The home of mythical creatures

*Lilith's POV*

Its morning and I had received a knock at the door. Expecting that it was Austin, I make a move to get out of my bed and just casually say, "Come in."

I snuggle deeper into the warm blanket as here on the isle it was winter time and it was freezing. I couldn't see anything since I was in the blankets but I heard footsteps. Someone was making their way to me, I was curious to who, so I poked my head out of the side and once I did I was surprised to see Rowan.

Through my shock, the room remained silent with him staring at me. A few seconds passed with Rowan looking at me and then beginning to smirk, "pfft, you look like a worm."

Hearing that I felt a rush of warmth to my head and immediately withdraw back into the blanket to hide my burning face.

This is so embarrassing, why did he have to come in and see this? Why? why? why...now my image has been ruined.

Only Leona, mother, father and Eli, knew about this. And now he found out too.

I could practically see the big mocking smirk ad he spoke, "I would've never guessed that the mature and dignified angel would be like this when waking up." His voice contained bits of laughter and teasing though it was slightly muffled by the blankets.

"Why are you here, Rowan? Where's Austin?" I cry loud enough for him to hear me.

"Oh, it's quite late now so I came to get you because Austin was busy dealing with Braylon."

He said it so lightly but I knew there was something more meaningful in his simple and light words. I didn't probe further and got up, heading over to the closet to pick out a simple yet pretty white long sleeve dress and a long beige coloured hooded coat with white fur trimming. It was tied together at the front with a cute beige ribbon.

After getting changed in the closet, I walked out to see Rowan waiting on one of the couch seats I have in the room. "Let's go, you want to go out to town don't you?"

Nodding my head I started to follow until I forgot that I hadn't fixed the bed, when I turned to go Rowan seemed to know what I was going to do and said, "don't worry, i had already done it when you were changing."

He continued walking towards the dining room, without looking back.

After eating my breakfast and hearing Rowan's rules about going out and agreeing to them all. We got into the carriage that was waiting outside and headed off to town. In the carriage, we were silent as I kept looking out the window whilst Rowan was reading one of his books. It was only until we were quite far from the estate that Rowan suddenly asked for my hand. Confused by his request I looked at his outreached hand and slowly put my hand in his. Rowan then started mumbling whilst closing his eyes, it was then that a red light flashed before dimming and leaving a glowing red thorny rose in my palm.

I stared at it in amazement, this was one of the protection spells I had heard about.

How it works is that the caster condenses some of their magical properties to create a magical barrier that will activate once the receiver is in danger. But I never thought that I would get to see it up close before as this spell was one that was hard to come by as it's a forgotten technique.

A few minutes pass with the two talking about the barrier spell, it was then the carriage came to a stop.

I looked out the window and saw nothing but mist. Looking over at Rowan I saw his clam face and realised that he was waiting for something.

It was then the carriage started moving again but this time at a slower pace. For a few more minutes we rode slowly through the mist until again the carriage came to a halt.

The only difference this time was that Rowan stepped outside and extended his hand to me.

"Where are we going?" I asked giving him my hand to help me out of the carriage.

"You'll see." He answered not giving any hint or clue to what was happening.

Once I was out, the carriage speed off into the distance leaving Rowan and me to be shrouded in the mist.

Rowan wasn't bothered by it all and just clasped my hand in his and lead me along.

We walked for what seemed like forever, I was starting to doubt if we really were going to town and really he was taking me to where his boss wanted to take me too. Strangely, I didn't feel hatred or the need to be cautious and wary around this man. It was like I had known him for years but in actuality, I only had met him a few days ago.

While staring at his back I was deep in thought about what kind of relationship I could have had with him before our meeting at the temple.

Did I know him from my previous life?

Was this feeling because he acted like someone I had known from my previous life?

Who was this person? And was Rowan really his real name?

In the midst of her thoughts, she didn't have time to react to Rowan's sudden halt, and just like that she rammed into his back, causing her to stagger a bit as she was not the most physically strong.

"Ow, why did you just stop?" I cry painfully, rubbing my red sore nose.

"…sorry? Did you get hurt?" He asked but he was more baffled as to why I was rubbing my nose.

