CHAPTER V: Caelum's POV
The Silent Forest and the Golden Chariot:
The shadow of Lunaria Noir slowly faded behind me as I stepped into the wild unknown. I had escaped. Finally. But not without consequences.
I needed a second horse.
To create a royal chariot strong enough for the journey ahead — one that could carry not only me, but the fate of those I was meant to guide — I needed another steed.
Unfortunately, I had left with only one.
I turned to Flash, who was perched on a low branch beside me, plucking at his feathers with boredom.
"Flash," I said, "fly around and look. See if there's anyone nearby who has a horse. I need one. Quickly."
He flapped his wings with an annoyed squawk. "As if I'm a horse-hunter now," he muttered — but he obeyed. With a swift burst, he lifted into the air and vanished through the treetops.
"Chiko, you too," I called. "And Rira — go with them. Help however you can."
Rira, my ever-faithful enchanted carpet, shimmered once and rose with graceful ease, following the others into the woods.
The forest ahead was vast… ancient. The kind of place where secrets lived in the leaves and danger whispered between the branches. For most fairies — even warriors — this place would be terrifying. The trees were tall and clawed at the sky like broken fingers. A strange mist hugged the ground. Odd sounds echoed through the shadows.
But I wasn't afraid.
No spell in this forest could harm me — not now. Not after what I had endured in Lunaria Noir. The dark magic that lurked in these woods might frighten others, but to me… it felt like nothing more than background noise.
Still, time was slipping. I couldn't wait around. I needed that horse.
So, I stepped deeper into the forest myself.
The deeper I went, the more I realized how alone I was. Flash, Chiko, and Rira had scattered in different directions. Their auras were faint now, far from my reach. I pressed forward anyway, brushing past branches, ignoring the vines trying to tangle at my feet.
And then — a sudden sound.
A quiet thud, followed by the soft whinny of a creature spooked by my presence.
I froze.
Just beyond the trees stood a magnificent white horse, its coat shining like moonlight. Its breath came out in heavy puffs, as if it had been running. I recognized it instantly — this wasn't just any horse.
It was a Frosthevan breed.
Rare. Proud. Strong.
What was a Frosthevan steed doing this deep in the woods?
It didn't matter.
I stepped forward slowly, careful not to frighten it, and raised my hand. Whispering an incantation under my breath, I cast a hypnotize spell — a soft, golden light glowed from my fingertips and spread over the creature's eyes. They flickered once… then softened. The horse bowed its head.
It was mine now.
Without wasting time, I led it back to my original steed. The two horses stood side by side, powerful and regal — black and white. A perfect balance. Drawing energy from the forest itself, I lifted my hands and whispered another ancient spell.
In a flash of gold and magic, the horses transformed — not physically, but in purpose. Their reins became glowing vines, their hooves shimmered with light, and between them a golden chariot formed. Elegant. Strong. Built for destiny.
I stepped back and admired my work.
Perfect.
Now all I needed was my team.
I waited. And waited.
Minutes passed.
Still no sign of Flash or Chiko.
Then — movement. I looked up to see them soaring back toward me… but they weren't alone.
A fairy was with them.
I squinted, trying to get a clearer view, but from where I stood, her face was hidden by distance and light. I felt a flicker of unease in my chest. Who was she?
Flash was chattering excitedly to her. Chiko was flying playfully nearby.
I frowned. Something about the way they were with her… it was too familiar. Too trusting.
Before I could react, Chiko called out, his voice echoing through the trees, "Rira!"
The carpet, who had been floating silently beside me, suddenly perked up. She shimmered once, then turned toward the direction of the voice.
"No, Rira," I said sharply, "stay."
But she hesitated. Turned back to look at me. Then again at the sky.
She was torn. I could feel her tugging at her bond — not to me, but to them.
To her.
Before I could stop her, she rushed away, gliding toward the group.
"Rira!" I shouted, stepping forward to grab her, but she dodged me — and not with force. With grace.
She looked back once, hovering midair like a silken ghost, and I saw it in her eyes.
She was begging me.
Not with words. But with loyalty. She wanted to go. She needed to.
I clenched my fists, my pride stinging, but I let her go.
Fine.
If they trusted this mystery fairy so much, they could have her.
I turned back to my golden chariot, frustration burning quietly beneath my skin.
Without another word, I stepped aboard.
And alone — without Flash, without Chiko, without Rira —
I took off into the sky.
Toward Sunflower Land.
Toward a fate I no longer understood.
Caelum's Hidden Plan:
According to the ancient map hidden within the royal scrolls, I knew exactly where my next destination had to be — Sunflower Land. It was there that I would find the entrance to Ice Land, sealed long ago and accessible only through Seven Sacred Keys.
