Protector of Aura

Chapter 9: The Discussion

Third-person POV

A few days after the incident within the castle had passed, the damages were resolved. Yet, there were far more troubles to be dealt with.

High up within the castle walls was a grand beige coloured room. Matching pillars stood at every corner of the room, each dressed in the finest red and dark grey silks. The ceiling above vaulted off into a dark grey dome, little specks of light were littered across the duplicated night sky. From the centre dangled down a sturdy golden chain that seemed to hold onto the sun of this fabricated space. And underneath this diamond of light sat a long desk that mirrored the colour of the copycat sky.

There were three walls in the room, each showcased a sense of pride in their kingdom.

The first wall was used as a canvas to reflect the beauty of the landscape they resided on. Beautiful lush forests, calming round hills in the distance, rushing rivers that sparkled during the day, quiet lakes scattered across the fields, towering peaks with seemingly no limit, all species of animals that flourished in this wondrous climate; their incredible kingdom. And in the centre of it all sat the castle, providing safety for all nearby citizens.

While the second and third walls, which stood at opposite ends of the room, showcased the beauty of the people in this kingdom. Lining the tall beige surfaces were the paintings and pictures of some of the many great people who have fought, sacrificed, or been there for all in a time of need. They showed the many brave warriors charging into battle, the gifted healers committing miracles, the brilliant minds sparking the ever-going progression and the great ones who lead this all. Though still young, this kingdom still had the mightiest of kings and queens. The kindest of kings and queens, the most compassionate of kings and queens. These walls truly showcased the grace and strength of this kingdom.

Both of the land and the people.

While in place of the fourth and final wall was an image that seemed greater than that of the three prior. The fourth wall, left open, held a balcony; the view mirrored that of the wall opposite to it. Through the fourth, all those within the room could see their home covered with the orange tinge of the rising sun.

Within this seemingly magical room, sat some of the most prominent figures from the kingdom.
From high ranked soldiers and healers to simple civilians and shop-owners. Kingdom elders, high ranked staff, some royals and even the Queen was in attendance. This room was where every major decision regarding the entire kingdom was made. This was the Auran Kingdom Council.

The meeting had begun several minutes ago, though the first word had yet to be spoken. Every single mind in attendance shared the same thought: whether they called it a sign of threat or the sign of their saviour. They were all there to speak upon the same topic, and that was Aaron and that immense power.

Atop the long grey desk were sat several glasses of water, there to quench the thirst of the many seated members. Not a single ripple dribbled through the glasses of water, not a single disruption in the water. For once they embodied the mentality that every person in the room required.   

As the silence grew longer, Queen Ilene's patience withered away until she had enough of it.

"So, what are we here to discuss?" asked Ilene, fully aware of what the answer would be. To her dismay the response came from a shrewd and cold voice.

"We are here to discuss the threat that you brought into the kingdom," said one of the elders, an old lady with long white hair, lightly tanned wrinkly skin, a shrivelled nose and cold black eyes. The woman who most often donned a fancy black dress.

"Threat? Oh please tell me how this is a threat, granny,'' said Ilene sarcastically with an emphasised tone of disgust on the last word which did not go unnoticed by the elder lady.

This lady was who many called Lady Aldia, the mother of The Great Sir Aaron and grandmother of Queen Ilene.

Though she never embraced that role for her granddaughter. Ever since Ilene's birth, Aldia had always looked at her with disgust and hatred. Treated her like she did not deserve to be a royal, and greatly opposed her becoming the queen.

For much of her life, Queen Ilene never knew why Lady Aldia treated her in such a manner. It was only later revealed by her caretaker, that Aldia had never liked Ilene's mother and opposed her parents' marriage. Aldia's deep rooted hatred for her daughter-in-law passed on to Ilene, something the two of them shared.

"You know very well what I mean, Ilene. That boy is a threat and should be removed from the kingdom, " said Aldia shrewdly.

