The First Riddle

Crystal braced herself for the forthcoming words of the Dragon King, who nodded its head and began to chant a riddle. Its words were cloaked in mystery and magic, a melody that danced with the shadows of the night. As the Dragon King spoke, Crystal felt the weight of the riddle settling upon her, its secrets waiting to be uncovered.

"A land familiar of shadows deep and dark, lies a secret, waiting to spark. Creatures sly, with tricks in store, but kind hearts will open the door. With respect and care, make your way, and find the prize that will not stray."

The Dragon King finished reciting the riddle and Crystal scrunched her nose in confusion, unable to decipher the mystery that had been presented before her. "What in the world is wrong with you?" she sulked, her frustration palpable. "You said you were going to help me, and now you're being unnecessarily dramatic. Just tell me what to do so I can get it done!"

The Dragon King looked at Crystal and shook its head, recognizing the irony of her accusation of it being dramatic. "If I were to provide you the whole path of your journey, how would I adhere to your father's command?" it questioned, its tone firm and unwavering. "It is crucial that you seek the solutions to my enigmas, for that is the sole means by which you can regain possession of your powers and memories."

Crystal sighed in defeat, surrendering to the Dragon King's unyielding command. "Fine," she relented. "At least tell me your name. It's strange that I don't even know your name, yet you keep addressing me as master." Crystal said uninterestedly, assuming she wouldn't get to know it anyway.

"Very well," the Dragon King declared. "My name is Aurora." Crystal's expression turned unbelieving, unable to negotiate the powerful and commanding presence of Aurora with her feminine name.

"You're a female!?" Crystal exclaimed, unable to contain her surprise.

"What was your prior assumption regarding my identity until this point?" Aurora questioned, a hint of amusement twinkling in her eyes, and Crystal chuckled, scratching her head nervously.

"Well, you look really powerful and manly, so I just assumed you were a male," Crystal explained, her embarrassment palpable. "And since you're the Dragon King, shouldn't you be the queen if you're a female dragon?" Crystal tried to save her image, but it seemed like she had already ruined it.

"You possess the zeal of your mother and the courage of your father, yet it is apparent that your wits are a unique trait of your own," Aurora said and chuckled at Crystal's lack of understanding.

Crystal gaped, feeling a bit offended since Aurora had already mentioned how wise her father was.

"The status among dragons is not defined by gender," she explained patiently. "In the hierarchy of dragons, size and strength determine the position of the king, regardless of their gender."

"And one more thing," Aurora added, her expression softening. "I am pleased to learn that you have established valuable acquaintances. None of them have harbored or will harbor any ill will towards you."

Crystal's eyes widened in shock. "How do you know about them?" she asked, bewildered.

"We are bonded, remember?" Aurora reminded her. "Whenever possible, I try my best to ensure that you are safe and well. I perceive your feelings, for I still feed on your magic even when I am in a state of hibernation."

Overwhelmed with relief, Crystal dared to ask the question that had been weighing on her mind. "So you're not angry with me for not following your advice?" she asked, holding her breath for Aurora's response.

Aurora shook her head, her eyes kind and understanding. Crystal felt a warmth spread throughout her chest as she smiled gleefully and ran to hug Aurora who put her long neck around her, pulling her closer. As they clung to each other, Crystal couldn't help but feel a sense of peace settle over her.

...

“You exude a positive radiant today,” Aurelius observed, smiling at Crystal as they stood under the pavilion once again. She had asked him to come so she could ask for his help to solve the riddle that Aurora had given her.

Crystal made puppy eyes at him, her expression one of both excitement and nervousness. "I've brought a particularly difficult puzzle for you to help me with, and I hope you won't refuse," she said.

Aurelius chuckled, shaking his head in adoration. "In what manner could I possibly deny the request of my most esteemed acquaintance in all of Plutus?" he teased. He couldn't help but flirt with her, even though he had tried to steel himself against it. But as Aurora had pointed out, Crystal was not the wittiest member of her family, especially since she had lost her memories and powers.

“You’re the sweetest, really,” Crystal replied to him, not giving much attention to his intention. Many people on Earth had told her the same words, but Aurelius became a blushing mess at her comment.

“Okay, listen carefully,” said Crystal, as she began to repeat Aurora's riddle to the best of her memory. She had to make Aurora repeat the riddle thrice, as she could not remember it.

"I don't understand a single word of this mystery," Crystal huffed in frustration, and Aurelius was equally confused.

"Crystal, I understand that I have previously assured you that I would not request any information from you that you are not comfortable sharing. However, may I inquire as to the source and timing of this riddle you received? I might be able to get a clue, and if you do not wish to share, it is alright, I--” Aurelius wanted to help Crystal by all means, so he needed to know more context, but at the same time, he wanted to respect Crystal’s wishes.

Crystal cut off his words as she took a deep breath and spoke, “First of all, I am really grateful that you are always trying to help me despite me not feeding any of your curiosities. But I have a green signal now, and I too believe and trust in you as a friend. So I will not be wary of you anymore. Just do not think of me as a mad woman talking madness.”

Aurelius’s heart fluttered when Crystal told him that she trusted him, a step beyond their friendship, he wondered. “That will never happen,” he hinted to her.

“Let me start with the basics. I was sent to Earth by my parents, and they removed my memories and blocked my powers for some unknown reasons. Although I am slowly unlocking bits of my powers, they are still not strong enough to use magic properly. So for doing that, I was provided with this riddle in my dream by a--” Crystal paused, reluctant to let him know about Aurora, mostly because she did not want him to be wary of her. Aurelius sensed her reluctance and decided to stop her there.

“This is sufficient for now, Crystal. If you find it challenging to disclose any further details, I will not insist on pressing the matter," Aurelius reassured her, his warm brown eyes reflecting his sincerity.

Crystal smiled gratefully at him, touched by his understanding and kindness. If someone else had spoken such nonsense to her, she might have responded sarcastically, but maybe she thought so only because she had spent a large portion of her life on earth.

"Shall we redirect our attention to the riddle at hand? My assumption is that the 'familiar land of shadows deep and dark' may be a realm that you regularly encounter in your subconscious. It is possible that the being who bestowed this riddle upon you intended to allude to this location," Aurelius suggested, his tone gentle and patient. Crystal furrowed her brows in deep concentration, trying to recall anything that could help them solve the riddle.

Suddenly, she gasped, her eyes widening with excitement. "I think I know now! Shadows- deep- dark- Aurora was hinting at the forest where we always meet in my dreams!" she exclaimed, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Crystal excitedly chimed, now that she had solved at least the first part of the riddle, while Aurelius chose not to ask who Aurora was to avoid any awkwardness.

"Regarding the sly creatures--" Aurelius was about to offer his guess when both of them were interrupted by a third party.

"Pookas are known to be mischievous and skilled shape-shifters. However, their intentions are not always malevolent, and they may even be helpful to those who show them respect. It is noteworthy that the Mysticum Vale is the only place that readily comes to mind when one hears the combination of 'forest' and 'Pookas.' As a second-year student, Aurelius, you should already be familiar with this." The crown prince, Ambrose, stepped into the pavilion, interrupting the conversation.

Crystal swallowed, remembering the previous evening. She had forgotten about it in the midst of the majestic Love Gram rain, but now that her head was clear and sharp, she couldn't help but focus on how natural Ambrose's touch had felt against her skin and how she had not wanted him to withdraw his hand.

In short, she was doing her best to keep it together in front of him.

On the other hand, Aurelius couldn't help but feel bitter at Ambrose's presence, but to the crown prince, he couldn't show his bitterness openly.