Black arts is demonic cultivation. The power to control over the dead and the demons and to curse. Among these, the Faery King only possess the power of Curse Magic.
Kyra wracked her brain.
If she really is in the ethereal stage… how can she make use of it to trick her father and save her mother?
Will it be useful? Or will it bring her more pain to endure?
"Are you feeling okay now?" Lester voiced out his concern. Kyra is a princess with a few words. A tight lipped faery who every servants in the Elven Croft palace considers a miracle if they heard her say one word.
In the High Court, the moment she spoke, if it wasn't for the Ice Demon, every royal guard and Elders should have marveled and considered themselves truly lucky to be present because they get to hear the princess speak.
Lester know Kyra will usually speak three words in a week, or less. The last seven days Kyra spent in the High Court being tortured, Lester know she has not said a single word or screamed.
Because the more sounds she produce, the angrier the Faery King will get. In order to avoid recurring his wrath, she would keep her mouth shut. And she grow up like that.
Kyra is still feeling nauseous. Lester immediately reach out from his pouch bag and took out the medicine pill. He took Kyra's hand and let the pill slid in her fingertips. Soon the vines took the pill and fed it to Kyra herself.
When she opened her eyes, her sight are gradually recovering. Lester asked again, "Your Highness, are you feeling okay now?"
She gave a curt nod. Kyra let the lotus vines fix her tattered clothes. When she get up, the white robes are as good as new as it was like on that day when Lester braided her hair in front of her dressing table.
Lester smelled the fresh smell of lotus flower in the air. Coming from Kyra's clothes. Sensing the lotus vines must have covered the smell of blood and dirt, he knew where she will be going next.
However, he stop her. His hand unconsciously reach out to grab Kyra's sleeves. Kyra stop and turned around to face him, her azure eyes blinking in puzzlement.
"Your Highness, do you really want to visit your mother at this point of time?"
Kyra nodded. Lester think back to the Twelve Elders who are already dead. And the threat the Ice Demon left for them. It was only a matter of time before that threat became a reality. After all, Ice Demon is a repeated offender.
The Faery King must have known it too. Lester, upon following that line of thought, exhale a long breath.
"Your Highness, I'm afraid I may not be able to accompany you to your mother, the Faery Queen tonight. But, just in case, while the Faery King is busy, I want you to take this."
Lester gave her the Portal key. It was a bluish crystal in a shape of a flower. "Take your mother from here, Your Highness. I'm afraid the fairy realm is no longer safe for both of you. Take her to the mortal realm. Hide in the same village where I found you last time. If you ask them to let you stay for a while, I'm sure they will accommodate you both."
Kyra hesitated for a long time. She remembered the human dwelling village she stayed last time when her father send her to the mortal realm. Looking closely on it, there were only elderly and children. Women and strong men who work as farmers.
Just the image of him shattered the fragile will of Kyra to fight back Lester. She does not want to admit it, but deep inside her, she wants to go back there. She can imagine her mother living well in the place of mortals.
Both of them can live there together, without caring for the fairy affairs, having no fear when the Fairy King will come and torture both of them. With one last sigh, Kyra take the Portal key to her hands.
"Won't you come with us, Lester? The three of us can live there together. We can be free….and live in peace."
Kyra's voice fall into a whisper. And hearing her said those words made him falter in his feet. Because from the very beginning, his sole desire is to get closer to this aloof and lonely Princess.
He wants to get to know her. To see the world reflected in her azure eyes. He always wondered what kind of universe she see on that long eyelashes….and whether he has the chance to be part of it.
If she's asking this question to him… does that mean she can see him in her own version of 'future'?
The mere thought filled Lester with bubbling joy. He wants to hold the hand reaching out to him. Caress the fingertips, take all the pain she felt. Protect her from the harsh snow. Let her see the world she sought to touch. And finally see the corners of her mouth lifted up in a smile.
That's the sole reason he exist after all.
She is a dream he does not dare to covet. But he still long for her heart through all these years.
"Your Highness…." Lester fight against the loud beating of his heart. Clench his fist and dared to say,
"Your Highness, did you know? Serving and protecting you is a huge honor. Thank you for choosing me to be your royal bodyguard. Thank you for letting me stay by your side and take care of you. I was glad you let me braid and comb your hair. I was glad you let me accompany you wherever you need to go. I was glad you trusted me. Your Highness, you're the only….. In my eyes you're the only pure silver white lotus in this cold and desolate palace. My saving grace…. And the only beautiful myth in my heart."
A soft tear flowed silently down his cheek. Lester is not expecting this stimulation. The intense feeling that clogged up his throat and pierced his heart. When he look straight into her eyes, he saw nothing reflected in it except his face…
It was as if…. He's the only universe she only want to see….
A beautiful lie he desperately hold in his heart… In order for him to gain courage to turn his back on her. He needs this lie…. In order for his feet to move… to finally move in different direction from her.
"Forgive me, Your Highness… I'm afraid I can no longer accompany you. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a healthy and peaceful life."
'I'm sorry. I just don't want my one sided affection to be a thorn on your side.'
At that moment, the bell in the West side of Elven Croft Palace rang so loudly the walls trembled slightly. Cielo looked up, alarmed.
"Your Highness… you must hurry. Your mother!"
It was as if Kyra woke up in a trance and finally remembered her mother is near the west side. She clench her fist. With one last lingering look, she look back at Lester and ran towards the west corridor.