Chapter 7 — They Trick and My Grandfather

"So, your name is Yulen, huh?" I talked to the wolf as it run somewhere. The sun is starting to set now and my growling stomach emphasizes the 24-hour fasting. I'm not so glad I'm still holding up.

"Well Yulen, tell me there's food in there or I'm going to go somewhere and search some for myself."

It just created a low snarl, which I ignored because I don't even understand that.

I looked around me. It's still the same creepy and ghostly place. And I feel like I'm getting used to it. Big trees and weird animals shock me but not totally now.

I've never been to Haldorre even once but...I think this city is once really picturesque. I've seen the house edifices in town roads, the bridges were made of bricks, the arrangement of every establishments here.

Even though they're covered with thick vines and large trees, mud or grimes, I know they're made of something more than its design. Intricate city, every part has been made through hard work and preciseness.

Why was it cursed, anyway? Those three women who came and visited this city, what was their reason?

I know this is not even my problem. It's theirs. But being here, and seeing this miserable creatures stuck in a strange curse, makes me forget my own in the first place. I want to know what happened...and I want to help them. About my eye, I know they'll help me about it, too. They seemed to know my eye means so...

Yulen halted so I descended from its back. We're in front of another large tree. But this one is larger than where I slept last night. It has no door so even from outside, I can see that there's light inside. Yulen nudged me on the back, so I started walking.

"Welcome back, dear!"

"Oh," I gasped when I heard that. "You're here, Stephan?"

"And us, too," says Parsha, and giggles followed.

"We prepared this place for our first ever guest," added Flynn.

"Hope you like it, Princess Ciara," Charlotte spoke.

"Go inside, dear."

"Okay." I held the book to my chest and carefully walked inside. The greenish light touched my feet up to my skin, and I saw the simple yet relaxing interior of the tree. There are glowing green vines hanging above this hollow place, illuminating the supposed darkness. There's a single cot in the middle with white sheets, and draped with vibrant flowers around it. Flowers...

I stilled when I remembered something and slowly, my palm went up to cover my right eye. There were loud gasps when I ran outside, breathing and swallowing hard. My palm became sweaty and my feet felt cold. I feel cold.

"What's wrong?" Charlotte asked. The wolf neared me and eyed me curiously as I shiver with fear.

"Dear, is there a problem? Don't you like it?"

"I'm sorry. I'm just... I don't like flowers..."

"Oh, we thought you'd like them," Parsha.

"Then, wait for a moment. We'll throw them out for you, dear..."

I nodded. "T-Thanks..."

Maybe they left because Yulen went in front of me and started purring. I smiled at it, feeling a bit dizzy and heavy. When I opened my eyes, I was shocked that I'm already hanging on its head. What happened to me?

"Please take her inside. The room is ready, Princess. We've disposed of the flowers just like you asked."

I groaned and tried to stand up but the light-headedness made my knees wobble again. I shook my head and seek assistance to Yulen who's now leading me inside.

"Dear, are you okay? You look pale..."

"Maybe because I haven't eaten since yesterday. Do you...have food?"

"OH NO!" Shrieked of them as Yulen helped me get on the bed.

"We completely forgot that you're human and you need food! I mean, we were human, too, but it was decades ago when we do not have the need of nourishments to survive. We were used to it, so..." Parsha.

"Dear, we'll get you food, okay? Wait for us."

Then, the voices were gone. My stomach grumbled again. I heard a low snarl and I saw Yulen putting the book next to me with his sharp white teeth. I smiled weakly at it and patted its head. Its golden eyes glowed a bit.

"That was why you haven't thought of giving me food, huh."

So, they don't feel hungry at all? They were just alive but stuck in the moment where nothing progresses. They're not hungry, but they are alive. They're just...living but not moving on.

It wasn't long when the sisters came back. Basket of fruits came in the room, floating and then placed in the bed. I weakly sat on the bed and grabbed the first fruit and eat it. They were apologizing to me the whole time I was eating. I let them because I was enjoying the delicious food they served to me. Those were fresh red apples and pears, and after devouring more than five pieces, my thirst and hunger were satiated.

"Are you okay now, dear?"

"Yes, Stephan. Thanks to you all." I smiled...in the air. "Where do you get these fruits? I haven't seen some fruit trees anywhere when I came here."

"We have lots of them, Princess. They were hidden behind large tress or some places that passers-by can't see easily. We can show you some tomorrow so when you feel hungry, you can just pick them anytime and eat," said Charlotte.

"But for now," added Flynn, "we will deliver these fruits to you."

"Thank you..."

The half full basket floated in the air and it was placed in a nearby mini cabinet, carved in the tree. One by one, the fruits floated and were placed there. It was fascinating, like a magician I saw once in a festival in Averdam manipulating things so they'll float and move. But this one, however, is pure magic. No tricks used.

"Why do you hate flowers, Princess?" asked Charlotte. "You even looked like you're scared of those lovely things. Why?"

I bit my lip and sighed. "I've always loved nature since I was young. Flowers are even what I like the most. They are making everything just beautiful. Lively... Peaceful..."

They are gifts that however this world is troubled or tainted, they were just there and effortlessly making the world a peaceful place to be in.

"I only hated them...when they started to trick me."

"What do you mean, dear?"

I swallowed the lump of my throat and softly touched my right eye.

"Because this witch's eye...makes me see beautiful things everywhere. Flowers I've never seen in my life... Butterflies, big and small with rainbow wings and colors... They were just so beautiful I can't stop but look. But when I covered this eye," my palm covered it, tears wetting my hand, "all I can see are people who died because of me. Because I was tricked by those beauties, I didn't know I killed them all."

No one said anything. I heard nothing but my cry and the never-ending blaming in my head.

The monster princess!

Witch princess!

Murderer!

