stuck her tongue out at him. The look on Ace’s face seemed troubling that I decided to change the topic. “Ace, tell me where we’re going so I can tell Viex. He can take us there in no time.”
Ace looked at me. “Why do you sound like you are so sure that I am taking you with me?”
“Um...because you already gave Kellar a sword and told my sister not to kill anyone?”
The elf prince sighed. “Fair enough. Ask your fox to take us to the very back of the kingdom. To the farthest bark that he could find. It would be safer there. Anything will work as long as I touch anything that belongs to the tree.”
I looked at Viex. “You heard him.” I said and started fueling Viex with enough mana to morph him. Immediately, he shifted and shook his fur after morphing.
‘Get on then.’ He says.
When Custard jumped onto Viex’s back, I grabbed him and handed him to Stella. “Sorry, Custard. But maybe you can stay here and protect them? After all, you’re the only one who can morph without my help.”
Custard seemed displeased but understood the situation. ‘Alright, master. But when I feel that you are in danger, just summon me immediately.’
“Of course.” I said and handed him to Stella. “Watch over him as well.” I said to Stella before hopping on to Viex. Then I looked at Ace and gestured at the space behind me.
Ace let out a grunt before hopping on Viex’s back as well. Viex wrapped us both securely with his tails before running out of the room at full speed. We passed through other elves along the way who were all surprised by a large fox running past them in the castle’s corridor.
‘Princess, this will take a while. I will jump out of the window to get outside quickly.’ He informed me. I passed the warning to Ace as well.
Ace nodded. “Go to your left. There’s a window nearby that goes straight to the back.” He instructed.
Viex took a sharp turn that Ace and I almost fell from his back if Viex’s tails weren’t keeping us safe. There was a loud crash as Viex broke the glass to get outside of the castle. Then, once we were out, Viex’s movements quickened that the wind drowns out the sounds of swords clashing with each other.
Viex finally stopped and we found ourselves in front of a very large tree bark. The remains of the Spirit tree of Tordis.
Ace and I got off of Viex and started running towards it. He opened his bag and grabbed the orb. But before he places his hand on the bark, I grabbed his hand as something felt off about this plan.
“Wait.” I said feeling nervous. “Ace, are you sure that this is...safe? It won’t hurt you, will it?”
“Are you worried about me?”
“Geez. What is up with you and your obsession with constantly asking that question? Of course, I am worried because I care! So please, tell me that nothing bad will happen to you when you use that orb.”
Ace seemed to avoid my gaze. “I am not so sure. This orb is made up of something dark. And everything related to dark magic always comes with a price. But I believe that it won’t be that bad considering my purpose for using it.”
“Then stop it.” I told him. “If there is a chance that it will cause you harm then I won’t even sit still and allow you to hurt yourself!”
Ace seemed stunned at my words that he turned to me. “I-...” He paused and thought carefully about his words. “I am a prince. Nothing in this world can harm me more than seeing my loved ones suffer. So…” He looked at me and started pinching my cheek. “Stop looking at me that face.”
“What...feyce?!” I said, unable to speak the words right as he was pulling on the skin.
“The look in your eyes. Like you’re afraid.” He smirked. “Are you forgetting that I am here? And as long as I live, you don’t have to be afraid.”
I slapped his hand away. “I am not afraid for myself. I am afraid for you!”
“Thanks. That’s very nice to hear.”
“Ace! I don’t need you to be sarcastic with me right now!”
“Who says I am being sarcastic?” He demanded and fully met my gaze with his. “I really do mean it when I say that I appreciate your thoughts. And trust me when I say that everything will be okay.”
I looked right back into his eyes and noticed the thin line of scar again. Immediately, I teared up.
Ace took a step back and started looking around him in a panic. “W-Why are you suddenly crying!?” He started stuttering like a fool as his hands flew all over the place. “What now? Was it something I said?”
“No!” I yelled. “I am upset. I know that I do not have the right to say this but you always act so rashly when always put yourself in danger! Stop doing that. And don’t tell me that it doesn’t hurt because I felt it, Ace. I felt all that pain while you were gone. If I didn’t send Viex or Custard then who knows what might have happened?!”
“I see.” Ace nodded in understanding. “You’re crying for...me.”
“Of course I am! If I won’t then who will-” I was cut off when he pulled me into an embrace. And this time, it didn’t feel forced or angry. It was warm and comforting. And it felt sad.
“That’s all I needed to hear.” He whispered. “And, I am sorry. If this works out fine and the rogues are pushed back, I want you and your sister to head back to Thalia, use the orb that the queen has, and go home.”
Something about his words have me an unsettling feeling. “Why does it sound like you won’t be there?” I sniffed. Ace was quiet that I had to pull back just to look up at him. “Why are you doing this?”
“I told you, it’s to save the people that I love. And knowing how slow you are, that includes you. I don’t know when or how it started but when I realized that I started caring about you more than I would like to admit, I finally understood. I have feelings for you, you idiot.” He said softly.
I was too stunned by his words that I feel like I have lost my voice for a moment. Then, Ace looked behind me at Viex. “Take care of her.” He says while moving back.
I felt Viex wrapping his tails around me to keep me in place. ‘I’m sorry, princess.’ He says.
“A life for a life. It’s the most basic rule when bringing back life. And the tree will live using mine so be mindful that I will be constantly watching over you.” Ace smiled at me one last time before turning his back and headed for the bark.
I struggled against Viex’s grip to get to Ace when I realized that I was right. He already knows that he’s not coming back after this. “STOP!” I yelled and then looked back to Viex when I saw Ace kneeling down and placing the orb onto his lap. “Viex, let go.” I said.
‘But-’
“As your Tamer, I order you to LET GO NOW!” I spoke to him with more authority this time. Viex had no choice but to comply and remove his grip on me. But as soon as I was free, Ace placed his palm on the ground and thick roots began to barricade him, separating us.
“ACE!” I screamed and screamed as I tried to reach through the gaps between the roots to get to him. This can’t be happening!
“Don’t interfere!” He says without looking at me.
And then it happened.
As Ace placed one hand on the orb and the other hand on the bark, the ground began to shake.
‘Princess!’ Viex came to my side and covered me with his tails to steady me as the ground continued to shake.
I saw how the dried-up barks began to change in color and grew more and more. Connecting and rising up towards the sky. Its branches were moving and I could see that in its grasp were some bloodied soldiers that it carried along its wake.
It was attacking the rogues.
Screams were heard everywhere as the tree continued to grow higher and higher. The ground didn’t stop from shaking at all.
Then there was a howl that caught my attention. I looked back and saw Custard in his darker form carrying a dark-haired elf and misty white eyes on his back. Before I could even ask what he was doing, he crashed into the roots separating us from Ace. But just as they were destroyed, it sued itself back that I lost my chance to follow.
The other elf got off of Custard’s back, gave me a warm smile before placing a hand on Ace’s shoulder. I saw Ace stiffen up when he saw the man in front, who suddenly pulled him into a hug.
Custard dimorph himself to get through the bars and joined Viex and I. “Custard, who is he?” I asked.
‘He’s an elf with a gift of foresight. He came to the room and asked for my help to take him here.’ Custard says. ‘He’s also Prince Ace’s father.’
So it was the king. I had my suspicions when I saw his clothing. It was the first time that I ever saw the king of Tordis.
And it was the first time that I saw Ace crying when I saw his father whisper something to him.
The ground continued to shake and just before it all stopped, I saw the king pushing his son aside just before a bright flash came from the orb.