166 Strengthening Bonds

Alicia stayed in Blake's arms for a good while as she cried. All the emotions she had been suppressing that dealt with her family that she missed so much back on Earth, finally spilled out after reading that message. She buried her face into Blake's chest and hugged him tightly. She felt if she didn't do so at this time he would disappear as well. Blake hugged her back and gently rubbed her back. He felt for the girl who had just destroyed an entire forest along with a catastrophe ranked demonic beast was as frail as a thin sheet of ice. The slightest touch would break her.

Alicia kept her eyes closed as she tried to recollect herself. She knew she would now need to give Blake an explanation and it was not like she could lie about it either. She finally lifted her head and looked at Blake. Her eyes were still watery and red from crying. " Blake…"

"If you do not want to talk about it is fine. We have more than enough time. So just tell me when you are ready." Blake cut Alicia off, he did not want her to think she had to explain what was going on. He was willing to wait any amount of time for her to open up to him.

"No, it's fine… I do not mind telling you. But I have to ask… Will you ever leave me? If you find something out about me that seems out of this world would you leave me?" Her eyes stared into Blakes her. They were filled with worry, worry that he might not want to have anything to do with her after he found out.

Blake smiled and gently pushed a lock of loose hair behind her ear causing Alicia to blush. "No matter what you tell me, my feelings for you will never change. In this lifetime I can only have you as my soul mate. So until the day that I die, I will be by your side. If it so happens that you pass away before me, I will watch over your grave for all eternity to allow you to rest in peace. My life from the day I was born was meant to be by your side."

Tears started to well up in Alicia's eyes once more. The sincerity in Blake's voice and eyes as he warmly looked at her made her realize how much he truly cared for her. "Then..." Alicia went on to explain everything to Blake. The feeling of being able to confide in someone like this made Alicia realize how much it had weighed down on her. There was always that what if in the back of her mind. What if one day they find out I was a soul from another world that took over someone else's body. Would they hate me? Would they shun me? These questions always floated in the back of her mind.

Blake listened intently to everything Alicia had to say as she talked about her past life, her parents, and the things she did. She explained about Earth, its cultures, and how they did not use magic but relied on science. She explained about her dreams of being a knight and how she practiced kendo. She talked and talked in detail about everything, not hiding anything. She explained how she was basically almost twenty years old if she counted her past life. She then told him what was written on the metal plate. How she was always originally a Celestial, to begin with, but she was also half-human. She explained the reason why she came to this world and it was only possible thanks to her mother. She told him if it wasn't for her mother bearing the guilt of having to send her soul to another world she would have died on Earth.

Blake did not understand certain things but he could tell that talking about it helped Alicia a lot. All the expressions she made were like a whole new her. It seemed her whole person lit up as she talked about her past life and all the experiences she had.

Time went on and the sun started to set. Alicia had long since stopped talking as she just stayed in Blake's arms. "Blake, down the road, years from now. When we are more powerful, let's try to find a way to earth, a two way trip. I do not want to stay there, I just want you to see my home world. The place I come from. That is if it is even still there when the time comes."

"When the time comes I will follow you wherever you want to go." Blake smiled and leaned down kissing the top of Alicia's head.

Alicia slightly blushed but mustered up a bit of courage and gave Blake a peck on the cheek. Before burying her head back into his chest. Blake only smiled like an idiot before looking out over the crater in front of him. He waved his hand causing the earth that scattered to the sides of the crater to slowly start to fill into the crater. Alicia noticed something was happening and raised her head. Without a word she raised her hand as well and also helped fill in the hole.

With the two working together the area where the crater was, was now mostly filled in. The two went a step farther and began accelerating the growth of some trees in the area to cover up the area a bit. By the time they had finished both were dripping in sweat and feeling weak. Blake slowly floated to the ground where they both collapsed on the ground breathing heavily. The amount of magic needed to do what they did was beyond the means of any of the races that lived in Phantasia. But with the combination of the two supporting each other they made it possible. The once destroyed Frozen Forest was now a thinned out wooded area with lush green trees.

"We should head back… I am sure Royal Father is worried and I also need to give him a piece of my mind." Alicia went silent for a few seconds before getting up turning her head towards Blake, her cheeks blushing red. "Blake, thank you for everything. If not for you being with me today, I am sure I would have completely broken down. I do have one favor to ask if you do not mind."

Blake also climbed to his feet, smiled, and patted the top of Alicia's head. "Ask away, I will do whatever you ask of me."

"When it is just the two of us, once and a while can you call me Akari? The name my mother and father gave me?" Alicia lowered her head shyly.

She then heard a warm melodic voice whisper in her ear. "Akari...'

***

If you are not reading this at [W.e.b.n.o.v.e.l .c.o.m.], then the content you're reading is stolen! Please support the author at [w.w.w.w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l.c.o.m./.b.o.o.k./.14.8.1.3.6.1.6.5.0.6.7.7.8.9.0.5./.P.h.a.n.t.a.s.i.a.%.3.A.-.T.h.e.-.P.r.i.n.c.e.s.s.-.K.n.i.g.h.t.]remove periods for address since some sites monitor warnings like this.