chapter two—unexpected feelings.

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—Roland held Elodie's hand to her take back to the coach before the weather began to worsen.

The poor girl cried into Roland's arms as the coach left the station and toward Strauss Manor. Her home was located in the forest but it was hard for a coach to steer to there. Especially in the rain.

"Elodie, you can stay in the Manor once the rain stops. I'll take you home after. Okay?" Roland murmured while comforting her.

"Okay," Elodie sniffled.

Elodie had been a family friend of the Manor since she met Roland. As they stepped out of the carriage and onto the gravel driveway, Elodie was greeted by the Manor's servants. The maids fussed over her, helping her out of her coat and fussing over her hair. It was a familiar sight for Elodie, who had been coming to the Manor for 5 years.

The servants were like family to her, and their warmth and kindness never failed to lift her spirits.

She followed Roland through the halls of the Manor, taking in the familiar sights and sounds with a heavy heart.

Roland seemed to sense her unease and led her to her guest bedroom, with a reassuring hand on her back. "Don't worry, it's like nothing has changed at all. You'll always have a home here at the Manor," he said with a smile.

She knew that Roland's generosity was a subtle hint of the admiration he had hidden in his heart for her, but she couldn't bear to accept it.

As she showered and changed into the comfortable clothes provided by the maids, Elodie couldn't shake her sad thoughts away. She stood in front of the full-body mirror, attired in regal clothes that felt so unfamiliar and yet so comfortable. But Elodie couldn't help feel anything than woe.

"She didn't come." She whispered to herself. "Why? Don't they...care about me anymore?"

"Don't doubt your sisters just yet, Lady Elodie." The male voice aired from Elodie's mystery book.

The book began to flip its pages open and two bright lights sprouted out. One light was silver while the other was a lively green. The two lights then sprouted into form, the silver light began to shift into an animal.

A tiny silver ferret, but the whole body was ghostly transparent. The green light was a tiny wingless fairy with leafy green skin, pointy green ears, and a horned helmet made of wood.

The ferret spirit began to speak, its voice a whisper of silver silk. "Lady Xakheia could still be trying to reach back to you," it said, its eyes shining with a strange light.

"Alas is right, Lady Elodie. There could be a reason for all this. You just need to be patient," the fairy added, her voice a breathy breeze.

"Then why can't I go to Gaia now? You two must know how to get to the homeworld! Why won't you tell me?"

Alasdair and Trixie glanced at each other before humming to themselves. "Lady Elodie, you need to understand that it may be too dangerous to go to Gaia now. That could be why Lady Xakheia and Lady Pandora have not returned." Trixie, the fairy stated.

"But I...I have to be there. If there's something wrong then I should be there with them."

"Lady Elodie, even though you've mastered Nature Magic to a considerable degree, you're not a combat expert. Moreso, the people of Gaia are..." Alasdair paused, realizing he might have said too much. He frazzled his whiskers and crossed his small furry paws behind his back.

Elodie felt a chill run down her spine. She had always thought of Gaia as a place of beauty and wonder, the homeworld that her sisters belonged to. But Alasdair's words made it seem like a dangerous and potentially hostile place.

"I advise you to stay calm and focused, Lady Elodie. The Fates may still work in your favor, we've sworn to Lady Xakheia to keep you in our safety." He frazzled his whiskers and crossed his small furry paws behind his back. "Besides, the train is the only way."

The fairy saw the concern on Elodie's face and quickly said, "Don't worry, my Lady. What Alas means is that you have to wait. Your sister assigned us to keep you on Earth for a reason. And...was it not why you've been born and raised here? To be on Earth. This place is brimmed full with Nature. You'd never find it much in Gaia."

"But still, Gaia is...my homeland too. Right?" Elodie walked over to the bed and softly plopped down. "Don't I have a right to know where my family comes from? Where...I'm from?"

Trixie and Alasdair rested beside her. Letting only her imagination give an imagery of what Gaia looked like. A paradise. Elodie had never seen it with her own eyes, only heard descriptions to paint the picture in her mind.

The floating islands with their different elements, the lands of lava and flames, the ice glaciers, sandy deserts that rule over time, and the beautiful architecture from the land of light. Gaia sounded like a place straight from her wildest dreams. Yet, the thought of ever going there was nothing more than a pipe dream.

"I just want...to be there, with them," she whispered, her voice devoid of all emotion. There was a sense of longing and desperation in her words.

She longed to be reunited with her sisters on Gaia, to explore all the wonders that the other worlds had to offer. Yet, the journey was a dangerous one, and she was unsure if she would ever make it there.

A knock sounded at her door. "Elodie? May I come in?" Roland's question broke her thoughts.

