The Source of All Evil

Chapter Sixteen

Michaela Walker.

“My sister?!” Michaela thought aloud, wondering how it turned up this way. If what she said was true, and the character she has created was now, magically, part of the Crystfire royal family. How would the original plot play out?

“Just like I thought, I knew you must’ve lost your memory due to that incident.” Nirvana tightened her grip around her hands; a struggling tear slid down her flushed cheek. “When I went to the temple with father to see you, we were surprised that you’ve disappeared. . . Father thought someone took you away, sending the royal guards to look for you, but I had a feeling that wasn’t the case. . .”

Princess Nirvana started crying, and Michaela just stood there, wearing a puzzled look. The time she spent in Hema village made her, somehow, forget that this was just an imaginative work depicted in a charmed book. But meeting the princess made her realize, once again, how far away from reality of her world.

“. . . When I heard about an eccentric chef from the Crystfire Kingdom who has appeared in Hema village, offering delicious meals, I had a hunch that it was you. You’re the only person who enjoyed the simplicity of life, indulging in the lush vegetation the lands had to offer, showing a keen enthrallment for the art of culinary. . . I begged father to let me come here to check for myself, and he only allowed me to travel here after Hosuh said he’ll accompany me.”

“I can’t believe my eyes, Michaela. You’re really here,” she added with a gentle smile.

Michaela slipped her hands off her grip, scratching her head, feeling disoriented by this jumble of a twist the book has caused, gulping as she said. “Hosuh is out of closed-door meditation?!”

The princess nodded. “You remember Hosuh?!”

Detecting the clear disappointment in her voice, Michaela felt compelled to shake her head. “No, I just heard about him. The villagers here seem to respect him.”

“Oh! And you don’t. . . remember me? How about our parents?”

“I’m. . . I can’t remember much of anything before the moment I woke up in the temple.”

The princess silently stared at her, and Michaela thought of lying to comfort her, but the original story didn’t mention the protagonist having a sibling, so feigning amnesia was the best option for her.

“That’s alright, as long as you’re okay. Nothing else matters.” Princess Nirvana sounded sincere. “I’m just glad that you didn’t get taken by that Evil Master.”

“The Evil Master? Do you mean Adrius?”

The Princess matched her frown, shaking her head. “No, I’m talking about that man who’s obsessed with you, pestering father to marry you off to him. . . When father refused, and he found out that you lost your spiritual core, he’s disappeared, only for us to hear the news, years later, of him fighting Adrius and taking over his clan. . .” She trailed off, exclaiming, “you remember Adrius?!”

“Umm, no. . . Just heard about him, too. Who’s this man you’re talking about?”

Michaela thought of sharing this with Rafe, as he’s been here before her. It’d be more troublesome now for her, with a new character that has stalkerish tendencies in the picture.

“I wish I knew, but father said that he’s deranged, claiming that you and him go way back. . . He has some scary and wicked powers, which he used to compel us to forget all our memories of you for years. . . But recently, something must’ve happened, as we regained our memories, which is why father thought that he took you away when we didn’t find you at the temple.”

Michaela hummed, losing herself in her own thoughts. She chuckled when she figured that the book was covering the plot holes for its new story. The misremembrance and forgetfulness the princess talked about must’ve been during the time-frame when the amulet was the invaluable item the King hid in the temple. And when Michaela altered that part of the story, the book rebelled, changing her role in its ongoing story.

It was really a mess, she thought, groaning. Her headache was getting worse. Michaela didn’t know if this migraine was caused by the hangover for drinking too much wine, or for this change in events.

Maybe I really should seek answers from the Celestial Master, she wondered. The sooner, the better to end this travesty.

“I’m sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation,” Malick said as he walked back to the main room, solemnly adding. “I found it odd that a royalty was pretending to be a commoner, asking about a mere nobody from her kingdom.”

Princess Nirvana clutched the skirt of her dress, curtsying as she stammered. “I didn’t mean to disrespect you. . .”

