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Chapter 03 - A Grandiose Destiny

A shiver runs through my body when Twyla says I'm in Eldoria. Part of me still doubts this whole story. If magic exists, I want to see it with my own eyes. I try to get up and walk to the large windows. But as soon as I step on the floor, a strong dizziness makes me lie down again.

"Not yet," Twyla comes to me and helps me lie down again. "You've been unconscious for seven days."

Seven days?!? I thought only a few hours had passed.

"What happened that night?" I ask Twyla, because I really don't know the answer.

"We still don't fully understand. But it seems Malachai wanted to kill himself, or wanted to demonstrate his power," the phoenix-witch looks me in the eyes. I notice that her eyes are of a color I can't define. "But it's clear that we need to keep him safe for now."

I remember how that fire came out of nowhere, the flames burning Malachai. He looked straight at me while burning, and then the pain hit me.

I look at my hands and arms, expecting to see burn marks. But there are no blisters or scars.

"He tried to set me on fire?" I didn't want to appear weak, but my voice came out shaky. Despite everything my father did to me, I always attributed the evil in his actions to alcohol. He was my entire family reference. I didn't expect him to try to kill me.

Twyla sighs and looks away for a long time before answering me.

"There are many things for you to deal with now. How about we focus on your learning for now? You should have started working with your magic from the early years. We are a bit behind," the smile she gives me is beautiful.

I realize there's something she doesn't want to tell me. In fact, there are many things I still don't understand. Suddenly, my stomach drops. There are things about me that Twyla and this King Soren don't know. They believe I have great potential, but...

"I can't read."

Her expression is one of surprise, and then anger.

"Malachai is a cunning villain. If you could read, then you could find out things," she ponders. "But that won't be a big obstacle. As long as you dedicate yourself, you will learn everything you need."

I decide to hold onto her words. I spent too much time serving Simon and Edith. From now on, I need to build a life for myself.

"But now we need to take care of you," Twyla gets up and goes to a large vanity with mirrors. "I believe I won't be able to keep Soren out of here for much longer. And he hasn't come yet because he doesn't know you're conscious."

But after all, why so much interest from this king in me? I don't think I can do much for him. I barely know what I am.

Still, Twyla brings two young women to help me improve my appearance. Lumina and Veridian are two red-haired twins with gray eyes. They are excited to help me.

I still can't get up, so they help me improvise a bath on the bed where I am. Then they brush my long hair, trying to untangle the tangled waves delicately.

"Your hair is so beautiful," Veridian compliments as she passes an oil with a very pleasant smell and curls each strand.

I don't know what to say. I never paid much attention to myself before. I always bathed and brushed my teeth, but I never had time to do hairstyles or take care of my nails. I rarely had new clothes, and I always shared everything with Yvonne. Appearance was never a priority.

"I think the smile is your strong point," Lumina says while applying a cream with a flowery scent to my face.

I wonder why they keep complimenting me. I wonder if someone told them to say these things. Or maybe they just want to please Twyla. After all, I'm absolutely ordinary. My hair is brown, my eyes of distinct colors, the fair skin sunburned from working outdoors often. And my eyes don't seem like a positive differential. I don't think beauty is a strong point in me.

When they finish my hair and leave me clean and very perfumed, they help me put on a long dress. It's beautiful, and the fabric is soft. Very different from the rags I'm used to.

They bring a mirror in front of me, and I barely recognize myself. My hair is loose in long curls and some thin braids, the light makeup and the rosy lips. The blue dress fits well.

I hope this is enough for King Soren, because I don't know what else I could offer.


Usually, people get nervous in my presence. But today, it's me who is anxious for a meeting. After 23 years of searching, maybe today I will be in front of the woman destined for a great future beside me.

For a few days, I feared I might not even get to know her. When I heard that Malachai had set ethereal flames on her, I thought I would lose her forever. If Twyla and Draven hadn't been there, that would have happened. Just thinking about it, irrational anger takes over me.

