Chapter 64: Lilian
Thank you so much @ Sarebie for the Gift.
Thank you so much @ Daoistca2QMi for the Golden Ticket.
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The days following the discovery of the mysterious golden-eyed child passed quietly or at least, they appeared quiet on the surface.
Beneath that calm, however, an unease had settled over the hidden kingdom.
Not because of the child herself.
Most of the elves quickly lost interest in her after realizing she posed no immediate danger after all children were children, regardless of where they came from.
No!
What truly occupied everyone’s thoughts was a far more troubling question.
How had outsiders managed to enter the kingdom?
Twice.
The ancient seal protecting the hidden realm had stood for centuries.
Entire generations had been born and died believing it was unbreakable.
The barrier concealed the kingdom from the outside world and prevented unwanted visitors from discovering its existence.
Yet within the span of only a few days, three outsiders had somehow crossed into their protected sanctuary.
Florence.
Saline.
And now the mysterious golden-eyed child.
The coincidence was impossible to ignore and it troubled the Queen more than anyone else.
Three mornings after the child’s arrival, the Queen summoned Kaelion before sunrise.
The young captain arrived promptly.
His blue eyes immediately noticed the scrolls scattered across her desk.
Reports.
Maps.
Records dating back hundreds of years.
The Queen stood beside a large window overlooking the awakening city.
Sunlight painted her dark hair with shades of gold.
Without turning, she spoke.
"We’re going to the check out the seal."
Kaelion nodded.
Neither wasted time asking unnecessary questions.
An hour later they stood before the ancient cave.
The same cave through which Florence and Saline had entered.
The same cave that should have been impossible to access.
Massive roots wrapped around the stone walls like sleeping serpents.
Ancient runes glowed faintly across the cavern entrance.
Power flowed through them steadily.
Uninterrupted.
The Queen walked forward.
Her fingers brushed against the nearest rune.
Magic stirred.
Silver light spread outward like ripples across water.
For several moments she remained silent.
Studying.
Listening.
Feeling.
Eventually she stepped back.
Her expression darkened.
"The seal remains intact."
Kaelion frowned.
"Then how did they enter?"
"That is the question." She said...she herself not understanding the situation.
The Queen stared at the glowing symbols.
For the first time in many years, uncertainty entered her eyes.
Because if the seal had not broken...
Then something far stranger was happening.
Something she did not yet understand.
Back within the heart of the Kingdom, Florence remained blissfully unaware of the Queen’s investigation.
She had spent most of the morning completing her duties.
The palace had become increasingly busy.
Servants moved constantly through the corridors.
Nobles arrived and departed.
Preparations for upcoming gatherings occupied everyone.
Only when she finally finished her work did she realize something important.
It was quiet.
Far too quiet.
Florence paused.
A strange feeling settled inside her chest.
Normally, she would have heard Saline by now.
The little girl was rarely silent.
Whether laughing.
Talking.
Or asking questions that threatened to unravel entire conversations.
Saline always made her presence known.
Yet today...
Nothing.
Florence frowned.
She checked the gardens first.
No Saline.
She checked the dining hall.
Nothing.
The library.
The training grounds.
The flower terraces.
Still nothing.
With every passing minute, her worry increased.
The hidden kingdom was safe.
Safer than most places.
But Florence had learned long ago that safety could disappear without warning.
By the time she reached the western gardens, genuine panic had begun creeping into her thoughts.
"Florence?"
She turned.
Kaelion had just returned from the seal inspection.
His sharp eyes immediately noticed her expression.
Something in his posture changed.
"What happened?"
"I can’t find Saline."
The words emerged faster than intended.
Immediately, Kaelion became serious.
"When did you last see her?"
"This morning."
"We’ll find her." Came his simple words that was yet somehow reassuring.
Without another question, he joined the search.
Together they combed through gardens, courtyards and pathways.
Nearly an hour passed.
Then suddenly....
"There."
Kaelion stopped walking.
Florence followed his gaze.
Beneath a large willow tree near the edge of the palace grounds sat two small girls.
One was Saline.
The other was the golden-eyed child.
Relief hit Florence so hard her knees nearly weakened.
"Saline!"
The little girl looked up immediately.
A bright smile appeared.
"Miss Florence!"
She jumped to her feet.
The second girl remained seated quietly while watching what was unfolding.
Florence approached quickly.
"Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
Saline looked genuinely confused.
"We were talking."
"You disappeared."
"I forgot to tell you... I’m sorry."
The answer was so honest that Florence couldn’t even scold her properly.
Kaelion’s attention shifted toward the other child.
She appeared stronger than before.
