What did I do to myself? I glanced down, lifting my hands as if they were unfamiliar. The magic. The patterns that had imprinted on my skin, even if it was nearly invisible. But the candle she held was bright. 

"Is that...? That's magic, Rey."

Princess Elena exhaled deeply. Her eyes filled with fear and contempt. Contempt? "It is," I confirmed. 

"No, how are you alive," she mumbled, turning her head away. She was speaking to herself. 

My heart beat loudly, and I glanced sideways at Lethia. Her expression was tense, and she mouthed something. 'Leave. Run away.'

I realized. I lost my freedom. When Elena's eyes lifted, their fear-driven malice was directed at every inch of me. If I didn't leave, she'd have me hanged. 

How could I leave? My mind was mangled with fear, my thoughts incoherent. Too fast to consider and keep up with. The moment I focused on Elena's hand, my racing heart seemed to still. Everything seemed to be still. 

A sword, perfectly aimed at my head. Everything resumed. My racing heart, the slicing sword, and Lethia's shouts. This time, though, I was gone.

If one is willing to understand, I became magic. The unseen, hidden beings. Magic had been sewn and weaved throughout my physical being, meaning I could also morph my own form. It was a terrifying thought, but it had saved me.

I regained myself far from the palace. Theoretically, I teleported. I panted and collapsed on the forest floor. I never wanted to do or feel that again. It was like I lost myself-- forgot what I was. Yet I didn't, because I was here. 

My body shivered violently. I wrapped my arms around myself, curling over my collapsed knees. I rose to empty my stomach, only to fall to the ground again. Weak. I was weak. Like my life had been sucked out of me rapidly. Such a powerful fatigue drowned me.

"Wow! You appeared out of nowhere!"

I opened my heavy eyes towards the voice, but my forehead was glued to the ground. My heart was slowing along with my breathing. Was I dying? 

"Oh. Is it you...?"

My body was off the ground, my neck flopping painfully. A large hand came to support it, guiding my head to what appeared to be a shoulder. "Teleportation..." the voice muttered. 

Light. It was bright. The sun was warm and strong, and I could smell flowers, trees, and fresh air. The stench of waste and dead bodies was gone. I rose with a startled gasp. The gasp turned to a pained groan, but my eyes remained open, taking in the surroundings.

I heard someone gasp beside me. I turned to him, seeing him holding a startled heart. The dark, curly hair. The gloomy expression. Yet, the eyes were alive and bright, unlike before. Or perhaps I had never seen them. "You..." I said. "Are you Calli?"

His eyebrows raised. "I'm surprised you recognized me."

I furrowed my eyebrows. He spoke as if he knew me, too. A forgotten anxiety rose to the surface of my mind, making my eyes look at the sheets with avoidance. He's alive, I told myself.

'But he could've died.'

"I recognize you, too," he said. I couldn't lift my eyes. I felt like I was betraying myself with these childish worries. The boy's voice held no malice. The bright sun that shone on him seemed to belong on his skin and hair. The palace, I realized, never had a single ray of sun.

"Where are we?" I asked. 

"The south."

Did I teleport here? This far? My body was still tired, and even sitting up was difficult. Thousands of miles were traversed in an instant. Even though I likely lost half my life doing it, the idea was so incredible that I couldn't help but smile. If I could do such a thing, maybe I could save the world, too.

When I looked up, I hadn't expected to see such a lively grin. "Beautiful. You're beautiful." He took my hand in his, inspecting my skin intently. "It's like you're the epitome of magic. Or the personification. Incredible, so incredible."

"Beasts," I whispered. "The beasts. Are they here? Are they real?"

He raised an eyebrow, setting down my hand. "Are you afraid?"

"Of course I'm afraid."

"Me too," he smiled softly. His voice was warm. He never spoke before. If he had, I think everyone would've listened to him. I watched his warm face dull, then turn cold and serious. He looked me in the eye scrutinizingly. "Do you believe I caused the war?"

"Did you?" I asked.

He smiled again. Never has a smile felt so sincere as it does on his face. Every worry I had seemed to dissolve. I looked above. The ceiling-- a round, dome shape-- was made of glass in the middle. As if we lived under the sky. 

There weren't many walls, yet the place didn't lack privacy. Rather, plants festered pleasantly in the place. The space was open yet safe. I saw animals munching on the leaves. The furry beasts were cuter than I'd expected. I found myself grinning softly.

I was afraid to leave that prison. I thought I'd be met with death and violence. Terror and agony. I knew it existed. I had fallen asleep to the sounds every night. So why? Why was I allowed to wake up here? The beasts that had brought such a terror looked abnormally harmless. 

My voice was so quiet. "You didn't, did you?" I said. I didn't think he'd hear me.

"No," he laughed loudly. Or perhaps the place was simply quiet. 

My eyes dropped back to the sheets. I hadn't seen myself in the light for years. My skin was so incredibly pale, especially in the presence of Calli's warm tone. It was like the overbearing cold of the north was forgotten. Why? Why me? 

