170 Goodbye, Helena

HELENA'S POV

After clearing all our foggy encounters, misleading choices, and white lies, Stellan and I finally walked the same clear path with no more secrets. He brewed all my mixed emotions to just one conclusive and definite feeling that I cannot figure out on my own. I am his, and he's mine. Unbelievably, he saw me right through the windows of my soul despite all the obstacles that came with it.

Stellan was careful in running his hands over me. Most of the time, he held my hands, my cheeks, and looked fervently in my eyes. Perhaps, he doesn't like how I look… or maybe, he's feeling offish given that he'll be touching Agalea's body and not really mine. Could I be selfish to think that I take Agalea's world and be with Stellan?

Finding it hard to get a shut eye from this wonderful dream, I watched Stellan until he completely fell asleep instead. Actually, I closed my eyes a few times, thinking I might be stuck in my imagination. It's great that I'm not. Idyllic as I can ever be, it felt like I'm beyond the clouds finding myself wrapped in his arms. He was so sound asleep that he didn't wake when I moved away slowly. I thought of drinking a glass of water or eating a bit of food if there's any. Planting a kiss on his forehead, I head straight out of bed and made a few stretches. Assuming that the neatly folded set of clothes on top of the table might be for me, I tried them on and felt completely refreshed to wear a nice, and clean fitting deep purple cotehardie and black trousers.

I peered out of the window and it was too hazy to clearly see what's outside in the dark. But from the window where I stood, I could hear a lot of people and horses passing by at this time of the night. Curious of what's out there, I deliberately walked out of the room with an intention to feed my inquisitiveness.

On my way to the door in light steps, I found my chanery hanging by the doorknob. Seeing signs that it has been opened, I took it and checked for my personal things that I kept inside. It was complete with almost everything I had - the dragon hilt, my crest, Yereah's potions, and Agalea's damask armcuff except for one, the obsidian bracelet that I took from Brandenburg. Before I closed my chanery, I noticed that the glow on the gem of Agalea's damask arm cuff have returned.

I wore my chanery across my body, and slipped my feet in my boots that I found near my scepter. When I stepped out of the room, it was only then that I come to realize that the entire home was left only to the two of us. I was awe-stricken with how the dramatic and extraordinary the Wiccan's home where we're welcomed to. I could tell that the homeowner spends so much time in the kitchen, seeing that most of the kitchen space occupied almost half of the home.

I walked past across the room and the heavenly smell of freshly baked bread hypnotized me as my stomach grumble. And there I found the table, set with a pile of toasted uniformed round bread in a wicker basket, and a jar of milk. I also noticed and empty used teacups and saucers on the far side end of the table and a tipped over bottle of somewhat liquor.

Looking around, I took one.. no, two pieces of the mouth-watering round bread as big as the saucers… and I was right. It's as good as it smells! I chewed slowly as I bask in its salty flaky crust and moist sweet and nutty flavor melting in my mouth. Afterwards, I drank a cup of warm milk ultimately satisfying my hunger.

While I lick my smudged fingers from the flavorsome bread, I grabbed hold of the empty liquor bottle lying on the table and sniffed its orifice. No wonder Stellan is so drunk, they had a nice bottle of strong wine. After another mug of milk, I went my way out of the house with eagerness to see what's beyond the door. I paused for a moment when I caught a glimpse of my reflection on a mirror on the wall. Instantly, I worried about Agalea as I held my face. There's so much difference already. My soul is owning her body, and sooner or later, she will vanish into thin air and will be gone forever. That can't happen.

Stepping out as I close the door gently, I was expecting that Wicce has marked distinctiveness compared with the other places in this kingdom that I've been to… This is Agalea's home. I wonder how does she feel now that I'm here.

Unfortunately, the frosty air brought thick haze that the roads lost its clarity. So, I could hardly tell the difference. I didn't want to use my powers, I might draw attention. With only the mossed cobblestoned pathways that were guided with floating lanterns, there's not much to see, but it's okay.

As I remain completely still on the porch, I watched Wicce's people pass me by. The women and children rode in carriages, some rode on horses, and most men walked on foot with large packs over their shoulders. It looks like the entire village is leaving. The tone of their voices sounded like they are in a rush out of fear and worry.

As I scan everyone's lined faces, there's one girl who looked very recognizable even under a red cloak. "Freya?", I softly uttered with squinted eyes staring at her. I can't be wrong. Given an idea that Freya and Uncle Tobias could be witches, it's only to be expected that I'd see them here. "Freya!", I called with eagerness that all my uncertainties about her will finally be addressed. I refuse to believe that Freya deceived me to find the traveler's stone for her. I ran to her and held her hands. "Freya! It's me!", she looked at me with those big round confused eyes as if I'm totally unrecognizable. But of course, there's so much difference already. "I know there's a lot of difference with how I look now, but… i-it's me! Agalea? Haelan?", she just kept staring.

Freya looked at me like she tasted something awful in her mouth. "I'm sorry, I don't know you", Freya removed my hands on her as she move away.

"We met in Tobias Inn, you helped me there. We're friends, remember? ", I stopped her by her arm and gave her hints so I could at least come to her mind.

"No. You must have been mistaken me for someone else", she said with a very sterned face.

Then, an old man on a brown horse arrived. "Uncle Tobias! Is it really you!!", The old man who I once knew with warm pleasing smiles is gone. He just grunted with knitted brows, then moved along. I followed him with my eyes until my gaze focused back on Freya.

"Look, you see we're all in a hurry. My family is leaving and I wouldn't want to be left out. The dark healers are everywhere. Prince Galen destroyed the only barrier that keeps us safe from the monsters, rebels, low profile criminals, the royals and all the people out there that you can think of just because someone failed to do her job. So if you don't have any other sensible things to say, I'm gonna go", Freya took off hitting my shoulder.

"Hey, wait, what do you mean?", I grabbed her arm again as she flinch back with so much anger towards me.

"This is all your fault!!", she gritted her teeth as the hood over her head fell off. "We sent you in Brandenburg for the traveler's stone. You were supposed to find it and use it against the Celeste and Argus who's undeniably ruining this kingdom. But what did you do? You added more trouble endangering everyone costing us the safest place we can ever be in", Freya's eyes raged in so much fury that it flooded with heavy tears. "So, no!! I don't know you anymore.", Freya hissed at her maddening remark.

"I don't even understand what you're saying! Why me? I'm not even from this kingdom.", I confusingly said that seemed to anger her more.

"Well, why not ask your mother. She knows best", Freya bitterly said.

"Surprise, she aint here. You're supposed to be my friend, Freya. You should've been honest with me the first time we met. You knew from the beginning that I'm not Agalea, and I'm only after my way to soul travel home. I didn't know your…", I was so upset that I was already yelling at her.

"Goodbye Helena. Have a nice soul travel", she cut me off with a harsh tone and decidedly flounced out of my life.