Villainess From the Stars

29. A Curiosity (Special POV: High King of the Elem)

The Elem bonding ceremony had been one of the most beautiful he had ever attended.

He found himself yearning to have been there in person and not across an ocean viewing through a Širdroche mirror.

The bonding ceremony had ended and he had gone to bed. The next morning as he entered his study he noticed his Širdroche mirror showed the clearing still but instead of being empty like any other day at this time, a petite figure could be seen. A bo staff in hand she practiced upon the stage, her movements smooth and practiced. He found himself standing before the mirror watching as she laughed and fell to the ground as she made a mistake before jumping back up. She nearly seemed to dance upon the plateau, finding joy in small moments as she exercised in the glade.

It wouldn't be the last time that the maiden would accidentally trigger the one-way optical Širdroche mirror.

Sometimes she sang in the meadow after her exercises, but one evening as he came in to work late due to sleep evading him he found her sobbing on the other end. She must have stepped on the toggle for sound only. His heart clenched as he recognized her voice and her heart-wrenching sobs.

Then suddenly he could see her in the mirror curled up in the center of the raised platform. Fireflies circled overhead, her choked sobs filling the night.

It was the first time he wished he could speak to her, she had merely amused him in the times before. A welcome distraction when the days grew tedious like on occasion they do.Then one day his entertainment was taken away from him.

His Elem were giving him their reports when the maiden came upon them.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It is alright Bhelfl'ōr, we were just finishing up." The Elem turned toward the large slab of Širdroche to speak directly to the king. "Your Majesty, there has been a recent decrease in hunters in the Wilds, when investigating we found that the Capital has been coming to the Council to eradicate them more often. The Mapmaker believes that this is not a coincidence..." 

Their voices metered out as they glanced at the maiden inconspicuously, "due to recent developments."

"I see." The king watched with a small smirk as the maiden named Bhelfl'ōr jumped as she heard his voice echo in the clearing. Her eyes were wide as she turned toward where the rest were facing. He could just see as realization dawned upon her features. "Have the Mapmaker give me his full report later. You may go, I must speak with the maiden."

The king did not miss as his subjects looked at each other with knowing looks before they exited the clearing.

"Why can't I see you?"

"It is a one-way Širdroche or Pōrteacaleum. I apologize I didn't speak up sooner, however, there is a different switch to activate my ability to speak through the connection. Whenever you came it would seem you only seemed to activate one or the other, it was not as noticeable when it was sound."

"I apologize for disturbing you."

"You did not bother me. I am not always in my study, I'm sure I missed most of your...frolicking." The king wasn't sure why but he enjoyed it as her face turned pink in embarrassment, he concluded he needed to get out of his workroom more often if this was his sole source of entertainment.