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  From the corner of my eye, I saw Luna’s face split into a crooked grin. My life was about to change drastically due to my mother’s worry. I had become concerned with what might my future held while being my mother’s heir and what kind of pain Luna had in store for me.

  ***

  My training started every day at the crack of dawn by the edge of the cliff; overlooking the ocean. Luna spent most of the time tossing me down into the dirt. Her body was a solid rock and her hits hurt worse with the blunt force of her strength, colliding with my frail body.

  “Again,” she ordered sternly without breaking a sweat.

  I motivated myself to get back onto my feet even though my muscles were bruised and throbbing in pain. Sweat dripped from my forehead as I brushed the dirt off my black dusted tunic. My hair, I tied it into a ponytail to keep the strands from distracting my vision.

  The wind was wild from the ocean breeze colliding with the edge of the cliff. The leather chest plate I had worn for protection was constricting, but it kept my body from experiencing the full blow of Luna’s vigorous attacks. I shifted my leg to have a stronger stance and charged at her once again. She slammed her hand against my chest; plunging me into the ground. I gasped as the pain exploded from my chest as I lost my breath. It hurts!

  “You are too predictable.” Luna stood up straight after she pushed me down further with sheer force. “Visualize and then attack.”

  I got up from the ground until she swept my hand out of alignment with her foot and I fell back in the dirt. “Learn to get up quicker.” She grasped the edge of my chest plate and lifted me up without a struggle to my feet. “Never assume your opponent will give you time to feel pain.”

  I coughed to the taste of iron rising from my throat. As I spit out the grains of sand and dirt all I saw was the crimson red, spilling out of my mouth.

  “Your training with the Dark Elf didn’t do you much good. You’re agile, but you lack strength and tactic.” She handed me a wooden stick carved into a curved sword. “It will be in your best interest to learn as quickly as possible.” Suddenly, she elbowed me in the face. Then she charged with her wooden sword slamming into mine.

  Her speed was a force to reckon with. Her agility was far superior to mine as our wooden swords slapped together creating a loud echo in the wind. The force of her hits was so strong it pushed me backwards. She easily hit me in the leg, which stung worse than her punches. I flinched in pain as she landed another hit on my arm.

  “You need to get used to the pain.” She recommended in a firm tone. “Strive pass the aches is the best advice I can give you.” Then she kicked me in the chest, knocking me back on the ground, and held the tip of the wood sword to my neck. “I’d suggest you work hard at learning the basics, because in time we will use real swords when we spar like this.” She slapped the stick on my face; leaving it flushed red. “That should help motivate you. It will give you plenty to look forward to during your training.”

  The morning was torturous, getting hit more than I counted. My arms and legs were covered in cuts and bruises, and my face ached from getting slapped with her stick. I'd only imagine how bad it would be with a sharp sword where she can slice me to death. Luna stopped after my hands no longer grasped onto the wooden sword any longer. The pain in my fingers were excruciating. When I tried to bend them, they locked, making it difficult to grasp anything.

  I made my way through the archway on the beach, leading to the other side after training. The rock wall reached high and stretched far out to sea. The cave was damp and carried an earthy scent that reminded of a musty odor after a long rainy season.

  The other side of the rock arch was breathtaking. The view of the long stretch of sand and rock boulders extending out into the water was like paradise. I collapsed in the sand, exhausted.

  The chest plate was heavy and hot, so I removed it and laid it in the sand next to me. It was nice when the breeze finally soothed my wet chest. The sweat dried off my skin, and I fell back into the sand, laying in comfort since its firmness was better than a bed. The sand molded to my body easing the tension off my back and neck.

  The sky was clear blue with not a cloud in sight. The sun's warmth felt pleasant on my fair skin. My chest ached slightly from being kicked so many times, but as soon as my body became relaxed, I fell into a light sleep.

  I could hear the waves in the background loud and clear. It was a calming, mellow sensation in my heart that awoke me from my nap. My eyes slightly opened to the sound of footsteps. I could see in the distance a figure walking along the beach, enjoying the roll of the waves washing up on her feet. My eyes hadn’t focused yet, but I could tell it was a woman.

  Once my vision cleared up, she had just a piece of pale blue cloth around her waist, fluttering in the breeze. Her upper body was exposed to the sun; her hair long and wavy with a mix of caramel and blonde that covered her shoulders. She swayed her hair to the side and my eyes widened as the sight of her breasts became clearer in my field of vision.

  My eyes matched her beauty; allured and intrigued that she was bold to act so freely. She was lovely to watch, and I held my breath. My heart was beating fast from the sight of her. I’ve never reacted like this before. The wind brushed through her hair as she knelt in the water and reached in with her hand. I sat up slightly on my elbows; curious to see what she was doing.

  She picked up a clam that was under the sand. It opened for her and gave her a solid white pearl. She had a smile while gazing at the shimmering cream and purple tints. “Thank you,” she said to the clam before putting it back in the water.

