Chapter 22 - Wish (2)

Witches are usually tall in stature, mostly dark features, rarely light or pale, bright lit colours of fascinating pairs of eyes just like fairy. Most of them reside within the protection of Fussyorl, the East side of the mainland. 

Their crest is a shadow of a woman holding a heart with both hands. 

-Excerpt from 'The Essential Book of Human Survival'.

Jonathan Lorth.

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

"Are you insane?!"

Crion froze in place, biting his lower lips and turning around to face his mother.

"She's out there mother, she needs to go back now! The Royal Consort had been heavily punished and now bedridden in her own chamber! I have to inform Raiene or else she will come home to her mother's corpse!"

"Crion!" her mother shouted, disbelief painted her usual cheerful face.

He takes a deep breath, trying hard to think how he is supposed to explain to his mother. One who is concerned about the General as a husband, whose job task is to protect and jump at any possible danger that could harm traders.

Crion turns around and shoves a few warm clothes into his bag, stepping sideways and reaching for a particular box at the end of his room, taking a deep breath Crion turns to his mother. He grasps his mother's hand and stares deep into her eyes, "I consider her my sister. She is the only one who stays by my side sincerely," he started.

His eyes starts to gather considerable amount of water, biting his lips to prevent it from pouring out of its socket, "Apart from her, everyone had either expected me to follow father step or envious of my given status," Crion tried to turn down his tone a little bit after witnessing his mother sadden face.

"I have to inform her. She has to go back. Now!"

Crion walks towards his bag, this time taking the ring residing within a wooden box and putting it on his forefinger, the once crystal clear ring turns invisible within seconds. It was an emergency ring that was only to be put on when trouble occurred, even though Crion knew that he shouldn't use this ring to retrieve Raiene from the Land of Qye, he had thought it through numerous times and always came to this decision.

His mother's lips trembled, but nodded in understanding.

"I'll go with you."

Crion grumbled, "No! Mother! This is not walking around the park kind of trip, this is Qye, Land of Qye!" The urge to shake his mother to sanity had exponentially raised but Crion forced himself to take a deep calming breath, "I've been there a couple of times."

Crion's mother glared at him, "with your father! You never went there alone before. It is dangerous out there and I can't let you go just like that!"

"All the more reasons why you should stay. I know my way around Qye, you never leave Arrenquile before and you don't even have Errian Ring with you!"

"But-"

Aware of his mother's crumbled determination, Crion grabs her hand and stares deep into her eyes, trying hard to convince her, "I promise I will stay away from any danger out there."

She sighed, "okay. But you have to bring my cookies, you never know, perhaps you can bribe the bad creatures with my cookies," she turned around and came with a plate full of warm chocolate cookies in hand.

"Mom," Crion grumbled, shoulder hunched in frustration, "and you can have things to eat to remind you of me when things get out of hand," she begins to shove the cookies that already wrap with thin clean cloth into the bag, Crion stomps his foot in anger.

"Mom!"

She stands up and faces Crion, eyes stern, "still, eat your breakfast before you leave okay?" she taps Crion pale cheeks and smiles up at him.

"Ugh."

• • ⊱∘────·☽༓☾·────∘⊰ • •

The Queen's statement had shook her to the core. Trembling with fear she fell down to the floor, ignoring pain emerging from her knee hitting the marble floor or the resounding thud echoed inside the room.

She kneels in front of the Queen with her head slightly turned to the side. She had once heard, it is one of the things a creature should do to show a submission towards the ruler. However, she wasn't aware of the fact this action only works for wolves, not a fairy like The Queen.

"Give mine," her shaking lips pleaded, "Extract it from me, I'll do anything you said."

The Queen sighed, staring at the kneeling woman filled with emotion. As if the person before her had come to offer her a precious artefact though it's worthless inside her eyes.

Her face slightly turned stiff, eyes turning cold, but a swirl of lights had changed inside her orbs within a second. She stared at the woman who kneels before her, her clacking steps within the room resound as she takes closer steps to her.

Her pale slender fingers reached out for the woman's chin, raising it so she could stare deep into her orbs, inspecting for a single lie or scam from within its corner but she found none.

"Anything?"

The woman nods, eyes filled with water, "Yes, anything."

"Estalle," the Queen whispered, caressing her cheek.

The woman trembled, not sure whether it's from the cold or surprised from how the Queen was aware of her name, she continued.

"Be careful of your promise, promise with fairy nonetheless," she retracted her palm from her cheek, gazing down at her with zero emotion.

She turned her gaze towards the windows, eyeing the fallen snow that gradually lessened, "Anything could equivalent your life," her slender milky finger tracing a porcelain cup, a strange scent of herbs lingers around it. The Queen takes a glance at the liquid before shifting her eyes to the human still kneeling on the floor.

Face filled with determination, "I wouldn't care, I want her safe and sound, even at the cost of my life," she stated.

She was sure she could find the Queen smiling down at her, but it was covered by the cup on her hand, sipping the warm liquid before nodding in understanding.

"Then, I shall fulfil your wish."