In Search of Auria (28 page)

There were other people in the forest, and
they had found us! They must’ve noticed the shine of Auria’s wings
and body.

Who could they be? Then, I remembered the
large amount of soldiers at Vieris. What if the balorians conquered
Somber Petalia, and it was them wandering within the forest. The
base beside the woods could have fallen!

I had to prepare for the worst. And no
matter who they were, I wasn’t going to let history repeat itself.
Auria had to disappear.

“Go up, Auria. Vanish!”

“Come with me, take my hand.”

“No, I’ll stay and ward them off.”

“But, Erik—“

“If we both flee, they’ll keep searching and
the forest won’t be safe anymore. I won’t let them take you again.
Now go. Go!”

That was the second time I had raised my
voice to Auria, but this time it was for a good reason. I just
didn’t want anything else to happen to her. She did not want to
leave me, but I stayed firm on my statement. With blue lines and
teary eyes, she flew up and disappeared. I turned around and took
out my sword, ready to strike. Rants were screaming through my
head.

Just freaking great!

It’s one thing right after the other!

Heavens, give me a breather, some rest!

…
I need a damn vacation.

I then heard quick footsteps. Someone was
running to me. My heart remained steady as I waited for what was
coming. The steps got nearer and louder and a person emerged from
the darkness. As it came closer, I exhaled in relief for it was
Raymond, my friend.

“Erik, I knew you would be here!” he said
and gave me a hug. I was so confused. Why was he here?

I sheathed my sword and shared my
puzzlement, “Raymond, I don’t understand. It’s good to see you, but
what are you doing here? How did you find me?”

He didn’t answer me. He was staring at the
glowing lines on my forehead.

“What in the hell is that?” he pointed
out.

“Tsk, I’ll tell you later. Answer me.”

He grinned and took in a gratifying breath,
“Erik, the war is over. After countless decades of battles, the war
is over. We won!”

Straightaway, I felt this weight of
emotional garbage just lift from my shoulders. This violent and
bloody chapter of our history had ended, and a peaceful one would
commence.

“Where did it happen?” I asked, “The turning
point, I mean. Was it in Somber Petalia?”

“It was not on the frontlines, but within
Balora itself, believe it or not. We got this from the last
balorian soldiers in the last days of battle. After defeating and
imprisoning them, they told us about the rumors running among their
ranks. Supposedly, a balorian officer was transporting something
very valuable to the old and withering balorian king. But, before
the officer could reach the capital, he disappeared along with his
company detail. Most say they were slain. The king, not receiving
the special cargo, became sick with grief and died. With him dead,
the army crumbled under the leadership of the weak prince,
guaranteeing our victory!”

So, that was the plan in detail. With Dirge
as a middleman, Vallias had come to terms with Lorana to exchange a
daystar for the potions. He sent word of the plan to the king, but
he would never receive the potions since Vallias wanted them for
himself, along with the kingdom.

“And Erik,” Raymond continued, “do you know
who it was that slew the balorian officer and his soldiers?”

I didn’t reply. I didn’t want him to know it
was me the one running wild in Balora. I simply tilted my head and
shrugged. Raymond laughed as he shook his head.

“Come on, Erik, you know who it was. It was
the Blood Marauder!”

My eyeballs almost popped out my head when
he said that. How in the hell did the name “Blood Marauder” get
inserted in the story? It was just not possible. The miaflorian
soldiers knew about it because of my efforts it Somber Petalia, and
there it died. But, then I remembered my encounter with Angus, the
former bodyguard of Vallias. Before I released my hand from his
throat so he could tell me the details of Dirge’s cave, he asked me
what I was. I told him I was the Blood Marauder before revealing my
true self. I let him live, so he must’ve gone to every pub and
watering hole in Ambros, spreading the Blood Marauder encounter. I
guess it caught on, even reaching the soldiers at the
frontlines.

