Four months later, it had been two weeks since the famine had been stopped and things had returned to 'normal'. In addition, there was what the history books and scrolls of Sylvania would call 'the Thunderous Governmental Purge'. The main dissidents in the government of Sylvania who were hindering the good management of the kingdom had been ousted by the Queen herself. She had managed to become herself again and to realise the importance of her position as queen, both for the kingdom and for herself.
It had taken time, but... they understood that she was in charge.
Whether she was crazy or not - in reality, it was more complicated than that.
Meanwhile, in the Nether, barely refreshed, Lelelitio paid a visit to Dr. Niloran, who had never seen his face since he was a boy.
Armed with a machete, he sat in his chair, waiting for his return, which was not long in coming. Seeing this young man who was unknown to him, the doctor was startled and wanted to get out, but Lelelitio had bewitched the door, since one could enter but not leave. And given Niloran's rule that if he didn't go to the waiting room to fetch his patients, none of them would come in, he was sure not to be disturbed.
- How's it going, doc? It's a payday, isn't it?
- Who the hell are you?
- I think you knew my mother, didn't you?
- I know and meet a lot of people through my work...," said Elephantis hesitantly.
- It's true. But perhaps you recognise the ring on my finger?
Niloran gasped at the sight of the jewel he had seen many times in Malalalivia's fingers. He was facing her son and from the look in his eyes, he was not there to chat.
- What do you want from me?
- What do I want from you? Nothing. Except to make you pay.
- But I haven't done anything!" Elephantis defended himself pitifully with a voice that reached the highest pitch.
- When you saw that object, you recognised who I was. Don't pretend when you know very well the harm you have done to my mother for many, many years. So much so that she was waiting for her life to save us.
- I just told her...
- Tutut," Lelelitio stopped him, "I already know everything. Do you really believe that your antics were unknown? So I can tell you that I'm not just coming for my mother, but for all the others you've made suffer with your sinister whims instead of doing your honourable job properly.
Lelelitio got out of his chair and approached the doctor, who tried to charge him but was stopped by a stranger who emerged from the shadows.
- Ah yes. I said I would charge you, but not personally. I don't really want to get my hands dirty, however, the people around us also have a grudge against you, be they sons, fathers, husbands, sisters and others. So I leave you in their hands, I'm sure you'll enjoy their company.
He deactivated the spell that had rendered all his companions invisible and made his way to the window to exit the cabinet, bidding farewell to Niloran with a simple, petty wink.
He landed in front of the front door of his chambers and checked that he had indicated that they were closed today.
If Lelelitio hadn't killed him, it was because Talemilia had vetoed it: "We have to hand him over to the law," she had told him. Well, he hadn't handed him over to the authorities in Sylvania, but he made the "justice" system take care of him, so... that was fine!
Having accomplished his revenge, he went back home where Talemilia was waiting for him, having regained her colour. She may have lost her drained look, but she still looked glum - at least she was trying to hide it.
Although her back had finally healed, the loss of her wings was not out of her mind. Especially since at times she felt a phantom pain as if they were still there.
She stopped what she was doing to discuss her little outing with Lelelitio.
- So you were able to do what you wanted to do?" Talemilia asked slowly.
Her ability to speak had taken a hit as she had been mute for a long time, she had started talking like a hearing impaired person before speaking in a more 'normal' way, but it took a while for words to come out as if she were an old lady - which she looked like with her duvet on her lap, sitting in that old rocking chair.
She'd loved that chair since she was little.
- Let's put it this way.
She sighed heavily.
She knew he hadn't done it, but she wouldn't hold it against him. She wasn't going to conform to the righteousness she wanted to show at the moment - especially since he was her only companion so she wouldn't want to fall out with the only person she was talking to.
And just as they were about to start dinner, someone rang the doorbell.
Lelelitio, suspicious since the impresario affair, went to the door. He wanted to look through the peephole to see who it was, but it was darkened. He had no choice but to open the door and leave them alone. He armed himself with a poker and opened the door, and when he saw who it was, he dropped his weapon and took several steps back.
The expression on Lelelitio's face was unusual for Talemilia. Although weaker than her on his best day, he was not the type to be impressed by anyone. However, from the look on his face, it was something that even he could not have foreseen, and he looked far superior to her.
Two royal guards entered the house and then a voice was heard:
- May we come in?
- Er... er..., of course," stammered Lelelitio.
- Thank you," stammered Lelelitio.
