As soon as Xylara's hand made contact with Aries', something strange happened, she started seeing flashes of images.
Aries for a moment thought the images she saw was Xylara's doing but something felt out of place. It didn't take her long to realize that she was in Xylara's head. She saw a huge, terrifying looking man sitting on what looks like a throne with human skulls on it,who was this man?.
She heard voices as well, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Was this the power Xylara was talking about?.
Meanwhile Xylara was busy using her magic to show Aries her powers, little did she know that the girl was seeing something else, something she wasn't supposed to see. Or rather, something she didn't know the girl was capable of seeing.
Aries snatched back her hand,saying she had seen enough,her body trembling slightly, she tried to calm down.
She looked at Xylara expecting to see her angry but she was smiling instead. Does she suspects anything?.
"Your powers are far greater than you could ever imagine, that's why I want to keep you safe ".
From the way she spoke Aries knew that Xylara was oblivious of what she just saw. She was certain that those images came from her.
"So make sure you get enough rest, we have a long journey ahead of us ". Xylara said finally and left the room.
Aries stood up and started pacing up and down the room,her mind working. Where were they going this time? What are they going to do to her?. Is that where her powers would eventually be taken away from her?.
Her mind was messed up but one thing is for sure, she have to be careful,if this power to see what's in someone else's head is unknown to these people,then she must be mindful.
But how can she control it and use it to her advantage,if only she could do same to herself then maybe her memories would come back, but that would be impossible.
When Xylara stepped out of the room,she turned to a guard stationed at the door and instructed him to ready the horses that they will ride to Aldor l'thia with the girl at sundown.
The man nodded, his expression grim.
She turned to leave,her lips curled up in a faint smile.
"Excellent!, now I just have Malakai and his dogs to worry about".
--------------------
It's been two days since Thrain was locked away in his chambers,all his plea to get an audience with the queen fell on deaf ears. The queen refused to go to him neither did she allow anyone to have any kind of contact with him, except a deaf maid of course,who usually brings him food and water.
The worst part of the whole situation was that two days felt like a century to him,he wondered how different things would've been if he had managed to make it out of the kingdom.
The door creaked open and the deaf maid walked in caring a tray of different varieties of food, befitting for a Lord.
The previous day, she complained to the royal chef, that Thrain had refused to eat the food and sent her away and that he had a look of an angry wolf, who's dinner was taken away from him. It was evident, she had brought back the food very intact.
The royal chef could only make out a little from how she threw her hands here and there, she knew little about sign languages. She thought about reporting the matter to the queen but it's only been a day, she was confident that Thrain won't be able to last another night without food or water.
When the deaf maid was summoned the next day to deliver the food, she vehemently refused but the royal chef had to remind her that it was the queen's order and she must obey.
"Tell her to leave the food in his lord's chambers even if he refuses it". The royal chef told a girl who knew sign languages very well to convey the message to the deaf maid.
"I thought I made it clear the last time". Thrain thundered .
"I don't want anything from you, take it away now!".
But the maid only curtsied and quickly retreated, leaving the tray behind . Thrain was confused, his gaze fell on the food, his stomach growling in protest, but he refused to give in, his determination stronger than his hunger, but the more he looked at the food, the more he began to doubt how long he was going to last.
"Looks appealing and smells great! what could be the problem my lord". A very familiar voice said, Thrain shifted his gaze off the mouth watering meal infront of him.
"Eryndor!". He began, excited. Even he was surprised at how excited he was to see the little mysterious boy again. The immense hunger he felt a while ago,flew out the window in matter of seconds.
"But - but how did you elude the guards ?". He asked admist all his excitement.
"I walked in through the door, I'm invincible to them". The boy replied grinning from ear to ear.
Thrain was amazed,even though he had suspected that the boy wasn't normal on their first meeting.
" Who really are you?".
The little boy took a deep breath and said.
" My birth name is Alman but I prefer Eryndor because my grandmother gave it to me,I came from a clan called Alkan. The council of elders sent me to help you ".
Thrain nodded but it didn't make any sense,in all his years of studies,he never heard or came across any clan with that name,Alkan.
"So how did these elders know that I needed help?".
"The elders has eyes and ears everywhere, so they sent me to assist you since your duty and goals align with our interests".
