In Search of Auria

by Alexis Rojas

  Once on the corvus’ back, Erik grabbed unto the crest of its neck and held on. The bird bucked and twisted, trying to flip him off. He managed to stand and stabbed the back of the beast. The corvus cried and fell on its belly. It attempted to stand, but Erik pulled hard on its crest, forcing it to stay. The bird struggled, but Erik’s pull dominated it.

  “Come on, turn your head,” Erik yelled, “Look at me, you sick beast!”

  The Great Corvus looked back at him and met its end. Erik pointed his sword and thrust. With its head on its side, the tip went through one eye and came out the other.

  The bird jumped in pain, stumbling and losing its senses. Its jolting flipped Erik off onto the branch. The corvus attempted to fly away, but without its sight, it flew directly into a tree. The impact twisted its neck with a snap, and crashed down into the dark bottom of the forest. The other crows panicked as they watched their leader fall. They rapidly flew out of the canopy and fled in terror.

  Erik got up on his feet and peeked down to the bottom. He then yelled in victory, “Yes! You were no match for me, you flying rat!”

  The fairies started to come out their shelters. Having witnessed his victory over the Great Corvus, they all went to him from different sides. Some walked near him while others floated around.

  “You won’t have to fear any longer. The monster is dead,” Erik said, but they did not respond. He went on to the other side and tried again, “Sing and rejoice for the sky is yours once more.” But again, they remained quiet. They just stared at him and maintained their distance.

  “Um, you guys aren’t even a little bit happy?” Erik asked, raising his shoulders.

  The daystars looked at one another and murmured. From the crowd appeared Auria. She seemed worried. Erik went walking to her when the powerful fairy landed right in front of him. He stared at Erik with unmistakable abhorrence. Receiving his unmerciful gaze, Erik understood Auria’s concern. Calmly, he put away his weapons and said, “I do not wish any trouble. I come in peace.”

  The daystar didn’t seem to care.

  “Oh, damn it,” Erik sighed, “I’m going to have my arms tied behind my back, aren’t I?”

  Ten minutes later, Erik was strapped to a seat, tied from neck to toe. He could only buck his head back and forth.

  “Aw, come on!” he barked, “I just saved your shiny butts from those flying rodents!”

  The fairies had him against the wall of a tree. They had gathered around him, whispering and muttering. Glorio, Auria and the powerful fairy stood in front. The last raised his hand and everyone went quiet.

  “How did you get here, land dweller?” he asked. Erik saw how Auria’s face frowned. She wanted to do something, but the male fairy seemed to have authority over the rest. Erik perceived she couldn’t go against him.

  “I’m a decent climber,” he answered, “I got lost down there and decided to go up.”

  “Climbing? Ha, is that the only thing your kind can do?” the fairy mocked while he let his mighty wings rest down as a cape. “You crawl on the ground and struggle up heights.”

  “It’s not that bad. I get around.”

  “You got around the wrong place! We live here peacefully. We do not need the violence and sadness you bring from below.”

  “Violence?” Erik raised his eyebrows. “It was a freaking war up here. It was a good thing I was present. I took care of your big bird problem.”

  “Ha, you fought without skill.”

  “How would you know? You weren’t there.”

  The fairy dashed to him and smacked his face. He then turned to the crowd, “The Corvus appeared right when he appeared. He is a curse and needs to be dealt with. We live in peace, and I will not let this land kind disrupt our way of life.”

  The fairy’s hand began to shine with sizzling sparks.

  No, not this again, Erik whined in his mind. He tried to free himself from the seat, but the vines wrapping him were on tight. The only thing he could do was watch as the shining hand came closer to his face. Erik had to close his eyes since the brightness blinded him. He awaited his impending doom when suddenly he sensed the light no more. When he opened his eyes again, Auria was standing between him and the fairy.

  “What are you doing?” barked the male daystar.

  “This land dweller does not have to die, Radian.”

  “You speak nonsense. Move away!” He tried to shove her aside, but she pushed him back.

