Unexpected Destiny: The Half Dragon and The Nine Masks

Chapter 6

Auristela's green eyes looked at Arion who was climbing a coconut tree to pick up the fruit. Auristela is in charge of waiting for the coconuts that fall to the ground so that other people don't steal them.

Arion was asked for help by a young man who works in the oil palm fields to replace him temporarily because his son was sick. It is common for workers in oil palm fields to seek temporary substitutes if they are unable to come. Because he said the owner of the oil palm field is very fierce, calculating, and likes to fire employees at will.

Auristela and Arion never parted, because they had promised to always be together. When they are far apart, their hearts are worried about each other.

"He said the southeast and south areas were guarded by several palace soldiers."

"Yeah, so it's safe now, but it says the culprit hasn't been caught yet."

"I am restless. Afraid of the criminals coming here."

"Yes, me too."

Auristela sharpened her hearing. During these three days, she had always heard the peasants and other citizens talking about court warriors and criminals. What's going on?  Out of curiosity that could not be contained, Auristela approached a shirtless old man.  "Excuse me."

The old man who was putting the coconut into the basket was shocked. "Oh, Gosh!"  He stroked her chest. "What's wrong, Kid? Is your brother having a hard time?" The old man looked at Arion who was dropping some coconuts on the ground. It seemed that Arion didn't need any help, as he look was used to doing this job. When viewed from the appearance, these brothers seem to be rich children.

"No." Auristela shook her head. "I just want to know, what exactly is going on in the southeast and south regions?"

The old man put the last two coconuts he picked into the basket, then turned his body to Auristela. "According to the news that I heard, several houses there were visited by unknown groups of people. They ransacked the contents of the house and threatened the occupants of the house with sharp weapons."

Auristela's face showed horror. "Then did those people commit theft?"

"No." The old man shook his head. "Strange, isn't it? But now there's no need to worry. The palace has sent dozens of soldiers to watch over the two regions. Hopefully, the criminals don't attack the other region and they are caught soon."

Auristela nodded. "Yeah, I hope so."

"I heard you live in the northwest region?"

"Yes, that's right."

"For the past three months, there have been no more cases of robbery in the west. Surely you always pass through the mountains, right?"

"Yes. We always pass there, because our inn is quite close to the mountain."

"You two must always be vigilant. Don't let your guard down."

"Okay, thank you."

The old man went to deposit the coconuts he had picked.

"What happens?" Arion had finished picking coconut trees.

Auristela told what she had heard from the old man while helping Arion put the coconuts into the basket.

Arion was silent. Scary. If they run into criminals on the way home, how about it?  Arion shook his head. Don't think about it, I hope something like that doesn't happen.

"Stella."

"Ya?"

"Don't get too interact with humans and interfere in their problems. I work to help them doesn't mean I interfere in their problems. I do it because I want to help and I haven't got a job either." Arion reminded Auristela. If they got too close to humans, their identities could be revealed.

Auristela gave a wide smile. "Yeah, I always remember that. But even so, we shouldn't miss any news of what happened here, can we? For our common good too."

Arion nodded in agreement.

***

Auristela has never been afraid of darkness and dark places that are said to be a place for spirits to reside.

However, this time Auristela was afraid of a brown door with a sign that read 'Madam Belanca'. It wasn't that he was afraid of the door, but that it was the aura emitted by this place that gave him goosebumps.

"The magic aura is very strong," Auristela whispered. She had never felt a magical aura this strong. She was curious, is Madam Belanca great than her teacher?

Auristela entered the fortune-telling place first. Arion needed to think a hundred times to come to a place like this, he didn't like anything related to magic. But unfortunately, the presence of sorcery he can never ignore in his life.

Madam Belanca is very famous in Grassland. If you want to be forecasted by her, you must register two days in advance.

Auristela and Arion sat on the chairs in the waiting room. There were so many people here, that it made the air a little stuffy. On the walls are statues of buffalo horns and elephant tusks. Then there are two skulls on the nightstand. Adding to the horror and mystical impression of this place.

After a long wait, finally, their names were called. They entered and sat opposite Madam Belanca.

Auristela thought Madam Belanca was an old granny with white hair and black teeth. It turned out to be wrong, the great and famous magician was still young, maybe a few years older than him. Her face was beautiful and her lips were red.

"Wow." Belanca's big purple eyes stared at the two customers in front of her with a look of amazement, wonder, and disbelief. Her eyes flickered to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "What did I dream last night, huh? Why am I so lucky today?"

Arion and Auristela exchanged glances, feeling awkward and uncomfortable with the stares that Belanca gave them.

"You two are a prince and princess of the Elf Kingdom, right? And you two are twins."