"Removed!? For your information, that boy is my brother, in turn making him the rightful prince of this kingdom," said Ilene angrily.

"No less, he is a threat. I do not care if he is your brother, he is filth just like you and your mother, that little sl–"

"Watch your tone when speaking about my family, you senile old hag!" Ilene yelled out, smashing her fists into the table.

The room returned to its previous silent and tense atmosphere, until it was swiftly pulled out by another influential member of the council.

The room's eyes shifted from the enraged Queen to the one person whose chair stood empty. They all looked at the imposing light-skinned man that stood by the entrance of the balcony. There stood a middle-aged man who looked to be in his mid-twenties, he had dark brown hair styled in an undercut. Cold dark brown eyes, small straight nose and a thin scowling mouth that sat on his chiselled face. The man was precisely the military commander of Auran, Commander Adams.

"We should focus on the topic at hand, instead of throwing around petty insults."

"We should be discussing the boy, not your distaste for his lineage, lady Aldia," said the stern and serious voice of Adams. To which all she could reply with was a light scoff.

"Commander Adams, what is your opinion on my brother?" asked Ilene hopefully, hoping that one of the people she respects shared her opinion.

"I believe he should stay."

His response sent the room into a flurry of mixed reactions. All the people in agreement simply nodded with the exception of Ilene, who smiled in relief. The people in agreement with Lady Aldia sent screams of outrage, for which he quickly took hold of the room's attention once more.

"Anyone who thinks otherwise should resign from their seats in this council, for you are most likely too short sighted to understand his value."

The room went silent at his statement.

"What do you mean, Commander Adams?" asked Marks.

"You all felt the power coming from that boy, the entire kingdom did. Now, as the military commander, I know this more than anyone: we are at our most vulnerable to an attack. Hell, we only survived the last attack because of the late King and Queen," explained Adams.

Aldia scoffed at the mention of the late Queen, "Vulnerable to an attack? You paranoid old fool. There will be no attack for my son has already defeated any and all threats."

"Any and all threats? While I am not doubting the power that Sir Aaron and Lady Celia possessed, however, do you truly believe that there will be no more times where our people have to suffer like the last two times?'' As he said the last three words, it was as if everybody in the room froze, not wanting to believe it could happen again.

"Do you really believe that boy received that type of abuse for just being slightly different? Do you really believe he was beaten to near death by some petty bullying? I think Queen Ilene can agree with the fact that the beating her brother faced was not under normal circumstances, am I correct?" asked Commander Adams.

To which all Ilene could do was nod; she was still in shock at the possibility of another attack. As she thought about the threats, her mind lingered to the conversation she had days before.

During the castle incident

She was suddenly placed in a completely white plain, still angry about how her baby brother was treated in life. But her anger seemed to melt away from a soothing voice that seemed to echo within the space.

"Because I know he can become more," said a stag-like creature that had materialised into the space.

"Ilene, Queen of Auran, I must speak with you" The creature spoke with a great amount of authority. Ilene looked up at this majestic creature in awe, she saw the blue colour of the stag-like being's neck, the white stripes that travelled up to its legs and the colourful gems that glimmered on its great white antlers.

A deity that she knew from the many books in the castle library, she knew who this was but still could not believe it.

"A-are you L- Lifverra?" she asked nervously, only to hear a soft giggle from the great creature.

"Hey! What's so funny?" She whined out.

"Nothing young Ilene, it is just nice to see you not being so serious and yes. I am Lifverra, the mother of this world," said Lifverra, amused at the still dumbfounded look on Ilene's face.

"My god! I've read about you but I've always thought you were.. um... kinda a myth... I'm sorry."

"There is no need to apologise Ilene, my children have advanced and so have some of the views of this world. To which I fully accept them," said Lifverra, which calmed Ilene down. Though she was not finished.

"However, the darkness within the world seems to become darker and darker as my children advance," said Lifverra in a much less cheerful tone.

"Is this what you wanted to talk to me about," asked Ilene to which Lifverra nodded and used her head to tell her to follow as she walked off.

