Valerian, The Legendary

66 Why?

Valerian wanted to mount on a horse or a wraith, but Fragrantia asked him to get on the carriage. This carriage was different than the one used by Azula. This carriage had better sound isolation and much more comfort than the other one. Also, the space inside seemed to be bigger than the outside.

Fragrantia noticed the child looking around with a calm gaze, but the flickering curiosity about the aspects of this carriage in his eyes could not be hidden from her. It could be said that Valerian was too focused for his age, however, the innate characteristics of a child were something that could not be defied or completely controlled by him.

Fragrantia said, “This carriage is enchanted. You will learn about this in the academy, there are a lot of things about magic that are not public, or cannot be accessed by anyone.”

Her tone was calm and light, Valerian nodded and asked, ‘Your Excellency about the thing you said earlier?’

Fragrantia smiled and nodded, “Patience child, patience. I will tell you, do not worry.”

Valerian nodded on the surface, but his heart could not settle down. His thoughts began to move, and the imagination of a paranoid child was strong enough to imagine himself to be some sort of sacrifice.

Fragrantia saw this but she did not justify herself and let him imagine all that he could because the reality was something that Valerian could never imagine. The time flew and the carriage swiftly left the city and the landscape changed a lot.

Illusio, the magic beast of the Empress meowed, and Fragrantia smiled, she said while petting the cat gently, “You still remember this place.”

Fragrantia raised her hand and knocked on the ceiling of the carriage twice. Soon the convoy stopped. The carriage was good noise isolation but if the walls were knocked directly from the inside, they will be transmitted outside and the coachman will stop.

.....

Valerian opened the door and unfolded the steps. He helped Fragrantia step down and the lady said, “Valerian, grab the basket of food and follow me.”

The child nodded and immediately acted. He was fast, following Fragrantia, he noticed that none of the guards were following them. He found this odd, and he wanted to ask why was this, when the Empress said, “They will not follow because the place we are going to is protected.”

Valerian nodded and followed the lady while holding the basket. They were getting deeper inside the forest, and the instincts of the child were screaming. He was really afraid at this moment and thinking about how to get away in case the empress attacked him.

This forest was too quiet for him. No animal activity, this was impossible, and given the time he has spent inside the forest, it did not fit for him. Fragrantia said, “Valerian Divinus Magnus.”

As soon as these three words came out of her mouth, Valerian stopped in his tracks, his eyes opened wide. His mother had told him that his name must be kept a secret, even Diligentia was unaware of this, so how could this woman know. He reacted quickly to grab his knife, but suddenly he found his feet to be stuck.

Looking down he found his legs bound with vines, he knew what spell was this, it was an immobilization spell. He wanted to counter with a spell of his own, when Fragrantia said, “You need to calm down, do you sense any malice from me?”

Valerian woke up and shook his head, then Fragrantia said, “You must be wondering, why do I know your name? If I said that Flos was my half-sister, will you believe me?”

The struggle was put to an end, Valerian stood on the spot, he could never believe what he was just told. Fragrantia waved her hand, and the tied-up Valerian moved, the vines seemed to have taken over his body. Suddenly, the child notice another thing, he did not hear Fragrantia say a single word.

This meant only one thing, Fragrantia was an Arch-mage. She was an existence who must not be messed with. It just so happened that her attribute was wood too. The forest was her territory. Valerian put down all and any desire to struggle and began to wait for what will happen ahead of them.

Fragrantia said, “I also know that your mother is no more, and neither is your father. How do I know this you will know in a bit.”

Her tone was not calm anymore, but it was heavy and somber. Valerian could tell her aura was gloomy at this moment. They moved deeper inside the forest and in the middle of a clearing Valerian saw a tree. The leaves were shining like they were made from a jewel.

Fragrantia said, “Beneath this tree, rests your mother, Flos Griffith. The seventh-degree battlemage and the most beautiful woman on the eastern continent. Now you know why I am so trustful of you.”

Valerian shivered, Fragrantia came to his side and undid the vines. She caught hold of the boy and supported him. Valerian kept looking at the tree with a feeling of longing and desire. The emotional turmoil in his head, could not be described with words.

This longing became agony, however, before today he had never imagined that the pain will be so much. His eyes had turned red, yet no drop of tear came out. Fragrantia could see this, she thought the boy would break down and bawl his heart out, however, nothing happened.

Just when she was about to conclude that Valerian was very strong emotionally, she caught a tint of red leaking from the corners of his eyes. She was shocked, the child in her arms was crying tears of blood. She panicked, just when she was thinking about something, Valerian regained his ability to move.

He struggled and shunned away Fragrantia, his body was still not hundred percent under control, but wobbling he walked towards the tree. He fell to the ground when he was a few meters away, but he never showed a sign of stopping, using his four limbs, he reached the tree, and his small palm touched the trunk.

A gust of wind blew at this movement and a small white flower fell down on his head. It was as if Flos’s spirit was telling him that she was here. His tears of blood stopped as well, leaving trails on his jade-like face.