"Y-your Majesty..."
I saw him stab the bandit on his shoulder before kicking him on his stomach causing him to fall down. I didn't move an inch, my eyes were locked at the back of His Majesty who just saved me from a near death.
"Your Majesty!" Lord Azrael ran towards the Emperor to check him. The State Guards also finish their respective opponents just to see if the Emperor is alright. "You could have just let the State Guard eliminate them—"
"I told you to stay. Why didn't you listen?" The Emperor said, his tone is angry although I can see that he's worried. "If you die, you will ruin all of our plans."
Lord Azrael came forward to stop him but before he could even speak, Eryx turned around and left us. Lord Azrael walked towards me.
"Are you hurt, your grace?" he asked. I can't speak, I am still in shock about the bandit and the Emperor's words.
"I'm fine."
"His Majesty is just worried, he's not really angry. "
"No, he's right." I replied. "If I die here, everything they did and plan will be wasted."
Lord Azrael just gave me a look that I can't even decipher. After a few questions on me, he ran towards the State Guards and His Majesty, they were gathering the bandits in one place.
Without their attention, I walk towards the huge tree and sit under its branches. I didn't mean to disobey him. I'm just afraid of them dying while I'm safe, the worst case scenario is that I'm left alone and alive.
I look at them from here. I have never seen a State Guards before, they look fierce, capable, brave and ruthless. State Guards are the highest rank officials who are assigned to protect the Emperor and Empress. Usually they are wearing a bright red-black uniform but today, they are wearing very plain clothes and cloaks. Lord Azrael said that he visited Sollaine, did he go there with the State Guards secretly?
From the looks of the bandits, they are wearing tattered clothes, their hair are all long and curly, their face is a little black probably from the dirt while wandering in the forest. I wonder where they came from.
I heard a bird singing at the top of the branches. I stood up to see it closely. It has bird wings but it has a face like a human. He seems glowing too.
"You can see me?" THE BIRD SPEAK!
I step backward because of shock. "Y-you speak?" I still can't believe that it's speaking.
He flew down on me, landing on my shoulder as it continued shocking me. "I am the forest bird, little one. I am Lydia from the firebird clans."
I had to blink twice just to check once again if I am just imagining things. "Firebird clans? Why are you in the forest of Krestamore? Your color didn't seem to be a firebird."
Fire birds also belong to the mythical creature of our nation, the Phoenix. Fire Birds are known for assisting the Phoenix while reigning in ancient times.
"I have to hide my true appearance to live. Humans tend to desire things that shouldn't be there in the first place. I had to live to look for someone."
That's right. People know their kind and if they see her, they will catch her.
"I'm surprised that you can see me." she said. "I'm not sure how because only people of the Phoenix clan had the ability to communicate with us. You don't have their mark so this is really amazing."
"Amazing?"
"My mother told me that the phoenix queen may not be alive anymore. So we aim to live wandering around at the moment. We lost our sole purpose of existing. I am happy that someone can speak to me."
She smiled and showed off her beautiful small wings. A reddish color of light glows on her as she seems to be creating something on it. "Do you want me to accompany you in your life?"
"Huh? Eh? Why me?"
"My kind exists to serve someone in our entire life. The Phoenix queen may not appear anymore, so I will serve you in this life." she said.
The reddish color of light spread from our location and it's still expanding. It's fire. It's fire but why am I not hurt even though the light is touching my skin?
"I, Lydia. The last of our kind, will serve you. I swear to protect you until my last breath, no matter what the consequences are."
The light occupies the whole forest as she exposes her true color and form. It is indeed a fire bird. Compared to her form earlier, she became huge and terrifying. She has shiny golden-black eyes. Feathers that had three bright colors: red, orange, and yellow. Every time she moves her wings, it sparks. It looks alight and literally glowing with fire.
Beautiful...
"But why do you want to serve me?" I asked, still hesitating because I don't know if I deserve her. She's a powerful creature after all.
"I see that your life is in danger. I heard some bandits talking about a girl inside the carriage earlier. I exist to prevail against evil, little master."
I look at the direction of the Emperor and the others, only to see that all of them are staring at us from a distance. They saw everything!
Emperor Eryx is looking at me intently. Looks like they can't enter the barrier that Lydia has created earlier.
"If that's your purpose, you can just choose the Emperor. He's also trying to prevail against evil like you, " I suggested.
"We don't serve men since the Phoenix Queen is a woman." she said.
Once again, I look at the Emperor who's still looking at me. His eyes, it's really melting me.
"Then can you promise me something, Lydia?" I asked. Will you accompany me in this life with the purpose of protecting not just me but all the people that my heart wants? Can she protect the Emperor until they punish the Grand Duke?
"Please, don't let anyone I know die before me."
I am really afraid of living alone. Like my father and mother, who left me alone struggling to survive in my life. Ended up dying instead of the evils.
"If that's what you wish, Valeraine."
Her glowing feet landed on the ground and the moment she closed her wings she changed her true form into a young lady human wearing a flaming red plain dress.
"Give me a new name, Valeraine. Give me one and no one can separate us, eternally."
She kneels before me and bow down. The barrier is no longer here, that's why I can hear the Emperor approaching us.
"Rise up, Ariel."
She glowed again and this time, she gave me a pair of earrings. "This is the token of our pact. "
Upon receiving the earrings, a strong force from it caused me to shiver and feel dizzy.
"I am happy about my coronation, today."
"Oh please! I am the Phoenix Queen. Can't I have some fun?"
I saw a woman wearing a beautiful bright red dress and a golden head dress. Smiling, laughing and proud.
Is this a memory of these earrings?
My body can't take it. I feel sleepy. Before I could reach the ground, I heard someone calling my name.
And I wish I could hear it more often, from his lips....