https://i.ibb.co/bH676y8/Tessundra2.jpg [https://i.ibb.co/bH676y8/Tessundra2.jpg]

Tessundra held the crystalline glass of cherry rum in the sunlight that spilled into the high window of his office, and sighed. The light auburn colored liquid shimmered unique patterns of green and blue light as the light from the giant starburst sent little beams throughout the city and into the grand teahouse in which he managed.

“Lord Tess, are you sure it’s an appropriate time for drinking?” Asked his trusted assistant, her golden hair tucked neatly behind her ears.

“No, it most certainly isn’t.” He admitted, lifting the glass to his nose and inhaling the scent.

“There aren’t many things in this life I enjoy, but my, this glass of rum is one of my favorites. What’s a little sip?” He said, wetting his lips just enough to taste it before setting it down on the table in front of him. The sound of the crystalline cup clanked loudly on the glass table.

Tessundra is a gentleman of lavishly noble appearance who, on most normal days, carries himself proudly with such a divine grace that leaves men and women alike blushing by his mysterious charm, and he loves every minute of their timid and uncomfortable reactions to his playful, teasing nature. His sleek, auburn red hair, which resembled the color of his favorite drink, is pulled back in a light bun, leaving the shorter strands to hang freely down the side of his smooth, unblemished face.

In the spotlight of the public eye, he gave an impression of royal eloquence in his manner of speech and action, behind closed doors, however, his shoulders sagged and his smile lowered into a frown as the weight of his depression took hold of him.

He felt that something wasn’t right about his life in the city. Every day was the same, and every day he felt the same nagging weight of something that he just couldn’t figure out. Something was missing, or perhaps something was there that shouldn’t be, or maybe both, but for certain, something wasn’t right.

Was it the people of the city that was to blame? Or was it himself?

Certainly he wasn’t the only one that noticed it. Their city was cursed, he knew, but what about the people themselves?

“Are we also cursed? If we are, to what extent does it go?”

Firstly, it hadn’t rained in months, and even the great river had dried up considerably to the point that the ships couldn’t leave the harbor in fear of getting stuck in shallow waters. The crops in the farming district began to wither much faster than normal, and Tessundra was finding it increasingly difficult to obtain the necessary herbs for his famous tea, forcing him to order his ingredients from across the country. This was an expensive alternative, but what choice did he have? People relied on him for his special tea. His teahouse made many different kinds, the most popular one lately was a special blend that softens the mind and relaxes the weary heart, allowing people to lessen the grip of the depression that oppressed them, and he was proud that he was able to provide this service. He even put on a happy facade for the people while they were in his care.

He was proud of his role in their daily lives. The only problem he had was that he realized one day that he couldn't remember his life outside of the city. Was he born there or somewhere else? How old is he? And in fact, how long had he even been in the city? He couldn’t remember anything. Why? How is that even possible? Unless he was cursed. And if he is cursed, how many other people are also cursed? Is it just him, or are there others?

For the time being, he took each day one cup of tea at a time. But when he wasn’t sipping on rum or seducing the weary populace, he would conduct extensive research about the city and the gods connected to it.

The greatest mystery in the religious world was that the gods disappeared after some great war over five hundred years ago. Every god was involved in some way or another, after which, they were never heard of again. Every piece of literature that he found or sought after gave some kind of mention about a demon king and his family, but the details of it are so vaguely mentioned that it almost seems as if someone had attempted to erase it from existence. Who is this demon king, and why is he and his family so important?

There was a single rolled up piece of ancient parchment, tied closed with old, worn out crimson string sitting on his desk. A new addition to his growing collection of religious texts. This one was quite unique as it makes significant mention of a powerful deity, a god among gods. He knew about this deity, of course, as everyone did. But this one contained some unique information that he had never considered.

He carefully unwound the string that bound the delicate roll of parchment, and gazed upon its text once again. How many times had he read it this morning? There is much written, but the beginning of the ancient article, though so short, speaks so much information, that he could barely contain his interest. He read.

The forty second year of the honorable reign of King Lothar, son of King Cedric III. I, Breshka Delevania, divine dragon of old, and loyal companion to the great Silver Queen, write this scroll of history with a heavy heart. My powers wane with each breath I take. I fear I do not have much time, so I write this in haste

The Great War of the Gods has come to an end, and a hundred years of peace have been gracefully granted to the King and his family, who have turned their backs from the way of darkness and have embraced the path of light. The great and dreadful king of darkness is no more. It is as if an angel has taken his place. I have seen this change, and it is good. A hundred years have passed peacefully under his reign, and all those who fought him are delighted with his honorable deeds. But I regret to say that there remains an even greater threat still, one that will wreak havoc on all the worlds, known and unknown. A threat that will spread like a plague. Yes, that is essentially what it is, a plague of darkness that will spread and cover all in its shadow.

