In Search of Auria

by Alexis Rojas

  I needed to find a way to hurt him. He had become a powerful creature, but he had to have a weak point. I observed him and noticed that his neck and knees had not fused with his armor and were defenseless.

  I immediately devised a plan, but it involved losing my shield. It didn’t matter. Once I finished, Vallias would be dead… I hoped.

  I removed my arm from the straps behind the shield and only held it by the handle. I took the dagger from my belt and held it with the tip down. When I was ready, I charged. He raised the sword and plunged down. I blocked, skipping to the left and stabbing the back of his knee. In result, he knelt to the ground. I tossed my shield and leapt on his back. He raised the sword again to stab behind, but I stretched the dagger out and slashed the top of his wrist. The cut made him drop the blade. I then grabbed the nearest horn and pushed it forward to reveal his nape, and there I sank my dagger. I stabbed repeatedly, cutting away the tissue, with blood sputtering all over me.

  I thought that would end it, but he was too stubborn to go down. He seized my arm and hurled me away, landing roughly on the ground. I knelt and looked at him. He was walking wobbly, gurgling blood. I was sure he wouldn’t last long after suffering my attack. But, when he stared at me with his ever-living loath, I wasn't so sure anymore. He sprinted furiously and tackled me, smashing me against the ice wall. The impact must've knocked me unconscious for a second, for when I came to, Vallias had both hands around my neck. He rose me up against the wall. My feet dangled in the air as shards of ice punctured my skin. I tried to free myself by punching his arms, but it only made his grip tighter. He pushed me harder onto the ice and flattened my throat. And then, darkness came to cloud my sight.

  I could no longer draw breath and my body struggled with movement. Death was tugging on my heart once more. But, before I slipped again, I saw a shimmering light before me. Was it the light at the end of the tunnel, or the glare of the sun directly on my face? No. It was neither. This light came from an angel. Seeing it coming, I squealed out a gruff laugh.

  "What do you laugh about, dead man?" Vallias asked me, releasing his grip just a bit to let me breathe and answer. With the raspy voice my throat lent me, I simply said, "Burn, you ugly bastard!"

  With the hype moment, Vallias didn't hear Auria's wings flapping behind him. She extended her delicate hands and placed them on the sides of his head.

  "Feel the sear," she whispered.

  A yellow surge coiled from her shoulders to her hands, creating a fulgent flash. The flare blinded me, but I could no longer feel Vallias' grip around my neck. I fell to the ground and heard an agonizing scream. Slowly the colors returned to my sight and I saw what was happening. Vallias was tossing and turning, slapping his head to put out the fire that engulfed it. Auria remained beside the ice wall, but I reeled to where my sword was. I picked it up and faced my adversary once more.

  The flames had consumed the skin, and flowed out of the eye sockets. I stood before him as he hopelessly slapped himself.

  "Vallias!" I called to him. He turned and gave me a roar only a true monster could provide. And although it was a frightening scream, it also seemed like a cry for help. I offered my aid as a slash across his neck. His burning head rolled off and his body fell to the grass. At long last, Angelus Vallias of Horne, and the thing he had become, were finally no more.

  I exhaled a slow breath. It was over. I turned around and looked at her, Auria, smiling with her big, sparkly eyes. I tried to walk to her, but I could not hold my weight anymore. I dropped to my knees and hunched over. Auria ran and held me, hugged me.

  "Erik, are you fine?"

  "I am now," I said softly.

  I dropped my sword and hugged her waist. I looked up to see tears running down her cheeks. At last, I was with her. I was finally with her. But, none of this would have happened if I hadn’t been such a fool. I filled her heart with sorrow the day we argued, and I simply walked away. If I hadn't done that, if I hadn't left her alone, none of this would’ve happened.

  "I am sorry about everything. I didn’t want this to happen to you. Will you forgive me?"

  "How could I hold this against you? You are here, you saved me. Why are you apologizing?"

  "I don't know... I’m just tired."

  "Oh, you dummy." She held my cheeks and put her face to mine, our nose and foreheads touching. I felt her warmth, her breath, her love for me. I had been dead before, but now I was in heaven.