“Your highness, I know you have your reasons given the tense situation in the southern region. It's understandable to be cautious.” Malick bowed his head, smiling Michaela’s way. “But you, for a royalty, sure don’t act like one.”

“Didn’t you hear her? I lost my memory.” She replied confidently, sticking her tongue out at him when he snickered.

“And your tact, too? You don’t look so surprised by all this.”

Michaela knew he wasn’t suspicious of her, more like wondering why she looked calmer in this situation.

“I had a hunch,” she said with a shrug. “I woke up in a temple, inside a pod, with no one around. I found myself in the Crystfire Kingdom, where I met my friend. . . I had no recollection of why I was there, no memories of my life before that day. I only remembered my name, and that was it. I panicked, thinking that I got held there against my will, so I ran away with the help of my friend, venturing from one place to another, changing my name in fear someone would recognize me.”

Michaela felt astonished yet alarmed by her ability to fabricate lies on the spot. Before, she couldn’t even come up with a lie to get out of a hairy situation or when Kirsten would scold for not showing up to some social event.

"This place is changing me," she mumbled under her breath.

“I would’ve done the same if I were in your place,” Malick said, handing her a glass of water, grimacing. “You stink of wine and everything else in between.”

She narrowed her eyes at what he implied, glancing at the princess, who looked confused before glaring at him. “Nothing happened.”

“Those marks on your neck sure tell a different story.”

Blushing mad, she excused herself as she ran up the stairs to the bathroom, shrieking when she saw the bite and kiss marks Rafe left on her neck.

“That stupid animal!” She growled, hiding her face behind her hands when she felt her lips curving upward, smiling like an i***t.

After taking a shower, Michaela wore a shirt with a high collar to hide Rafe’s artwork, putting on the pants and boots Rafe bought for her at the Capital before heading down to the main room. Princess Nirvana was still there waiting for her, perking up when she saw her, flashing a dazzling smile. It was only then that Michaela could see the resemblance between the princess and her as if they truly were siblings.

They had a similar type and color of hair, though Nirvana’s hair looked a bit brighter, and the color of her eyes was a tad darker. They had similarities and differences in their features, but in people's eyes, they looked related.

Odd, Michaela found it, wondering to what extent this world would blow her mind by such intricate and peculiar details.

Michaela and the princess went to the restaurant. The latter said that Hosuh would be waiting for them there. Michaela wanted to meet the prominent expert who earned her sympathy when she read the book for the first time. She felt saddened for this great character, who helped the princess even after getting rejected several times.

However, when they arrived at the restaurant, Hosuh was nowhere to be seen. Mariana told them that Hosuh and some of his men have left in a hurry. The princess couldn’t hide her worry, and neither Michaela, who waited the whole day for Rafe to show up. And once she finished her shift, she dragged the princess with her towards the inn to find Rafe.

“Don’t you worry. I’m sure Hosuh just had something urgent to do. Besides, he left you two of his men to guard you until he gets back.”

The princess reluctantly nodded, still looking worried, which drove Michaela to ask. “Unless there is something else that’s worrying you?”

The other looked away, confirming Michaela’s doubt. She wondered if there was another reason for Princess Nirvana to come and look for her. She believed what she said about her being her sister and that the Evil Master was the reason they forgot about her existence. At least, for now, until she’d check the book for confirmation.

She wondered if the new story in the book would be up to date, and she hoped that the narrative would be precise and conclusive for her to know if she could trust the princess or not.

Michaela had enough when the princess kept sighing as they walked, wearing that glum expression, looking weak and miserable. She could now see why those Divine Masters didn’t kill her themselves as they forced her to enter the forbidden forest. Princess Nirvana was too cute and sweet for others to bully.

Michaela blocked her way, acting like an older sister as she placed her hands on her shoulders, softly saying. “Whatever is bothering you, you can tell me. If I can’t help, I’m sure my friend can.”

After some hesitation, the Princess’s reddened eyes met her own, sobbing as she suddenly hugged her. Michaela didn’t know what she said to trigger this reaction from her, yet, she waited until the Princess calmed down, smiling down at her.

