The Crystal Of Light And Dark

Chapter 6 The Forbidden Love (Part 1)

The Crystal

(Vincent E. Catacutan)

Chapter 6                         The Forbidden Love (Part 1)

            Iros reveals all the things Vincent must discover about his father and himself. He starts with the forbidden love of Regis and Nifera. This is how their love neglected the Phirean laws.

One of the codes which could not be broken by Phireans was to never have an affection with humans. For them, it was a disgrace to let their blood blend with lower creations, but most of all, they prevented the occurrence of Mandith, half-Phirean blooded man. Mandiths could be as powerful as Phireans. They feared that half-bloods might not control their power which could lead to terrible danger. It was why it was sternly forbidden.

Once, Regis was been in loved with mortal beauty. His feelings bloomed when he was twelve years old. It began when he planned to descend to Earth to wander, because of too much curiosity. There were only two possible ways to descend to Earth or to ascend to Phirea. First was to use any of the two portals found in the palace of Kratos and in the palace of Hypoc, still one needed to have any of the two gems that only the two kings of the kingdoms kept, or he could not exit from the portal and comeback to Phirea. The second option was to break out or into the high walls that surround the borders of the whole land. It was very risky for they were heavily guarded, especially the main gate. Regis knew this, but he was very decided to see Earth, so he sneaked into the room of his king father and stole the gem. He went through the room where the portal was. He stepped into the exit way from the floating island and he was transported through the land of humans.

Regis finally satisfied his curiosity. He flied and roamed wherever he wanted to go, yet it was not unknown to him that the existence of the Phireans should be hidden to humans, so he was careful not to be seen by anyone. He confirmed that all that was taught about Earth in the school in Kratos was real. The trees and plants were indeed smaller than those in Phirea. He had seen species of animals he had only seen in books he always studied. He had also verified that humans were abnormal; they cannot fly or use any power, and they lived in houses which have strange construction and designs.

He got tired of discovering Earth and agreed to rest. “According to the book I red, I think that tree bears fruit which the humans call Apple,” he pertained. “It can be eaten, and the redder an apple is, the sweeter it tastes. I should try some for myself.”

He glided down to the apple tree and sat down to one of its branch. He grabbed an apple and ate it. “It’s very luscious!” he tasted. “I never tasted a fruit as good as this in Phirea!”

            He ate another one, and another one, and another one until he finished seven. “I want to eat more, but my stomach quits,” craved Regis, so he lied to the tree and relaxed his stomach as he watched the rapid current of the river near him.

“I should have found and tried the fruit they call Banana, but I guess it’s time for me to return to Phirea, or my father would notice my disappearance,” he thought. “I don’t want to be scolded and unquestionably be imprisoned.”

            When Regis was preparing to return, he suddenly heard someone crying for help. He located where the cry came from until he saw a girl carried by the current of the river. Because of kindness, he forgot the law and swiftly flew to save the human. He brought her to riverside. His eyes glimpsed her face then, and he could not stop admiring her attractiveness. For him, the world stopped for a moment. He heart was instantly captured.

She opened her eyes, and his fondness intensified. “You, you saved me. Who are you?” asked the shivering young woman.

Regis would have introduced himself, but he noticed that there were people calling for someone and coming near them. “Princess! Princess, where are you?” shouted the people.  

The girl recognized that they were her guards, so she glanced at them and responded, “I am here!” She looked back to the young man, yet she was surprised realizing his presence was not there.

On the other hand, Regis was going back to Phirea. With his right hand, he firmly held and put some of his energy to the gem he stole then he was transported back to the room where the portal was, but he was shocked to meet the outraged face of his father, accompanied by some of their guards. He already foresaw what will happen next.

“Give me back the gem!” stressed the king. One of the guards moved toward the wrong committer. Regis handed the gem politely because of too much fear.

He trembled when he uttered the only words he hoped to somehow lessen the wrath of the king of Kratos, “Father, you know I brought you this.”  He was showing the apples he picked again before he left the Earth for the genuine reason of eating them secretly in his room. “It tastes really good.” 

             “Do you actually think that you can bribe me with those apples?” asked the King.

“Perhaps?” smiled Regis expectantly.

The anger of his father upturns. “Guards!” ordered the king. “Imprison that stubborn! Make sure he won’t escape or you will all be punished!”

 The guards quickly arrested the hard-headed son. Regis dropped his apples on the floor. There was nothing he could do, but to shout, “Please, let me just have some of my apples!”

At the night of that day, while Regis was imprisoned, the king enjoyed his son’s apples behind the closed doors of his room.

The father did not let his son go out of the jail for a month. During the time Regis was locked up, he only thought about two things- mostly the beautiful girl he met on Earth and of course, his apples.