"I see..." Thrain began but the little boy grabbed his hand suddenly and said. "We don't have much time, your horse is already waiting for you on the outskirts of the kingdom and other necessities you'd need for your journey is also available,so I'd advise you close your eyes and hold on tight".
Thrain hesitated,he had lots of questions but maybe now wasn't the best time to ask. He was going to trust this little boy because it feels like the only right thing to do at the moment.
He tightened his grip on Eryndor's hand and closed his eyes tightly. He heard the boy mutter some unfamiliar words and in a twinkling of an eye, they both vanished leaving no trace, but the impact left the chamber blurry and distorted, like a painting in the rain.
They re-appeared somewhere else,some distance away from the kingdom and just like Eryndor said, Shadow was waiting patiently, its coat gleaming in the moonlight. Thrain's eyes snapped open, his mind reeling from the sudden teleportation.
"What kind of magic is this?". He asked while trying to gain some composure.
Eryndor smiled and explained that it was just a small trick from his clan's arsenal, nothing impressive. But Thrain was very much impressed with the boy's abilities and at such a young age. Was he born with magic?.
"Now get going, the more time you waste the more dangerous it gets for Aethera ".
"Who is Aethera?". Thrain asked clearly confused. Eryndor's grin grew wider.
"Ah... Aethera is the name my clan uses to refer to the one you know as Aries. It's a name that holds great significance,a name that speaks of her true nature and destiny". He stopped and looked at Thrain.
"But that's story for another day, you have to ride now, the night is young and you have a long journey ahead of you".
Thrain mounted onto the horse's back and looked down at the boy,he didn't know how to thank him for all his help.
"You know it would be better if you erm...". Thrain began but stopped himself,he believed he was at this point,asking for too much, this little boy has done more than enough already.
Eryndor seemed to understand the situation.
"This is your destiny Thrain ,I was only sent to help you escape the castle, now it's your turn to rescue Aethera ".
Thrain felt grateful and in that moment he wondered if he would ever see the boy again.
"Here, take this. Very crucial for the journey ahead". Eryndor said, extending his hand towards Thrain, a map in it .
" This map will lead you to where she is, remember, always trust the map even if it seems wrong, the map is always right".
" Thank you Eryndor". He accepted the map and with a final glance at the boy,he rode off into the dark.
After a three days ride, Xylara came in through the grand walls of Aldor l'thia,a guard carrying Aries' unconscious form,followed her closely behind. When she arrived at the throne room,it was filled with all the sorcerers and sorceress of the land,both young and old, everyone gathered and waiting.
As Xylara pushed forward,the crowd parted, revealing Aries' ethereal beauty,even though she was fast asleep, her beauty was undeniable and visible, even to the blind.
"Behold, Aries!". She announced. " The gifted child,the one said to wield the power of the stars themselves".
The crowd murmured in awe, their eyes focused on the girl's striking features. The guard carrying her was motioned towards a slightly elevated platform bed, where the ritual was going to be performed. He laid Aries down carefully.
Everyone except Avra was impressed by the girl's beauty, she was worried about something else.
"Have she always had this white hair?". She asked Xylara
"I found her like this ". Xylara sneered,of course she knew the girl's hair was initially golden-brown in color, but she didn't care. The alyris pendant was top priority at the moment.
"But you know very well that no one is born with white hair. Don't you know what it entails?". Avra persisted.
"We can't keep wasting more time Avra,begin the ritual already". Xylara snapped back.Avra ignored her and continued the interrogation.
" You claim you found her at the sacred waterfall close to the temple of tamra right?".
"Yes, so what, does it have any significance?".
Avra felt somewhat disappointed, Xylara wasn't an ordinary witch, but a powerful one with years of experience. She expected her to know more about matters like this. After all, she was the all knowing,all seeing,all powerful and the only credible,well known witch from the south. But just like everyone else, even she, the most powerful of all witches doesn't seem to know it all.
Avra stepped closer to where Xylara stood,her voice taking an unsettling tone.
"From my years of studies,I believe this child encountered kamaita, the ancient dragon of legend. It was said that only those who possess a pure heart and a strong spirit, are granted the gift of white hair,a symbol of their connection to the dragon's power. That means this girl is not just a gifted child but a chosen one ".