"I will be off now," Ambrose waves, leaving the duo on the edge of Lake Virae as it flies back into the night sky, becoming one with the stars.
Aurora cannot fathom the surreal from the real of her existence. With her neck craned towards the sky, she lets herself register that she had met a fairy. A creature she had only ever read about. A creature who wasn't dainty, magical or kind but borderline beastly, needy and looking out for itself. To think that Aurora had struck a deal with it, without losing her organs in tow.
This was a new kind of brilliant for her. A sense of accomplishment greater than having a housefull theatre and giving a newsworthy performance. Her lips involuntarily graced a smile as she took a moment to let the cool breeze revolutionize her life.
Money, here she comes again!!
Suddenly, Arcel takes Iris by her hand and dashes into a direction unknown. Racing against the wind, Aurora smells it. The raw scent of cold water hitting a dry stone, the subtle scent of a clear blue sky and freshly plucked leaves. The breath of spring.
In front of Lake Virae.
Aurora had simply imagined Lake Virae to be a lake with water in it. Like any normal human would have, in her place. Or probably not, because she had somehow died and slipped her soul into someone else's body into a whole different world. She had met a fairy for fuck's sake. She should have hoped for more when it came to the geography of this place.
But imagination shunned around her predominant beliefs and maybe, she was just not ready, yet, to be completely stupefied with each footstep she took.
Lake Virae was a bloodbath, akin to a gigantic pool of kool aid waiting to be slurped on. With the stars reflecting over its surface, the Lake looked like the fabric of the dress she had worn before on the day she had died.
The Lake was bordered with crystals, precious stones and glimmering gems gleaming upon receiving the caresses of the moonlight.
Iris'jaw hung. Could she steal anyone of them and sell them!?
"Look! Is that him?" Arcel pointed out with a shout. Iris followed his line of sight and lo! There was a person standing by the crystalline shards of Lake Virae. The ravenette had been too captivated by the materialistic beauty of her surroundings to notice the little boy standing. Her purpose. Her lottery. Her golden ticket to the good graces of Madam Arabella!!
They were correct to arrive here! It was the same person, the one with cobalt hair and golden eyes, staring in their direction. One of his hands was suspended over Lake Virae, and from his grip hung the opal necklace of Duchess Arabella.
The lost treasure to Iris' redemption.
"That is grandmama's necklace!" Arcel all but jumps in recognition. His cyan eyes were wide with realisation of having caught the real thief! He was overwhelmed with having participated in a successful adventure for once!
"Stop! We see you! Do not throw it!" Iris shouts, feet already making a move on their own accord. She raced toward him.
His face stretched in a pearly smile.
Iris propelled herself to catch the necklace.
The boy dropped it in the Lake.
The prescious stone descended down. And Iris' sucked in a breath, for when the stone came in contact with the fluid of Lake Virae, an insanely blinding light emerged. A white beam sucked in all visible sight of her surroundings. Iris covered her face with her arms, clasping her eyes close as a form shattering pulse emanated from the Lake and pushed them all away.
Iris fell back onto the grass as the light died out. Darkness gradually embraced them, almost fearful to come again, probably too overwhelmed by the sudden shift in reality. Vision tiptoed its way to them, kissing her eyes alight again. She immediately looked around for Arcel, as a knee-jerk reaction, concern paved its way in. But it was too dark to comprehend anything after having stared into the light.
"Y-ou...ah, Yo-ou," Iris heard groans from around.
She blinked forcefully, trying to follow the sound. Will Arcel be okay? Where was he? Did he fall into the Lake or something?!
"H-o-ow-ouch," someone croaked.
Iris flipped her head and grimaced at the sight. It was a bright eyed Arcel clinging to the foot of the other boy. So much for worrying about him-
"How d-did you do i-it? That was super fun! T-teach me!" Arcel croaked again, clasping the boy's foot tightly and not letting go.
His sharp, gold, eyes narrowed in confusion as the psychopath Prince crawled further up his body, now grasping his waist with a pestering chant of, "Tell me! Tell me please!" on his lips.
"I-uh, excuse me, please - I do not participate in such—" the boy tried to push back Arcel's approaching face with his hand. "—ravenous behaviour!"
He had not noticed these two approach until the little brunette had pointed him out, so blatantly. He was disappointed in himself that she was able to find him, again, and catch him off-guard. What an inconvenience. To think he was almost done with his mission and could go back home again-
"But I want you!" Arcel whines, tugging the boy's overcoat with both of his fists. The dark haired boy flushes.
What does wanting a person mean?
Does he want to use him? Did he have a mission for him? Did he have a grievance to share?
"Tell me your name and we will be friends!" The brunette proposes, now properly straddling the dark haired boy.
Friends.
He's read about that in books. They felt like a lovely fantasy to posses. But it would require a lot more than he possesses.
His golden eyes diverted contact, not reciprocating Arcel's intense cyan stare. He pursed his lips, looking away, fingers folding into fists as his mind went, 'Look at this boy! Why is he doing this to me! I need to get back the stone again!'
"Don't be mean, tell me your name," Arcel frowns, words coming out as a pout now. His dark brows joined pitifully, eyes wide and features drooping to express his hopelessness.
The dark haired boy gulped, trying awfully hard to avoid this puppy-faced nuisance from deflecting him from his plan. He had to hold his breath and repeat to himself. He was not guilty of stealing from the Duchess. He was not guilty of accidentally framing an innocent girl. He was not guilty for any actions caused for the Greater Good. He was not mean.
He was not supposed to feel guilty.
But why did this situation feel burdensome?
Why did Prince Arcel's agressive approach towards a probable mutual friendship feel so treacherous?
Why did the girl's sincere brown eyes convince him otherwise?
Was he really being mean?
'No. You cannot stray away from your purpose, my child.' a familiar voice echoed in his head. 'You know what you have to do. You are to be guilty of nothing. You are the chosen one.'
Yes, that sounds more reasonable. Believable. Truthful and something within his capabilities.
The boy grits his teeth before grinding out words, "I do not accept a forced friendship such as this. Get away from me, right this instant." The gold in his eyes glower at Arcel's impudence. This will be fine. The brunette will stay away from him and he will continue his mission.
But when had Arcel been one to notice communication cues?
"You're not fun anymore. I'll see you in a bit. I need Iris now. Iris— where are you?" The brunette presses his hands over the boy's chest and stands up by exerting as much force as he could. He looks around the Lake for any presence of his pleasant best friend but he finds none.
"Iris...did you ditch me?!" Arcel all but gasps out, now running around to examine the area. Nothing looked out of ordinary.
But where did his best friend go?
And suddenly, the dark haired boy points at bubbles erupting from Lake Virae.
"Look at that! Do you think she went inside?!" The boy exclaims. Lake Virae was not any ordinary Lake or something charmed by magic to look pretty and alluring. Lake Virae was the sole existence and purpose of their planet. Lake Virae was home to all Creatures of God. The source of all magical existence.
And the dead remains of their One True God.
How did a little girl end up being sucked into it?! She'll live no more. The boy concludes in horror.
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Whereas, all Arcel's could think was, "How did she go to have fun all by herself?!"
ns 15.158.61.51da2