Malachai is only alive because we haven't yet discovered the extent of his use of Thalassa's magic. Thinking of her name fills my body with a good feeling. How can I feel this way about someone I don't even know? I've never heard her voice or looked into her eyes.

Of course, I've seen her every day since she arrived in Eldoria. For seven days, I watched her sleep a restless and painful sleep while Twyla took care of her and tried to contain the damage Malachai caused. Even unconscious, she is enchanting. But there is still much to discover about this beautiful chimera.

Above all, I need to find out if she is my destined one.

"Your Majesty, King Soren," Athelius, the royal secretary, interrupts my thoughts. "Young Thalassa is ready to receive you."

I walk to the Eternal Flowers Wing, crossing the Rose Courtyard. These names were given by previous queens, and each room in this Palace contains magical elements with stories from my family. Maybe now, I am about to have my own Queen.

I don't expect them to announce my entrance; I open the door and am inside the room in a few seconds. Twyla is sitting in a chair next to Thalassa's bed and gives me a surprised look. But I can't focus on her for long because at that moment, Thalassa straightens up in bed and looks at me, startled.

And she's more beautiful than I expected. The curly brown hair is very long, and braids adorned with small points of brightness spread among the curls. The disparate eyes are even more beautiful than they had described to me. But my gaze is drawn to her mouth; the lips are a work of art, an irresistible invitation to touch and passion. Gently full, outlined by a perfect line, they reveal a curvature that provokes an irresistible desire. I avert my gaze, hoping Twyla didn't read my expression. Sometimes, I feel like she can read my thoughts.

The phoenix sorceress leaves without a word, avoiding looking directly at me. I bet she knows how I feel.

But finally, I have Thalassa all to myself.

She seems to recover from the shock and tries to bow from the bed where she is. She clearly doesn't know how to do it. I dismiss the gesture with a brief wave of my hand. She leans back on the pillows; I notice she breathes softly through her mouth. The scare left her breathless.

I sit in the chair Twyla vacated, trying to disguise my body's reaction to Thalassa's lips.

"How are you feeling?" I try to follow royal visit protocol.

She looks at me briefly and then looks away. Her features convey confusion and then pain. I understand that many different thoughts are running through her head.

"I don't know," she responds after a prolonged silence. "Physically, I feel sick. Mentally confused and emotionally broken. I'm sorry," she adds as if she thought that wasn't the right answer.

"It's understandable; you've been through a lot, Thalassa." I feel so sorry for her that I want to hug her.

"There are so many things I would like to know." I see her eyes welling up. I would like to tell her that everything will be okay, but I know her path won't be easy. It never is when you're a magical creature with great potential. I've been living that reality since I was born.

"If there's anything I can answer, feel free to ask." I give her a space I don't usually concede.

She reflects for a few seconds. And then bites her lip in a gesture that almost makes me lose my mind.

"Sir, why did you want to meet me so badly?" Accurate.

"How do you know I wanted to meet you?" I inquire. Not that I've been discreet. But I hope people haven't been so obvious. I don't want to scare her even more.

"They said when they were in my house." She doesn't say who. Perceptive. "That King Soren wanted to see me. But sir, I don't know anything. I didn't even know that my father... I didn't know that Malachai was a fairy. Nor that Eldoria existed. I'm not even sure I am what they say. A chimera."

"That's okay." I seek to reassure her. "With proper training, soon you will be able to develop and control your magic. Just dedicate yourself to the study of magic."

She becomes very pale.

"I don't know how to read or write, King Soren." She says softly. "I mean, not enough to read a book."

I can't resist anymore. I stand up and sit on the edge of the bed. I take her hand.

"Then you will learn." I look into her eyes. I take her hand to my lips and kiss the back of her hand. "You are marked for a great destiny, Thalassa."

Her cheeks turn red, but she gives a small smile. I don't know if it's because of what I said or the kiss. But part of me ardently wishes it's the second option.

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