A Day, I Will Regret....

Uncle Mackie smiled, "So, whom did you expect to come and save your asses? Your father?" Elgin and Aliyah hugged him and smiled. Elgin asked, "Why are you living here instead of the palace? Mom has declared you insane and has made Licha the queen and Vera a terrorist." Uncle Mackie said grimly, "I'm well aware of the incidents occurring in the palace. Your mother is shameless and selfish. She wanted to swallow the whole kingdom herself after your father's death. She changed all the soldiers and wise men with her people and minions. She even broke all the statues and monuments that showed patriarchy. We couldn't stop her and soon she started to get delusional. Some invisible and imaginary enemies surfaced and she started to execute people for small and nonsense reasons. I had to act like a mad person to escape from her clutches. My plan proved successful and she deported me to Lamb City. Anyway, I live a little farther from the slum areas. My house isn't that flashy but livable. So, it's still much better than her palace. I tamed sheep and started to sell milk for a living. My military skills proved beneficial and I soon earned a lot of respect in the local pubs where I sometimes provide protection for a decent fee. Come with me to my house. Let's have the rest of the conversation there." They followed Mackie and entered his house. Mackie poured them water and gave them cream buns to eat. Elgin asked, "Why didn't you stop my mother?" Mackie said, "How could I have done that? Your mother was queen at that time and the only way to stop a queen is to decapitate her. I couldn't kill my sister." Aliyah sighed, "Yeah. I understand your pain. Sejasha has played all her tricks very cleverly. But, now an even greater problem has arisen." Aliyah narrated the whole story to Mackie.

Mackie curled his lips and said, "It was not that unexpected coming from your mother. She will try to kill Vera and why wouldn't she? Vera has joined hands with some greedy industrialists who are now manipulating Vera to usurp the throne. Licha didn't approve of the corrupt industrialist contracts and now they are trying to replace her with a weaker person." Elgin growled, "Vera is not a weak person. If she is facing troubles, then why aren't you helping her?" Mackie replied, "Times have changed, my son. Now, the majority of the power is in the hands of industrialists and corporate workers. The rapid growth and flow of the economy have created revulsion amongst the common people. Now, the Namarians don't follow the kings and queens but the words of businessmen and industrialists. Vera is naive and kind-hearted and therefore she doesn't see the harm those big industries are doing to the aquatic life of the ocean and the indigenous flora and fauna that makes Namaria so special. Vera believes in modernization and argues that if we stay ancient, then how can we prosper and be equal with our enemies who are far more modernized than us? So, that's the whole story." Aliyah smiled, "So, you guys have got yourselves in an impasse. Progress is very important for any country, but with such progress comes pollution and corruption in the corporate ladder and the whole shambles falls on the heads of the poor." Elgin said, "These lectures won't help ease the problems. We have to do something that solves the problem without causing collateral damage." Aliyah said, "Why should we do anything? Your mother is the wrong one in this situation. It will be good if we don't kill Vera." Elgin said, "Helping Vera will kill Licha. In Namaria, we don't keep our enemies alive. That's why my mother ordered us to kill Vera. But, I can't kill Vera. So, please find a way to save both of my sisters without causing a revolution." Aliyah looked at Mackie and asked, "You are the senior one here. Tell us, what should we do?" Mackie said, "I think we should help Licha. We shouldn't kill Vera as she is family. But, we have to do some necessary bloodshed. We have to kill three industrialists. The first is Leo Vora. He is the owner of three big tobacco plantations and is the leading manufacturer and supplier of cigarettes and nicotine products in Namaria. The second one is Levy Devin. He is the main person to organizes lavish parties all around Namaria. He has a ton of money and spends it on prostitutes and illegal drugs. In fact, he is the reason youngsters are taking drugs and spoiling their lives. The third person is Bron Antilevsky, son of Anton Antilevsky. A big manufacturer of liquor and is a dangerous criminal. He recruits poor, helpless young men and makes them criminals. These three maintain an image of industrialists but are dangerous elements of Namaria. If we silence these three motherfuckers then we can easily control the situation." Aliyah asked, "Anton Antilevsky? I have heard his name." Mackie replied, "He was the leader of the group of ogres that raided Dao San Mountain and killed the innocent people there. But, when Elgin's brother killed most of his men, Anton fled to Namaria and became a civilian." Aliyah smiled, "Fine. But, we cannot kill them right now. Kystion and Kavana are more important right now. After the matters cool down we will return and kill them." Mackie said, "But, Aliyah. The thing here is getting worse day by day." Aliyah said, "We are helpless. Alice is unconscious and many other bad things are our prime concern right now. We will surely come here after the war." Mackie said, "Fine. Be careful on your way and all the best for the war." Alice and Elgin hugged him and formed a sphere and went towards the Elf Kingdom.

