Wild Jewel [Enter a world of Faerie Romance]

Wild Jewel - Chapter 26

Chapter 26

When we finally decide that nothing further can be said on the subject of Safira, we depart the room, each takingdifferent routes down the golden-vine halls. Though I tried explaining to them the idea of the Otherworlders moving towards human villages and for us to give protection, the Elves agreed there was hardly anything they could do, seeing as we are seen as the enemy just as the Otherworlders are. I follow along with Arielle and the others, lagging behind, still caught up in my own thoughts. I gaze blindly at the beautiful crystal walls, pretending to listen to Arielle's skeptical comments about where the Sworde of Souls could be hidden; and after a few moments I realize that I am not walking along alone.

I look up at Delius's bulky form and try and not feel intimidated by his size.

"Are you alright?" he asks me after a moment.

I feel slightly startled by the question; we'd never exchanged sympathies before, only on the rare occasion in our practices.

I shrug nonchalantly and give no reply.

"You know if you ever need anything – even just to talk – I'm here if you need me."

I look at him with raised eyebrows. Once again, he surprises me. I'd always knew he was kind, but I didn't know he was so genuine when it came to feelings; I mean, I always got the vibe that he only spoke when he needed to, and never paid attention to much on the sidelines.

My expression softens when our eyes meet, and instead I reply, "Thank you."

We continue walking, and Arielle and Ninetta continue babbling on, paying no attention to either of us behind them.

"You know," Delius continues, "I was really frightened when I thought something had happened to you."

"Frightened?" Again, surprises. "You don't seem the type to get scared of anything."

"Well, I was. And I do get scared," he says shyly, "when it comes to the lives of people I care about becoming in danger."

I don't say anything for a while, instead hiding my face behind my flowered bushy hair like a dark curtain. I try and not think of the hidden words of affection behind his voice, and awkwardly curl my fingers up against my cloak. After it feels like we are both so intently embarrassed by the silence, I finally say, "Well, thanks to your excellent training skills, I was in no danger, when I come to think of it. You truly saved our lives," I tease.

He actually grins, and the tightness in my chest lessens as our familiar comfortable atmosphere settles between us.

We come across the waterfall room again and after a long moment of none of us saying anything, a question comes to my mind that has been pestering me since I first started this trek.

"Can anyone explain to me," I ask, "what exactly the Tree of Mutiny is?"

Arielle and Ninetta in front of us look to each other and stop. Delius and I stop also and I can tell that Delius is put off by my question as well. Arielle looks at me and asks, "What is it you want to know?"

"What I mean is, where does the Tree of Mutiny get its power? I know it does not derive from the Hiril, so what other powerful source does the magic come from?"

After a silence, Delius leads me towards the wall near the wall of water and answers, "History is never precise nor accurate when looking at events over a span of over two thousand years. Before Safira, the borders of our world and the Otherworld were non-existent. But that does not mean that there were dark creatures still. Witches and warlocks, as you know, were once faeries, who've turned from the Hiril to practice darker magic. They seek minions instead of friends and relentlessly kill living things to further their great power, instead of being limited to magic of the world around them; which throws off the balance of the world."