An iridescent glow illuminated the entrance, then a stranger introduced herself to Lelelitio and Talemilia. The fairy princess seemed to recognize her, but her mind struggled to place her. She seemed to have seen her somewhere before, but not personally.
- You are in the middle of a meal? Sorry to disturb you then," the person said.
- That's all right. If you want, you can join us," Talemilia offered.
- I'd be delighted to, but I don't plan to stay long.
- But tell me," asked Talemilia, "who are you? I imagine someone important, but who?
- Don't you recognise her?" said Lelelitio.
- Well, no.
- It's true that for you people of the Nether, you have little chance to see her, whether it's in a poster or in real life," said a voice behind this unknown woman, "but if you see me, will you recognize me?
A man in armour stepped towards the lady and removed his helmet.
- But it's you! recognized Talemilia, Sawyer, it's been a long time!
- Hasn't it? I'm delighted to see you in better shape than when I left two and a half years ago.
- Why don't you sit down," Talemilia offered him.
- It would have been a great pleasure, but as the Queen said, we don't have much time.
- The Queen?" repeated the fairy.
- Actually, what if we ate while we had this discussion?
The wingless fairy turned towards the tall lady facing her from across the table and her face came back to her in a flash: it was Queen Audiselia Vanguard the second in line.
- Majesty!" she cried.
Talemilia was surprised to see the beautiful tall woman before her.
The woman known as the "Demented Queen" or "Sylvania's Weapon of Mass Destruction" had made Talemilia imagine a competitive monster whose power would transpire from every pore of her skin, but in the end, she didn't seem as hostile as rumored.
Her beauty totally subjugated her: her crystal pastel hair and her magnificent blue eyes were simply enchanting and matched so well with her sky-blue dress and her wings of such a rare sumptuousness, and despite the obvious tiredness that one perceived on her face, her prettiness remained unique.
So this is the royal fairies? said Talemilia, hypnotized by the beauty of the regent of the kingdom of Sylvania.
Meanwhile, Lelelitio served a plate of the meal he had prepared to everyone. The guards languished on their feet as the queen ate facing the princess.
- You should be bowing down now that you know who she is," said one of the chubbier, green-skinned royal guards with a mouthful of food.
- And you should know better," Sawyer shouted.
- It's nothing Globox. From what I've been told, she wasn't able to walk unaided until recently, so I'm not going to force her to curtsy. Nevertheless, first of all: good morning, Miss Talemilia, or should I say, Princess Avelilinélia. I am delighted to finally meet you in the flesh, but above all safe and sound.
- I am also delighted. Was the journey hard? asked the innocent fairy.
- Journey?" said the queen, "going from the castle to here is nothing. Even less for me. You mustn't take me for one of those stupid noblemen.
- What brings you here?" asked Lelelitio with a suspicious look in his eyes, "I hear you're completely crazy so I'm not surprised to see you here but I...
Globox and the other guard pointed their weapons at the young elf, making him kneel down.
- Speak better to your queen.
- Leave it," said Sawyer, "we owe them, and I know he has not forgiven me for the barbarity his adopted sister suffered.
At his command they relaxed their pressure and stood at attention. Lelelitio was able to stand up and continue what he was saying.
- What do you want from us?
- To make Avelilinélia a legitimate princess of Sylvania," replied the queen.
- What?" they all cried, except Sawyer.
- But why?" asked Lelelitio and Avelilinélia.
- You are of the royal line so you have the right to claim the throne like all the other princesses. Especially since it will be up for grabs in a few years.
- Will you abdicate?" asked Avelilinélia.
- Against my will, yes. That's why I think you should be one of the pretenders to the throne. By the way, where is your servant? She's looking after you, isn't she?
Avelilinélia looked away. It was Lelelitio who spoke without any embarrassment.
- She is dead.
- Huh?" shouted the queen, "when?
- Four months ago.
- Who could have killed her?
- No one did. Well, maybe I should say you, because if it weren't for the famine caused by your wars at the top, she wouldn't have been sacrificed so that we could feed ourselves during the famine that was raging down here.
The queen shook her head, biting her lip, put her hand to her face and gritted her teeth.
- What a misfortune.
- You can say that again. Because of your dispute with the kingdom's officials, all of the Netherworld has found itself committing the worst horrors in what should be the promised land of the Faerie, instead...
- Calm down, Avelilinélia intervened, it's not her fault.
- Then whose? You can't hide behind fine principles all the time, Avelilinélia. This book is rotting your mind.
- Leli!
Audisélia stopped eating and put her plate on the table.
