CHAPTER FIVE

(DIFFERENT POV)

ARTHUR POV

I could sense the joyous atmosphere around us even though we were all silent; we were finally going to be done with this mission. The mission has gone quiet well and we were able to get what we needed from the mission, I was sure the king will be pleased.

I was going to resume back to my boring life and training. What I mean by boring means the fact that I had no friends (except Tobias) and no family, since I could remember, I had always been alone.

I had not been in touch with my power for the past three weeks and it has been a torture for me.

The power sealing witch had given me a portion to take so that my wild side will be suppressed before sealing my power. My power has always been the most dangerous, it was the fire power that I had and my dangerous side was the fact that I become aflame and nobody can come near me.

I couldn't blame her though, she was just following the order given to her by the authorities, but seeing as the mission this time require us to go into the forest without using our power, it make sense that it had to be done.

Being without my power and not performing magic for a day made me seem bare and exposed, coming from a kingdom that possess power, you would be an outcast without having power. I wondered what I will face when I return back to the training camp, I dread having to see the caretaker.

We will soon be checked in at the kingdom gate and we would all leaving and going our separate ways once we've collected our pay. Which remind me of something, I can't just bring in a stranger without the permission of an official from the court and Nicholas seems to have no idea of where he is.

The fairy queen had told me that he has lost his memory and everything will look strange to him, it seems the queen attached much more importance to him. I didn't know what to do; maybe, I will ask the lady if she can be of help.

CARLOS POV

I was so frightened back there when it seems as if the tree was going to drop any moment and fall on us, I've heard the tale of the hanging tree but I didn't believe that it was real. I thought that it was like the tales passed from generation to generation.

Right now, we are out of the forest, and we will soon be able to see the kingdom wall. Once, I get back to the kingdom, I am never going to choose any dangerous mission even if the pay is high without having the right to use my power.

Wondered what we were going to do with Nicholas, since he wasn't part of our kingdom and can't be smuggled in. I should remind Arthur about this, maybe he can be of help.

THE LADY POV

I was finally going to be home at last and I couldn't wait, I have been away for no less than three weeks and I finally understood the saying that there was no place like home. Jasmine didn't seem that happy to be back and I could understand why. She was going to be parting from me at the gate and had to resume back to the academy immediately since she was back to the kingdom.

I couldn't wait to see my father and my husband; they were the only people that I could call my family apart from the queen. I never considered my half siblings as my family since they didn't accept me into their midst.

Yes, I said it, my half siblings, my mother passed away while I was young and since my father couldn't bear to see me growing up without a mother figure, he got married but that was his biggest mistake. My step mother was always at his throat, because she wasn't happy that my father favored me above her children. So, she turned her children heart against me. I tell you, there is nobody that can ever love you and do the same thing for you as much as your mother can do.

Oh, that reminds me, I've used some of my power back there, and I hoped nobody will tell. The power sealing witch had forgotten to give me the portion. This was the first time the event happened that I will try to read someone mind but get nothing from it. Nicholas mind was blank and I couldn't access anything. It seems like somebody really powerful had casted a strong spell on him, to avoid having his mind being read.

From my knowledge, only the people that come from the rock were always clothed in furs and from the book I've read, it didn't say anything about them having powers. Don't know what to do to him though apart from sending him to the servant training center that is the only way that he can be allowed to enter the kingdom, I am a bit interested to know more about him especially about him being destined to have the sword.

JASMINE POV

We were getting closer to the kingdom and I was dreading going back to the academy. The academy was the last place I wanted to be. It was always bustling with spoilt kids from aristocratic family, young nobles and young master and mistress that had no respect. Only a few were humble among them. I had my grandfather there though, so I was safe.

I had been giving permission for exit from the academy for three weeks and once I return to the kingdom, there will be people waiting to take me back to the academy.

I was going to miss Nicholas, he was the only one that was my true friend because he had a clear mind and I could feel it. Although, Iris did trouble him with her words, no harm was made. Wondered where he was going to be, I should probably give him an item that he can use to locate me if he needs my help.

Unlike my mother, I had the invisibility power and that makes me sneak around the academy at night. I could probably try sneaking out of the academy but that was impossible since a powerful spell has been cast around the academy to avoid intruder coming in and prevent us from going out.

IRIS POV

I know I loved talking a lot but that was because I wasn't in the kingdom. Once we are back to the kingdom, I have to be quiet and well behaved. My power lies in my claws; they have the ability to read the human mind. I and Jasmine share a bond, so she was able to know their thought.