As Ilene caught up with the mother of the world, she realised the room around was not a plain of pure white anymore.

She saw how on each side of her she was witnessing the history of this world. She witnessed how Lifverra brought light into our dark beginning.

She saw how she was covered by the same golden glow as Aaron was. She saw Lifverra using this great power to create our great solar system, from the smallest planets like mercury all the way to the sun that sat at the centre of it all.

She witnessed her choosing earth to be the home for her children.

Ilene saw how Lifverra created the great oceans, brought up massive terrains of land; scattered with forests of many different kinds, beautiful green grasslands, towering mountains that had no limit, great long deserts, immense tundra and so on. She saw the creation of every creature on this planet, even the ones that would go on to become humans.

Ilene saw how at a time, every living thing, powerful or not lived harmoniously. She witnessed the great light that was brought onto the once vast space of darkness.

However, she saw as much light emerged, so did darkness.

She had finally come to the point in history where darkness seemed to touch upon her people. Ilene witnessed the greed of people without their power, she saw the countless deaths of her people. The memories of the mangled, burnt and destroyed bodies flooded in. She could almost feel the explosions once again and hear the terrified cries of her people. The happy smile from witnessing the light of history had been replaced by tears that covered her face as she saw her people suffer.

Then everything went white once more and all she could see was a blurry image of Lifverra behind tears that had filled her eyes. As she began to wipe her tears she once again heard the soothing voice of Lifverra which seemed to calm her down a bit.

"I am sorry to make you witness those dark times for your people, but I fear even greater darkness will encroach upon you and your kingdom in the near future," said Lifverra in a much more serious tone.

Ilene simply stared out into the white space, little brother she thought.

"Does this have something to do with my little brother?"

"Yes, it does. As you have already seen, greed and darkness has seemed to touch upon your brother, Aaron. I fear that your brother has been encroached by darkness and has very little light within him. If he continues on in this state there will be no light that shines upon your entire race of people," explained Lifverra to which all Ilene could do was stand in shock and fear.

"Tell me! Tell me what I have to do to help him! Please tell me!" Pleaded Ilene to which the majestic creature calmly replied.

"Be a source of happiness and love for him, be a place that he will now reach for to escape the darkness. Aaron possesses the power to be the brightest source of light for your people, you along with another possess the power to make sure he is not drowned by darkness. You have waited for years for your brother to become that source of joy in your life, now you must become that for him. That is all now Ilene, I leave the rest to you," said Lifverra as she began to fade out of the space.

After a while, Ilene was no longer in the white space but back in the destroyed castle room. You and another, what does that mean? thought Ilene as she returned to her quarters.

Back In the council meeting

"He stays," said Ilene in a sudden serious and stern tone.

As Queen, she could make these decisions on her own but has always believed that she alone should not make decisions on a whole kingdom. This ideology is what allowed elders and royals like Aldia to be able to get whatever they wanted in the kingdom.

"What? You can't just make that decision," said Aldia with a tone of disgust.

"Yes I can, and I will, this is about my family. I am the Queen of Auran and my decision is final so I suggest you shut your mouth," said Ilene with a tone of authority that seemed to put a lump in the throats of Aldia and her followers.  Ilene looked over to Adams who still donned his serious expression and Marks who seemed to be smiling at the moment.

"If anyone has an issue with my decision they can leave. Aaron is the prince of this kingdom and will stay in the kingdom where he belongs. And commander Adams he will be trained in combat only if he wishes to," as Ilene said in her final  statement as she strode out of the room, completely disregarding the hateful glares from Aldia and like-minded members.

"I will be strong, for my people and for you little brother," said Ilene as she strode off through the castle.

As the council meeting had ended on a tense note, somewhere else in the very same building an amber-eyed boy had awakened, not ready at all for the new chapter in his life.


*I hope you guys like this chapter, I really do feel like my writing improves greatly from here on, but I would still love any and all feedback. Thank you, Bye!!