I'm resting on my bed, juggling a soft ball in between my hands when Zaffera makes an appearance.
"Come with me?" says her with a serious expression to then burst out laughing. I look at her puzzled while she begins to walk away hinting me to follow her.
We head towards the back of the Palace, through a small door I doubt I've seen before. My steps resound aloud and Zaffera signals me to be quiet so we don't wake anyone up. Once out, we go through a series of bare tree branches and rose thorns that lead to a clearer pathway.
"Ouch." I say in slight pain looking at the scratch made by a sharp stick on my face.
"Are you okay? I know it's not the easiest path to take, but trust me it will be worth it." She says grabbing my hand to take me to the next path.
"Yeah it's fine really. It's only hurting slightly because it's on the same spot one of the arrows bruised me during training. Where are we headed anyways?"
"Follow me and you will found out." she says with a wink. Her dark skin is glowing in the low amber light and I can't help but admire her in awe. She has this beautiful aura about her and I could just follow her into the deep end blindly. It's not her looks but her attitude, her spontaneity and excited nature as well asthe shimmer is often has around her eyes when curioused or content. The way she has lead me to trust a complete stranger like herself and I'm slowly learning more and more about her character.
Quite some steps later we have arrived a destination. It's a vast green hill facing a lake. There's creatures and bugs everywhere and we lay down on the grass by two big rocks. We lay in silence for a time staring at the immense blue sky as the glittering creatures carry out their natural routines, undisturbed by our presence.
"Do you ever feel like nobody truly sees you or knows" she says still looking up at the stars, breaking up the silence that formed unintentionally, the soft amber glow about her skin becoming more and more prominent.
"Pretty much always. Nobody truly knows me really, I'm never outside Palace except when I'm with you and-"
A sudden rumble is heard. From the lake a colossial white iceberg springs up unannounced. For a second or two I lose all visibility. My hands begin to tingle. I'm not the type to be afraid, but I do hate sudden happenings. And I consider this to be one.
"Wh-what is happening" I ask worriedly, struggling to even get my words out.
"Shushhh, calm down will you!" she exclaims with intrepiding awe, her demeanour much calmer in contrast to mine, "just look, it's all going to be alright." I try to ease back on to the grass, forcing my heart rate to drop before I kiss dear life goodbye. And then something spectacular happens. Little fairy lights come out of the waters that are now settling from the storm caused by the rising iceberg and the sky breaks into fireworks.
"I feel understood here" she speaks laying down on the grass fully and taking in the moment. I mirror her, finally understanding what is happening. "Nobody truly knows me... you included."
Her tone suddenly cold. I feel a sharp sting about my ribs and the air feels thick. I gulp down hard as tension begins to build up. I await for a laugh from her part saying that it was a joke. Something she usually does when acting serous. But in reality she is quite correct, I don't know her. In fact I know so little that she could be a spy trying to lure me to downfall for all that matters. Just like when she disappeared mysteriously out of training and never explained herself.
But why does her acknowledgment of a fact feels to ice cold and detached?