Age of Heroes

HELIA ALTHEA

SEAWORTH

She looks around in the courtyard and saw the huge tree in its centre. The green leaves greeted her and it blows following the course of the wind. Seeing it always makes her feel calm.

The blowing wind caressed her cheeks and she think of him again. It has been so long since she has seen him and whether she likes to admit it or not, her heart longs for him.

She has received a letter from Lisa telling her that Arial has begun his journey home back to Acro.

Kyle also sends a letter which detailed the event of Arial accident.

In it he explained that he didn't tell her of what happens for fearing that she might come to the battlefield so the incident is buried.

Thinking about this, Helia had a grudging smile on her face

'Just you wait, Kyle.' She thought to herself

Kyle has always been her close friend. In some cases, he is closer to her than Arial.

He always cares for her and he has saved her almost as much as Arial saved her. Though thinking about it again, she had also save Kyle as much on occasion

Their relationship took a strained path that night….and as she reminisces it she reminded herself that all of that happened so many years ago.

Thinking back of that night…. she had always wondered…what would happen if she did not misunderstand him and if she was braver and he was more honest?

For some reason, she keeps regretting it…. that night. She shakes her head and smiles bitterly as the wind once again blows gently on her face.

'Old stories' she reminded herself. And then naturally her mind went to Arial. That stubborn person.

Arial was a person with great determination which is just a kind way of saying that he is stubborn

He need no saving from any killers or criminals they encountered over the years but she suspects he need someone to save him from himself.

She hopes that she could be that someone. Arial always held this burden on his shoulders though she never knew what it was.

He needs help from someone.

The word she got was that Arial has won the war, and the other northern noble lords that are not killed has surrendered, while some other flee to the other kingdoms, seeking asylum or returning to their relative's family home

Arial' she whispered to the wind and she smiles.

Her betrothed has win the war and he is returning with all its glory.  Not to mention that Arial right now is no longer just a Duke, but being titled Prince by the King

She smiles a little. So if she married him later she would be called a Princess.

'Me?  A her, she would have ride her horse and ride to Acro to meet him and congratulate him but there is matter here to be solved in Seaworth.

Her father is having the Chills so she has to help him for a while.

These past few months she has posted sentry guard all along the board of Vangua fearing any intervention from Vangua force after this victory

Thankfully there is none and so I maintain the peace and order in this region. Probably this has something to do with the internal unrest in Vangua.

And the task she had to do in Seaworth is not difficult to do. She just need to settle some dispute between noble lords and the common folks.

Her father is also recuperating well. He has been resting for the past month on his chamber while she helps him with the state affairs.

She might have learned fighting in the academy but she is after all still a lord's daughter and she has the intelligence and the ability to lead the house when her father is sick

'My lady' the voice startled her as she looked behind her. Looking at the person calling her, she beamed joyously

'Nurse Carlia' she said smiling.

The woman is thirty-four already, her red hair was curled up in a bun. Nurse Carlia has watched over her since she was a child.

Her mother is also said to be fond of her. Carlia looking at her shakes her head.

'My lady, do not stand around the courtyard in this weather. You might catch a cold.' She put a blanket on Helia shoulder. Her touch is warm that remind Helia of home

Helia smile a little.

'Do not worry. I can handle the cold. How is my Father?'

'My lord, has got off bed. He looks better' she said

'Is he? Where is he now?'

'At the beach my lady. It might please the lord if you accompanied him' Nurse Carlia said and there is a gentle look she is giving Helia.

Helia nodded

'Thank you for your concern Carlia but maybe my father need some time alone."

Then Helia realize she is shivering

'Please go inside. I would stay here for a moment.' She sighed and nodded.

"Thank you my lady. But if you're cold my lady, please warm yourself in the castle"

"I think I'll be fine" Carlia then excuses herself as she stays here in the garden.

She looks back at the huge tree and she remembered a moment she has with Arial. It was on one of their quest.

They were running from this serial killer that only kill married woman and Kyle messed up so they have to run.

Arial on his effort in saving Kyle get thrown off a shallow cliff. Helia giggled a little as she recounted her memories.

She still remembered Arial face when he sees her in the bottom, trying to hide in this large hole on a large tree.

He almost laughed. And he rarely laughs.

And then like the situation wasn't weird enough, instead of fighting the serial killer, which she thinks he can handle, he jumps to that hole with her as he enjoyed making her feel uncomfortable.

He apologizes afterwards of course for making her uncomfortable, the gentleman he is. He said he couldn't resist.

Or as he termed it 'Feeling of childish innocence' which is weird considering he was also a child. That has always puzzled Helia, Kyle and Lisa.

Even when they think back at these old memories, they remember that even when Arial was young, he did not act like any other person of his age

He always had this kind of mature and even cold outlook about life. It made him mysterious and at the same time otherworldly. It made her feel like he belongs in another world.

It made them feel like they always have to chase his back

She asked Kyle afterward. Kyle always said that Arial doesn't like pranking but she thinks he likes pranking; he just doesn't do it often.

But there is one wrong thing he presumes at that time. He believes her to be uncomfortable. He was wrong. He was utterly wrong. It felt good.

Maybe that is when she first realizes him as a man.

The way his muscle feels, and the feeling when she heard his voice, how assured she feel, even the way he broods.

The way her heart pounded almost like it was about to explode, or the way she is with him should have hinted her on what she feels for him. And she smiles again.

Remembering another memory. 

And there is a lot. After all they did many things together as friends and as classmates. They share their frustration and grief, regrets and longing, laughs and tears.

Though Arial has always been the less sharing type

But then a memory came. And this memory is special. Because this memory she is thinking about is her memory with Arial. One that stands out in her memory among many others

It was the first kiss between them. Though at that time she doesn't think both of them know what they are feeling for one another.

It was at this one lake.

On a lake somewhere after they finished a quest, Kyle and Lisa was playing water in the lake, shooting water bomb to each other, and Arial exhausted rested his head on her lap and at that time, she did not know what possess her but she gives him a kiss.

At that time, it was unconsciously done. She doesn't even know why she did it. And he was so shocked that he just stared at her in amazement

And she? She stares at that piercing blue eyes and she felt something beating in her chest. And there is this tingling feeling she could not understand coming from her heart

She should have known back then. He should have known back then.

'My lady?' The voice brings her back to reality.

'Yes?' The messenger kneeled before her.

'Your father requested your presence at the beach cottage.' She nodded

'Alright. I will come a little bit later.'

The messenger left. Almost immediately. She looks at the tree in the centre and she smiles bitterly.

She guesses that her father must have been recuperating really well, now that he can even walk to the Beach cottage.

Helia quickly went to my room to change to more appropriate dress as she let her unasked question, the question she wanted to ask Arial flew with the wind.

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This is Helia a few days before she met Liao Bao. Anyway, hope you like the story and please leave some vote and comments for the story