<< Chapter 4: The Sorrow>>

" Dearest princess, before I go, I just want to say that I love you so very much. Nothing in this world would ever replace you. I swear to love you forever and I swear I will continue to love you even in the afterlife. You'll be here in my heart forever and ever more. I beg you to please don't cry when I die. Promise me.." 

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The morning light rushed into the room as Addea opened the window. She began to stare at the flying birds and sniffed the bracing, morning air. ' Just what kind of dream was that?' Her mind asked. She exhaled deeply. 

Last night, she dreamt again. This time, it was really weird. She dreamt of herself playing in a wonderful field full of flowers. In her dream, the sky suddenly turned dark while she was laughing merrily. Then, she heard cries of people. She ran and ran to a somewhat palace and met some people. From their clothing, she assumed that they are five girls and six boys. She couldn't see their faces clearly though.

She had cried in her dream and one of the guys had hugged and kissed her. The only words she remembered he said were he would continue to love her even in the afterlife. He said she'd be in his heart forever and ever more. He begged her not to cry if he dies. Then, she saw a bright light and when she opened her eyes, she found out that she was in her own room. 

' Why was I having that stupid dream? I never kissed a man, though... Grrr, so, so stupid! Maybe, it's because I was reading too much storybooks. Better stop now, ' she thought as she ran to the bathroom to take a morning bath. ' Geez, it's so nice! ' 


Addea slipped her clothes on as soon as she get out of the bathroom. She decided to continue reading the book she borrowed yesterday. Breakfast? No, she never had breakfast. She never eats or drinks anything when she gets out of bed in the morning. No one could ever force her to eat, even her parents. One more word about this girl is that she is very stubborn and doesn't like to be forced. 

She jumped on her bed again and continued reading. " Mirage once was a very peaceful and beautiful world. It was full of flowers like roses, daisies, lilies, tulips, cherry blossoms and lavenders. The air was bracing and everything in its world went on smoothly until one day, the Crystal of Mirage lost its balance. The Princess was not able to use her power to protect the country. A group of army from another land soon began to attack Mirage. This caused the Soul Knights and the princess herself involved in the war. " ' Terrible! '

" The war went on until one day, the princess used all of her energy and sacrificed herself to protect her world and her people. After that, no one had ever knows a kingdom, a world named Mirage again. No one ever knows what had happen to the kingdom and its people." Addea quickly closed the book, not wanting to read further anymore. She felt like her heart was being torn after reading the book. Yet, she did not know why she felt so sad. Not just sad, but disappointed and hurt.

She put the book on her table and went out of her room. Then, she asked Mr. Andrew to drive her to Rose Garden, a park near her school. As she reached there, no one seemed to be there. So, she just walked alone in the park, not knowing where to go. At last, she stopped at a lake nearby and sat down on the grass. Her eyes focused to the clear lake water. She let the tender wind caressed her long, dark brown hair. Her hazel nut coloured eyes twinkled upon seeing the reflection of herself in the water. It wasn't long until she heard a tone of melodies. It was a tone of a flute. 

' Who's playing a flute here? ' She thought as she stood up and began searching for where the melodies came from.

' I'm quite sure it's somewhere around here.' 

She kept on walking. When she was about to lose hope, at last a form with shiny golden hair began to materialize at an altar not too far from where she was standing. She stared at the figure, who didn't notice that she was staring at him. 

' Who might he be? ' Not long after that, the guy put his flute down. 

" Was it nice? " He asked and turned his smiling face to look at her. Addea was pure shocked with what she saw. 

" Mr.Lockhart?? " 

Claude quickly shook his head. He approached her slowly and leaned forward. He suddenly knelt in front of her and took her right hand. 

" Just call me Claude, my princess. " With this, he kissed her hand very softly, causing her to blush furiously. Then, he let go of her hand and stood up, smiling mildly. It was the sweetest smile she had ever seen in her whole life. 

" So, forgive me, princess. May I know what are you doing here alone? Don't you afraid that someone might kidnap you? " He asked. 

Addea shrugged. " Well, I'm just feeling boring. And... Hey, don't call me princess! Call me Addea! " 

" Huh? B-- But... "

" Everyone calls me Addea, " she winked.

" Oh, okay then... Addea. "

" No it's my turn. What are you doing here? " This time, she asked.

" Oh, well, I always come here every weekend. It's so peaceful and I like to play my flute here."

" I see.. You really play good. Could you please play that song again? "

" Certainly, my princess." He put up his flute and began his song. Addea listened to it with amusement. It was a wonderful but sad melody. She felt like she was floating high in the sky as she listens to the song. A few moments later, Claude stopped. He looked back at her and smiled. " There. I hope, you like it. "

" Yeah, I like it. What's the title of that melody? Did you create it yourself? "

" Yep, I made it myself. I named it ' The Mirage in Your Eyes'. "

' Huh?" She was taken aback in surprise. ' Mirage?' " The Mirage in Your Eyes? Sounds good. To whom are you dedicating the song anyway? "

" Have you ever heard about Mirage Kingdom? " He asked back. She blinked. " Well, yeah. "

" You see, the ruler of the kingdom was a princess. She ruled over Mirage as well as she can before she sacrificed herself and disappeared. I pity her, so I made this song for her, " he explained.

Addea looked down. She felt the sadness in her heart increased and began to overflow. Yet, she did not know why. " Addea, are you okay? " He asked warily.

" Um.. I'm okay. It's just that I feel sad whenever I hear about Mirage Kingdom. I don't know why. "

" Oh.. Okay, let's change the topic. How's your hand? " 

" My hand? Oh, that... It's okay already and... Sorry, I forgot your hanky. "

" It's okay. You can keep it. "

" Thanks. Er, I guess I have to go home now. " Addea said as she glanced at her wristwatch.

" Shall we meet again? " Claude asked her and she said yes right away. With this, he stepped closer to her, framed her face with his hands and kissed her forehead. Addea blushed even more furiously than before. " Oh, well.. S--See ya!! " She ran as fast as she could, leaving him behind. 

' Why? Why am I feeling happy and sad at the same time when I saw his face? Why?! ' Her heart yelled.

Claude watched her disappearing away from him. He knew that two figures were stepping closer to him from behind. " It is her, " he said softly. He turned around and saw his friends, also Addea's friends. Who else than Leith and Errol Lockhart? Leith and his younger brother halted as they became conscious that they were close enough to Claude. " So, you mean, Addea is really our princess? " Leith asked.

" What makes you think she is Princess Terra Addea of our kingdom? " Errol asked him also.

" I'll never not recognize her. I can feel her presence, her power. She has nothing different with our dearest princess. Just look at her. Hazel nut coloured eyes, shiny, long dark-brown coloured hair, her sweet smile.. They are all the same. I know it very well. "

" Hm... Maybe, you're right. So, that means we'll have to find our other friends now, eh? " Leith gave him a sly grin.

" Yes, we must. We must be quick. We shouldn't make our Mirage people wait any longer. "

" Okay, then. We're going to find Victoria, Andriana, Sierra, Misty, Claudia, Locke, Elwin and Adrian. This is going to be a long journey. " Errol sighed. 

Suddenly, a thought struck Leith's mind. He looked at Claude and asked, " Hey, aren't you going to change your name back to Heath Lockhart? "

" Huh? Me? Well, just wait till she remembers everything. "

" Oh... "

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Addea stared at the book she borrowed with a weird look on her face. ' Why? Why am I feeling this way? What's the relation between Mirage and me? Why am I having those dreams? Who was the man I was chasing in the dream? Whose voice was that??? ' 

--- To be continued ---
Next - Chapter 5>> The Attack