  I was so curious; my eyes did not blink for a second. I continued to hold my breath, hoping she didn’t notice me yet. After wishing to disappear, she glanced my way, and I thought my heart stopped with my body, paralyzed by her eyes finding me. She combed her hair with her fingers away from her face as she became upright once again. I was still on my elbows in the sand without moving a muscle. It was even more awkward since I couldn’t stop staring at her as she walked in my direction. The distance between us decreased with every step. She was getting closer and her deep blue eyes caught my attention over her firm breasts.

  The gazed deeply into my eyes. “Hi there,” she greeted pleasantly. She noticed the cuts and bruises around my arms and legs. “Are you ok?” Her gaze was gentle as she expressed true concern in her eyes.

  I sat there staring at her in silence, and she smiled and sat beside me with my eyes following her unconsciously. I was completely tongued-tied by her radiant presence.

  “I hope you know you are kind of acting rude.” She inspected my bruises on my arms.

  I snapped out of my trance and forced my eyes to look away from her. “I apologize.” I coughed again; some blood splattered in my hand.

  “Do you mind if I touch you,” she asked.

  “Huh?” A jolt aroused in my abdomen from that question.

  She gave a slight chuckle. “It’s ok. I’m a healer. I need to touch your wounds. Do you mind? I promise—you will feel much better.”

  I loosened up. “If you may, thank you.” I sat in a better position while she touched my chest near my heart. Her hands were soft as silk against my skin.

  “This will only take a short while.” She tilted her head back, breathed deeply as her eyes closed.

  I experienced a cool sensation expelling from her hand and flowing into me like water. My body reacted as the blood streamed faster in my veins with the cool sensation of the sea, expanding under my skin. The bruises on my arms and legs disappeared, and my cuts sealed and vanished without a scar. Then my chest stopped aching from the internal injuries. I was less fatigued and the pain throughout my body was gone. Being healed felt so relaxing that I laid back into the sand, sighing in relief.

  “Better?” Her hand lifted away from my chest.

  I nodded still not being able to say anything.

  “The euphoria will only last for a brief time.” She leaned back on her hands to sunbathe while
I experienced a blissful high. “Usually one’s first time experiencing water healing can be pleasurable.”

  “Is that what you call it… What you just did?” I finally broke my uneasy silence as I still had cool tingles under my skin.

  “Yes. I activated the water in your body and manipulated it to start the healing process quicker. That and a touch of my essence to regenerate.” She glanced at me. “It restores the body to its true, original health.”

  “Amazing,” I blurted out in astonishment.

  “You look as if you haven’t experienced magical healing before.”

  “I haven’t actually,” I felt my arms and the top of my head where my scar used to be. “I’ve only heard of it.”

  “I haven’t seen you here before. Are you new to the island,” she asked while turning towards me?

  “Yes, in a way.” I was vague.

  “By those marks. I assume you are in training with Luna.” She had curiosity in her tone. “You are not the first I’ve had to heal due to her. I kind of wondered when I would see another of her victims.”

  “You assumed right. She has been training me. However, I believe she’s enjoying the opportunity to hurt me too much.”

  “Ha! That hound takes intense pleasure in breaking whoever serves the Queen on this island.”

  It depressed me at that moment, and I turned to my side away from her.. “I miss my home.”

  “Were you taken?”

  “Yes and no,” I answered yet again vaguely.

  She stood up from the sand. “Come,” she said. “I want to show you something.”

  I turned around to see she had her hand extended. I grabbed it with mine and she pulled me up to my feet. She kept ahold of my hand as she guided me to the rock boulders. I hesitated.

  “It’s ok,” she said assuring me. “Trust me.”

  I followed her; climbing over the rocks. We reached the edge where the waves crashed. Something was curious about this woman, but I couldn’t figure out what she was. She knelt near the water and just touched it with the tips of her fingers.

  The ocean water cleared like glass where I could see the ocean bottom. The colors of the coral reef illuminated in the sun, and fish of all colors swam in groups from all around. It was like experiencing a new depth to a world I never knew existed.

  “This is my home,” she referred to the ocean. “No matter where I am, as long as the ocean is within my sight.” She turned to look me in the eyes. “I’m home. I too came from somewhere else that I miss. My family—as long as I stay connected to the ocean I’m never alone and I can find comfort with the time spent here on this island.”

  “Do you serve the Queen?” I asked.

  “No. But she grants me sanctuary since I’m a healer. We are all here because of something.” She released the enchantment on the water. “I understand you are hurting right here.” Her hand grazed my chest over my heart. “This unfortunately I cannot heal. Only time can do that.” She climbed back over the rocks and we were on the sand once again.

  “Thank you for showing me. And for the healing even though I’ll just have more wounds tomorrow.”

  “Then you should come find me tomorrow and I'll heal you again.” Her brilliant smile warmed my heart yet again and my grueling day ceased to exist in my mind.

  “Do you have a name?” I asked.

  “Amphitrite is my given name… Although everyone calls me Amphis.”

  “Amphis...” I lost the frown on my face. “It rolls off the tongue better.

  “And your name?” Amphis asked rolling her eyes.

  “Alphard!”