It is my deepest sorrow that my goddess will not be with me for a long time, but I know that when she returns, my power and memory will return to me and also the gods who have lost their way will remember. Make no mistake, they will remember, and they will long to witness the wrath of the Silver Queen. What a day that will be!

The god among gods. The Goddess of Light, or the Silver Queen, as she’s known, is written about as if she is the most high god. Greatly revered and worshiped by even the kings and queens of the immortal world of Celestia. There is more mention of her than any other god in this world, even over the demon king. There is much mention of him in a multitude of texts, but none of them mention his name. The great war is famously known across the world, but none know of the details. However, This particular piece of history talks about that very war that shook the heavens and the earth as being a war between the demon king and the goddess. Essentially, it was a battle between good and evil. But, and that’s a very big “but”, this scroll suggests that the demon king switched sides. In all of the scrolls that mention him, he is said to have been the most powerful evil king to have ever existed. To think that the very same king, who was once a king of darkness, became a king of light.

But the one thing that truly bothered him, though, was that there was something wrong with the timeline. It’s said that the great war happened about five hundred years ago, which is fine, but this text insinuates that the king lived a prosperous life almost a hundred years after the war.

Tessundra rifled through the various papers, books, and scrolls of text, searching for an additional clue to this missing piece of time. This missing bit of information could possibly explain the absence of the gods as well as how and why the city was cursed. He had a hunch, and if he was right, then that would mean that there was not just one war, but two.

“Tanya, darling, do you know of the great demon king?”

“Probably only as much as most people. The king and his family were a family of demons. As simple as that.”

“But is it really that simple? What would cause all of the known gods of this world to completely disappear? What happened to them?”

“Something tells me, Lord Tess, that you have made a discovery with your new scroll.”

“Indeed, I have. Or, at least I think I have. The scroll is incomplete. I think there may be another one like it”

“And you think our contact in the Sparkfrost hills may have found it?”

We can only hope, my dear.”

“I’m curious, though, Lord Tess. How do you know if the scroll you’re reading is accurate or trustworthy?”

“That is a very good question, and it’s easy.” He said, holding up the glass of amber rum once again. This time, tipping up the full contents of the glass and swallowing it in one gulp.

“This one is written in a different language.”

“Oh? What language is that, my Lord?”

“While all of these documents are written in the common language, this one is written in Dragon Tongue.”

Tanya stared blankly at her boss.

“What?”

“That’s right, Draconic.”

“Wait, you can read Draconic?”

“Yes I can.” He said proudly. Tanya, a simple city girl, born and raised in the Sunny City, stared at him incredulously, and seemingly unamused.

“...Why?”

With a hand on his hip,Tessundra turned his head away in disappointment.

“Honestly, I thought you would be more impressed. Oh well.” He said, pouring another cup of cherry rum.

“Oh no you don’t. With all respect, my lord, we do not need you getting drunk so early in the day.” Tanya said, snatching the glass from him and placing it carefully into a cupboard for later enjoyment. “Come now, we have guests. She said, heading for the door leading into the open teahouse.

“Tanya, darling, where were you born?” Tessundra asked, looking down into his lap.

“Well that’s a random question, isn’t it. I was born and raised here in the city. My father is an accountant, and my mother is a baker who works closely with a jolly woman in the farming district. Why do you ask, Lord Tess?”

“From your memory, how long have you known me to live in this city?”

“Always.” She said, “You have always lived in this city. Where were you born, my Lord? I don't think we have ever discussed this before.”

“I don’t know. I know not of my homeland, my birthplace or my heritage.” He looked up at his assistant with eyes darkened by depression. “Even worse,” He started, “I don’t know anything about my family. Do I have any? And if I do, where are they? What happened to them?”

“I see, Lord Tess. That’s what this is all about. You’re searching for answers about your family. And because you don’t have any recollection of them, you think you’re cursed.” She said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Come now, let’s try not to dwell on such depressing things and spend some time with your guests. That always makes you happy.”

“But what if the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the gods extends to the people who worship them?” He asked, picking up the scroll once more to read it, for the hundredth time that day. “Was I once in some kind of service to a god whose disappearance affected me and my family? I need to know.”

Just then, a small group of employees came through the door into Tess’s office. Dressed neatly with the uniformed robes of dark blue and gold, they bowed respectfully to their boss, who in turn, bowed back. A young man with a blonde, thinly curled mustache handed Tess a piece of paper, trying his best to avert his Boss’s gaze while explaining this day's shipment.

“My Lord, today’s shipment has arrived, but I’m afraid to say that the shipment is incomplete.”

“You don’t say.” Said Tess with a teasing grin, taking the sheet of paper from his employee’s hand, he made note of the missing spices he had originally ordered.

“What a shame. My dear Lucy will have to wait longer for her favorite tea. Though I might have enough for one more cup. Today is usually when I see her.” He handed the paper back to the young man with the neat, curly mustache.

“Dare I ask, my good man, are you new?” He asked.

