Chapter 16: Fears and Troubles

Dazifae awakens to find a medical staff looming before her. The girl was tapping the Fliskan lady's shoulder. "Are you all right, Ma'am?"

Dazifae sits up straight and confronts the medical staff.

"Hey, you will address me properly as my lady." Dazifae sternly responds.

"I am sorry I was just concerned that you are grunting in your sleep, my lady. In our culture, we are obligated to wake up that person. You might be having a nightmare. But it could be a prophetic dream though. Regardless, I'm just playing it safe." The medical staff explains.

"What? I understand nightmares but prophetic dreams?" Dazifae asks.

"It is some sort of premonition mostly filled with symbolism." The medical staff informs.

"Oh." Dazifae was suddenly curious. She trusts the staff and shares her dream.

"I was in a hallway when the alarm sounded and the room was filled with smoke. Before succumbing to asphyxiation, I woke up." The lady shares her dream.

"It seems to be a prophetic one. Based on your story, I think it's telling you to be more cautious." The staff answers.

"Oh, is that it?" Dazifae felt scared. She jolted up from her chair. Just after standing, a fragment from the ceiling fell on the empty chair. The medical staff and Dazifae looked at the fragment. It was a piece of cement. Then, they look upwards before facing each other.

Meanwhile, Kyron is in Nybos replenishing his supplies. Before returning to Fliska, he decides to take a pit stop at Balyn, the lone moon of Nybos. He visits his exiled relatives in the said fortress. Since his father's death, he imprisoned his half-sisters there in the same stronghold where he was once locked up. He keeps them closely watched by his men. Kyron was paranoid that his enemies may use them against him or perhaps they were plotting to kill him.

The eldest sister, Princess Kaledina, could see into the future when Nybos is visible within the dark skies of Balyn. Thus, Kyron schedules his visits when he knows his sister's abilities can be of use to him.

"Good evening, my favorite sister." Kyron kisses her cheek. "I have a gift for you. He offers her a chalice.

Kaledina keeps an expressionless face which changes to disgust when she sees the hajana drink. It was a potion that catalyzes her supernatural talents. Kaledina hates not just the drink but her ability to see the future for it comes with a great price. After the ritual of foretelling the future, she suffers great ailments as her body gives out due to the surge of energy. The girl has no choice but to endure it for Kyron threatens to kill her younger siblings if she refuses to cooperate.

After drinking from the chalice with the hajana drink. She loses consciousness. Not long after, her body glows. Her eyes glare with light as well as her mouth and hands while she chants her foretelling.

"I see a princess in deep sleep. She is receiving healing but is fading away so quickly. However, there is every bit of hope that she shall rise again. If she does, she will do battle with you, my lord brother." The Nybian princess says.

"Will I win against her?" Kyron asks.

"You will have many victories as the princess continues to sleep. Her fate will be determined soon." Kaledina stops as her body starts shivering. Kyron is displeased with the incomplete information he got. He orders his men to attend to the princess and escort her back to her quarters.

Unknown to all of them, Princess Najena, has sneaked out of her chambers and saw the trance that the eldest sister had to face. Years ago, she saw her sister and their cousin, Dorrelia, reach a certain age and took the hajana drink. Only those gifted shall ever see the future after taking the said fluid. Dorrelia became ill for days but Kaledina went into a deep trance and though she too became ill, she recovered quickly.

Since then, Kaledina is often summoned by shamans and priestesses to some rituals. When they were exiled, she was summoned before Kyron and everyone else knows she was to foretell the future as the ruler demands.

Najena had always been curious about what happens during the trance for someday, she too might undergo the same rituals. She sees that healers were on standby and rushed to the eldest princess after the foretelling is done.

Najena fears her sister may not survive and without Kaledina, Kyron may put an end to all of them. She knows that Kyron keeps them alive because of Kaledina's gifts. Without the eldest sister, she and her other sister including their ailing mother were in danger of being eliminated for Kyron. Their brother will only see them as a threat if they continued to exist but if someone like Kaledina had special abilities that Kyron might use, their lives will be spared. She has mixed feelings about whether she wants to possess the same gifts. She is scared of the pain but she feared Kyron more.

Kyron leaves the room and the rest of the subjects follow. The healers bring the body of Kaledina away to give her treatments. Najena scans the room and arrives at the table where the chalice was left. There was still enough hajana to sip and send someone gifted into the foretelling trance. Out of sheer curiosity, she takes the chalice to take a closer look at the liquid that changes the lives of the gifted.

Upon holding the said chalice, it almost slips from her hands and she spills the drink. When a few drops touch her lips, she nearly faints and sees a whole new world ahead of her. Her haziness disappears and a guard sees her tampering with the chalice. The attendant saw her too in a state of trance.

The incident was of course reported to Kyron and the princess was punished by being flogged. As the punishment was carried out, surprisingly, she could not feel a thing. She slowly familiarized herself with it for it shall be nothing compared to what is to come.

Back in Elzilaura's room, Zyric sat beside the hospital bed. "I don't know if you can hear me but I am begging you to please come back. Fliska needs you." He touches her hand softly and then looks back at the sleeping princess. "I need you." He places his head on the bedside and eventually falls asleep.

In the middle of the night, he felt soft hands caressing the exposed side of his face. He opened his eyes and saw Elzilaura had moved to her side. She saw her eyes were open and she was smiling. He asked if she was awake and she softly responded. Zyric then rose and told her he'll call a physician or any medical attendant. She held on to his hand and told him not to go. She begs him to stay with her.

