My muscles felt exhausted and numb. Dizziness was swirling me in and out. Even my bones were crackling with pain. There was some energy whirling inside my head too. I could explain much of it, though. After Elliot saved me, all that I clearly remembered was some explosion which hit my left shoulder. Between that period, my memory is hazy and unclear. I could recall some shadows around me and then when I got back to my senses, Elliot was standing in front of me with a frightened and disgusted look. Honestly, that look coming out from Elliot disheartened me but when he had gotten closer, I realised that it wasn't Elliot, not at all. Elliot was nothing like that.
I couldn't believe that I was bewitched by that woman who transformed herself to Elliot. Though she had copied all the physical aspects of Elliot she could not copy the subtlety of the real Elliot. I looked down at Elliot who was tucked up in my arms as we flew in the sky.
She may try copying this beautiful, cute face and smooth brown hairs but she will not be able to copy the sheer pureness and innocence of his soul and expressions. There could never exist a second Elliot....at least not for me. Elliot can only be Elliot, no one could ever take his place.
"I...love..you too" He whispered low but my ears caught them.
It left a sudden surge of a current through me. I looked down at his sleepy face. Did he really say those four words to me? Or my ears were buzzing??
I felt the whispers of the winds and the flaps of the bird around me go silent. The world squeezed down to just me and Elliot. I could hear my heartbeat racing and my mind screaming. All my exhaustion suddenly faded into nothingness. What was this feeling?? Did Elliot just really say he loved me??
As I silently stared at Elliot, a drop of tear trailed down Elliot's pink cheek. Was he in pain?? I rubbed off that tear just like I had done it under my Klves tree. No, it wasn't just my tree now. It was our tree. That time also Elliot's tears rolled out of nowhere and just like this I was hurt seeing him cry. Elliot should never cry. Someone like him should never be made to cry. But ironically, it has been me who has made him cry all these times..
"Please...stop...don't go." He said again in an even low tone. His voice was cracking with fear and sadness...Is he having some nightmare??
"I am here..I won't go anywhere. It's okay." I whispered in his ears and it kind of soothe him.
I sighed as the world returned to me. Obrion was sitting in front of us. He was riding this huge green bird which he had summoned. It was dad's idea. He wanted us to leave safely. Honestly speaking, when dad said that he wouldn't be coming with us and will fight those shitty masked guys there, I wanted to rebel. As Millia had mentioned, it was indeed a dangerous plan but his reply of confidence shunned me. I had known dad this much till now that no matter what reasons we would have given him he would not have changed his decision. I agreed to his words at the last moment when he had promised me he would come back.
"I will be back in no time, son." He had proudly consoled me and patted my back. Then the four of us had flown leaving dad in that spell of dust storm.
Millia and Nathan were riding behind us on the other bird Obrion had summoned. I turned around to meet them but...but wait! Where are they??
My eyes searched for their familiar figures but they never caught a glimpse of them. Were they left behind? Or were they attacked??
"Obrion !!" I cried.
"Young Master, is there a problem?" He asked shortly, bringing the bird to a halt and turning towards me.
"Nathan and Millia..." I said pointing towards the empty horizon where the rocks were replaced by the lush green forests of blooming flowers and fruits.
"They are not behind us anymore." I added. He finally understood my words and I could see the pale and horror look that was swallowing his face slowly.
"But Young Madam and that human were there..." He started but didn't finish what he wanted to say. Probably his words were lost in his thoughts.
"What should we do now?" I asked.
But he never replied. He turned back and started flying his bird in the direction of the Flora clan. But shouldn't we be turning back to look for them?
"Hey ! What are you doing?? We should turn around. We should look for them!" I yelled but he still was not heaved.
"Hey Obrion! Are you listening to what I am saying??" I added.
"I am, Young master. I am following your father's order. My duty is to keep you safe." He answered.
"But Dad wanted you to keep all of us safe, not just me.. You can't just leave them." I reasoned.
"A faithful man should not break his vow. You need to do what dad said." I added, shortly after.
