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Cera: Rise of The Lost Princess

by: Sorrowful Princess

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-x- The Palace -x-

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The forest amazed me with its undying natural beauty. Though I didn't notice it earlier, walking here with this man by my side seemed not such a bad idea, after all---not to mention not knowing where he was actually planning on taking me. I do not know him but I don't care. I know he wasn't going to do anything bad to me. I trust him. Or rather, my inner self trusts him... more than it should. He just felt so familiar. Well, everything here felt so familiar, in a sense. The way this place looks was indeed new to my eyes... but the impact of it on me wasn't as terrifying as I thought. It, too, felt oddly familiar. Like there's nothing wrong with me being in this place, but of course, it was utterly and absolutely wrong. This isn't my world. I do not belong here.

The trees were glaring at me, but not in a way as if they want me out of the forest, out of their sight. Instead, it was like they're drawing me deeper… deeper into them. Like they want me but maybe, I was just thinking too much. Maybe I am just freaking out. Maybe, maybe not. I looked above at the sky. It was getting darker and darker. Birds, reptiles, and other unrecognizable animals were now returning to their habitats, preparing themselves for a nice long sleep or to just rest. While the nocturnal ones were starting to live again, blood pulsing faster in their vessels, and were getting ready to set off for a long midnight journey. It was also getting colder and colder by the minute, and the mist was getting thicker and thicker. The woods are getting pretty creepy too, considering all the spooky sounds it emits. I grimaced inwardly. I hate the dark. I hate the creeps.

We walked in silence, and that made me uneasy. Just a little. I hate silence. It deafens me. I looked at him but he did not look back. His face was fixed straight ahead, eyes blank. He was in deep thought. I wonder what's on his mind. Wasn't he weird just a little while ago? Smiling and laughing and saying things I don't obviously understand? But when we started for the forest, he suddenly became so silent. I wonder why. I shifted my gaze in front of me, though I was watching him from the corner of my eye. He was expressionless, but at least, he doesn't look troubled or anything. Just purely deep in thought. Oh, maybe he was just trying to figure out how he would explain things to me. Maybe, maybe not.

Another hour had passed, and I'm starting to get tired. He still didn't say anything, and the silence no longer deafens me. It was now driving me crazy! Aren't we there yet? Why the hell was it so far?! I know I agreed to come with this man but now, I'm doubting if my decision was right. The temperature had dropped in the last 10 minutes, and it's now freezing cold out here! I'm already shivering, but I didn't show that I do. I don't want him to think I'm some kind of a weak baby. If he wasn't cold, so am I. Good thing he kept his hand on mine, a source of heat. Yeah, he was like a heater, in a way. Just hope that he won't find out that I think of him that way. Ha-ha. Well, I'll just keep my mouth shut and not say anything no matter how cold and tired I am. I'm sure we're near our destination, anyway. Just a few more minutes.

Another freaking hour had passed, and I'm now really, really tired. My teeth were already chattering, and my legs do not want to work anymore, as well as my feet. I looked at his face again, only to find it exactly the same the way it looked 2 hours ago. Wasn't he tired, yet?! Then, I stumbled and slumped to the ground. I've reached my limit. I can't go on any further.

A worrying look suddenly shot across his face, making it alive again. He reached out for me and helped me up. We sat in a boulder for a minute and then at last, he spoke:

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were already tired. It was very inconsiderate of me. I should have known." he said in an apologetic tone. Yeah, right. You should've known. You should've known that we were now walking for 3 and a half hour straight! Gosh!

I snorted, letting my annoyance show. "No, no. Don't worry. I'm perfectly fine. I think we could still go on for 5 more freaking hours!" I said sarcastically. His face fell and I could tell he was feeling guilty. "Look, I'm sorry I was being so... I was just so tired, and you know how people are when they are tired. They just can't think straight."

He nodded. "I know," he agreed. "Don't apologize. It was me who should. I'm sorry."

"Apology accepted."

"Thank You." and then he smiled. "Let me carry you."

"No, you don't have to." Carry me? No way. I've never let a guy do such thing to me. A couple of minutes to rest was all I needed, and now I got it. So I think I could continue now. We could.