  "Well, sorry to interrupt your lovesy wobsy," Beam yelled floating far above us, "but what the heck do we do now? We are in the middle of nowhere, far, far from home! How are we getting ba… Huh, what is that?" He flew to the ground, to where the witches had gathered in the first place, and came back with something.

  "What is this?" he showed me. It was the square vial with the blue potion.

  "It's the witch's concoction," I answered. "Supposedly, it revitalizes and heals."

  "Then, take it," urged Auria, "You are hurt. Heal your wounds."

  I thought about it. If the red potion made Vallias into a powerful monster, this potion would make me healthy and young for years to come. I gave them a wry laugh and nodded, sitting on the ground with my feet crossed. Beam handed me the vial, but I stopped before I opened it.

  "What are you waiting? Drink it," said Beam. But as much as my body was hurting, this potion was not meant for me.

  "My wounds are nothing,” I said, “We must save it for the one who truly needs it."

  26- My Home

  Before facing Vallias and the witches, I had secured the balorian carriage, leaving Beam to tend to its horses. He ended up joining the fight, but fortunately, the carriage was still there afterwards. I disguised myself as a balorian with one of their armors, and wrapped a cloth around my head to cover the glowing lines on my forehead. To return safely to Miaflore, I would maneuver the carriage all the way back, while Auria and Beam hid inside. They suggested we fly, them carrying me, but I refused. I didn't want to be clutched like a dangling sack of potatoes two hundred feet in the air. If it came to an emergency that we needed to get away fast, there and then we would do it.

  We set out from our small battlefield to the fortified city of Ambros. I didn't want to return there, but the steep Pegnion Mountains to our right would not be an option. The city would still be flocked with soldiers, but once past it, the rest would be easy.

  Nearing the city gates, I still hadn’t thought what to say if they stopped us. I was hoping they would just let us pass, seeing I was a "balorian soldier" coming from the capital.

  "Halt there," cried one of the five guards at the gate, "Who goes in transport?"

  "Sir Vallias of Horne," I replied. I felt relieved to see they were not the same soldiers from when I escaped the city.

  "Sir Vallias? I'll inform the captain."

  "No!" I abruptly yelled to him. The other guards stared at me bewildered.

  "Don't call your captain just yet." I motioned him to get closer and whispered, "I would like you to wait some time before you alert any of your superiors. You see, our lord has some 'company'."

  The guard veered to the door of the carriage and saw Auria’s feminine eyes peeking from the glass window.

  "Oh!" the guard vividly expressed, "I guess we can wait some time for our lord to do his business. Very well, come on through."

  "Thank you. I'll personally inform your captain when, you know, he's ready," I winked. The guard stepped aside and granted us passage. Once inside, I didn't stop anywhere. I cautiously drove through the busy street, when I saw Francis and his wagon. He was at a shop not only unloading lumber, but vegetables and other goods as well. He wore a good coat and a decent pair of boots. I guess the three gold coins I gave him went a long way. As he finished, he looked up and saw me on the carriage. He stayed still, stunned to see me. I simply smiled at him and bowed my head. With that, he nodded and laughed out loud.

  “We’re both doing well, my friend,” he yelled, “We’re both well, haha!”

  It w
as good knowing he was doing fine. I continued down the street as his laugh faded among the voices of the townspeople.

  When I reached the gate on the other side of the city, I told the guards Vallias wanted a stroll by the lake. Without any fuzz, they let us out. We continued out and distanced ourselves from the city walls. It all seemed too easy. I was expecting something to happen, like the archers suddenly shooting arrows, or the sound of a horn alerting the guards. But all was fine and quiet, like if we deserved it that way. And that's the way it was for the coming days.

  Each night we stopped to rest, and depending where we were, I would tell Auria and Beam a story of what had happened to me there. Passing by Lake Glissia, I told them about my fight with the Banshee and the help I received from the Feng Huang. They smiled when I told them how high and fast the Feng Huang could fly. Going around the mountain range, the military camp was no longer there. Instead, carpenters, stonemasons and laborers had taken their place. They had built a temporary wooden bridge and had started building a stone one. The wooden one was shaky, but sturdy enough to pass. I had to explain to them why a new bridge was being built, and about the small "gnome trip" inside the mountains.