Those people that I loved, I killed them all. Now, everyone's angry and they want to kill me, too. Because those beautiful flowers, they tricked me.

My crying stopped when I felt Yulen's nose repeatedly nudging my arm. It purred and even lick my face. I don't know what exactly he's doing, but I think he's comforting me. I sobbed and touched its head. When his golden eyes glow, I suddenly felt an energy wrapping around me. From my arm, to my body. It was cool and soothing, like a carress trying to calm me down. Without even knowing, I did.

*

"How was your talk with Princess Yohan, dear?"

I moved my gaze away from the wolf and sighed. "I didn't have the answers, yet. All I know is that this city is cursed by three mysterious witches who visited one day. And," I picked up the book and touched its rough cover, "she gave me this."

"That must be the answer to your questions. When are you going to read it?"

"Now..."

"Okay, then. We'll leave you alone. See you tomorrow, princess? If you need anything, Yulen would be here to help you."

"Okay, then. Thank you for helping me out here."

"Good night, dear."

The others said goodbye to me, too. And the room was now silent.

I was about to open the book when Yulen is pulling the tip of my dress. Confused, I pulled it away from its teeth. But it just pulled stronger so before it ripped, I gave up and stood up.

"Okay, okay! What is it?!"

It growled and motioned me to follow. It padded its way outside. Sighing, I went out, too.

I was startled that it was dark now. The whole place is cloudy and thick of mist. A little cold, too. The moon above is blurry but thanks to it I can still something.

"So, this is nighttime in Haldorre?" Just like the first time I was here. I suddenly thought of the horse that I brought with me. Maybe it ran away because of fear. I was running away, too. But I just tripped and was knocked out.

Guess, that's a good thing. If I completely ran out of this city, maybe I wasn't able to know what truth and magical mystery really lies in here and in the roads, maybe the townspeople have already seen and killed me.

I stayed close to Yulen because the cloudy mist is unabling me to see properly. Even the tree house is out of sight, too. The night is giving me a little goose bump.

"Where are we going?"

No answer, of course.

"You know, Yulen, I really appreciate all the help but no offense, your silence tells me you're such a snob creature. That's mean, you know..."

It remained quiet. Such a snob. Although, I won't understand this wolf, at least we should be talking.

"What are you, anyway? A boy or a girl?''

It growled louder. I smirked.

"A boy? Yulen sounds boyish. Maybe you are Yohan's knight because based on what she said to me, she's the leader that's why she didn't entirely turned into a tree or something, like you. Maybe you're one of the higher officials. Commander, a prince? And if you are, be mindful that I am also a princess. Like her-"

I only stopped blabbering when he stopped walking. My gaze from the ground lifted.

"WOW!" I exclaimed and stepped forward, making the scene clearer for me.

In front of us is a large tree, with green glowing branches! There are also gold things flying in the air, some went to me and I giggled when they moved around me as if dancing.

"This place is beautiful..." I sighed and started walking nearer.

There are large roots so I jumped them one by one until I reached the very big tree trunk. The gold objects rained above me and I even heard tiny giggles.

Yulen jumped past the roots and climbed a single branch. Despite his massiveness, the tree branch is wide enough to accommodate him. I decided to climb, too. So, I carefully held on to some twigs and stepped on any seams that could help me up. I reached where Yulen stood and he sat when he saw me successfully did it.

Exhaling, I looked around.

This tree has something more above it but it's already high so we can't climb it. No worries, this height is enough to feel the majestic aura this place have. The thick mist must have concealed this place but it's okay. That is the reason why we call some places secrets.

Seeing Yulen's white and glowing furs, I went to him and leaned my back comfortably against his body. I'm write, it's really comfortable. Good thing he didn't growl or hate me. It just purred and laid silently.

After reading the title again, I opened the book. It was dusty so I had to blow them off.

Immediately, I saw a drawing of a woman with no face. Though the weird things around her, like potions, smokes, and book, indicates she's a witch. The pleasant feelings I just felt a while ago were now replaced with seriousness and curiosity.

Thousands of years ago, before anyone has lived and started to create cities, the world already upholds lots of mysteries. Some were known over time and tireless discovery, some did not and until now was hidden from anyone's knowledge. Believe when I say,

"Witches. They were like any of us, too. Living through the years, blending in that no one ever noticed. No one ever suspected. No one ever knew."

I swallowed as I turned the next page.

There's another drawing. The same woman which stood among the busy crowd. She was like them, too. And no one even gives attention to her.

But bloomed amidst the clueless world and the world they only knew of, the secrets unveiled. One lucky and unfortunate young boy, dark secrets whispered in his ears. He's the only one who knew, because of love she thought they both shared. But after the boy knew,

"He ran away, scared."

Another picture, where a boy was running and the woman was left...alone. There was something that pinched on my heart as I felt sorry for the woman. The boy wasn't able to accept her because she's a witch. So he went away...

Love for him never dies, and she always keep watch.

"What is...this?"

I rose from leaning when I saw a dark figure in the drawing. It's unfamiliar. Like a dog but they're all as black as shadows, bigger, and looks really scary.

Wait! Is this what they call Krams?!

I've never seen one but hearing from Lumin's stories, they all seem to fit in the description. I looked at it eagerly. They were watching from the bushes and trees, outlooking a palace...

My eyes widened when I realized what I am seeing! This is our palace! Even with the drawing is only made of pencil, a bit old, and faded, I know that this is our palace in the book!

"What is going on here?" I muttered and turned the page again.

With those eyes of hundred creatures, she saw that her beloved boy had turned into a fine man. Serving the kingdom he had promised to share with her. But it was all gone because he forgot about her, King Ciaorus has finally chose his bride and painfully, it's not her.

"King Ciarus..."

He is my grandfather! What in the world does this mean?!