"But you looked so tired,"

"So were you," I remarked, noticing for the first time.

"But I still want to carry you,"

"You really don't have to."

"I insist,"

I looked into his eyes. He's not gonna let this go until I let him carry me. I sighed. As if I could win.

"Alright," I said, finally resigning. "Do what you want."

He smiled wider and then gestured for me to climb on his back. I did so, and we continued again, deeper into the forest. It was completely black out here now. No lights, no signs, nothing. As the night finally descended, the ice-cold temperature suddenly dropped violently, and I was shivering like hell. Good thing he's here... with his body so close to mine. Oops, not the way you're thinking. I'm just glad his body-temperature keeps me warm. I tightened my arms around his neck, while he tightened his grip on my legs, making sure I won't fall or anything. This time, his face was no longer lost. And this time, I could no longer hold back any questions.

"Aren't we there yet?" I asked, a hint of annoyance still present in my quivering voice.

"Almost there," he said.

"Why is it so far?" I asked again, furrowing my eyebrows. "I thought that when you said, 'come with me', you meant we're just going to another near-place. Like the lake. But I didn't expect for it to be like this!" I shifted my gaze to my left and right, eyeing the dark and shadowy figures with a scared expression. I've tried my hardest to conceal my fear, but I can't do that anymore. My chest would burst.

He sensed my fear, and he chuckled a bit. "Afraid of the dark, are we?" he teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Mind your own business." I paused, thinking of anything else to say. I don't wanna talk about my fear of the dark. It just frightens me more. "By the way, why weren't you talking a little while ago?! I thought you'd gone mute." Was it just a little while? I don't think so. I should've used a better word.

He shrugged. "Just trying to conserve energy. And I thought that you would also want to conserve yours, so I didn't try to talk you into it while we're walking. We've got a long way to go, you know." he gestured ahead of us, to the seemingly endless pathway of the forest. "I bored you, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did." I admitted. "Long way, huh? You should've told me before. But action speaks louder than words. The non-stop walking told me what's really going on." My annoyance showed again.

He snickered. "Sorry 'bout that. I hope that your boredom would soon pass."

"Yeah, I hope so, too." I sighed. "You know what, this world's giving me a headache. You are giving me a headache. Why don't you just explain things to me while we're on the way?"

"I can't," he replied. "There's too much to explain. Everything must be explained. And I can't do it myself."

I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean you can't do it yourself?" I gestured to the undying blackness of the forest. "And where the hell are you taking me, anyway?"

"You'll see," was all his answer. I almost snorted. I'll see, he said. Yeah, right. I should've asked the most intriguing and annoying question of all: WHEN will I see?!

As if answering my question, I saw a faint light ahead of us, getting nearer and nearer, brighter and brighter. At last! We had finally reached the end of this freaking forest! I half-smiled, but quickly discard the relief feeling away. Another intriguing question had popped on my head. What's beyond this light? What kind of place awaits us? What if it's a lair? A lair of flesh-eating monsters?! Monsters don't exist in my world, but who knows what exists here?! I don't wanna be a freaking meal for the uglies!

The light got brighter and brighter as we neared it. Then, the light overpowered everything and I was almost blinded. When I could see things clearly again, I gasped.

'You'll see.' his words echoed in my brain. As if answering it, I murmured. "Yes, I'm seeing it."

It was a palace. Made up of gray, compact rocks and it stood isolated in a piece of land, surrounded by a small body of water. I'm not sure whether it's a lake again or not. Just how many lakes do they have in one single forest? (I'd rather not elaborate on this much. You know how a palace looks like.) The light was coming from its windows, bright and warm, and not color white. Rather, it was on the light shade of yellow, must be coming from a lantern or something. The guards, clothed in bronze armors I saw earlier back in the forest, stood still outside it, a spear on one hand, and a sword sheathed on their side. They looked fully alert, but don't seem to mind our being here. I stared at it, wide eyed, mouth hanging open.

I didn't quite remember when in that time did he set me on my feet. All I know was that he held my hand with his and squeezed it lightly. Taking my eyes off the structure in front of me, I looked at him, confused.

