Tʜᴇ Mɪssɪɴɢ Gᴇᴍ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 22

ꜰʟᴏʀᴀ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ

"Would you like to buy this shoal, pretty lady?" another woman asked me as Riven and I are gliding through the thick crowd that is surrounding the castle, him holding my wrist so I won't get lost. There are noises all around the place and it's pretty uncomfortable for me; bumping almost to everyone I came across, the yelling at the background and the hot weather of this place. This is the least I expected from Aquaria, it's really different from Lynphea.

However, there's a spot in the crowd where Riven's grip suddenly loosen and he's now nowhere to be found. "R-Riven...?" I murmured, trying to walk straight to hopefully catch up to him. Unluckily, the crowd suddenly clamp into a ball and I'm in the crowd. 'This is bad...' I hold my hand close to my chest as I'm trying to walk away from these people.

"Wh-where...?" I gasped in surprised and glances what's in front of me, I'm at the different part from where I was before and I don't know this place. Where's Riven?

Talking small walk to navigate back to our destination,  I felt a very strong presence somewhere behind me that got me spun around and glanced around to find the person. That magic power is, so scary and frightening that it got me froze up on my spot. Is that a wizard? 

My eyes landed on a black haired guy with an eyepatch on his left eye, this strong magic power is coming from him! Clenching my teeth, I watched how he turned to look at me with a stoic look. Surely he is just a normal wizard here.

"..." The guy raised his eyebrow as if he's observing me. Shit I need to go, he doesn't feel too friendly or too welcoming. His grey eye looks so calming but deadly.

Rapidly looking at the opposite side to keep looking for Riven, I can feel his presence getting closer and closer, he's now walking towards me! Think Flora!

Closing my eyes, I tried to look for a solution when suddenly a very familiar hand grabbed my wrist. "Flora let's go hurry, I found the gate of the castle!" It made me sighed in relieve as Riven is here now. However, he doesn't seem to be aware of that man as he's walking in a slow but firmed pace.

Looking back at the guy through my shoulder, I can see still see him staring at me as we're going farther from him. What a creep!

It took me a while to forget that interaction but his face is now embedded in my mind as it is telling me to remember that guy. He really looked so weird as if he was trying to read my mind. Just remembering his face is making me tremble in complete fear.

Riven and I easily go past through the guards as he know them personally, but with me being a complete stranger, they needed to question me and I let Riven answer for me with is 'The queen is expecting us'. The guards didn't push up further and it is my cue to hurry up, wanting this to end already.

"Flora, calm down"

Looking around while holding him nervously, I could feel myself trembling at thought of me growing up and getting used to this place instead of Alfea and with the girls. I can say that it would definitely alter everything that I am and I know. I tried to calm myself down by taking deep breaths, but I just can't help it. The place feels so nostalgic and everything is new yet so familiar to me.

"Don't lose your grip" I can hear him whispering as I'm just allowing myself to be dragged by him. I'm taking in the the sight in front of me.

The gate was already gigantic, but the inside is much jaw dropping. It is really different from Stella's kingdom as Aquaria is full of wizards and they aren't afraid to use their wands on almost everything. From lifting something to doing their chores.

Looking around the hallway, I noticed how poised the maids are and how composed the knights looks. Is it normal in everyday life at the castle? I've seen Stella's servants being like that. But experiencing it in your own 'home' is different. Unless I'm just ignorant to it.