I woke up the next day with all the children excitedly gazing at the floating city as we all stood outside the main deck while our airship gets closer to Grantzæl.
There were other airships flying by and I can see so many activities buzzing about. It is early in the morning but the sun wasn't particularly celebrating with us. It hid shyly behind the clouds beyond the horizon as fog faintly covered the view.
Warm ball of lights hovering around the perimeter lit our way and also created a warm looking scenery along with the lights opened below the city streets and houses.
It has almost been a month ever since I last saw my parents and I'm so ecstatic now to see them again. I'm sure the High King will assure all the other kids will be reunited with their own families and after letting everything simmer down, I need to personally travel away once again to deliver the final favour Nora asked of me.
I opened my hands where two brooches are seen. I need to personally give it to Nora's parents. I closed my eyes and recalled her and her sister's entire name. Noriin and Paulin Dyllan of Ialnis.
The memory of her hugging me as she commended how I suit my name flashes on my memory. How she latched onto me and called me 'My adorable Aerrandria!'
I just sighed and hid the brooches back to my pocket.
"Excited?" I looked up at who said it and saw Stray who stood behind me.
"Very much!" I replied in a grin.
He just pats my head and went to where most of the children were. I watch him as he picks up the three year old and points out to some of the structures that was getting closer.
Ah.
How about Stray? I wonder.
I just realize, I never really learned anything about him, what House he is from and from where he is. All I know is his real name, Eriol.
But he will have to be sent back to his own family.
"..."
Of course, he has to.
Doesn't matter if I'm his Meister, he eventually needs to get back home too.
I held on to my chest and felt a little pang of sting in it.
Ah. I must be tired from overthinking things.
I shook the thoughts off and walk to where Aeron stood. When he saw me coming, he ran towards me. "I can't wait to see Papa and Mama again! Look, my hands are literally shaking" he says in a laugh as he shows me his trembling hands.
Actually, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have gotten involved, I thought as I took his hands.
I notice the callus that had grown on his palms and the pad of his fingers.
He immediately pulled his hands away and rubs his nape. "Anyway, let's join the others. We're about to arrive any minute now."
"Aeron, I might need to travel to deliver Nora's brooches to her own family after some time. Want to come along?"
"Of course! And we can take Stray and Levi along!"
"But Aeron... Stray will be reunited with his own family, I don't think he could join us anymore."
"Oh..." Aeron turns his head to where Stray was. "I never thought about that..."
Soon one of the crew announced our arrival and even before the bridge was pulled down from the airships, I can already see the familiar white haired man and woman in a distance, clad in the familiar yet thick white cloak in hoods with blue collar linings.
Her soft face, looking anxious, turns in disbelief as the bridge finally lands down the deck. She reaches her hands to her face, covering her lips as her eyes wells up with tears. The man beside her, no less, had the same melancholic facial reaction.
"MAMA! PAPA!"
Both Aeron and myself sprinted towards them as they ran and met us halfway.
Papa and Mama both fell to their knees and hugged us both tightly.
I didn't knew how long we stood there embracing but it was sufficing.
Mama cried and cried as expected but it was out of happiness. Papa did better in holding back the tears, not all though because he had to wipe the ones that had escaped from his eyes.
Dozen of royal guards assisted us all back into the Grand Castle where my uncle welcomed us by the anteroom in anticipation. Joining him, was the High Queen and their two sons.
The introductions were brief and fast, my mind was drowning from all the faces and voices talking all at once as we were ushered from one place to another.
I didn't had the chance to properly greet them all as I was sent to a separate room to be bathed and prepared.
They made me wore an extravagant dress this time with many layers of garments on top of another with a white cloak with fur on it's collar lining and hood.
I pulled at my dress and sleeves to fix them in place as I shifted my neck uncomfortably with the furs. I could barely move in this!
What's with all these clothes?
It's annoying, I thought.
"Come in!" I yelled out.
The door opens. "How did you knew I was here?" Levi spoke as he steps in and closed the door behind him. "I was just about to knock."
Apparently, that became a line.
"I just knew." I replied. "Anyway good day, lord Levi" I beamed at him as he smiled at me and greeted me back.
He stood in front of me and helped me adjust the cloak and furry collar.
"Why do they have to make me wear these?" I blurted out.
Levi chuckled. "Because it's almost winter." he replied.
I looked at him, wide eyes. I studied him head to toe and realized he was wearing thick garments as well. He didn't wear a cloak though.
He honestly looks good in his own attire.
He grabs my shoulder and made me walk towards the tall curtain-covered windows. He pulls the curtain aside. There I saw, beyond the foggy glass, were snowflakes falling down towards the city.
"The snow only began just few hours ago. Didn't you feel cold when we arrived earlier?"
