That jerk stole my soap and gel! I know we have the best products in all of Mercelon, but couldn’t she have just asked to buy some? Even borrow… I would have given her some if she just asked, but no, she had to take them. Who does she think she really is, Goddess of the Void? That’s the last time I let her into my room- I even let her sleep in my bed! Speaking of… She was very odd last night. When taking her bath, it sounded like there was someone else with her, and in bed, she was talking to herself and woke up screaming. When I was reading this morning, she went around the room whispering things to herself before going to the door. She looked right at me, smiled, and then left without her bag. I tried to call after her, but she just kept going. I’m worried about her health...

I just couldn’t resist looking through her bag. There were little balls of some hard, black metal and a few necessities, like coins. A few other odd items were in her bag as well, like a strip of gold-ish cloth. There was a knife that was cracked and a black shawl that made me feel a bit sick. Under all of that was a few womanly items, a few scrolls of paper, and then a journal. Ohhh, I couldn’t wait to look through her diary. I opened it, but there was just a list of items, like a to-do list. It said:

-Deal with the mutts

-Return Ellie’s gift

-Get Nirgir to speak

-Take over Mercelon

‘Deal with the mutts’ clearly meant the Ja’Ca people on her border. I don’t know how she was going to deal with them, but I bet it wouldn’t be good. I think ‘Ellie’ meant me, but I don’t know what gift she was talking about. Nirgir is her… pet, maybe? Then her last item was more of an overarching goal, I guess, but the Empire won’t let her take over Mercelon. That wouldn’t stop her from trying, though.

After putting her things back inside the bag, I sent for a worker to get a letter prepared while I went down for my morning meal. My little princes and princesses all smiled and greeted me in the hallways and a smiling butler seated me at the dining table with most of the same leaders from last night. I welcome all leaders to come have feasts with me so that we can avoid conflict by talking out any issues we have, but Lady Everlock tends to ruin the point of it by doing something like she did last night. I only invite her at this point so I can make sure she is doing alright and so people know she is still cooperating with the Empire, but I fear she is only making tensions worse. I love having her here, but she gets easily angered when not inside of her castle.

I worry too much about her and other people, so I decided I would spend the day on myself. I got a visit from the Suns about Erzen's breakout, but I'm not worried. Judican is so dreamy and Yubik was acting like a cool guy, as always. I don’t know why he doesn’t go court Emily already; they’re practically made for each other.

After their visit, I left home for a bit to see the shops in town. I bought some rolls from a bakery and ate them out in the park while I watched the kids play. I wish I had my own children, but I haven’t yet found a suitable Emperor. I want to wed Judican, but there are issues with Fairies marrying non-Fairies, especially those in a royal line. My father threatened to betroth me to whom he saw fit, but I want to marry for love, not power. Sure, the man he wants me to marry is charming, but he isn’t my kind of partner. I want someone who is confident, strong, and willing to do what they think is right, not just what the law says. Someone like… Someone like Emily. Oh no, Elysewhyr, no impure thoughts today.

The children noticed my presence long before they came up to me, but they waited until I was finished with my rolls to approach. “Can you tell us a story, Miss Elysewhyr?” one of them asked.

I used my best Empress’ tone to respond as I kneeled to be eye level, “Which story do you want to hear, little ones?”

They all gave one answer: “Light of Freedom!” It was the only story they ever wanted to hear, because it was about me. They all looked up to me, and for good reason. “Alright,” I said, and settled myself in my chair by crossing one leg over the other.

“A long, long time ago, before any of you were born, the land of Mercelon was ruled over by the Emperor, my father. Alongside him, Akan Kilmore led the military from a great fortress in the east. Opposing him was the rebellion, led by a fake Empress named Elektra Everlock. She lived in her parents’ mansion and led an army of pure metal soldiers; evil, corrupted beings that only lived to fight.” I made my voice low and sinister for effect.