"Of course I got hurt. Look at me then look at you. Who has the bigger and stronger build here?" I state strongly while giving him a short glare.

"…" he was silent for a moment before saying, "it's not my fault you rammed into me because you were lost in thought, ain't that right?"

"a-mmm, yes I was lost in my thoughts but you could've told me you were going to stop." I couldn't deny that I was lost in thought but still it wasn't like the blame was mine, to begin with after all I'm the one who is hurt.

"I did, I had already told you that we're here. But I guess you didn't hear me." Rowan said confidently with no hesitation but inside he thought, 'though it's a lie, but she doesn't need to know that.'

Hearing his confident tone, I was still suspicious but looking closer at his face and eyes I couldn't find any actions or hints to it being a lie. So, in the end, I believed him and just dropped the matter with a sigh.

"Anyway, why did you stop?"

"Well, again were here."

"Here? Where?"

"the town."

"but all I see is thick mist, nothing here looks even close to a town."

"*sigh* just wait," Rowan said hopelessly whilst putting his hand on what seemed to be a wall hidden behind the mist.

The minute he touched the surface he started a chant, the more he spoke the more light under his hander shone through. As he grew closer to the end of the chant the light turned blinding before suddenly clearing all the mist around them and leaving behind a wooden door.

I was in shock, what was happening here. Then I pieced it together, "it's an illusion…" I muttered looking down and gripping my chin in thought.

"Not bad observations." Rowan praised proudly with a light smirk containing amusement. Without any more words, Rowan grabbed my hand and began pulling me along with him through the door.

Once through I was again blinded by the light, but this time it was from the warm light of the sun. Adjusting my vision, I'm left in complete shock at the sight before, it was a large town like any other but the key feature that left me in awe was the townsfolk. The streets weren't filled with ordinary people but mythical beings, a angel and demon pair walked by us hand in hand, chatting happily, whilst a couple of ghouls were buying some beautiful crystal fruits from an elderly elf. Fairies, nymphs lofted and flew above the streets whilst sprinkling their glittery trail over small elven, angel, and demon children.

The busy streets and the happy crowd was enough to make me smile, it felt right…

It felt like I've seen places like this…but where?

I was brought back from my inner thoughts by Rowan's sudden question, "So, after seeing this don't you think it's worth it?"

"What do you mean?" I fired back rudely, confused, and taken aback by the strange question.

"*sigh* Peace, Harmony, Happiness…what we have to protect…isn't it worth it?" He continued patiently speaking not offended or angry at my rudeness.

"What do you mean by 'what we have to protect'?" I asked curiously, as I never promised to protect this place especially not with the likes of him.

"It's our purpose to protect this…to protect them. Even if you might not know it yet…" He said gently looking over at the happy passing townsfolk.

"How do you know this?"

"The gods told me. It was the prophecy given, that someone has the gift of the gods and will be the one who stops the war between the Humans and Beasts." Rowan said looking into my eyes, I could feel his eyes giving off strong and resolute power but what was it for.

"and you're speculating it's me?" I wondered, looking in his eyes for any ripples that my words could've caused, maybe then I'll be able to figure out what is going on.

"I never said that but yes."

"why?"

"Because of Aaron." He spoke faintly yet it was still loud enough for me to hear.

"Who's Aaron?" I probe further, who was this mysterious person who was pushing a fate that might not even be mine on me.

"No one you should be concerned about." He coldly snapped back.

Feeling that it was a sensitive topic I backed away from that question and thought about something else as I didn't want to anger him further, "fine then, what did Aaron tell you?"

"…" He kept silent as he debated if he should tell me, before finally agreeing as he saw no harm that could be brought by my knowledge of the matter, beginning he started to talk, "he told me that the woman closest to Prince Felix is the one gifted by the gods and will bring peace and happiness throughout the land. And if he was to ever go, then he'll leave everything in my care."

"Do you even know who he is?" I said meekly but curiously as from what Rowan said, it seemed that he didn't know much about this mysterious person.

"…I don't…" He answered though I could tell that it was a lie. But choosing to ignore it as it seemed that this was a sensitive matter that should be spoken at a later date.