"Not really" I shook my head as I stepped closer to the window. "I lost track of time. It was indeed the near end of summer when we left Greenrun." I remember that day. It was still dark then when we left and the air was chilly. We left on a carriage and when I first saw the shadow of Grantzæl City, I admired it. Many things happen after that.
I stared at the view of the city. Soon, winter will envelop the land in a blanket of snow— almost similar how sands rolled out the horizons over at the deserts. Seasons in our continent is different. We don't have Spring and Autumn. We only have Summer and Winter.
"I did try my best to look for you, Lady Aerra." I turned my head to him and realize how he stared at the window sightlessly. "Sorry it took me too long.... I'm really sorry."
He bows down his entire torso before me.
"Lord Levi! Please raise your head! It's okay. You came, that's what matters!" I replied as I tried to have him stand back up.
He took a fleet of warships over another continent to search for us. I heard it was over hundreds and hundreds of them in every other land and continents.
I don't even know how that was possible without inciting a dispute from other countries but he did it nevertheless. His connections must really be huge.
"But I could have been there sooner" he murmurs, standing up and reaching to touch my face. He gaze down at me with the familiar amber eyes that had mixed so much emotions in them. "I'm never letting you out of my sight. I'm not going to let any other man steal you away from me."
I wouldn't call it stolen... I was kidnapped.
Aeron too—
"I will come visit you regularly and more often as I could. Whereas the living arrangement I mentioned last night will still need to be finalized and discussed in another time."
Li-li-living arrangement?!
"Lord Levi. I appreciate all these things you're doing for me but you don't have to bother yourself too much! It w—!"
"It's fine. Just let me spoil you a bit." he says as he got on one knee. "I know you've seen many horrible things out there," he began as he lightly covered his hand over my eyes. "And forgetting or erasing them is not going to be easy." He then takes that hand off and he places it on his own eyes to cover. "But if you're willing and ready to tell me, I'll carry them all for you."
"You don't have to bear them all alone. That's what I'm here for." He concluded as he just knelt there unmoving.
"You're very kind, Lord Levi." I lightly tagged at his hand to uncover his eyes. "I will remember to tell you when I'm ready. But for now, I really wish not to talk about it yet."
He nods and smiled at me. "Take your time."
"Now please stand up!" I insisted as he complied.
"I have one last request to ask of you, if you wouldn't mind?"
"I wouldn't!" I replied abruptly. "Just go ahead,"
"Thank you." He says, even before I could have asked him what it was about. He steps closer and cups my face with both his hands. My body instantly froze. He uses a finger to part the hair that covered my forehead, and then he closes in to press his lips there for a couple of seconds.
He steps back and made me look at him, "That will be enough for now."
I flushed instantly.
I can feel how he respect and regards me kindly with his stare. He looks at me as a girl unlike how others treat me like a kid.
"So, shall we go now? They are waiting." He asks, reaching a hand over.
But I don't want to get attach so I shut off that fluttering feeling that threatens to bloom inside me and just nodded at him in a smile as if nothing happened.
I placed my hand on his as he curled his fingers around mine carefully but tightly.
There are countless things I still need to take care of including the unfinished tasks I had planned previously to finish.
First is to meet the Sage and clarify the stories about the Fallen One. Because every single freakin book I have read never mentioned anything about what I experienced. My dreams, the black outs, and the constant tragedies I'm encountering.
I had never fallen in love, I didn't felt jealousy or envious against anybody, and definitely the Centennial Priestess has yet to be summoned but why do I keep seeing that nightmare as if it beckons me?
It doesn't make sense to me anymore.
Everything I do now is just like the exact thing my destiny wants me to do. Like I have no escape.
I could have easily accepted it all if I could still control it— especially control my own mind and body but I feel something else is otherwise trying to control me and take over.
But I'm not scared anymore though...
I just want to understand what's happening.
However...
If time permits me to do something in between, I also need to travel once again across the lands to find Nora and Pola's parents.
I nodded in agreement on the plan I formed in my head. One day at time, I told myself as we finally arrived at a vast terrace filled with music, food and entertainers. Beyond it, you can see the city square where more people and stalls gathered like a festival. Balloons are flying about and fireworks went off every other minute. I saw the children all looking neat and well dressed. Aeron and Stray is in a corner talking cheerfully. They all seem to be enjoying theirselves together.
Despite all the laughs and other lively ambiance, I can see how tight the security had become. Levi who stood beside me as my escort, called my attention and gestured at a covered area where my uncle and his wife sat together with my parents and our cousins. "Let's join them first? And then we can tour the city if you want?" he asks, sounding more like an offer. "Okay." I answered as we made our way across the place.
That day, the entire Kingdom celebrates for our return.
———end of Chapter 8———