The Academy For The Aces: BOOK 1 OF THE ACE SERIES

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"In all due respect, princess, this better not be a joke," Faith breathed.

"Faith, I promise. I'm telling the truth. Just let me explain," Antheia replied with a sigh, clearly a bit distraught by Faith's unease.

"Go on..." Faith urged.

"Alright, well, as we all know on July 10th, 1906, Sherlock Holmes, the great detective, one of the best Aces of all time, the man who made a small opening for understanding between humans and Aces—"

"We get it, Antheia," Daiyu interrupted.

"Right," Antheia said, clearing her throat, "When Sherlock disappeared, the news rocked England, humans, and Aces alike. Eventually, the tremors died down and that small opening Sherlock created? It closed, and the hostility between humans and Aces started once again."

"What does any of this have to do with his disappearance?" Faith questioned, confused as to why Antheia is telling her all this as if this information wasn't known to England already.

Antheia took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts before responding. "Follow me," she instructed and walked towards one of the lanes, picking out a book from one of the shelves titled; "Leprechaunology."

"A book about Leprechauns?" Faith questioned, rather confused.

"Yes, at least that's what it appears to be," Antheia responded and then pressed down on the book's backbone, opening a secret compartment. Inside was another book, titled; "Arden." The book's exterior displayed a lush forest scene, with vibrant hues of deep green and earthy browns, drawing the reader into a world of magic and wonder.

At each of the four corners, delicate Rhododendron blooms adorned the cover, adding an air of mystique to the already intriguing book. The flowers seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow, whispering ancient secrets that piqued Faith's curiosity. Both Daiyu and Faith's eyes widened at this mysterious revelation. Though, Faith's intuitive ability had already begun to manifest the answer to this newfound mystery.

"Are you trying to tell me...that Arden. This fairytale land, has something to do with my grandfather's disappearance?" Faith said, more of an answer than a question.

"It's just a rumor, but some believe that your grandfather found something that can change our lives forever, and it has something to do with Arden," Antheia said, "but get this, around the same time that your grandfather disappeared, Madame Lavigne's daughter, Rosette Lavigne, who worked as a professor here, also disappeared."

"Wait, are you saying that my grandfather l was maybe kidnapped by a bunch of fictional beings?" Faith chuckled a bit amused by this revelation, but deep down she was trying to conceal the fact that this revelation may hold some truth.

"Yeah, that's a bit of a stretch, Princess," Daiyu smiled.

"Faith, think about it. Do you believe that Leprechauns were the result of some scientific mishap?" Antheia questioned, her eyebrows furrowed not as amused as Faith and Daiyu.

"Your grandfather also said it himself, creatures from Arden also sought refuge here" Antheia added.

"Yes, he'd tell me all about Arden like it's a bedtime story. Duke of Elves, Lady of Nymphs, and King of Beasts. All of that can't possibly be real, right?" Faith said.

Without another word, Antheia opened up the book and flipped through its pages. When she stopped, on the page was an infinity symbol. The page was titled; "King of Beasts," it caught Faith's eye and for just a second, she had an odd feeling about it.

"Oh, wrong page," Antheia said then flipped to the next page where there was a drawing of a leprechaun and their history.

Page 35 - LEPRECHAUNS

Origins: The Betrayal of the Fairy Queen

Long ago, Leprechauns were not the mischievous and elusive creatures we know today. They were once beautiful and graceful fairies living harmoniously in the enchanted realm of the Fairy Queen. Their existence was filled with joy and wonder, and they were known for their skills in magic and crafting.

However, the Leprechauns' peaceful world took a dark turn when a group of these fairies grew dissatisfied with their idyllic lives. Fueled by envy and greed, they plotted to seize power and overthrow the benevolent Fairy Queen, believing they could rule the enchanted realm themselves.

Their nefarious scheme involved stealing powerful artifacts from the Fairy Queen's treasury, hoping to use them to enhance their magical abilities. The betrayal was cunningly planned, and the once loyal Leprechauns turned into rogue fairies, intent on gaining more power at any cost.

The Betrayal was discovered by the Fairy Queen, whose heart was broken by the deceit of her once-beloved subjects. Filled with sorrow and rage, she unleashed a powerful curse upon the treacherous Leprechauns. The Fairy Queen's magic twisted their appearances, turning them into ugly, vile creatures as a reflection of their darkened souls.

The Curse of the Leprechaun

The curse inflicted upon the Leprechauns had far-reaching consequences. No longer were they the elegant fairies they once were, but they became small and hunched beings, their once vibrant wings now dark and tattered. Their once gentle and enchanting demeanor gave way to a cunning and mischievous nature, always seeking mischief and playing tricks on those who dared to cross their path.

The Fairy Queen's curse not only altered their appearances but also limited their magical abilities. One skilled in crafting enchantments and casting powerful spells, the Leprechauns were now bound by the limitations of their curse. They could only perform minor illusions and create tricks that, while entertaining, were often meant to deceive and confound.

"Wow," Faith said, captivated by this story. Not because it's quite interesting, which it is, but because she's heard this story. "My grandfather told me about this story," Faith stated.

"What? I've never seen or heard of this story outside of this book," Antheia said in a skeptical tone.

"Reading fairytales again, Tia?" a familiar voice sounded from behind them, and they quickly turned around, Antheia hiding the book behind her back.

"No, of course not, Andrew. I was just...showing my new friends around," Antheia stated.

Andrew looked at them, clearly not taking Antheia's alibi seriously. His eyes met Faith's, and she felt as if he were staring into her soul. His eyes, however, held no emotion, just a bottomless pit of nothing. He broke eye contact and then returned his gaze to his sister.

"In the archives? Where you know we're not supposed to be," Prince Andrew responded.

"I don't need you to babysit me, Andrew," Antheia said through gritted teeth.

In a puff of smoke, Andrew swiftly disappeared, but as fast as he disappeared, he reappeared behind them, taking the book from Antheia's grasp and rolling his eyes as he caught a glimpse of the title.

"You do," Andrew said with a scoff, then left without a word, taking the book with him.

"We're not going to get into trouble, are we?" Daiyu questioned, glancing nervously at the forbidden archives around them.

"I don't know," Antheia responded, feeling a mix of worry and excitement about the mysterious connections they're uncovering in the forbidden archives. Faith's mind was racing with questions and possibilities, her intuition telling her that there's more to this story than meets the eye.

As they left the archives, she couldn't shake the feeling that her grandfather's disappearance might indeed be linked to the enigmatic world of Arden. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly falling into place, but she knew they had only scratched the surface of a much larger and hidden truth.