"So, what's the plan?" Kira's voice broke Davina from her thoughts of the past.
"We need to go to Farren," said Quinn.
He was holding the book in his hands. His grey eyes scanned the pages, reading more of the instructions and information. The way they treated the book was like it was priceless treasure.
Well, being Felix's friend taught Davina that knowledge and books are priceless treasure. Although she wasn't sure how they'd react if she told them where that book was before.
"I've always wanted to go there!" beamed Kira. "Haven't you gone there before?" She asked Arlo.
"No. It was my brother who went there."
Farren?
She hasn't heard any of the sort from Felix before. He did stop trying to decipher the book when he was sent to fight in the war. Not really stopped but he wasn't making as much progress as he used to.
"Where is that?" Davina asked.
Their heads turned to her. From the looks on their faces, the chances they forgot she was there were high.
The Inarians all looked at each other, mostly at Arlo who just let out a sigh and shrugged. As if he didn't have a choice or say in the matter.
"Farren is a realm with magical creatures. There are many other people like us there," explained Kira while sidling up to Davina again.
"More people like you?"
"Yes, people with magic. There are also mermaids, fairies, elves, and fairies..."
Davina's heart thumped against her chest. There was this secret realm somewhere with more magical creatures like Inarians. These creatures that were supposed to be from fairytales. They would definitely take the Inarian's side in the war.
"Only a few Inarians know how to go there to keep it safe from hu-" Kira paused, but Davina caught where she was going with it. She didn't bother to react. She wasn't in the mood.
"How do you get there?" She asked.
"It says that there's a portal that would only open on the night of the full moon," said Quinn. "The portal is at the west of the Darian Sea. Near the island with a skull as a mountain."
Quinn didn't seem familiar with the place. His eyes landed on Davina, hoping she knew where it was.
"It's near here," she assured him. "Probably a day's travel depending on the wind and the tides."
"Good. Now the night of the full moon...How many more nights till then?"
"Two nights," replied Arlo. "The ship is almost repaired. We could leave by nightfall."
~~~~~
Davina stared at the balls of light floating on top and around the cave. The chirps and tweets of birds filled her ears. She immersed herself with the pleasant view and sound, trying to still her heart. Quinn, Arlo, and Kira were still in the captain's room discussing the plan on getting to the Island of Eryl.
Even if she tried, Davina couldn't understand anything they were saying. She still had a lot on her mind. She wanted to think.
The longer she stayed in the room, she felt as if it was closing in on her. Her chest hurt and cold sweat started to form in her back. At first she thought it was because of Kira. But even when the girl let her go to discuss furthermore about their plan, the suffocating feeling still remained. Not wanting to be stuck inside any longer, she decided that she needed some air.
She expected some sort of trouble, mostly with Arlo, when she was going to leave the room. But there was only his unwavering stare when she left. He probably had no worries since she was trapped in the cave.
"Dana?"
She straightened her posture, expecting to see the Inarians. But there was only Felix standing right beside her. She relaxed.
"You haven't called me that since I was ten."
"Everyone's doing it and I wanted to join."
"Don't. It sets me on edge."
"You look like you've been 'on edge' for a while now."
She made a sound of agreement. "I'm just...trying to take it all in."
Felix looked at her with a concerned expression on his face. She was a little pale. Her brown eyes which usually held life looked bland. Her head was also spinning.
"Maybe you need to sleep. You didn't get the chance to rest last night." Felix reminded her of her training last night.
"I doubt I'll be able to sleep right now. It's just," she gestured to everything around her, "I can't believe this is happening. It all feels like...I don't know what it feels like. I can't describe it."
She sat on the deck of the ship. There was the cry of an eagle near her. She looked up and saw an eagle on top of the masts. It was probably Rowan. No wonder Arlo acted very confident, he had a spy. But she couldn't bother herself with that now.
After a few seconds, it spread its wings and flew with the other birds. Davina reached out her hand as if to take it.
"You still do that," commented Felix.
The sounds of the birds filled the silence between them.
"I don't know what to do Felix," she placed her face in her hands. "I don't know what to think."
"What's hard to process?" He made himself comfortable beside her.
"I mean," she ran her hands through her hair, "The Island of Eryl. This whole new realm called Farren that has creatures that could ruin Eris if they wanted to. That Inarian we met earlier in the Kingdom. Rianne, your own sister, working with Inarians. And this," she held up her arm that held the bracelet.
She took a breath.
"Quinn said something about this being enchanted, but it's not. It's just a bracelet. Well, not just a bracelet of course-but it isn't magical. But then that message came from it and-"
She took another breath.
"I don't know what to think. You're better with this than me Felix. You've always been so open. Tell me, what should I do?"
"Wait wait- Davina, breathe. Follow my lead. In. Out. In. Out."
Felix placed his hand on her shoulder. It may have been because of the stress, but she thought she felt some pressure in his touch.
"I expected this would happen."
"If this is you saying 'I told you so,' now's not the right time."
"You're asking me what to do, but I think you won't listen to me."
"It's not like I have a choice, Felix. It's either I'll be killed or they'll erase my memories."
"Wouldn't you rather forget everything you knew than suffer like this?"
She shook her head furiously. "I don't want to forget." Her breathing started to become steady. "Didn't you tell me that discovering new things is satisfying?"
"How's that working out for you?"
Davina sighed. "If you were in my position, I don't think you'd panic. I think you'd even be excited."
"I'd probably panic a little."
"You might handle this better."
"I thought we were best friends Davina. Because knowing me, I probably won't," he said to make her feel better. It worked a little. "So, what are you going to do now?"
"What else can I do? I'll stay with the Inarians. I have a feeling they're looking for something. And Rianne is somehow tied in all of this. There are many things I want to find out, but I have my own questions that need to be answered."
Felix was relieved she was feeling better. Yet he still disapproved of this mission she made herself think she needed to complete. Just like when he didn't know what to say or didn't agree with something, he didn't bother to speak.
Davina turned to the sound of the door of the captain's room opening. Kira and Arlo left at the same time. Davina caught a glance of Quinn who was deeply buried in the book.
"Dana," Kira said, "are you alright?"
"Yes," Davina shot up. "I was just fixing the boots."
Arlo walked away, uninterested.
"Oh. Are they too big? Or small?" Kira glanced from her feet to Davina's. "I could go to the Kingdom and see something for your size. Maybe we can both go. I can make you look like-"
"No, it's fine." Davina held her hands up. The carefree attitude these Inairans had were still getting on her nerves. She didn't want to go out there again. "These are fine. They're perfect."
She couldn't look at the young girl in the eye, thinking it would give her away that she was definitely not fine. Davina was about to head to her room when Kira placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes. Yes, nothing's wrong."
"I could cook something for you. You didn't look that good since you and Quinn left the cabin. Was it because of that disappearing person Quinn mentioned earlier?"
"Ummm yes." It was one of the reasons among many, but she just decided to go with that. "It was...weird."
"Seeing that happened must've spooked you. You still look pale. Come," she held Davina's wrist, "I'll make something that will make you feel better while I tell you when my mom disappeared in front of me." Kira let out a laugh. "I couldn't get over it for a month."