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I awoke shivering, my skin icy, I was cold to my bones, it was so cold and my teeth were chattering together. I forced my body off the ground covered in both snow puddles and dried-up grasses, I moaned rubbing my arms, trying to keep the cold away. But not much could be done because I was only wearing my nightgown, silk and sleeveless, completely exposed and inviting the cold more to my body, each breath I took was cold steam only and I finally took the time to gaze upon my surroundings.
I was in the forest, I didn’t know how deep this time. "Again?" I said in between chattering teeth, I was getting sick of this, I would sleep in my bed and then before I knew it I would awake deep in the forest, gods know how I got here because it was a mystery for me, the castle was heavily guarded I’m sure they would have seen me pass the gates, well if they did I would not be here now, this was becoming serious.
I gaze upon the forest more, my head whirling back and forth, this feeling, this pull, it was like the forest was calling to me in ways that got me scared and curious, whatever reason could it be?
I looked towards the skies, great it was almost morning, the skies were getting bright, they should be here right about now.
"Mistress!"
Ha thank the gods, I whirled seeing Mint and Beowulf rushing towards me.
"It happened again," I said, shivering. Mint quickly used the blanket he brought to cover me, finally warmth. I sighed in relief, snuggling my body more into it.
"We made sure to guard the doors, it remained so, how did you get out Lady Sylvia," Beowulf asked curiously, the wolf was just as curious as I was, they all were, they were the only two who knew about this and it bothered me about my current predicament, I need to figure out what’s wrong with me.
It had been seven months since Cedric’s death, making a year since I came to the Empire and Emperor Edric had passed away leaving the throne to Lord Lawrence Smith.
"Mistress, we must go now before they find out you’re missing," Mint said. I nodded.
"There is one problem," I said.
"What is it, Lady Sylvia?"
"I think my legs are frozen," I said, shivering.
"I will carry you Mistress" Mint offered but I was already in his arms before he finished his sentence.
"I’m sorry for bothering both of you like this, if only I have control over this"
"You need not worry about that Lady Sylvia, we are here to serve you until we draw our last breath"
"I need to find out what’s happening to me," I said in a serious tone.
"Do you have a plan, Mistress?" Mint asked.
"There’s someone that might understand or know what’s happening to me," I said with a sigh. "Cora"
At the sound of her name, Beowulf turned to me.
"She’s a soothsayer, she once gave me a vision maybe if she could do a reading or anything"
"I’m afraid that can’t be possible Lady Sylvia," he said in a heavy tone, I frowned.
"Whatever are you talking about Beowulf?"
He gulped, not prepared to say anything, right from the time I have always had a feeling that Beowulf knew something or more was keeping something from me that’s why I didn’t completely trust him like I did Mint, he seemed loyal but he wasn’t truthful with me.
"Do you intend to keep yet another thing from me?"
He froze.
"If you know something you have to tell me, for mine sake Beowulf, I do not want to be in darkness"
He sighed. "About Cora, the last time you met her and Magnus found out" he began.
"I’m aware," I said recalling the first time we both went to the Eternal Garden and I was lost when I danced with the butterflies and met a very old Sprite, Cora, she called herself the oldest. Remembering all this made my heart ache, the memories of Cedric consuming me.
"Well Magnus was angry about the things she might have told you so he blocked her visions by freezing the pod with flowers into ice"
I gasped, The pod of flowers was like a channel for her powers. "W-Why would he do that?"
"Magnus may seem sweet and gentle when it comes to you but trust me Lady Sylvia he still lives up to his name"
I gulped at his words, this was it then I wasn’t getting any answers from Cora but still.
"You know something Beowulf... do you not?"
He looks away. "It is not my place to tell you, I only told you of Magnus’ sacrifice because you have every right to know" He states turning to keep walking.
"Let us go... it’s too cold out here for you Lady Sylvia"
"Yelena"
He came to a sudden halt when I mentioned the name, I could tell he was shaking.
"I had a dream once" I began, he turned his head to face me.
"In that dream, Cedric called me Yelena... does it have to do with what’s happening to me?"
He looked away, that was just the answer I needed.
"It does, doesn’t it?"
"The answers are not mine to give, forgive me for my incompetence, Lady Sylvia" with that being said he walked away.
"He doesn’t want to say anything, but he knows, it’s not right," Mint said as his body tensed.
"He must have his reason," I said under my breath, but there was no way that would stop me.
"If he doesn’t talk then I will find out myself"
"How?"
"Books have always had all knowledge, it may not be much but knowing more about Yelena will bring everything to light," I said for certain because I knew the Yelena he spoke of must most likely be the same goddess Yelena, the mother who birthed Silver-Haired and also the forest goddess.
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"goddess Yelena known as the guardian of the magical forest, loved by many in the Sun Realm, home for gods and goddesses" I narrated walking back and forth as I read the book.
"Guardian of the magical forest, these past nights I magically appear in the forest like it calling me... there’s this pull to it and months ago when I met Cora in her vision she said butterflies are attracted to things of the forest and I’m like a magnet to those wondrous creatures," I said as my eyes drift to Mint who patiently listen to me, he blinks.
"What are you trying to say, Mistress?"
I settled the book on the table. "That I might be the reincarnation of goddess Yelena"
"But that’s not possible Mistress, goddesses don’t reincarnate, their souls remain in their realm" he explained.
I sighed. "Yes I know, I read that too, then if it’s not that what?" I said taking my seat, I was dying to get answers to explain all this.
"Maybe you’re connected to her in some way," Mint said.
That was another fact. "Yes, it must be," I said. "I mean she is alive somewhere in the Sun Realm, the books don’t state whether she’s dead or not, they just give details of them," I said, grabbing the books once again. I turned to a page that had her picture, even though it was just drawn I could see how beautiful and elegant they made her be, like a radiant enchantress, my eyes moved to the other page there was a drawing of a white fox with nine tail, it was just like the one I saw in one of my dreams more like a flash when I was being assaulted... the white fox.
I read beneath it. "The magical power to shapeshift," I said under my breath.
"Mistress"
I turned to Mint, he smiled. "What is it?"
"Forgive me for being blunt but are you trying to use this to clear your head... I mean you haven’t been so engrossed in something over the past month, you are always in your chambers or the dining hall. I’m glad you are doing something different for a change even if it’s just a distraction"
I smiled. "Thank you Mint, you being blunt but you’re right"
"And it’s the first time you have smiled, you haven’t for a long time," he said.
I blinked multiple times, as my eyes grew teary.
"It’s okay to still be sad, don’t make it too hard on yourself to move on, you will do so when the time is right"
"That’s the point, Mint," I said, staring at my ring, the Hartford ring Cedric gave to me. "I don’t think I can ever move on..." I said the tears fell. "I can’t" My voice broke.
I sobbed, wiping my tears.
My chamber door barge opened as Mother walked in, I hurried to my feet. "Mother," I said, composing myself.
She forced a smile. "How are you? You seem pale, did you catch a cold? You should cover up more, winter season is the coldest times"
"Yes Mother I will"
"I received word from the palace... it appears a Ball is held by Emperor Lawrence, we were invited"