“Yes, my Lord. Today is my third day. I hope I’m doing well by you so far.” He said as sweat ran down the sides of his face, which only made Tess all the more amused.

“Oh my, why are you so nervous, Joseph, was it?”

“Ah, yes sir. My name is Joseph. Thank you for remembering.”

“Three days, you say? I think I know why you’re nervous.” Tessundra said with a devilish smile. Didn’t have time to shave this morning? Hmm? Were you hoping I wouldn’t notice? Judging by your averting nature, I’m assuming you were told what would happen?”

The sweat that perspired on the poor man’s face made the man’s unshaven stubble glisten in the sparkling light of the starburst. The two other employees behind him covered their mouths in stifled laughter.

I’ll have you know that I take my business rather seriously. I need all of my employees to look their best, respectfully. My guests deserve to be treated like royalty while they're here. Do you understand? And as such, my guests deserve to be served by the most respectable servant-like hosts. Their lives are cruel and demanding as you may know. They rely on us to ease their minds. So, if you can’t do something as easy as shaving, then I will have to shave you myself.” He said. The man cursed under his breath as Tessundra laughed aloud.

Grabbing the front of Joseph’s robe, he threw him into a cushioned chair with unnatural strength. Tanya, with a snap of a finger, approached from behind the man and began to lather his face with shaving cream as Tessundra straddled atop his lap. And as a straight razor was handed to him, the look of horror contorted the man’s face. Tessundra laughed in pure delight.

“Relax, darling. You are perfectly safe in my skillful care. I will certainly not harm a single thread of that glorious mustache.”

Tessundra’s face was so close that the man could smell the cherry rum on his breath.

“Now sit still. As skilled as I may be, I’m liable to cut you if you move, and you can’t serve my guests if you’re bleeding.

With a gloriously charming smile of dazzling white teeth, the straight razor glided effortlessly down the man’s skin. Tess cradled his face with his fingers, guiding his face in the right position as he shaved him. The man’s eyes went from pure horror in the beginning, to completely relaxed as the masterly skilled Tessundra took care of him. The whole ordeal took moments before Tessundra whipped the man’s face anew with a clean towel.

“ Now look at you, you beautiful man. My guests will surely love you. Now off with you” he said as he hopped off of the man’s lap and handed the man a piece of delicately wrapped candy. “And make sure you shave from now on.” He said with a smile. “Unless you enjoyed my special treatment.”

“No! I mean, no thank you, my lord. I mean, I liked it, but. No, what I mean to say is that your hands are very skilled, but…”

The two other employees that came in with Joseph eagerly pulled on his sleeve, begging him to walk away. They finally left in haste as their embarrassment became too much to bare.

“Lord Tess, behave yourself you silly thing!” Tanya said through giggling fits of laughter.

“Oh, don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy it.”

And together, they laughed.

————————————

The day was long and hot as Sonia and Lucy made their rounds through the city. They were able to get everything that Lucy’s grandmother required. Sonia would like to have said that acquiring them was an easy task, but it wasn’t, sadly. Sonia’s heart sank more and more at the sad state the citizens were in. Not one of them was glad to see Lucy. In fact, they shunned her savagely. It took an immense amount of begging between the two girls in order to convince the weary shopkeepers to take their money. Some of them were afraid to do business with her in fear of the black knights, and some of them blamed Lucy for their problems. Because of this, the day was much longer than it was supposed to be, and Sonia became worried about the body she left behind in her own dimension.

Sonia held a bag of goods in one arm, while one hand rested on Lucy’s shoulder. Lucy’s arms were full of various bags of groceries. Several times Sonia had offered to take a couple of them, but the stubborn Lucy refused.

“It’s fine, honestly. We’re almost there. The famous teahouse should be up ahead on the right. Do you see it, Sonia?”

“No, not yet.”

“You’ll know it when you see it. It definitely stands out.”

Sonia led the blindfolded Lucy through the crowded streets as people moved aside for them. People pointed and spoke in hushed voices as they spoke about the crazy church girl who was cursed by the city mages.

“It’s her, that Lucinda girl.”

“Wow, she really was cursed.”

“Can she take it off? I wonder what would happen.”

“I think it looks pretty awesome, like something a hero would wear.”

“Forget her for a moment, who’s that other girl that’s with her?”

“Someone from the church?”

“Oh, don’t be silly, Nobody goes to church anymore, let alone serve in it.”

“Wait, look! Look what’s happening!”

“By the Goddess! It’s a miracle!”

“Sonia, let’s hurry to the teahouse. The people are making me nervous.”

“You bet. Let’s go.” She said, with a tighter grip on Lucy’s shoulder, they made their way faster down the road and away from the crowd. Sonia looked back briefly in time to see them huddled around an old hedge. With her divine sight, she could see much more clearly and farther away than she could when she was human, and what she saw made her eyes go wide.