- He is right," said the queen, "this is all my fault and my childishness. If I had been stronger and less selfish, none of this would have happened. That is why I have come to make amends for my mistakes. Sawyer, Globox, Erazim, stop eating and move that table," she ordered.
The three guards complied, lifted it up and moved it to the side, all asking what she was getting at.
Queen Audiselia stepped towards Princess Avelilinelia, her gaze had become harder, firmer, the presence she exuded when her smile disappeared was truly threatening.
And in one gesture, she made the whole assembly tremble, except for Sawyer, who was aware of what she was planning to do. Instinctively, Lelelitio ran briefly in the direction of the queen and then stopped completely in front of this improbable scene which left him speechless.
Why was she doing this? Why was she doing this? Why was the Queen of Sylvania kneeling before Avelilinélia?
Head down, hands clasped, her index fingers touching the ground, her wings down and one knee on the ground: that was the most dignified apology the Queen of Sylvania could offer this young girl! She who had abandoned the inhabitants of Sylvania out of pure selfishness and immaturity.
Of course she could not do this in front of the whole kingdom, becoming the laughing stock of its inhabitants - according to the queen's advisors - but in spite of their disapproval, she could not fail to do it in front of one of her fellow creatures when they are of the same family and blood.
- A thousand apologies, Princess Avelilinélia Grave. I should have started there!
- What are you doing?" agitated Avelilinélia, "You don't have to do that.
- Queen Audiselia refused, I cannot remain insensitive to the loss of your wings caused by internal wars within our kingdom. So, in the name of the whole kingdom of Sylvania... no, in the name of all the royalty of Sylvania, for which I stand as guarantor, and in the name of myself, I ask your forgiveness and I hope that you will be able to recover as soon as possible so that you may have the chance to replace me as head of the kingdom. If your wrath is such that you wish to take my life as a cage of forgiveness, I offer it to you. I have committed many faults and in many respects I am totally unforgivable, therefore I am prepared to leave you my life as a gift. But I beg you to consider the possibility of being a pretender to the throne.
Avelilinélia was confronted with all the modesty that Queen Audisélia could show. She did not know how to react to this. How do you respond to the most powerful person in the kingdom of the Fairy Forest when she bows down to you?
The answer she wanted to give him would surely not be satisfactory, but it was the only one she had in mind.
- My queen, stand up. You have no business stooping so low in the face of a traitor's descendant like me. I am not worthy of such consideration. Lelelitio brings him a chair.
Avelilinélia's way of speaking surprised the elf, she acted with such dignity, even though she wore a smile, one could feel her sincerity in her words. And as she had demanded of him, he brought a chair for the queen. The princess invited the regent to sit opposite her and she obeyed.
- I am not interested in seeing you lose your life. I do not blame you at all," Avelilinélia continued, "I am aware that tensions have been created within the kingdom, especially with this technological hospital project, so do not worry about it.
- I thank you, humbly, for accepting my apology.
- But even if you want me to be a fairy princess...
- You already are. When you are born a fairy princess, you are one for life, no matter what your disability is.
- I thank you for your concern, but it doesn't change the fact that I don't see myself as being able to do anything for the kingdom in my condition. People joke that I am stronger than Lelelitio, because of an old arm wrestling affair from more than three years ago, when it is he who takes care of me every day. I can't see myself wanting to pretend to be able to run such a kingdom in my present state.
- If it's the fact that your wings have been torn off, it's not a problem," Audisélia reassured her, "there is a fairy in the Sanctuary who has been without wings since birth and who is nevertheless a princess.
- Is that so? I'm very happy about that," the fairy rejoiced sincerely, "but that doesn't change the fact that I don't really see myself as the head of this kingdom. Look at you! You, you are so strong, so imposing, in every campaign you take part in, you wreak havoc on the opposing units, you set up this hospital... I don't have the strength to do anything anymore. I sit in this chair all day, reading the same book every day, dreaming of having the same abilities as the hero and fairy of the legend and being as admirable as them.
The queen raised an eyebrow and stared at the book next to Avelilinélia before turning back to her.
- No, I'm just the one who lost half my magical power the day my wings were ripped off," she lamented, "so I'm glad you asked me, but I don't think you should dwell on a loser like me. I lost my mother and I made Lelelitio lose her mother... I'm sorry.
- No, you're not!" interposed Lelelitio.
Avelilinélia gasped. She was so focused on what she was saying that Lelelitio's reaction surprised her.
