I blacked out for no reason. I wanted to come to, but I can't. It's like a feeling of getting stuck in between the highlight of your dream and waking up.
I finally came around, noticing that I'm lying on my back, still outside. My body is covered with a coat. I realized that my garments and the remainder of my boot are nowhere to be found. My eyes wandered around and felt a cold sensation over my arm. Suri was holding my hand and applying her ice powers.
"Cryotherapy", she said. "Your lesions are growing too fast, but my ability might slow them a bit." I watched my warts get frozen and fall off, without pain and scent. My eyes widened in surprise and awe. "It appears that most of the growths in your body are on your extremities. Perhaps, you're being exposed to an allergen or several other substances. It's no cure, but will help you greatly."
Alphos arrived shortly, he warped himself near us, in a void like portal carrying a bunch of clothes. "How are you feeling, Karah? Are you alright?" His face etched with worry, he dropped the clothes and took my other arm and used his ice powers, too. Yet all his palms released are little shots of ice, he furrowed his eyebrows, concentrating harder. When he realized that he can barely make my warts freeze, tears rolled down his cheeks.
"I'm okay. Don't sweat it." I mentioned meekly. I wanted to sit upright, but my body is so sore. I felt a metallic taste in my mouth. I wondered what happened, I can't recall what happened that much.
"Don't move.", Suri said, she motioned her child to bring the stuff he brought. "Turn around or go home, Alphos. Karah will be embarrassed."
"Oh" He turned on his back and hummed to himself. He then, decided to follow a butterfly flying around.
"You are just like Adir." The Imperial Princess healed my head and my arms. She brought the clothes and took a gauze. "You should've run to safety."
I wondered why I helped them, but my father always instilled to me that we are warriors. Running away from an enemy, especially when there are people in need, is far from what I'm imagining myself to do.
"When I was younger, I met my mate at a mission in the caves. But at that time, I was already pregnant with Alphos, he didn't like the idea of his mate, having another were's child. He decided to he wanted to terminate my pregnancy and only then, will he accept me." She finished putting the gauze and gave me undergarments to change in. She looked away and instructed Alphos to reserve his energy so we can go home. "Don't worry, Alphos is not your father's child." She added. "With his genes, it's impossible to procreate someone like Alphos."
'Did she just say my dad's ugly?'
"It was Adir who rescued me", she continued. She lets me up and called Alphos. The little boy opened a warp zone and we arrived at their prairie house in such a short time. They have prepared food already, and I brought up wanting to go home but Alphos tries to hush me with sweets and games. I always look outside, wondering if my parents will be able to find me.
Days and nights have passed and the princess periodically healed the warts on my skin. She takes me with them for hunting and foraging. She taught me how to make creamy pumpkin soup and wild boar barbecue ribs. She also gives me snippets on food etiquette and herbal medicine. While she was healing me, she made on a comment on how pretty and cute I became, but not as beautiful as her son.
Alphos looked at me for a long time and didn't say anything. There was a time that he was away too long and he returned and handed me a basket of cherries. He said he'll melt some chocolate so we can dip them on it. Then he suddenly asked if I had other friends in the village, how young can someone find their mate and if I have a crush on other kids my age.
I told him honestly that I don't have friends and I have no idea how young can people in our tribe get mates. The only kid that didn't do me any harm is Shiavur, but he is a distinctive case.
I had a crush once but he turned out to be a bully. Alphos punched and kicked the air and said he'll defend me if he finds out who they are. I said I can defend myself, I'll throw my warts at them so they can be totally scared. We laughed together and he said, why throw warts when you can have powers?
Suri, who was sewing certain clothes, stood up on her seat and gave Alphos the look. Like he isn't supposed to say that and she's suddenly warning him. But he brushed her away and put some water in a bowl.
He demonstrated that he has ice powers like her mom. "See? I'm so strong, I have the same powers as mom.", He is so proud of himself, although what he only managed to do is to make the water a bit cloudy. "Karah, by the royal power vested in Niveo and its descendants, I order you to demonstrate your dominion over ice." He points his petite finger at me in a commanding tone.