  “You dare disobey my will, Auria?”

  “We should be thankful. He disposed of the Great Corvus.”

  “He does not belong here, and much less return to his kind and tell them about our existence!”

  Auria stood her ground, “I will not let you.”

  The wings of Radian, the powerful one, opened with colossal stature and shined in red crimson. Now both his hands started to shine.

  “If you defend him, you will also meet his fate.”

  Auria refused to move. Radian raised his arms, but before he stepped forward, Glorio stomped his cane into the branch. It pounded hard, catching everyone’s attention.

  “Stand down, Radian,” he commanded. “Do not dare to raise your hand against your own.” Radian lowered his arms and bowed his head to him. He and Auria stepped aside as Glorio neared Erik.

  “What is your name?” he asked.

  “My name’s Erik.”

  “I must thank you for vanquishing the Great Corvus, for it had haunted us for many seasons. But, you are not to return here. I know of the ways of man. When you return, it will be with many to fight us, to steal from us, and lastly, to kill us.”

  “No,” Erik blurted out, “I will come alone, I promise. You will bear no harm from me.”

  Glorio shook his head, “A promise you will not keep. Because of your actions, we will spare you. But, you will not come back.” He turned and nodded to Radian. The fairy grabbed the vines and broke them apart with a swift pull. He then grabbed Erik by the shoulder, but Auria push his hand away.

  “No, I will take him,” she said. She stood behind Erik and grabbed him under the shoulders.

  “Wait, wait! What are you doing?” Erik tensed. She then jumped off the branch of the tree and plunged down to the bottom. Erik kicked and screamed like a little boy, seeing the branches and leaves blur past them as they fell. It rapidly became dark, giving notice that they had reached the forest floor. With a whoosh of the wings, Auria stopped before hitting the ground. She released Erik by the roots of the tree, and she landed in front of him. Her vivid wings lit up the surroundings with a pulsing yellow.

  “Auria, thanks for intervening just in time. If not, that guy would’ve—”

  “I told you to stay inside!” Auria erupted, “Why did you have to go out? Now they all know about you.”

  “Stay inside?” Erik argued, “Did you see the size of those birds? Your people were dying. I just couldn’t sit idly by.”

  “You could have died under their claws.”

  “Die? As I recall, I killed the biggest of them all. I took care of business.”

  “My people have dealt with the beasts before,” she stated, walking side to side.

  “I know, but—”

  “It is something we are used to.”

  “Yes, ok—”

  “And you running free and wild, exactly as I told you not to—”

  “DAMN IT, AURIA, STOP!” Erik yelled to her. She paused her walk in shock. He then let his body drop back against the giant root and took a long breath.

  “Look, this week has been out of the ordinary for me. Not only did I almost die multiple times, but I have seen things that no other men have had the privilege to experience. One of those phenomenal experiences has been meeting you.” He lowered his sight when he saw Auria mystified.

  “When I saw the corvus and what they were doing,” he continued, “I had to get out and look for you. I was worried, Auria. I want to continue visiting you, but I can’t do that if you’re dead.”

  Silence too
k place for the next moments. Auria crossed her arms and looked to the side, the glow of her wings changing to a soft green. Erik had his hands on his waist, pushing his lips together.

  Then, Auria spoke, looking directly into his eyes, “You cannot go to my house anymore.” Erik exhaled in misery.

  “But,” she hinted, “there is a pond close by.”

  “A pond? Yes, I remember seeing a glowing one the first time I passed through.”

  “If you truly want to see me, we can meet there.”

  “Good. So, I’ll see you by the pond tomorrow?”

  Auria spread her wings and floated up. She gave him a smile and darted up.

  “I’ll take that as a yes!” Erik yelled as she vanished among the leaves.

  When she disappeared, he rubbed his forehead and had a laugh. It had been a crazy day, full of daring and quarrel. He could not go up to the tree house anymore, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t see Auria again.

