The Veil Of Faith And Destiny

s not a crystal but rather a teardrop floating in mid-air. I tilted my head to get a better look at it and all I could see was a faint outline of Lady Faith in it, her expressions rapidly changi

nothing happened. I could see a blinding flash of white light even through my tightly closed eyelids. I squinted to take a look of what was happening and then as

t mist. Her appearance resembled to that of the apparition that I

She seemed unperturbed by my presence. She spoke to a Flau

to anyone who has the misfortune of crossing her path. The poor

the human realm to find her and put an end to this menace for goo

g with the Silver Lady. It was the very same cottage that harboured the Veil of Faith and Destiny. Lady Faith emerged from the cottage with a cloak wrapped around her shoulders. She was carrying a long slender golden cane in her right arm. She strode towards the village and ke

asp

n behind her, but she didn’t resp

Lady Faith’s memories! I thought to myself

use! The windows of the cottage were rusted and the roof was in mere tatters. A faint light emerged from inside

cradling a baby in her arms while my fa

e gently in her arms. “Mama and Papa are right here, next to you. You are sa

y parents but they never extended me the courtesy. Every time I looked into my mother’s eyes I saw sheer hatred. I sat there looking at the two of them p

did you two become such bitter people? A

ain my sorrow an

ther!”

e old lady standing in front of me. Her lips had not moved an inch. I looked

earn about some things right now. Be brave, my dear Azura! For you

a deep breath and wiped off my face with the back of

omething under her breath. Both my parents seemed to be in a s

s I frantically looked around, trying to understand where I was. I started walking around terrified of losing my way in this seeming nothingness. Then I saw a faint glow of red emerging through a crack a few steps ahead of me. I lept towards the source of l

ion. I spun around hoping to see Lady Faith but I was mortified

wrist burnt against my skin. I dropped to my knees because of the unbearable pain, I wanted to scream but I held my breath. Then as suddenly

and took a

memory!” I r

th pride as she stroked her hands against the cover of the bound book. A

he room. “This book right here is what will lead to the fall of Lady Faith,” the Silver Lady continued. “The war is coming Lad

ween King Lamious and Lady Faith once again.

erstand” I started

plied King La

erything, child. Ask what y

why was the Silver Lady after it?

nally let go of my hand and lo

o lead their lives with autonomy and dignity. However, his brother Prince Vishanta held a completely different view. He believed in the supremacy of some creatures over the others. He believed that the magical beings were more powerful than the humans and hence the humans should be relegated to live a life of subjugation and op

yes turning sorrowfu

mposure. I reached out for her hand and squeezed it

cape from the Eternal Fall. Years later, he was hunted down and killed by the Great King Ajax. However, legends say that during his time in hiding he wrote the Book of Vishanta. Through his book he

of the Book until the Silver Lady manag

der vastly crueler man in exchange for a promise of money. Mairea’s new husband was brutal and he tortured and abused her for years. He kept her locked in a tower where he would enter each night to feed her and bleed her. She always hoped that someone would come to free her from the clutches of her evil husba

ut then with a sudden jolt of understanding I remembered that I had seen her grave. It had at least twenty stones kep

e. “It changes a person. Brings out the very worst in them. That is wha

fearfully, already apprehendi

night she was buried, driven by the half-remembered human visions of her own blood welling on her

lained King Lamious. “With Mairea by her side, the Silver Lady plans o

all at once. I looked towards Ivy and Griffin who

ake me remove the stone fr

e stones can be removed only by someone w

s of my hearts that I still loved them! They were moulded into such hateful beings because of the circumstances that they were made to face, I remember al

d convulsively to fight back the tears wh

r second-in command, Lady Fait

ne who has known suffering but not vengeance, can be a

peace of the realms. And more than once has it been nearly enough to destroy it too. You, Azura,

d with you in your fight against

bellowed

as my eyes te

ing Lamious with an overzealous enth

in. “How do we fight the Silver Lady now

the Silver Lady?” sa

and I ch

ading across her lips and said, “You know what Ivy?

t her with our mou

f she already has the Dearg-Due

any advances to seek Lady Faith out in a war yet. If she did manage to rai

f Lady Faith and to conquer all the realms along with it. Then why was she waiting to make her move? Then

careful to only remove the largest one of them while leaving the other stones intact