Arion and Auristela were shocked.

"How do you know?"  asked Auristela in amazement.

"I'm called a great witch. Don't call me a great witch, if I can't tell the difference between elves from noble families and ordinary citizens." Belanca boasted about herself. "The aura you two emit can't be hidden. You two have a very extraordinary aura, it makes my body and soul tremble," said Belanca, dramatizing. "You two hide wings with cloaks." Only the elven nobles were bestowed wings.

"Okay, you're great," Auristela said. "But can you keep this a secret?"

"That's an easy matter." Belanca waved her hand. "But it's not free. You two know what? Nothing is free in this world."

"What do you want from us?"

Belanca thought for a moment. "Tell me the magic spell to stay young."

Auristela and Arion gaped. "We don't know such spells!" Both shouted in unison.

"The two of you are a prince and a princess. The elves who are part of the royal family must have extraordinary magical powers. We, witches, are learn from the elves."

"Yeah, but believe me we don't know the magic spell to stay young."

"I know the secret of you two. I know why you two are in the Grassland."

Auristela looked at Belanca very flatly. "Oh, Madam Belanca, the greatest witch on Craco Island. I reiterate once again, that we don't know the spell of youth. You can see our faces, do we look like we're lying?"

Belanca looked at Arion and Auristela alternately. She didn't find any lies in either the eyes or the faces of the two. "Then what magic spells do you guys master?"

Auristela looked at Arion asking for an opinion, and her twin sister nodded. "I have healing magic and Rion has plant growth magic."

Blanca gaped very wide. "Huh? That's all?"

"Yes. Really."

"That's what our teacher taught us," said Arion. Belanca was momentarily stunned by Arion's hoarse voice, very sexy.

"Hah?" Belanca shocked. "Why just that? Why don't you guys learn another magic spell?!" shouted Belanca hysterically.

Auristela wrinkled her forehead, Madam Belanca's reaction was too much. "We're not allowed."

Belanca let out a long breath. What reason, the twins in front of her were not taught magic spells, other than healing and plant growth spells? If only they had mastered various kinds of magic spells. So she didn't have to go all the way to the Elf Kingdom just to ask her teacher for a spell.

Belanca propped her chin. "What can you guys give me?"

Auristela and Arion looked at each other. Arion glanced at the pocket of gold pieces in his trouser pocket. Arion counted them, there were ten pieces.

"We only have a few gold pieces," Auristela said as she handed the ten pieces.

Belanca's purple eyes lit up. Not bad for buying new clothes. "Okay. You guys' secrets are guaranteed safe. Trust me."

Auristela and Arion breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay, let's start fortune telling, a lot of customers are waiting." Belanca leaned her back against the wall. "What do you want to know?"

"Mm, anything," said Auristela.

Belanca closed her eyes for a moment, when they opened, her irises turned white. "Arion, the person who has done bad things to you will get the punishment she deserves."

Belanca tilted her head with eyes that stared deeply at Auristela. "Your destiny is unusual."

"What?"

"Your destiny is full of surprises."

Auristela gaped. "What do you mean?"

"I've finished divining you guys."

Auristela glared doesn't accept. "Wait. Explain what your prophecy means about me!"

Belanca looked at Auristela lazily. "You just wait. When the time comes, you'll be surprised."

Auristela was not satisfied with Belanca's words, but their time for divination had run out. With feelings still lingering, Auristela was forced to leave the room where Madam Belanca was prophecy.

"Nice to meet you guys. Feel free to come here again." Belanca waved her ladder while shouting in a cheerful tone.

"I won't. Thank you." Auristela annoyed.

"We meet again." Auristela and Arion were startled by the deep voice of Andres who was standing in the front yard of Madam Belanca's house.

"Hi, Andres, Anthoni," said Auristela. She was surprised. It seemed almost every day the two of them met with Andres and Anthoni. Isn't Grassland very wide, but why does Grassland feel so narrow?

"Do you guys like going to places like this too?" asked Anthony.

"No. This is the first time we have been to a place like this," explained Auristela. Because in the Elf Kingdom, the one with the ability to predict is the fierce and sneering aunt Halena.

"Would you two like to fortune-telling?" asked Arion. Andres and Anthoni were a little surprised to hear Arion suddenly speak because so far only Auristela was chatting with them, while Arion was silent and occasionally nodded.

"Madam Belanca can not only predict, but also do many other things," said Andres.

Auristela was reminded again of Madam Belanca's prediction about her. If it wasn't to relieve her high curiosity, Auristela would not want to visit that mystical place. Arion is right, we shouldn't need to know about what will happen to us in the future. So that we can live this life without waiting for when the prophecy will happen.