  He closed his eyes and grinned, “See you later, sunflower…”

  *

  …Yes, that was Auria. I saved her people, but she saved me. Sitting beside the Devita grave, I stared at it. I did not want to dig a grave again. I quickly knelt in front of it and punched my fist to the ground.

  “I will rescue my beloved,” I vowed, “I don’t know what blessing you gifted me, but I’ll surely make use of it. I’m sorry I could not save you, but I will save my Auria. I will not dig a grave for another fairy!

  “Thank you, and rest in peace.”

  I stood up and continued along the path. I would never forgive myself if Auria had the same fate as the Devita. I will not let it happen!

  7- At the Inn

  “My lord, my lord!” I heard an idiot scream from the stairwell outside the room, “Orson is dead, he’s dead!”

  I exhaled in misery. This was such a drag! Enjoying the comforts of the most expensive room at the inn, eating the best piece of lamb in the country, praising the beautiful blonde man that looked back from the mirror; me, the magnificent Vallias, had his bliss disturbed by the ramblings of an inferior man. He entered the room without knocking and received a fist to the gut for the insolence. My bodyguards, Dorian and Angus, were my muscle and took care of the unwanted. One with long, red hair and the other bald with a full beard, they went everywhere with me.

  The soldier knelt in front of my desk and rubbed his stomach to sooth away the pain.

  “My lord, I apologize for my most inappropriate intrusion. But, I hastily came to tell you that Orson has been killed by a miaflorian.”

  “That is pitiful to hear,” I replied while looking at the mirror on the desk. I was such a handsome man. My short hair and sharp features were as stunning as an eagle, and my strong arms claimed the authority I deserved. Every part of my body gave the impression of a gentle, but violent man. Oh, I loved it.

  “This miaflorian you speak of,” I continued, “Where’s his head?”

  “I'm sorry, sir?”

  “The dead miaflorian's head, you didn’t bring it?”

  "Well, his head is on his shoulders, sir. I did not kill him.”

  His words stung my ears like alcohol to a wound. They filled me with ire and disappointment. I exploded.

  "You mean that there is a miaflorian soldier wandering freely in Balora because you let him live!"

  "Sir, once he killed Orson, I knew he was too powerful for me. I-I had to escape..."

  "You didn't even fight?!"

  "S-sir..."

  I felt my veins throbbing on my temples, but I took a deep breath and calmly composed myself behind the desk. I smiled and nodded to Dorian, my red head guard. He aggressively took the soldier and dragged him to the window. The glass shattered as the man screamed to his death, breaking his neck on the top of the covered cage. A feminine voice shrieked and began to cry as the body rolled off. The scream and his death eased my anger a little.

  "Angus," I ordered my bearded guard, "Prepare the men. We will continue our trip through the night." He obeyed and with Dorian went out the door. I walked to the broken window and looked down to the cage. It was still sobbing.

  “Shriek and cry all you want, my precious cargo. Your anguish has its purpose. Because of you, my dream shall become a reality.”

  My bodyguards prepared the men and tossed the corpse of the soldier in the alley beside the inn. I gazed at the stars and pondered about this new problem.

  "What is a single miaflorian doing in balorian soil? Bah, no matter. He does not know of my plan. No one knows, not even the king. Soon, I will take the throne and rule Balora. I will conquer and rule Miaflore. I will rise and rule the people.”

  I Will Rule!

  8- Little Brats

  After the burial of the Devita at the Riverways, it turned into and awkwardly peaceful afternoon. Walking up the path, I didn’t see any houses, wagons or people. It was a very lonely and serene area. But when night came, that’s when I had it hard. I didn’t find any shelter to rest. I had hoped to stumble onto a barn or some type of building, but to no avail. I hiked into the forest to hide myself from the path and sat under the low branches of a stout tree. I put my sword and shield at my side and prayed for a night without rain. I took out my small, black cotton sheet from my bag and covered my body. Quickly enough, I fell asleep.

