Today is one more day where my head is stuck in a book, seeking out the true identity of my real parents. I was hopeful in the beginning, but now, not so much. Whoever they were, they certainly made sure that there were no traces left of them. They didn’t want anyone to know who they were.
Even though my head is buried in a book, I can’t help but think about the other day when Kaden secretly entered my room. Well, technically, it is his chamber, but he didn’t want to give me another room. Without realizing it, I gave a big sigh.
"WWould her Highness like to get some fresh air?” Deon asked. He must be just as exhausted as I am, spending day after day cooped up in this library, helping me look for my parents.
“ I think I might take you up on that offer. let me just call for Merilla.” I say, and immediately call out for her in our mind-link. Deon goes quiet. I assume he is doing the same, calling for his spirit animal who is sort of like a really, really big eagle type of thing. I bet if he wanted to, he could ride on its back. All the animals here in Valtor are rather odd if you ask me. Then again, the spirit animals are the weirdest ones actually. It is they who can shift depending on their elemental’s powers growth. Zaden said that Merilla might also change form if my powers increase.
“ I will arrange for a carriage and call for the rest of the men.” Deon says while standing up and vanishing through the shelves of books. Before leaving, I pack away the books we searched through. While busy placing back all the books, the one particular book was a bit stubborn going back into its usual spot. By accident, I shoved a bit too hard on it, and a big black book fell to the ground at the far end of the bookshelf.
“ Damn it!” I call out startled, placing my hand to my heart to help ease my heart that is trying to jump out of my chest. With the big black book laying on the ground, the space in shelve was now big enough to place the book back into its spot. Once finish packing all the books away, I head over to the book on the ground. The book looked rather old and fragile, covered with a black leather exterior with a dragon on it. Intrigued by the old book, I placed it into my satchel. I might read it tonight after we have returned from our outing.
Deon arranged for a carriage to escort us into the village. As we ride through the kingdom, it was rather quiet in the carriage. Everyone looked lost in their own little world, even I was lost in thought, repeating the scene of Kaden in the bathroom over and over in my head. Why was he there that night when I haven’t seen him in days. He kept his distance from me ever since the incident at breakfast that one morning. My face still turns red thinking that he saw me naked through that sheer robe. Now thinking back on it, I remember how his jaw clenched and his fists tighten at the sight of me. That is probably why he left in such a hurry before he said what he came to say.
“ Would her Highness like to go to a game?” Seth asked out of the blue.
“ Game?” I frowned confused.
“ The elemental games.” He said once more, like that would explain what these games actually were.
“ What Seth is actually saying, is that we are heading to the games right this instant.” Mike added.
“ Oh! Tell me more about these games?” I asked intrigued.
Seth is the first one who started explaining about the games. After listening carefully, I still had no clue what the Elemental Games were about, even after Seth tried to explain it to me while we were on our way there. It sounded exciting as he used words such as fighting and dragons in his lengthy description. Apparently the games started hundreds of years ago back when dragons were still alive. Even after dragons were extinct, they continued with the games. Although the games aren’t as brutal as they once were, it still seems to be the talk of the kingdom when it happens once a year. Back then, there use to be elementals who could turn into dragons and fought in these games against normal elementals. None elemental users did not attend in these games because the odds that they would survive would be none. I guess I would just have to see the games myself before I can really understand what it’s all about.
“ The one thing her Highness need to understand is that the game we are going to is really dangerous.” Zaden added.
I peered my head through the carriage window as I saw people gathering in a big mass. They are all heading in the same direction towards a huge mountain. Judging by the trees, you could almost see that summer is over, but everyone’s spirits was full of joy and laughter. As brutal as these games sound, people sure do look happy to attend to these things.
The carriage ride was quite lengthy, but once we reached our destination, I gasped when we parked the carriage in a big cleared out field in front of the mountain. The open field is packed with carriages and stables to put the horses in. There were at least a million people already heading in the direction of the opening in the mountain, and judging by the noise coming from inside the mountain told me that it must be where the Elemental Games took place.
We climbed out of the carriage and as we do, excitement rose inside my chest as I followed Deon, Zaden, Mike and Seth into the opening at the bottom of the mountain. It was dark as the only light came from tiny globes mounted in the wall. It took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust to the dark, so I clung onto one of the guys like my life depended on it. In the dark we were pushed and shoved by other people as we all tried making our way to our seating area. The pace we move was rather reasonable for such a big crowd, but it was still too dark and too cramped for my liking.
We finally stopped when the people in front of us didn’t move. I hated every second waiting for the crowd to move again from whatever the crowd was held up for. I was jumpy and on my nerves. I took huge breaths as the heaviness in my chest grew bigger with a shot of adrenaline.
“ Is her Highness okay?” Mike asked softly and I realized I was squeezing his arm tightly. It was his harm I have been holding the entire time. I did not notice that it was his arm I have been helding on to the entire time.
“ Sorry Mike, I did not realize I was squeezing that hard. It is a crowded and I am a bit on my nerves. You don’t by any chance know what is happening up front."
“ No worries. Her Highness can squeeze us much as she like, if it helps with the nerves.” Mike gives me that typical polite smile of his. “ We are close to the check-in point, that is why it is so crowded.” He added.
I flinched as a huge horn blew next to my ear. I turned around as the guy with the horn walks past us and blow on the horn two more times, making me flinch from the loud noise.
Once through the check in point, we took a sharp left towards stairs carved out of the stone wall of the mountain. We started descending the stairs to the top and looking up I already feel regret coming to these games.
The stairs to the top looked never-ending from down here. A hundred or so steps in, my knees started to give in, and my calves were on fire. Panting out of breath, I look up, regretting it immediately. The top still looked so far away, nothing but a tiny dot of light in the far distance.
“ Remind me to add fitness exercises to her Highnesses training tomorrow.” Zaden teased, giving the other guys a wink, which I obviously saw. Seth laughed at my suspense, and I gave him a glare.
“ Don’t provoke me. I might make you guys take turns carrying me up to the top.” Seth chokes at my remark, making his laughter stop instantly. The guys go silent, looking at me shocked.
“ Her Highness wouldn’t really make us do that, right?” Seth asked while clearing his throat, concernedness visibly showing on his face.
“ No, I wouldn’t do that, but try to make fun of me again and I might change my mind.” I give him a friendly smile to break the tension.