'That scared me.'
'I thought he meant Flowers are actually fairies, The FAF.'
"I'll start reading now, so you better fall asleep."
"There was once a herbalist who lived quietly among the forests, gathering herbs and roots for a living.
One day, he discovered a tiny being with wings, no larger than his palm, glowing like a fragment of light as it slowly dimmed.
Thinking its fragile, he offered it a mixture of sap and water from the flower and herbs he harvest.
The creature drank.
And in return—
it spoke.
"What you see as scattered and without pattern is only beyond your understanding"
A light emerged—
spreading like threads of something unseen, binding them together.
A contract was formed.
From that moment on, the herbalist gained an ability unlike anything the world had seen.
The herbalist brought news of the fairy to the royal palace.
But soon after—, he disappeared without a trace.
Not long after, the fairy was found once more.
This time, it stood before the king.
The king offered it everything— wealth, protection, a place within the palace.
And in return the King asks for a contract.
The Fairy agrees.
From that moment on, the crown held power unlike any other.
Others soon discovered the fairies, and start to form contracts and granted them the power to create new kingdoms.
…Until envy took root among those unable to sign a contract with the fairies.
War broke out— not for land, but for power.
Even the fairies themselves were not spared from the chaos, turning against one another as conflict spread beyond human control.
It was then discovered— that even a drop of fairy blood can grant abilities.
And so, they were hunted, slaughtered.
Those fairies who survived went into hiding, refusing to show themselves to humans again.
The fairies disappeared.
In the midst of it all— A being with light blue hair appeared.
His name isAether.
It was said he appeared out of nowhere, descending upon the battlefield as if guided by something beyond understanding, and with his presence alone, the tides of war began to shift.
Unlike any other, he could command not only his own contracted fairy but others as well.
Some claimed he held contracts with multiple fairies, a feat thought to be impossible.
His movements were beyond comprehension, swift and agile, as though he vanishes and reappears at will.
He wielded the elements as if they answered solely to him— fire, water, wind, earth, light, and dark fairies, all bent to his command.
And in a single turning point of the war— he brought it to a halt.
Those who sought destruction were struck down.
And suddenly he disappears— forever.
The Church later named his power as something beyond the known elements.
The seventh element— Aether, the white element, the element of all.
But as time passed, his existence faded into myth.
For no one since has ever possessed a power even close to his.
In the aftermath, the Church declared a prophecy that said to be one of the final words of Aether:
"Only those deemed worthy may receive power through a true contract. Only those who formed a true contract with a fairy— were recognized as legitimate."
From then on those who possessed abilities without the help of the fairies were viewed with suspicion.
A commoner or not known to the royal family that possess abilities was often accused of drinking fairy blood.
And so, many began to hide their abilities.
Over time, something strange began to happen.
There were those who gained abilities— without forming a contract, without consuming fairy blood, without ever encountering a fairy at all.
Some say, that these individuals were chosen by fairies or were born as fairies themselves, hiding among humans.
The Church declared it as prophecy:
"Those are the children of demons, they're the greed itself, for no human nor fairy should possess such power— not even Aether himself."
And from that moment on— those who possessed abilities whom aren't said to be baptized by the church were either revered or feared… and often killed.
"The end." Rey closes the book.
'It ends with people possibly dying, is this even considered a children's book to go to sleep? But holy whoever that Aether is, he's so awesome, if there's a book about him I'll start reading about his journey too.' as my eyes brightens up and my mouth wide open.
"Huh? Velly why are you still awake? Did you like it so much." Rey grins.
'While I'm at it, I should ask a question.'
"Does that mean there's only 6 elements now?" I tilt my head slightly in question.
"Woah I never knew you'll ask that." as Rey crosses his arms and tilt his whole body to the side.
"Hmm, you could say that, it was said that the 7th element, Aether, is just to make everyone know that no element is above any element."
"Ah! Do you want to go to church next time and see Aether's statue there?" Rey's eyes sparkles as he happily ask Velora.
'If its an opportunity to go out then—'
"Yes!"
—2 days later, the Street Market—
I followed Rey onto the crowd, alongside Kel and 1 body guard named Joe—
'Joe Mama.'
He's timid and one of the guards of the Rosethorne household, my household.
'Lady Velora's full name, Velora Rosethorne.'
And it seems people know Rosethorne as, not through excitement but horror, we're said to be recognized by our distinct red ruby brooch that has a symbol of a rose not only cause our hair and eyes are red but because by blood it is said to be the strongest pigment out of all colors.
Red stains.
'Cliché but sounds like a villains family by the looks of it.'
I then scan my surroundings, crowds can be seen from the bustling streets. Meat stalls, vegetables, herbs, flowers of course and food stalls!.
'I wonder what the food taste here.' I stare intensely and the food stall owner suddenly gives us some.
Rey declines but I happily take some and it is delicious then give the rest to Erisa and Joe.
"I want one too!"
'Yea yeah, of course siscon.' I stare at him angrily and give him a piece.
"There!" Rey points out.
As I look at where Rey is pointing out I see the Church—,
'Its as big as a castle!'
"Let's go in and show you the statue of Aether." Rey excitedly pulls my hand.
'I'm glad I'm quite the fast learner and able to learn how to walk on heels now.' as I walk alongside Rey and wobbling a little.
I see a white cloak at the distance.
'Are those the priests?'
Suddenly a push cart blocks our path.
"Ah, Rey." In shock
Rey dodges the cart, but as for me, I fall on my back.
"Ouch."
"You deserve death." Rey stares intensely at the commoner.
"P-please spare me." he begs on his knees.
Blinded, a small bright light appears once again. As I reopen my eyes, I see Rey rises his hand.
Rey then releases a water element and shaped it into a knife and about to lounge it onto the commoner.
'No!'
I lunged forward, delivering a crushing punch to his chin.
The water broke into crystals and disappears into the air.
Everyone, Erisa, Joe and even the bystanders are in utter shock.
Rey is on the floor in shock, as he touches his chin.
I lowered myself to the floor and glared at him as I grab his shirt with both hands and yanked him closer.
"ARE YOU NUTS?!"
"Ah." I release my hands quickly and slowly stand up.
I then hide behind Erisa, covering my face with my hand.
"C-can we go home." I whisper.
The guard, Joe steps in and helps Rey gets up while still holding his chin.
Rey blankly stares at me and walks toward my direction.
'Hiik, he's mad.' as my face turning pale.
He suddenly carries me by my waist.
"That's exactly how you punch!" Instead of anger, his eyes beam with excitement and determination.
'He's definitely crazy!'
Erisa not knowing what to do claps while her eyes remain blank.
"You should be glad that your life was spared."
"You should apologize to the Young Lady, Lady Velora Rosethorne." Like a doll, Rey stretches his arms out while carrying me—.
'Simba.'
—On their way to the Church—
"I never knew you got it in you, I'll tell oldest brother, Lu!" Rey starts to skip-walk, swaying his hands side to side.
'Under so much stress, I don't know how he's able to be so happy. Is he an idiot?' as I put my hand onto my forehead.
'Now I'll be seen as a villainess that uses my fist.'
'Maybe they think I'm some hidden mastermind of the Rosethorne family, quietly pulling the strings from the shadows.' I sigh in disbelief.
"We're here!."
'Now that I get a closer look, it is big, like those Greek Architectures.'
—Inside the Church, Near Entrance—
A light blinds my eye.
I gently placed my hand against my eye. 'Too bright.'
I open to look where it comes from, its from a person who works in the church, wearing a dangling light blue crystal earrings.