57 Virelda Meadow Secrets

Their journey to Virelda Meadow went smoothly, and they soon entered the cave near the hill, following Aelion's directions. The cave was extraordinary, filled with glowing crystal stones. Aelion led the group deeper into a vast underground chamber—a hidden world beneath Virelda Meadow.

There, they encountered more than just ordinary vegetation. A mysterious underground city welcomed them, its magnificent stone structures embedded in the cave walls, appearing as though they had stood for centuries.

“There’s a settlement here?” Princess Kaeyls asked in disbelief.

“Haven’t I told you? The locals use this place to shelter from the extreme winds and heat. My parents often came here, bringing goods from Aeonspire to trade,” Aelion explained.

“But this doesn’t feel like we’re inside a cave—the air is fresh!” Kaeyls remarked again.

“Yes, that’s the unique thing about this place!”

The air inside the cave at Virelda Meadow was indeed warm and refreshing, carrying a sweet fragrance that was hard to describe—like the scent of rare flowers found only in a world separated from the outside.

“Look at that! I've never seen anything like it before!” Kaeyls pointed to a row of transparent-leaved trees growing around them. Their trunks emitted a soft glow, pulsating as if they were breathing like invisible living beings.

“I’m more amazed by this! What is it exactly?” Eldorin asked, staring at the ground beneath his feet.

Rose and Liuz also looked down and were equally surprised by the glowing pathway they were walking on.

With each step they took, the moss-covered ground shimmered softly, twinkling and shifting beneath their feet.

“What kind of moss is this?”

“We call it Glimmer Moss, a rare species that only grows here. This moss can absorb and store energy from the surrounding crystal lights,” Aelion explained. “That’s why it glows and moves like that.”

“I think I need to bring some rare specimens back home for my garden,” Kaeyls mused.

“Yes, you definitely should!” Aelion replied with a smile.

After walking along the glowing path for some time, they finally arrived at a large house situated in an open area surrounded by a garden full of rare plants and vibrant flowers.

“This is my family’s house. We can stay here during our search,” Aelion invited them inside.

“Your family’s house? Oh my—!”

Kaeyls’ eyes sparkled as she took in the sight of the exotic plants cultivated there. The garden looked even more breathtaking than the royal gardens at her palace.

“Amazing… This is incredible!” Kaeyls exclaimed.

Her loud voice immediately alerted the house’s owner. Moments later, someone stepped outside, observing the unexpected guests with wide eyes.

“My goodness, is this real? Aelion, you actually came back?” his father said, his face filled with surprise.

“Aelion! You’re finally home! And… oh, who is this lovely young lady?”

His mother rushed over with bright, eager eyes. Before Aelion could say anything, she had already grabbed Princess Kaeyls’ hands, gazing at her with hope.

“Mom…” Aelion began, looking uneasy, but it was too late.

“I can’t believe it! So this is why you’ve been gone so long? You’ve been busy finding yourself a wife?” his mother exclaimed excitedly, making Aelion immediately cover his face with his hands.

Princess Kaeyls, who was usually confident, was suddenly at a loss for words. Her face turned red, and her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to protest, but she didn’t know what to say.

“Mom, it’s not like that—”

“Oh my dear, why didn’t you tell us sooner? If I had known you were bringing home a future daughter-in-law, I would have prepared a grand welcome feast! Husband, hurry and prepare something—our son has finally brought home his bride!”

Aelion’s father, usually the more composed one, simply smiled knowingly and nodded in agreement. “Hmm, I always knew our son had good taste. This young lady truly radiates nobility.”

Kaeyls cleared her throat softly, trying to regain her usual poised demeanor, but the blush on her cheeks remained.

“Actually, I…”

“Ah, I understand! You’re still in the early stages of courtship, aren’t you?” Aelion’s mother cut in before she could finish.

“That’s alright, that’s alright! Everything can be taken step by step. The important thing is, Aelion, you must propose before someone else takes her away!”

Aelion finally couldn't take it anymore and lowered his head, pressing his temples as if he had a headache. “Mother, please listen to me for a moment…”

His mother still wasn't finished. “I can even imagine what my grandchildren will look like! They will surely be so handsome and beautiful—”

“Mother! She is Princess Kaeyls of Aeonspire!” Aelion finally shouted, his voice sounding slightly desperate.

The room fell into silence.

His mother stared at Kaeyls, her mouth slightly open, while his father blinked several times, as if trying to confirm what he had just heard.

“Eh?” His mother quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her face turning pale.

Kaeyls, who was already burning with embarrassment, let out a long sigh before giving a small smile. “Yes, I am Princess Kaeyls of Aeonspire.”

“So… you’re really a princess?” Aelion’s mother whispered in a horrified tone.

Aelion nodded helplessly. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you, Mother…”

Once again, silence enveloped the place before his mother let out an awkward laugh.

