ARAGU

Long Time No See

The King was surprised to see a familiar face for how many years had passed. "What? Surprise to see me here?" The Master of Fire remarked.

"What is she doing here? Isn't she a traitor of Fylux?" A female council asked, Xaeron just scoffed. "Excuse me old lady, I think your King needed my help." Xaeron said and crossed her arms. The Princess haven't move a bit and just stared at the ruckus in front of her.

"What nonsense!" Another male council said. Xaeron smirked and the King was confused. "Xaeron if you could just leave in peace, my servants will tend to your needs just leave the room for a while. You can stay in the castle, we'll talk later." Said the King.

Xaeron was just looking at them with a stoic expression. "Shadow Knights are planning to attack soon, now if you excused me the Master of Fire will return to her shrine. Enjoy watching your kingdom fall."

The throne room was silent. "I'll go ahead Princess. I think your efforts are not appreciated by your King and your caring council." With that, Xaeron left the throne room.

"Wait! Xaeron come back here!" The Princess yelled after the Master of Fire. "Princess Frea, what does she mean?" The King asked his daughter.

"Xaeron is the Master of Fire, Father." Princess Frea ducked her head. "What?! That arrogant brat is the Master of Fire?!" The male council laughed mockingly.

"I was surprised too when I first met her. But I'm telling the truth that she can help us." Princess Frea answered. "Maybe she just stole the identity, to take revenge on what happened years ago!" The old lady said.

The other councils were throwing Xaeron rude words, of how did Xaeron became the Master of Fire. "Enough! Quiet all of you! Let's meet again this evening and I'll handle Xaeron myself." The King's voice boomed with authority in the whole room.

The King stood up from his throne and walked to where the Princess was standing. "Come, let us meet Xaeron or she'll leave Fylux again." Princess Frea only nods.

On the other side, Xaeron was walking out of the castle. Aera was waiting for her outside. "Good thing your already here." Aera gave her Master a puzzled look.

"Don't ask. I really hate those council bastards!" Xaeron arranged her saddle irritably and mounted her horse. "Let's go! We'll face them again when those bastards aren't present here."

Aera followed her Master in silent and just walked with her horse beside her. "Open the gates!" Xaeron yelled and the guards followed her command.

"Don't! Stop what you are doing." The guards turned their heads to the Princess, making Aera smiled and Xaeron stopped on her tracks.

"Don't you dare let her pass! Xaeron, get back here!" Princess Frea yelled, "Open the gates or I'll shall force myself out of here." Xaeron sounded so upset, "We are very sorry for we can't disobey the Princess." Said the guard who's been standing near the gates.

Princess Frea ran to them, "Master, I think it's best to hear what the Princess' is about to say." Aera suggests but Xaeron kept her ears closed.

"I said, move." The guards were surprised and scared at the same time, Xaeron just made her hand lit with her fire.

The guards stiffened on their spot. Princess Frea just made it in time, "Xaeron calm down. I'm very sorry for the actions of our council. If you could just be calm and be kind let's go back inside and talk."

Xaeron looked at the Princess with cold eyes, which made Princess Frea felt scared. "Please?" She pleaded, Xaeron didn't answer but just kicked her horse gently and went back to the castle's entrance.

Princess Frea sighed in relief, "What happened back there?" Aera asked, "It was chaos. I'm glad I still persuade her even after she confront the council." the Princess replied still looking at Xaeron's back.

"You could be persuasive in a way that Master likes, when you can't noticed it yourself." Aera teased and made the Princess turned to the young elemental. "What?"

"I said it and I can't say it again." Aera said and walked past the Princess. "Your like your Master!" Princess Frea said.

"Of course, I'm her apprentice remember Mum?" The Princess blushed of the name Aera called her. It made her think that Xaeron is her other half.

Snapped out of it! Princess Frea was back into her senses and just followed the two elemental.

-

"I apologize for the councils' behalf, they were just surprised, we all are." The King said to Xaeron. They were at the living room of the castle, together with the Princess and Aera.

"You should be." Xaeron answered nonchalantly. "Forgive her Your Majesty." Aera apologize on her Master's behalf.

"No, she had the right to be mad. Let her be." Xaeron scoffed, "So let me get this straight, you need my help right? Are your soldiers ready?"

"Master, please have respect. He's still a King." Aera begged her Master, "He's not my King, no one tells me what to do." Xaeron snapped and just looked at the King with cold eyes.

The King cleared his throat, Princess Frea was just silent. She can't say a word because she was being patient with the Master of Fire.

"Fylux needs you now Xaeron. If it's not the Shadow King were up against, I wouldn't call you here. Although I really don't know how you become the Master of Fire." Xaeron ignored the last part, "Are your soldiers ready for war?"

The King nodded, "But they need you as their leader."

Xaeron just smirked, "Prepare them for battle, we'll surprise those shadow bastards. It's been a long time since I fought in a war."

Princess Frea was confused about the little information of Xaeron. She was curious about Xaeron, fighting in a war.

"Ah, the one that the other lands were talking about. The war between Shadow Knights and the Master of Fire." King Drale said, in a calm way. He wasn't surprised about it, but was amazed in Xaeron.

"That's the one." Xaeron said proudly, rubbing her nails on her cloak.

"Wait, are you the only one who fought that war?" Princess Frea asked, "Yeah, I was training Aera. I saw a scout and let Aera defeat him, then it turned out to be a whole cavalry. I had no choice but to kill them all."

Princess Frea was surprised, "How old are you back then Aera?" she asked the young elemental. "When I was seven." Aera replied nonchalantly.

"What?! You could've gotten her killed Xaeron!" the Princess stood up in anger, "I didn't. We're here now aren't we?" Xaeron just rolled her eyes.

"Let's talk about that another time, for now let's focus on defeating the Shadow Knights." King Drale said, the Princess relaxed and just let it go for now.

"Just prepare your men and I'll talk to them this evening." Xaeron stood up and was ready to leave the room. "I hope you can persuade your council about me, staying here and leading you for war."

"Come Aera, let's rest for now." Aera followed her Master and bowed to the royals. "Let's meet again this evening." King Drale said and Xaeron just waved her hand, leaving the room without a word.