章 2: CHAPTER ONE
"Slay them all!"
"Attack all at once!"
"Give them a taste of pain!"
What is happening? I couldn't see clearly. Everything is in blur. All I know is that hostility has taken over. I can feel the pain, the bloodshed. It's such a horrible feeling. Why? Why does the violence never end? Chaos, chaos is all over the place. Every human is hit with corruption. Why do people need to kill and hurt each other. For power? For superiority? Why can't there be peace?
"For Victory!"
"Darkness shall rule all of the lands!"
"You will never win with your corrupted schemes!"
I want to stop it! I want to! I have to! I couldn't bear losing everything I love! But how am I supposed to do that if I don't even know myself? Please stop the fighting! Stop!
"STOP!" I opened my eyes as soon as I woke up. Belerick rushed into the room I am in, as soon as he heard my voice, looking so worried.
"Lunox! Are you alright?"
"Yes. I just had a bad dream … again."
"Is it the same dream as last night? And the other night?" I shrugged and looked to the floor.
"I guess. I could never really see clearly. Everything was in blur within the dream. Do you think that's normal? I haven't had a clear vision ever since the day you found me."
"No one could ever tell. Besides, a lot of strange things happen here in the Land of Dawn. Some are spectacularly amazing. Some are quite the opposite." Belerick just smiled to me and I, even though I still felt awful for not knowing anything, forced to show at least some of my teeth.
It has been three days since I have taken refuge in the Swan Castle. I was taken in by Belerick, and was hospitably accepted by the Regina's, the royalties here in Swan Castle. I was in a bad condition when Belerick found me in the Oasis. I couldn't remember who I was and what I was doing there. I just woke up lying on the ground, as if I have awoken from a dream I couldn't see clearly and remember. Just like how I was feeling just now.
I still recall that mixture of darkness and light surrounded me, if I remembered it right. I didn't know where I was, I felt like I was floating in deep slumber. I felt pain, like two forces were fighting within me. It hurt, but it was bearable. And then a flash suddenly illuminated my surroundings. Then, there I was, lost in confusion.
I got up from the ground, looked around, and am fascinated by the beautiful horizon. The soft green I grass I am sitting on, the vibrant wildflowers growing beside the shining lake not far from where I was sitting. The air was so comfy to breathe in and I felt comfort looking at the tall trees ahead. The place felt so alive. Then I found a strange looking creature staring at me. I didn't know what it is. All I knew is that it was not human.
"H-hello?"
"Hi! May I ask, who are you, young lady?" I'm surprised! It could talk.
As soon as I absorbed what it asked me, I should have voiced out my name already. But there was a problem. I couldn't remember what my name was. I didn't know who I am. I did not even know why I was there. But the creature continued staring at me, waiting for a response. What should I say?
"I…I --"
"Your name is Lunox."
In the midst of my name guessing, a voice spoke out of nowhere. I looked if there is anybody else there besides us, but there was no one.
"Did you hear that?" I asked the creature.
"Hear what, miss?"
"The voice."
"What voice? I haven't heard someone talk after you stammered." Strange. Was I the only one who heard the voice? And what did it say? It said that my name is Lunox. I held the ground but before my hand could touch it, I felt something was there. I looked at it, and it was in a spherical form. I took it from the ground and held it. Then there was the voice again.
"Lunox, your name is Lunox."
"There it is again! The voice! Can't you hear it?" I anxiously said to the creature. Honestly, I was freaked out already.
"Calm down first. There is no voice. It is just the two of us here." So it is only I who could hear the voice. It's so peculiar. I sighed in order to calm myself. "Now, I will ask again, what is your name, miss?"
What should I tell him? Must I trust the disembodied voice that talked to me out of nowhere? If not, I would not have anything to answer.
"Lunox. M-my name is Lunox." The creature wiggled its body, stood and walked towards me. I was startled. The creature was enormous! It had green leafy coverings on its back, a blooming flower on its snout and vines on the rest. It held a very soothing aura, like being near it gives you life and energy.
"I am Belerick, Guardian of Nature. At your service."
"Thank you. May I ask, w-what place is this? Where am I?"
"You are in the Oasis, a place where life would thrive in the ruins of the Minoan Kingdom destroyed long ago. I created this place to give a chance for the remaining Minoan people to live in comfort."
"Oasis? Minoan Kingdom? I never heard of such places." When Belerick said that he created such a beautiful place like this, I felt amazed. A creature like him had to do a lot of work and put in a bunch of effort in making a place like this.