Every building, whether house or store were once surrounded by flowers and shrubs that complemented the beautiful bricked architecture, they were all cursed to wither and decay, or so it was supposed to be. The side of the street that the two girls had been walking was bursting with new life as the flowers and shrubs went from black and gray, to brown and green. The flowers were blooming before the people’s very eyes.

“Wait, did we do that? Is that even possible?”

Sonia was so excited, she could not contain her tears of joy. Was there a way she could help the people after all?

“Wasn’t the farming district in the same state? Would I be able to work that kind of Miracle? On that kind of scale?”

“Are you alright, Sonia? You’re trembling.” Lucy asked, worried.

“I am more than okay. I could not be happier. Today has been a good one.”

“I’m glad to hear it. And here I was worried I’d bore you to death. I can’t wait to sit down and have some tea with you. You’ll love Lord Tess. He’s amazing.”

“Well, the way you keep promoting him, makes me all the more curious.”

She smelled it first before the grand structure was even seen. The smell of perfume carried by the wind reminded her of a cool summer breeze on a hot day, laying in the grass with her favorite book. Though she couldn’t recall the memory, the images came to her as if it happened yesterday.

“What’s that smell? It doesn’t smell like anything I know of.” Sonia asked.

“I don’t know either, but it’s lovely, isn’t it?”

“It is. It’s almost like, less of a smell and more like a feeling. It’s hard to describe.”

“I know what you mean.” Lucy said with a smile. “Do you see it yet?”

“Yes! It’s beautiful!”

The grand teahouse was large and round, resembling that of a two story pagoda, or gazebo. Incense rose from the center of the red tiled roof, like smoke from a chimney.

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Its large round walls were made of the same cobbled stone the streets were made from.

They stooped in front of its large red, wooden double doors and breathed in the sweet smell of the incense before opening them up and stepping through.

They were immediately met with a group of finely dressed men and women who greeted them warmly with a humble bow upon their arrival.

“Welcome, friends. Will you be needing a table or a lounge?” A woman asked. Her slick black hair beautifully contrasted with her pale white skin. A sparkling clip held her hair back in a tight bun, which seemed to be the standard as all the women who had long hair wore the same bun, except for the one girl in the group of greeters who had what Sonia could recall as a pixie cut. Her red hair and brown freckles couldn’t hide her rosy cheeks as she beamed at them, offering to take their bags, she led them to an open table before bowing and returning to her post.

“Ummm. They took our bags. Is that normal?” Sonia asked.

Lucinda giggled softly.

“Yes. I come here every week after shopping. They always take my bags until I’m ready to leave.”

“Wow, talk about service. And also, the smiling warm welcome was super nice. I’m impressed.” Sonia said.

Looking around the room, Sonia was surprised to see not only the employees smiling, but also the customers. So much different than the depressing atmosphere of the city outside the teahouse. Some customers talked animatedly at tables as they were deep in conversation, while others were laying down in what Sonia could only imagine was the lounge that the greeter had mentioned. It was a section of veil covered rooms filled with plush pillows and a hookah in the middle. She could see them smoking deeply from it while an attendant served them with a smile.

“Wow! What a place!”

“I’m glad you like it, darling.”

Sonia didn’t even hear him coming, and was startled into a high shriek. The whole room erupted into fits of laughter as all the people held up their cups and cheered.

“Welcome!”

Sonia blushed from behind her veil covered face at the beautiful man that stood before her. She fidgeted nervously with her dress as she tried to form words into sentences, but once she realized she could not, she sat in her chair and remained silent. She watched as Tessundra’s charming smile turned to a sorrowful frown as his gaze fell upon Lucy. It was the first time he had seen her since her last visit. He had heard the rumors, but now having seen the blindfold for himself, his heart was filled with anguish.

“My precious Lucinda, what have they done to you!?” He asked, cradling her face before embracing her. “Does it hurt?”

“No, it doesn’t hurt at all. Well, it doesn't anymore. It did at first. From what I understand, it’s a cursed item that’s meant to nullify magic.

“So, is it basically a magical item that dispels magic? How does that work exactly?” Sonia asked, forcing herself to ignore the divinely attractive individual that stole her ability to function.

“In this world, Sonia, there are three different kinds of magic. There are blessings, curses, and the elements.” Lucy answered.

Tessundra took a chair and sat among them as Lucy instructed Sonia on the ways of the world. This interested him, because there were things that Tessundra himself also didn’t know. More importantly to him, Lucinda was the last patron of the church, which meant that she knew things that most people didn’t, and he had meant to inquire with her about this knowledge. He listened patiently.

“So a curse is a type of magic? What would it take to break this magic, another curse or a blessing?” Sonia asked.

“That’s a good question.” Lucinda said. “Blessings and curses. You can think of them as the difference between a “give” and a “take”. Blessings give while curses take. This is why they’re also known as light and dark.”

“So,” Sonia started, as she processed the information. Tessundra watched as the mysterious Sonia pondered. “Because it’s a curse, it takes away your ability to use magic, which includes communicating with your goddess. Would it take a blessing to give back what it takes?”

