Kingdom of Shadows

Chapter five

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

Arya and Astoria prepared me for tonight's walk with Ezekiel. Earlier today, he had invited me to tour the palace and its surroundings. I had eagerly accepted, my curiosity intensely piqued.

The evening breeze caressed my face gently, while the moon, resplendent in its luminosity, banished the darkness to mere ephemeral shadows. Alongside Ezekiel, we traversed the gardens nestled behind the fortress, where a plethora of roses adorned the landscape, evoking a smile from both me and my companion..

Inquisitive, I gestured towards a peculiar plant I had noticed earlier in the day, its robust, quadrangular stems adorned with bright pink petals. "What are these?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.

With a knowledgeable gleam in his eyes, Ezekiel began to elucidate, "Mirabilis Jalapa, commonly known as the four o'clock flower, is a perennial, herbaceous marvel. Its bushy stature typically reaches heights of one meter, occasionally stretching to two meters. Although primarily a perennial, it can be cultivated as an annual, particularly within our realm." My eyebrows arched in astonishment at his botanical expertise.

"A curious aspect of this plant is that flowers with different colors grow simultaneously on the same plant. The flowers of M. Jalapa open in the late afternoon or evening, hence the name 'four o'clock flower'. They emit a strong, sweet fragrance throughout the night and then close in the morning. New flowers open the following day, continuing this enchanting cycle."

"Interesting. I think I'm starting to get interested in herbology." I remarked, placing my hand under my chin and looking directly at him.

"I wouldn't mind if you took care of the garden." He chuckled.

"So, I can come here whenever I want?" I asked, curiosity rising.

"Certainly! Nobody stops you from doing what you want as long as it makes you happy. You deserve to be happy," he remarked.

I smiled faintly, feeling unsure of how to respond. "So, I suppose you want to postpone the training," he added with a chuckle.

"Why would I even entertain the thought?" I inquire, a furrow forming between my brows in perplexity. He responds with a simple shrug, his demeanor betraying no hint of concern.

"After all that's unfolded—"

"We can start tomorrow." I interject hastily. His smile, a familiar sight repeated countless times today, holds a certain reassurance, a subtle calming effect on my nerves.

"Well, look who's chiming in now!" I chuckle, and in that lighthearted exchange, tensions ease between us.

※

The palace grounds teemed with tales untold and mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Ezekiel served as my guide, elucidating every detail with patience. No question of mine went unanswered.

Until that moment, I hadn't glimpsed the palace's exterior, and its grandeur took my breath away. Four towering spires pierced the sky, visible even from afar. As we ventured about an hour's journey from the palace, quaint villages came into view, inhabited by a mix of humans, low-ranking faes, and elves. Yet, their humble abodes seemed almost deceptive, like a facade designed to entice. Ezekiel explained that it was a deliberate ploy—a strategic maneuver to maintain secrecy and security.

"They employ these houses to ensnare those lost within or near the forest, as well as those who venture too close out of curiosity," Ezekiel explained, his tone tinged with a sense of gravity.

Despite his presence beside me, I resolved to steer clear of those alluring yet perilous villages. The roads we trod were paved with cubic stones, adorned with intricate spiral and linear patterns that mesmerized me. So absorbed was I in these designs that I failed to notice the breathtaking vista that lay ahead.

Before us stood a pontoon, surrounded by a multitude of boats tethered at its base. Beyond stretched the vast expanse of the Nipolo Sea, its azure depths expanding into the horizon. Ezekiel chuckled softly. "The Nipolo Sea," he elucidated. As we drew nearer, the intensity of the deep blue waters seemed to instill a sense of foreboding within me.

Offshore, a group of people cast a large net into the water, hauling it back up brimming not with fish, but with strange creatures. "Are these the creatures you mentioned?" I inquired, to which Ezekiel simply nodded.

"As far as the eye can see, this western region is contaminated," he remarked solemnly. "As for the eastern part, I have received no reports."

Desperation tinged my voice as I asked, "Can your powers not be wielded against these creatures?"

"I've attempted, only to witness more Hogfish emerge. So, no, there's little we can do," Ezekiel admitted, his hands slipping into the pockets of his leather pants as he regarded me. "This occurrence is highly irregular, particularly given the protective measures surrounding the kingdom."

"Protected? By whom?" I inquired, curiosity piqued.

"Each realm boasts a guardian, an ancient entity tasked with safeguarding its borders. Dythorrairth serves as our guardian—a venerable dragon whose watch has spanned over a millennium," Ezekiel revealed, noting the wonder on my face.

"Even Dythorrairth is powerless against these creatures?" I asked, incredulity coloring my tone.

"No, these creatures... they're different. Their proliferation only intensifies with aggression and threat," Ezekiel explained solemnly.

As I gazed once more at the dark river, my attention was drawn to an intriguing orange glow beside the boat still grappling with the enigmatic creatures. Sensing its pull, its allure, I couldn't help but ask, "What is that?"

Ezekiel's confusion mirrored my own as he peered into the distance. "What do you see?" he inquired, his gaze following mine.

Describing what I saw and felt, I awaited his response. "It appears you've stumbled upon the first gem," he announced, his words catching me off guard.

"How?" I queried, taken aback.

"I told you, you would feel it. You just had to believe," Ezekiel reiterated.

"Why can't you see it?" I pressed.

"If everyone could perceive them, do you think I'd have tasked you with their discovery? Those who can see them possess a truly rare gift," Ezekiel explained.

"How do I reach it?" I asked eagerly.

"First, you must dislodge them," Ezekiel instructed.

"From the Hogfish? But how?" I wondered aloud.

"That's for you to uncover. You are the only one capable of driving them away," Ezekiel replied, his words echoing in my mind.

"You knew... the creatures are here because of the gem, didn't you?" I surmised.

"It's a distinct possibility," Ezekiel conceded.

You are the only one capable of driving them away. These are the words that echoed in my mind again.

"Then, Great King, prepare yourself, for tomorrow we embark on a boat journey," I declare resolutely, met with one of his reassuring smiles.