  After the bridge, I mentioned my encounter with the Gargoyle and the reward given to me by Louis and George. We passed by the ruined village of Flama, but to my surprise, it was not that ruined anymore. In fact, it began to flourish. The military presence had toned down and the villagers had begun to repair their properties. It was starting to prosper, but even if the whole village became a thriving township, I doubt Yang would ever like to step foot here again.

  Twirling on the curvy roads of the nearby woods, I stopped to visit Richard and his gang. They were all happy to see me, and amazed by the glowing lines on my forehead. But, the amazement of my puny lines was nothing when I revealed the fairies. The kids kept their distance at first, but Beam's charm and Auria's loving nature won them over. We talked and laughed together, until the usual group hug on our departure.

  Crossing the Riverways, I remembered the Devita. Looking at her grave, there were dozens of orchid buds growing around it. I walked over to pay my respects once more, and to show Auria the one responsible for my return. She knelt over her grave and waved her hand over the buds. Her warmth made them bloom. Blue, yellow and white where the orchids. They resembled the shape of small fairies, like the Devita.

  And then, the next stop was Vieris. The village remained the same except for one small thing; it was completely flooded with soldiers. I noticed them patrolling around the boundaries. They had to be the ones that had encamped at the Pegnion Mountains. If all of them were headed to the front lines, Miaflore would need every soldier they had available.

  I decided to ditch the armor and carriage, and circle around the boundary of the village on foot. Beam and Auria suggested flying again, but I refused. With so many eyes below, someone would see us. I just didn't want to risk it. We circled around the north, avoiding any obvious paths and roads. And after a couple more days, we reached the Crude River. We crossed it the fairy way.

  "Finally!" Beam blurted and flew across. Auria grabbed my hand and pulled me up. We hovered over the rapid waters. I was amazed seeing my feet dangling below. It was exhilarating, flying over the water with the complete security of not falling in. Once on the other side, Beam suggested we continue up to the Heights and reunite with the daystars, but I didn't want to yet. I asked him to fly around and find Bri. He spread his wings and took off without hesitation. Now, Auria and I were finally left alone. We entered the dimness of the Forest of Agony and walked our way to her tree. As we walked together, she hugged my arm and laid her head on my shoulder. I gave her my affectionate smile.

  "Erik, you endured all those horrible things, one after the next. How could you continue? What made you keep going?"

  I leaned my head on hers and said, "Well, I could give you a simple explanation and say that it was you that kept me going. That it was the beauty in your starry eyes, and the flicker it ignites in my heart; maybe the way your silky wings brush through the air; or even the warmness and shape of your body. Oh, and we can’t forget the memories we share together."

  Auria started to blush and her body lines changed to a gentle red.

  "But, one of the things that really kept me going was this; this moment we are having now in the present."

  I turned and held her by the shoulders, close to me, "You see, Auria, I thought of our past, but I focused on the future; a future with you. This has been my wish from the very beginning, to be with you. I love you."

  I closed in to give her my ever loving kiss, but she pushed me away and floated in the sky with her glittering wings. I gazed at her in a confused state.

  "If you want me," she said, "then you have to follow the daystar custom."

  "And what is that?" I asked bewildered.

  "You have to catch me first."

  "Catch you? I already did! I travelled all over another country to 'catch you'."

  "Yes, but that time it was not official."

  I threw my arms up. I just couldn’t believe this tricky fairy.

  "So, what now? You expect me to use my mind and fly over for you? I don't have wings!"

  "Well then, use your legs," she showed me her tongue and darted away.

  I hadn't foreseen this. I thought my stories of endurance and bravery, and my silky talk had enamored her. But, I guess I could do this one thing. At least I didn't need to defeat a beast to get to her. Losing her from my sight, I ran into the gloominess of the forest. I could only hear her chuckles and giggles.

