Delythena's POV
After meeting with Azmier and Crisella, I returned to the palace. Not long after, Savena arrived.
"Savena!" I greeted her happily and hugged her.
"I missed you, Delythena" she said with a smile.
"I missed you too, we hardly get to see each other nowadays" I replied.
"By the way, I brought your favorite foods from our town" she said, handing me the food she brought.
"Wow, thank you so much, Savena!" I said. "Come on, let's go inside."
"No thanks, I won't stay long. I just passed by to give you these foods you like, and I also missed you" she said sweetly, making me smile.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" I asked, wanting to spend more time with her so we could talk.
"I have errands to run" she said and I just nodded.
"Thank you so much. I'll visit you next time" I replied.
"I'll be looking forward to that. Alright, I'll head out now. Bye, Delythena. It was nice to see you again. See you soon!" she said and disappeared.
I walked inside and headed straight to my room I didn't want to run into Feyaline again, because just seeing her ruined my entire day. But the moment I opened my door, I dropped all the food I was carrying out of shock.
"Ahhhh!" I turned around when I heard a scream it was Feyaline's maid.
"Lady Feyaline!" she cried out and rushed to the lifeless, blood-covered body lying on the floor.
"What's going on?!"
The maid was crying and then turned to me with anger in her eyes. "You killed her?!" she screamed at me.
"What? No!" I defended myself, barely able to move, paralyzed by the sight before me.
Moments later, the palace staff began to gather, shouting and murmuring all sorts of things almost all of them staring directly at me.
No, this is a trap.
"Oh my goodness..."
"She killed Lady Feyaline?"
"She's scary."
"Why would she do that?"
"She's dead meat once the Duke finds out..."
Those were the whispers that spread among them.
"You're wrong, I didn't kill Feyaline!" I defended myself.
"If not you, then who?! You were the only one in the room with her!" the maid cried out between sobs.
"Believe me, I just got here and found her like that!" I insisted, my hands shaking.
"We all know you're stronger than Feyaline. So it's not impossible that you did this!" she accused.
Everyone around me stared with suspicion and judgment, and it was clear they were more convinced by the maid's words than mine.
The pressure was suffocating I was being treated like the prime suspect.
Ugh, why does this world have no CCTV?!
Moments later, others arrived.
"FEYALINE!" the Duke shouted as he stormed in with Zadkiel. "Feyaline! What's going on here?!" his voice thundered in anger.
"She killed Lady Feyaline!" the maid screamed, pointing straight at me.
"No..." That was the only defense I could muster. I glanced at Zadkiel, but I couldn't read his expression.
"How dare you!" the Duke roared at me.
"I swear, I didn't kill her." No matter how much I defended myself, it seemed like no one believed me and I couldn't even read Zadkiel's expression to know if he believed me or not.
"Everyone gathered in the lobby." With a commanding tone, Zadkiel gave the order, and everyone immediately went to the lobby. All the people in the palace were summoned.
"Who witnessed Lady Feyaline's death?" Zadkiel asked seriously.
"I did" answered Feyaline's maid.
"And what exactly did you witness?" Zadkiel followed up.
"I saw Lady Delythena standing in front of Lady Feyaline, who was already unconscious" the maid said.
"You're right about that" I replied, trying to stay calm. "But just because I was there doesn't mean I killed her. Why? Did you actually see me strike her? All you saw was her lying there unconscious."
"Lady Delythena has a point," Zadkiel said.
"But we've witnessed many times how much stronger Lady Delythena is compared to Lady Feyaline and she's hurt her before. It's not impossible that she could do it again" the maid added, and I closed my eyes in frustration.
"What you're saying has no certainty. They're just assumptions with no solid proof. None of you have evidence" I said, which silenced those who had been whispering earlier.
"Lady Delythena is right. Unless we have concrete evidence, we can't accuse anyone" Zadkiel said.
"Then why was Lady Feyaline in your room, your very room?" The maid asked again.
"If I had any intention of killing her, I would have done it in her own room so there would be no evidence. So why would I kill her in my own room? And why would she even come here when we're not even close?" I explained, irritation lacing my voice. "So, I just don't know, because I was out all day" I added.
"That's true I was with Lady Delythena when we went out" Tia chimed in.
"But you returned earlier, right, Tia?" one of the palace maids asked.
"Yes, but Lady Delythena wasn't in her room at that time" Tia replied.
"Supreme Ruler, I demand justice for the death of my daughter inside your palace" the duke said angrily.
"I will make sure Lady Feyaline gets the justice she deserves" Zadkiel responded. "Everyone is prohibited from leaving the palace until we uncover solid evidence."
I let out a heavy sigh.
Great. I got dragged into this mess.
I sat curled up in my room, staring at the spot where Feyaline's body had been earlier. My mind kept replaying the scene, trying to figure out who could've done it and why they made it look like I was the one who killed her.
Right now... I honestly have no idea who did it.
A few moments later, I saw a feather just like the one we found before, green in color.
"Tch, that person again" I muttered.
