An Evil One

While Crystal remained inside the seashell cave, her friends anxiously awaited her safe return. Maria, who had been quiet for a while, finally voiced the question that had been lingering in her mind for the longest time, "Do you really think Crystal has a significant other on Earth?"

Ambrose and Aurelius were caught off guard, nearly choking on their breaths as they glanced at Marina, who wore a straight face.

Marina rolled her eyes, noting their incredulous expressions. "The way you behave and the emotions you display when you are around her make it quite clear how you feel. If Crystal did not have the ability to access one's emotions through their aura, she might not have concocted this lie as she is pretty dense with the expressions alone. That is just my assumption, of course."

Ambrose firmly declared, "Crystal is indeed my friend, and I have no ulterior motives or romantic intentions towards her. Our relationship is purely based on friendship." His gaze was fixed towards the direction of the cave.

Aurelius remained silent, still preoccupied with the encounter with the sirens, the melodious song, and the mysterious woman he had never encountered before. He wondered if Crystal had any knowledge of her.

Marina pressed on, "You are aware that Crystal possesses the ability to perceive emotions effortlessly, almost as if they were an open book placed in front of her. Therefore, there is no point in attempting to conceal your feelings from her." She was eager to extract some sort of response from either of the two.

“Certainly, if Crystal were to claim that she is already in love with someone else as a means to avoid the reality of our connection then I suppose I might be a bit happier than I am just by being by her side,” Aurelius said, his words laced with a mix of longing and resignation.

He had left both Ambrose and Marina speechless, he was no sentimental soul others assumed him to be, he was a resolute and perceptive fae who knew what was just the right amount of words needed to be said.

"Even if it is evident that she despises the idea?" Ambrose asked with a skeptical look on his face and Marina bit her lips, not really ready for a drama.

Aurelius, brimming with confidence, asserted, "She does not despise the idea; rather, she is simply unaccustomed to the notion of having a mate." Ambrose, his jaw clenched, scoffed and averted his gaze, clearly unconvinced.

Undeterred, Aurelius continued, his voice laced with certainty, "Perhaps you hold a different perspective because you lack the connection that Crystal and I share. I am certain, Your Highness, that Crystal is someone whom I had known for a long time, we share a past that you do not."

A self-assured smirk graced Aurelius' face, as he relished the notion of Ambrose as a rival for Crystal's affection. Because just as Marina suggested, his expressions and actions had already revealed his true feelings, despite the feeble denials.

But his confidence had come from the fact that having a mate had no significance to the royals. Only the status of a faerie mattered.

Ambrose furrowed his brows, his expression one of confusion and skepticism. He couldn't recall any memories of Madonia and Aurelius together, but he acknowledged the close ties between the Flores family and the royal family. While it was plausible that they might have crossed paths, the fact that Aurelius seemed to have recollections of their shared past, while everyone else but him, had forgotten everything related to Madonia, struck him as peculiar and out of sync.

Despite his inner turmoil, Ambrose chose to remain silent, his gaze fixed on the direction of the cave. He couldn't find any joy in claiming Crystal as his love, for he believed deep down that he didn't deserve her. The weight of his self-doubt and unworthiness burdened his heart, causing him to hold back his true feelings and keep them hidden within himself.

...

Crystal emerged from the cave, and as soon as she did, the seashell structure vanished along with the barrier. Her friends hurried towards her, concern etched on their faces, eager to know what had transpired inside since she looked completely out of place.

Crystal, still processing her experience, recalled the revelation she received within the cave. "I was informed that I currently possess only a fraction of my true powers," she explained, her voice filled with a mixture of astonishment and curiosity. Her friends mirrored her astonishment, realizing that if Crystal could accomplish such remarkable feats with only a portion of her powers, the extent of her capabilities with her full power was unimaginable.

Flare, the ever-observant flame, chimed in, expressing disbelief. "I can feel the energy radiating from within you clearly. You are as powerful as any other Aether faerie, if not more."

Crystal, still processing the information conveyed by Flare, was at a loss for words. She contemplated the significance of her extraordinary abilities while staring into the unseen space as her friends recognized Flare must have told her something equally astonishing.

Emotions swirled within Crystal, a blend of curiosity, confusion, and a deep sense of purpose. Why was she chosen? Why did she possess more power than any other Aether faerie? And why did she have to prove herself to the Nymph Sisters to reclaim what was rightfully hers—her powers and her memories, as the Water Nymph had explained?

Marina broke the silence, her voice steady and practical. "Let us focus on getting out of here first," she suggested, her words resonating with the group. They all agreed, realizing that the answers to their questions would come in due time, but for now, their immediate priority was to leave the Kingdom of Blaze.

...

As Crystal and her friends stepped within the boundaries of the academy, beyond the protective walls of Teikhi Prostasias, they were taken aback by an unexpected presence.

"What are you students doing here at this hour?" questioned a figure they didn't anticipate encountering. While they should have been startled and concerned for the safety of their student lives, their worries quickly dissipated when they recognized the familiar form before them.

"Custos!" Crystal exclaimed with delight, rushing towards the small feegestas and scooping him up in her hands. Flare, who lingered by Crystal's side, flickered with her purple flames as she did not like Crystal being affectionate to a feegestas.

Custos felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him as he was treated like a mere pet from Earth. He quickly regained his composure and ordered Crystal, "Put me down, Ms. Smith, for I am no toy."

Crystal's pout deepened at Custos's indifference, and she reluctantly placed him down on the ground.

"I was just happy to see you after such a long time. You don't need to be so rude about it," she mumbled, her disappointment evident. Custos shook his head in disbelief but quickly refocused on the matter at hand.

"My question still stands," Custos continued, his tone firm. "What are you students doing here at this hour? Do you realize the consequences that await once Headmistress Selinofoto hears about this?"

The four of them exchanged glances, silently communicating their need to come up with a convincing excuse. However, they momentarily forgot that Crystal had a talent for weaving tales on the spot. Before anyone could interject, Crystal launched into her well-practiced act.

"Custos, don't you think this poor faerie from Earth deserves a chance to mingle with her kind and learn more about the Fae Kingdom? After all, you brought me here. If I were to be expelled from this academy, I would have to return to Earth, where I would be all alone, suffering and-- --," Crystal's words flowed ceaselessly, causing Custos's ability to think straight to waver. Desperate to silence her, he shushed her, and Crystal obediently fell silent, blinking rapidly as she looked at him.

Custos sighed, realizing that he had fallen into Crystal's trap. "Enough, Ms. Smith. Your persuasive skills are indeed impressive," he admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice. "However, that doesn't absolve you of your responsibility to follow the academy's rules. Headmistress Selinofoto must be informed about your presence here."

Crystal turned around, facing her friends with a mischievous smile on her face. Sensing their unease, she reassured them, "Don't worry, I'll handle him." Her smile took on a sinister edge, sending a shiver down their spines.

Custos attempted to interject, "Ms. Smith, that is not a nice--" but Crystal swiftly cut him off with a flick of her fingers. Custos froze in place, his expression becoming stony, and without another word, he turned around and walked away as if he had witnessed nothing out of the ordinary.

The trio stood there, utterly dumbfounded by Crystal's display of power. As she turned back to them, winking mischievously, she assured them, "He will forget everything he just saw and heard. You don't have to worry when Crystal is here."

Marina shook her head, a mixture of awe and amusement on her face. With a sarcastic grin, she remarked, "Oh, you truly are an evil one, my friend."