"But is it true? You made this place?"
"Yes. It cost all my energy and power, so I slept a long time afterwards. You were the one who woke me up."
"Me?" I pointed myself. "I woke you up? I don't even recall how I got here."
"You came out of that." Belerick pointed to the sphere I was holding. What is he talking about? I came out of this orb? How impossible.
"You must be mistaken. I couldn't possibly fit in here."
"Yet you did, Lunox." When he said my name with conviction, I felt constraint.
"Are you serious? I came out of this? What sphere is it anyway?"
"That is the Twilight Orb, a very strong source of power no one can imagine. It is the main cause of the destruction of the Minoan Kingdom, and laid dormant for a long time in the Maze of Minos not far from here. Yet today, it mysteriously got out from the Maze on its own. And here you are."
"Haven't you said you just woke up? How come you know a lot of things that happened at the time of your slumber?"
"Nature serves as my secondary eyes. They tell everything that happens around. And you, Lunox, are our prophecy."
"Prophecy? To what?"
"Prophecy to bring balance to the world. So that it could go back to its peaceful state, as it should be."
"Me, an ordinary girl?"
"You are not quite ordinary as you think you are. You came out of the Twilight Orb. And it means a lot in fulfilling the prophecy that will save every living being."
I can't believe every word Belerick has mouthed. It is a lot to take in. I can't possibly absorb all of these at once. I must know if it is true, what he says. And I hope I'll figure out who I really am.
"I-I can't possibly be that. I want to know more details for me to believe you."
"I honestly do not have all the information. But I know some people who do. We must set out to Swan Castle and take shelter there for the time being. Hopefully they can give us the answer you are looking for."
Belerick offered me a ride on his back as he said that it would be a long journey. I did not hesitate to accept the offer. I climbed up and made myself comfortable, still holding the Twilight Orb. I can't explain but I'm drawn to it. And my wings would drag me back if I walked too long. Wait. Wings? I have wings? I could use them to fly, but for some reason I couldn't. Maybe I have also forgotten how to use them along with my forgotten memories.
On the way to Swan Castle, I wondered how the Minoan Kingdom was destroyed. Belerick told me everything. And the root cause is the Twilight Orb. Wow. This thing must be of great significance to the world that it would cause a divine punishment to the lands.
When we arrived at the Swan Castle, we were greeted by the most beautiful woman I have ever seen – not to mention she's the first one – in my life. I get the feeling that she must be the princess of this castle.
"Belerick! Oh, it's such a long time. I came running when I saw you on the balcony."
"Oh, Odette. Still sweet and caring." Then the princess smiled. It feels like an angel has come down from heaven. Her aura is appealing, eyes would definitely be caught by her. But then, she turned to me, and to my surprise, she was shocked at the sight of me.
"Oh my … are you – is she --- it couldn't be …" she kept turning eyes between me and Belerick until he mouthed a reply.
"Yes, I think she is." Princess Odette put on the brightest smile. She held my hand and said that I was beautiful. But I think nothing could compare to her brilliant beauty. It is written all over her.
"Oh my days! Come. You must take shelter here. I know you have come a long way." Odette began to walk as well did Belerick and I.
"And I would let my people prepare the nicest room for you my dear girl, Lunox." And there she goes again with her contagious smile. So mesmerizing. Belerick and I followed her in the castle. But wait she called by my name. She called me exactly by my name. And I did not even say a word from the time we were here. I felt discomfort, like they know more about me than I know about myself. I have forgotten who I was.
Now, I am residing here at Swan Castle, and the Regina household has been so kind to me that the servants treat me as if I am one of the Regina's. And I learned a lot about them, the princess, in particular. Odette told me herself as she toured me around the castle, which was heartwarming. In spite of the hectic schedules, she managed to make time for me. She is the thirteenth generation of their clan and she is beheld as the Swan Princess because upon her birth, swans flocked to the Swan Castle to pay their respects to the scion. Not only that, Odette has also mastered the most difficult of noble magic which makes her a not-so-gentle princess when it comes to battles. And speaking of magic, it's all so new to me. I wonder if I have magic powers myself. And I hope I'll learn more about myself as much as I have learned about the Swan Princess.
クリエイターの想い 
Glenn_Xavier
Glenn_Xavier Pardon the end of the chapter, I'm still working on how to make a flashy ending for each chapters so please bear with me. :-) Anyways kindly spread the word about this thriving novel. Thanks a lot!
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