- It's not true! I know I have been cruel to you on many occasions, I know how much you must have suffered because of my actions, but the fact that you sacrificed your hand to prevent me from killing myself while you were in an unprecedented state of lethargy proves that you are capable of many things. I don't want to be a burden on your conscience, if you want to be the future queen of Sylvania, then I will be your servant as tradition dictates.
- But you said that...
- It's nothing, I don't care!
Avelilinélia thought, tapping her fingertips together.
To officially become a fairy again? What for? She really didn't see any point in it, her life seemed much simpler now, if she really became a fairy princess again what would she be faced with? What misfortune would she spread around her once she was on the road to royalty?
- Who would accept a queen from the Underworld?" Avelilinélia doubted again, "We're not being watched already, so who would listen to me?
- You're not the first and certainly not the last princess to come from this place," said the queen, "I know it's not a good example, but the former queen Marrynelia and, incidentally, I come from the Nether.
- Are you?
- Yes, we are. But our cases are a bit special. Does that make you feel better?
- Somewhat. But... I don't know... would you mind letting me think about it for a while?
- Of course," agreed Queen Audiselia, "even if hiring you doesn't mean you'll win the tournament of princesses claiming the throne of Sylviana, I can guarantee that with your position as princess you'll be able to change things.
- Make a difference?
- You admire the hero and the fairy of the legend?
- You could say that," Avelilinélia answered shyly, scratching the back of her head, "I find their fight against the evil forces that have invaded our world remarkable. Moreover, if I believe the story, the heroes can come from any race, any stratum of society, they can be Fairy or human, the most important thing is that they have a soul that wants to protect others... if I understand correctly. And I think that's really great! But tell me, how do you know that there is a fairy from the legend?
At that time, no one was aware of this information, either inside or outside these walls.
Avelilinélia had no intention of trapping the fairy queen Audisélia, she was simply curious to know where she had acquired such information.
- It's no secret to anyone in Upper Town and Sanctuary, and given how Judge Triface likes to talk about it, you'll find out soon enough, but I have a friend who seems to be the hero of the legend of that time.
- Huh?" cried Lelelitio and Avelilinélia, "that's not possible!
- Well, it is, but it's a long story and as I told you, this diversions is not in my agenda, and I don't have much time, so I'm going to get to the point: she told me a bit about the functioning and the history of the two.
- It's great that you're having an affair with the hero of the legend.
Sawyer and Globox laughed, and the queen threw a little lightning bolt that broke their plates to calm them down.
- We didn't do anything," Globox protested.
- Your language," Sawyer rebuked him, "she's always fussy about that anyway," he whispered, laughing.
- Shut up!" the queen grumbled, "you know what she meant by 'affair'. And clean this up, this isn't Globox's place.
- OH!
Then she turned back to Avelilinélia.
- In the end," the queen continued, "I too wonder how you know about this, even in my research, I could only find bits and pieces about it. Did you learn about it from this storybook?
- Yes, it was my mother who wrote it in her own hand, who read it to me every night and added to it day by day.
Lady Talemilia wrote this book?" said Lelelitio, "but I have read it a thousand times and never noticed it.
- Then your mother must have known about it. I think that it will not help me, but can I borrow it?
- Yes, you can. Well...
- Wait!" intervened the elf, "can you wait before taking it with you?
- Why?
- I'd like to check something," explained Lelelitio, "anyway, you're going to come back to get Avelilinélia's answer, aren't you?
- Yes...
- Then I'll give you the book in person and in due form, you have my word," swore Lelelitio.
Avelilinélia was the first to be surprised by her cousin's interest in this book that so disheartened him. The queen agreed, after all, what would they have to hide? Unless he was allied with the Nemesis or one of its henchmen, which would be rather strange: he would have left to pursue Elena long ago.
Queen Audiselia told Avelilinelia that she would come back in a month to get her opinion on her return to her 'own', in the meantime she could get much better treatment in hospital if she wanted.
- Can you even take her today?" asked Lelelitio.
- Of course," said the Queen, "if my guards don't mind.
None of them objected to the queen's words.
- Are you sure I can leave you alone?" asked Avelilinélia.
- It's my job to worry about you," replied the elf.
- That's true. In any case, don't do too much mischief while I'm gone..., my dear servant.
Lelelitio blushed at the words. Why had he made such a fiery statement? Now he was ashamed of it.
Seeing her cousin's reaction, Avelilinélia gave a small smile followed by a small cough.
Even if she was not completely recovered, it was good for the elf's heart to see her regain her emotions.