The Silver Lady might not have Mairea by her side by now but it is only a matter of

dded in a

leave?” as

nd guard and prepare themselves. Meanwhile, I would suggest that th

nto your bedchambers” said Lady Faith

t along with a Flaun, looking

dy Destiny, now?” said Lady F

huc

replied. “I am A

ger and better things, child. You are meant to shape your fate

ut a we

hrough the Veil” explained Lady Faith. “King Lamious

odd

this wretched fight. For it is my duty to protect them and tha

avery covered every inch of her face. It was almost contagious.

side, every step of the

me with us at our leisure but I am afraid that

odd

little light headed thinking about the prospect of having to face the Silver Lady again. I to

eave?” aske

ady”, I

d gold dust as we walked by and the statues wearing suits of armor bowed before us. I kept glancing at all the magnificent paint

was intricately carved with the figurine of a tree which depicted all the existing realms along with their placement. La

I could see faint images of centaurs galloping and pixies swirling high in the sky. A pair of humans leaped around as if enjoying a picnic on a summers’ afternoon. Two feis loomed above us with their majestic wing

the Flaun realm and then traced a line up to the human realm. A burst of lightning engulfed us. The wind seemed to be carrying us higher and higher.

ut, Lady Destiny. I am right h

e it emitted a silvery hue. Lady Faith caught my eyes and I nodde

my back and had only managed to break my fall in time. I looked around to see Lady Faith standin

l right?” s

odd

f the Veil of Faith and Destiny. Lady Faith picked up the large stone

cave”, she demanded as she

” I r

rk night the last time that I had been here and I was in such haste that I barely noticed

ught to myself.I broke out in a run

e somewhere

Mairea’s name was clearly visible on her tombstone that night. It was as if her tombstone was relatively new than those erected over all the other graves. But how could that be possible? I thought to mysel

graves frantically hoping to not see the worst. And then

e from inside had managed to break it open. I p

lay cracked open. The mud around the grave was imprinted with footprints

ght. A sense of foreboding

ately to find Lady Fai

r. I turned around and reached out to pick up the rocks that were once kept

rocks Azura!” s

her with a c

cursed” sh

k looked singed and blackened. I ran towards her and held her hand in mine but she turned away. She banged her cane on the ground

h my eyes still wid

e. Once a Dearg-Due breaks open her earlier grave, no magic

ked, looking franticall

ied with a kind smil

ck uncertai

g Lamious with his army and

odd

closed her eyes and muttered, “For courage and bravery shall be rewarded above

oked towards the sky following the gleaming trail of light that had emerged from her cane seconds

nd had an eerie chill to it. I slightly shuddered as it swept across my face. The trees rustled ominously with the cold wind and an owl hooted somewhere in the dim light. A loud screech

top, Lady Fai

pen once you step foot in th

saw a look of concer

kay”, I said

ra. That kind of dark magi

es waiting for her to elaborate

anything to put m

ura! I need you to remember

myself to be something more than what I ever imagined me to be. I could not

y” was all I m

aith n

my feet inside the threshold of the forest my wrists burnt with pain. I let out a low moan but soon the pain became unbearable. It felt as i

ck around and knelt

t? Does the mark

ble to speak

my wrists then placed her o

she said in a

en another. I felt the pain

ly”, she said. “But I can

fingers and the pain kept subsiding. My wrist still

ly and got back up on my feet. “I am fine, reall

eyes. I reached out to her

go then”

anopies in the sky. The blackness of the night was pierced only through the moonlight. I heard a disti

he Silver Lady lived. I had been here before but the

ld” said Lady Faith witho

en times. I felt a sense of deja vu creeping over me. With every knock it felt as if the night was growing darker and the wind was growing meaner. With the last knock the door swung open. This time it was not t

y and you will not speak with me in that tone! I call upon the Silver Lady to answer for her sins.” The elf stumbled upon

he door and fel

no control over my own actions!” the elf howled. “The Silver Lady ensla

kind lady that I had met in the castle was long gone and in her stead stood thi

k her cape and floated across the room. I

al fire lanterns with a swish of her cane and walked on. We entered a hollowed spac

