Free In Search of Auria by Alexis Rojas

almost die multiple times,
but I have seen things that no other men have had the privilege to
experience. One of those phenomenal experiences has been meeting
you.” He lowered his sight when he saw Auria mystified.
    “When I saw the corvus and what they were
doing,” he continued, “I had to get out and look for you. I was
worried, Auria. I want to continue visiting you, but I can’t do
that if you’re dead.”
    Silence took place for the next moments.
Auria crossed her arms and looked to the side, the glow of her
wings changing to a soft green. Erik had his hands on his waist,
pushing his lips together.
    Then, Auria spoke, looking directly into his
eyes, “You cannot go to my house anymore.” Erik exhaled in
misery.
    “But,” she hinted, “there is a pond close
by.”
    “A pond? Yes, I remember seeing a glowing
one the first time I passed through.”
    “If you truly want to see me, we can meet
there.”
    “Good. So, I’ll see you by the pond
tomorrow?”
    Auria spread her wings and floated up. She
gave him a smile and darted up.
    “I’ll take that as a yes!” Erik yelled as
she vanished among the leaves.
    When she disappeared, he rubbed his forehead
and had a laugh. It had been a crazy day, full of daring and
quarrel. He could not go up to the tree house anymore, but that
didn’t mean he couldn’t see Auria again.
    He closed his eyes and grinned, “See you
later, sunflower…”
    *
    …Yes, that was Auria. I saved her people,
but she saved me. Sitting beside the Devita grave, I stared at it.
I did not want to dig a grave again. I quickly knelt in front of it
and punched my fist to the ground.
    “I will rescue my beloved,” I vowed, “I
don’t know what blessing you gifted me, but I’ll surely make use of
it. I’m sorry I could not save you, but I will save my Auria. I
will not dig a grave for another fairy!
    “Thank you, and rest in peace.”
    I stood up and continued along the path. I
would never forgive myself if Auria had the same fate as the
Devita. I will not let it happen!

7- At the Inn
     
    “My lord, my lord!” I heard an idiot scream
from the stairwell outside the room, “Orson is dead, he’s
dead!”
    I exhaled in misery. This was such a drag!
Enjoying the comforts of the most expensive room at the inn, eating
the best piece of lamb in the country, praising the beautiful
blonde man that looked back from the mirror; me, the magnificent
Vallias, had his bliss disturbed by the ramblings of an inferior
man. He entered the room without knocking and received a fist to
the gut for the insolence. My bodyguards, Dorian and Angus, were my
muscle and took care of the unwanted. One with long, red hair and
the other bald with a full beard, they went everywhere with me.
    The soldier knelt in front of my desk and
rubbed his stomach to sooth away the pain.
    “My lord, I apologize for my most
inappropriate intrusion. But, I hastily came to tell you that Orson
has been killed by a miaflorian.”
    “That is pitiful to hear,” I replied while
looking at the mirror on the desk. I was such a handsome man. My
short hair and sharp features were as stunning as an eagle, and my
strong arms claimed the authority I deserved. Every part of my body
gave the impression of a gentle, but violent man. Oh, I loved
it.
    “This miaflorian you speak of,” I continued,
“Where’s his head?”
    “I'm sorry, sir?”
    “The dead miaflorian's head, you didn’t
bring it?”
    "Well, his head is on his shoulders, sir. I
did not kill him.”
    His words stung my ears like alcohol to a
wound. They filled me with ire and disappointment. I exploded.
    "You mean that there is a miaflorian soldier
wandering freely in Balora because you let him live!"
    "Sir, once he killed Orson, I knew he was
too powerful for me. I-I had to escape..."
    "You didn't even fight?!"
    "S-sir..."
    I felt my veins throbbing on my temples, but
I took a deep breath and calmly composed myself behind the desk. I
smiled and nodded to Dorian, my red head