Michrinor: The Fates of The Heirs

Chapter 15 - The Beginning

After the meal, the King invited Ava to join him in the garden. The setting sun cast a warm, golden light over the lush greenery, making the flowers seem to glow with life. As they strolled through the serene paths, Ava's thoughts churned with questions that had been growing ever since her arrival.

"Your Majesty," Ava began cautiously, her voice laced with the confusion she could no longer suppress, "I don't understand why someone would want to hurt so many wonderful beings. What happened to the queen to make her like this?"

The King paused and looked down at her with a gentle smile. "Ava, there is no need for such formality between us," he said. "You are my daughter. You may call me Father—or, as you might prefer in your own tongue, 'Dad.'"

Ava blinked in surprise, the simplicity of his request catching her off guard. "Dad," she repeated, testing the word in this strange new context. It felt both comforting and strange to say, but it brought a warmth to her heart that she hadn't expected.

The King's smile widened, and he continued, "Queen Segulah was not always as she is now. In her youth, she was a kind and innocent child. But the world was cruel to her. In her pain, she sought solace in revenge, and that revenge twisted her heart into something dark. Now, she knows only how to inflict pain, as she herself was hurt."

Ava's heart ached at the thought of such a transformation. "But isn't there some way to help her?" she asked, hoping there might be a way to undo the queen's suffering.

The King looked at her with a sad smile. "The answers you seek may lie in Kamwler, her hometown on the southern banks of Lake Mor. If you wish to understand more, you may need to travel there yourself."

They continued walking until they reached a secluded corner of the garden, where a magnificent fruit tree spread its branches like a sheltering canopy. The King motioned for Ava to sit beside him on a stone bench beneath the tree. As they sat, he gazed at her with an expression of deep affection and quiet pride.

"Ava, my daughter," he began, his voice soft but filled with emotion, "I understand that you seek a way home. I will help you find your path, but there is a journey you must undertake first. Are you prepared to embark on this journey, to seek the answers you desire, and perhaps discover the way home as well?"

Ava felt a swirl of emotions—fear, uncertainty, but also a strange sense of determination. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice trembling lightly. "This all feels impossible. I'm confused, and honestly, I'm scared."

The King nodded, his gaze tender as he placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It is natural to feel this way, my dear," he said soothingly. "But know this—you are not alone. You are my daughter, and I sent you to your earthly home long ago for reasons you will come to understand in time. Though we were apart, you were never far from my thoughts, and my love for you has never wavered."

Ava leaned into his embrace, finding comfort in his presence. The warmth of his voice and the gentle rustling of the leaves around them seemed to calm her racing thoughts. "But how can I be your daughter? I have a family in Texas—my mom, my dad, and my brother. How can I be both their daughter and yours?"

The King smiled, though his eyes held a hint of sadness. "You are different from your earthly family, Ava. As a Naam, you are not bound by the same rules of time and life as humans. Your earthly family loves you dearly, and they believe you are theirs because I made it so. But your true origins lie here, in this realm."

"A Naam?" Ava repeated, unfamiliar with the term.

"Yes," the King replied, his voice softening as he explained. "A Naam is the child of one Naitseer and one Indriyam. Your mother was a being of great beauty and kindness, much like yourself. She cherished all life and found joy even in the smallest moments. You have her eyes."