I sat by a peaceful lake, skipping stones across the water. The sun shone warmly, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. I breathed deeply, feeling calm and relaxed.
Thoughts of Aria flooded my consciousness, I couldn't stop thinking about her, worrying if she was safe and if she had managed to rescue her father. I recalled the determination in her eyes.
I stared across the lake, my eyes following the ripples as I searched for answers. I felt a strong urge to find out what happened and to make sure Aria was safe.
Just as my thoughts were consumed by visions of Aria's determined face, a gentle voice broke the silence.
"Caius, dear, lost in thought again?"
I turned and found out it's my mother, Lyra, was walking towards me with a warm smile. She has a silver hair which was tied back and her eyes had a gentle glow.
I returned the smile, feeling a sense of comfort in her presence.
"Mother, just wondering about... someone," I replied, hesitant to reveal too much.
Her eyes softened, and she sat beside me on the shore.
"Ah, I see. And who might this someone be?" she asked, her voice gentle and probing.
I hesitated, unsure of how much to share, but my mother's kind gaze put me at ease.
"Aria," I said, finally.
"The girl I met on the mountain. I wonder if she's safe, if she was able to... "
Mom's expression turned thoughtful, and she placed a reassuring hand on my arm.
"You care deeply for her, don't you?" she asked, her voice filled with understanding.
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief at being understood.
Her eyes were filled with curiosity as she asked,
"And is she beautiful, this Aria?"
My expression turned thoughtful, as if recalling a memory.
"She's really beautiful. She's about 5ft tall, thin, and athletic. Her eyes are a deep brown, like soil. She has a dark curly hair and messy, always falling in her face. And when she smiles, it's like sunshine."
Mom's face glowed with delight at my poetic words.
"You've fallen deeply, haven't you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I shrugged, my expression turning neutral.
"I was just answering your question, Mother. Don't read too much into it."
She chuckled, her eyes twinkling.
"Oh, I'm not reading anything into it, yet."
I playfully rolled my eyes, and she laughed, deciding to stop teasing me for the moment.
****
ARIA'S POV:
I entered the palace and was amazed by its beauty and grandeur. The high ceilings, colorful walls, and shiny floors were very beautiful. As I walked down the halls, my footsteps echoed, giving me a chill.
I used the map Elias gave me to find my way. I walked through the complicated hallways until I reached a door with a small sign. I knocked quietly, and a gentle voice told me to come in.
As I entered, inside was cozy, filled with books and unusual objects. A middle-aged man with kind eyes looked up from his desk and smiled warmly at me.
"Who might you be?" he asked, softly.
"Good day" I bowed.
"I am Aria.
Elia's told me to come here." I said, and immediately reach for my pocket to get the scroll.
"Here." I said, handing over the letter Elias had written.
"He said I should show you this that you would understand" I added.
I felt relieved as I gave him the letter, and he read it. while reading it, his eyes were moving quickly over the pages, and nodded thoughtfully.
"Welcome, Aria. You're safe here," he said.
"But, be careful. The palace has many secrets and dangers. Don't trust anyone too quickly."
I nodded, my heart still racing from my journey. I was thankful to have found someone, willing to help, but also knew that in the palace, loyalty was something few people could afford, it's just a matter of time.
"What's your name?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I am Thorold. The king's advisor." he replied, his eyes sparkling with warmth.
"Take this message to Lady Kaida in the East Wing," he said, giving me a small, sealed envelope. "Hurry, she's waiting for you."
"I have only been here just few minutes ago, and Thorold has already sent me on an errand." I thought to myself.
"Or maybe... he just wants to see if I'm good enough." I thought with a sly smile.
I nodded and tucked the envelope into my belt, and headed to the East Wing.
I walked past fancy tapestries and sparkling lights, my eyes were shining with amazement. I had never seen anything so luxurious.
As I turned a corner, I almost ran into a tall servant with dark hair.
"Apologies, miss," he said, bowing.
I smiled and kept walking. Then, came to a quiet hallway with many doors. I looked at the envelope for the room number and stopped at a door with a silver music symbol on it. I took a deep breath, fixed my dress, before knocking gently.
And a sweet, melodious voice told me to come in.