  "Oh, so that's what this is, a game of hide and seek," I said aloud, "Very well. But I warn you, I was good at this when I was young."

  I ran and followed her voice. A giggle here, a laughter there; we were going at it like children. And after enough play, I recognized a gigantic trunk further ahead. It was her tree. There she revealed herself, gracefully landing on the stone beside the roots. She smiled at me and opened her arms.

  "Oh, so you do want me to catch you," I remarked.

  "Tsk, just come here."

  I walked to her, knowing my life would change forever the moment I’d embraced her. But, as my mind and spirit engrossed themselves with the notion of a bright future, something had to happen to mess it up. That something tackled me from the side and smashed me onto the giant root. It was Radian.

  "Man, you have the worst timing Ever!" I barked out.

  "Auria, are you fine?" he asked as he pushed me against the tree and looked at the peculiar glow of my forehead. "Where did this monster take you?"

  "He did not take me," Auria argued, "He brought me back. Let him go!"

  As he lessened his grip, I grabbed his arms and forced myself free. He stepped back confused and hesitant. He couldn’t believe her. All this time he had thought I was the culprit behind her abduction.

  "Auria, I do not understand. If this land dweller did not take you, who did?"

  "What is important is that she is here now," a voiced said from above. It was Glorio. Two fairies carried him down by the arms and shoulders, accompanied by almost thirty daystars. They all glided down, lighting the forest with their wings.

  "Oh, grandfather," Auria went and hugged him immediately he touched soil.

  "Auria, what happened?" he asked.

  Auria explained to them how she and Beam had been kidnapped by the balorians and the sorcerer. She told how they were mistreated and separated. It became an emotional moment when she recounted how I had come for her and died, and how I returned from the "beyond" to finally free her. At first the fairies looked at me with a strange sense of awe and wonder. But, when Auria finished, they did so with admiration and acceptance.

  “But if he freed both of you, where is Beam?” asked Glorio.

  “I am here!”

  Beam came flying by the trees and landed beside Auria. He hugged both Glorio and Radian and exchanged caring words. He then came to me, “I found Bri. He is here.”


  Through the crowd of radiant fairies came walking a pale Bri. He didn’t make eye contact with the others and remained withdrawned. When he finally saw Auria, he ran and hugged her. He then faced me and bowed his head, “Thank you for bringing them back.”

  “No, Bri,” I shook my head, “I thank you for the help you gave me. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have known where to search in the first place. So, to show you my gratitude, I have a present for you."

  I produced the blue potion vial from my bag and gave it to him.

  "What is it?" he ogled it.

  "It is a magic potion we obtained. It is said it will provide the drinker with complete wellness and healing. I thought it might help you with your wings. But, if you think it is too strange of a thing, you don't need to dri--."

  He didn't even let me finish my sentence. He pulled the cap off the vial and drank it all. I expected him to heal instantly, but something else occurred. Like Vallias, he knelt and started moaning in pain. He hugged his stomach and put his head close to the chest. Radian went at me, thinking I had given him poison. But in that, Bri was suddenly engulfed within a blue sphere of plashing light. It started to shine so luminously, it rivaled the shine of the daystars. In the end, the sphere dissipated with a whoosh of air. Bri stayed still and silent.

  "Bri, y-you fine?" I shyly asked.

  He lifted his head and the color of his skin started to come back. In a matter of seconds, he was tan like the rest! We saw he had some light stripes of blue down the sides of his neck. I assumed they were a side effect of the potion. After his color had returned, a lump began to form under the back of his shirt. He took it off and out emerged his wings, all four of them! Long, strong, colorful and bright. His eyes got watery, simply realizing that they were there. He then looked at me with tears finally running down his cheeks. He was trying to find the words to express his gratitude, but he was speechless.

  "Bri, what are you waiting for?" I urged him. "Fly!"

  With a smile on his face, he bent his knees and jumped to the skies. Rolling and laughing, he did not come down again. The rest of the daystars, astonished by what they had just seen, joined him in cheer and celebration. The only ones that stayed down with me were Auria, Glorio and Radian. The latter walk up to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.