Word Count: 3132 words

Thanks for 100 reads xx

31 June 2021

I tried to shorten chapter 4 as much as possible, and it's very likely that I'll split it into two chapters to make it easier to read. MY BRAIN HURTS MY WRITING WAS SO HARD TO DECIPHER.
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My brain hurt. Processing that entire thing is going to take a lot longer than the duration of a walk, and by the time we reached my room, I was desperate for the opportunity to be left alone again.

Speaking of my room... It's the size of an apartment. Complete with a small spiral staircase leading to a second landing. The room was decorated in royal red. The thin drapes covering the canopy bed swayed a little from the breeze carried from the window. Everything you could ever imagine in a room made for a princess. There was even a private library.

"What do you think? Do you like it?"

I turned to face my mom standing at the doorway, a hopeful look on her face.

"I love it." I said truthfully. She walked over and smiled gleefully.

She stroked my hair and tucked a stray strand behind my ear. Then she planted a soft kiss on top of my head.

"You're finally here," she whispered as she pulled me into a tight hug. My heart warmed and I hugged her back.

We pulled away and I smiled brightly. She flicked my nose, "Now go change. I'll send someone soon."

I nodded and she walked out of the room. I sighed. Everything about this place is different. The flora, the fauna, the buildings... All things you would find in fairy tales. My head was hurting, and I walked over to my bag to unpack. I took my phone out of my back pocket and frowned at it. I doubt this thing is going to be of any use here.

I climbed up the stairs to find a walk in closet the size of America and a bathroom with a luxury bathtub.This walk-in closet is practically every girl's dream. I bit down on my lip to keep myself from giggling like a girl. I decided to check out the bathroom, hoping to find fancy lotion. I didn't find any lotion, but I did find some glowing spheres.

Oh well, I need a relaxing bath. I stripped and stepped into the tub. The gold pipe and two valves are what I assume to be the tap. I reached for the valve and turned it to the right. Nothing came out.

"Oh, come on!"

I started waving my hand around and the water rushed out. And I mean it rushed out.

"Oh fu- Ugh." I desperately tried to stop the water. "Stupid magic valve. Stupid magic water. Stupid- ARGH."

I clenched my fists and the water stopped. I titled my head and raised my eyebrows. "Huh."

The water smelled wonderful. And I soon found out that all you needed to do to turn the water on was to just wave your hand right in front of it. Fancy.

My head felt heavy, and my eyelids started to droop. No, I can't fall asleep now. There's so many things I need to ask mum. I rose from the water, fat droplets gliding off my skin to join the soapy water in the tub. I grabbed a towel and wrapped myself in it, trudging towards the closet. There were dozens and dozens of clothes hung up on the wall, pairs of shoes lining up three whole racks, jewelry cases and drawers filled to the brim with necklaces, bracelets and earrings, and dainty little watches. There's even a couch.

I spotted a little note on the couch and I went over to read it.

It read:

Dear Avery,

You will be joining me for dinner along with your grandmother. It's possible that a guest will join us too, so please use the dress that has been laid down on the couch. Dinner is at 7.

Love,

Your mother

The dress laid on the couch was... stunning. Better than any dress back on Earth. The silky blue material hugged to whatever curves I had to offer, and the flattering neckline made me look a lot less plain. A brooch was laid beside it, a beautiful accessory in the shape of a flower in a sphere. A crest, some sort of logo.

Soon, I was already zipping up the dress and hunting down heels to match. I slipped on a pair of silver ones and soon found myself sitting at a dresser in one corner of the closet. On the dresser, complete make-up kits were organized on the sides. Sure, the powder (I think it's powder) looked a bit weird, but it would have to do. Slowly standing up from the chair, I walked over to the mirror. What I saw staring back at me, was anybody else but me.

My hair is long. It wasn't long two hours ago. My lips pressed themselves into a tight line. I hurried down the stairs and stalked to the bed. My phone laid on the bed, and I checked the service. Nothing. Hm. Not a surprise.

Knock, knock.

My head snapped to the direction of the door and I called out, "Hello. Um, hi." I shook my head and sighed. "Yes, what is it?"

"I have a message from your mother, milady."

"Ah, wait a second."

I started towards the door and opened it, "Yes?"

The man before me gave a low bow and stood back up, "Your presence is requested in the banquet hall. If you will, please follow me."

He turned on his heels and headed towards the end of the hallway. I quickly followed him, remembering what my mom said about getting lost. It's better to follow a complete stranger than to wander around this gigantic place alone.

