Heritage

When I next woke up, I saw a candle at my bedside and screamed almost instantly. I backed away from it and landed in a pair of arms. I buried my face into the person’s chest and sobbed.

“Get it away, put it out, I don’t like it, please, get rid of it, just get rid of it…” I whispered and began hyperventilating.

“What, the candle?” I recognized Aura’s voice and nodded hurriedly. A hand caressed my hair and Aura soothed me with his words. “It’s alright now, Zelda,” he whispered to me “Please, calm down. We’ve put out all the candles in your room, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“He…he burned down the orphanage…” I remembered my latest memories and clung onto him tighter “He killed them all to look for me, the nuns, the monks, the children, he killed the children!”

“Who did?” Aura asked as he rocked me back and forth “Zack?”

“No, no…” I whimpered “He killed them, he…he…Can…” Aura’s grip tightened and I broke down into sobs. “So much fire, there was so much fire!”

“It’s alright now, Zelda, he’s gone,” Aura whispered to me “It’s just you and me here…a-and Paradox.” My eyes snapped open and I looked up to see Paradox looming over us as Aura cradled me in his arms. Aura let go of me, even though I didn’t want him to, and stood up. He backed away as Paradox crouched beside me and brought me into his cold arms, making me shiver in discomfort.

“You may leave us,” he instructed Aura.

“No, Aura, please,” I whimpered as Aura walked over to the door “Please don’t leave. Don’t go.”

“Zelda, we have matters to discuss alone,” Paradox said firmly as Aura hesitated then gave him a warning glower “I said to leave us.” Aura gave me a hesitant look but still left. Paradox caressed my hair as he cradled me to his chest. He was nothing like Aura. Aura’s touch was warm, gentle and soft. Paradox’s touch was cold, rough and his fingers were calloused from the battles he fought in the past. Paradox pressed his lips to my head and I looked up at him.

“I’m…sorry for making you feel worried,” I apologized softly.

“Zelda, why didn’t you tell me that you’re afraid of fire?” Paradox asked as he traced my cheek.

“I…I guess I didn’t really know how intense the phobia was,” I replied as I thought about it “But when…when Tirade suddenly just…” My chest began crushing inwards again and I plugged my ears and covered my eyes to think of fluffy Nekarose kittens to calm me down. Paradox rocked me gently but it just didn’t match Aura’s gentle rocking which soothed me. He dug his fingers into my scalp and sighed.

“You came back with wounds,” he said “Because they’ve been inflicted by demon claws, they will scar. I’m sorry, we didn’t put holy water on soon enough because if we had then…”

“It’s fine, I’m fine…” I murmured but still placed a hand where those claws had pierced my skin “He was going to drag me down into Hell.”

“He has no reason…”

“He’s one of Satan’s sons, he can do what he likes as long as he kisses his father’s feet,” I gripped my stomach tighter, tracing the scars.

“Satan’s son?” Paradox murmured.

“The youngest one.” Paradox’s grip nearly crushed me and I let out a short breath to have him loosen a bit.

“The Embodiment of Envy?” I nodded mutely and he clenched his fist. “Did he try to tempt you to worship him?” I nodded again with a puzzled look and Paradox let out an angry growl.

“Why is this such a big deal?” I asked “He kept on tempting me then attacking me and tempting me once more…”

“He’s looking for his Soldier to fight for Satan,” Paradox snarled “You’re a very strong soul, Zelda. He probably wants to turn you against us and have Prebeta select one of us as one of Ethylias’s Heroes.”

“Paradox, what are you talking about?” I asked as I shifted off his lap and back onto my bed. Paradox sat next to me, bringing an arm around my waist. I grimaced softly but endured the cold touch.

“Zelda, you probably don’t remember the stories your parents told you,” he said as he ran his fingers through my hair “A few centuries ago, a Seer predicted a clash between God and Satan. Satan wasn’t happy that God was targeting and vanquishing the darkness which he ruled over while God wasn’t happy with Satan spreading darkness over Ethylias. They both wish for either a world completely in light or in darkness. So they struck a deal. They will choose seven souls to fight against one another. This seventh of the planet will be decided over the Embodiment of Envy and Prebeta.”