“Let me describe the ‘Blood Marauder’
according to the balorian soldiers,” Raymond carried on, “He is a
glowing eyed, flesh eating, hooded triclops demon that came from
hell.”

…Yep, that confirmed it. I believe that is
how Angus saw me that night.

“Erik, what the heck did you do over there?”
Raymond finally finished. I didn’t know how to answer him. But
before I could think of anything, another voice emerged from the
gloom.

“Yes, Sir Erik, what
did
you do over
there?”

I could not believe what I was seeing. He
was there, the ruler of all Miaflore himself, King Edmund
Monrivier.

“My king!” I quickly knelt and bowed my
head. He came to me accompanied by his bodyguards and a whole
militia of torch holding soldiers. Wearing his polished golden
armor, his ruby rings, his long white cape and his serrated crown
of gold, his majesty was a class apart. He hid his mouth under a
perfectly trimmed, blonde moustache and goatee. He was old, but not
as the balorian king. He still had muscle under his skin and
carried himself well.

“Rise, Sir Erik,” he commanded me, “You
don’t get to kneel, not today. Today you stand tall and proud for
all to see. Today you…” he stopped and focused on my forehead.
“That’s one shiny finger paint you have there.”

I slapped my forehead, covering the glow,
“Oh, yes, your majesty. I’ll, uh, wash it off when I can.”

“Very well. Normally, when a knight does a
great feat, he would come to me to be properly recognized and be
rewarded for it. But in this case, the accomplishment is too great
for me to stay still in my court. So, I have decided to come to
you.”

“I am honored, sire,” I bowed, still
covering my forehead. Raymond yanked it off annoyed and gestured me
to stand properly.

“You single handedly plowed through the
enemy country and made it rot from within, crippling its army and
breaking its soul. For this grand endeavor, I will grant you a
great reward. You, Sir Erik, shall become the Marquis of Somber
Petalia. You will flourish this land for me and keep a close eye on
the neighboring country. This title will lift the Belrose name to
new heights.”

Me, the Marquis of Somber Petalia? What an
honor! I’d have my own men to lead, people to work on the fields, a
couple of stallions in the stables. And best of all, a castle of my
own. It would be wonderful, stupendous. It would be… away from
Auria. Her horrid experience made her fear my world. I sensed it on
our way back. She did not mention it, but I knew she wanted to
leave this land dwelling world and return to her sunny Heights. No,
I didn’t want to force her. I didn’t want to make her choose.
That’s what started this mess in the first place.

But, maybe I could be the one to go with
her. And why not? It would be a great change. Of course, there
would be no earth to walk upon, only branches. There would be no
grass, but leaves. And no men; only daystars. It would be a big
change, but maybe it was the change I wanted. The change I needed.
The most important element to this was that I would be joined with
Auria. And if I was to be with her, then why not?

There was only one problem: how do you say
no to a king?

“Now, Sir Erik,” the king commanded me,
“kiss my ring and accept what I grant you.”

I knelt and took his hand, but I kept still.
I did not kiss the ring. The king and Raymond waited. If I kissed
that ruby, I would have a title, I would have land, I would have
leadership, but I would also have an empty heart.

I released my king’s hand and stepped back.
The king changed his benevolent expression to an angered one.
Raymond was stupefied by my action and grabbed me by the shoulder,
“Erik, are you mad? You can’t deny the king!”

I stepped away from him and excused myself,
“Your majesty, I am sorry, but I cannot accept.”

“You dare reject your king?” he blared.

“I would never, sire, but I don’t want you
to reward me for something I was not responsible for.” The king
twisted his face in confusion, and his bodyguards looked at each
other in the same manner. After the uncomfortable silence, I
pointed at Raymond like a child blaming another for his bad
behavior, “He did it.”

“What? This is nonsense, your lordship. I
didn’t go to Balora. I was always at the frontlines.”

