I Trust You

Alice opened her eyes and saw that she was lying on the ground and the whole place was filled with dense fog and all of a sudden, she started feeling quite cold. She looked at herself and realized that she was lying on the ground naked the whole time. She called out Aliyah's name multiple times, but nor Aliyah appeared or any signs of any other creature was there. Alice slowly walked towards the lesser foggy area and soon saw some light coming and heard the noise of someone chopping wood. She was a little afraid, but she gathered some courage and walked towards the direction of the light and saw that a figure was chopping wood near an old but well clean wood house. On seeing Alice, the figure stopped chopping wood and took a lantern in his hand and walked towards her.

He stopped a little far from Alice and said, "I was waiting for you, Alice. What took you so long?" Alice asked puzzled, "Who are you and how do you know my name?" The figure laughed, "You sure are still quite naive. I surely didn't believed Aliyah's words at first, but looking at you it is clear that her worries are justified." Alice asked with a little anger, "Where is Aliyah and why am I naked?" The figure came a little more closer and Alice could see his face clearly. He has dark green eyes, pointy ears and white silky hair. Alice said, "You are an elf, right?" The young boy smiled, "Part human, part elf to be precise. I have been a good friend and kind of a brother to Aliyah since childhood as both of our ancestors fought side by side against Xao Chang and his demonic army." Alice asked, "You live alone? Where are other elves?" The figure said, "Most of the elves died in the battle and those who managed to stay alive got caught in the hands of Xao Chang who sacrificed them as a part of his evil rituals. Apparently, I'm the last elf living." Alice asked, "What is your name?" The figure smiled, "Elsinore Vesarlis, but you can call me Elgin."

Alice said, "Well, Elgin. I'm quite hungry and also naked. So, could you kindly give me some food and clothing?" Elgin replied, "Yes, I can. But, you wouldn't like my food and clothes. They are basically very organic." Alice said, "Anything will do as long as I'm full and covered." Elgin went inside the house and brought a shawl made of thick swampy grass and the inside made of plain bark of tree. He covered Alice with it and said, "Since I stay here all the time, I don't have much clothes and most of the time stays naked myself. In colder days, fire and this shawl keeps me warm." Alice said, "It is very warm and also softer than what it looks like. Thanks a lot for your help." Elgin said, "I am going to cook some rabbit meat for you." Elgin went inside and brought out a pot of hot water and a half rabbit body with mashed potatoes and some wet leaves. Elgin said, "I hope you like it." Alice looked at the food and slowly took one bite and she could feel her tongue dying out of tastelessness. She ate three pieces from the leg and then said, "I'm full." Elgin said, "I know that you didn't like it, but I have something for you that you may like." Elgin went inside the house and brought two juicy and ripe yellow mangoes and cut them into pieces.

Alice quickly eat all the pieces and said, "I couldn't control myself with mangoes. I'm sorry if I didn't left anything for you." Elgin said, "Nothing. I have plenty more for me and you. I don't eat animals anyway and it was Aliyah who made the rabbit for you." Alice smiled, "Yes. Aliyah likes to give me all kinds of exquisite foods." Elgin smiled, "I can sense a sarcasm." Alice asked, "Did she also ate this foods in her time?" Elgin replied, "Never. She was a princess and she had always dined with the elite." Alice smiled, "So, she just likes to give me a hard time." Elgin said, "She genuinely loves you, Alice. I never saw her this much nervous before and I'm pretty much sure that she wants you to be the best." Alice said grimly, "I don't if I can do what she wants. I never proved useful to anyone who trusted me." Elgin hugged her and said, "I am sure that you will defeat Xao Chang and bring peace back to the Earth." Alice asked, "How are you so sure?" Elgin replied, "Because I believe in Mother Manaca and if she choosed you, then there must be a reason."

Alice looked at Elgin who looked at her and said, "You know, my mother used to tease me that I was so ugly that they have find a bride for me from other species. I clearly didn't know that her prophecy will come true. I found someone who I think is capable of being my bride." Alice asked, "Why are you telling me this?" Elgin said grimly, "Oh, yeah. I just forgot that I'm still a stranger for you. I just felt that sharing my feelings with someone will give me some relief." Alice patted his shoulder and said, "I didn't mean it like that. Anyway, who's the lucky girl?"

Elgin replied, "Actually, I don't know much about her, as our meetings were scarce and again this elf body is still not ready to go in broad daylight yet. I, first met her when due to some lack of money, I had to work as a waiter in a party. I don't recall who was the host, but I remember that he introduced my bride as his daughter. Then, I met her in the college where she was always accompanied by her male servant. I don't know her name, but I remember you beating her in some fighting competition." Alice asked, "Is she Cindy?" Elgin replied, "I really don't know her name?" Alice smiled, "Yeah, she is Cindy. But, I don't know if she will make an elf her boyfriend or not? Do you have something extraordinary in you?" Elgin replied, "I can transform into animals." Elgin transformed into a horse and raised his front legs and neighed. Alice looked at him and said, "This ability won't win you her heart." Elgin came back to normal and asked, "Then, what should I do?" Alice smiled, "Winning someone's heart, especially a girl's heart can be quite complicated. But, don't worry I promise you that Cindy will one day become your wife."