It really seems like there's only one person behind all these events, and I'm clearly the one being targeted. I need to find out who it is and more importantly, why.
"Lady Delythena."
I turned when Tia called out to me.
"The Supreme Ruler is calling you to his office" she said.
I let out a deep sigh. I already knew what this would be about.
I immediately headed to Zadkiel's office, carrying the green feather with me.
When I arrived at his office, I went straight inside without even knocking.
"My lady" he greeted calmly.
"I didn't kill Feyaline" I said directly as I approached his desk and stood in front of him.
He put down the paper he was holding.
"I know" he said firmly, and that alone brought a bit of relief to my chest.
"But I'm sure there's only one person behind all of this" I said, placing the green feather on his desk. "That person." And I knew he understood exactly who I was referring to.
He nodded. "I know as well."
"So, what's your plan?" I asked him
"I need you to come with me" he said making me curious.
"Why? Didn't you say no one will leave the palace?" I asked.
"You're not included because I know you didn't do anything wrong." He said, I don't want to admit anything, but his words really eased my feelings.
I didn't complain anymore and just followed him, and so we left I didn't know where he was taking me because I only went with him since he told me to.
I just sat quietly here in the carriage while Zadkiel was reading something on a piece of paper, and I had no intention of speaking either I just wanted to get to wherever we were going.
After an hour and a half, we finally arrived at our destination a place unfamiliar to me, far from the Obsidian Citadel. It looked like a village too, and it seemed to be a large one.
"Where are we?" I couldn't help but ask him.
"We're in Bitlesha Village" he replied as we got down from the carriage.
"And what exactly are we doing here? Why did you even bring me along?" I asked him.
"We're looking for someone" he said, which made me curious.
"Someone? Who exactly?" I asked.
"This person is known around here as the Question Teller" he said, causing me to frown.
"Huh? Question Teller? That's... unusual." I wasn't sure if he was joking or not.
"That person known as the one who delivers questions and it's you who will answer" he added, which only made me more confused.
Because really, who wouldn't be? It was the first time I'd ever heard of someone like that. Usually, we seek people who answer our questions, but this one was different they're the ones who ask.
"Alright, let's go see that person" I finally said.
As we walked toward the place he mentioned, I couldn't help but feel intrigued by the person he was talking about. I wanted to see just how effective this person really was.
I simply followed Zadkiel while letting my eyes wander around the area. So far, the people here didn't seem suspicious at all just ordinary folks living their normal lives.
After a while, we arrived at a secluded place with a single door surrounded by lights outside. We went in, and an old man greeted us as we entered. I looked around his place it wasn't like those of mortals with fortune-telling tools or anything like that. His space was plain, the only decoration being strange paintings whose meanings I couldn't even begin to understand.
"Good evening" the old man greeted us.
"Good evening to you as well" we replied.
The old man offered for us to sit, so we took a seat.
"What can I do for you?" he asked. I thought to myself that he truly was a literal question teller because he immediately asked a question. If this were a mortal, the first thing they'd say would be something like, "I know why you're here."
"To be asked" Zadkiel said.
This is really weird
The old man smiled and then looked at both of us, but his gaze lingered on me.
"Why didn't you kill her the moment you had the chance?" His sudden question caught me off guard.
"Huh?" I said in surprise, and Zadkiel glanced at me.
"Why didn't you just kill Feyaline?" I was even more shocked by what he said.
"Because I had no intention of killing her" I replied in defense.
And then he looked at Zadkiel.
"Why didn't you accuse her?" he asked him.
"Because I know she's not the one" Zadkiel replied. Then the old man looked at me again.
He smiled again.
"You both have pure intentions toward each other, and you can trust one another." Hearing the old man say that made me feel relieved because at least I knew I could trust Zadkiel.
The old man looked at me once more. "Do you remember anything about the green things you saw?" he asked.
I suddenly thought hard and recalled everything I could remember. I knew what he meant those green things were related to the enemy.
"I remember a lot of what I saw, but I have no idea where or who it came from" I replied.
"Did you know that the things you see are really meant for you?" he asked again.
I thought for a moment. I could say yes because all of it leads directly to me, I replied.
"That's right, for you" he said with emphasis.
"Do you know who the people you can or should trust are?" he said, his words carrying real emphasis.
Suddenly, all the memories of betrayal flashed through my mind. But in my heart, I knew there were still people I could trust Savena and Zadkiel. I wasn't yet sure if I could trust Tia.
"I know who I can trust" I replied.
"You don't know" he said which made me confused. "Have you noticed anything unusual about those who approach you?" he asked again, his questions clearly carrying emphasis, as if he was getting at something important.
"To be honest, only you can truly answer your questions especially you" he said, looking directly at me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, still not quite understanding.
"The answers to your questions are right in front of you. You just need to open your eyes fully to see the clear answers in your mind" he said.
Before we finally left, the old man said to me,
"Don't be blinded by illusion; instead, create an illusion to catch the illusion." His cryptic words made me think deeply.
