3 Chapter 3- Words Left Unsaid

--Alexandria POV--

John was angry because not only had I left him, but I came to talk to the very man that had turned our calm life into something crazy.

It's been two days since Alpheus came here and I made it an effort to ask him at least 10 questions a day and similarly, he's been doing the same with me, my answers have just been more vague and less satisfying than his.

We were currently sat on the shore, not caring that our clothes were getting wet. Not that I even cared but he looked like he should. I was wearing scraps and flimsy pieces of material, but his stuff looked like a lot of effort had been put into making it.

I loved all my clothes though, every single piece. John's fingers went through a lot of pain in making them and he wouldn’t let me help in fear that the same fate would await my fingers.

"Do you live in a big palace?" I started as we stared at the sunrise.

"Yes. It's a white palace with golden designs, there are statues carved along the top of the pillars and right at the front, there's a famous statue of Eleanora," He expanded.

"Who's Eleanora?" I cocked my head to the side.

"Eleanora's the mage that created Lysandra, the Kingdom I rule," I yelped in surprise to his answer and almost jumped but kept myself seated on the sand.

"Really!? Magic is really real!? Are you sure?" He chuckled at my outburst and shrugged.

"It's just a myth. The first King of Lysandra freed Eleanora the mage in a sword and the both of them made Lysandra together. I don't believe it to be true, but we are all free to imagine what we want, right?" He smiled, turning his head to look at the horizon and I followed.

"Yes, I guess," I mumbled, thinking for a second that it was true.

I find the topic of magic interesting, but I can't say I believe it to be true. Nothing has ever happened for me to believe magic is real.

It wasn't the same in the past though. Within the first year of when we were shipwrecked on the island, John was good at reading me, it was almost as if he could tell what I was going to do before I even did it.

At the time, I genuinely believed that it was magic but later on realized that it was only psychology. That's how I became interested in studying, leaving behind my belief in magic. I thought there was a reason for everything.

My lessons first started with basic math’s and literature. Thankfully, my memories weren't lost to the point where I forgot how to read and write so all my lessons with John were enjoyable. It grew to the point where I loved studying.

Filling my brain with what used to be unknown to me thrilled me beyond words and it still does, every time I learn something new.

The bustling and shouting of Alpheus's men brought me back to reality and I took a moment to stare at all the men that were loading appliances back onto the ship. Today would be the day that they would leave so Alpheus and I took this chance to question each other.

John was doing something at our tree house, but I got his permission to come here before I actually came so all was good. He didn't really get along with Alpheus but didn't deny me in making a new friendship.

"My first son, Valentino, is the crown prince of Lysandra. He will be King in a few years from now. He's a good son," Alpheus changed the topic and I hummed.

"What kind of person is he?" I asked after a short moment of silence and Alpheus chuckled at the question, but I don't know why since I wasn't trying to be funny.

"If I were, to be honest, Valentino would be my most complicated child. You can never read him, and he never speaks unless he sees fit but at the same time, he speaks his mind and never leaves room for arguments. If he wants something then he does everything until he has it and not to mention, he's ridiculously handsome,"

"He seems intense," I mumbled, and Alpheus nodded in confirmation.

"Alexia..." Alpheus started and I turned my head to him to find that he was already looking at me with that same gaze that I caught him giving me every now and then. He thought I wouldn't notice but I have, I don't know what emotion it is but it wasn't anything good.

"Yes..." I said when he didn't carry on with what he wanted to say.

"Do you want to come with me? To the Kingdom of Lysandra. I can take good care of you. You'll get to go to school, wear proper clothes, sleep on a proper bed instead of a pile of leaves-"

"No," I cut him off.

"But-"

"I said no. This is my home. As far as I can remember, this is the place that I grew up in. John is the only person I know, and I intend to stay with him," I smiled apologetically at him.

"Civilization does sound fun though..." I quietly mumbled out, turning my gaze to look at the ocean, which was beginning to brighten, mimicking that of the cloudless sky.

"John could come too," He said but I only shook my head.

If I go to Lysandra then I won't be able to wake up to the sound of waves, to the sound of Ryder fighting with other animals over something silly or to the warmth of John's body.

This simple, calm, happiness was all I needed.

And yet, the curiosity of the world beyond the ocean is piquing my curiosity. I can't help but wonder what it's like but at the same time, I don't want to risk anything. The world that Alpheus is from is just a story that John told me about, the place I was born and a place that should remain foggy at the back of my mind.

I almost laughed out loud at the funny memory of John trying to show me what that world looked like by drawing pictures. It didn't really help but his effort was appreciated. As amazing of a teacher that he was, the same couldn't be said about his art. Of course, he didn't agree, and I didn't have the heart to disagree since it was too funny.

That was only once of the many cherished memories I have with him and I want there to be more, I want to make more happy memories with John, Ryder and all my other friends on this very island.

"I'm sorry, Alpheus... but this is my home. This is the place that I belong to. If I go to your world as I am now, then you may accept me, but others wouldn't. They grew up in lavish lifestyles, not knowing what it's like to have an empty stomach. If I suddenly go there, I'll stick out like a sore thumb,"

"I'll make them accept you,"

"You can't. You may be the King but you can't control what people think. If it's not genuine then I'm not interested, sorry," I apologised yet again.