Elgin hugged her and said, "Thanks a lot." Aliyah appeared from purple smoke and asked, "Why are you thanking her?" Elgin replied, "Because she promised me that she will unite me with my love." Aliyah said grimly, "Elgin, don't be a fool. That pompous bitch won't even stand next to you, let alone be your love." Alice said angrily, "Why won't she agree? She will be the luckiest girl in the world if she marries Elgin." Aliyah said in an angry tone, "Her father won't even agree to their alliance and will send dogs behind them." Alice said, "If Elgin's love is true and pure, no barrier in the world can stop Cindy from coming to him." Aliyah said annoyed, "Fine. But, let's go and start training." Aliyah and Alice hugged Elgin and went inside the energy ball and went away.

Aliyah looked at Alice and said, "I know why you were so encouraging towards Elgin." Alice smiled, "Okay, I know it's bad, but I just can't tolerate that bitch anymore in my life. It's better for everyone that Cindy spends her rest of life in the forest with a half elf." Aliyah said grimly, "Don't say it like that. He's like my brother." Alice asked, "Where were you all this time?" Aliyah smiled, "Well, I went to take blessings from Mother Manaca and she gave me this flower." Aliyah gave the flower to Alice and said, "Eat the flower." Alice took the flower inside her mouth and swallowed it. Alice asked, "What does it do?" Aliyah said, "Nothing extraordinary. It's like a sweet that she gives to her children."

Alice asked, "Why was I naked last night?" Aliyah smiled, "I just wanted to see if you can survive the extreme cold or not?" Alice said sadly, "You put my life at stake for just a stupid experiment. How cruel are you!" Aliyah said, "Elgin was guarding you the whole night." Alice asked, "Was that a part of training?" Aliyah said, "More like personal assurance. Your training will be a little easier now as you have just started. Come with me." Aliyah and Alice stopped near a door which automatically opened and a large gym was there. Alice asked, "What else does this ball has?" Aliyah said, "As I have said before, you can make anything you want in this ball." Alice and Aliyah went inside the gym and Aliyah said, "I won't give you physical training as that won't be neccessary if you can fight well, which in some ways you can manage. But, as said earlier that more than a chaotic body, one needs a peaceful mind to win a war. So, I will give you five minutes to erase everything from your brain and make it blank."

Alice asked, "Why?" Aliyah put a finger on Alice's lips and said, "Don't worry, trust me." Aliyah held Alice's hands and said, "Close your eyes and remember to keep your brain blank." Aliyah started mumbling some holy words and suddenly Alice could feel her feet raising above the ground and slowly she felt like she was floating in air. Alice remembered Aliyah's words and kept her mind blank. Soon, Alice could feel that her whole body was feeling quite light as if she has become air. A white door opened before her and a bright light called, "Come here, Alice. Don't be afraid, trust me." Alice wanted to go towards the light, but she felt that something was pulling her leg. She looked back and saw her father was pulling her leg. His whole body was pale, with his eye sockets empty and an evil smile on his face. He opened his mouth to devour her, but soon Alice fell on the ground and she slowly opened her eyes. She saw Aliyah was holding her and took her to the bed and said, "Listen, Alice. You may be feeling quite different and superior than your people right now, but remember that power is not something that you gain, but something that you awake in yourself. Awake and shine, Alice. Trust me, Alice." Alice slowly closed her eyes and she fell asleep.

Aliyah looked at Alice, who was clearly having some nightmare, but she ignored it and said, "If I help you today, you won't be able to get stronger than your weaknesses." She kissed her forehead and went towards the sofa room, where Elgin was standing. Aliyah asked shocked, "What are you doing here, Elgin?" Elgin replied, "I have decided that I will help Alice. She trusted in my love and it's my duty to help her overcome her all shortcomings and help her become the warrior that she is meant to be." Aliyah smiled, "I don't know if this years in the forest has made you more smarter or dumber, but one thing is sure that you still have a pure heart."

Elgin looked at Alice and said, "It is too early for her to work on her mental strength as she is still quite fragile." Aliyah said grimly, "I don't know what I will do. Girls of our times, poor or rich were quite brave and firm. Everyone of them had the power to become a warrior." Elgin said, "Not everyone. I surely know some girls who were so afraid that they engaged in intercourse to escape the army as they don't take mothers into army." Aliyah smiled, "Well, I didn't." Elgin said, "You never had any chance to experience romance. I feel very bad for you." Aliyah smiled, "No man could have given more pleasure than serving my Mother Manaca."

Elgin said, "Well, you can have no romantic principles, but I will surely impress Cindy and make her my bride." Aliyah said, "I won't stop you, but remember that she is a hard woman." Elgin said, "Love can overcome any hardness." Elgin turned into a butterfly and went to one of the room. Aliyah looked at him going and mumbled, "Poor fellow. Anyway, it is actually good for him to experience heartbreak. This way, he will know the reality of life." She transformed into purple smoke and vanished.....