"May I know your name?"

"Kalo, milady."

"Well, my name's Avery."

"Yes, I know."

"Uh... Right."

An awkward silence fell, and I found myself looking at the various paintings and artifacts lined along the walls. At one point we passed a painting of a beautiful, young woman, riding on a white horse and  holding up a flaming sword. Her eyes were what piqued my interest. Steely grayish green, fierce and burning with passion. She looked a lot like my mother.

Next thing I know, I was on my butt and rubbing it. I bumped into somebody's chest, apparently. I have the tendency to bump into rock-hard abs these days.

"Watch where you're going, I beg of you."

That voice. Don't tell me...

"By the name of Azurelle, women never seem to pay attention!"

I looked up to see the same cold blue eyes that I gazed into back in the apartment lobby. My cheeks were flaming and I quickly stood up. Yup, same guy alright. Didn't even offer a hand up.

"Maybe it's not women who don't pay attention, it might just be you who thinks everyone will clear a path for you," I scowled.

"You're that girl." He stared in shock, lips pressed into a thin line.

I ignored him. "Aren't you going to apologise?"

"You bumped into me. I just walked." He replied nonchalantly. "Wait, how are you here?"

"Milady!" I heard Kalo calling out as he came back round the corner, and from the corner of my eyes I could see that Hot Mystery Man was raising an eyebrow.

"Lady Avery, are you alright? My apologies, I didn't notice you weren't with me," I nodded and Kalo's eyes wandered to the jerk beside me, "Lord Zevlin, welcome to the Alvere Palace. Are you heading to the banquet hall?"

"Lady Avery?"

"Lord?"

We said simultaneously.

Lord Zevlin's eyebrows raised to his hairline. So this guy's a lord. Explains his haughty attitude.

"You're a lady of Avillion?"

"Uh, yeah." I cleared my throat and straightened my back. "Why? Do you have a problem with that?" I said, cocking my hip to the side and crossed my arms.

Lord Zevlin narrowed his eyes, and stared me up and down. His eyes stopped at my finger. The finger with the ring Xylon gave to me. I almost automatically hid it behind my back. He looked up from beneath his lashes and bowed deeply.

"Forgive my impudence, Lady Avery. I wasn't aware."

Scoffing, I rolled my eyes, "You're not aware that you're a jerk?"

He visibly gritted his teeth, "To my knowledge, I am not one but if milady thinks so then I apologise. Sincerely."

"Your apology wasn't very convincing." I turned back around to follow behind Kalo once more. I heard Zevlin's footsteps behind me, heavy and resonating through the walls.

"Lady Avery. Is that your name?"

I wasn't used to the name, and much less accustomed to the title put before it.

"Yes. And you are Lord Zevlin?"

"Yes, milady."

"Why are you calling me that?"

"Calling you what?"

"Milady. I mean, aren't you a lord?"

"You rank higher than me in terms of nobility. I understand you might not have full comprehension of Valiron. I heard you've been on Earth all this time. I just never knew that you would be so... delightfully human."

I stopped in my tracks then said, "Hey, can I call you Zev?"

Zevlin's body stiffened and his face hardened, "No."

"Why not?"

"We've only just met."

"Well, since you've made the bold assumption that I am simply a delightful human with that demeaning tone of yours, I think that would suggest that we are closer than just acquaintances. As far as I know, people who've just met wouldn't make comments like that about each other. Am I wrong?"

I gave him a sharp look and a tight smile. His eyes grew colder. I didn't think it to be possible.

"Forgive my bluntness, but milady you are impossible, you know that?" He was irritated, I could practically hear the annoyance in his tone.

"How wonderful of you to say."

"Despite your status as the heir to the throne, your attitude is such a... refreshing," he paused, "disposition to have compared to the other ladies of Valiron."

"Zevlin has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?"

"No. I'm the heir of Azurelle. People don't get to tell me I'm annoying," he glowers over me as he said it.

"Well, it's about time. That cockiness of yours isn't going to get you anywhere."

Kalo choked in what I assumed was an attempt to hold back a laugh and turned to us, gesturing to the grand doors in front of us.

"We are here, my lord and lady."

Is everything in this palace fancy? I guess so. For what felt like the millionth time that day, my jaw fell open.

"Close your mouth before a ly gets in."

I scrunched up my eyebrows in confusion, "You mean flies?" Zev just stood there, staring at me blankly. I imitated wings with my hands and flapped around, "The ones that go buzz, buzz and flies around? Black and..."