“Yes, precisely.” Lucy answered.

“My, Lucinda, your friend is rather sharp. Such an inquisitive thinker.” Tessundra said.

“But why would they want to stop you from communicating with your goddess? If the land is cursed, you would think that a blessing would be welcome.” Sonia reasoned.

“I agree” Tessundra said, grabbing the cups from the waiter that arrived. Joseph, with his neatly groomed mustache, held a platter containing an elegant looking tea set. After the teapot was placed on the table, Sonia noted that it seemed to be hand painted. Tessundra gracefully poured each of them a cup of Lucy’s favorite tea. And all the while, Sonia had to keep herself from staring at the way the man moved. There was a uniquely divine air about him that made him seem otherworldly.

He took hold of Lucy’s hand and gently set the handle of the cup into her fingers. Lucy immediately cradled the cup in her hands, and, bringing it up to her nose, she smelled its sweet fragrance and signed as if all the weight of the world was being lifted from her shoulders.

“Thank you so much.” She said

“My dear friend, you need not to thank me. It is my absolute pleasure.”

“Friend. You two are the only ones to ever call me that. I feel so blessed to sit among you.”

Tessundra looked at the stranger that accompanied his favorite guest. He saw the two girls as they came in, and observed as Sonia led her by the hand to their table. It was a warming sight to behold. And it made him all the more curious to know her.

Lucinda, dear. Where did you meet your new friend?

“The Black Forest.” She said simply.

“Oh my. So our new friend helped you navigate out of the forest?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Tessundra didn’t need to ask anything further. He had the ability to read auras, and knew immediately upon meeting her that Sonia was a good friend. Her aura emanated love. There was something wonderfully pure about it, and even seemed to feel familiar.

He took a sip from his cup, holding it with the gracefulness of a prince.

“Sonia, darling, it’s not necessarily that they don’t want the goddess’s help. They are afraid of the queen and her black knights, which will punish all those who oppose her, and they have. The people of this city have been through much, and when it comes to worship, apparently, the goddess poses the greatest threat to her, so anyone found worshiping her in any way…”

“Will be punished, got it. I suppose they do have their families to think about as well.”

“That, they do, my dear.

“Lord Tess, if you don’t mind me asking, I’ve noticed that the people here seem to be happy and at ease, how is that possible? The world outside is…heavy, to say the least.

“Yes, there are a couple things in play here. One, would be the incense that I burn, and my tea, which has been infused with magical properties.” Tessundra said.

“What about the tea we’re drinking? Is it also drugged, or enchanted? Sorry, I don’t know the proper word to use.”

“My, such strong words, but they aren’t completely wrong. Rest assured though, nothing I produce here is dangerous, and everything has its limits. That is where some of the magic comes in. No one leaves here under the influence.”

Sonia grabbed her cup of tea, and, lifting her veil just a little, took a small sip, allowing Tess to get a glimpse of her glowing, pale skin. Every moment with this mysterious girl made his heart flutter with burning curiosity.

“Interesting”

“Wow! It’s delicious. Is this blueberry and cinnamon? I love it.”

Tessundra and Lucy chuckled with delight.

“Lucinda’s favorite tea is not infused with anything except for my love.” He said with a smile. “It’s just a simple recipe.”

Sonia took another drink, a deeper one this time, and used the back of her hand to wipe her chin before slipping the veil back in place.

There was silence between them for a time as each of them sipped their tea, deep in thought. Sonia spoke first.

“This place is clearly a blessing. If Breillia wanted to punish the people, then how is this place allowed to exist?” Sonia said quietly, more to herself than to the group. Lucy snapped her head at the sudden mention of the name. Tessundra raised an eyebrow.

“They didn’t allow it at first, honestly. I don’t remember it, but they say that I went on a rampage when they tried to shut me down.” Said Tess.

“A rampage?” Sonia asked.

“Yes. Apparently I scared the populace so much that they dare not talk about it.” He said, tucking a loose strand of auburn hair behind his ear.

“What happened? Why don’t you remember it?” Sonia asked.

“I don’t know how to answer that, to be honest. In fact, the conclusion I continue to arrive at makes me seem delusional.”

“What do you mean?”

Well, I come to two possibilities, and one of them is a bit far-fetched even for me. But I believe I’m cursed.”

“Yeah, the city itself isn’t looking too good.” Sonia said. “But how do you differ from the average person?”

“For one, every few years, it seems I lose my memory, but what’s worse,…” Tessundra put a hand to his chest and crasp the front of his shirt in anguish.

“Why am I telling her all of this? What is this power? It’s like all of my mental walls are melting before her gaze. And here I thought my charm gave me the upper hand, but the power of her aura makes me feel like a babe in a mothers embrace.”

