International Legends

Chapter 15 - Ozara

The world is full of magic all around us. Ever since arriving in the World of Emgralore, I have been in awe of the different kinds of magic. Earth, air, fire, water, light, and dark magic abound all around us. It's truly a sight to behold. It's enough to distract me from all the conflicting emotions in my head that range from "Axel knows how I feel," to "We are all on Death's ship careening our way to the Afterlife."

"This place is great," says Axel as an Earth fairy is whizzing by his talons. "I think I should stay here."

His words are automatically cut off by the feel of the giant that is stomping by, disrupting everything from the trees to the nature surrounding us. Half tempted to hide beneath the trees from the giants and half terrified of what we would also find above, we find ourselves befuddled by the tiny little faeries that are hobbling around our toes marching to battle.

"Charge on boys," says the Captain of the Guard. "We cannot let the Frog King win! We shall not see the assortment of flower petals for our spring harvest if we do not face our foe! Charge on!"

"Charge on!!!" cry the faerie soldiers as they slash through our legs, leaving a ton of tiny cuts that feel like bee stings.

"Damn," exclaims David. "That really hurt, why are we here?"

"Dad!" exclaims Lux, rolling her eyes. "Cause you have to save your friend from being a tree, and the future timeline from being taken over by an evil toddler witch."

Jodie looks off into the horizon, recognizing the courthouse that Lady Jodinia had been in so many years ago, marveling at the sounds of the nobles that were congregating within.

"This is where it all happened," said Cronus. "Honestly, it was worse than when we kicked Ouranos off his throne and I had to take over. Well, maybe not as bad as when Zeus rebelled."

"You ate your own kids," I exclaim, wanting to smack the time god back to his place in Deorum.

"I was hungry!" he responds shrugging.

Axel smiles at me, offering his talon, causing my heart to shudder. I had just figured out that he had heard my love confession secondhand from his brother, who had trapped him in the closest against his accord. Supposedly, Sol thought that he could trade places with Jasper to steal the Time God, and do what exactly? Stop Claire from becoming the Space Queen? I mean, book? None of it made sense.

Honestly, it seemed like a lot of power hungry individuals chasing after power they were not ready to possess.

As for Axel, he didn't say whether or not he returned my feelings. He didn't have to. He just stayed close to me, held my hand the entire time, and put his body in between mine and any possible danger. Honestly, it was quite endearing. Which is why Leo looked at me all fatherly before we eased in on the conversation at the courthouse.

"Don't break his heart," says Leo, giving me a once-over.

"I would never!" I exclaim. Then I whispered, "I had a crush on Axel since I was a kid. How could I possibly?"

"You don't know your own strength," says Leo. "I have know girls like you. You have to keep your eye out on them and one day, they change."

"I won't change!" I insisted.

"We'll see."

The courtyard is busy full of voices protesting the transition to spirits. Lady Jodinia is trying her best to calm them all down, but they are insistent in their fervor. One lady talks about her expansive lands and the economical benefits her farms provide. The other, one of Prince Damien's soldiers, says that he would much rather fight in person than go ahead and fight as spirits saying "It just doesn't feel like what the Guardians would want."