Elgin and Aliyah landed near the palace and walked towards Alice's room. Aliyah and Elgin pushed the door open and entered the room. They saw Vexana and the royal medic, Tasha sitting near Alice and were looking worried. Aliyah asked, "What happened? Why are you two so worried?" Vexana looked at her and said, "Alice showed some signs of recovery but suddenly fell unconscious again. She was mumbling some gibberish and then she started shivering vigorously. We put three blankets on her and then she started to sweat immensely and we quickly removed all the blankets and then she fell cold. We again applied a blanket but she got hot again." Aliyah said annoyed, "Come straight to the point." Vexana said, "At the end she fell unconscious again." Elgin said grimly, "Poor child. She is having seizures from that incident." Aliyah said, "She is showing all signs of weakness. If Kystion learns about it, we are doomed." Elgin said, "Kystion is not dependent on Alice's well-being for attack. He is a superstitious person and the recent deaths have just postponed his attack dates. Anyway, Kystion is not going to attack us anytime soon. He has only one ambition and he won't be worried about having delays in getting it. We have to strike first. The more Cindy stays there, the more harmful the environment will become." Aliyah said, "We will save her before she delivers your baby. Relax. We have much more important matters in our hands right now." Vexana and Tasha rose and walked towards the door and went away. Aliyah pulled Vexana's hand and said, "Stay here. I have some important questions to ask." Vexana asked nervously, "What questions?" Aliyah looked at her and then at Alice and asked, "Tell me honestly, Vexana. Is your story true? I mean I have seen and read about the overbearing attribute of the spear but such power is rare. So, tell me honestly what happened with Alice in reality?" Vexana looked at Alice and then Aliyah and then said, "I am telling the truth. That's the reality." Aliyah narrowed her eyes and said, "I hope that is the whole truth. Fine. I have no other option but to do a thorough examination of her body. Call Sage Eithanilis and his team of medics. Only he can find a cure for Alice." She walked towards the door and went outside.

Elgin looked at Vexana and asked, "Tell me the truth, Vexana. What actually happened with Alice?" Vexana said, "I will tell but promise me that you won't tell a single soul especially not to Aliyah." Elgin sighed, "I had an intuition from the beginning that Alice's condition is not normal. Fine, tell me what is the truth. I promise that I will not tell anyone, especially Aliyah." Vexana narrated the whole incident in vivid detail. Elgin said grimly, "I hoped for bad but this is way too bad. I have to talk with my teachers in Namaria and Mount Tysogame, but this will take time." Vexana asked grimly, "What will I do in the meantime?" Elgin laughed, "Keep Aliyah busy." Vexana said, "No. Never. I am not doing that. Aliyah is not the same woman whom I once loved. She is so cold and heartless now. Seducing her would be an insult to the pious relationship of us." Elgin said, "Then, bring back the old Aliyah. She may not show it but she desperately wants your love. Responsibilities and war separated you earlier and created differences between you two, but this time you have to overcome those hurdles and rekindle your love. After all, a very wise friend of mine once said what's in a world where we don't have the time to love our loved ones. Only solitude and despair." Vexana smiled softly. She said, "I never figured out whether you are naive or wise, but one thing is pretty much sure. You are a great friend." Elgin winked at her and smiled, "A great friend. That's what I am." He disappeared in green mist.

Aliyah was pouring a glass of wine for her when Vexana appeared. Aliyah looked at her and asked, "What do you want at this time? I want to be alone. So, if you don't have anything important to say, go away." Vexana smiled, "Well, it is very important." Aliyah asked, "What is it?" Vexana asked, "I always had a question for you. Can I ask?" Aliyah drank the wine and said, "Ask." Vexana asked, "What happened that day when you left me alone in the tower in the middle of the night?" Aliyah said grimly, "Many things happened that night. But, why are you asking all these all of a sudden?" Vexana said, "Unpleasant events have troubled my mind. So, I just want to know the answers to all my questions before I die." Aliyah laughed, "You won't die so easily, Vexana. You are a tough girl. But, those answers are even tougher to hear." Vexana said, "But, I want to know them. Was I not good enough for you? Was my love not deserving of the respect that you never gave?" Aliyah walked towards her and kissed her lips. She looked at Vexana's eyes and slowly pulled her lips from her. She said grimly, "Love never ceases nor it changes. I still love the way I loved you five centuries ago. But, that night I had no option but to leave you and go and fight for my country and my people. If I hadn't left you that day, we both would have been dead today." Vexana said, "But, you could have at least told me. I was all alone and betrayed by my love that day. Then, when I reached the palace all were dead and you were missing. I searched for you amongst the carcasses for several days. You have no idea how much trauma I went through in these years. Now, you appear suddenly and act all aloof and wise like nothing happened. I want just to ask. Didn't I deserve at least a heartfelt apology?" Aliyah looked at her and said, "Apology? For what? Doing my duty? I don't think so. I did what was right. I put aside all my feelings and emotions and did what a princess should do at that time. You should be the one apologizing to me and not the opposite." Vexana slapped her and said angrily, "How can you even say that? I loved you with all my heart and you coldly deserted me and betrayed both my love and trust. Now you are shamelessly telling me to apologize. How could you be so cruel?" Aliyah smiled, "You still have quite a heavy slap. It just shook my molars on the brink of falling. I'm not cruel, darling. I have seen the world more than you and know how romance kills duty. Say whatever you want, do whatever you want and if you want to hate me, hate me for all my life. I don't care." Vexana said grimly, "One day, when all these violence will end and you will be all alone and without any purpose, you will seek for love and affection. You will regret this very day and will cry and wail. But, unfortunately it will be too late. You will regret, Aliyah. You....will....regret." Vexana disappeared in crimson dust. Aliyah sighed and poured another drink for her. She walked towards the balcony and looked at the moon and smiled, "Yes. I will regret. I will definitely regret. But, unfortunate for all of us, that will never come." She drank and drank as the moon slowly moved towards the clouds....