“Elektra held a grip on a powerful force led by a wretched creature named Erleck, the Void monster. When Erleck was finally struck down by my father’s men, the rebellion lost all momentum and the fighting died down. However, Elektra had a daughter named Emily. Emily, the most powerful of all mages in Mercelon, led a small force of celestial beings and demons alike and stole the throne from under Akan’s feet. She was even rumored to have used a Great One’s power to kill her mother, Akan, and all of her past allies, corrupted by the Voidwalker’s influence. When all was said and done, she cursed the world, clouding it in a terrible darkness for years!” The children booed and showed frustration, much like they did every time I told this story.

“What happened, Miss Elysewhyr?” one child asked.

“Well, the Emperor decided that something needed to be done, so he sent his only daughter to find the God of the Sun, Argoncin, and demand that he did something about the terrible darkness. After all, crops weren’t growing and people everywhere were starving! His daughter, Elysewhyr, after thirty-seven days of travel, climbed the highest mountain in the continent, the only one that had its peak reaching above the darkness. She reached the peak and called out to the sun, demanding that Argoncin destroy the dark covering that plagued the world. Her calls seemed to be in vain, however, as the darkening clouds only rose.”

“No!” the children yelled excitedly, getting into the story again for the third time this month.

“Oh, but when all hope seemed lost, angels flew down from the heavens above with a gift! The gift was an amulet that dispelled all darkness it came across, and Elysewhyr marched straight to the dreaded witch’s fortress with it. Anyone who was there that day can tell you about how the darkness fled from her presence, even as she took her first steps on the black, horrible staircase that led to her lair. When Elysewhyr set her eyes for the first time on Emily, the Dark Ruler, she challenged her to a final duel between the Light and the Dark!”

Their eyes didn’t stray from my hands as they acted out the story while I told it. “After a long and fierce battle, the witch had a change of heart, like the hero pulled Emily from the clutches of the Void. She let go of the dark umbrella over the world and let the sun once again bathe the world in its light. From the kindness of her heart, Elysewhyr, to this day, allows the Everlock to live peacefully among all the other great nations of Mercelon. She continues to free those who have fallen to the darkness and that, kids, is why she is known everywhere as Elysewhyr, the Light of Freedom.” The children cheered at the end of the story, to which I couldn’t help but giggle. A series of applause echoed around me as I realized a crowd had grown to listen to the story, even though it was the same story I’m asked to tell every week.

I enjoyed their praise. I was a hero, of sorts, but the story didn’t go exactly how it is told. Akan unlawfully summoned the Great One to crush Elektra’s forces, but it was turned on him because of Emily’s power. I never went to a mountain’s peak or ordered a god to give me anything; I made this amulet by myself and with the help of a few other great mages. I was scared half to death when I was sent in a carriage to confront Emily, and I think she only stopped what she was doing because she regretted her decision. I’m the Empress now, but I really don’t think I’m deserving of the title. Emily is so, so much more powerful than me and could bring back the dark covering anytime she wants to, but I think she is afraid of it. I’m afraid of what she could do if she finally snapped, which is very, very possible.

After receiving plenty of attention and thanks from my people, I continued on towards the forest. Almost everyone on the road recognized and greeted me, each one calling me “Empress” or something about light. I love it all, but I wish my story of valor went a bit better than it’s made out to be. I was shaking from the feet up when I first saw her, stuttering as I said something like, “Take away the darkness… please!” After it all went down and I started having feasts with the other leaders, I invited her to join. There was a ton of controversy surrounding it, but I had none of it. I had her sit next to me so I could actually get to know her, and I learned how great of a person she really was. She is a kind, loving spirit with an affinity for the Dark Arts, so I treat her like that. I cleverly avoid her tantrums when she gets angry and I make sure she gets love when she is feeling down. I have never, ever seen her cry, but I imagine she looks absolutely beautiful when she does. Agh, no impure thoughts!

I left the city and made it into the lush forest. There were deer and rabbits that welcomed me to their land with how they walked up like I was another member of their family. I hopped through the trees and began to skip until I found a clearing of flowers. I know how Emily loves nature. I once found her out in this same exact place on a bright and sunny day. She was lying with the flowers like it was a natural habitat, and she looked amazing and elegant, just like how I strive to appear. I remember that day like it was yesterday, but it has been years.

“Hey there,” I said to her.

She looked up from her spot and sighed before lying her head back down. “What do you want, Empress?” She always sounded like she hated me, but I think she secretly adores me.

