Leyland Adventures Chapter Seven: Part Three

The amount of diverse options to choose from allowed for anyone to find a swimsuit that reflected them perfectly.

"How about that one?" Marissa pointed towards a pink one piece bathing suit, the colorful design of the flowers on it gave it more charm than anything.

Without hesitation, Aradressa tried the swimsuit on in the nearby changing room near the register. It was a flawless fit, nothing too revealing for her taste. With that, the swimsuit was then paid for.

"Anywhere else you would like to go, Aradressa?"

"There isn't a specific location in my mind, mother."

"Well, Aradressa, do you remember Euphromight's Amusement Park: Birthplace of Fun?"

"Yes, you would take me there when I was little."

"Remember Madam Grazel?"

"Yes."

"I need you and Tysashi to go to the fair tomorrow after you visit the beach and speak to her about your enemy, she has a better prediction ability than I do. After that you too can spend the rest of the day together. Don't tell Tysashi, I don't want him worrying."

"I won't, mother."

"Let's go search for that necklace and other armor. We have the entire day to search for powerful objects, I don't have anything else planned."

"What about our greenhouse?"

"I'll communicate with Alfred and request him to take our items home." Marissa then used her psychic abilities to transfer a line of communication with Alfred, who was also a psychic fairy. Within minutes, Alfred would arrive. The two sat on a nearby bench as others walked past them. Various smells entered their noses as a conversation about Tysashi began to brew.

"Mother, I see you've gotten more used to Tysashi lately."

"You are correct, I have eased my strictness, however I cannot put my full trust within him."

"Why not?"

"Aradressa, trust is like walking on thin piece of rope over a trench with the person you trust holding the rope steady. That person could release that rope at any time." Her eyes locked with hers, staring at nothing else.

"I know you have trust issues, but I know Tysashi means good."

"Sweetheart, I know."

"Then why do you not fully trust him?"

"I'm not ready to tell you. Just know I'm getting older. I don't have eternal youth like you. I can die by age, you can't."

"What happens if...I die?"

"Your enemy will conquer Leyland, overthrow other regions, and probably become ruler of our solar system. You're the only one powerful enough to survive her attacks. Without you, Aradressa, Leyland will fall."

Aradressa wasn't incredibly powerful for no reason, she was blessed with both a gift and a curse. She was a goddess, someone capable of destroying the galaxy that Leyland is within. Sometimes even she questioned why she was even born, but she knew she had a purpose, to fight against the evil that plague the planet.

"I- is that why you created me?"

"No. I gave birth to you because I wanted our family to continue on...I knew your father would die but I couldn't stop him from fighting in the war, so I gave birth to you, I thought I would be raising a regular child but when you turned three...I saw that you were something else. Your power, speed, durability, and uniqueness caused me to realize I had given birth to a goddess. As you grew older, your strength did as well, since you won't die by age your stats will only continue to rise."

"So I don't have a limit?"

"The only limit is your hesitation to use your abilities and emotions."

Just as Aradressa was lost in her thoughts, Alfred finally arrived and was tasked with repairing the effects of the Black Death Flower, putting up Aradressa's bathing suit, and placing Tysashi's necklace in her room. With their hands empty, Marissa led her daughter to a store within Divine Plaza to find powerful gear. Prices were higher and the brown painted walls combined with some necklaces even being labelled as dangerous caged in metal proves that great power is held here. Along the walls were many shields and weapons, some for display, others could be purchased.

Armors and weapons laid in glass as necklaces did. Aradressa didn't require anything offensive, her primary sword and brute force were enough. She needed a powerful defensive weapon that could take hits powerful enough to naturalize the moon. After minutes, she found it. The shield was silver and the image of a mirror could be seen. It appeared to be a glass shield but was more durable than glass. Its description read the following.

"This marvelous defensive weapon will absorb weaker projectiles and converts it into energy for the user. For stronger projectiles, it will deflect. This shield can take hits that are capable of destroying an entire planet. The durability of shield is also dependent on the user's courage and power."

Aradressa questioned whether if the shield she viewed was worthy. Marissa approved of the shield, also directing her attention to a necklace with a bone white chain holding a skull with purple eyes. The necklace would attack the opponent with poisonous gas when needed, draining health and using it to heal the user. It will also blind the opponent.

