Aeras Kingdom

  As we entered the Castle, the guards on duty greeted us warmly, and I still couldn't believe that my best friend was one of them. She is a soldier in this kingdom. I feel like I am in Medieval times because of the design and materials used within the castle. Outer and inner stone walls surround the Keep. There is a big fountain in the courtyard and a beautiful garden.

  Freda led us to the north wing of the castle. A beautiful maiden greeted us, and she opened the room with a king-size bed.

"You stay here, Malia, and we need to see the king," Freda told me.

  I just nodded since I felt so tired from walking. I collapsed on the big bed after my friends left. The beautiful lady stood at the end of the bed, still bowing her head. "Hey! Miss, you can leave me now." I told her.

 That is the time she raised her head and looked at me in the eyes. " My lady, I am here to bathe you and to change your clothes." She said to me shyly.

 What? Is this for real?

 "Miss, you don't need to do that. I can take care of myself. Please leave me." I said, smiling at her.

 "The king will get mad if I will leave by your side, my lady." She said uncertainly.

  "Look, I am not used to it, okay? I mean, when I was a little girl, my mom used to do that, but now I am a grown woman, but if you insist, stay here but do nothing, I can do it myself."

 She nodded and placed a beautiful light green long dress on the bed with undergarments on it. She walked to the far corner near the door. I asked her to sit in the chair near the vanity table, but she insisted on standing still. When I enter the bathroom, I can see the sizeable round bathtub full of water with flower petals on the surface.

 I stripped my jeans and tee shirt together with my underwear. I felt so relaxed when I soaked myself in the water. It smells of different flowers that make my mind at ease.

When I finished my bath, I changed into the light green dress and found myself mesmerized by my image in the mirror. I am unsure if it is because of the dress or because I am in a fairyland.

I can't believe what I am seeing. My hazel brown eyes became more captivating, and I could see my face glow. My long, straight, honey-blonde hair is so vibrant. I can see that my lips are in full color. Even without lipstick, they are so red and luscious.

What is happening to me? The dress fits perfectly. My boobs are emphasizing its full size. I looked like a magazine model. So this world is something.

 I was combing my hair when other servants came, and they brought mouthwatering food and wine. I devoured the food immediately and realized if I stayed in this land longer, I am sure my body statistics would drastically change.

  The food in the fairyland is very delicious. How come Freda never misses this place? Maybe she did; of course, she couldn't tell me because she was forbidden to tell me anything until my 18th birthday.

 The servants left after I said thank you to them, and I told them I wanted to have a rest. I was looking at the castle window admiring the lake under the starry night when I heard pounding on the massive wooden door.

  I opened the door, dazzled by the beauty in front of me. "Hello, Princess Malia. I am Halena, the queen of Aeras, and Your Royal Highness King Robert, and this is our son, Crown Prince Hale." They all bow down before me, and I don't know what to do.

  They are all standing there with their splendid glory, and I feel like a fool, for I don't know anything about curtsy or anything about meeting the royal family. So, I stand there motionless and still captivated by their beauty. When Nick and Freda came into view, nodding at me as reassurance that I would be okay, I felt more confident.

  "Sorry, Princess Malia, I wanted to give you a feast in your honor, but we must be careful. The Dark King might have spies anywhere, and that is the crucial part, so it is better to be careful than sorry." Said King Robert. I feel more at ease now that my friends are around.

 "Welcome to our Kingdom, Princess." Said Prince Hale. He is so handsome. Nick is right. After all, the people in this land are all good-looking.

 "Your Royal Highness and Your Royal Majesty, thank you so much for your hospitality. I am so sorry for my lack of knowledge about Royalty. I don't know how to greet you properly."

 "No need for formality, Malia. We are your Godparents, so technically, you are like a daughter to us. You looked like your mother. Everything about you reminds you of Queen Thalassa, and your mother is known to be the most beautiful fairy in the whole Erthesia Land. That is why the dark king wanted her to be his queen." Said the King.

 I can feel their sincerity, and I am so glad that I am welcome in their kingdom.

"Now, as much as I want you to stay here with us, Malia, I can't do that because you need to be at the academy to be safer; of course, when your power comes out, you need to be strong and ready." He said.

"We have seen your wings, and we know how powerful you are, even when you are still very young. Your father knew your destiny; that is why he called for us immediately." He said calmly.

" Now, I will be the one to put out the first layer of the spell since it is necessary for you to blend in. I am sorry, dear, and you will study at the academy as a commoner. Still, I requested better accommodation for you since you can't share with another common fairy. You are royalty, after all." The King looked me in the eyes.

"Now, Malia, please stand straight. This kind of spell is so simple and easy, and you will not feel anything." Then the King put his right hand on my head. I didn't close my eyes, and I saw the flowing of bright light from his hand going to my whole body. Suddenly, I ascended from the floor.

I am appalled to feel the appearance of wings on my back. I keep flying because I don't know how to control my wings. "How can I stop myself from flying?" I asked no one in particular.

I am at the ceiling and looking at them in disbelief. They were all laughing at me because I looked like a lizard trying to crawl on the ceiling.

"The power comes within yourself, so try to concentrate and control it, just like the way you control your legs when you are walking and your hand when you are writing. It is a part of your body, Malia." King Robert declared.

"You can hide your wings if you want to. You should practice controlling your emotions because when you are in danger or when you are angry, it will trigger the appearance of your wings." He added.

I followed what the king said, and slowly, I could go back to the floor. "That is enough for now, Malia. You are new to this, and your environment influences your character in the human realm, so this might cause you to feel tired. Tomorrow, Prince Nick, Freda, and Prince Hale will start your training." Said the King with authority.

They all said goodbye and left except for Freda, and as usual, she was my guard. I am shocked when I notice she is wearing her soldier uniform. "Why are you wearing that? Aren't you going to change into your pajamas or nightgown?" I asked her.

"No, Princess, I am your royal guard now, and we are here in our kingdom. I will be punished if I do not follow the protocol." She said.

"You mean you will not sleep at all, and you will be standing outside that door?" I asked her, pointing at the door, and she nodded.

"Freda, we are friends. You can sleep beside me like before during your sleepover at my house, and we used to do that. We can do it here." I am begging Freda to sleep on the bed beside me.

"I am so sorry, Mal, we are in the kingdom. I can't do that. Now, have a good night's sleep, and if you need anything, I am just outside your door." She said and walked away from me outside my room.

She closed the door without saying another word. I was not able to control my emotions. I wept for hours; the emptiness I felt inside was killing me, and the uncertainties that I was facing were scaring me.

I can't accept that my friendship with Freda is a barrier now. She is my only best friend. I suddenly miss my home, and I look back at some of my memories in the human world.