"Believe me young master, I am following what I was ordered. I am not going to leave Young madam and that human behind, not in my dreams. I am firstly going to leave you both in the hands of safety, that is, the safety of Flora Clan and then I shall return again to look for young madam. And dear master, please do not put a question on my loyalty to the Clan Leader's order." He explained and put a sprinkle of feign in the last part. Maybe he was pretty sensitive on the topic of his loyalty.
"But what if they were attacked by those masked guys?" I said desperately.
"In that case, even if we were to look for them it would only help them get what they want from us.." He explained.
I was silenced at the remark. He's got a point but...but...my eyes went down to meet Elliot's face. The only one I have got by my side now, is him. What if he is gone too? I tightened my grip on Elliot small body.
"Please be alright. All of you." I prayed.
"Please don't worry young master. I am sure even if they are in some trouble, your father will not let anything happen to them." He consoled me but it hardly made any difference in my feelings.
It took about half -an-hour more to reach the main residence of the Flora Clan, the residence of Lady Synthia, the head of the Flora Clan. We shall meet her first to pay our respect for her benevolence. Then she shall provide us with our living and then finally Obrion will be able to look for Millia and Nathan and probably even dad.
From up here, the clan was as beautiful as a bride. There were small houses painted with green and pink and almost all of them had a garden in them with trees of Klves, Davis and Cherry blossoms. Even the air here felt scented. The streets were a little further from residential areas. It was dusk time so they were crowded with all kinds of people and creatures. Even from the height, I could decipher some Blooming Faeries dancing gracefully in the air, leaving behind a sparkle of glitter while small kinds tried to catch them. There were vendors, traders and customers all round. This was probably what you could call a 'Happy city'.
The mansion of the Clan Lady was certainly a sight to behold. It was located in the centre of the city. The garden was about the size of a lake while the mansion itself was no less than a castle. It was a five-floored brick coloured house. It had about fifty, no, a hundred windows decorated with coloured glass and different plants and flowers. Even the main entrance door had thorning rose bushes in the corners spread all the way to the doorknob.
We got down from the bird and Obrion dismissed it which caused it to disappear in a smoke of green feathers. There was just one thing that I couldn't quite figure out. There was no guard at the door or the gate. The place felt deserted. I moved forward as Obrion walked behind me.
Elliot was in Obrion's hands now. I knocked at the metal door but there was just utter silence in the reply. I touched the door and suddenly the rose bush flipped and pricked me with one of its thorns. Was it some kind of magic? I was about to twist the doorknob again but I was stopped by a shrill call from a girl.
"No ! Don't touch. It turns poisonous after the first warning." She said. I turned around but could not see any faces.
"Down here." The voice said. I glanced down to meet a small fairy dressed in leaves and flowers. Probably, she was a staff of this mansion.
"But I need to get in." I said.
"Who are you?" She asked in her cheeky voice.
"I am Terra Clan's leader 's son. We had informed Lady Synthia of our arrival." I answered.
"How do I believe you?" She interrogated
I was thinking what can I do to make this little fairy believe that I am not lying. It's not like I have any pass or invitation with me. It was probably with dad.
Suddenly, I heard a loud 'cricking' sound. And the rose bushes in front of the door resided. Then the huge door opened to a bright white hall with a pair of winding stairs in front and a chandelier of flowers and glass. Under it stood a marvellously gorgeous lady dressed in red. She had a wide smile on her face. She had long black hair with flowers embedded in them. Her face was round and eyes green and big. Beside her stood another young girl dressed similarly. The only difference was that she had her hair in a ponytail. She was probably her daughter Lia. Lady Synthia greeted me with a little bow and I went on my knees in respect.
"Lady Synthia, I am pleased to meet you." I said respectfully.
"The pleasure is all ours, young lord. I hope our soldiers and staff didn't quite disappoint you." She said hinting at the tiny fairy behind me and the rose bushes
I looked up with a smile. So those flowers were magical soldiers, after all.
"Not at all, my lady." I replied sternly.
"Then I shall leave you in my daughter's company who shall lead you all to your room so you can take some rest. We will have some talk about your hasty arrival, later." She said and I got up.
My eyes caught up to the young lady, Lia. I don't why but her way of looking at me kind of made me uncomfortable.
She was looking at me...with...with interest.