He goes back to her side and she moves closer to him as well. When he was nearer, he touched her face and cupped them with both his hands. He draws her closer to him until his lips touched hers. Zyric found his hands one on her neck and the other on her head. Slowly, his hands moved down and clasped her shoulders.

Soon, Zyric woke up and found Elzilaura still lying down unconscious. He realizes it was all a dream. He then scans the room and sees both Kanunia and Dazifae watching him. Kanunia was trying to hide her smile but Dazifae's look seemed a little bit annoyed.

"Good morning there, Prince of Craiine. It seems you had a good night's rest." Kanunia teases and everyone else laughs. It was awkward being seen at the edge of the bed like some lover watching over his ladylove.

Pretty soon, Alednos came in, and when he saw the former general awake. "It's good to see you are awake." He handed over a food tray to Zyric. "Here you go, the breakfast is good today."

Before he could take a bite, Elzilaura's hand began to move. He tapped Alednos and pointed at Elzilaura's moving hand. They both stare at the hand until Kanunia approaches them. "What are you both staring at?" They point to Elzilaura's hand. Not for long, the princess opens her eyes and awakens at long last.

All of them were so excited. In his excitement, Alednos took back the food plate he gave Zyric which made Elzilaura smile a bit. Dazifae called for a doctor who examined the princess. He says that she will be all right now though she will still be kept under observation. She also still needs rest until she is truly fully recovered.

Elzilaura told them she had a dream.

"I was in a classroom where the teacher looked like Mother Azestina. The teacher gave me a quiz and to my surprise, it is written in an unknown alphabet.

I told the teacher I don't understand but she encourages me to try harder so I meditate for a while until intense glowing light from the Crystal Cross engulfed everything.

The scene changes to planet Earth being completely devastated. It looks as if the planet got destroyed because I used the Crystal Cross. I then see a shuttle in the distance preparing for launch. I ran towards it and kept waving my hands to alert the astronauts of my presence.

Suddenly, someone from behind stops me. He tells me not to board the shuttle because if I do, I will never get to my rightful place.

I ask this man for directions and he tells me to find a road that leads to the sunrise. After he said his instructions, the man disappears. As I was searching for the road, I stumbled across hundreds of desolate roads. I noticed a glowing pendant that looks like the Crystal Cross. I lift it until one road is illuminated and stood out from the rest. I followed it and the sunrise came. The sun's brightness shined so brightly that all of a sudden, I found myself here."

Kanunia was supposed to make a comment but a food plate was sent in. All of them watched as the princess finished the plate within a matter of seconds. Everyone was surprised but Dazifae claims that perhaps it is normal since she slept for so many days now and the princess has not eaten for quite a long time. Her stomach and bowels must have missed being filled with food.

After eating, Elzilaura was advised to continue to rest. Alednos and Zyric inform their allies of the princess' situation using communicators while Dazifae had a word with the doctor once again.

Kanunia shares with Elzilaura what happened since she was last conscious. She also narrates her encounter with Bonico. After learning of what happened, Elzilaura says she can't explain it but she knows.

Kanunia was shocked but deemed it possible. The most logical explanation would be her revelations back when Elzilaura was still unconscious.

The door opened and Zyric came in followed by Alednos.

"Forgive the intrusion ladies but I must inform you that we have discussions with our allies. They are offering an escort for our departure from Agcar but I declined it for it will attract more attention from our enemies." Zyric says.

"Fair enough," Kanunia replied. "What do you propose we do next commander?"

"We leave as soon as Elzilaura gets discharged by the attending physician." Zyric replies.

"I can go check on the nurses and ask for information." Alednos offers his service. But before he could leave, Dazifae enters the room.

"I just got word from the Nurses' Station. The Medical Director and the attending physician cleared Elzilaura for discharge. We can leave tomorrow morning." Dazifae reports joyfully.

"I am glad things are turning out well," Elzilaura replies. "I hope our streak of luck will continue." Everyone agrees.

Alednos then notices his communicator beeping. He opens it and sees the Duke of Inva at the other end." Greetings Lord Ovded! Our princess is awake and here she is." He hands the communicator to Elzilaura.

"Your Highness, I am glad that you are well." The Duke of Inva says.

"I am flattered my Lord Duke but as you can see, I am yet to be discharged from the hospital tomorrow." The princess responds

"Nevertheless, you have regained consciousness. It won't be long now before you are on your way to fulfilling your destiny and we, your loyal subjects, will be here in support of your cause."

"Thank you, my Lord Duke. I must also apologize for not heeding your words. I was careless in harnessing the energy of the crystal cross. I should have been more careful."

"It's all right, your highness. We do what we must and you did what you thought would be best for us all. For now, do take your rest and we will keep in touch. We will continue tomorrow discussing plans. Good night, your highness."

"And to you, my gracious Duke of Inva." She ends her conversation with a sweet smile.

Soon, the people in the room chose to leave and go about their way except for Zyric who offered to stay behind and watch over her. The jealous Dazifae wanted to stay as well but Kanunia distracts her and start a conversation about gossip. Alednos followed them too.

As they were left alone, Zyric checked to make sure. "How are you feeling?"

" I am fine." She assures him. "I feel sleepy though." The commander of Fliskan forces tucks her under the bed cover. "There. Is that good?"

"Very comfy. Thanks, Zee." She smiled at him. "I had a dream. " She then yawned. "Last night, someone gave me the sweetest kiss..." Before she could finish her narrative, she suddenly dozed off.

Zyric thought to himself. I had the same dream or was it just a dream?