Valerian, The Legendary

81 Encounters.

Valerian bowed to Fragrantia and carried his trunk to unite with Azula. The princess has been kinder to him for the past few days, she knew that he was her cousin, with acted as a catalyst between them.

Azula said, “Val, you leave the luggage here, Myth will carry it.”

The princess was allowed to call him Val. The boy nodded and handed his turn to the guard on the side. He looked at the big bird and then at Azula with some hesitation in his eyes.

The princess caught the hint and smiled. She asked, “How come you are hesitating with me now, and not before.”

Valerian could have answered this question but he shook his head, he will not let others know his thoughts. He asked, ‘Why do you not take the bucks?’

Azula has always traveled with the Blizzard bucks but if she went to the Academy on the bird, what will happen to the bucks? The situation had a strange melancholy about it, which made Valerian ask this question.

The princess smiled and said, “Priscilla will drive them over, do not worry.”

Valerian nodded and looking at the bird he said, ‘I will go with Priscilla, she will not be able to have them keep up the speed.’

The princess thought Valerian was afraid of flying beasts and nodded. The boy made his way to Priscilla who was attaching the harness of the bucks to the carriage. The magical beasts also bleated when Valerian arrived, asking him something and the child replied to them back.

.....

Priscilla asked him, “Why are you here?”

‘I will help you take over the bucks to the academy.’, replied Valerian.

Priscilla asked, “The Swallow is faster.”

Valerian shook his head and said, ‘Be careful, if Glacius heard your words, he might not let him come closer.’

Priscilla asked, “Who is Glacius?”

‘This big guy.’, Valerian pointed at the biggest and most proud buck among the four.

Priscilla did not expect him to name her. The two bantered and then watched the guards load the luggage into the carriage. After everything was prepared, Valerian sat beside Priscilla on the coachman seat and let out a bleat.

The carriage moved, and they exited the palace from the western wing gates. Azula and Consano had already left a few moments earlier. Valerian spotted Ignis and Vertex with their mother, when he turned back to look, only to find that Fragrantia was also looking back at him.

The empress waved at him with a smile and a concerned gaze. Valerian waved gently and turned back to face the road ahead. He could never misunderstand real concern appearing in the eyes of a person. Things that you see rarely are easy to distinguish.

...

Valerian did not say much and jerked the reins slightly. The bucks had just come out of the military check post, they were now in the open and could speed up. Priscilla was surprised to see the beasts running so fast. She asked, “How can they run so fast.”

Valerian shook his head, he wanted to tell her that they were bucks and that too magical. Just a little stimulation was needed to have them pick up their speed and thrash everything in their way. But he was holding the reins.

Soon they were passing through the woods, and Valerian suddenly stopped the carriage. Priscilla asked, “What is it?”

She did not come here last time so she did not know what Valerian was doing. The boy said, ‘You stay here, I will be back in a few minutes. If you encounter something difficult, fire a flame arrow in the sky, in that direction, I will come back as soon as possible.’

Before Priscilla could reply, Valerian bleated to the magical beasts and jumped down from his seat. He rushed toward the direction he had pointed earlier and vanished in the tree line.

Priscilla mumbled, “He is so mysterious.”

...

Valerian ran pretty quickly through the woods, and he came to stand in front of the tree in the clearing. He knelt on the ground and paid respects to his mother. The child placed a hand on the tree trunk, as if trying to convey his thoughts, ‘I will go to the academy now, mum. I do not know when I will be able to come back and see you, but I will carry you in my heart.

I miss you mum, I love you.’

His thoughts were simple and honest, if possible he would like to spend the rest of his life tending to this tree. To him, this place was nothing less than home. A gust of wind shook the tree and a few flowers flew down from the canopy. He picked up the flowers and left the place.

Not long after he left the tree trunk twisted after a few clicking sounds were emitted from it. A figure, seeming to be made up of tree bark came out. If Valerian was to seen this figure he would have recognized him.

This figure was Olivis, the driad, he met during the trip from Acies to Imperial Capital. Behind Olivis was another acquaintance, Celtic.

Olivis looked back at the tree and bowed solemnly as he said, “I apologize to disturb your rest.”

Suddenly the tree emitted a gentle glow and an ethereal voice sounded, “Driad, I know what you seek, but know this, I have debt yet to claim with your tribe, if her son suffers any harm, your kin will not be able to pay the price.”

Olivis was shocked and asked, “Who is it?”

The glow from the tree brightened and when it fell down a small figure appeared in front of him. This thing was just a few inches tall. It looked like a wax doll wearing a flowery skirt, very adorable.

Celtic and Olivis looked at this small figure and they directly fell to their knees. Even if they were made of wood, they were shaking and shivering as if a lonesome tree in the storm.

Olivis replied, “Forgive us, Your Eminence, we did not know that the child was protected.”

The flowery doll said in a gentle voice, “He is the child of Flos, the protector of Bloomkin, your kind wants to hunt him down because they fear his gifts. I will lay it down to you here in plain words, go tell your elders, that his destiny lies above all, he will be a legend, that people will revere and look up to. Put down your petty politics, or the consequences will be something this you might not be able to afford.”

Olivis nodded and replied, “Your Eminence, I understand your words. We came here, not because of the kin, but because I have something for him.”

The flowery figure did not reply, she just kept gazing at him, and Olivis said, “We asked an oracle about him, and the result says, that it was possible for the dragons to return to light when this child encounter’s his destiny. We know that he will be...”

“Silence.”, scowled the flowing flower.

She said, “Do not interfere in the things you do not understand. If your actions disrupted the flow, then I will give you the war you never wanted.”

Watching the two people dare not raise their heads, the girl vanished. However, she still left a few words lingering in the void, “Mark my words, Driad, your kin can only be his ally in what is about to come, otherwise, stand on the side, but if you stood in front him. You will know how choices can change destinies.”

Olivis and Celtic sighed and raised their heads, watching that the lady was gone, they calmed down, but still did not speak for a few hours. Celtic said, “Shall we go back?’

Olivis shook his head and said, ‘Do not, I would like to see if, I can befriend him.”

Celtic nodded and the two sat on the ground thinking and discussing things.

...

Valerian on the other hand was sitting on the carriage, the bucks have been galloping forward really fast. The trip was covered almost half the time. They had come to the academy when the sun was about to set. The carriage stopped at the door, and the guards inspected every aspect of things before letting Valerian enter the gates.

The boy asked, ‘Where do we meet, Her Highness?’

Priscilla replied, “No need, Your luggage will be delivered to the Battlemage tower, just go ahead, I will take care of the carriage and everything. Okay?”

Valerian cast her a gaze, then he coaxed the bucks with very low bleats, and wearing a silver tunic, headed towards the battlemage tower. On the way, he saw a lot of activity. However, unlike him, all of them were walking with people.

His face was new to the crowd and captured a lot of attention. In such places where everyone was from the high class, new people, who moved around alone, were targeted the most.

So, a person shouted, “Hey kid, stop right there.”

Valerian turned to look back and found a fist aimed directly at his face, instinctively he dodged the attack and jumped back. His gaze was so cold that it made the other person slow down.

The first day at Academy has begun and the start was not good.

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