By now, Kalo's face was red from holding back his laughter.

"That is called a ly in Valiron. A fly only exists on Earth."

I awkwardly scratched the back of my head and mumbled, "Okay..."

The servant—I feel horrible saying that, I'm calling him Kalo. Kalo opened the doors to reveal a hall in all its magnificence. A dining table made of finely carved stone and marble stood in the middle of the hall, chairs lined with sashes of royal red. Statues of warriors, godly beings and what I can only assume to be historical figures stood in arcs built into the walls. This place is straight out of a storybook.

"Avery! Finally, what took you so long?" My mother's serene and loving voice echoed.

There she was in the same white gown. 

"Hi mum." We embraced each other in greeting before she pulled away to glance over my shoulder at Zevlin.

"Ah, Lord Zevlin. What a pleasure! How have you been? Tell me about your parents? I haven't seen them in a while."

Zevlin walked over and gracefully took my mother's hand and kissed it. He stood back up in a perfect posture and smiled the perfect smile. Too perfect.

"The pleasure is all mine, Madame Sesille. My parents are faring well. Azurelle has been receiving many blessings from Azure."

"Well, that's good. I see that you've met my daughter, Avery?"

"Yes. Quite a charming young woman."

I snorted. "Oh, please!" I muttered under my breath

"Avery." My mother said warningly.

I rolled my eyes but kept quiet.

My mother gave him a warm smile, "Zevlin, dear, would you mind if you head out for a moment? Me and Avery have some private matters to take care of. You shall join us for dinner in a few minutes. I don't mean to be rude."

Zevlin bowed once more, "Not at all. I'll be back shortly."

He then walked out the door in the straightest posture I have ever seen. I jerked my thumb towards him and asked, "So what lord is he?"

"I believe that when Xylon came to pick you up, he mentioned something about the 6 countries that Valiron is consisted of."

"Yeah."

"Lord Zevlin there is the heir to the throne of Azurelle, the country of water and ice. Guardian of the god Azure's dominion."

"And whose dominion is Avillion's?"

She made her way to one of the chairs and sat down, "Well, Avillion isn't really any one god's dominion. We have people from all species and all countries living together, both Xaron and Largov. Occasionally, we get hybrids."

"Xylon talked of those. Power classifications, right?"

She nodded. "For example, I am a Largov, my powers were given by the god Helveti, and I am a caller of spirits."

"What can I do?" I mumbled, looking down at my pale hands.

"That you'll have to see when you are undergoing training at the academy." My head snapped up and I pulled a chair to sit on.

"I've been meaning to ask you that. You mentioned the school before."

"Adaline's Academy for the Exceptional. Your grandmother rebuilt it. It's a preppy sort of academy, very prestigious. Kids get sent there to train to become knights, seers, royal blacksmiths. I went there, so did all the nobles. You get the idea."

"Oh." I say simply. I get the idea. Sort of.

My dress pooled on my ankles when I sat down next to my mother, facing her. She put her hand on mine and smiled, "Time to call Grandmother Addie."

She stood up in her seat and held out her hand. Closing her eyes, she began chanting, "Sier Vu Elane Sithe, Compromos Vu Kalei Helveti. Sier Vu Elane Sithe, Compromos  Vu Kalei Helveti."

Her lips were pursed in concentration as she chanted the same words over and over again, while I just sat there with my mouth agape. Her voice split into two, and her eyes turned white. "Sel Velositei Adaline Lei-Larkos Val Helions!"

A burst of light temporarily blinded me, and when I regained my sight, what I saw before me made my jaw drop to the floor for the umpteenth time that day.

A ghostly, blue figure floated not far in front of me. The lady was wearing an elegant white gown, and looked very much like mum and I. We all had the same twinkling green eyes. And when I saw those eyes I knew who she was, there was no doubt about it. I realized that the portrait I saw in the hallway was indeed her, too.

I couldn't help but laugh in wonder. "So this is what you meant when you said we were having dinner with grandma."

"Hey, sugar!"

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I am so, so, so sorry that this came out late! Very, very late. But I'm going to update about three times a week now before the 14th of June. That will be when I'm going to go to London for the holidays, when I'll update only once a week, because I'll probably be too busy gawking and traveling all around the city(especially when visiting WB Studios and looking at all that Harry Potter things! SQUEAL!)

Nat

31 June 2021 edit

Damn it. I miss London T^T. FREAKING COVID IS MUTATING EVERY 5 MINUTES GIRL PLEASE.