I opened the door and stepped inside. The room was cozy, with books, musical instruments, and a warm fire.
Lady Kaida, an elegant woman with silver hair and gentle eyes, stood up from her chair.
"Hello. You have a message from Thorold right?" she asked, holding out her hand.
I gave her the envelope, feeling proud of myself, as my first job at the palace was a success.
As I was returning to Thorolds' chamber, I got distracted by the palace's grandeur, and discovered a hidden garden between two large stone buildings. The garden was stunning with colorful flowers, sparkling water features, and a peaceful atmosphere.
I was so calm in the garden that I forgot about my surroundings. Then, I heard footsteps behind me, and turned around to see a tall, dark-haired man walking towards me, the same servant I had almost run into earlier.
"Miss, are you enjoying the view?" he asked with a smile, taking a step closer as he tried to be friendly.
My face turned red. "I was just... looking at the garden." I said, flushing.
The servant smiled. "It's a secret treasure, isn't it? Most people don't know it's here."
As we talked, I saw a small, beautifully carved box in the servant's hand. He noticed me looking and quickly hid the box behind his back.
"What's that?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.
The servant hesitated, then revealed the box again. "Just a small delivery for... someone. Not important."
I felt like something wasn't right. Sensed that the servant was hiding something.
But, I shrugged off, trying to seem like I didn't care.
"No big deal, just wondering" I said.
The servant smiled and looked more at ease.
"My name is Frodo, by the way." He revealed.
"I'm Aria," I said with a smile.
"I work for Thorold, the King's advisor." I also revealed.
Frodo's eyes widened slightly.
"Oh, you're a servant. I haven't heard of you before. I actually work for Lady Kaida."
We talked easily, like old friends meeting again. We discussed about the palace, and more. I found myself laughing and feeling comfortable around Frodo. wondering if introducing myself as a servant girl, even though I was not, If it was a good decision.
Finally, we said goodbye, "I'll probably see you around, Aria. Stay safe, okay?" Frodo said.
I nodded, feeling a sudden sense of unease.
"I will. Thanks, Frodo."
As I walked, my mind wandered. Despite my distraction, I couldn't help but think that meeting Frodo had been nice though.
As I turned the corner, I bumped into a tall, serious-looking man. His intense stare made my heart jump.
His expression turned cold, and his eyes were flashing with annoyance.
"Watch where you're going, servant," he said sharply, his voice was full of disrespect.
My face burned with embarrassment and anger.
"I apologized, but there's no need to be so rude," I retorted, standing my ground.
He sneered,
"You dare to speak to me like that? You're nothing but just a lowly servant."
My temper boiled over.
"I may be a servant, but at least I have got manners, I'm polite and don't treat others badly like dirt. You could learn a thing or two from that."
His face turned even angrier, but before he could say anything, I turned around and walked away, leaving him standing alone.
As I vanished around the corner, I heard him mutter, "This isn't over, you haven't seen the last of me."
I shivered, feeling a chill run down my spine. I had no idea who that arrogant man was, but I knew I didn't want to cross paths with him again.
***
It had already been a week since I arrived at the palace. I often felt bored because I was always indoors, worried that going outside could put me in danger.
One quiet night, I decided to explore the empty hallways and get some fresh air. While wandering, I discovered a secret passageway hidden behind a tapestry. The passage seemed to lead deep into the palace.
I stepped into the passage without thinking twice, my heart racing. The air was thick with dust, and cobwebs stuck to my face. I rummaged through my pocket for a match and lit it by scratching it against the wall, and the flickering flame create strange, scary shadows on the wall.
As I walked, the passage got smaller and the walls seemed to close in around me. I felt trapped, but still kept going because I really wanted to know what was ahead. My curiosity got the better of me.
Suddenly, the passage opened up into a huge underground chamber. I gasped in surprise, my eyes slowly getting used to the dim light. The room was filled with old artifacts, strange devices that seemed impossible to understand.
And in the center of it all, I saw a creature. It had an intimidating presence, tall, imposing, and its eyes seemed to glow with an intense dark light.
"Welcome, Aria," the creature said in a loud, rumbling voice.
"I have been waiting for you."
****