Chapter 28

" I swear in the name of the seven dungeons that if you don't finish your meal I will not let you accompany me to town ever again! "

Flame and Drexel stood at the doorway and observed the scene going on before them. A rather lovely female who Flame thought looked the same age as her was holding a much younger girl around the waist and dragging her to a table at the corner where food had been set out. 

" But I'm not hungry. And if I don't go now Liron will start playing with Kira instead! " the little girl protested as she dragged her feet on the ground. She looked about ten or eleven. 

" Ha! I knew it. That's why you insisted on joining me, isn't it? For Liron, " the older girl said. Drawing out the name Liron teasingly. 

" That's not true! I just didn't want to work in the fields. "

" If you don't eat I'm going to tell maia that you troubled me today and she will force you to work in the fields. "

" Fine! I'll eat! "

" Good. Now sit, before 'Liron ' starts playing with Kira, "

" Stop that! I don't -" 

Drexel put an end to the little argument by clearing his throat. And the two girls turned to the doorway. Then both their eyes widened and the little one gasped. Flame looked around. There was fabric everywhere. All in different colors and textures. And there were also various outfits hanging all around the wall. 

" Drexel, " the older girl said and Flame saw a slight shade of pink appearing on her creamy brown skin. Which meant she was an Isor. 

" I hope you fare well Sheila, " Drexel said and the girl smiled. Looking at him all dreamily. Flame was certain she had not even noticed her presence. She was too busy staring at the angel. 

" Um.. yes, yes I do. And you? I mean are you well? What kind of question is that, of course you are. It's just been a while since I saw.... " she pursed her lips shut. 

Flame might have been locked up for two years but she could still notice a crazy crush when she saw one. And Sheila was definitely a victim. 

" I am well. Thank you for asking, " Drexel casually said before he walked in. And it was then that Sheila seemed to notice Flame. 

" Oh. My apologies, I had not seen you, " Of course she hadn't. 

" Sheila looked at Drexel, and if Flame was right then the females features seemed a little... sad. 

" So it's true then? The pairing really has begun? " she asked and Drexel nodded. 

" My queen, " Sheila said as she curtsied. Then she glared behind her and made a tsking sound with her tongue. 

" Anna! " she firmly scolded and the little girl abruptly stood from the seat she had settled down on and followed her sisters actions. But then Flame asked them to stand since that wasn't necessary. 

" Are you really King Nuriels mate? " the little girl, or Anna as she was called, asked and Flame wondered how to answer. It was true but she wasn't completely used to the fact. 

" Anna!! I apologize on her behalf. She still hasn't learnt how to mind her own business. " Sheila said as she turned to her sister again with yet another cautioning glare. 

" That's okay. She's just a child. It's normal to be curious, " Flame assured her and Sheila smiled. 

" Anyway, how may I be of service to you? " 

Drexel explained that Flame needed new outfits. And Flame stood there and listened as he gave the instructions on what he wanted Sheila to do and how he wanted her to do it. He clearly knew what he was talking about. 

" Spare no cost. Angel Aziel will pass by this evening and take care of the payment. "

" Of course, "

Sheila then turned her focus to Flame before leading her to the other side of the room where she proceeded to take measurements of her body. It was a devastatingly gruesome process as far as Flame was concerned. 

                     ❇️✳️❇️✳️❇️

" I have some dresses for you to choose from now. But I'll get started on the rest immediately, " Sheila said as she noted down the measurements. Not having looked Flame in the eye even once. Probably out of the so called respect. 

" Great. I was getting really tired of wearing shirts anyway, " she said and Sheila smiled. 

Drexel was waiting outside the doorway. He wanted to give them privacy to conduct their business. And little Anna had ran out after finishing her meal. 

" How old is your sister? "

" She's ten, my -"

" Flame. Please call me Flame, " 

She was getting tired of asking people that. Maybe she ought to command everyone to refer to her as such. She thought with inward delight. 

" As you wish.. Flame, " Sheila said. She was currently searching through the outfits she had hung around the place. It was a lovely shop. Very feminine looming as well. 

" You have the name of a true fairy, " she added. 

Flame had never really thought about that. She actually had no idea who had named her. But that was what it had said in her birth certificate on earth and she never really bothered to find out its origin. Back when she was young people always commented on its uniqueness and asked her questions. 

She never really had their answers. 

" Really? "

" Yes. According to the stories my Maia used to tell me, fairies were named according to the account they possessed. And in your case I'm guessing it's fire, "

That was odd. Nuriel had told her he knew nothing of the accounts. 

" Do you know what the accounts are? "

Sheila placed the many gowns she had selected on the table and turned to Flame. A rather confused look on her heart-shaped face. 

" No. Don't you? We always thought that the first chosen to rise would have all the answers,"

" Well, I clearly don't. "

Up until a few days ago she didn't even know she was a fairy. 

" You know, I never would have thought that I would get to see the pairing. So many have waited but died without doing so, "

Sheila picked two of the gowns. One was a nice shade of lavender with a much darker purple belt and elbow length sleeves. The other a lilac blue with overflowing fabric that seemed light yet comfortable. She asked Flame which one she wanted to try on first. 

" What exactly is the pairing? " 

Flame asked as she took the blue gown. She had a solid idea of what it was. She just needed confirmation, and she also needed to talk to someone and Sheila seemed nice. 

" Wow, you really know nothing of what you are, do you? " Sheila asked, then she chuckled as she led Flame to a changing area. It was basically four curtains hung to form a small room but it was also very efficient. 

" Nope. "

" Well, the pairing is when the angels begin to be joined with their chosen. It says so in the prophecy, "

" Wait, prophecy? " Flame peeped out of the changing room. Sheila nodded. 

Just how much had the angel not told her yet? 

" The Fairy Aurelia, may her kind and gentle soul forever be at peace, left it to the angels before she went to war with the gods, "

" And do you know this prophecy? "

" Of course. Everyone does. They teach it to all younglings at the knowledge center. "

Flame assumed that that was their version of school. Then she asked Sheila what the prophecy was. At the same time struggling to put the gown on. Sheila had offered her assistance but she had kindly refused. 

                         " A daughter born from flames, 

             the race she shall save

             For with her it shall start, 

             the journey from the past 

             Though with turmoil and pain, 

             her freedom she shall gain

             And once the bond is complete, 

             the pairing shall begin.. "

Flame stepped out as Sheila finished reciting the prophecy. It did in a way sound as if it were referring to her. 

" Lovely, " Shela said as she took in the new sight of Flame. Dressed in the lilac blue. Flame swayed the fabric and laughed. She had never been into dresses but there was no denying that the dress was beautiful. She wondered what Nuriel would think of it. But immediately disregarded the thought. 

" Are you ready to try the rest? "

" Sure. As long as you tell me more about the history of this place, "

She was beginning to get very interested. And for the next hour or so she changed into countless gowns as Sheila told her all sort of stories. And Flame found herself laughing freely as she listened to most of the things Sheila said. She could see herself being close friends with the other female.

Once she was done they sat at the table to simply talk. And Sheila assured her that they would meet again once she personally delivered the rest of the outfits. Then Drexel came to ask whether she was done since they had to go and buy other things as well. 

" Can Sheila join us? She can help, " Flame asked and Drexel said that was her decision to make. She understood that the female had work to do but she also desperately needed female company. 

" I'll be glad to join you. All I have to do is close the shop and check on Anna, " Sheila said joyfully. So they spent the rest half of the day moving from the many shops there were searching for shoes and all sorts of other things. And at a certain point along the way, Flame actually saw herself settling in just fine there. 

As long as she net more equally delightful people to associate with, she believed she would be okay.