CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

How can a fruit be this sweet? asked Evelinde as we help ourselves to generous serving of the lumina berry wine alongside some roasted beef.

This is amazing, she giggled.

Evelinde, don't tell me you are drunk already.

Me, drunk? well maybe drunk in happiness, she said and burst out laughing again.

You don't get it Cleon, i'm truly having a blast toady. I mean my life hasn't been this much fun or free since i was born.

Well whatever it is, i think that's enough wine for you today.

Cleon, there is plenty of wine to go round. You certainly can't be that greedy.

I was about to answer when something caught my attention.

We have visitors Evelinde.

Visitors, this late?

Who could they be?

Well you will know soon enough.

Syl, you just can't enter his wing.

Why not?

What do you mean why not?

You don't expect us to meet him out here, do you? come on already let's go, it's safe, Sylvan said as he pulled me inside.

My prince, Sylvan greeted me with a bow.

Sylvan what an unexpected surprise, and you brought a friend i said turning to my other visitor who bowed in greeting as well.

Cedric, what brings you here? i heard Evelinde ask in apparent surprise.

Hello Eve, Cedric greeted.

Greetings to you too miss, Sylvan bowed to Evelinde.

Greetings to you too, but there is no need to bow i'm an ordinary girl, Evelinde said.

Evelinde, this is Sylvan, Elowen's son.

Sylvan this is Evelinde.

Sylvan you can call me Eve, i met your father yesterday, you have a beautiful home.

Thank you for your kind words Eve.

So tell me Sylvan what brings you here?

We were out in the woods when suddenly i felt this dark and evil presence, it was so dark that i immediately had chills. Coming out we couldn't find anyone neither could i feel any presence but the darkness still lingers in the air. We didn't know who to tell so we came to meet you.

I'm sorry if we are disrupting anything.

It's alright Sylvan, it's good you brought this to my attention.

Why don't you take me to this place.

Of course my prince.

Cleon i am coming with you.

Evelinde are you sure? you can just go ahead and rest i won't be long.

Of course i'm sure, come on let's go.

Cedric, are you alright? you've been awfully quiet, i heard Evelinde say behind me to her friend.

I'm fine Eve came his reply.

We are almost there Sylvan told me.

Hmmmm, you do know one with a keen eye can feel your aura around him, yes?

You can see that? exclaimed Sylvan. Well what am i saying, of course you can see that.

Syl what is he saying?

It's nothing Ced.

It's not nothing Syl, tell me i want to know.

Sylvan's aura is all around you and that can only happen if you both have been intimate. While it's none of my business, i can only tell you both to be careful. True not everyone can see it, but any fey who sees you can tell who you've been with for they all have their unique aura. Your parents as well as members of the council and anyone with a decent level of magic can also tell. Although unless they see you two together, they won't know whose aura it is. But they can definitely tell it belongs to a fey. For Sylvan's sake you have to be careful both of you.

Sylvan why didn't you mask it, that is not difficult for you to do and at most in an hour or two it will be gone?

I usually do my prince, the urgency of the situation made me forget.

Don't forget yourself next time, i don't need to tell you how dangerous what you've gotten yourself into is.

I will be extra careful my prince.

We are here, i said feeling the dark energy around me though faint.

Yes my prince, this is the place. We where in that cave over there when i felt it.Sylvan said pointing to a cave.

And you said you saw nothing?

Yes, we hid there until i felt the darkness move before coming out.

Cleon, is everyting alright? asked Evelinde moving closer to me.

Do you feel it too? i asked looking at them.

There's something... off about this place. It's like there's a thick fog of darkness hanging in the air, but when I try to trace its source, it's like chasing a ghost. It's as if whatever or whoever is responsible doesn't want to be found, or perhaps never truly existed in the first place.

Sylvan hope you didn't get affected by the darkness?

No my prince, i'm fine. Apart from the chilly feeling, nothing happened.

Since it's clear that whatever is going on is evil we should leave here and inform the council.

Ced, no one will take us seriously and it will only put us in trouble especially with the feast going on.

Cedric, Sylvan is right. We revealing this to anyone will only make it worse.

Eve, you don't know that. I can tell my mom and my dad, they can tell the council and look for a way of identifying who or whatever this is.

And what will you tell them exactly Ced?

How will you explain it to them, without telling them about me?

Syl, i can say i was walking around this area and suddenly felt something dark.

And you expect them to believe that?

Even if they do how will you explain being here in the first place, how are you to convince them that you left the celebration to come this far, for what exactly?

I don't know Syl, but something needs to be done.

Enough, i said silencing the chatter.

Tomorrow is Elemental magic, and that is what the entire kingdom is looking forward to. Neither my father nor the council will listen to anyone regarding this, besides even if they were to listen, we have nothing to show as proof or evidence except our word.

Let's hope nothing untoward happens till the feast is over, then Sylvan i will visit your dad to see if there is a way we can broach this topic with my father and the council. As for now we have guests and the kingdom will not forgive anyone that will shame her at a time like this.

So why don't we call it a day.

Yes my prince, Sylvan said with a bow as he turned to leave with his lover.

And Sylvan.

Yes my prince.

Be careful.

I will my prince.

Cleon what do we do now? Evelinde ask as we stood alone in the darkness with the only light coming from the orb i conjured on our way here.

Now we wait, i replied.