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Aero felt like she was floating as she walked though the castle halls. She giggled and bit her lip as she entered her room leaning against the back of her door. She wasn’t sure how to contain her joy. It had been so long since she felt so elated.
The bell tolled in the clock tower and Aero knew she had to get to troupe practice. She held her parchment close as she hurried through the halls stopping by the parlor.

“Good morn-”

“Aero!” Flora cut her off running to her and shutting the door behind her so they were standing in the hallway. “So? What happened?”

“He kissed me,” she answered floating again, “I have to go to practice.”

“Okay, you have to tell me more later,” Flora told her letting her go.

Her elation seemed to fade as the day went on and reality began to set back in. She was happy that she had seen Tornado again, but the sad truth was she wasn’t sure how long it would be until he came again. As she thought more about it a cold empty feeling seemed to consume her happiness.

Ive stopped her on the way back from practice.

“I didn’t get a chance before practice,” he told her breaking the silence of their walk as he dug through the parchment in his bag, “Look what I found.”

The book was worn on the binding from the many journeys it had faced. Aero held it close as she walked, “I’ll read it later.”

They entered the market square joining the usual crowd of shoppers. They were all busily conversing as they walked about the square. All of them kept glancing towards the fountain as they walked.
“Something’s going on,” Ive whispered trying to get a glance of the fountain. He spread his green dragonfly wings fluttering just high enough to view over the crowd. “Ethereal.”

“Light or Dark?” Aero asked frantically.

“Light.”

“What should we do?” Aero asked ducking down as he landed.

“Let’s hurry and hope they don’t see you,” Ive suggested shielding the sight of her wings as they joined the crowd. They walked quickly past the fountain.

“Aero!” an unfamiliar voice called.

“So close! Just keep walking,” Ive whispered.

“Princess Aero!” the voice called getting closer, “Wait!”

Aero felt her arm get grabbed as she was turned around. She looked up at the ethereal fearfully.

“Aero?” they asked, “Princess Aero?”

“Let go of her!” Ive demanded stepping before her to shield her.

They let go, “Please, I wasn’t trying to be harsh. We heard there was a Light Ethereal here. We believed it was our princess who went missing years ago.”

“You-you were mistaken,” Aero lied, “My name is Cassia, not Aero. I’ve lived here all of my life.”

“Cassia?” the ethereal asked while a crowd formed around them whispering among themselves.

The other ethereal stepped in front of their companion, “I’m sorry for the mistake, Cassia. If you come across someone named Aero would you please tell her she’s dearly missed by her people?”

Aero nodded.

“Let’s keep looking,” the second ethereal offered.

“But she’s-”

“Come.” They walked away.

“They know,” Aero whispered fearfully.

“As long as you deny it they can’t force you,” Ive told her, “I’ll make sure to tell everyone to call you Cassia until they leave.”

“We’ll help,” offered a woman from the crowd, “we’ve read that journal that’s been floating around.” She pointed to the book in Aero’s arms. “We won’t let them take you.”

The ethereal didn’t return, but the days that passed were filled worry and confusion. Aero hid the book in the Dark Faery village knowing the Ethereal would never find it there. She began to wonder what would happen to her if she went back to the Light Realm. Would Tornado be able to visit her there? What if they were found together? Would he be locked away somewhere when they saw the Dark Lord’s emblem? He wasn’t a little kid anymore. If they felt he was a threat . . .



“I won’t let that happen,” Aero whispered as she walked to the parlor.

She entered in time to see a black hawk disperse into smoke. Rook sat with a letter in his hand. He didn’t even notice Aero enter the room as he read it.

“Rook,” Aero called.

“Ah, sorry,” he told her looking up, “It’s a letter from the Dark Lord. He’s allowing me to visit my mother in a few days.”

“That’s good.”

“Y-yes, it is.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Well,” he paused thinking of how to say it, “I fear the Dark Lord. He seems to know just how to control people. I feel he can see all of my weaknesses when I stand before him. Hidden behind a cheerful demeanor comes this sense of power that makes me feel inferior.”

“Why do people let him stay lord if he’s so feared?”

“He’s strong,” he explained, “The Lord’s must be strong so the people can be strong. They strive to be the best and the strongest. Even if he is cruel, they will not oppose him because of his strength.”

“But some do,” Aero told him.

“Yes, and I hope they will be alright,” Rook told her standing as he folded the letter and placed it in his pocket, “I have to go tell Flora.”

It had become very easy for Rook to talk openly about the Dark Realm to Flora and Aero. He was thankful to be able to talk with them, but he was worried for Aero. She seemed to want to know everything about the Dark Realm no matter how scary or unusual it was. He had found her in the library reading about the Dark Realm’s past. She was consumed by the want for knowledge. Curiosity filled her thoughts of what it looked like as she admired the pictures. Tornado was safe. He had made friends who he could joke around with. He fit in there. The idea of it was so wonderful, but Rook knew the truth. Though Tornado could live happily and peacefully, as it was now, Aero would never be safe there.