Mystic - EN version

Chapter 15 : Royal

Griselda invited Clave to sit down on one of the wicker armchairs in the sitting room and sat herself on the sofa opposite, behind the wooden table. Noah looked around for a place to sit and his aunt pointed to the seat next to her.

"They seem close," Clave remarked with a little smile. "Perhaps they understand each other better because of the Duke Arthur they are undergoing."

– By the way, said Griselda, addressing Clave, I didn't ask you your name last time?

– Yes, that's right. My name's Clave, replied the young girl.

Griselda frowned slightly, but quickly answered:

– Nice to meet you, Clave. But you can imagine that we're not here to get to know each other.

Clave nodded, surprised by Griselda's serious tone.

"At last! At last, someone is going to answer my questions..."

She took a deep breath. She could really expect anything and everything from now on, even if she didn't think anything could surprise her after all she'd seen.

– Ask me any questions you like and I'll answer them, okay? suggested Noah's aunt.

– That's fine with me... as long as it's answered.

– All right then, I'm listening.

Clave thought for a long time. She had a whole host of questions running through her head and she had no idea where to start. So she chose one, simple but very important to her.

– Griselda, did you know me before I lost my memory?

– No, neither I nor Arthur knew you, but it's true that we heard about you when we were children.

– When you were children? exclaimed Clave. But I'm not that old, am I?

– Before Duke Arthur woke you up, you were in a void, weren't you? A long time ago, the royal family put you to sleep, because you were very important to the kingdom, but you were also in danger. This long sleep apparently caused you to lose your memory, explained Griselda with a sad smile.

– But how long has it been since I was put to sleep? asked the young girl, speechless.

– Sixty-three years, which means that now you're about eighty...

Clave slumped back in her chair, dumbfounded.

"Eighty years old! The royal family! And what else?"

– And what happened to the royal family after all that time...?

– You're right to ask. Shortly after you were put to sleep, the neighbouring country attacked our kingdom, Sirine, in what is now known as the War of the Crown of Radiance.

– The Crown of Radiance? repeated Clave.

– It was the crown of our kingdom, which disappeared after that war. Rumours say that it's still waiting for its rightful sovereign, and has been for almost a century. But no one has ever found it. I suppose it's just rumours and it doesn't exist anymore, sighed Griselda, shrugging her shoulders.

– Yes, intervened Noah for the first time. The Crown had a will of its own, it would never have left Sirine in that state! I'm sure it's still waiting for its sovereign, somewhere where no one else can reach her.

– Maybe, but you can't know if that's really true. Anyway, that's not the main thing for the moment, concluded Griselda.

She glanced at Clave, who was twisting her wrists anxiously. The young woman with the red eyes grabbed her hands.

– Hey, it's all right, she murmured. What are you scared of?

– I'm not scared, replied the young girl, it's just that... I wasn't expecting it.

– I understand perfectly, said Griselda, unfortunately, you're not out of the woods yet...

Clave lowered her head in disappointment.

– You have more questions, don't you? guessed Duke Arthur's sister.

The young girl nodded.

– What was my connection with the royal family? I must have had one, for them to have wanted to protect me...

Griselda hesitated slightly.

– First, I need to explain something to you about magic and magical energy. You see, the storm you unleashed the other day was magic, but I imagine you've already realised that. You see, members of the same family have the same magical energy, or at least very similar energy. For example, Noah, Arthur and I and Noah's brother Marcus have a silver energy. Yours, Clave, is golden, a hue that hasn't existed since the War of the Crown of Radiance, explained Griselda in one breath.

– Wait, murmured Clave.

– I see you understand,' smiled the young woman. Yes, you're the last member of the royal family, the princess and sister of the last Queen of Sirine. Your real name is Mystic. And that's why Arthur is paying so much attention to you. He's been looking for you all this time, and he'll do anything to ensure that the royal magic doesn't escape him.