We were on our way to the carriage, but my mind was still stuck on the old man's words I was pretty confused.
"Are you okay?" Zadkiel asked, noticing how deep I seemed to be in thought.
"I'm just thinking about what the old man said" I replied.
"He's right the answers to your questions are already in front of you" he said, making me glance at him.
"Even you?" I asked, surprised.
"I know you're special because the answers come from you" he said.
My head was aching from all their cryptic words. Why couldn't they just be straightforward so this drama would finally end?
Before we could reach the carriage, a sudden gust of wind blew fiercely for no clear reason.
"What's happening?" I asked in confusion but before Zadkiel could respond, the wind pulled me away with such force, and everything went black.
When I woke up, I was in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by floating white diamonds. The ground beneath my feet felt like clouds.
"Where am I?" I asked in confusion.
"You're in the air" a voice said from behind me, startling me. I turned to see a woman dressed in white, with white hair and striking blue eyes she was breathtakingly beautiful.
"Air spirit?" I asked in awe.
"Yeah, that's right. That's me" she replied but there was something off about her. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but she had this... dramatic, almost overly refined air about her. Like she was a bit full of flair maybe even a little pretentious. "Surprised, huh? That I pulled you in?" she asked with that theatrical tone.
"Yeah" was all I managed to say.
"Well, it's just that my schedule to meet you wasn't supposed to be for a while" she said, flipping her hair slightly as she spoke.
I sighed and my shoulders dropped. Her personality was just... something else. So different from the other elemental spirits I'd met Water and Earth were calm, grounded. But this one? This one was on a completely different level.
"I'm different, right? I know, I get that a lot. And anyway, I'm the prettiest among us" she said with a smug smile.
I was left speechless, mouth slightly open at what she just said.
Is she really an elemental spirit? I wondered.
"So anyway, I really wanted to meet you, but my schedule was so far off, so I just went ahead and pulled you in" she said, making me furrow my brows in confusion.
"There's a schedule for that?" I asked, puzzled.
"Of course! And honestly, Water and Earth's schedules were so boring, right?" she added with a dramatic eye roll. "Don't worry, you won't be meeting the Fire Spirit she doesn't have a schedule. She's not part of it. You'll only meet her if you choose to summon her" she said, flipping her hair again. "If I were you, don't summon her. Like, girl, her attitude is the worst."
That only made me even more confused.
"What do you mean? And... are all of you actually connected? Do you all know each other?" I asked, completely intrigued now.
She sighed dramatically. "Take a seat looks like we're in for a long gossip session."
With a flick of her hand, she formed a chair made out of a cloud and gestured for me to sit. I sat down, still unsure what to expect, and she gracefully took a seat across from me, looking like she was about to spill everything.
"Since it looks like the other two spirits didn't bother telling you anything" she began with a raised brow and a flip of her hair "I'll be the one to tell you everything."
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with drama and a hint of mischief.
"Let's start from the very beginning, shall we?" she asked. "From the very beginning" she said with a soft sigh, "we spirits didn't have owners. Only the Ruler of Spirits watched over us." She said as she begun to story tell
"We all lived together in one place not this place, but a realm where only spirits could dwell. A paradise, really. A place no human could ever find." As she spoke, her tone shifted slightly, becoming more thoughtful, almost nostalgic.
It was just the beginning of her story, but I was already intrigued. Something about the way she spoke made it feel like what she was about to share wasn't just a story but a secret I was meant to know.
"Based on what I remember, I think this is the first time we've truly been separated like, after so many years, or ages, or centuries because our Supreme has just arrived. You really haven't had an owner until now. Unlike those who have spirits of the same elements but only borrow them because they don't truly own us, you are the only one who owns us. So, this is really the first time we've been apart. Good thing, too, because I don't like the Fire Spirit's attitude" she said.
"Why?" I asked confused.
"The elemental spirits each have different personalities. Water is the kindest of all the spirits because she's very pure. Well, we're all pure, but she's really the only one who doesn't know how to get angry" she explained in defense.
"As for Earth, she's kind too but quite bossy" she added. I don't know why, but I found myself laughing at this spirit she's so talkative! She even started gossiping before teaching me how to use the air. "As for me, you already know it's obvious, right?" she said with a dramatic flair, which made me laugh and nod.
"The Fire Spirit is the worst brutal, grumpy, and feared by everyone. Obviously, right? Because she's fire, duh, naturally hot-headed" she said.
"So, you elemental spirits base your personalities on the elements you have?" I asked.
"Something like that, yes. But Fire Spirit isn't fully a spirit part of her is actually a curse. And you were told by the Ruler Spirit, right?"
I nodded in response to what she said.
"But isn't Zadkiel the owner of the Fire Spirit?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yes, Zadkiel is the current owner of the Fire Spirit. But you can only fully have the Fire Spirit when you summon her" she said.
"If I summon her, will Zadkiel lose his power?" I asked, because that's what I was really wondering.
"Yes" she answered, which made me stop in my tracks.