He was a King who grew up getting what he wanted. He must be in a weird state of mind right now since I'm probably one of the first people to talk back to him like this and disagree with him.

He reluctantly gave in with a heavy sigh just as a guard came running up to us.

"Your Majesty, the ship is ready for departure," He said.

"I'll be right there," Alpheus replied and with a salute, the man ran off.

"I'm a King, Alexia. As much as I want to- I won't have time to visit you. What if I send people to regularly come to check up on you and John?"

"You don't have to do that, Alpheus. We've managed to come this far without help," I stated as a matter of fact but he wasn't giving in.

"You told me that you love to study. I'll send some men, maybe once every few months, to bring some books for you that'll help and along with that maybe some more clothes or food..." He drifted off, staring at me and waiting for me to nod.

So I did, giving into him. It's not like I had anything to lose. In fact, I'll be gaining more knowledge of the outside world as well as food and clothes.

He released a relieved sigh.

Standing up, I outstretched my hand for a handshake but instead of taking it, he stepped forward to pull me into a tight hug which I cautiously returned.

"So long then, Alexia," He smiled, strolling off as I waved after him.

"Goodbye, Alpheus," I called as he got on the ship and the stairs pulled up to close the hatch.

Ryder came, landing on my shoulder as he squawked after the ship which had begun its departure. We both stood there, staring after the ship until it was merely a white speck, barely seen unless focused on in the far distance.

They were really gone.

"It's barely been a few seconds but it's already so quiet," I mumbled out and breathed in a large lungful of ocean air with closed eyes, cherishing the silence until Ryder decided to break it with his loud squawk.

"Alright, alright. Let's go find John," Chuckling at him, I turned my back to the breath taking scenery and headed back into the safety of the trees where John was probably waiting for us in the treehouse.

After we all ate, John and I did some training which we hadn't done since Alpheus and his men came, I was a bit rusty with my reaction times and by the end of the training session I had a good few bruises littering my body.

Currently, I was standing under the waterfall as I washed clean of all the dirt that I had been rolling around in while training.

"Alexa, I'll leave your clothes here," John said as he walked out from behind some trees and put the neatly folded dress on a stone along with some undergarments as he plopped down on the riverbank, putting his feet into the water.

"Thanks," I said, sending him a smile.

We've both been through life and death together so seeing each other naked is normal for us. After I lost my memories, I never got them back so John is the first memory that I can remember. He'll probably be the last too.

Surprisingly, I wasn't curious about the lifestyle I used to have but when I asked John he'd answer some and dodge the others, my parents being one of them. Up to this day, I don't know anything about my parents and that includes whether they're alive or not.

As for my name, it's Alexandria. My surname is a mystery and one of the other topics that John has been trying to avoid and so, I didn't question it much.

As heartless as it sounds, I don't really care.

John is the person that was always there for me and he still is. As far as I'm concerned, he's my mother, my father and my brother as well as my best and only human friend.

From the moment we shipwrecked, John washed me, fed me, put me to sleep, told me stories and so much more. He's taught me everything I know and made me enjoy studying so that if one day we do leave this island, I won't be completely clueless.

"Don't stay there too long, you'll get wrinkles," John snapped me out of my thoughts and I wrinkled my nose at the idea. I hated it when that happened.

As I quickly finished washing, I swam back to the shore where he handed me a piece of cloth to dry myself and I gratefully took it, drying my hair as best I could while he stood up to dry my back for me and I didn't say anything.

This was natural, he seemed to enjoy helping me dry myself.

I felt his eyes on me as I pulled my clothes on and when I caught him staring, he only grinned, not trying to hide the fact that he was caught staring. I didn't mind though since I had done the same to him on some occasions.

"I don't get how you don't have any hair," He suddenly said.

"As you've said before. It's in my genetics. I've just gotten lucky haven't I?" I smirked at him as he rolled his eyes with his lips protruded out into a small pout.

I continued to dry my hair after I finished dressing and sat down on one of the rocks, dipping my feet into the water while he stood up from his sitting position to strip.

He walked into the river until the water was up to his waist and turning his body around to face me, he blew me a kiss to which I laughed. I don't get what he's complaining about since he didn't have much hair either.

He walked further into the river until he reached the small waterfall and dipped his head under it and I leaned back on the rock, looking up at the sky which was mostly covered thanks to all the sagging leaves that were possibly bigger than myself.

"Do you ever plan on going back to the world outside, John?" I asked hesitantly, not looking away from the sky.

I felt his gaze divert towards me as he stopped scrubbing himself.

"No. If I were to leave then I would've done so by now. After waiting for years, I lost hope and now this place is my home and I don't plan on leaving it," I hummed in reply but he continued.

"I don't have to worry about useless things like everyone else does. They're always thinking about money, war and reputation. Here, I don't have to worry about that. I'm at peace and I'm happy... and that's the best thing I could ever hope to ask for,"

I finally turned my head back down to meet his gaze and smiled before nodding along.

"You being here with me, Alexa... I can't imagine life without you any more. You are my sole purpose for living and your happiness is my happiness,"

I felt my heart heat up as I heard his heartfelt words and, if possible, my smile grew even more as he began to make his way back towards me, finished with washing up.

"Likewise," I laughed out gleefully as he chuckled and leaned down once close enough to place his lips on the top of my head before going to dry himself off.

John was the only family that I will ever need.