Dragon Blossom

Aparición

It was wonderful to see her again.

The large courtyard of Meyrin Castle was filled with happy people, sharing bread, meat, and wine as in the best days of a life lived years ago.

At the center of it all was that little girl who was so tender it was hard not to love her, especially for her, who couldn't clearly see anyone else's faces, although she could distinguish that girl as clearly as when she was alive.

She stayed close to her, as she always did when she could, when she visited the castle. They couldn't hear each other, but sometimes, just being close was enough to feel even a fleeting comfort.

The people around, mere shadows to her, began to move, they were applauding, bringing the little girl a cake. She could imagine its taste, surely similar to those she had tasted in life from the same castle kitchens. Now that it was back in her family's hands. It had a hundred candles, all unlit, of course, the little girl breathed fire, this made more sense.

From the small, rosy lips of the little princess came a fire of beautiful lilac color in all directions. No one seemed to fear the flames, and even some people were touched by them without anyone seeming to notice. She herself, standing right in front of the cake, was bathed in fire, of course, it didn't matter, being as she was, insubstantial.

Suddenly, the sounds of the world cleared, the shadows turned into people, the murmurs into voices, color returned to the world as if a thick fog had lifted. People began to stir, to rise from their seats, and to shout. Pointing in her direction."Mommy!" the little girl shouted with a smile from ear to ear. "I told you! I found her!!"

Nothing in the world could have prepared Freydelhart for what happened that day. Eri was celebrating her seventh birthday, her second time with them, when her purple flame revealed none other than the spirit of Erina. There was no doubt, it was her; anyone who had spent more than a day at Meyrin Castle could never forget her face, especially if they knew Eri.

She was wearing full armor, her hair in a long pink braid, and she looked around as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Queen Eyren was the first to react, running towards the apparition, who opened her arms, but they were unable to touch, passing through each other like a column of smoke. King Bestolf approached slowly, his eyes filled with tears that neither his strength nor his demeanor could hold back. The apparition looked at them tenderly and said something, but the sound was barely a murmur, impossible to understand.

"She says she loves you, that she is always watching over you," Eri said, her eyes glowing violet, using the power of the princes. "I think I can make everyone hear her."

Eri exhaled as if in a scream, and her violet fire spread once more. When it faded, Freydelhart could see the same purple glow in the eyes of everyone present.

He himself now saw the apparition more clearly, and a very faint blue light was perceived all around.

A figure made its way through the crowd, his face almost a death mask, seemingly trying to emerge from a state of shock. Bestenar muttered his sister's name like someone begging for water in the desert, and in the same way, he walked as if his strength had been consumed by thirst.

"Erina? Is it really you?"

"Little Bestie," she replied, her voice like an echo in the depths, "yes, it's me. Look at you, how you've changed, you're a grown man now. Where have you been?"

"Forgive me," he said, falling to his knees before her, his forehead against the ground. "I let you die, I shouldn't have left, I could have..."

"Well, it seems you haven't changed that much, little brother," she replied, crossing her arms and looking away. "Everything has to be about you. Get up, idiot, you were eleven years old and barely had any meat on your bones. I thank the goddess you weren't here that day."