It's been a week since I left the school and I told them that I need to go back to the US and planned to continue my study there.
Only yesterday, Blake reasoned out to transfer and migrate to another country. He prepared so many papers and documents. Meanwhile, I asked one equilibrium paper to take care of my documents.
Ms. Gale cannot be found, and vanishes like dust in the council. They cannot find her, they cannot locate her. No one knows her whereabouts. It's been weeks since she went missing, they only told me when I called since they aren't allowed to bother me.
They are still investigating and tracking her. It is quite suspicious and concerning but I trusted her members to unravel the mystery to her disappearance. Also, I needed to focus on Blake.
I also remember how the girls or my mortal friends cried when I told them about my decision.
"Can you just continue your study here?" Celestia asked, looking at me with her teary eyes.
"It's been months pa lang ikaw here, why so sudden naman?" Thala questioned me while holding my hands.
"Sigurado ka na ba talaga? Hindi na magbabago isip mo?" asked Rizzy. She was sitting next to Celestia and caressing her as she was about to cry.
"Take care, Sera. Visit us sometimes," Hanna calmly suggested.
I smiled at her, it is actually impossible. If I go back, it's hard to get permission to go here.
"Call me if someone bothers you. I will fly to you and kick whoever it is," Freya intensely said, looking directly at my eyes.
"Don't worry. I will try to contact you and visit you if I can." I widely open my arms asking for a group hug. I would miss these girls, they are the one who accepted me here and my first mortal friends.
I took out a box in my bag, it contains silver necklaces that I created using my power. It has a bead pendant that has a design of water waves, inside of it is a sacred water that can protect them from any dark energy.
"Here." I gave them each.
"Ang ganda," Rizzy complemented while carefully assessing the necklace.
"This is so pretty," Celestia stated, mesmerized by the beauty of it.
"Wow, parang I want to go to beach tuloy," Thala jokingly said.
Hanna and Freya did not say anything and just stared at the pendant. But, I can see the amazement on their eyes as they stared at it.
"I also have that." I showed them the same necklace I was wearing.
I would miss them.
After that day, I never showed myself to them. I am just here in the house while Blake always goes here.
This is the day that we will travel to the Equilibrium Palace and we will stay there for a week. We need to prepare his body. Aetheria's environment is different from the environment on Earth. His body might suffer if we expose him to it immediately.
The equilibrium planned to expose him to the air of Atheria using some machines in the Equilibrium Palace bit by bit until his body fully recognized the air and the environment. By then, we can bring him to the Aetheria without major consequences on his body.
"Aella?" Blake called me.
He knew my true name already. He understands that I need to use a fake name to blend in the mortal world.
"Are you ready?" I asked him, walking down the stairs. My things are already set, we can depart anytime soon.
"Yes, I am excited," he said in a high pitched voice, he was so energetic. I thought he was nonchalant and quiet yet I realized that I was wrong. He is somehow like Tellus but not an annoying one.
"Let's go?"
He took a deep breath and nodded.
After hours of flight, we are now here in the Equilibrium Palace. As usual, only a few members knew about our stay here. No one knew about Blake, even the members did not know who Blake was. I commanded them not to ask questions. They just knew what I asked them to do.
"We're here," I told him. I stared at the front of it, it was the first time I got to see its beauty. I never tried to look at it nor adore it before because I need to fulfill a mission and anything is unnecessary.
It is an old palace with two wings and a four storey building. It has stone walls with a patchwork of grey and brown hues, tall and narrow windows, and with ivy climbs its walls, a tenacious green against the aged stone. There's a massive and arched gateway.
"It's beautiful…" Blake commented while adoring the look of the old palace.
The next day, Blake's body exposure to Aetheria's environment started. All of his time was consumed by it. I can only be with him when it's eating, and after that, he needs to go back to the training room.
A few days passed, and I received a report that Blake's body was getting accustomed to it. Only a few days left and we would travel to Aetheria.
"Aellaaaa! Aellaaa! Aellaaaa!"
I woke up and quickly got up when I heard him shouting outside of my room. What's happening?
"What happened? Are you okay?" I immediately asked him, panicking and looking worried and roam my eyes in his body to check if he has any wound.
I heard him chuckle. "Calm down. They said I can now go to Aetheria," he excitedly reported.
My eyes widened, I got stunned for a bit. The time has come that I needed to introduce him as the fire bearer.
I knew that this time would come… eventually. But, even though I prepared for it… a part of me still wanted to believe that this is just a dream, and waking up means Valen is still the fire bearer.
