Queen of Elements

300 Years before Tania ran through the forest, her breathing was agitated, she no longer had strength to keep going. She had been running through the dark forest for hours, past the land of the Firewood clan, a clan who has been following her, possessed with the powers of earth and fire. But she had to reach the limits of the Wintersea clan where her beloved lodged, and where they encountered the power of air and water, she had to tell him that the Firewood clan would rebel against them and destroy anyone who had anything to do with the Wintersea clan. No matter who they were, a choice must be made deciding which side to take. She had chosen the wrong side for power and betrayed the only person who loved her, but when she discovered the true intentions of her clan she realized that she had to amend what she had done. The war was coming and only dark magic could end the power of a clan. The great black Bansuri was the only thing that possessed the dark magic. She had to find her beloved, and destroy the Bansuri together. Since Neith saved her when some peasants tried to abuse her and kill her she knew that he was her Venus, the chosen one by the gods. Her mother always told her that she was special, that the gods have someone unusual for her, for she was chosen for something greater and the gods would give her the Venus of her heart, this particularly happened once in a millennium. Neith was the Venus of her heart, her kindred-soul and the only one who could help her achieve her mission. She believes that once she explains herself to him, he would forgive her for all her wrong doings. They were the only two who carried more than one power, she with the powers of earth and fire, while her beloved obtained the powers of air and water. And only the four united powers could destroy the Bansuri of darkness, but she must first work hard to convince him. She stopped running from exhaustion taking a moment to catch her breath; resting her tired legs to regain her strength, she hid and took cover behind a small cave. She felt a cool breeze that covered her, and knew in an instant that Neith had found her, she let herself be wrapped in that fresh wind and this wind led her to a clearing of purple tulips in the middle of the forest, their favorite place. "Tania, darling, what happened?" Neith asked her worried. "Forgive me, I have failed you my love." She said unsettled, trying to choose the right words to explain everything to him. "My clan wants to end anyone who isn't part of us or anyone who has to do with your clan. I was on their side not knowing their true intentions, I allowed myself to get carried away by power, but as soon as I learned the truth I escaped." She said, alarmed looking towards the road where she came through, afraid to be found before they get the chance to destroy the Bansuri. Neith opens his eyes, confused but opens his arms wide to give her a hug, hoping to calm her down. "What do we do to solve this?" He asked undisturbed, while he glanced at her with tenderness for he knew if she was present she had a plan. How is it possible that I can be so privileged with this man, she thought. "We have to destroy this," as she shows him the Bansuri from her hands, an instrument similar to a flute created by the dark sorcerers clan to control and drain their powers until they are eliminated, something that should have disappeared many years ago with the extinction of the sorcerers clan, but only few knew how it could be found and Tania was one of them. When Neith sees the Bansuri he takes an incredulous gasp and steps back. "You must let your people know now and send them a signal, your people should fight back!." Tania said desperately. Without hesitation he does as she says and sends a signal of war, a strong tornado as it storms through the forest as a warning. Neith turns to stare at Tania and this time she could see disappointment in his eyes."What have you done Tania?" “I swear I did not know their true intentions Neith, please you have to believe me and help me. I, I love you, you are my Venus, please don't turn your back on me now" she told him in a desperate plea. Neith could not resist as his disappointment turned into compassion for her and she felt peace. "Let's do it," he said, while taking her hand and gracefully leaving a kiss on her left cheek. "If we survive this, my people will accept you and we can marry," he uttered with a smile. "How can you even love me despite all I’ve done?" He just smiles and gives her a kiss on her forehead. "Well, if we survive, I'll be happy to be yours forever." she chuckles. They began to provoke their powers at the same time, while their hands were still united, they could feel the air, fire, water and earth surrounding and shuddering them. They began to feel as they rose up in the air and knew it was time to invoke the power of the gods, Neith looks at her, nods and begin to say in unison: "Gods of Fire, Earth, Water and Air, destroy the darkness here, give us peace and a new day" they shouted repeatedly again and again, when suddenly from their hands the Bansuri raised a beam of light towards the sky, and exerted a noise of spine chilling cries and they knew that they were achieving it, at some point they’d need to let go of it or else they would die from explosion. But out of nowhere fireballs started raining down towards them, however a wall of water was protecting them. The clans had arrived, they had found them, they saw how the clans began to fight each other, perhaps they couldn’t avoid a war but maybe they could steer clear of destruction. "It's time, we should let it go, I will not let you fall, let go of it" shouts Neith, letting go of Tania's hand, surrounding himself by air avoiding a fall to the ground where his people were fighting. Neith was ready to take Tania away and right before she was about to release the Bansuri a voice appeared out of nowhere saying "Everything contains a sacrifice" frightened she looks at her beloved and he began to shout at her but it was too late he had already left the circle that surrounded Tania, now there’s no way for the elements surrounding her to let him get back to her again. Tania closed her eyes and understood that to end the Bansuri she must sacrifice herself, she was the cause of everything and she would be the one to end it. Ignoring Neith as he shouts, she elevates her gaze to the sky in the direction of light and makes her decision. Seeing her people divided into clans and at war, fighting at her feet, she has to do something to end it. "I will be that sacrifice" by saying this the elements began to surround her with more strength, she looks at her beloved with fondness, and tells him in an audible whisper "I'm so sorry" then the elements were introduced to her soul illuminating her body, taking hold of her until she disappeared in the middle of them, followed by a great explosion that enlightened the whole sky. Everyone stopped their attacks and Neith fell to the ground screaming full of pain and anger. Suddenly the sky brightened again and four beaming silhouettes appeared in mid air making everyone fall on their knees. "By Greed of power you are separated, but by love and power one will be united again, the elements must be complemented to create a balance, they must be unified" they said in unison. "In due time love will be impossible to separate, it will be the most powerful Venus given by the gods, the greater power; the four elements will be their mark" they continued while holding their hands from where it radiated power. "They'll fight for love, but also for their people. That will be their destiny." They said while directing their hands towards Neith. "And this will be yours, you will become King and you will rule our people, you will feel lonely today but one day you will find peace. This is the reward for your genuine heart, for your sacrifice as well as Tania's, it will be from your hearts and come from your lineage, those who carry the mark, each link must be connected, and its power must rule their people over all darkness, reestablishing it's balance." They spoke, raising their heads up and disappearing from the blink of an eye. Everyone was stunned, still on their knees in the midst of the clear, the gods themselves brought the message, they couldn’t believe it. While everyone remained on their knees, Neith got up. His clan bowed to him already accepting him as King, but his heart was filled with pain and bitterness that he directed himself towards the Firewood clan. "My first decision as King of the Armegard Empire will be that you, Firewood clan, from today forward, will be declared our servants" he said, full of hatred "and there you will remain, until the prophecy is fulfilled. Only then will Firewood and Wintersea be one, but while my heart still beats, you all will pay for what you have done." Said the now King, Neith Rudensea from Armegard.