King Remus had cursed his daughter not to ever leave the premises of Quewarnds (Where the lineage of Queens had been living for centuries) and that she would die instantly the day she attempts to step out of the palace.
Queen Arla had given birth to three children, two princesses and a prince.
The diviner, Zaki had revealed that her children were immortals as a result of the superior dragon blood that flowed through their veins.
There had not been existence of humadrago (an half human and dragon) in millenniums the last type of them had died in a battle between human and dragons whereby the humans annihilated the whole species of humadragos.
Lord Galdor a powerful warlord dragon had seduced the one and only Princess of the Mist Universe centuries ago causing the world's disorder.
Few years into their forbidden marriage,Lord Galdor indulged in a secret affair with a humademo (half human and demon) maid serving in Quewarnds thereby birthing a dragdemo ( half dragon-demon) son for him.
Queen Arla had felt betrayed after she found out and broke off their union, she had banished her ex husband into a remote land.
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*Amber's POV"
I looked around us consecutively taking in our surroundings, it was daylight here I never for once thought I'd see the sunrise ever again.
The paths we've been walking through all this while had been dark and gloomy even the sky lacked stars in it.
Those grotesques attack and all made me miss my previous world how can these evil things exist freely as it was absolutely normal.
If not for the intervention of the screeching owl that distracted the grotesques who knows what would have become of them.
As Loel had explained the owl was a messenger sent by the Spirits to call them back to slumber.
The moving trees of this world fascinated me still, I had rested my back on a tree bark earlier today, it slopped down making me more comfortable I was intrigued.
"Thank you tree." I said to the tree before getting back on my feet.
"You're welcome Chosen one." It had replied me.
"Look!!! it spoke to me wow." I had called out excitedly to Loel who was picking up dried fruits for us by the next tree.
"Yes Mistress it's meant to." He retorted politely, he seemed smile more often recently that when we had met initially.
Maybe he was being cautious as she was of royalty, she wished he didn't reckon her in that way besides she wasn't the actual Princess Amber she only shared a body with her.
She had come to that conclusion at least, she couldn't be the one they supposed her to be if not, how did she not have even the slightest memory of this world they claimed she lived in for years?
"Loel where are we headed to I thought we could cast a spell here in the woods remember what you promised." I reminded him hopefully, I dreaded any other unforeseen scary events transpiring over again.
His worried face scrutinized the environment before turning to face me.
"Dried fruits Mistress? You hardly eat these days." He replied ignoring my query for the first time ever, his leather bag hung across his chest were filled with fruits of all kinds tasty ones at that.
My stomach rumbled just in time I hadn't realized that I've been starving due to all the mishaps we've been running into.
"Can I have one of those?" I asked hungrily.
"They're all yours let's settle behind that little tree over there I'll get water." Loel said as he gestured for me to come along, we walked to the tree crouching beneath it he dropped the bag placing it in front of me.
"Stay right here I'll be back." He warned soberly
"Take some" I said dipping my hands into the fruit bag
"Not now I'll eat later Mistress." He answered calmly in a moment he drifted into the thick tree coverings.
I bit into a blue apple fruit it tasted so sweet and yummy I savored the taste slowly before swallowing.
I wasn't a fan of fruits in the past, Nanny Elsa's lecture on the nourishment benefits of them hadn't unnerve my disinterest either but consuming one now gave me a new perspective.
The cool clean air blew steadily,my nostrils sucked in the freshness apart from this world being frightening it was a serene place.
Loel came in sight holding a jug in his right hand I gaped.
I knew too well that he had no jug with him when he left earlier.
"Where did this come from?" I inquired adjusting in my stooped spot pointing at the object.
"I summoned it with the gemstone I can at least do that." He replied sitting beside me on the ground.
"I forgot to ask you looked disturbed then and even brushed off my question the other time." I told him dismissing my curiosity
"Nothing really I have just been contemplating on which route to take on next that'll be the safest too." He said collecting fruits from the bag he barely looked at me as usual.
It must be tough on him too I thought guiltily protecting me along the way and all.
I observed his troubled countenance, being a personal guard to a Princess or any royalty wasn't so easy like I had pictured in those fantasy books I resonated with him.
"The thing is in the two options available The Dream Empire would be much more secure but tricky." He speculated packing up the remainder of the fruits into the bag.
"Are we leaving immediately?" I asked surprised rising up.
"Yes there's no time Mistress it's too risky out here moreover your powers have declined we need to arrive at Quewarnds before the dragon feast even though you're half dragon it's still not advisable to run into them." Loel notified me as he hung his bag across his breast turning to move he halted.