  #

  The following day was bright and sunny. Surprisingly, I didn’t dream of the memories I’ve been having. My body wasn’t up to par; I didn’t rest in the best of positions and woke up with a sore back. I felt there was a piece of bark pricking me right in the middle of the spine. I touched around the ground to gather my things, but there was nothing. It was one of my greatest fears: my sword and shield were gone! I searched all around the tree, but they had disappeared. Even the dagger on my waist was missing. I was so deep in sleep I was robbed blind. I was so angry, I punched the tree and left the mark of my knuckles embedded on it. With this type of anger I could’ve hacked down the nearest tree to bits. But since it was my sword that had been stolen, it was a damn irony.

  I finally cooled off and continued down the trail, swearing to find whoever was responsible. I was alert, staring into the flora attentively. And it was then that I saw a young child picking berries from a bush. He wore old farming clothes with a round brown hat. I had nothing to eat for breakfast, so I went to him to ask for some fruit.

  “Hello, child.”

  The boy hopped scared when he heard me. I didn’t mean to surprise him, but he quickly took out a dagger. I stepped back and raised my hands.

  “Hey, kid, calm down. I didn’t mean to scare you, I just want some berries. I’m hungry.”

  “Stay back, greasy grown up!” he yelled like if I were his lifelong nemesis.

  I started to have the most weird of feelings; me, a soldier that had defeated countless enemies and survived against the most ruthless villains, being assaulted by a knife wielding youngster. I almost cracked a smile. My brothers in arms would have gotten a good laugh if they could see this.

  The kid stayed still, just lifting the dagger towards me. I shook my head as I giggled internally. I couldn’t believe the situations I got myself in. But after useless wonder, I focused on the dagger. The design and patterns on the blade were quite familiar. Then it hit me; it was my dagger!

  “Hey, kid. That’s mine!”

  He hopped scared again and turned to run. I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him to me. I twisted his arm behind his back and secured the dagger.

  “First of all, I’m not greasy,” I snarled into his ear. “Second, this here is my dagger. Tell me where are the rest of my weapons?”

  “What weapons?” he mouthed off.

  “Listen, kid, I know you robbed me, so just tell me where they are?”

  “No, no. I didn’t rob you, I swear it. Please, let me go. You’re hurting my arm.”

  I tightened my grip and gave him a stern instruction, “I will release you, but you will have to tell me where you obtained the dagger. You un
derstand me?” The boy hastily nodded and I released. Once freed, he meticulously rubbed his arm. I might have twisted it a bit too hard, but as my father once told me when I was young: You deserve what you deserve.

  When he finished soothing his arm, he opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead the little weasel turned around and sped off! This time he was too fast for me to catch.

  “Aw, come on, kid! I’m trying to be nice here!”

  He ran off the path and entered the forest. I hauled in pursuit. He knew very well the terrain of these woods; he knew when to jump, when to slide and when to dodge. Eventually, he ended up stopping in the center of a small circle of trees. I grabbed him by the shoulder and wagged my finger.

  “Ok, kid. No more running. If you had my dagger, you know who has the rest of my equipment. Now, speak!”

  The child showed me a sudden smirk. It was very suspicious. Realizing where we were, he could have led me into a trap. Then, I heard a noise coming from above. The sunshine that peered through the leaves hazed my vision, but I noticed some movement among the branches. When I looked back to the kid, he grabbed a rope that fell from atop. It swiftly tensed and he was pulled up to a small platform suspended from the branches. It was then that I finally saw the ones up on the trees. They were a couple dozen of other children standing on the high branches, pointing at me with mocks and giggles. I had been so focused on the one below I hadn’t noticed the rest. They were trying to frighten me with their laughter and wails, but it wasn’t working.

  “What is this?” I chuckled, “The Kindergarten Forest Watch? Come on, kids, get down from there.” I guess they didn’t like the joke, because they started taking stones out from their pouches.

  “Oh, crap!” I curled into a ball and covered my head. The children yelled as they threw the projectiles at me. I grunted each time one of them landed on the center of my back.