The Princess and the Writer

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Lupa stared at Khin, not believing him one bit. What did Khin mean when he said that he had been in the princess' side the whole time? If so, shouldn't he have done something constructive before?

Khin sighed. Of course Lupa wouldn't believe him.

"Every minute we waste here will only draw us closer to my deadline," he said. "If I am not back by end week, Nadira will do something rash."

"Then you had better start making sense," Lupa responded firmly.

"Look, I was only with Narida and Teral because I felt like I owed them for being there for me when I was a child." The Baya man shook his head. "But once they killed the princess, I couldn't take it anymore."

"Sure, that is why you obeyed Nadira and went looking for the writer," Lupa countered.

"I am not sorry for that," Khin said. "The writer is not good. She trods down on the good people, and glorifies the bad."

Lupa lowered his gaze briefly, grateful that Anne was not here to hear this.

"When I heard that the princess was back, I became hopeful that maybe Redeem could be restored to normal. That's the only reason I am here."

"The only reason?" Lupa asked.

Khin just remained silent and looked at him.

'Liar,' Lupa thought to himself and chuckled.

Back in Seph's house, Chelle arched her brow at Anne, who had just finished narrating to her the experience she had at the gulley.

"What is happening to me, Chelle?" Anne asked. "Why am I no longer powerful?"

Chelle was silent for a moment, which drove Anne crazy.

"And who said that you are supposed to be all powerful?" She finally asked.

Anne responded by giving Chelle a look so chilling that the advisor almost found herself apologizing.

"The Great Book-"

"I don't care about the Great Book!" Anne cut in.

"It says," Chelle went on without fail, "the proud are humbled while the humble are lifted up."

"So you are calling me proud then?" Anne demanded. "You are saying this is my fault?"

"I am saying what Nena always taught us from the Book," Chelle said. "We are not our own. We all derive our strength, wisdom and courage from our creator."

"From me?" Anne exclaimed in alarm. What strength and courage could they acquire from her, a weakling?

Chelle shook her head. "You may have written this story, but you are no creator. The creator is bigger than you, bigger than me, bigger than all of us. If you want to win this war, look to Him, not to yourself. He far outweighs your weaknesses. Only He can help you with Nadira."

"But this is just a story I wrote. I made it all up in my mind!" Anne argued. "I am the writer. I am supposed to be powerful. I am supposed to be better than Sandra for once in my life!"

Chelle looked at her with pity in her eyes.

"People walk all over you  where you come from?" She gently asked.

Anne nodded, her gaze lowered.

"You think yourself weak and cowardly?"

Anne nodded again. "That is why I wrote the story. I wanted to create a world where I would be the brave one for once - a world where I wouldn't be bullied by anybody."