Daughter Of Destiny

Lutfa's words left Lia stunned in shock. She couldn't believe what was told to her.

 " Me?? A Nymph?? How is that possible?? "

While those words answered all her questions in short,  they threw her into the depths of chaos and uncertainty. 

Now she was even more confused and scared.

Her mind froze ; unable to process the words. Her world turned upside down. This was beyond anything she had ever imagined. Countless questions pierced her heart yet,  she voiced none . She couldn't decide what to ask or what she should ask.

But she was sure that meeting Lutfa and Carlos here was not just a fluke. 

" Help me!!  Please help me!! " hugging back Lia pleaded to Lutfa. Her voice choked with tears. She didn't knew why she was crying when suppose to be strong.   

" Its okay, Lia... Everything is gonna be okay." Lutfa mumered softly. She knew that her words had deeply traumatizied Lia. She could feel Lia's body trembling in her embrace. She hugged her with all her might and gently stroke her head, hoping it would somehow comfort her. 

No one spoke after that. A comfortable silence settled between them. 

Both remained in each others embrace, savoring each others presence. No amount of words were capable enough to explain what the pair of women were feeling at moment. 

" We can only help you,  if you are willing to help yourself, Lia. " Carlos words reminded them of his presence. 

" Uncle Carlos!! "Lia pulled herself out of Lutfa's embrace and rushed towards Carlos with open arms. Carlos welcomed her with a warm smile, kind look and a chaste kiss. 

Little did Lia understand that behind the warm smile and kind eyes was a heart that was bleeding for her. 

Carlos was filled with self loathing and guilt, still he was helpless. He wanted to lock Lia away from the world in a place where no one would find her.  But he knew he didn't have the luxury to be wilful. He must fulfill his purpose. 

Time was running out....

' I only hope that I can set you on the right path. ' Carlos prayed looking down to the girl who was buried herself in his board chest.  Her sobs shattered his heart. 

" Now is not the time to cry, Lia.  But to strengthen your resolve." Carlos gently removed Lia from his embrace and wiped away her tears. " I know you're confused. I know you have millions of questions that you want to ask. But before I answer you, let me ask you are you willing to accept those answers?? "

" What do you mean ?? " Lia asked as she looked up with teary eyes.

" Questions don't define their answers, Lia.  Accepting those answer is what truly makes them meaningful." Lutfa replied in a serious tone. " If you want your answers than you must have the courage to accept them and the strength to act accordingly. And if you feel that you can't accept them then you are free to let go of everything, but remember if you can't accept your answers than you have no right to ask questions. "

" Before you come to a decision Lia, understand this very careful. Each and every answer will be as shocking as 'Dahlia'. " Carlos gave a stern warning. There was no trace of his former gentleness. 

Lia appreciated Carlos's honesty. She knew if not absolutely necessary Carlos wouldn't have emphasised the situation the way he did. It assisted Lia to come to a decision and allowed her to be mental prepared for the consequences of her decision. For her it was a 'Now or Never' situation. 

' What can possibly be more worst than what I have already suffered.' Lia was willing to take risk then live with countless questions. Even if worst comes to worst, atleast she'll have no regrets. All these years she struggled in vain, now atleast her struggle would be meaningful. 

Lia's mentor once told her that her questions may not have a simple answer and now Carlos's words proved how right he was. She was truly grateful towards Carlos and Lutfa for giving her the opportunity to understand her true self.

" Uncle, Auntie... Don't worry. I'm not gonna chicken out. Not when I've come this far. I will accept the answers. I will accept their consequences. I'm ready. Please tell me everything I need to know about myself. Please guide me to the right path. "

Her voice spoke of her self confidence. Determination glint in her eyes. Her expressions reflected her dedication. She exuded an aura of divinity.

Lutfa and Carlos closely observed Lia and her drastic change. Their lips curled to form an enchanting smile. All they wanted was to revive Lia's willpower, which they did. 

Lutfa was feeling an indescribable sense of pride and affirmation towards Lia.  She knew it wasn't easy choice given everything Lia's been through. " I'm proud of you, my love. Sometimes, consequences don't matter but the will to overcome them makes all the difference. " 

" I'll remember that, Auntie. "

" I know you will, Lia.  And now it's time I remind you a part of yourself that you were forced to forget. " Carlos said as he gently placed his hand on Lia's head asking her to close her eyes. Lia followed Carlos's lead.

Her vision began to expand. 