"Why are we here?" I asked, still a bit dazed. It was the first time for me to see a palace, after all. Sure, I see lots of this in TVs and Movies, but I never dreamed of actually seeing one, a real one.

He didn't answer. He just smiled at me. Then he walked toward the edge of the clean water, dragging me with him by hand. He held up his free hand, putting up a sign that I don't understand. The guards nodded and went to the ropes that held up a wooden bridge, loosening its ties.

"Are we going in there? Across that bridge and into the palace?" I asked again, confused. What are we doing here?

"Yes," he answered simply. Just then, the bridge lowered and landed its tip on the edge of the land we're currently standing. Now we can cross the water. But why should we do this? Why do the guards act as if... they know him? I was really confused, then it hit me.

The guards here knew him. This man beside me knew them. This man gave them a hand order. The guards obeyed him. This man belongs to this palace. And this man was in a position quite higher than those bronzes. Dumbfounded, I stared at his dirty face. Just who the hell is he?

He took a step on the bridge, towards the palace, still dragging me. I just followed, tongue tied. I can't find the words to ask him what, why, how, and stuff. I just followed silently, roaming my eyes around me, scrutinizing every little detail I could.

"Gritela," the guards all said in unison when we had finally crossed to the other side.

He just nodded, and gestured at the big wooden door in front of us. The guards bowed their head, and then opened the door for us.

Once inside, I couldn't help myself from gasping, from gaping, and from freezing. It was magnificent here! We are just in the hallway, and yet everything here looks so beautiful... so ancient. Everything was so bright, lit by small lanterns nailed on its strong walls. A couple of furniture stood there, but I couldn't find the words to describe them. So strange for my eyes... yet so familiar for the heart. I couldn't understand why I'm feeling like this. It just added to my confusion. We started to walk forward.

"W-Why are we here?" I asked again, murmuring this time. "What are we doing here? Where are we going? Who are you?" I asked them so fast that it sounded almost as if a retard was asking them, though I've put an emphasis on my last question.

He smiled. "I'm taking you to the Denitra."

"Denitra?" I repeated. "What's that?"

"Wrong question," he said, chortling a bit. "You should've asked: Who's that?"

Who? So Denitra was a person.

"Fine," I said. "Who's that?"

"The most powerful persona in Cera, at this point of time."

My eyes bugged out, freezing my feet in place, causing for him to stop walking, too.

"The most powerful Persona?!" I choked. "Why are you taking me to him?! You gonna execute me? Why?! What have I done wrong?" I ranted, a horrified look pasted on my face.

"Calm down. We will not execute you. Of course not. You're too important." He said the words in a matter-of-factly way, but even so, I didn't relax.

"Then why are you taking me to him?" I asked, a hint of accusation in my voice.

"Remember when I told you that I can't explain everything to you myself?"

I nodded, but with sharp eyes.

"He'll help me do the job. Make it easier."

The most powerful persona in this country would explain things to me? Why?! Is there so much to explain?

As if reading my mind, he answered, "Yes," he looked intently into my eyes. "There's so much to explain. And you have to believe us, no matter what."

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to be continued...

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A/N: Here goes, though it was a bit short. Okay so, I've read a review, a long one, and the reviewer says she liked my story for it was like a novel. Well, it is a novel. Yes, originally, it is. I wrote it back in December with my own characters and stuff, and since it turned out pretty well, I decided to convert it to GA. The Original Novel has the same title, of course, and I am thinking of posting it on fictionpress(dot)com. I just don't know when to do so. Maybe after I finish the whole story. So in short, I am writing two stories but with the same plot.

I just hope you'll like it.

Thanks for the reviews, guys. I really appreciate it. Don't hesitate to review again, alright? I'm more than willing to read them. I just looove reviews. Especially if they're in great numbers... though I know achieving that needs quite a skill. Just have to be hopeful, right? Who knows...

And one more thing, watch out for the next chapter. It's a lot longer than this. Trust me. And interesting.

That's it, I think. Thanks for reading.

Lovelots,

-Eurice-