Still pale and thin though.
But noticeably healthier.
The golden-eyed girl looked up at him calmly.
Before he could speak, Saline proudly announced,
"This is Lilian."
Kaelion blinked.
"Lilian?"
The little girl nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes."
The captain frowned.
"How do you know her name....did she tell you?" He asked her because to his knowledge the little girl doesn’t remember anything and only kept saying she was looking for someone the past two days, but now she suddenly got a name?
Saline looked confused.
"I don’t." Came Saline’s proud words.
Her word made everyone silent as both Kaelion and Florence watch her.
Even the golden-eyed girl blinked.
"You don’t know her name?" Kaelion repeated.
"No."
"Then why are you calling her Lilian?"
"Because I named her."
The answer came as though it were obvious.
Florence pressed her fingers against her forehead.
"Saline..."
"What?"
"How did you decide on Lilian?"
The little girl beamed.
"Because I like lilies."
Then she turned toward the golden-eyed child.
And winked.
The mysterious girl stared.
Then, unexpectedly...
She smiled.
A small smile.
Brief.
But real.
Neither Florence nor Kaelion noticed the strange look that crossed the girl’s eyes.
Because the name Lilian meant far more than flowers.
Far more than either adult could possibly understand but it was only between them.
Eventually Florence sighed.
"Come." She gestured towards Saline.
Saline immediately obeyed.
Before leaving, however, the golden-eyed girl looked toward Kaelion.
For several seconds she remained silent.
Then she spoke.
"Thank you."
Her voice was still weak.
But sincere.
Kaelion seemed surprised.
After all, he had done very little.
Nevertheless, he inclined his head.
The gesture was enough.
Then Florence led Saline away.
Leaving the recovering girl beneath the willow tree.
Then the little girl got up to go take her medicine for the afternoon.
Time passed.
Days became months and months became years and years became memories.
The hidden kingdom continued thriving beneath its ancient protection.
The mystery of the seal never truly disappeared.
Yet life moved forward regardless.
Children grew.
Friendships deepened.
Seasons changed.
Spring flowers bloomed and faded countless times.
Summer sunlight painted the kingdom gold.
Autumn leaves transformed forests into oceans of crimson.
Winter covered everything in silver.
Through it all, Saline and Lilian remained inseparable.
Where one appeared, the other followed.
They explored forests together.
Studied together.
Argued occasionally.
Laughed constantly.
The years shaped them both.
The little girls gradually became young women.
And before anyone truly realized it—
Ten years had passed.
The throne room stood silent.
The Queen sat upon her throne while Saline and Lilian stood before her.
Between them rested an ancient artifact.
The Knowledge Stone.
Embedded within the hilt of the royal throne itself.
Its surface glowed softly.
The Queen gestured toward it.
"Place your hands upon it."
The two young women exchanged glances.
Then obeyed.
The moment their fingers touched the stone, light exploded outward.
Ancient runes awakened.
Magic flowed through the chamber.
The stone shimmered.
Then revealed its answer.
Seventeen.
Both of them.
The Queen nodded slowly.
As expected.
Though the years had passed differently for them than ordinary humans, the stone never lied.
Seventeen years.
Ten years since their arrival.
Ten years since fate had delivered them to the hidden kingdom.
That evening, Saline sat beside Florence’s bed.
The room glowed warmly beneath lantern light.
Outside, night had settled peacefully over the kingdom.
Florence coughed softly.
Nothing serious.
Merely irritating.
Unfortunately, Saline treated it like a national emergency.
"You need another dose."
Florence sighed dramatically.
"No."
"Yes."
"I already took one."
"Hours ago."
Florence looked disturbed by Saline’s persistence but the young girl didn’t mind it at all.
Several moments later, Florence found herself drinking medicine anyway.
The older woman glared over the rim of the cup.
"You’ve become bossy."
"You raised me."
"Clearly I made mistakes."
Saline laughed.
The familiar sound filled the room.
For a while, comfortable silence followed.
Then Florence noticed something.
Saline kept glancing toward the window.
Then the door.
Then the window again.
A suspicious smile appeared.
"Where is Kaelion?"
The reaction was immediate.
Saline nearly dropped the medicine bottle.
"I don’t know."
Florence raised an eyebrow.
"You answered quickly."
"I simply know and I answered you."
"Of course."
The older woman hid another smile.
Outside, evening lanterns illuminated the kingdom below.
And somewhere beyond the palace walls, completely unaware that he was being discussed...
Kaelion continued his duties beneath the stars.
While fate quietly prepared the next Chapter of their story....which would happen no matter what.
