Memories

Chapter 12

Today Balthazar made the announcement on how we plan to grow our army, and to say our people were against it, was an understatement. Balthazar then declared, they couldn't stop their slaves from coming to apply. I was receiving most the backlash though. Many blamed me since I had once been a slave. I didn't really care about what they had to say about me though. Today I was venturing into the Black Thorn forest to meet with the Pixies. I prayed they would make themselves known to me. Atros, Reese, Norzic, and Zilan came with me with their wolves. We figured if the pixies saw a demon, they wouldn't want to make themselves known. 

We slipped through the thick thorns that acted as a barrier to the woods. "I've heard the Legion speak gruesome rumors about this place," Norzic said as he looked around. "It's not a place you want to go on a stroll through, that's for sure," I told them, extending my spear. We walked through the woods, staying on high alert while looking for trails of pixie dust. I felt eyes watching us as we walked. The foliage above us was so thick, the sun couldn't shine through it. The forest had an ominous feel to it, making me want to turn tail and run in the direction we just came from. 

A harsh wind ripped through the trees with a whistle. We walked for a couple of hours, not seeing a single sign of them. "Are we sure they're even here," Reese asked us. Atros nodded, "They're here." "What makes you say that," Zilan asked him. "The scent of the air," he answered. "When they're in their pixie forms, their scent is very faint, but it's easy to pick out." "And what do they smell like," I asked him. "Like pure magic," he replied. I nodded and focused on the scent in the air. I had trouble picking it out, but it was there. It was too faint to trace though. 

We walked till the forest became pitch black. "Make camp, or keep looking," Norzic asked us. "Make camp," Atros said as I noticed something sparkling on some of the leaves of a bush. I went over to it, and crouched down. I ran my fingers over it, and my fingers were covered in gold dust. "They're here somewhere," I said to them, showing them my glowing fingers. "Well your highness, it's your call, what do we do," Zilan asked me. "Let's keep looking for them for a little longer, maybe we'll have an easier chance in the dark," I said to them. We kept our eyes on the plants, looking for a glow. Suddenly three small figures were flying circles around us. We froze, and waited for them to stop. They then landed on the ground in front of us, and enlarged themselves. "It is an honor to meet you, your highness, the woman in group of three greeted," she said to me. "I am General Tilia Rosa." She wore a black leather skirt, thigh high leather boots, and a leather top. There were tattoo of three stars on either side of her aquamarine eyes. "I am Queen Azula. These are my brothers Prince Zilan, Prince Reese, and Prince Norzic, and this is our cousin Atros." "This is my second Acial Mulian and my third Izic Purin," she said while gesturing to the two men behind her. "It is nice to meet you. You weren't very easy to find," I told her. "We know. We've been watching you since the moment you stepped into the woods. We were cautious incase your mate was accompanying you," she said to me. 

I nodded, "We know you don't trust the demons, that's why we thought it best to leave them at home, and have it be just us." She studied us before her eyes fell to me once more. "We have heard the talk of war against Darkness," she said to me. "Why have you sought us out?" "Because you and your people have to ability to produce pure light. This darkness that we're facing isn't people, they're creatures made of darkness," I explained to her. "They have an army of millions, and our army doesn't comes close to their numbers." "So what? We join your army then end up in slavery," she asked me. I shook my head, "No. Anyone who assists in the war gets to keep their freedom. The demons only enslaved the other species as a punishment for us causing the war. Had we not been in war when they arrived, they would've just blended in, and hid their presence. Now though, my mate has come to the decision to free the slaves who help in the war. It's their way for making up for their sins. The species who had been in hiding, such as the pixies, have the choice. If you choose not too, then nothing will happen. However, if we loose, it'll be partially your fault, so when Darkness enslaves you, it'll be your own fault."