“Prebeta…” I tested the name on my tongue and then remembered “She came to help me. She saved me.”

“They’re fighting over you to be their warrior.”

“I don’t want to be their warrior!” I snarled and glared up at Paradox “I won’t! I don’t even know the first thing about fighting!”

“You certainly managed to hold against a demon,” Paradox commented.

“I was acting out of pure instinct though,” I argued “I don’t have a sense of coordination, I just know the basic minimum with katas and I can’t even remember the first one!”

“But you survived a demon attack twice,” Paradox pushed on “You’re stronger than you think, Zelda. That’s why they want you to fight for them. Your soul is so powerful and if Prebeta chooses you, you’ll automatically earn a place in Heaven when you die. Your soul won’t have to continue wandering and achieving a perfect life to go into Heaven. You’ll be able to rest at long last.”

“But I want to earn my place, not simply win it from being chosen as a warrior!” I protested.

“It would put your parents’ souls at ease,” Paradox decided to hit a personal spot “I wouldn’t normally persuade you into anything, Zelda. But to be a candidate to be one of Ethylias’s Heroes isn’t an opportunity to scoff at.”

“Well I’m scoffing at it!” I got to my feet and Paradox followed me across the room to the door “I refuse to be a pawn in a game between Satan and God!”

“Zelda, this is about the fate of Ethylias!” he argued, his hand resting on my shoulder “You’ll be fighting for us, for the whole of this seventh of the planet!”

“I don’t want to carry such a responsibility!” I bellowed at him fiercely “Look at me! I can’t even walk by you without you grabbing me!” I violently shrugged his hand off me and glared at him. “I don’t like being labelled as important, can’t you understand that?! Being a princess, being your fiancée and now being one of Ethylias’s Heroes? It’s too much! I can’t stand it!”

“Zelda…I…” Paradox stepped back with a soft look in his eyes “I’m sorry, if you’d told me I wouldn’t have…” I turned away, grimacing softly. He’s right, I should have said something to him. With a soft sigh, I opened the door.

“Sorry, I’m just a bit confused…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Paradox sighed “It’s strange really. You act just like Zereria. I keep remembering that you’re not really her.”

“Zereria?” I echoed and turned to him “Did you know her?” Paradox blinked in confusion and frowned.

“Of course, she was your mother.” My heart lurched. My throat went dry. I stepped back and closed my eyes.

“My…mother?” I whispered “My mother’s name was Zereria?”

“Zelda, is something the matter?” I felt my tears trail down my cheeks and I turned and ran. I clumsily navigated myself around the palace, finding a route outside to some gardens at the back. The chilly evening air passed and brushed against my skin, giving me shivers. I shrugged it off and ran through the gardens, needing fresh air and some time alone to clear my head. I made my way around the shrubs and hedges, through two trees which arched over like a doorway, leading to a cliff with a beautiful view of a waterfall. I sat down on the stone bench nearby and shivered, curling my body up as I watched the water cascade down into the river below. I closed my eyes and began reflecting back to those days when I snuck up to the attic to learn about the elven world from Zereria. My mother. Zereria might be a common elf name, but who else would just show up and help me learn about elves and their traditions? And why didn’t she tell me? Tell me that I was her daughter? Tell me that it was Zack who had killed her and the rest of our family? Could she not bring herself to say it? Was it that painful to reveal such a vital piece of information to me? The more I thought about it, the more I realised I might have wandered down to the path of becoming one of Satan’s Soldiers. If I knew Zack had killed my family if I had been ten years old, I would have judged too quickly. I probably would have killed Zack, if I even had the potential to kill, then Cannabec would have found and claimed me. But it still pained me on the inside. Ever since I turned up at the orphanage, all I ever wanted was a mother. She did raise me in a way, I had always seen her as a mother figure after getting used to visiting her.

“Zelda?” I had been so deep in thought that I hadn’t noticed Aura standing by the arching trees. He held a spare kimono out towards me which I gratefully took as he sat down. We sat in silence for a while, Aura fidgeting nervously. I sighed softly.