“Do you like this spot?” She didn’t say anything back, though. “I want to talk about us,” I said next. I still don’t know why I said that, but I guess it just sounded like something to say.

“Us? What do you mean, ‘us’?”

I lied down with her and mimicked her position, but crossed my legs. “I think you know what I mean.” I remember how my heart was throbbing against my chest like a hammer.

“Can’t say I do.”

I didn’t say anything for a while. I saw how she was so carefree and unlike anyone I’d ever met in my life, and I just felt drawn to her.

“Why do you do this?” she asked.

“Do… do what?”

“Why do you try to make me feel like I belong anywhere other than in that fortress?”

I sat up and looked at her, happy to see that she was looking back at me. “I like you, Emily, and I think you have a lot of love to give out to others in this world. Why do you insist on staying there?”

“I can’t just leave; it’s my home, you know.”

“So, what, then move! Come live with me, I would even accept you being in my bedroom. There are so-“

“Did you just offer to have me in your bedroom with you?”

“I…” I knew what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t get myself to say it. “Sorry, forget I said anything. I just want you to know that you’re welcome to come by anytime you’d like, Emily.”

“Hm… Thanks, Pixie.” She liked to call me that, but it wasn’t the correct term for my species. Pixies are much smaller and aren’t sentient, while Fairies are.

The conversation became boring and a bit quiet at that point. Standing here today, I wanted to find her lying in the flowers again. She wasn’t there, though. I wanted to see her and to ask her to take my hand and lead me away. I wanted to tell her what I wanted to tell her that day in the past.

Out loud, I said those words I should have said years ago. “I love you, Emily.”

“How sweet,” an unknown man’s voice spoke. I jumped and let out a short scream, simultaneously looking in his direction.

“No,” I started. 

“Yes.” The man had a serrated sword in one hand and a large pistol in the other. He had crazy eyes and short, unkempt hair that matched his ripped, rugged clothing. “It’s me. Remember when you had me locked away, Empress?” Erzen, the demon slayer, was staring at me from mere feet away.

I turned on a heel and began to run. His pistol fired and my leg screamed at me in pain as I fell to the ground. I felt a searing pain that made me begin to cry, but I couldn’t do anything about it. I felt his boot against my back and my hands were soon cuffed behind my back. I began to scream, but his grimy, disgusting hand clamped my mouth shut before he stuffed it with a dirty cloth. I tried to squirm and free myself, but it was no use. I heard some people’s voices calling from the distance, but everything seemed to escape me as a throbbing pain shot into the side of my head, knocking me out.

When I woke up, I was chained to a dark, stone wall with a metal brace around my neck. I tried to break it off the hinges, but I was too weak, so I sat myself against the wall. My amulet was gone, which I kind of expected. My leg still hurt, but I felt a bandage on the spot where he shot me, so he must want me kept alive. I don’t know what Erzen wanted with me, but I could only guess it had to do with Emily. Was I the bait? The ransom? Would I become the unfortunate victim of another one of his crimes? The thoughts sprung tears to my eyes again, but I tried to have faith. Someone would learn of where I was and would come save me, I just knew it.

I heard his boots coming down the stairs of the basement before I saw him, and I curled up in a ball. “Well well, look what little pretty princess is awake,” he said in an evil voice. He came over and kneeled next to me. He was a disgusting being and I wanted nothing to do with him, but he was right in my face against my will. He grabbed me by the chin and turned my head to look at him. “What, afraid I’m going to hurt you?” he asked when he saw the tears rolling down my face.

I couldn’t find my voice, so I kept quiet. I tried to look away, but he suddenly pulled my face forward and started kissing me, even sticking his tongue in my mouth. I started screaming again and tried to pull away, but he was much stronger. It lasted for gods know how long, but it felt like it took forever before he finally pushed my face away. “Little bitch,” he said as he slapped my face. I completely closed up, having not ever been touched like this before. It was impure and horrible, especially since it was a criminal and monster who was touching me. “Haven’t you learned not to go out alone, pretty Fairy?” He began barking at me more, but I tried my best to tune it out. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready for any of this to happen to me, and I could feel my breaking point coming soon. I needed someone to come save me. I needed Emily.