"Quickly, hide!" Alasdair and Trixie flew back inside the grimoire, quickly shutting the book.

Roland saw her distantly stare at the chandelier above. He knew how much it pained her to see it without her sisters again, how much she wanted to be reunited with them. She still longed for them five years later.

"Are you...feeling better now?" he asked nervously, stepping close to her.

"Of course, I'm not!" she snapped, her voice filled with irritation. He didn't understand. Her sisters didn't choose to leave her; they were torn apart by whatever reason that separated them. How could he ever understand that pain?

He paused, realizing the mistake he made, but he quickly said, "I...I could help. By land or by water, you pick. My father will arrange it."

Elodie's heart ached at the offer, but it was just that, an offer. No one could find her sisters. There was no way he could help. He wouldn't even know the place she was talking about.

She stared at the floor, and a feeling of exhaustion washed over her. How many times had she been holding on to hope, only to be let down? She didn't know if she had the strength to keep trying anymore.

A silence hung heavy between them as Roland waited for her response. He was just trying to help, but she didn't know how to explain the depth of her pain to him. Was he just offering help to make himself feel better, or did he really want to help her? She didn't know anymore.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't know where to start."

Roland observed the young blonde girl in front of him, noting the dim glimmer in her eyes. He couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for her, for the pain and longing she carried with her, and yet he was awed by the resilient hope that shone through despite everything.

"The train you've waiting for hasn't been seen in years. Some say it's a ghost rail without a train or a destination, leading nowhere but a dead end," he said gently, trying to bring her back down to reality. "Maybe she took a different train."

She turned to him intensely, her blue eyes blazing with anger. "I know what train she took!" she exclaimed. "I was standing at that same dock. The train will come back. She wouldn't...wouldn't abandon me! She promised! She...she promised..."

Roland's heart ached for her, for the pain and loss she must have felt. But he held his tongue, knowing that her emotions ran deep and that he had no place to interfere. So he only smiled, a small gesture meant to show her that he was there, and that she was not alone.

His hand reached out and gently cupped her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin. He could feel the anger in her, but also the vulnerability, the need for comfort and reassurance. His fingers stroked her hair, and a soft sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes and let him touch her. "I'm sorry, Elodie...I really am..." he said softly.

Despite everything, Roland knew that he would do everything in his power to help her, to find her sisters if it was the last thing he did.

As Roland's fingers twirled around with the soft, long strands of Elodie's hair, he couldn't help but feel a strange sensation on his arms. A tingling effect - not unpleasant, but not entirely comfortable either. It seemed to originate from her - something about her touch, her presence, her essence just made him feel...odd.

It was a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on, but it was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He knew he should not be feeling this way, but the more time he spent in her company, the stronger this feeling grew.

It was only instinct but...it felt right. Roland leaned closer.

Elodie opened her eyes and was stunned to see how close she was to his face. "Roland...what are you..." He subtly pressed her lips to hush her and he perched even closer, the gap of space between them was thinning away.

"Eh...Master Roland. If I may—oh my?" The door opened and a Stuart of the Manor entered without warning.

Roland and Elodie moved away from each other and tried to hide their shame. "Uh, yes. What is it?"

"I...I...uhm. It's your father. He wishes to see you. It's about...your suitor." The Stuart coughed quietly.

"She's here already? But I thought Father said—"

"She had just arrived. They're said to have rushed it to not make a hassle."

"I see." Roland sighed. He didn't think it would go on this fast. As the door closed behind the Stuart, Elodie was left alone with Roland in the room.

She could feel the tension between them, the passion that had almost been released, but was cut short by the interruption. Her heartbeat raced as she turned to face him, her fingers nervously toying with the ends of her blonde hair.

Roland's grey eyes met her blue ones, and for a moment, it seemed like neither of them knew what to do or say. But Roland found the words. "Elodie, I...I don't know what has gotten into me. I shouldn't have—"

"You don't have to say anything," she whispered, her voice breathy and strained. She peered out the large windows to see the dark clouds had scurried away for the late sunset to peek. "It would seem I will not stay for the night. I'm sorry. I should be going."

She grabbed her satchel and her mystery book before scurrying to the door.

"Elodie, I..." Roland wanted to catch her but she sped away in the halls.

"Wait! Please!" Before he knew it, he saw her running out the Manor gates and leaving his line of sight.

Roland watched, his heart sinking, as she vanished into the road. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, cursing himself for not having been brave enough to tell her how he felt.

"Elodie..."

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[ AUTHOR: heyo, hope you've enjoyed so far! Please vote and comment on what you think about it! It would mean so much if you supported this book! Ill try to update, about 5 chapters per month. I don't have much time because of college and other matters. But I hope you liked it. TSYM! ]