The Lost Kingdom (The Fifth Element Chronicles)

Chapter 18 [part 2]

It was the end.

Everything that had happened, absolutely everything had ended the moment I lost to Caelus.

I dropped my sword in fury, angry at myself for being so foolish.

I had really believed this would work. I had fooled myself, how could I have believed I could beat him?

'Nice try princess, you got a lot better. A few more months of training, and who knows? You might even have a chance against me.'

I wasn't about to put up with his taunts, I didn't want to look at him even though I couldn't blame him for what I had caused myself.

I headed for the tent without a word.

'Where are you going?'

'Where do you think? To pack. I lost. That was the deal.'

'Hey...'

'I know, I know you're sorry and I know it was crazy to ask you to face that. But I couldn't give up hope. We went through so much that I didn't think about giving up, even if it was foolish.'

'If you'd learn to listen once in your life you'd let me finish.'

I paused in my place, my words expectant.

'Even though you didn't beat me, and technically this goes against everything I believe in, I'm going to try to pass the test one last time.'

My eyes lit up in disbelief at what I was hearing.

I couldn't help but feel guilty though.

'Are you sure? I don't want you to feel bound to do so for me.'

'No, I'm not doing it for you. I'd really avoid it if I could, but I'm not going to give up now. You're right, I have to face what happened once and for all. If I keep running away from it it will only get worse. I must do it. Not just for me but for my mother too.'

I couldn't believe my ears, especially the part where he admitted I was right.

'So...'

'So, the quest continues, even if I have to put up with you for a while longer, I think I can take it. That Tree better be real, or else I'll have several people to visit.'

I wanted to hug him, so I just did.

I didn't know if we were trusting enough but I took a chance anyway.

'All right, all right,' he said, accepting the hug very lightly. 'Don't chant victory yet princess, we don't know if I can do it.'

'Even if you can't, just the fact that you're trying... thank you.'

'I'm not doing it for you, remember? I'm just doing it because I want to get to the Tree.'

'Right, of course.'

He let go of me and decided to walk across the meadow.

As I watched him walk away, something seemed familiar.

It took me a few seconds to realise.

I had dreamt about this.

Of him in the meadow, the country flowers, the birds flying overhead, the little fairies stealing fruit from us.

Hold on.

So if that had come true too, then....

No, I wasn't going to think about that now.

I waited for him that night in the tent, but he didn't come back.

I saw him again in the morning, and he only said that he was going to be alone for the rest of the days until the test.