Tessundra tugged on the front of his shirt as his face distorted with sorrow

“I have this undeniable feeling that something is missing or repressed. It’s like half of me is missing. I don’t know what it is. I must know! Who am I? I don’t know! Do you understand? Half of me is missing, and it makes me feel mad with anxiety! ”

He took a deep breath before straightening his clothes and taking a nice quiet sip of tea.

“Well, that was quite dramatic, wasn’t it? By the way, who is Breillia?” He asked.

“That is the name of the evil queen that punished us. Sonia, how do you know that name? Very few people know of it.” Lucy said.

“Well, I did say that I met her, but you thought I was joking.” Sonia said, teasingly.

“You what?” Tessundra asked. His eyes went wide with shock as his hands became sweaty. His mind raced.

“Wait, what does this mean?”

Tessundra jumped up from his chair and began to pace around the large and spacious room. The people around him and their voices became distant and as his thoughts flooded with questions and possibilities.

Lucinda met her new friend in the Black Forest, where no one should have been. A place of death and decay that spans for miles, but that is where Sonia was found. Why?

Tessundra dodged tables and chairs, customers and employees as he walked with his mind in the clouds. People called and beckoned him, but he paid them no mind, unaware of them.

“Did I…say something wrong? “ Sonia asked.

Lucy took another sip of her tea before answering.

“Honestly, I’d forgotten just what little I know about you. It seems that you are full of secrets. You’re not of this world, but you know of it, and what’s more, the things you know are also things you shouldn’t, if you were mortal. I have my suspicions, and I’m assuming Lord Tess is also thinking the same. Let me just come out and say it. Sonia, I know you’re not human.”

“Oh, I see. I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything. It doesn’t matter to me. I trust you. You chose to be there for me when no one else would and have proven to be a wonderful friend.”

“Thank you, Lucy.”

“She’s met the evil queen and knows her by name. What does this mean?”

Tessundra’s mind still raced as he contemplated the burning questions that now haunted him.

“It’s said that the evil queen is too proud to step foot on the mortal plane. If this is true, then that would mean that Sonia was face to face with the queen in Celestia. Could it be possible that Sonia is an immortal?”

He recalled the brief glimpse of Sonia’s glowing skin as she sipped her tea. Even her aura, when he thought about it, was too clean and pure to be a simple mortal.

From across the room, he looked at the mysterious woman with the veiled face, and made a decision. Silently, he walked back to his seat, sat down, and straightened his jacket.

“My apologies, my dears. That was very ungraceful of me.”

I know I can be a bit of a drama queen at times, but this woman! Her unusual aura is making me emotional.

“There’s no need to apologize. The days have been quite unusual lately.”

“Indeed.” He said, snapping his fingers, an employee, who almost seemed to appear out of nowhere, handed him both a glass and a bottle of rum

“I have decided that you two are the most important individuals in all of Kalitos. One, a well of knowledge, and the other, a well of secrets. Unusual but exciting.”

He poured himself a glass and then poured another to offer to the mysterious Sonia, who didn’t hesitate to accept. He held out his glass and made a toast. His dark eyes locked onto the veil obscuring the woman's face.

“Five hundred years without the gods and their intervention, without so much as a whisper on the wind. But alas, there is change on the horizon. Isn’t there?”

Sonia nodded.

“I’ve recently come into possession of a particular scroll. A prophecy, If you will, that insinuates that there will come a time when the Silver Queen will return, and that all will witness her wrath.”

Tessundra noticed Sonia’s hand trembling a bit as she held her glass.

“Do you know of this?” He asked.

Sonia nodded.

“The scroll in question was written by an entity called Breshka.”

“Breshka? No way!” Sonia gasped. Tessundra’s eyes twinkled.

“Another secret?” He said. “Please, do tell us about Breshka.”

“But it can’t be.” She said, “Breshka isn’t a common name, is it?” Sonia asked.

“No, it isn’t.” Tessundra answered.

“Sonia?” Lucy said, worried for her friend. “What’s the matter?”

In all of Sonia’s awful childhood, there was only one person that ever made her happy, and all of this time, she thought of this person to be just a dream. She called this person “Mommy”, being the little girl that she was.

Sonia’s biological mother resented her and refused to give Sonia the kind of love that she desired, except for the beautiful stranger in her dreams, who sometimes spoke about a magical beast called Breshka.

“Breshka is an ancient Dragon with Ivory White scales and sharp yellow eyes.”

“That’s right, Sonia. Remember the mural in the church? The Silver Queen rides her into battle. That is Breshka! Sonia, what’s the matter?”

Sonia’s blue veil suddenly became increasingly wet as tears streamed from her hidden eyes. She put her hands up to her face and sobbed.

It was like someone had flipped a switch inside her mind as memories started falling into place like pieces to a puzzle. Dots of memories connected as Sonia starts to realize who she truly is. All of this time she thought of the stranger as a figment of her imagination, but she had been real! The woman’s voice rang from within her heart.

“I claim you. You are mine! And from this day on, you will bear my name.”

Sonia was not the Silver Queen, but in fact, her chosen descendant, Her daughter!