eat as she heard ou

u” he said with his voice barely audible. But the Silver Lady seemed to have heard him because she cackle

we meet again

ith. “It has been no pleasure of mine

or it will be” said the Silver

nd she looked thinner than the last time. I gasped as my ey

to see me, my dear

plit in half. Half of her face resembled her old face and the other half was that of Mair

aback by this new development but somehow s

ones yourself, then

was getting restless. Besides, humans are not very trustwor

witch such as yourself would remove the stones the De

y spat. “And after all, she only

’s face grew deeper and deeper. Lady Faith swung her cane and a flas

fool”, the Silver Lady sa

her arms and raised them over her head. A bright white light emitted from the sky followe

tilted my head to look over her shoulder. My eyes widened as I saw hundred

raised my head and saw Lady Syfyn. She looked at me and then charged towards the creatures. I looked over at Ivy and Griffin by my side, Giffin nodded and handed me a sword, they nodded and then ran towards the other creatures in front of them. I wrapped my fingers around the sword and took in a deep breath, it had begun and now there was no turning back. I heard a howl coming from my left, I turned my head and saw a creature running towards me. I raised the sword over my head and plunged it deep into the creature’s chest. In collapsed in front of me and green blood oozed out of his chest, I pulled my sword and pushed my shoulders back looking straight into the Silver Lady’s eyes, her face darkened. I looked up and saw the sky fill with different colours of light charging towards each other. Griffin flew over my head as he carried a creature by its neck. Ivy fought alongside Lady Syfyn, her back hunched and her nails drawn out. She jumped on a creature and ripped his heart out of his chest. She then jumped on another, in one swift motion she tw

rocess what it saw and then as the dust cleare

r of purple on the tips of her finger. I looked up at Lady Syfyn, her eyes widened

essing. Suddenly something came shooting from the sky. It made a loud sound as it hit the ground. The Silver Lady hovered over as her wicked la

over!” she

oked down as Lady Faith’s body lay in my arms, I could

ot over!” I

cking. I felt something warm crackling in my palms. I looked down and saw golde

A bright red light charged from it, pushing me a few meters back. I groaned as I looked straight into her eyes. With all my might I walked forward and the light grew stronger, piercing through the Silver Lady’s fingers. Her eyes w

r Lady’s chest. The moment the cane hit her chest two distinct screams emerged out of her body. The Dearg-Due convulsed out of the Silver Lady'

into nothing but an empty husk. I

past hour. The limp lifeless body of the Silver Lady and Mairea lay at my feet. Griffin leap

osed shut. Her breathing sounded uneven. A sense of dread seemed to have enveloped me. I wasn’t read

ross my cheeks as I plac

ight?” I asked King Lam

Flaun realm” he started. “But y

t a fain

id King Lamious. “Lady Destiny can carry her back from there. Just

odd

d. He gently carried me into his arms and soared behind him. I turned back to catch one last glimpse of what we were leaving behind.

feless face dangling on to one side. I looked up at Gri

tears. I still had a long night ahead of me. I thoug

amious helped me carry Lady Faith in front of the mirror inside t

he started. “Think very cle

ded w

ied to empty my thoughts. I closed my eyes and thought about the golden door with the picture of the t

to sink in, th

black. I clutched onto Lady Fa

I was being pulled in by an invisible force. Then as suddenly as it had starte

ked!” I

e still closed but her chest rose in slow high and lows. I breathed a sigh of relief. Almost imme

pted to explain but the Flaun at the head of the crowd

myself cry. I cried for the loss of Ivy and then I cried for Lady Faith. I cried fr

t back to reality only when I heard Griffin’s voice sitting beside me.

d him and nuzzled my face into the cr

ered in an inc

back of my head. He made no attempt to wipe them off. He just wrapped his arms around me

s emerged from one of the rooms

es to meet with

to our feet and f

g on a giant bed of flowers. She looked weak but a

d back

eeling, Lady F

smiled in

a fresh surge of tears emerging in my eyes.

e soul!” Lady F

ny words that would seem a

mber her in our heart

ded a

Azura gets some rest

my home now?”, I asked, i

Why Lady Destiny! I thought you

s Griffin and I left for our bedc

been a