Vague Memories

"A page of the book is…" muttered the woman in mask.

"Missing." Bai completed for her. She suddenly remembered something and said, "There are things I need to check so I will be gone for couple of days. Make sure that, the Princess do not leave the sect no matter what."

"Where are you going my lady?"

"Somewhere important."

The Princess heard about Bai leaving the sect for couple of days. So, she tried to be kind and told Bai not to worry about her. Bai noticed that there's something off about her. She cast a forcefield around the sect and declared that no one is allowed to enter or exit the sect in her absence.

The Princess got worried and her happy face turned sad.

"Why do you look sad Princess? Something bothering you?" Bai asked.

"Nothing…"

Bai walked towards the Princess and showed her a dead dark butterfly. The Princess was shocked after seeing it and stammered, "H-how…?"

"Did I find out?" Bai continued. "You are in my sect Princess. I can sense every move you make. I guess, you haven't learnt to cloak your powers yet."

The Princess went back inside and closed the door with a bang.

"Heh. Take care of the Princess alright?"

"Yes, my lady." The woman in masked answered.

The woman in mask went to the Princess room to check on her.

"Princess?" She saw the Princess crying in her bed. "Aw. Please don't cry princess. Everything's going to be alright."

"Why!? Why do you keep me locked in this place? You want my powers, don't you?"

"That's not the reason Princess."

"Then what!? Answer me!"

"Do you know the feeling of training together with a friend? Having feelings for him? I experienced it when I went down the mountain."

"What's the connection between that and me being locked up?"

"We spent years together and I felt like those days were the best part of my life. Even though he loved someone else, I stayed with him and focused on protecting him instead."

The Princess had already stopped crying was listening to the woman in mask with interest.

"Then?"

"I almost died that night and luckily, my lady found me and healed me. I was so happy to be alive and well with the help of this mask. I think of it as my second chance in life and I will cherish my lady with all my life. I am contented just to see my loved one from a far."

"By the way, what is your name?"

"My name is Lilia, Princess."

After hearing her name, the Princess's head began to ache. She saw a vague memory of her crying in front of a lady and a man.

"Argghh!"

"Princess!"

Lilia helped the Princess to a sitting position and gave her water to drink.

"What happened Princess?"

"Nothing. My head began to hurt suddenly."

"Wait here Princess. I will call the Physician."

"Hmm."

The Physician arrived and checked her pulse and said, "There's nothing to worry your Highness. You just need rest."

"Now Princess, you should sleep plenty starting today. Alright?"

"I will now take my leave." said the Physician.

"Thank you."

"By the way… Lilia, what did you mean by the story that you told me earlier?"

"What I meant is that you must cherish the memories of your loved ones no matter where you are. No matter what happens, everything's going to be alright."

"Hmm."

"You should go to sleep Princess. It's already late."

Lilia helped the Princess to lay down and before leaving, the Princess requested, "Can you stay here until I fall asleep?"

Lilia smiled and answered, "Yes, Princess." Lilia never thought about being close to the Princess as she was the one of the reasons for everything that happened to her. But she couldn't hate her. She didn't know why she couldn't hate her either.

After the Princess fell asleep, Lilia went to the garden. She took off her mask and looked up into the sky. Remembering all of her memories, her eyes began to be filled with tears, "Is this really my destiny?" She whispered. "How I wish to be by his side forever. Why is this happening to me? I just don't understand. Why me?" Lilia cried hard in pain.

"Was I born just to die over and over again in front of my beloved!? I…" She continued crying.

The following day, the Princess left her room and Lilia greeted her, "Good morning, Princess. How was your sleep?"

"Fine. Slept well. Thank you for staying with me."

"My pleasure."

"Lilia, can you show me around? I just want to familiarize with the area."

"Yes, Princess. Happy to guide you."

Lilia showed the Princess around the whole White Lotus sect. It was uneventful until they went to the garden that was filled with Lilium Stargazers.

"Wow, this place is …"

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes."

The Princess walks into the Lilium Stargazers Garden and suddenly stiffened. She stood idly as a vague memory filled her mind. A memory where a ferocious creature stood in front of her and her hands were full of blood. Her head began to ache again.

"Argh!"

"Princess? Is your head's aching again?"

"I…I… Arggghhh!!" The Princess suddenly passed out.

"Princess! Princess! Someone! Help!"

The Disciples carried the Princess back to her bed and called the Physician Immediately. The Princess was sweating hard and her body temperature was very high.

"Princess! Please, hold on. Where is the Physician!?"

"We already called for the Physician. Ms. Lilia."

"He…Help… me…" The Princess whispered; her head muddled due to high fever.

"Princess, please hold on. The Physician is almost here."

While Lilia is holding the Princess's hand, she noticed that the dark aura was spreading around her.

"No. no… no… no! Why now!?"

Lilia told the disciple to take the Princess to the Clarity Hall and also gather the Core Disciples of rank 1 to 5 there. They had to stop the release of dark aura from the Princess's body at all costs. To keep her from losing herself again and killing those around her.

They placed the Princess in the middle of the Platform, closed the doors of Clarity Hall and told everyone that, no one is allowed to enter until the situation is stabilized. Then, the top five Disciples and Lilia formed a circle around the Princess. The four disciples sat in padmasana pose while Lilia and another disciple stood still and they all started the chant.

"Please, Princess. Take hold of your powers." Lilia whispered.