Sonia sprang to her feet.

“I’m sorry, I have to go!”

But just then, Four dark figures threw open the doors to the teahouse, silencing the busy chatter and happy laughter. They strolled past the greeters and attendants, stopping when they found Lucy and Sonia at the table.

“It’s them! There they are!”

“What is it?” Asked Lucy. “Who are they?”

“It’s the black knights. And it seems they’re here for you, my dear.”

Lucy shrieked as she jumped up and took refuge behind Tessundra. Grabbing hold of his jacket, she press her face against his back for comfort.

“What is the meaning of this? You’d better have a good reason for interrupting my business.” Tessundra Growled.

One of the knights leaned in and whispered into the other's ear.

“That’s Lord Tess, we were specifically told not to anger him. We should act with delicacy around him if we want to leave here alive.”

“Oh shove off, you pansy! You shouldn’t believe everything you hear. I don’t believe the rumors for a second.”

The daring knight spat on the floor in disgust.

“Do you know what the black knights call you?” He asked with an evil grin. “They call you a demon. They say that you’ve killed many a knight, but as I stand here now, you look like nothing to me. Just as sad and scared as the rest of them. Now, Hand over the girls, and we might leave here quietly.”

“What do you want with them?” Tessundra asked.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

“They are my guests, you will not lay a hand on them! Now leave here. You are not welcome.”

“Don’t make me laugh, you fool. You have no choice in the matter. Now, do as you’re told. By order of the Queen, hand them over.”

There were four figures in all that dawned black armor. The two in front seemed to lead while the two at their rear remained silent behind them, that is, until they sensed Sonia’s divine aura. Their heads turned in unison to look at her, and then stepped forward passed the two in front of them. Their eyes burned a purple flame. As if as one being, they reached for their swords.

“The enemy” they said with a low rumbling voice.

“Hey, what are you doing? We’re not actually going to fight them. We’re just here to intimidate them. And besides, we need the girls alive.

Their haunting eyes burned brighter.

“Imposter!”

“What? What are you two talking about? Eugene, what’s with these two?” The rude knight asked the other.

“I don’t know, Ted. They’re not human after all. They’re supposedly cursed to follow orders directly from the queen. I believe their main priority is to eliminate threats to her majesty.”

Eugene, the timid knight, shouted to the patrons and customers of the teahouse.

“Everyone, leave this place in haste! This may get ugly.”

The order was immediately obeyed as the customers shuffled out the building in fear of their lives. After the last person left the teahouse, Tessundra gave an approving nod.

“I’m sorry, sir. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. We weren’t meant to hurt anyone. We were only supposed to escort them for interrogation.” Eugene said, taking off his helmet to reveal a smooth, bald head. “We’re only new recruits, we haven’t been trained in anything.” Eugene admitted.

“ We only agreed to this assignment because it made us feel powerful wearing the armor.” Said Ted.

“Yeah, Ted went full out in character, trying to be the tough guy.” Eugene teased. Ted took off his helmet in anger. His black hair, wet with sweat, clung to his face.

“Hey, don’t tell them that! I want them to take me seriously.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed, you silly man.”

“That’s enough, you fools, how are we going to handle this?” Yelled Tessundra.

“Well, you see, this is beyond our pay grade.” Said Eugene.

“Yup, we no longer have control over this situation, so we’re going to hide like cowards and hope that we’re not dragged into this any more than we are.” Said Ted as they ducked behind a counter, out of sight.

“What a pain, I haven’t even gotten my first paycheck yet.”

“We’re going to be a laughing stock, aren’t we?”

The inhuman black knights pulsated an eerie purple glow, their swords drawn and ready.

“Imposter!”

“Why do you keep saying that?” Sonia shouted.

“There can only be one queen. One ruler.”

“Okay, and?”

“There are no gods permitted in this world. They have all been banished.”

“But why? What is the reason for that?” Tessundra asked.

“Because they didn’t like Breillia or agree with her rule. They refused to serve her, didn’t they?” Sonia asked. “What does that have to do with me? I’m obviously not the queen, nor am I pretending to be.” She said

“Liar!” The demonic knights shouted together. “You may veil your body, but you cannot veil your soul. It reeks of divinity. You are a god.” They said

“I knew it!” Tessundra thought.

“Ummm…Rude! I’m female, that would make me a goddess.

The black knights had finally had enough. They lunged forward in unison straight for Sonia, who screamed at their sudden attack.

Tessundra leaped forward, attempting to block their advancing strike the best he could, but the surprising strength of them knocked him over without much effort. One sword swung at Sonia’s throat while the other down at her head.

With Sonia’s superior speed, she jerked back, avoiding both knights as their cursed steel grazed her vail, cutting it open. Unfortunately, she still wasn’t used to her new form. She leaped back with a little too much strength, causing her to soar backward across the room, smashing through tables and chairs before crashing into the wall. The cobblestone caved in a little, leaving a spider webbed pattern of cracks crawling up the length of the wall. The whole building shook upon impact.