The whole world seemed to revolve like a cinema. The sun, the planets,  the stars, the galaxies, the universe and even the Shephora revolved. She could not only see through them,  but also hear,  touch and feel them as if they were a part of her.  She was able to sense her heart beat in time with their beat of life. She witnessed the perpetual fire beneath the earth and how the wicked were being punished. The Heaven mesmerised Lia with its scenic beauty and residents, while the dark vortex was a bit too overwhelming for her. 

All of a sudden, Lia's vision began to change.

What was once a peaceful cosmos, now it was burning in flames of war. A full fledge battle between the gods and an evil sorcerer took place right before her.  As a result of the war,  the dark vortex started to expand out of proportion. 

Lia's vision changed again, bringing her from the battlefield to an ancient monestary in the middle of nowhere. She saw a young,  beautiful woman running through the empty corridors of the monestary with a crystal tablet in hand. Behind the running woman a dark portal opened up from where a dark army invaded the monestary. Leading them was the same sorcerer. He unleashed his army in order to capture the woman and bring him the crystal tablet . The woman stopped at nothing, securing the crystal tablet in her arms she ran towards the tower with all her might.  Saving herself from the attacks of the dark army the woman somehow managed to reach the top of the tower just in time to catch the last ray of the setting sun.  As soon as the ray touched the tablet, she threw it to the sorcerer which he grabbed with easy.  Seeing the sorcerer holding the tablet , the woman began to laugh menacingly. She vowed that she would serve no man other than her husband. Since her husband existed no more,  she too had no reason to live as well. 

Infuriated by the woman's arrogance, the sorcerer aimed the crystal tablet at her only to see it transmogrified itself into a man. The man was none other than Carlos himself. The sorcerer paled out at this. He was literally trembling in fear.  Carlos was both furious and astound by her deeds. The woman spat out her last words to the sorcerer and reached down to her womb. She removed the baby she was carrying and handed it over to Carlos. It was a sweet little baby girl. 

The walls of the monastery began to crumble. A black flame engulfed the sorcerer. The woman quickly created a protective shield around Carlos and sent him away with her child.  Assured that Carlos and her child were both safely away from the monastery,  the woman blew up the entire monastery and disappeared with its ashes into the dark vortex. The sorcerer also disappeared without a trace. 

Lia's eyes flew open. Her breathing became ragged.  She was sweating in buckets. Events of the monastery still flashed before her eyes. 

" Lia!!  Lia!!  Snap out of it, Lia!! " Lutfa's words pulled her out of that zone, only than did Lia realised that she was back in the presence of Lutfa and Carlos. 

" I know all this is too much for you to process at the moment Lia, but don't you worry.  We are here with you,  we'll  do everything to help you sort things out. Just don't lose hope, sweetie." Lutfa tried to console Lia while glaring at Carlos.  She was really scared that after learning about herself Lia would break down even more. 

On that hand,  Carlos was rather speechless at his wife unjust accusations. 

 What made her think he was not concerned about the well being of Lia. 

" No, Lady Silvia--" 

" No, Lia!!! To the seven universes, the Heaven and Hell, we maybe Lord Alexius and Lady Silvia. But for you we are always Uncle Carlos and Auntie Lutfa. Your Uncle Carlos and Auntie Lutfa." Lutfa reprimanded softly. 

" Your Auntie is right Lia. Even though we are not your birth parents, to us you are more than our daughter. And we love you just as much as your real parents would have loved you. Your identity doesn't change anything between us."

Lia was deeply touched by couple's words which left her with no room to express her gratitude. She promised herself that she would express her gratitude not by words but by her actions.

" Yes Lia!! Also we wanted to apologise to you. If not because of us, you wouldn't have to suffer so much. Your parents scarified themselves in order to protect us, especially your mother Lia. Caring for you is the least we could do for them. We're truly sorry for all the pain and suffering you have been through.  If you can,  please forgive us... " Carlos was extremely remorseful. Every drop of Lia's tears were a cruel reminder for him of his mistake.

" No Uncle Carlos, it's not your fault. Please don't blame yourself. And besides,  wasn't it you who taught me that nothing ever happens without a reason. I believe mother must have her reason. We just don't know them yet." Lia truly believed that her mother's actions were not random but acutely calculative . " But I do want to understand what mother meant by 'Immortality is not the synonym of Infinity'." she was positive that her mother not only had an ulterior idea about the situation but also a solution. 

" Infinity is not a domain, it's just an abbreviation of the immeasurablity. Lia, always remember you are Goddess Clytia's daughter. You are the daughter of Destiny. Only you posses the power to control time, space and reality. Hence, your imagination is your domain." Carlos said thoughtfully. He knew only Lia was capable enough to  understand Clytia's strategy.