Four of those keys were already accounted for — three still lost in the realms, and one already in my possession.
That meant I still needed three more.
And to obtain them… I would need to gather six fairies in one place.
There was no time to lose.
Without hesitation, I rode my golden chariot straight toward the Royal Palace of Sunflower Land — the very heart of this cheerful, radiant realm. Today, the palace was filled with excitement and celebration. Princess Aurelia was preparing to undergo her royal rituals — the final steps to becoming the crowned Queen of her land.
Perfect timing.
But I had no interest in crowns or rituals.
I had a mission.
As I approached, I raised my hand and cast a powerful hypnosis spell, one strong enough to fall like a veil over the entire palace. I could feel the magic spread like a soft fog — invisible, undetected, but silently seeping into the hearts and minds of all present.
Almost all.
I made my way through the palace halls until I stood before the King, his face calm under the effects of my spell. In a respectful tone, I addressed him.
"I come with orders from Godfather Moon," I said solemnly. "I have been sent to safely escort Princess Aurelia to the Mother Fairy. To do that, I need your permission — your blessing, Your Majesty."
The King, entranced, began to nod in agreement.
But before he could speak the words aloud, a sharp voice cut through the air like lightning.
"I see it now… so the prophecy is unfolding. You've finally come, Caelum."
I turned to find Queen Sunaria, standing tall — her eyes like frozen stars, unwavering and terrifyingly calm.
My breath hitched.
She wasn't affected. Not even slightly.
"No," I lied smoothly, adjusting my voice. "You must be mistaken, my Queen. My name is George."
But Sunaria only stepped forward, her expression never changing.
"Don't lie to me, Caelum. We — the Seven Queens — have all been gifted a sacred blessing. If any evil soul dares to use magic upon us, it will never touch us. We see through the veil. We feel the truth behind it."
Her voice was steady, ancient, and absolute.
"Your mother, Luna, knew of this prophecy long before you were born. She knew that one day, you would rise. That one day, you would walk among us again — not as Finnian, the name you were raised under… but as Caelum, the hidden child of fate."
My fists clenched at the sound of her name. My past.
My lie.
My truth.
So she knew everything.
"Very well," I said darkly, letting the facade fall. "If you already know who I am… then stay out of my way. Do not challenge me, Queen. If you try to stop me, I will melt this land in a blink — your golden fields, your beloved palace, your fairies… all will vanish beneath the weight of my power."
I stepped forward, my voice low and dangerous.
"And don't waste your breath wondering whether your precious Princess Aurelia will return. She won't.
I promise you — she will never come back.
I'll make sure of it."
But Sunaria only looked at me… with eyes that held no fear.
Her lips parted with a calm prophecy:
"Run your dark games, Caelum. Play your cruel tricks. But know this — destiny will not fail. Fate always finds a way."
Then, without another word, she turned and whispered something to a nearby palace fairy.
Moments later, Aurelia was brought forward — glowing in golden robes, unaware of what had just transpired.
Sunaria, with her usual elegance, explained the ritual of three:
"You will meet two other fairies here today. Only when the three of you are together can your journey begin."
Her eyes flicked back to me — and I could feel it again. That quiet, terrifying calm that pierced deeper than any blade.
I quickly took Aurelia by my side, masking my urgency with politeness.
High above, I spotted Flash soaring through the air — his feathers still black. Dangerous.
If any fairy down below caught sight of a black parrot, they'd start whispering about the Black Fairy's return, and someone might try to trace him back to me.
That couldn't happen.
I raised my hand once more and cast another spell — transforming Flash's feathers from black to white, a disguise of innocence. At the same time, I used a mild hypnosis to blur the eyes of the crowd, to keep them from looking too closely.
But there were too many.
The effect was slow.
Some were beginning to resist.
No matter. I moved fast, cutting through the palace gardens and into the heart of Sunflower Land.
Eventually, after searching among the crowds and scattered fairies, I found two others. Fairies whose magic shimmered faintly — just enough to hint that they were key-bearers.
One of them caught my attention immediately.
She stood quietly, her aura radiant — pure.
So pure, in fact, that I hesitated for a brief second.
This fairy… her soul was untouched by evil. She had never committed a wrong in her life. There was a sacred energy around her — uncorrupted, blinding even.
But I didn't care.
This wasn't about good or bad.
This was about getting those keys.
And the moment I had them… I would gather all six fairies together.
Then, everything would fall into place.
The ritual would begin.
And Ice Land… would finally open its gates.
To be continue....