“Ahaha… Forgive me, Your Highness… I truly had no idea…”

Aelion’s father sighed and then took the initiative. “Please, come in!”

Princess Kaeyls smiled and stepped inside, followed by the others. But at the back, Liuz whispered to Rose, “Did you see that? I think they’re meant for each other!”

“That will be difficult. Noble families usually don’t marry commoners. I think Aelion will struggle if he ends up liking her,” Rose replied.

“Really? I think you’ve spent too much time on Earth!” Liuz remarked.

“Are there no such things on other planets?”

“There might be, or there might not! But on my planet, there’s no such thing,” Liuz replied.

“What are you two talking about? Come on, let’s go inside!” Aelfric called out, seeing that Rose and Liuz were still standing outside the house.

Inside, Princess Kaeyls explained their reason for coming to Virelda Meadow—they were searching for Prince Sylfaris, who most likely had come here after stealing the Luminex Core crystal.

“You can stay here during the search. I will prepare food for you while you're here!” Mr. Vaelis said.

“Thank you, you are very helpful!” Kaeyls replied politely.

“Tomorrow morning, you can start your search. It’s getting late, and I think the air will get colder here. I will prepare rooms for all of you!” Mrs. Liriel suggested.

They all agreed to stay there for the night and discuss the plan for the next day. That evening, in the family’s living room, they discussed many things.

Liuz, who had been trying to detect the presence of the Luminex Core, finally sighed.

“I can't,” he said. “My energy tracker is up in the sky, and we are deep inside the ground. The interference in the energy field here prevents me from getting an exact coordinate.”

“That means we’ll have to search manually,” Rose said.

“Yeah, that's how it is.”

Kaeyls leaned back in her chair. “It’s not an easy task, but we don’t have another choice.”

Mr. Vaelis, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. “If what you're looking for is a crystal that radiates great energy, I have a place you can check. But I’m not sure if it’s really the place you’re searching for.”

Kaeyls’ eyes lit up. “Where is it?”

Mr. Vaelis sighed before answering. “In the deepest part of this cave. There’s an area that is completely dark and empty, almost like a dead world. No plants, no light, and no life. If someone tries to enter there unprepared, they will most likely never come back.”

Silence filled the room. Rose and Liuz exchanged glances, while Aelion crossed his arms, looking thoughtful.

“What’s inside it?” Eldorin asked.

“No one knows for sure,” Mr. Vaelis answered.

“But if Prince Sylfaris really hid the Luminex Core there, we have no choice but to enter,” Kaeyls said firmly.

Aelion nodded. “I’ll guide you to the inner part of the cave, but after that, we need to be careful. I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

***

As dawn began to break, the golden light from the crystals on the cave ceiling slowly started to shine brighter than before. It was as if the light crystals were alive, adjusting to the natural cycle of the outside world. The Vaelis family’s house was becoming busy, with the aroma of warm food prepared by Mrs. Liriel.

“Do you need help? I can cook a little,” Rose offered.

“The food is ready, but I need help arranging it,” Mrs. Liriel asked.

“No problem!” Rose replied, quickly starting to assist.

Meanwhile, Kaeyls sat by the large window, still amazed as she watched the garden outside Aelion’s house. Soon, Aelion came with a cup of warm drink. “Do you really like plants?”

“Yes, I’ve been collecting rare plants since I was little,” Princess Kaeyls replied.

“I’ll help you gather the plant species you want from here. You can make a more complete garden once all this is over,” Aelion said.

“No! I don’t want to take them.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve changed my mind! They seem to grow so well here. This place is their home. I would feel sad if they looked wilted in the palace garden,” Kaeyls answered.

"Yes, you're right. Sometimes we have to let go of something we love if we know it’s not the best place for it."

Kaeyls looked at Aelion, then smiled.

"You must really like that girl, right? Rose!" she whispered.

"I think it's probably the same way you admire Liuz!" Aelion responded, understanding Kaeyls' feelings.

"But I've let go of her. I'll help them return to their planet!"

"Same here, I've let go of him. I actually feel happy seeing him meet his partner."

They exchanged glances and smiled, but that smile was interpreted differently by Aelion's mother, who happened to walk by while preparing the food.

"Are you two really close? I’ve never seen my son smile so sweetly!" teased Mrs. Liriel as she walked toward the kitchen.

"Mom!" Before he could protest, she had already entered the kitchen.

"Sorry about my mom, my parents always arrange my matches, so they tend to get carried away if I have a female friend," Aelion explained.

Kaeyls stood up, adjusted her clothes, and said, "Your mom isn’t exaggerating. I admit, you do look more handsome when you smile."

The compliment made Aelion speechless. Kaeyls walked to the dining table to join the others, but Aelion remained flustered with his face turning red.