The Queen and I talked for hours. First she told me about Faerelle, its different realms and how the elven people were generally excellent mages. Long lifespans meant more of us developed high level cores and we had much more time to study and pass down our insights.
Then we walked to the royal garden, and I told her about my life on Earth. We sat and ate there while we talked about a great many things more, including my attraction to Clair, but mom was most interested when I talked about my dream.
"You saw your uncle in Naori's meadow?" she asked.
"Is that what it's called?" I asked, "It's a pretty name."
"It's named after my mother, but that's a story for another time. Tell me more about your dream, what did your uncle want?"
"To warn me apparently. He suggested that Lumia and others would die if I didn't listen to him."
Mom's face darkened. "What nonsense! The realm is finally at peace. You're well enough to return home, and relations with the dragons couldn't be better."
We sat in silence for a moment, as I was unsure how to respond. Her words raised some new questions for me, but I knew now wasn't the best time to ask them.
"I'm not sure how he found you, but I can assure you, every word from his mouth since that day has been a lie."
"I never heard what he wanted to say. Even the sight of him set me on edge and when he confronted me at the fair—"
Mom leaned forward with wide eyes. "You actually saw him—in the flesh?" she asked with hints of anxiety coming through in her voice.
I nodded. "But I ran from him as soon as I realized."
"No, no, no, no, no, this can't be happening."
"What, what's wrong?"
"Silvon, did he touch you?"
"Well...yea, but I got away and then Clair came on a Gruffle and—"
With a tone of unease, she asked, "Are you sure you got away? Did anything strange happen after you saw him?"
I almost rolled my eyes as I answered, "Everything about today was strange."
"Vale uses shadow magic. I don't know when he began studying dark arts, but did you see anything like a shadow that wasn't quite right?"
"I thought I did for a moment. It was after we landed, but it turned out to be nothing."
Riona looked concerned for a moment but she hid it quickly then shifted the conversation. "I'm sure you're wondering about the family you had on earth."
I nodded. "Will I be able to see them again, even if it's just to let them know where I went? I don't want them left wondering what happened to me."
Riona met eyes with a warm smile and placed a hand on my cheek. "You're a kind soul, Silv. I love that about you. Of course you can see them again. Silvia and Vorlin both serve the royal family and they were sent to earth to protect you along with Clair."
"Really?" I practically shouted.
She nodded. "They should've returned by now. You'll see them everyday because Silvia will be teaching you magic and Vorlin will be training you in combat."
I cracked a smile so wide I was sure it must've touched my ears.
"Go and see them." The Queen added. "I'm sure they want to see you too, and I hear you have a little sister now. She must be wondering where you are."
I hesitated at first, I wanted to go, but at the same time I wanted to spend more time with my birth mother. I'd spent all afternoon with Riona, but it didn't feel like enough. I hadn't seen her in years and one afternoon was far too short to make up for so much lost time.
Riona smiled and said, "Go on, I'll be here when you get back."
With a nod, a smile, and one final hug, I left her there and followed a servant to a modest house near the training field.
***
I was relieved to know that I didn't actually leave anyone important behind. They'd gone by different names, and had slightly different appearances, but even with pointy ears, I recognized them immediately.
Silvia looked exactly as she had at the AR fair, Vorlin as he did in my dream—a rugged man with short brown hair and ocean blue eyes. He was tall—or perhaps average height for an elf—but I was taller still.
They were arranging things in their new house, but everything stopped when I arrived. Mirina came running up to me with excitement like I'd never seen from her before. "Sam, Sam, Sam! Mom and Dad said we're moving."
"I know." I smiled, embracing her as she reached me and slipped her little arms under mine.
"Nooooo, Sam. We're leaving earth! We're like...aliens or something." She said looking up at me with big eyes.
Mom and dad—Silvia and Vorlin—both snickered as they came over to join us.
"You mean elves?" I asked, flicking the ends of her pointy ears.
"Ouch!" she yelped, letting go of me to rub her ears.
"Although, you're right. We would still technically be aliens on earth."
With a pout she turned away and stormed out of the living room.
I shared a laugh with my adoptive parents before we hugged and sat on the sofa. I trusted them, maybe more than I trusted Rions, so I asked lots of questions and they answered what they could.
When I asked about why I had to be sent to earth, they both exchanged a concerned glance. I didn't think they were going to tell me, but after a moment Silvia finally answered.
"After what happened with your uncle, you were injured. I don't know if you remember what a mana core is..."
"Yea, I do. But it's vague."
"Well, your core was cracked badly. You Uhm..."
"You used magic that no one had seen in centuries." Vorlin said, finishing for her.
"Yea. Anyway, you were weak and your core needed to heal. There was also the matter of your uncle. You did something that would prevent him from achieving his goal unless he killed you. We had to hide you from him and we had to make sure you wouldn't try to come back home before you were ready..."