  Amphis stopped in here tracks. “It’s beautiful, but it’s odd to give a child with such a name. Our names are like a decree to who we are.”

  “Why is it odd?”

  Her eyes expressed with amazement. “You don’t know the meaning of your name?”

  “No. Not really to be honest.”

  “It’s described as the solitary one. A star where no other as bright shall shine near it.”

  “Oh!” Why wasn’t I surprised by her response? The title was suitable and how I endured a sense of loneliness in my heart. “A name that decrees who we are.” My heart always fell into despair whenever the weight has lifted off my soul. “Well, I apologize for my rudeness earlier. It’s been a pleasure, Amphis.” I took her hand and held it in mine. “We shall part ways until tomorrow.” As I let go, her expression changed ever so slightly as the connection between our energies became aligned within that moment.

  “Until tomorrow.”

  I made my way back to the castle and to my room in the highest tower. Yuna had waited for my return. The silver locket around her neck caught my eye when I entered; wearing her usual pale green dress and the scar on her neck slightly smaller than before.

  “Is that new?” I asked getting close to her. It had a smell that caught my attention. It was a hint of an unusual fragrance that smelled like lavender and vanilla.

  “Yes, milady.” Her voice spoke into my mind.

  “The aroma is pleasant. What’s it for?”

  “To help null my sense of smell. It’s been bothering me lately the odors I’ve endured.”

  “I forgot Elves have a keen sense of smell. I apologize if you’ve felt bothered lately.”

  “It’s all right, milady. This happens often when our senses are out of control.”

  Yuna inspected my body. “There are no cuts and bruises and all the old bruises have healed and vanished.” She looked at me astonished.

  “Yes, someone healed me with water healing abilities, and she could do things that seemed like a dream.”

  “The beauty of the sea, milady.” Yuna snickered. “Ocean Nymphs are like a dream. Rare as they come”

  “Rare?”

  “Yes, milady. There is a few among Fae. And they are mythical in the arts of healing and caring for ocean life with nearly the same power as a God. Even Poseidon is allured by them with how lovely they are.”

  I stepped out on the balcony to view beyond the arched wall where I could still see Amphis from afar, bathing in the waves of the ocean. No wonder I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her. My chest still sensed the phantom sensation of her hand when she touched me. Even though I knew the next day would bring excruciating pain from Luna’s barbaric training, I couldn’t help but to act thrilled to see her again.

  CHAPTER VI

  The Cove

  THE NEXT DAY, ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT during training, was Amphis. Her face clouded my focus and left me distracted as Luna created more cuts and bruises all over my body. However, today she split my lip and eyebrow, hitting me in the face with the wooden sword. It made it clear it wasn’t just training that Luna was doing.

  Based on what mother told me about watching over my life in the mountains, I’m sure Luna knew about me and her son. Although, I didn’t know why she had such aggression towards me. Her eyes always intimidating, so I would never dare ask about or bring up Edon. That day was a mystery after my fall, and I didn’t really know what happened to my friends when they encountered her in the forest, and if they were honestly ok like my mother said. I could only hope Luna wouldn’t harm her son too much even though he fought on my behalf. The only thing I could do was stay silent about everything and be slung around like a puppet as per my mother’s will.

  When my training was over, I wondered where Amphis lived on the Island. I wanted to find her, but I didn’t know where to look. The island was not small and had many beaches and unknown forests.

  Yuna mentioned Amphis stayed on the cove at the far edge of the island. I crossed the stone arch, and it was quite a walk along the hot sand to get on the other side. I found the entrance to a path, leading to a private paradise of evergreens, palms, and streams of flowers where Pixies and Fairies fluttered around. This was the cove.

  The Fae-folk on the island helped her build a small hut underneath bended palm trees; arched over, creating the foundation of the roof, covered in twisted twigs and
vines; overlaid with large leaves. It appeared simple yet peaceful in isolation, reminding me that my new home was also in solitude. She had her privacy, living on this tranquil beach with ocean water; clear, blue and calm. Not a single wave in this quiet paradise.

  Amphis waited for me by the door with a warm smile and this time wearing a short fitted pale blue dress covering her breasts. Today she looked less distracting than yesterday, which made it easier for me to keep my focus on her beautiful clear blue eyes. They looked so enchanting; I didn’t have the will to turn away.

  “You found me.” She frowned upon noticing the cuts on my face. “No mercy today I see.”

  “No—I’m afraid not.” My lip split wider as I spoke, and blood dripped down my chin. I caught the drippings with my hand before it went down my neck.

  “Thank the ninth heavens she didn’t get blood happy with you.”

  “And this is not blood happy?” I referred to the all the marks Luna had inflicted on me for the day.

  “I’ve seen Luna do a lot worse than this to the other servants.” Amphis found a piece of cloth in her hut and dabbed it on my lip; it stung to the touch. “Ever since I arrived Luna has been hungry for violence or for something else. I could never tell what drives her to be who she is when she is inflicting pain on others out of pleasure. To do this, you have to either enjoy it or it’s a way of releasing frustration.”