"I have concluded that we'll take the Dream Empire path Mistress please listen carefully the place is quite catchy do not lose your focus.It is also referred to as where all your unfulfilled dreams come true." He said pausing to give me a moment to digest the information.
"Oh really sounds magical I guess." I uttered elatedly searching his eyes for approval he didn't look so happy.
"It's not as cool as you think cunning artifacts kept in there for centuries are usually awoken each time human presence is sensed. They might stir you up and try to entice you into making wishes it'll be the end of you if you succumb to them whatsoever." He discouraged in a grave tone
"Will I get all spooky and disappear puuuuuf in the air if I make any wish." I said jokingly giggling hoping to release the serious atmosphere he sparked between us.
"It's not as trivial as you think Mistress regardless your mind frame matters if you make an evil wish you'll get trapped in there forever as it's a sanctuary of purity." He added
"What if I make a good one?" I asked curiously
"It'll come through or you might disappear from this world entirely do you intend to make a wish?" He queried his expression changed into that of alarm.
"No no don't look at me like that I'll gladly follow your instructions to blank out my thoughts from desirable wishes right." I defended abruptly a sly voice in my head sang "Here is your chance to wish yourself out of this world, you want to return to yours not so?"I tapped my head with my fingers in self denial.
"Let's be on the way Mistress." He said relieved as he continued in his steps.
"Get that off your mind Amber don't heed to the voice" I muttered softly to myself walking behind Loel whose strides had increased.
The much anticipated Dream Empire came into view It looked magnificent, made of shaped colorful rocks, the edifice silhouetted through the narrow valley few meters away from us.
An horizontal barrier stood ahead of us as we drew closer to it.
"What's that." I asked Loel in awe running forward to keep up with him.
"It's a passage to the Dream Empire we have to throw in the gemstone to gain entrance." He responded
"Wow so dreamy." I looked at the building more intensely it's structure was almost reaching the sky.
On getting to the barrier, Loel flung the stone in it breaking it open.
"So cool." I praised him of which he smiled in appreciation bowing.
"Thank you Mistress." He said
"Don't be so formal you did great." I complimented nudging him, he stared puzzled.I noticed his facial expression
"What?" I enquired
"Nothing just that you've never applauded me in the past or speak with me so informally." He replied as we walked into the valley.
"Oh I did that? So mean of me I'm a changed person now okay." I assured him grinning I caught his pleased look from the sides as I was almost at same pace with him.
He nodded in response.
We arrived at the huge metal door it unlocked automatically showing us its interior splendor for our eyes to feast upon.
I was enthralled by its magical sight, the artifacts Loel mentioned previously stood in different corners unmoving in the blink of an eye they were all dangling in the air.
I hurried to Loel's side nearly tripping.
"Don't feel scared they can sense your emotions and use it against you besides you're a humadrago and the Chosen One you won't get harmed." He comforted
"Ok can I hold on to your hand I'm freaking out." I whispered too afraid for my voice to be aloud.Remembering his convictions about the impropriety of physically coming in contact with a royal.
"What did you say Mistress?" He asked as he saw my mouth move.
"Don't bother." I answered quietly shutting out any thoughts from my mind.
"Move along with me don't stop at all cost." He warned me squarely as we made our way through the hundreds of artifacts hanging in mid air around us.
"Amber Rose remember me right the mirror frame." A friendly voice called out to me I wanted to ignore but the tone sounded really familiar I peeked quickly just then my gaze locked in with that of a frame no a mirror frame at that.
I stopped in my tracks to get a closer look at it, the flashbacks of the incident that had taken place in my room came all back to me. Oh this was the Mirror frame that blinded me with its light before I found myself in this world I could not be wrong I thought firmly advancing towards it.
"I'm sure you have a wish you miss home right tell it to me I'll fulfill your desires." The mirror frame convinced slyly.
The word 'home' swept in mixed feeling within me even if I tried to deny it at this point the fact that I longed to return to my safe world regardless of my scarred face couldn't alter.
"Yes I wish to go home." I replied in spite of Loel's advice.He and the others were all clueless to my plight.
"Ok your wish is my command come on in to your world." The mirror frame turned into a twirling breach its force pulled me into it I screamed in terror as I was spinning inside it felt like an unending tunnel.
I heard Loel's voice echo
"Mistress! Mistress! Mistress!" from the far end of where I left.
I became dizzy from all the reeling, my whole body sank deeper into the tunnel willingly.