“That is exactly my point,” I argued.
“During my time at the frontlines, I had a close encounter in
battle that almost cost me my life. After that, I remained at the
outpost, taking walks in the forest, traumatized by the battle.”
This was not entirely accurate, but I needed to bend the truth so
that my inventiveness could succeed. “But, unlike me, Raymond
stayed strong. Even after the loss of his father, Gregor Tolbert,
he returned to risk his life, leading the men to victory.

“It was his idea to go into Balora to create
chaos from within. He even wanted to go himself!”

“This is not true, your majesty. Erik, what
are you doing?”

“I convinced him not to go, for his men
needed his leadership, his strength, his reason. I volunteered to
go instead, to redeem myself from my cowardice. He instructed me on
what I had to do. I simply obeyed. This reward must go to him.”

“My king, he lies!” Raymond raised his
voice. The king raised his hand and both Ray and I bowed.

“I just don’t understand,” he said, “I’m
trying to give away a fancy title, and it’s being passed around
like a hot potato. Nobody wants it.”

“I want it,” said one of the king’s
guards.

“Quiet! Know your place,” the king scowled
at him. “Now, Sir Raymond. What Sir Erik says, is it the
truth?”

“Sire,” he responded with a sigh, but I
interrupted him by grabbing his shoulder and facing him at arm’s
length.

“Raymond, stop being so humble,” I told him.
“Ever since I know you, you have given others credit to your own
noble doings. This will bring honor to your name and family. You
deserve it. Take it… please.”

And there he finally got it. I never say
“please” to him. He knew I’d prefer to bite my tongue off than to
say it to him. Now that I did, he understood that I did not want
this.

“Uh, yes, your majesty. It was I behind the
plan. I ordered Erik, who was under my command, to traverse the
woods and get into Balora. I told him to target officers and
disrupt enemy command. Eh, I personally wanted to go, but I needed
to stay and defend your kingdom at the frontlines.”

King Edmund stayed silent for a moment, but
at last nodded, “I trust you, Sir Raymond. Your father was a bold
and truthful man, and so is his son. If you say it and swear it,
then it’s true. Come and receive what you deserve.”

Raymond knelt before him, took his hand and
kissed the ring, officially making him the Marquis of Somber
Petalia. With that dealt with, I felt at peace. I looked upward to
the trees and pondered at my future.

“And as for you, Sir Erik,” the king
continued, “Even if you were under the orders of Sir Raymond, you
still accomplished a bold mission. You should also be
rewarded.”

“No, thank you, my king,” I refused, still
looking up.

“Ho, I just don’t comprehend you, my boy,”
he laughed, “Tis the second time you reject my blessings. Why won’t
you accept?”

“Because, your majesty, I have already
received my prize.”

“You have? And what is that, might I
ask?”

I did not answer. I only stretched my arm up
and waited for her. They all eventually looked up to appreciate the
phenomenon that was coming. A vast vortex of light descended upon
us. It was the daystars, flying round and around in a vortex of
light. They shed their grace with their luminescent wings, and
filled our ears with their celestial calls. Raymond, the king and
the soldiers stepped back in fear, but I remained in place. The
spiral of daystars lowered and spun right above our heads. You
could see them twirling and whirling; following others in file,
flapping their wings intensely, creating a constant breeze that
flowed down to our bodies. And from its center, one single fairy
descended, dressed with a tender, vermilion aura. It was my Auria.
She landed before me, with her wings facing Raymond and the king.
She put her hands around me and hugged me firmly.

“Erik!” Raymond called to me, his mind
overwhelmed with what he had never seen. “What is… what… you…”

I smiled at him over Auria’s shoulder, and I
told him what he had told me some time ago.

“It is the right time, under the right
circumstances.”

Auria ascended and took me with her through
the vortex. The daystars followed us, rising and singing up to the
Heights. Auria kept looking at me. I could do nothing else but to
kiss her. And just like that we ascended; we rose up and up,
vanishing to the heights, through the trees, with the leaves.

The End