Beyond the Stars

Chapter 20: Cassiopeia's Ring

"You know Amelia?!" Blessica was shocked at what Carmen just said. "Yes, wait a minute. You know her?!" it seems like both of them are confused just as I am right now. "Amelia said that her mother died giving birth to her." Danilo said. "Amelia told us that her father deserted her and her mother." They all looked so furious. It's as if they were betrayed. The royal highnesses are the ones who were betrayed. Then it hits me, we were out here for days they must be worried!

"We need to go back as soon as possible! Who knows what the Agassis might do. They were the ones who misled the royal highnesses from the truth." I told them but they don't know what to do. After all, it took us days to get here. How much more for us to go home. We were panicking about what we should do to arrive at the kingdoms quickly when an animal with an eagle head and wings and a lion body stopped in front of us. It's as if it was asking us to ride him. We were hesitant at first but I saw a glimpse of a halo on its head for a second before it disappeared. For sure the goddess sent this creature here. Thank you, Goddess.

"That's a griffin! This will take us to our destination faster than walking." They exclaimed as we ride on it. We held on tight as the griffin prepared for take-off. While we were in the air, I took my time to enjoy the nice view. I can see the whole Cassiopeia from here. The guys were arguing because Danilo was scared he might fall since he was seated in the back part of the griffin and he thought the guys were pulling him while the girls were screaming. "I'VE NEVER RIDDEN A GRIFFIN BEFORE! IT'S SCARY AAAAAAAA"

We were almost home when I saw from above the royal highnesses arguing at the base of the mountain we hiked days ago. I gestured the griffin to slowly touch down. After it did, we immediately ran towards the royal highnesses. "YOU KIDNAPPED MY STUDENTS AGAIN!" Queen Marikit told Queen Barbara. "I GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR STUDENTS BUT YOU KIDNAPPED OUR DID YOU? YOU WERE TRYING TO SEEK REVENGE BECAUSE OF THE HELP WE OFFERED ANGELINE!" Queen Barbara rebutted. Before they got physical with one another and use their powers as weapons, I immediately stood up between them.

"YOUR HIGHNESSES PLEASE STOP!" They all turned their face on me. I was catching my breath. "Please stop fighting with each other. There's nothing to fight about. We went to the river of truth. I found out that no side is at fault." I tried not to cry but I failed. "Even your children are not at fault. They love each other dearly." I cried again. They look at me with sympathy. "You may not believe me but I know more than you do about your children." I explained so they would understand. "I have the letters they wanted to give you but failed to give." I handed the papers to them. They cried. "I believe you. This is Hiwaga's handwriting." Queen Marikit cried. I turned to Queen Barbara and I saw her swallow. She's trying her best not to shed a tear.

"The prince and the princess had a daughter." I added which made them both look at me again. I took the picture in the box with them. the prince putting his arms on the princess' shoulder while the princess was holding me in her arms. I handed it to them. They were all shocked and cried after. 

"That's nonsense, your majesty. We found out that the princess was raped by that guy!" A guy told King Crisanto. "No your majesty! The prince killed himself because that girl cheated on him!" The lady told Queen Barbara. Wait a second. "You," I said while pointing to the guy next to King Crisanto. "You're the guy who chased me back when I was on earth." They all turned to the guy but the guy smiled cunningly. "This lady might've gotten mad." he chuckled. "The only way to get to earth is through dark magic, right? Unless the goddess wants you to. Why would I do that?" he continued chuckling. The royal highnesses were starting to believe his lies and I won't let that happen.

"It's possible you used dark magic for this!" I said while I raised Cassiopeia's ring. They were all shocked and kept on staring at me or the ring. I don't know exactly where but the Aggasis looked greedy as they stared so I'll assume they're glancing at the ring. I faced the royal highnesses to explain. I felt my tears drop as I speak. "I'm the result of the love of the enemy, the gift of the goddess to Princess Hiwaga and Prince Sinag. With that, she rewarded them with me and gave me the ring. She told them that I should be the beholder." I was crying while explaining. The royal highnesses looked confused. I know this is hard to believe but I should tell them the truth.

"That's nonsense! I bet she stole the ring! Give me that!" A whole clan, which I assume are the Agassis, tried to chase me when the wind blew heavily. Unlike before this wind isn't calm. I can hear the thunder but it wasn't raining. I ran away to the cliff and I saw the majesties follow me. The Aggasis were about to follow me as well but the guards stopped them. I faced the majesties and held their hands together and put the ring between them.

"This is the sole reason why the kingdoms are in a fight. For this to end please offer peace with one another." I asked them and they were silent for a while. "I'm not the one who should apologize first. She should apologize first" Queen Marikit refused. "No, after you." Queen Barbara rebutted. I took the ring from them and went to the edge of the cliff. I should've known. One of the things, why these kingdoms are in a fight is because of pride. I remembered when Blessica, Danilo, and Alon refused to apologize to Carmen, Cedric, and Baron. The other side refused to do it as well. My parents were also the first ones to lower their feelings of pride for each other. I don't blame the goddess for rewarding us with such a great gift but this has got to end.

I don't know how this happened.

The last two months were just a normal day, my birthday but then suddenly I'm in this unknown world with no one to ask for directions since they do not know the place I was living in.

The place I used to live in.

I stepped closer to the cliff and raised the ring. "Goddess Cassiopeia! I've come here to surrender!" I said as I was throwing the ring. The wind blew harder and I felt the ring coming back to me. It was sticking on my clothes like it has a magnet on them. The people were shouting my name already but I don't care. I tried breaking the ring and threw it again but the wind blew harder again and the ring came back to me again. I can feel the people looking at me with awe right now. When I realized I couldn't throw the ring away from me since it's coming back at me. I have no other choice but to sacrifice myself. With that, I jumped off the cliff and heard people scream after that. I'm scared doing this but at least after this maybe I'll get to see my parents. After all, they sacrificed their lives for me. Now it's my time to sacrifice to see them. Maybe after this, I'll see what's beyond the stars.