IRIS
The water not only seemed to wash the dirt off me, but also a huge amount of the tension. I had to laugh at myself as I sat in the bath.
With all the magic around me, I was expecting some kind of magical water or something like that. But the usual bathing was something normal here too.
I felt so much lighter when I got out of the bathtub and wrapped myself in a big towel. The cloth wasnât what I expected; it wasnât the cotton I was used to.
The fabric was so light and yet felt so soft and fluffy against my body. I peered into the huge mirror on the wall and stared at my reflection.
I wondered if I would manage to remember anything. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard someone come into my room.
I opened the door and stepped out of the bathroom without a second thought. Avery froze when he saw me like that, stopping in the middle of the room, his gaze sliding over my body.
My cheeks were burning. I should have expected him to come; after all, I asked him to.
âI...Iâm sorry I knocked...â he said softly, turning his head to the side, embarrassed.
My hands held the towel tightly. Even though I was covered, I still felt like I was standing naked in front of him.
It wasnât awkward standing in front of him like this; it was more the doubt that he found me distasteful. But when I looked at his face, I could see the fine redness just under his beautiful eyes.
âIâm just going to get dressed,â I answered.
Avery pointed to the balcony door with his finger, and I followed the movement with my eyes. He cleared his throat and nodded. âYes...do that. Iâll wait on the balcony.â
I could barely hide my grin as I took a pair of pajamas out of the wardrobe and returned to the bathroom to get dressed. He was blushing because of me.
He stayed with me because I asked him to. So I shouldnât be so embarrassed about it now.
The whole day was exhausting, and I was a bit overwhelmed. All the information I received was new territory for me.
I was happy to have Averyâs company because I didnât want to be alone. And there was something special about him that attracted me and put me at ease.
We sat on the balcony that was part of my room, and he talked about Antaris and the people who lived there. The view was amazing, and I could see so much more from this height.
The community in front of us seemed even more beautiful at night. Instead of sinking into darkness, it awoke in a magical display of lights, like hundreds of little fireflies fluttering through the night.
While Avery was talking, he kept showing me new things that I hadnât noticed. The huge waterfall that you could see in the distance, the beautiful forest we walked by, the mountains surrounding the village.
Everything looked even more beautiful at night with all the houses and gardens lit up. I watched the residents enjoying themselves, walking with their loved ones or their amicus.
And they were enchanting creatures, so graceful and beautiful.
âAll the residents are happy to meet you... You may understand that many of them fought alongside your parents against evil. Many of them were close friends with them, and loved you. And their death affected all of Antaris...â Avery narrated, looking at me solicitously.
His face was so noble. I gulped when his eyes met mine.
âIâm sorry, Avery, but I still donât remember any of this. Your father said I need to take my time to remember. I need to have memories. I was eight when my parents died,â I answered him as I leaned against the balcony railing.
Avery got up, leaned next to me, and watched me as I admired the view. When he turned his gaze to the community, I dared to look at him.
He was so gentle looking in those clothes he was wearing. The silk of the shirt clung to his chest, and the broad shoulders strained under the fabric.
Ava was wrong. He did look majestic, a real prince.
âI donât even remember my brother...Aidan. It makes me sad to think that Iâve been alone all my life and I longed so much for my family. My grandparents gave me a beautiful childhood... but I longed for my mother and father... and now my brother as well... I found out today,â I said softly, looking into Averyâs eyes as he turned his gaze towards me.
His look told me that he felt sympathy and that my situation was bothering him. It was as if he sensed how sad it all made me.
The purple sparkle in his eyes became even more intense when he touched my hand. I didnât understand why his eyes only had this purple sparkle when he was in contact with me, but otherwise seemed completely normal.
âTomorrow you will see your brother again. We are going to Bellatorum Island. This is an island where we train warriors, and your brother is one of the best trainers,â Avery said.
I was excited and nervous; the whole day was very exciting. My brother was a warrior.
I smiled proudly at the thought.
âYou should get some sleep now, my love. Donât worry, youâre safe here. I would never allow anything bad to happen to you,â I heard Avery say as I walked him to the door.
âThank you, Avery... thank you for everything you did for me today...â I said gently.
The contact of his hand on mine spread goose bumps over my body. He took my hand and kissed it softly.
âThereâs really nothing to thank me for... sleep tight, my love,â he replied, walking down the hall to his room.
When I closed the door, I took a deep breath, leaning my head against it. The grin on my lips only grew as I pressed my hand to my chest, looking at the spot he had kissed.
I lay in bed for a while and thought about the whole day after what had happened. I knew one thing... I was safe here.
My parents used to be safe here too... and my brother was still to this day. I would stay here until I got my memories back.
Maybe then I would know why Aidan and I were separated when we were kids. And with the thoughts of my new life and all the changes that were happening, I fell asleep.
***
I was standing in front of a cave. The entrance was sealed with a spell and was glowing red.
No matter where I looked, I saw small red flowers on the ground and large trees that had human outlines. I was very afraid of the noises coming from animals.
The hissing was very loud. Like steam escaping from a rusty old pipe.
Like thousands of snakes hissing in a fight. Like a shower of sparks made of anger and fear.
~Iris... you have to come to me. Only with me will you be able to tame your strength. You have to free me... search for me~
Even before I was fully awake, this voice ran through me, icy cold, unmistakable, as if it had been waiting in my skull.
It always sounded so familiar, as if it had been there from my birth, engraved in my mind like a whisper that never faded.
And with it came the fear, not like a moment of shock but like a slow, inexorable drowning.
***
My heart was pounding as if the nightmare hadnât been a dream, but a memory that was only now being released.
The boundary between sleep and reality was blurring, and I knew only one thing: this voice was not a remnant of a dream.
It was real.
And it belonged to me.
I had had dreams since I was little. I spoke to this voice my whole life.
Often, this voice was my only friend and understood me better than all the people around me. I got the best advice from this voice, and it was always kind.
When I told this to my grandmother, she said, âYou have a blooming imagination. All people talk to themselves.â
After the conversation with Grandmother, I heard the voice less often, as if it had to fight its way to me. So I thought nothing of it.
But now everything had changed.
Perhaps this voice was more than my imaginationâ¦