Survive As The Brute's Wife

When Maximus entered the house, he saw Kefir sitting on the stairs and he heard the low sniffles of a woman.

«She is crying… What should I do?»

He waited for some time to let her compose but it seemed like she would never stop crying. He felt an odd thing in his chest. He wondered what she is feeling now to make her cry.

«That guy… What happened?»

"Lexa!"

He called her to let her know of his presence and walked slowly to give her time to compose herself. People call him brave and courageous. But he is just a spineless coward who cannot see tears on her face.

Felixa heard Maximus' voice and quickly wiped her face. She hid the box back under the bed that is now ruined. Standing up she took one good look at the box and the place that was once her room. A lot of thoughts crashed in her mind like waves on high tide.

[Should I go back? After knowing that Luke did this to my family and home, why should I go back to his descendant?]

{Go back with him}

She heard that pleasant voice and she looked at the white cat. The white cat appears at times and disappears at other times and it does as it pleases. But she trusts that cat. If the cat asks her to return with Max, then there should be a reason.

[And Tubby told me that he will meet me later… FIt would be better if I stay where I am…]

Deciding in her heart, she got down from the stairs. She doesn't know the outside world much and it would not be wise for her to up and leave right now. Especially when Maximus is treating her well. She had a feeling he won't react well if she leaves him.

"Did you find anything interesting?" Maximus asked and she shook her head.

"I was just looking around," she forced a smile as she got down from the stairs.

"Come here," he extended his hands and she walked closer listening to his voice like a blinded horse.

"Your eyes are red," he cupped her cheeks.

The moment his warm hands reached her cheek, she shivered a bit.

"The dust…" she mumbled and he let go of her.

"Let's go…" he held her hand and she followed him.

He snapped his finger and along with a flash of lightning came the horse glowing like the moonbeam.

"Ithildin…" she got closer to the horse holding out her hand.

She is used to mingling with horses and she thought that this being that seemed to be a cross between an eagle and a horse should be more of a horse. Well, the wings part was the eagle's and everything else looked like a horse.

If the horse doesn't like her, it would act accordingly and if it liked her the horse would walk towards her. But she was surprised when the horse bowed its head to the ground for a good fraction of time before raising its head.

[Is it bowing to me?]

"It comes out of nowhere. How do you do that?" she asked Maximus.

There is a lot she doesn't know. If she has to do anything, knowledge of this place is a must and so she should learn a lot. She decided to ask Maximus. He might be hiding a lot but he didn't hurt her once.

While fighting with the monsters, he held back but he came to get her with his horse. And he is careful and nice to her. So until he explicitly hurts her, she decided to trust him.

Maximus smiled. "You can't guess?" he asked raising his brows and then he turned and ran his fingers through the beautiful, glowing mane of the horse. Felixa stayed silent. A lot of times he asks something without expecting her reply. 

"These are summoned beasts… Those with magical capabilities can summon beings from another realm using magic circles and spells. People with this magical capability are called summoners. And depending on the beast's capabilities, if the summoner's innate magic agrees with the beasts, the summoners can control elements like the beasts. Those who can control elements are called elementalists…" he said still playing with the horse.

{Beasts? Beasts?}

She heard the cat. This time his voice was not gentle. It was deep and filled with exasperation.

{We are gods! In another realm, people worship us! We have temples! Beasts? Unfathomable! Insolence!}

The cat went on grumbling and Felixa sank into her thoughts.

[Controlling elements..? Didn't I control water before? So I am an Elementalist? But…]

"So you can control lighting and so you have Ithildin?" she asked to gather more details. She ignored the cat and it stopped grumbling.

"No," Maximus chuckled and shook his head. "It is the other way around. I siphon Ithildin's power to control lighting, and it is not the other way around. These beasts are very powerful. When you summon, a contract is formed between the soul of the summoner and the beast that won't break very easily. They cross realms to answer the summons of the one they please and in exchange for their mana which is their food, they answer the summoner's summons and answer their pleas."

Felixa was more surprised. If so, she siphoned the power of some beast to manipulate water that day.

[Was it the cat?]

{Not me! Don't look at me!}

She heard the cat say and it took her a lot to not turn and look. She didn't want Maximus to find out that she can see the cat.

{I have the wind attribute. I cannot control other elements!}

[Ah, the bird, then?]

Felixa sank into her thoughts.

Maximus turned at her and his amber eyes that were filled with a complicated emotion landed on her. He could see that she knows something and that her power is awakened. But she is refusing to talk about it.

«It is fine. Now that I know this much, I know what to do… But how did she lose all the memory while mine is intact?»

He smiled looking at the cat. The cat did help him today to understand her a bit. Although he doesn't know if it is intentional or not, he appreciated it. Unlike the dragon, the cat doesn't hate him.

"Do you want to try and summon a beast?" he asked to probe her more.

"No," Felixa shook her head. She had no idea why Maximus thinks that she can summon a beast. She didn't think it is wise to let him know that.

"I don't think I can," she bowed her head.

Maximus said nothing and they came back to their Manor. As they flew over the walls, she saw a big queue standing in front of the gates to the Zemfir manor.

"A lot of people have clues as to where the "Hero" is... They think that I will give a lump bounty for giving clues... " Maximus said with a mocking chuckle. Felixa felt her heart skipping a beat.

[Hero?] 

"However would they know?" she asked to find out what are the things she should avoid. 

Maximus said nothing and chuckled and it made her insides tremble.

"Arioch," he said and Felixa held her breath.

[Tubby?]

"Most people here think that he is the Hero," Maximus added.

Felixa didn't probe further but held her silence. 

Maximus looked at her. He thought she might mention meeting "Arioch" at least now. But she went silent.

Fisting his hands he held back his urge to ask her the truth. But he didn't want to scare her more. She still is trembling to his touch. He didn't want her to get more scared of him by interrogation of her. 

All he could do now is to give her the trust to open up with him. 

Yes, he has an agenda with her. But he will never hurt her.

After leaving her in the room, Maximus went somewhere. Flavia came to her and helped her with the bath.

Felixa told Flavia about her day. Flavia's exuberant love made her relaxed and she loved talking to her.

"There were monsters, Flavia! Maximus was valiant and he killed one with just one swish! But then more came and…"

Felixa explained everything.

As she explained she wondered about the weird things that happened there.

"Monster attacks are vicious. They attack people for no reason and cause devastation. Usually, forces would be sent to control monsters in areas they are predominant but lately, they are getting more brazen and attacking villages..." Flavia sighed. 

"Why are there monsters, Flavia? How did they come to?" Felixa asked as Flavia was brushing her hair. 

She didn't remember them from her past life.

"Why?" Flavia chuckled and her eyes became a slit. "You are a curious child," she patted Felixa's cheeks.

Felixa blushed looking at Flavia through the mirror.

"Why? I never thought that way... Do you wonder why dogs and horses are there? And cats?" Flavia looked at Felixa and she shook her head.

"No, they are there..." Felixa laughed.

"Yes... They are..." Flavia nodded. "They are there and we are taught to stay away from them. Our men are sent to control their reproduction and... It's been that way all our lives..."

Felixa saw the hopelessness in Flavia's eyes and bowed her head. She is bubbly all the time and it was rare for her to show this sad emotion.

"But there is an interesting myth surrounding the origins of these monsters..."

Flavia added.