The queen promised to take care of her, that he didn't have to worry and that soon he would receive a visit from some carpenters to fix up their house - since she imagined that neither of them wanted to leave that rickety, mould-filled wooden shack because of all the history they had lived through in it.
He watched as the royal carriage took his protégée away from the house she had always lived in, so she could discover other parts of the kingdom that were much better than this shithole. He gave her a last wave before rushing into the house and starting to read that famous book on the legend of the hero and the fairy.
This book, which he had reread over and over again for the happiness of the princess who lived under his roof, he had never really looked into it, reading it without understanding it or even assimilating its contents. He flipped to the first page and discovered that the narration was in the first person and as he read, he realised one thing: the book was completely inconsistent with his own words. There was indeed information about the fairy of the legend, but how could he take it seriously with so many confusions in the narrative, especially since it was more like a diary than a true tale.
Knowing Princess Talemilia Mother's reputation for incredible intelligence, Lelelitio was certain that she could not have made such mistakes in her writing if she had indeed written this book - he would not judge Avelilinélia because he knew how attached she had been to this book since she was young, so it was normal that she had never noticed anything.
If Princess Talemilia mother had not usurped her reputation, then there was something wrong with this book. To be sure, he went to the bathroom to get a vial of fairy dust and then went to his mother's room.
At the bottom of the door, he stopped instinctively.
He had acted out of pure automatism, it was in front of the place where he had to go that he became aware that he was going to enter his mother's room where he had not set foot since her death. It had remained as Malalalivia had left it before she left. He had not touched anything, it seemed to him.
Just reaching for the door handle made him nervous, his whole arm was shaking... he even took a step back. But knowing the duty he was going to owe Avelilinélia if she decided to officially take back her title of princess to compete for the rank of Queen of Sylvania, he couldn't stop at a mere shaky door with rotten wood.
Pulling himself together, he grabbed the handle and forced his way into his late mother's room. And to his surprise - not really - he found that it had been tidied up with the utmost care before she left.
Even at the very end you couldn't help yourself, could you?
In his left hand, on his ring finger, he had the ring his father had given his mother, he had worn it every day since he had found it in his lunch. He had never been able to part with it even though it seemed to weigh on his hand, making this hand heavier than the other - surely this was a psychological effect. But perhaps it was time to give it back.
He removed the ring from his hand and placed it in front of the photo frame where there was a picture of his mother, father and younger self. Just seeing this fragment of his past brought back a nostalgic memory of a happiness so far away. Nevertheless, there was no time to dwell on the past, he had to move on.
He searched the room for a book his mother had on methods of disenchantment and dispossession, and finally found it under the bed. He was about to leave but saw two more picture frames wrapped in sheets of ashy mountain rose, he opened the wrapping and saw a picture of him, with Avelilinélia and her mother.
- So she hadn't lied... You didn't have to go that far. I already know that she is part of our family, this little fairy.
The photo showed Lelelitio's grumpy face reluctantly embracing the one who had ended up being his adopted little sister, and both were embraced by Malalalivia with a big smile. And there was another photo of him with Malalalivia and Talemilia, standing behind their smiling children.
He took the pictures and the book with him, closed the door carefully and went back to sit in the living room. He rummaged through the book of disenchantments and found one that worked in conjunction with his magic of illusions. If Aveliline's mother had used the same spell on this book to hide the truth from anyone this book wasn't meant for, then he could easily undo it, and no incantation was needed, he just had to use his blood to make a glyph on the back of the book. Which he did, and as expected the book glowed with a pinkish aura before it disappeared.
It didn't seem to have changed, at least not the cover.
So he opened it and started to read the book again, and as if by a miracle, everything seemed clearer. So he was right: this book was Princess Talemilia Mother's diary, or rather, the testament of her life. And the most fantastic thing about it was that, as he leafed through it, not only did he discover that her middle name was "Josekeli", that her close friends affectionately called her "Jo", that she had been part of a coterie, that she had travelled outside the walls even though she was a direct descendant of the family of the fourth King-Fighter and therefore forbidden to travel outside the walls without being watched, but above all, the most surprising thing that made Lelelitio jump out of her chair was that Lady Talemilia Josekeli had known two heroes of legend: an arrogant wolf-like male therianthrope, addicted to money, cowardly towards everything concerning women and lazy to do his duty as a hero of the legend, and a human woman residing on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean whose dream was to start a big family and discover the famous Mount Greed.
However, the most surprising thing about her discovery was not that Talemilia Josekeli Grave had known two heroes of the legend, but the fact that this book had just told her that she had been a fairy of the legend.