“Her name was Zereria, she told me,” I whispered.

“Who?” Aura asked timidly.

“The spirit woman. She told me her name was Zereria. Paradox told me that my mother was named Zereria. She was my mother, Aura.” Aura went silent as we listened to the waterfall in front of us.

“Are you sure they’re the one and the same?” Aura asked.

“No but it makes sense, doesn’t it?” I looked up at him “She practically raised me alongside Zack.”

“But…wouldn’t she be living another life or something now?” Aura frowned in confusion “Or be up in Heaven?”

“No, her spirit probably remained stagnant when she realised I was still alive,” I shook my head “She must have seen me escape and knew who killed her so wanted to remain on Ethylias as herself to make sure nothing happened to me.” I gritted my teeth and bowed my head. “How could I have been so stupid? The more I think about it, the more obvious it becomes! She looked exactly like me! Purple eyes, black hair and even the same nose! How couldn’t I see it?”

“Zelda, calm down,” Aura said as he took my hand in his. I felt my cheeks heat up when he squeezed my hand and I looked up at him. He gave me a sympathetic smile and I buried my face into his chest, sobbing pathetically.

“She was my mother,” I whimpered as he hugged me gently “My mother!”

“It’s alright, Zelda, it’s alright.” We reclined on the bench, hugging one another as I cried my sorrows onto him. We lay there for a while and I began shivering from the cold.

“Aura, you want to go back inside?” I asked.

“Yes,” Aura sat up “But I don’t think it would be a good idea to go together.”

“What? Why not?” Aura’s eyes darted over to the palace and he fiddled with his hands.

“His Highness wouldn’t like it.” My eyes hardened and I sat up.

“Call him Paradox, he isn’t here,” I said “And I don’t care what he likes or doesn’t like. To us, he’s a total stranger. We can respect him because he is above us.”

“Above me,” Aura muttered.

“Don’t you dare label me as a princess, Aura,” I held a stern finger up to him.

“But, Zelda, you can’t deny your heritage,” Aura argued “You can shout and scream all you want, you’re still royalty by right of birth.”

“Then don’t point it out every two seconds!” I snapped “You’re my friend, Aura. And I don’t care what Gardenia may have told you about me, I want you to treat me as the Zelda you knew in Aurallion.”

“I am,” Aura argued a bit feebly “Look at me, I shouldn’t be sitting next to you! I should be at least three feet away from you! I should be calling you ‘Your Highness’ or ‘My Princess’ but I’ve been calling you by your first name because I know you wouldn’t like that!” He got up and marched towards the cliff, looking down at the waterfall with a sign. “And you’re engaged, Paradox. If he had caught us, he might have every right to get rid of me! Or probably cut off my hand just from touching you!”

“He does not!” I argued and stood up to chase after him “If he wants to get rid of you, then he’ll have to get rid of me too! If he wants to cut off your hand for touching me, then he can cut off my hand for touching you! I may be engaged but I am certainly not going to marry him!”

“He’s perfect,” Aura said flatly “Look at him, Zelda. He’s a prince, he’s handsome and he’s charming. He’s practically been worshipping the ground you walk upon ever since he realised that you are his fiancée! He’s devoted to you and is pretty much able to give you anything you could ever want.”

“He kills in cold blood,” I deadpanned. Aura stared at me in surprise and I grimaced. “We were the last to arrive because some human soldiers stopped us, claiming his land as Zack’s. He may have killed out of self-defence, but he killed the ones that fled from him. They begged for mercy, he refused them. Not one shred of remorse did I see from him. I don’t want my husband to be as cold and unforgiving as that. I’d rather die a virgin and childless than to be bound to an elf like that. It would be horrible for me to marry someone with no remorse and knowing that he has killed hundreds of lives.” Aura opened and closed his mouth then bowed his head.

“R-Really?” he stuttered. I nodded firmly.