"I choose this necklace because she wouldn't expect it, this shall give you time to land a deadly blow. If it doesn't work for you, we'll return it."

"Thank you, mother. Although Cynthia has possibly gained more power to overcome this necklace, I shall use it as a last resort."

"Cynthia...her name just causes a raging fire within me. It's better safe than sorry to equip this necklace on your being."

Aradressa nodded, purchasing the items and placing the necklace around her neck as she secured the shield within her hands.

"Are you hungry, you haven't eaten anything since we left the castle."

"Yes, I am famished."

Marissa turned to face the diner behind them, taking Aradressa inside. Just has their aroma entered the building, a waitress with fair light skin, long black hair that could cover a stop sign, and lifeless gray eyes that seemed depressing appeared. Her mood was unenthusiastic, she certainly looked young but was dead on the inside, despite being in the presence of Queen Marissa and Princess Aradressa. "My name is Lucy, please allow me to sit you two at a vacant booth, your highness and princess."

Her voice was incredibly devoid of charm. It was a dead voice. The two were brought to their booth. Lucy gave them menus and asked for the drinks they would like, which was two glasses of water. Lucy stated that she would return momentarily. Aradressa took a glance at the menu before asking her mother about the building that was being constructed in Calleri Desert.

"Oh, it's like a memorial for Calleri and the birth of the Rubicon Jewel, it's really a museum only featuring her."

"I see."

"Yes, it will surely be a place of nostalgia."

Lucy arrived with their drinks and straws, then asking what would they would like. The two also ordered the all star special as Tysashi did, replaced the bacon with sausages. Lucy left with the menus in her hand, shortly returning. All it took was one bite for the meal to be beloved by their tastebuds. Suddenly, Tysashi entered Aradressa's mind. She nearly forgot that he left her.

The cold, silent air swam around them and traveled down her spine. There nothing she wanted to discuss, normally Tysashi would be her main go to for a conversation but the young princess knew that even discussions about him would get dull.

"Aradressa, I need you to be sure to protect Tysashi from Cynthia. She will find enjoyment in making him her slave. The boy is powerful, but she possesses greater potential. Having a courageous soul only gets you so far. Aradressa, she has identical levels of power that you possess. You have to put her in her place once again. She's a threat to Leyland, I don't want you to just defeat her, I want her dead."

"K- kill her!? Mother, I haven't killed anyone and nor do I plan on doing it!" She rose from her seat before placing herself back down once multiple eyes stared at her.

"You have to, she'll stop at nothing to overthrow us. Granting her mercy will only continue her reign of terror, sometimes I question why I allow her to live. Her fate should've been sealed years ago."

"I can't use my power to kill someone, even if she's done bad things the nightmares will never cease."

"You must, we cannot afford to let her live. If you won't do it, then just know I'll save you the nightmares."

"What if I could make her change?"

"Some people never change, it isn't in their vocabulary. She's immune to change now, logic and reasoning won't reach her mind."

"There is still a chance."

"Aradressa, I will not repeat myself. She has to die, use all of your incredible strength and skills to defeat her. She will die, either I'll handle it or your sword will drip with her blood."

"My...sword will be drenched with her blood." She stated in defeat.

Marissa continued to eat, the thought of Cynthia's death made the food taste better as opposed to Aradressa as the thought of her death made her food lose taste and texture. Shortly after, they finished their meal and began the walk back to the castle. Before entering the castle, they inspected the greenhouse, the pleasing aroma had returned and death was nonexistent. Only life was preserved.

"Aradressa, let us train with your new equipment."

"Yes, mother, but who will be my opponent?"

"Me, of course."

Aradressa has always been training with her mother since she was five. This was nothing new to her. The two walked to the outside of the castle to engage in battle.

"Don't hold back because I'm your mother."

"I won't." A fierce look appeared on her face as she drew her sword. Her eyes glistened with courage as she took her fighting stance. Queen vs princess, only one could surpass the other. Strength, speed, intelligence, and reactionary speed were vital for this match. This was it, Aradressa would prove to be as experienced as her mother and why she would become the future queen.