Blake's eyes were shimmering, it wasn't the same eyes I first saw that were full of coldness and blank stares. Now, it is full of life and warmth.
I should be happy. I should be delighted.
I wiped every negative thought in my mind. And, smiled proudly at him. My happiness was genuine, it's just that I also felt sad for Valen.
"Congratulations, Blake!" I unconsciously hugged him.
"I'm gonna prepare my things. I'm so excited!" Blake quickly stated. His eyes are sparkling as if it was anticipating. He did not wait for any replies for me, he immediately ran away to his room.
A faint smile curved in my lips. I am genuinely happy for Blake but I am heavyhearted for Valen.
I went to talk with one of the members. I wanted to celebrate Blake's success in the form of a picnic while watching the sunset.
"Chelsea…" I called a woman with short wavy hair. She instantly moved to bow her head in my front. "Can you arrange a picnic for Blake and I? Preferably in an overlooking place where we can see the sunset."
"I'll do it right away, Lady Aella," she answered without lifting her head.
"Thank you."
I go back to my room to prepare my things. After the picnic, Blake and I would leave already.
After more than an hour, someone knocked on my door. "Lady Aella, the picnic is ready. I'll guide you to the place."
"Thank you, Chelsea."
After a few minutes of walking, I saw the picnic spot that Chelsea prepared. It is a really overlooking place, I can see green mountains and the blue ocean. There are so many foods such as fruit slices, sandwiches, beverages, and sweets.
Without looking at Chelsea who is standing at my back. I asked her, "Can you call Blake? Thank you."
"Will do, Lady Aella."
I sat in the blanket and faced the blue ocean. It is so peaceful while looking at those stunning views. Nature never fails to amaze me, it was really beautiful. While staring at the blue ocean, I suddenly felt the presence of Blake.
"Aella…" he softly called.
I looked back and asked him to join me. "Come here."
He sat beside me. "What is this?" he asked while looking at food.
"I want to experience this in the mortal world. After all, we will go back to where we truly belong," I answered him, still looking at the breathtaking view.
"It's beautiful…the ocean is beautiful" he whispered.
I quietly nodded.
"Do you miss it?" he asked nowhere.
I looked at him, confusedly. I quite did not get what his question was all about.
"Do you miss the ocean in Aetheria?" he repeated but with additional words that made me realize what his question was.
That surprised me. I wasn't expecting that, even for a bit. He knew the ocean is my home in Aetheria. The Aquaria Palace is located in waters, the Aquaria region is surrounded by waters.
"I do," I simply answered him in a low voice.
A deafening silence filled between us until he spoke.
"Thank you for finding me and staying with me… even though you wanted to go home."
Those phrases made me gaze at him, just to realize that he was staring at me. His eyes filled with soft warmth, a quiet gratitude.
"I wanted to go home but I also wanted to bring you back home," I gently replied, giving him a genuine smile.
"Thank you, Aella." He maintains his eye contact with me with those warm gazes.
We started to eat the food. He started to tell what happened to his training.
"The sensation while exposed to those airs was so different from here. It feels so clean yet so mysteriously magical." His eyes widened while telling me those. He even mimics an action of self hugging as if he was feeling the air around him.
I only listened to him keep on telling his training experience.
"They even made me do things like running and such to check if my body can respond normally in that environment." He sounds like a child complaining to his parents.
His eyebrows started to form lines, getting intense and ranting about his training.
"Also, they ordered me to fight!"
I uncontrollably chuckled when he burst out angrily as if an equilibrium member asked him to do some gruesome things.
"Why?!" he furrowed his brows upon hearing me chuckle.
I acted to clear my throat. "Nothing…then?" I tried to suppress my laugh.
He squinted his eyes. "They do so many things, I felt like I was an object being experimented on." Now, I can feel sadness in his voice. His shoulder also fell down and he looked down.
I patted his back. "I am sorry you felt that way but that is all for you." I said in a low voice and gave him a reassuring smile.
"I know," he answered in a low voice. I gently tapped his back while both of us were staring at the sunset.
"Do you think we can go back here?" he asked.
We definitely will. This country and the neighborhood countries are the home of the previous elemental bearer. So, going back here in the future is possible… after we completed our role and retired from being Beta.
"Of course, we can. We can go back here," I said.
He still doesn't know about this place being home for the previous Beta. Soon, he will know it.
"Promise?" He lifted his pinky finger like a little boy pleading for a promise.
"I promise."