The answer felt incomplete, but it was more than I got from Riona and it covered the most important things.
Mirina was born on earth—I remember waiting with Vorlin at the hospital, but our parents never told her about Aeros, or that they were elves, for fear that she would tell me.
I worried she might have difficulty adjusting, but so far things were going smoothly. I wasn't quite sure how she felt about being an elf, I was still adjusting to it, but I didn't think she'd be too upset. Like most small children, Mimi had always fantasized about turning into a magical creature, now that dream was coming true.
The only problem arose when Slivia and Vorlin told her that I had to stay at the castle and couldn't live with them anymore. Mirina threw a fit.
"Everyday, Sam. you have to visit every day!"
"I wi—"
"And I want my own pet gruffle."
"Mimi..." Silvia said, "Sam can't just give you a gruffle."
"But you said he's the prince." Mirina whined.
Kneeling next to and embracing his daughter, Vorlin answered, "he is dear, but even a prince can't give away what isn't his."
With teary eyes Mirina nodded. I wasn't sure she actually understood, but she pushed free of Vorlin and rammed into my stomach. As her arms wrapped around my waist, she mumbled into my shirt. "I don't want you to leave."
"Mimi, if I ask the Queen about a gruffle for you, do you promise you'll be a good girl for mom and dad?"
She dried her wet eyes and examined my face earnestly. "You promise?"
I nodded. "Yes, but only if you promise to listen to mom and dad. Don't give them a hard time, okay?"
Instantly she beamed with joy. "I'm getting a gruffle!" she shouted, "and his name will be fluffle!"
"Don't get so excited just yet. I said I'd ask, but I don't know if she'll actually say yes."
Mirina's lips scrunched together and her eyes zeroed in on me.
"She'll probably say yes, but I can't guarantee anything." I said, putting my hands up in a defensive posture.
At my words, a satisfied smile crept across her face. "You promised, so don't forget."
"Yeah, I won't. I'll ask her the next time I see her, should be tomorrow morning."
Mirina gave a thumbs up and a satisfied grunt then raced off deeper into the house.
"Mimi, what are you doing?" Mom shouted after her.
"I'm going to sleep, so it'll be tomorrow."
I tried to hold it in, but I laughed again. Vorlin and Silvia were going to have their hands full. Hopefully learning magic would help keep her occupied.
I talked with my adoptive parents a while longer learning that it was my twelfth birthday when I was taken to earth. They wouldn't say much more than that, the rest they felt it best I learn from my birth mom.
When it was time to return to the castle, I gave them each a hug, said goodbye, and set off.
***
Light poured over me, glowing warmly behind my eyelids. There was a zipping sound like someone drawing open curtains, then the light got so bright that it was impossible to ignore.
My eyes opened then blinked shut a few times as they adjusted to the brightness. Sitting up, I rubbed the remaining sleep from my eyes.
"Good morning, your highness." A woman said as she pulled open another set of curtains, flooding my room with yet more light.
She was short, plump, and wore a gown of woven leaves that looked almost like scales. They reflected light like little mirrors. With the flexibility of fine fabric, the metallic leaves folded around her curves like silk.
Black waves of curly hair fell past her shoulders and stopped just above her thick waist.
The autumn colored dress accentuated her dark brown skin nicely and was complemented by a pair of amber leggings—the fabric of which was semi-transparent and sprinkled with something like glitter.
When she turned towards me, light from the window framed her figure, giving her a heavenly appearance as she adjusted her glasses.
"Good morning," I said, wondering why exactly she was in my room.
"You probably don't remember me, so I'll introduce myself." She said as she came towards the bed.
Stopping on a rug at the center of the room, she continued speaking with an elegant curtsy. "I'm Naelina, queen Riona's secretary. This morning I was tasked to wake you and deliver a note. It's next to you, on the pillow."
On the pillow next to mine, there was a small white envelope with a red wax seal.
I picked it up, opening it with eagerness and anticipation. Inside was a handwritten letter from my mother.
'Good morning Silvon,
I'm sure you're tired and still adjusting to all of the changes in your daily life. I wish I could give you more time to adjust and rest, but it's quite important that you learn to defend yourself and use magic as soon as possible. As soon as you're ready, go meet Vorlin at the training grounds. He'll be expecting you.
-I love you.'
I looked back at Naelina, feeling a bit disappointed yet hopeful and excited about starting training. Mostly I was looking forward to training with Silvia. I'd always been fascinated with the idea of magic, but now I'd have the chance to learn it for real.
"She says, I'm to train." I said aloud.
Naelina nodded. "Your clothes are there on the dresser." She gestured toward a neatly folded stack of white clothes. "Would you like help getting dressed?"
"No," I said, waving my hands in front of my face, "thank you for offering, but I can handle it alone."
"As you wish. Then, with your permission, I'll take my leave."