“Aura, if I was ever to marry…” My cheeks began to heat up as the words got caught in my throat. I swallowed thickly. “I would marry a warm and gentle person.” Aura dared to meet my gaze and I could practically feel the world around us disappearing as I gazed into his beautiful eyes. “I want him to be caring, compassionate and sweet. Someone who knows what I like and dislike. And I would know what he would like and dislike.” I felt myself smile and blush even more, my heart pounding in my chest. “I would want to protect him with my life rather than have him protect me. I would want him to never be afraid to speak his own mind, even if he is rather shy about it.” Were Aura’s cheeks going red? “I’d like him to be gentle and comfort me whenever I needed him. And this may be a bit petty for me, but I’d rather have a beautiful husband rather than a handsome one.” Yep, Aura was blushing. Furiously. I gave him a warm smile and we leaned into each other, our foreheads touching. My heart sped up as we leaned in closer when…

SNAP!

We sprung apart. I turned my head to the direction of the sound and saw a figure flee from the scene. We both felt a tight constricting sensation in our chests, I could sense it from Aura because of his flinch.

“Was that him?” Aura dared to whisper. I swallowed.

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” I whispered. We gave each other a glance before Aura excused himself and ran off. I watched him go sadly and sighed. Guilt flooded me. Even though Paradox was cold, he still had feelings. But guilt alone wouldn’t push me to marrying him. If I married him out of pure pity, it would have been more painful for him. Maybe feelings might come up if I remembered any memories of being with Paradox when I was a young child or maybe I’ll stick to my initial choice. If I was to marry anyone, it would be Aura. I wouldn’t call it love, not yet. I would call it an infatuation, which I wish to turn into something more. Aura was warm and gentle, I would rather be with him than Paradox. I shivered as a cold breeze passed through my kimono and decided to wander the gardens. I looked at the different flowers on display. Flowers that I have seen many times before, flowers that I had only seen in books and flowers I had never ever known of their existence before. I stopped at a patch of white flowers the glowed silver in the moonlight. I crouched down to sniff one and smiled at the sweet scent.

“Souloom Blossom,” a cold voice made me jump “Mia’s favourite flowers.” I turned to see Brenda step out of the shadows, still dressed in her bronze coloured armour. She ran a finger over her whip at her side, making me desperately wish that I had my fans on me. I swallowed and stood up, meeting her hardened gaze. Her bronze coloured eyes glared down at me, daring to make a wrong move or say a wrong word.

“Who’s Mia?” I asked carefully.

“Your sister, when she was alive,” Brenda replied “The Prince had this patch planted especially for her when she visited. When she was still engaged to him that is.” She narrowed her eyes and walked over to me, her heeled boots clicking against the path. “I could tolerate her, she was a bit of an airhead, a little bit dull and generally kept to herself. But you…why would the Prince ask to have his engagement with you instead of her? What makes you so special?”

“What makes me special enough to get the cold shoulder from you?” I raised an eyebrow at her sneer “You still don’t think that I am the Zelda that was supposed to have died long ago?”

“No, I know you are Zelda. Unless you just happen to be an imposter that can teleport using Lura Petals like the Royal Family of the Central Kingdom.”

“Lura Petals?” I mused “That’s what they’re called?” Brenda was now right in front of me, towering over me with a sneer.

“I never met you when you were younger but with the way the Prince spoke about you, I immediately knew he was deeply infatuated.” Was she actually being cold towards me because I’m Paradox’s intended? I studied her face carefully and blinked in realisation when I came to an obvious conclusion.

“You love him, don’t you?”

“I do not.” She could deny it all she wanted to but even I could see that she had feelings for Paradox underneath that cold visage of hers.

“Then why are you here?”

“I was told to escort you back to the palace. His Highness is anxious for your health.”

“Liar, he would have come out himself.”

“Don’t talk as if you know him,” Brenda snarled as she gripped the handle of her whip.

“I know him well enough to guess what he would do in various situations,” I took another step back warily “But please, I would appreciate it if you did escort me back.” If looks could kill, I would have died instantly when Brenda gave me a venomous glare. She turned away and briskly walked off. I followed her hastily, struggling to keep up with her pace and holding the kimono to my body. I took another glance up at the dark palace that loomed over the gardens and sighed softly, allowing the servants to run me a bath and get my room ready for the night.