I couldn't accept it.

My heart dropped with tears. I clenched my jaw so tightly I thought it would be crushed. Why now? Embarrassment, shame, guilt. 

I was a terrible person.

It was like the warmth around me was mocking me. Were they all right? Was I the cause? When this place is destroyed, and everyone dies, is it my fault? 

"I'm sorry," I said. My voice sounded stronger and more stable than I felt. "I'm sorry."

What was I apologizing for? For doubting his innocence? For believing in my own? The guilt I pushed down had come, seeping into my bones. It ripped my heart open, but I had no words to stop or heal it.

"Why?" he asked.

Don't believe in me. Don't try and see good in me. I took a deep breath, lifting my previously hidden face. I looked straight ahead at the life. 

The temple. I have to find the temple. "I have to go back to the north," I said.

He laughed, "Why are you sorry about that?"

I never thought kindness would be so intimidating. It was such a fragile thing, placed in my rough and worn hands. The hands that held a sword day and night for the last three years, and even times before that. I never felt this way about myself before. Facing such good made me realize all my flaws. 

"Because I'm scared of you," I said. 

"No, you're not."

I lifted my weak hands in front of me. What could I do in this state? Should I teleport again? Fulfill my promise quickly? 

"You must be a good judge of character," Calli said suddenly.

"What?" I looked at him. 

"Is it the magic? It's like I can sense you looking right at my soul. How are you doing that?"

I coughed. "Sorry?" I said. He grabbed my hand and looked with surprise.

"Are you dying?"

"What? No," I said. "But I can't see... your soul, or whatever."

He was oddly calm with everything he did. It was similar to Lethia, but her disregard for things was from a heart that had given up. His was as if he could solve anything. Like no problem could truly stand in his way. 

He laughed at my reply, his eyes squinting warmly under the sunlight. It was a smile that welcomed the light. Is this what he meant? I haven't seen another person besides Lethia that I couldn't tell, but perhaps that idea could explain the strange comfort I feel around a stranger.

I asked, "Why don't you hate me?"

His head turned towards me, his thick curly hair blocking the light. He seemed slightly dismayed. "Hate you? Why would I hate you?"

"I mean... I selfishly tried to... free you," I stuttered awkwardly. Stating such a thing was more embarrassing than I'd like to admit. "But I didn't know anything about the world I was sending you to." 

"Then how is that your fault? You can't blame yourself for the secrets they kept."

I shook my head. I told myself the same thing, but that was only an excuse. I lived in that world before I went to the palace. Vale could only keep so much away from a curious child. Not only that, but I threw my value of life away to escape the responsibility of saving the world. I knew I had crossed the line. I pushed the thoughts away. "Why did you create the beasts?" I wondered.

"The world was dying, and there was no life. There was no good, either. So I thought I could make it," he answered. My heart beat loudly, yet slowly. 

"Amazing," I whispered. The eyes I had thought were black looked so welcoming under the sun. I had a hard time believing I was in such a dark cell only a few hours ago. I couldn't forget, though. There's a war outside. I coughed painfully. What have I done?

He looked at me with concern. I brushed it off, waving my hand. "It's okay. Can I rest here for a bit, before I go?"

"Of course," he said. He left with a few glances over his shoulder, like I was going to suddenly collapse when he wasn't looking. 

It was unfortunate. I would've liked to be friends with him, but I wasn't such a shameless person. I was lucky enough to see such a thing, at least. A truly good soul, and what it can create. 

I calmed my thoughts. If the war wasn't about the beasts, then they must've been a spark. The beasts were magic, which both the North and South deeply feared. If Calli took the blame for creating them, then the whole South would, too. Hatred never left room for proper judgment. 

Then, the North must believe the South started the war by bringing magic back. However, the South would think the North unjustly attacked them. Yet, the war was brewing in the North. The beasts were also involved, undeniably. 

Ahead of me, the indoor garden was filled with the soft beings. They couldn't be what I heard letting out those dreadful roars. My mind raced with ideas, but there was nothing I could prove. I hadn't seen it, and I didn't know who or what was involved. 

I exhaled a deep breath. There wasn't much I could do when I could barely sit upright. I fell back onto the soft bed, closing my eyes.

I think I was okay with dedicating my life to saving the world. I didn't know what I was saving, before. Who would've guessed a quick glimpse into peace would be so moving? It was unfortunate I couldn't cherish it, but I wanted to make sure others could in the future.

How?

Did I have the power to do such a thing? Self-doubt crept in, but it never settled. I wouldn't let it. Even if I couldn't, I would try. There wasn't much else a person like me could do, or should do. I was staring at a void, trying to pour light into it, but the light had vanished long ago. When I had given up, the light had finally decided to show itself. I was met with the fact I was the only one who saw it.

I fell asleep with such unfamiliar thoughts.