But I have met a strange fellow on this mission, even after drawing his blood, the only thing I could read was his present. That was so strange and very strange.

I had told the lady this and she said that I wasn't wrong; he seems to have had a powerful spell cast on him.

ISABELLA POV

I feel strange leaving the forest that had always been my home; I could see everything that was happening outside from inside the magic bag that I was kept. I had return to my normal height; I mean I was now a human being and have the height of 8 or 9 years old.

The interior of the magic bag spams so wide, that it could really fit in the whole forest inside and it would still be spacious.

I had to make a tough decision between staying in the forest and leaving with him. I couldn't bear to give the sword away but the sword must be given to the fated. My lineage has always been the guardian of the sword and it has been passed down from generation to generation. My parents actually had a wish in their heart and that was to be alive to see the fated one, but they are dead.

How we came to be the guardian of the sword has been lost due to time, all my parent could tell me that it was the curse they had to bear in order to survive, they did say that we were like humans but because we did something unforgiveable, we had to be turned to a fairy and must never leave the forest. But, I am doing the opposite today.

ALEXANDER SHATTERED SOUL POV

Where was I? the last thing I remembered was the feeling of pain as it eats me from the inside out, why does it seems as if my thought are disorganized, why does it feel as if, I am kept away from my body. What is this voice in my head that is telling me that I am dead?

If I am, then why do I feel as if I am moving, what is that other thought, why were there two voices that I could hear, where was I? Why does it seem so dark here, I feel caged. I feel restricted.

NICHOLAS POV

I had lots of things going on in my mind right now; the mechanical voice had stopped talking to me. The last thing he told me was that I was going to be made a reject. Why would I believe such a word from it? When it words hasn't been of any help to me.

I was the only one dressed differently among them, the others were wearing a cotton made clothes and I was dressed in fur, the same fur that I had been in since I had woken up in this world.

Carlos made mention of the rocks, maybe the people from the rock do come to their kingdom, I was yet to find out anything from them.

We got out from the forest into an open land, and I could see the giant towering wall of the kingdom from where I was. It was tall and imposing.

"Hello," I heard a weak voice, thinking it was the fairy, I sent my sub-consciousness into the magic box but I found out that she wasn't the one.

"Hello," the voice sounded out again, I look around me and couldn't find anybody. Everybody around me were focused and excited to get to the kingdom

I had lots of questions to ask but I guess I have to ask them later.

MECHANICAL VOICE POV

I had been corrupted and the virus was eating me away, sometimes, I forget what I was here to do but I know I have limited time to live. The more they draw closer to gate, the more I lose my hold against him; I know I will have to leave because this world can't bear to see me in existence.

Bye, bye Nicholas, I should have given you a change of clothes but the virus had clouded my reasoning, I hope your group will thing about that and find a solution to it.

COLLECTIVE POV

We were drawing closer and closer and closer to the kingdom gate.

QUEEN POV

As I watched as they left the forest, I couldn't help but to feel a sense of loss, Isabella had broken the rule because of her love for the sword. I know how hard it was, but if she doesn't tell the fated about the curse, she had no less than three years to live, unless she returns to the forest.

I couldn't tell her the true story why they were the sword bearer; it would have shattered her love and confidence in the sword. I just pray she wouldn't have to find out.

Casting a spell to close the pathway, I went back to my previous position; it's time to hibernate until the next cycle season. Unless being disturbed, nobody can get into the forest without my permission.

AUTHOR POV

I watched as they left the forest, innocent people not made aware of what was to come, the queen had closed the path that leads into the forest.

The mechanical voice data was being wipe off by the virus, a virus from an unknown origin had cause it to malfunction. It couldn't do it works and thereby must be terminated; I guess Nicholas will be happy now that there is no longer another voice in his head.

Alexander shattered soul will finally be free from the cage but what will he do when he discovers that his body has been occupied by another soul, will there be a battle or not? That is up to them to decide.

I really commend Arthur good deed, saving a total stranger and bringing him out of the forest; it shows that he was still human.

The lady shouldn't have tried what she did in the forest; I strongly disapprove of people invading and reading the mind of others without their permission.

Jasmine didn't disappoint me, she was just an innocent girl that has manner, that is why she didn't shun Nicholas, could have been better if she had spent some time with Nicholas to know him the more.

Carlos desperation led him to take up this mission, I'm sure he must have learnt by now that there is nothing more important than one's life.

As they draw closer to the gate, I couldn't help but to be interested in what the first cousin of the king has up his sleeve.