The villagers who used to stare at Michaela for her weird sense of style and unladylike behavior were now staring at the princess, who was ugly crying in public. Even the two guards Hosuh left under her command were awkwardly standing there, looking exasperated as if they didn’t want to be with them.

Michaela couldn’t blame them and couldn’t believe that the book took this part about herself and added it to the princess character's traits, as she cried the same way Michaela would when overwhelmed by despair.

“Come on, I might have lost my memory, but I’m still your older sister. You can tell me anything.” After trying in so many ways to make her stop crying, the princess finally calmed down a bit. The latter sniffled, using a handkerchief to wipe her face, hiccuping as she went on.

“It’s mother. I’m worried that her health is deteriorating which could be why Hosuh left in a hurry.”

“What’s wrong with her?” Michaela tried to sound worried and not patronizing because if she were in the princess’s place, she wouldn’t leave her sick mother alone, no matter what.

The princess’s dark-brown eyes dulled down, her tone of voice dripping with sadness and helplessness as she said. “She’s showing symptoms of cultivation curse, and her spiritual core is fading. I’m afraid she’d need the Moonflower tear sooner to get better, or else. . .” She sobbed again, and Michaela fought the urge to roll her eyes.

Yes, she felt bad that someone was suffering due to a curse, but she wasn’t a fan of those who’d cry at everything destiny would throw at them, as if it would help solve the problem. The princess has mentioned that she as well got poisoned or cursed and that Michaela’s character gave up her spiritual core to save her. So, either they were dumb or unfortunate to fall for the same fate.

“I see,” she said with a sigh, feeling as if she were part of a role-playing quest game where she had to do a lot of side quests before getting to finish the main one. “And just how did she get cursed? I mean, don’t get me wrong, but I’m certain only trusted people could get in and out of the palace, right?”

“Yes, but recently mother has been staying at the temple and refusing to leave until you’re back. She loathed herself for not remembering her own daughter, and she spent many nights crying and praying for you to return safely.”

Michaela ignored the princess when she resumed her crying fest, frowning at the sense of guilt she felt for the queen. It made her think about her mother, from back in her world, who could be going through the same agony for losing her.

The princess didn’t stop crying, and Michaela held her in her arms, trying not to join her at the thought of her mother. “Let’s keep going,” she said softly in the princess’s ear. “I’m sure my friend will find a way to get her the cure, and we’ll go back together to the Crystfire kingdom afterward.”

She hoped Rafe would be able to help, as she hated giving empty promises. While her character seemed to be an altruist, who sacrificed her life by giving her spiritual core to her sister, Michaela was certain no one would be that dumb to do something similar for the queen.

They arrived at Hema inn, and Michaela left the princess in the lobby as she hurried up the stairs. She found the owner in front of Rafe’s room, and she seemed as if she’s just left the room. The old woman smiled her way as they’ve met several times at the council.

“Hannah, dear. Is there anything I can do for you?”

“Yes, I’m here to visit my friend who’s staying in this room?”

The woman’s smile disappeared, frowning. “I’m sorry, dear. I think you’re mistaken. No one is staying in this room.”

Michaela felt herself frown as well, saying. “No, my friend, he used this room yesterday. . . I was here with him this morning.”

The woman looked even more puzzled. “Dear, no one ever stayed in this room. It’s impossible.” She opened the door to the room for Michaela, who doubled back, looking stunned. “You see, I use this room for storage, so of course, I wouldn’t let a guest stay in it.”

Indeed, the room was filled with old, dusty furniture and cleaning supplies, but Michaela was sure this was the room she spent the night in.

Michaela wondered if she confused the room because she was flustered and disoriented this morning. Yet again, the inn owner confirmed that the business was slow, and she had no guests for the last couple of days.

Many possibilities run through her mind, from Rafe getting taken by someone who used underhanded methods to charm the inn owner into forgetting about him, or worse. The possibility of Rafe getting written off the story.