note: this chapter occurs at the same day when Rio and Knite's world was attacked by the hexes a second time

Act 3 Chapter 3: The Story of the Girl

In the Far East of the kingdom of Fetina where a forest extended as far as the eye can see is where Arios' abode could be found. He was a flame mage as well as an alchemist. And he was one of the best alchemists of the kingdom.

He lived his life in solitary, surrounded by his books and practiced his alchemy without interruption. But, that was before he met a certain young girl.

One day, in the forest where a Sekai tree was hidden, a girl suddenly appeared carrying single case with a name plated on it. She was crying so hard as she ran towards him and hugged him.

What surprised him more was how she manages to wander out unharmed. He enchanted that place to protect the tree with only single path of safety. It was a task given to him by the king of Fetina.

When asked this the girl answered, "The trees showed me their memories so I could find you."

"Find me…?"

The girl gave a nod. "In those visions, I always saw you so I wanted to meet you. I was so scared being alone…!"

Nothing was wrong with being alone but I guess she was still too young to understand it. Arios thought.

On the other hand, Arios was intrigued about the girl's strange ability. She could see memories of the past. Where has he read this before? But then again, she has almost no magical abilities. It seemed like her magic was taken from her and was left nothing but enough magic to keep her alive.

At the end of that summer that same year, he decided to raise that child as his student. He never regretted that decision. He came to love her. He even surprised himself that having a family could be this warm and fun.

Another summer came again.

Like always, he was engrossed in his latest work, not minding the orange radiance that entered his window. But then again, he did stop to listen to his student's melody. She always played a melody on her violin each sunset.

Every day without fail.

Chelinka played her melody today earlier than she usually does. Today, she just felt uneasy. As she finished playing, it was only then that she heard soft hoofs of a horse.

She looked at the road travelers usually use to reach their home and there, indeed, he saw someone on a horse, riding towards them.

She hurried down from the rooftop and knocked at her master's workshop.

"Master?" she called.

She opened the door. It creaked quite loudly.

He wasn't at his workshop. That's odd?

She scurried once again to the front door and before the first knock came, she opened the door with a smile on her face.

It was Sir Kay.

"Linka, how are you!" the man with reddish hair ruffled Chelinka's hair and laughed loudly.

"Sir Kay, please stop!" Chelinka said. "I am not a kid anymore!"

"Forgive me! It seems like our little Chelinka has indeed grown up to be a fine young lady! A beautiful one to add!"

Chelinka's face turned to red with Kay's remark. He laughed once again and patted her one last time as he entered the house.

He looked at the man sitting just in front of the fireplace. He was buried with the documents he was reading, and on his right hand, a coffee still steaming hot.

"Master!" Chelinka said in surprise. "I didn't notice!"

"Ah yes. You did just pass by me as you rushed to the door." Arios said without looking at her. "And I see that you have brought me a guest. Linka, could you please bring more coffee."

"With pleasure." She left the room.

"Arios, it's been a while." Said Kay.

"Indeed it has been. A year, I think, has passed since we last saw each other. What do I owe the visit from a knight of Bretwalde?" Somehow Arios' voice was bitter.

"Haha. It seems you still harbor anger at me. Forgive me Arios. You know as a childhood friend, it pains to see our relationship breaking but I still I believe that she should be brought to Bretwalde. She has potential to be the best of knights."

"And I have answered."

"Yes, you have. But should you be the one to answer?"

"She is my child, I have every right to."

A smile escaped Kay's face. He never thought he'd see his childhood friend, the very friend that preferred solitary, say that to him.

"Well, anyhow. This is not the reason why I am here. Unfortunately, I bring sad news."

Chelinka discreetly placed the coffee on the table as to not disturb Kay's news. She knew that it must've dire.

"The king is dead."

Everyone was silent. Even the wind didn't dare to howl. This was indeed awful news.

The king for almost a year now was inflicted with a curse no one could cure. Arios even gave his assistance but given that he was only an expert in alchemy he could not find a way to cancel the curse. Their best chance was the Nation of Verona, an abode of those who could control light; and also the Order of Anrah, a group of dark mages. None of them could help the king.

"I see."

It was Arios who broke the silence.

"What of the prince?"

This time it was Chelinka who spoke.

"The prince, as soon as possible will be crowned to be the next king. That is why I have come to you Arios. Your presence is needed at the coronation."

"When shall the coronation be?" asked Arios.

"A week from now. Is your presence already accounted for?"

"Of course. Chelinka and the twins shall accompany me as well. Is that all right, Linka?"

Chelinka gave a nod. "I shall go get Serlem and Erlem."

The prince, Chelinka thought as she wandered outside the house towards the forest. For as long as she could remember, she was infatuated with him and she acknowledged this fact. But never even once as she laid eyes on him, even only by his name that she fell in love with him.

The name Serdic somehow made her heart flutter.

Kay told Chelinka stories about prince Serdic. He was his teacher in the arts of using the spear when she was young.

As she neared the forest, two boys came into view. They were arguing, she could tell since they were aiming magic at each other.

"Thunder Spark!" shouted the first boy.

"White Dust!" said the second.

A small explosion came as the two magic met. Chelinka just sighed.

"TIMEOUT!" she shouted.

The two boys looked at her.

"What is it this time?"

"Sister, this time we were not fighting." Said the second boy with such politeness. "We were trying to see what would happen if our magic collided."

"Well, what did you find out then?" Chelinka asked.

"Nothing much aside from the explosion!" the first boy exclaimed. "Hey sis, what's wrong?"

"Well Elmer, Selmer, Master would like to talk to us."

"That's rare. Master is already out of his lab?" asked Selmer.

"I thought the same thing earlier. And aside from that Sir Kay came to visit master."

"What? I thought they had a fight?" asked Elmer.

"Let's not open that topic to Master, okay?"

They walked back to the house, holding hands. Selmer seemed to enjoy this gesture and was swinging the hand that locked with his sister. Meanwhile, Elmer, as glad as he were for his sister's affection, kept his free hand inside his pocket, clutched his sister's hand on the other and looked at the road ahead of him. Both of them loved Chelinka so much.

A strong gush of wind suddenly came to pass and as if faintly, Selmer and Elmer could hear a song being sang.

"Oh no."

"Sister?" Selmer looked at Chelinka. She was crying.

"What wrong, sis?" Elmer asked.

Chelinka listened to the song of the wind. The voice was so familiar. Who did this voice belong to? And aside from that, why did she feel so sad?

Her vision soon fainted. There was only darkness. At the end of that darkness was a person with blonde hair and emerald green eyes. He seemed to glimmer.

"Goodbye..."

Before she could answer, he disappeared. She was now all alone in the darkness, crying.