His mother left the house abruptly, until I can no longer pick up her scent. Alphos and me looked at each other for quite sometime, I scratched the itchy side of my cheek a bit, waiting for these so called powers to manifest.
"Try it" He urges me and took my hand and placed the palm over the bowl. "Imagine the snow or the cold and let it flow from your stomach to your hand."
I imagine the glacier rabbit and my home. I thought of the ice cone dessert with syrup. My belly started to get warm instead. I picked my nose and concentrated. I saw some light coming out of my palm, for a fraction of a second. We waited for a minute more and nothing happened.
"WHAT?! WHY?!" Alphos exclaimed, he looks at my palm and pressed his fingers on them. "They are not even cold. Why is that?" He looks at me as if I'm defective.
I threw the water outside and cleaned the bowl. "Only the royals have them, but it was fun though. I wonder what's that light about." 'Maybe I don't have ice powers, maybe fire or light. That would be cool.'
"I know, I know, I know", He repeated excitedly, he took a book from the shelf and opened the page that show the world map. "This country specializes in earth, this one is gifted with the power of the wind, here." He pointed the country of Esh. "The power of fire is bequeathed to them", and he checked the glossary to look for Esh. "So the command is…"
Alphos put his game face on again and said, "The fire of Esh represents the warmth of the Creator's love for its people. Draw the fire and…" He paused, and dragged me outside. "We might accidentally burn the house down. Again…"
He raised his finger at me the third time, "The fire of Esh, the representation of the Creator's love. Draw the fire and share its warmth." But my palms emitted a short-living light and stopped. "Not fire…"
I'm a bit sad, it isn't fire, but Alphos is still looking for something. "Now we try Zohara…" Zohara is the country gifted with the revered light.
"The words of the Creator light our paths, with the power vested to Zohara, serve as rath." My palm went warm and light shone, then disappeared.
At that point, we just gave up. It seems I don't have any abilities and my lineage doesn't share with other nationalities either. It was cool, though. I wonder if my mom and dad have it. I tried to memorize the phrases, just in case I might need them.
Alphos yawned and his stomach grumbled. "Why isn't mom coming back yet?" I went outside and sniffed the air. She might be too far away for there are no traces of her in the air.
"Do you have any idea where she went?" I asked, I checked the pantry for anything we can cook. I put out some meat and vegetables, so I can cook for us something.
Alphos taps his finger on his face, thinking. "There aren't much places to go here. The caves are infested with monsters. She might be somewhere just nearby, but hiding stealthily. She's good at that."
My ears tingled, "The caves? Wh…wh…"
"We're inside the caves." Alphos said, his voice hesitant for a bit.
'The caves? How? So that explains such number of monsters and why my parents haven't found me yet.' I dropped the knife I'm holding, wounding my foot. 'No! No! No! Ordinary werewolves can't go here because it's pretty dangerous. How would I be able to go back?'
Alphos panicked and checked my wound, "I'm so sorry Karah! Don't be mad, please." He took the cleaning materials and tried to touch me, but I flinched and took a step back. "Karah, please. Let me help you. We'll play every day and eat good food." He insisted, tears flowing in. "I'll treat you well. I'll be your bestest best friend."
I hate him and his mom. 'Why did they lock me here? Why did they bring me here for?'
"My mom brought you here, because you can drive the monster away. But for me, you're a dear friend. Please be with me." He begs, he jumped towards me and started cleaning my wounded foot. "If you like, once I'm hailed king, I'll give you the kingdom and let you rule beside me. Just be with me, please Karah." He sounds so miserable, but I don't care about the country. I only want my mom and dad.
Alphos cleaned the wound, but blood is still going out. He must've thought that his mom is better at it. He hugged me and opened the portal. The air becomes unfamiliar again, the place is dark and the smell of murky waters filled my nostrils. It's true that the environment inside the caves are too many and unpredictable.
I saw Suri with her hands held up high, in fighting position. She's fighting someone and we crouched closer to look, then a familiar scent hit my nose.
"I'll kill you, Princess, if you don't surrender my child. Give me back Karah, now!" It's my father, pointing his spear towards the former imperial princess.
"Dad!" I cried, my father saw me. His angry façade, now changed to surprise and gladness…