“Crap! This body is like going from a station wagon to a corvette.”

Lucy screamed.

“Sonia, darling. Are you alright?”

“I’m alright, except for my wounded pride.” She said, prying herself out of the Sonia-shaped crater.

“Thank the Goddess!” Lucy said, breathlessly.

Sonia stood among the rubble caused by her carelessness.

“I’m sorry about the damage. It’s my fault.”

“Forget about the furniture, you silly girl. You are much more important.” Tessundra said.

“Thank you. That’s kind of you to say.” Sonia said, her immortal blue eyes flashed from the torn fabric of her veil.

“Well, so much for the veil. Hiding my identity was fun while it lasted. I was hoping to be normal for a while longer, but what can I do?” She said as she tore off the hood and threw it aside. Her illustrious platinum white hair tumbled to her shoulders and almost held a shade of blue as the glow from her eyes radiated divine light. She was a sight to behold, and Tessundra gasped at the breathtaking beauty of her divinity.

“Imposter! How dare you violate our queen's decree! No gods are permitted here.”

“Why?” Sonia asked. They gave no answer.

“Imposter!”

“”Again with that.” She said, annoyed. Putting her hands on her hips, she sighed.

“Wait, I get it. You two were there, weren’t you? In the cursed realm that holds the royal family captive. It’s true. The last time you saw me, I was sitting on her throne. Even then, that awful woman tried to kill me, and failed. What makes you think you can do better?” She teased.

What am I doing? I’ve never fought anyone before. I nearly died the last time I saw them. But I am different now, right? Alright, time to truly test my strength. Just one punch. I really hope this doesn’t hurt. I have bare fists compared to their armor, but I’m no longer simple flesh and bone. Here we go!

Sonia crouched into a fighting stance and breathed deeply as she concentrated on the movements she wanted to make.

Please don’t screw this up, Sonia. One step at a time. Just breathe

Sonia launched herself forward and in the blink of an eye, appeared beside the black knights. Broken tables, chairs, cups, and various dust and debris blew away in wake of the powerful burst of speed and with all of her strength, she drove her fist into the side of the black knight closest to her. The cursed, black metal was no match for the sheer might of Sonia’s punch as the armor exploded, revealing the demonic creature beneath. The force of the impact was so powerful that the knight beside him was blown away, crashing through the wall and into the open streets outside. Sonia and Tessundra watched as the black knight tore a path of destruction for miles. Holes were made in buildings and structures were completely smashed as the helpless knight flew through them. It flew through the city and into the black forest beyond until it was just a black spec in the distance.

Sonia and Tessundra stood wide eyed and motionless, their mouths gaped open in utter astonishment.

“Woman, did you know you could do that?” Tessundra asked, his gaze locked onto the broken wall.

Sonia, her shaking fist still held out in front of her, could not believe her eyes. Even though she hoped for the strength to defend herself and protect her friends from the evil enemies of the king, she was not expecting to possess strength of this magnitude. Just how strong was she? What else was she capable of?

She was the daughter of the Silver Queen. Her one and only descendant. How was she going to live up to that name? The weight of this realization bore down on her.

“No, I didn’t know. I had no idea that I could do that.” She choked. Tears streamed from her blue eyes. “It’s too much. I don’t know if I can do this. It’s all just too much. I’m not worthy of this.”

She dropped her arms and slumped to the floor as she cried aloud.

“I can’t do this alone. I’m going to disappoint everyone. I’ll only let them down.”

Tessundra ran to her side and embraced her.

“It’s alright, sweety. Just breathe. There’s no need to hold the weight of the world on your shoulders. No one expects you to do anything alone. Not even the gods are perfect, else they would still be here. But as imperfect as you may be, you are a ray light in this dark world. Please don’t fret. You have friends.”

Lucy crawled from across the room to join her friends, and embraced the both of them.

“That’s right. I love you both so dearly. Anything that must be done can be done together.”

The three of them held one another for a long while as they wept for each other. All of them, who carried the weight of their own burdens, found comfort in their friends.

“Well that’s sweet innit? Terrifying, but sweet. Good time as any to leave, right Ted?”

“Right you are, Eugene.”

“I can’t believe they gave us that assignment.”

“Do you think they knew what they were throwing us into?”

“Not a clue, Eugene. But there is no way anyone can hide this destruction. Just look at this mess. Hey, where’s the pub?”

“I believe it’s down near Baker’s street, next to that big building with the hole in it.”

The two knights walked through the open wall and down the street, their voices became faint as they went.

“Did you see what that girl looked like? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she looked a lot like the Silver Queen I used to see in story books. Do you think she returned?”

“Well, Eugene, I don’t know anyone else who can defeat two powerful demons with a single punch. In light of this, I think we’re on the wrong side.”

“You’re right. Forget the pub. Let’s go to church.”