"If it was him, then what was he doing in Alkal?", Ophelia thought out loud. She was even more confused now. She took out a stone tablet, it was smaller than the one Mona Serinna used in the hall.
"ligero", commanded Ophelia and the stone lit up.
"bugun kira, Serinna", a dial screen appeared with Serinna and soon a familiar face was displayed on the screen, it was Mona Serinna's face.
Faraway in the town of Alkal, Mona Serinna sat on her bed facing a wall screen that was displaying Ophelia. She scrutinized Every each of the young woman's face. Ever since she felt Alkal this was the first time the silly girl was calling her and it had been over two months now. She had been worried that the girl might have been mistreated or not welcomed there or that she might have been more malnourished since she didn't like to eat. The girl in front of her right now looked alright except for a little frown on her face, she was looking more pretty. The young woman on the screen too was doing likewise. All these happened within seconds.
"Hello, my Ophelia. How are you?", she beamed.
"Serinna, how are the wolves related to the werewolves?", she was too anxious to exchange pleasantries.
The older woman was a little taken aback by the question. She also didn't know what relationship there was between these creatures.
"There's this fable about the werewolves been one of the offsprings of Zaux, the creator of our world, which he had with a wolf. The other offsprings are of course, the nightwalkers and humans. According to legends, Zaux never married because his lover was too cold to fall in love, but he met three beautiful creatures and had children with them. The last was a human, the second a wolf and the first was the only daughter of another God, Hades, the king of hell. She is the mother of the nightwalkers. Anyways, a fable is a fable. Why are you bothered about this?", she took deep breaths.
"I'm l?", she sounded very casual but Mona Serinna left that it didn't sound right. 'Is she hiding something?'
"If you say so. Ain't you going to say hello properly." Mona Serinna sounded vexed but she was not. She was already used to Ophelia's carefree attitude. There was no need for formalities between them.
"..." as expected, Ophelia was looking on calmly, not even acknowledging the queries of the older woman.
"Your aunt Galia is dead", Mona Serinna added.
"we are not related"
"Truthfully, she's your biological aunt. She died because she colluded with outsiders",
"Does she know about me?"
"No"
"Good."
Ophelia studied her guardian. The other woman looked quite distracted.
"Sighing like this will not do, spill it", interrogated Ophelia, amused.
"Alkal might be besieged... or we might be invaded at anytime."
Ophelia was conflicted. She didn't know whether she should be sad or happy that the war was happening. She loved Alkal but she didn't like it's elders. They were too hypocritical and greedy. Seeking benefits above all.
"You can pay a visit, Aunt Serinna"
The old woman looked sullen and downcast. She had lived in Alkal for many years and even become one of it's elders. She couldn't leave when it was in crisis, she would be betraying her believes otherwise.
Ophelia was looking out the window too. She knew that a war was inevitable but she still prayed in her heart that the war should not happen. She turned back to the screen and saw that her aunt was still deep in thought. She had suggested subtly that she should leave but she knew more than anyone else how attached her guardian was with the town. No matter where one lived, they would definitely have sentiments about it.
"I'll hang up now", said Mona Serinna after a stretched silence. She hung up.
Ophelia still held the tablet. She looked crest fallen. Her aunt had died betraying the town. Eventhough her guardian didn't give the specifics, she could deduce that her aunt had done it for her mother but she was not sad. she felt it was a pity. They were not close after all. 'Could it be that my aunt was trying to protect me by acting against me?' she thought.
*****
The sun slowing rose up from its slumber in all its glory smiling down on Fur Mountain. Unlike every other day, the field was empty and so was the court. Ophelia stood at the end of the field breathing heavily. Behind her was a forest of dark green trees shooting into the sky. She did some stretches then sat down. From her small backpack, she took out a bottled of water, uncapped it and drank some. The wind blew, rustling leaves flew everywhere tangling her hair. She sat there quietly enjoying the morning.
Nicklaus decided to take walk down the field because he was too tired to jog. From afar he could see Ophelia sitting down quietly. Her long hair moved with the wind entangling itself with dry leaves. Even at such a distance, her was still enchanting to behold. She was emitting a majestic aura. She seemed to glow, somehow. Entranced, he took long strides towards her.
"Hey bunny, good morning", he called out his voice echoing in the woods.
Ophelia looked up to see Nicklaus striding towards her with a warm smile. His silhouette was majestic. She had to admit that he was an inborn king. Every of his stride was confident and kingly. Her eyes stayed on his face. His eyes were dark and unfathomable like a deep abyss. Downwards, his thin lips were curved into a warm smile for her but yesterday those lips...
She blushed and took a sip of water.
Nicklaus sat beside her he took the water bottled, uncapped it and drank some water too.
"Did you sleep?", he asked.
"yea", replied Ophelia.
"I saw you looking out the window"
"hmm", she was not surprised. Many wolves were looking at her yesterday. "Does that happen often?"
"We turn that way once in a while. Scared?"
She shook her head. She was not scared, she was just surprised and a bit shocked. The fables that were told to entertain people was actually a true legend! Yesterday, she realised how complicated yet intriguing her world was. Before she came here she had only had of humans and the Alkal. Even though the Alkals were variants, they were still humans.
"What are you thinking?", asked Nicklaus.
"Nothing."
He moved closer to her. Ophelia looked at him with query in her eyes. 'What's he up to now?'.
Knowing what she was thinking, he explained,
"You've got your hair tangled"
"Oh", she blushed but still allowed him to continue.
"You didn't think I wanted to. hmm?", Nicklaus deliberately brought his head close to hers. Ophelia kept a straight face but she was messed up inside. Her disobedient heart had his a beat again. She could hear the loud drums. She became fidgety wondering if he could hear it too but she didn't dear to look up.
Nicklaus drowned himself in her silver eyes. He had only wanted to bluff her but he was now the one been ensnared. 'If only you know what you do to me, Ophelia'...
"I'm going in", said Ophelia bringing Nicklaus out of his lust
"I'm tired. Let me sleep for a while", not giving any room for negotiations he put his head on her thigh and slept. Ophelia could only sit down there, perplexed.
It went on like these for days and Nicklaus begin to slip his way into Ophelia's heart....