Episode 2 - protect

TARISHA'S POV

I walked into the meeting room. He sat there, on the couch, as if he owned the place.

His hair was long and silver, his eyes had the golden color. He was fairly tall, taller than Abello by a few centimeters and a bit taller than me.

"Arlechino." My voice was steady, cold.

"Tarisha, no need to be so cold, we're friends."

"It's Your Majesty, for you." I said, looking into his eyes.

"Come on, we're friends."

"Are you sure?" I raised my eyebrow.

He stayed quiet, just looking at me with his innocent eyes. But he wasn't innocent, I knew it.

"What do you want?" I asked seriously.

"The imperial family is hosting a ball. I'd be good if you'd come."

The imperial family, the Lux family.

"What if I don't?"

I sat across from him, my voice getting colder.

"Nothing happens, I guess. You've never come before, so why now, right?" He laughed.

He could never be serious, and that's what made me suspicious of him. He has many secrets, secrets he hides behind his smile, his laugh.

I have been betrayed many times in the past, I didn't want to trust him, not now, not ever.

"I won't be coming. Act like you don't know me if anyone asks."

"It's not like we know each other anyway." He said, his eyes darting around the room.

"If that's all, get out." I spoke as I raised up to leave.

"Do they trust people too much, Tarisha. It could back fire."

What is he on about? Me, trust anyone? Why would I? Why would he say that to begin with?

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just saying." He got up from the couch and left.

An unsettling feeling settled in my chest, my heart pounded with fear. I couldn't shake it off, what did he mean by that?

I shook my head and in a hurry left the room where he sat just a few minutes ago.

Arlechino Fulmen Umbra was the god of lightning. He was the king of Fulgur, a small nation between Leavis and Flama. We got to know each other ten thousand years ago, he was helping the Three creator gods back then, his main purpose was to assist them with anything they wanted.

We were all clueless at that time, so it thought he was just like the rest of us, blinded by their words.

But maybe he wasn't, maybe he was just working with them of his own will.

And that feeling scared me, it was my intuition, what my head and my heart were telling me.

Long ago, I wanted to trust him, but gradually, it all faded away. We met less and he started forgetting me, I never did. I always listened and learnt. He probably thought I was just a little girl like the others. It might've seemed like that, but Flama closed off it's doors for a purpose.

Wars happened in secret, promises and protests, rebellions, too.

There were many thing to get over, many times people died.

But others held on strong. They fought like it all mattered.

Flama has been closed off for over 10 thousand years. No one ever cared enough to reach out themselves. So why should I?

I had only one purpose in living, helping and protecting my people, my home.

To be continued...

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