Chapter 2: TWO
"My lady, I should go and collect some wood for the evening, "Janette said, looking at the little girl who was washing dishes with cold water. It had been two years since they were living in the castle. It was a huge place for two people. They would share work and do it together. Life was not comfortable. They had to meet their end demand through the forest produce. Matilda's demise had wounded both of their hearts. Janette was nice to Althea on regular days. She never saw her father after her mother died. There were days when she would hope that he would come to meet her as she felt lonely here.
To defeat loneliness, Althea had made many friends outside the castle much to Janette's obliviousness.
"My lady, where are you?" Althea heard Janette's voice and she looked at her friend with wide eyes full of fear. Janette was not supposed to come back for a few more hours. She had to send her friend back before she would be caught.
Althea jumped in fear and whisper-yelled, "Aurora, run! Janette is coming if she sees you, we will not be able to explain."
Aurora jumped out the window and looked at Althea as if speaking to her.
"Yes, I understand that your friend is sick. Come to take me in the night. I will come and treat her," Althea whispered.
Aurora was a white unicorn with shimmery fur that was shining under the bright sun. As it unfurled her wings, the beautiful pastel pink lining on the edges of her white wings, depicted its otherworldly beauty. Her spired horn shimmered in pastel pink as it nodded and flew away before Janette could enter the room.
As Janette opened the door, Althea closed the window and stood in front of it.
"My lady, what are you doing here?" Janette asked her. "I was looking for you all over the castle."
"I was cleaning the room," Althea lied without batting her eyelashes.
"My lady, don't open the windows and the doors. Those damned creatures outside are creating ruckus again as if someone is dying," Janette said with a hint of annoyance.
"Janette, we should be kind to every creature," Althea sighed.
"Not to them," Janette snorted. "My lady, never trust any creature who possesses magic."
Althea lowered her head and whispered, "I also possess magic."
She could never understand Janette's unreasonable hate for magical creatures. She felt hurt by it each time she heard it. As she was one of them along with many of her friends.
"You are different from the rest, my lady, "Janette said. She knew that Althea did not understand it but one day she would. "What you possess is not magic but a gift of nature that had been bestowed on your ancestors. It is the gift of nature to heal every wounded person. Your mother healed every wounded in the world. But she made a single mistake and it took her life. She trusted people with magic and they took advantage of it. Those people do not deserve your trust and kindness, my lady. if you trust them, they will hurt you in return."
Not paying any heed to Janette, Althea sneaked out of the castle that night to help the wounded unicorn. Sitting on the back of Aurora, she flew deep into the parts of the forest where she had never been before. There was a herd of unicorns standing around one which was lying on the ground, screaming in pain.
"Everyone, please take a step back and let me check, "Althea said. As if the unicorns could sense a feeling of kindness emerging from her, they took a step back and let her do her work. She was told by her mother that due to their gift of healing, people have a natural affiliation with them. She never knew that it was extended up to every creature. She could even treat mythical creatures which her mother never talked about before. She had treated many animals in the forest and they became her friends later on.
She touched the wound of the unicorn with her palm and a greenish light emitted out, engulfing the entire body of the creature. A few minutes later, drained and exhausted Althea fell to the ground. She looked at Aurora, "It is enough to stop her pain. She is not entirely healed. I cannot use more of my power. Aurora, bring me here every night for the next thirty days, Luna will be fine. I am sorry, Aurora, that I cannot help your friend much."
If only she was as strong as her mother, she would have cured Luna in one try.
Aurora rubbed herself against Althea, saying not to be apologetic. For the next thirty days, Althea healed Luna and Janette had no clue about it like always.
Althea was sixteen that year. She had told Janette that she was going to the woods to make arrangements for food. Using this excuse, she would hang out with her animal friends all day. In the end, her friends would help her collect food and drop her to the castle. It was a similar day for her, her animal friends were coming to drop her to the castle. As they were walking, since she was with territorial animals today, they heard the sound of an explosion from the other side of the forest. It startled every creature living in the jungle who ran to find safe spots.
Her friends were startled too and she told them to go to their hiding place since she could protect herself. She waited for an hour there, hearing the sound of what she deemed to be an explosion. She didn't know what the loud voice was but it was very similar to the explosion that took place in their kitchen once but many times louder than it. An hour after the forest stilled and there were no more explosions, she wondered if any animal was hurt and needed help.
Althea walked to the site of the explosion to see any injured creature. She took the help of a birdie who was more than willing to help her.
Back at the castle, Janette was waiting for her. The poor caretaker was scared beyond words for Althea not being at home and the forest not being safe.
"Oh my god!" Althea exclaimed when she was a human lying on the ground, a pool of blood around his body.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone