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"It hurts… so much. My mother is gone. What am I supposed to do without her? Everything feels… wild, chaotic, empty." Ariel's voice trembled, her heart pounding as tears welled up.
A sudden flashback hit her like a dagger. She was twelve, standing beside her mother, Lily, who was tending to the countless flowers in their garden.
"Mom, why are there so many flowers in our home?" young Ariel asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
"Because I love them, sweetie," Lily replied softly, a gentle smile lighting her face.
"But… why do you love so many flowers?"
Lily chuckled, bending down to ruffle Ariel's hair. "They are the most beautiful and exciting things nature gave us."
"So… am I as beautiful as a flower?" little Ariel asked, eyes wide and hopeful, offering her mother the cutest puppy eyes.
A laugh escaped Lily's lips, tender and full of love. "Aww, my angel… you are more beautiful than any flower. And I love you more than anything."
Memories of her mother's warmth crushed Ariel's chest like a vice. Her sobs broke free as she clutched herself, mourning what she had lost.
"Here!" Knox's voice interrupted her grief. He held out a black hood.
"If you don't take it, you'll catch a cold," he said gently. Ariel hesitated, then accepted it.
"Go to your uncle's house, like she wanted. Never come back here," Knox instructed, his gaze piercing yet protective.
"Where?" she whispered.
"To the next town. From there, you can reach your uncle's house," he offered kindly.
Ariel nodded silently, turning to see her mother's spirit vanish completely. Pain twisted in her chest, sharp and relentless.
"Are you alright?" Knox asked softly.
"No," she admitted, shaking her head.
He stepped closer, his hand hovering above her head, letting his warm energy flow into her. "Don't worry. You'll be fine," he said.
"Why… why are you so kind to me?" she asked suddenly.
He flinched at her unexpected question. Then, with a quiet sincerity, he replied, "Because your mother saved me once, back in Arkon during the last war."
Ariel swallowed the lump in her throat. "I… I think I'll be fine," she murmured, looking up at him.
Confusion and curiosity twisted inside her—why had her mother been so secretive? Could she trust Knox? Her emotions clashed violently—grief, anger, suspicion, longing.
Knox then summoned his unicorn, Lizzy, who appeared in a swirl of sparkling wind. Trembling, Ariel reached out, brushing her hand against the creature's soft cheek. Knox climbed onto the unicorn first, then guided her hand to his. With careful, steady movements, Ariel climbed onto Lizzy's back, heart racing. Together, they soared into the sky, Ariel closing her eyes against the rushing wind.
They landed in City V, the fabled city of 'Right,' hidden among thick bushes. Knox helped her down, and she whispered her thanks.
"I want you to be strong, Ariel. Face whatever comes next," he said. Then, in a soft bow, "I am Knox, fairy of wind and speed. Remember me someday."
"Thank you, Knox… I won't forget," Ariel replied, eyes glistening.
With a swirl, he vanished, leaving her to navigate toward her uncle's home.
By sunrise, Ariel trudged into City V, exhausted and pale. Strangers stared, some recoiling as if she were a ghost. Pulling her hood tighter, she stumbled into a small shop where an elderly woman sold bracelets adorned with sparkling blue stones.
"What would you like, young lady?" the woman asked kindly.
"I… I'm thirsty," Ariel whispered.
The woman's eyes softened as she took in Ariel's disheveled state. She disappeared inside and returned with a bottle of water. Ariel drank greedily, parched like a fish stranded on dry land.
"You haven't had water in days, have you? What happened to you?" the woman asked, reaching out to touch her forehead. Ariel recoiled instinctively.
Sighing in relief, Ariel handed back the empty bottle. "Thank you, kind ma'am," she murmured, bowing slightly before slipping away.
The woman watched her go, muttering, "So rude… didn't even answer my questions."
Ariel arrived at her uncle James Thomas's house, feeling a strange mixture of relief and anxiety. She knocked lightly.
"Coming!" a voice called from inside.
The door creaked open, revealing Melanie, James's younger daughter.
"ARIEL?" Melanie exclaimed, eyes wide.
"Hi, Melanie," Ariel greeted softly.
"What happened to you?" Melanie asked, astonished.
From inside, a sharp, condescending voice cut in. "What is going on there, Melanie?"
Felicia, her uncle's wife, appeared, frowning. "And who is this surprise?"
"H-Hello, Aunt Felicia," Ariel stammered, shrinking slightly under the woman's icy gaze.
"How may I help you?" Felicia sneered, eyes narrowing.
Ariel was speechless. Felicia's barrage of questions continued relentlessly.
"I… I came to see Uncle James," Ariel managed to choke out.
Felicia's laughter echoed cruelly. "Honey, come see who we have here," she called to her husband.
James emerged, jaw dropping at the sight of his niece, fragile and shivering. "Ariel!" he cried, sweeping her into his arms. "Oh my little girl… what happened to you?"
Ariel clung to him, tears flowing freely.
Felicia, unable to bear the display, retreated silently, leaving them alone.
"Stop crying, my child," James murmured, soothing her. Melanie turned to her mother, confused.
"What's she doing here, crying without her mother?"
"Who knows what they're up to this time," Felicia replied dismissively.
James led Ariel to the sitting room, helping her sit on the couch. "Go prepare a hot bath and coffee for her," he instructed Melanie.
Felicia scoffed. "Why would she do that? She has legs; she can manage herself."
"Felicia, look at her! Can't you see how much she's suffered? She needs care first!" James snapped. Melanie left to carry out her father's orders.
On the way, she ran into her sister Elizabeth.
"What's going on?" Elizabeth asked.
"Guess who's here, causing trouble… Arie! Now I have to make tea and prepare a bath for her!" Melanie huffed.
Elizabeth's eyes widened in shock and excitement. "Arie? She's here? Where?"
"Sitting room, with Mom and Dad," Melanie replied.
Inside, James continued consoling Ariel gently. Felicia, witnessing her husband's genuine concern, forced a polite smile but could not hide her irritation.