Decisions

"Dang, that escalated quickly," Turilla whispered, shook by the response of the older woman.

"Your real name is Leona," The lady replied. "And you are the daughter of King Aurelius and the real heir to the throne."

"What?! I'm a princess? And why on this good green earth that god has created is my name Leona?"

"Queen," Umari said, "Well you just need the crown," she continued while limping down the broken-down stairs and taking a seat. "Leona is the name father gave you because mother was the bravest and had fierce fighting skills. The name is similar to a lion which also has these aspects. Father was very sure that the way you are to bring yourself out would be to be like mother. Even my name is one of the positive aspects of our mother."

"Look lady, I just want to go home. I don't know what kind of scam you're trying to play but I'm not giving in. I… I don't even need my wings nor complete that exam, which I'm totally and incredibly late to. Please let me go back up to the surface to my best friend and we'll be on our way." Turilla pled.

It was silent in the room. The ladies at the back didn't utter a peep neither did the older woman who apparently is related to Turilla nor Umari who had an upset look on her face. Turilla felt suffocated in the thick air.

"Ha! You really think those dumb exams would actually give you your wings?" The lady scoffed. "How on does that even make any sense? There's no logic whatsoever in what you just said! I really can't believe what they tell you guys. How do they expect you guys to go into war from such lies?"

"I'm sorry, what? What do you mean it doesn't make sense that my wings wouldn't come out after completing the exams? And what war is going on right now? I don't see anyone-"

"Anyone who came back injured or anyone left the town? That's because they leave at night when everyone's asleep. How do we know? It's because these underground tunnels were built by them to escape into the 'Other world' the battlefield." The lady spoke again.

"Look Turilla, you have two options; either you go back up to that fake world and continue on believing those frauds whom you call STILL call family…" The lady said "Or you stay here. With us, your real family and learn about your past and destiny. You can… you can leave after but in a few weeks or months. The choice is yours."

"I… I really don't want to choose between learning the truth or going back home because how- how can I actually-"

"Trust us? Don't worry we first hand know how difficult it is to believe or to have faith in people," Umari cut in. "so, we developed ways to see the actual truth from within the person themselves."

Unsure of whether she was making the right choice with her decision, Turilla hesitated in answering them. Letting out a brief sigh she made her (very less not compared to) life decision.

"Ok, I'll stay and learn the truth." She said confidently "But I have one question… Is Imo… gen also… like..." she whispered.

"You have a huge attachment to that friend of yours huh? I'm sorry but you can't allow her to come here."

Turilla… or rather Leona felt very sad, angry, and hated that things had to be like this in her life. She felt a hard large lump in her throat. She was about to cry out loud from the thought that she could trust her best friend, the one person who stayed with her through the thick, thin, slipper, rough and sticky situations. She hated the thought of the only person she'd never be lied to and the only person whom she genuinely trusted instantly at any given situation to be someone who she couldn't speak to anymore since she was affiliated with the others.

Mama… Mrs.Kimberly… Jacob… Sebastien… Samuel… the others at the orphanage, all of them are a doubt. They make Turilla doubt, mostly now.

The older lady got up from the throne and slowly started walking out of the room. As she passed Turilla, she tapped her on the shoulder, an unreadable expression plastered on her face. She gave a small nod before all the girls who stood during the whole conversation without saying a word, walked out of the room in line. They reminded Turilla of the guards who stand on all the exits in the town. She helped Umari stand and followed the older lady with Umari on her back.

In silence, all of them walked through many tunnels but they seemed different from the others that Turilla passed, which were dirt-filled and smelled funky while different scents whiffed into her nose. These tunnels smelled nicer and it was better to see than the others which were dark.

They had walked quite a lot before stopping at large rust-filled metal door with an equally enormous and rusty knob (the large wheel in the front) making it look like the vault in the basement she saw once when playing 'Hide-n-seek' with Imogen and the other kids. Pushing the in code and with a few turns the vault opened. A very irritating creek sound came from its hinges.

'Sounds like the back door.' Turilla thought 'This needs some oiling, right now or my ears are going to tear themselves out.'

'I know right~,' a different voice laughed.

'Umari? Is that you?' Turilla asked as she turned to face the physical Umari who giggled and waved back. 'What are you doing in my head?'

'Talking to you, dummy.' She continued laughing sheepishly. 'Anyways aunt Alena never listens to me when I tell her to do so.'

The older lady or aunt Alena instructed the two girls and the other four ladies to stay outside for a while and keep watch until she comes back. Moments later she disappeared into the vault as it creakily closed shut behind her. The quiet and stillness of the tunnel made it difficult for Turilla to start a conversation with either the other ladies or Umari. But to Umari, nothing stopped her from talking even in that atmosphere, especially since she doesn't need to open her mouth.

'So~ Tell me about the things happening up above on the surface.' She spoke through her mind. 'Unless... it's a little heavy for you to talk about, especially right now, don't have to or if you just don't want to, it's fine. Do tell me if you don't want to talk about 'cause I don't really like being ignored in that sense.' She ended with a small giggle.

Turilla could see the other girl smiling, rocking on her heels back and forth like a child who pretended to be sweet just for candy.

She knew that the life above was different from what she is meant to live. Above she's protected, she still wasn't sure if the choice of staying with Umari was a good one but knew that she'd stick with her moto all the way through:

"Explore everything in life. The good things will bring happy memories

While the bad would give experience."

'Well~ I'm from this small church orphanage, the head of the orphanage is Ms Claire who we call mama and there's Mrs. Kimberly who teaches us magic, manners and other stuff taught in school. And there's my best friend Imogen who was found a few months later and taken in after me.'

'Ooooh, then I guess you were a baby when you were taken in?'

'I was relatively small enough not to remember anything of that day'

'Is that so?... um... Thank you for choosing to stay with us, Turilla. I'm so happy I get to see you again.' She smiled ear to ear.

'Umari, tell me a little about you.' Turilla asked.