ARTIMI

Fiona

I am the epitome of weirdness, and while others are busy conjuring spells and wielding their elemental powers, I'm over here chatting it up with animals, birds, and yes, you heard it right, trees.

The elders, oh, bless their ancient souls, tried to wrap their wise minds around my peculiar gift, but alas, they hit a brick wall. It's like they stumbled upon an enigma wrapped in a riddle, sprinkled with a dash of "what-the-heck-is-happening?" I can practically hear their brains buzzing with confusion.

And let's not forget the reactions I get from people wherever I go. The glances, the whispers, and the futile attempts at subtlety. I can hear every word you're saying, clear as day. So feel free to share your theories, but don't think I won't catch wind of it.

But hey, can I blame them? If I were in their shoes, I'd probably gossip about the tree-talking wizard too. I mean, I'm an oddity even among the magical realm who can talk to the magical tree.

You see, every kingdom has its own Soul Forest, each surrounded by the elemental magic it dishes out. It's like a power-packed oasis of magic that fuels our elemental abilities. Terravale, the kingdom of earth, is where I belong, and our Soul Tree stands tall in the heart of a lush forest, where nature thrives, and I'm often found, of course.

In Zephyria, it's a whole different story—floating Soul Tree roots shining in the air. Yeah, I did a double-take the first time I saw that spectacle. Our land is full of surprises, I tell you.

Aquaria's Soul Tree, on the other hand, is submerged in water, but I'm not talking about some regular tree growing on the ground; this one embraces an aquatic lifestyle, and boy, does it do it gracefully and it glows, mind you.

And then there's Pyrovia, where their Soul Tree doesn't care about conventional habitats. It's smack in the middle of the fire and molten rock, probably laughing at us for trying to comprehend its mysterious ways. I swear, these trees have a sense of humor.

Oh, but there's one little rebel among them—the Soul Tree of my kingdom, Terravale. For some reason, whenever I try to connect with it, it's as silent as a stone. Every other tree seems to have a chit-chat with me, but not this one. I'm convinced it's mocking me, but hey, I'm no mind-reader—I just feel it in my gut that it's she. Don't ask me how it's just known. I know it's weird, right?

Speaking of weird, being treated like a goddess is downright exhausting. Yes, I may be the heir to the throne, but I didn't sign up for deity duties. No matter how much I tell them that I'm just like them, they wave it off like I'm talking to air. So, you know what? I prefer talking to plants and animals—they're excellent listeners, and they don't put me on some celestial pedestal. I'd take a conversation with a chatty tree over God-like worship any day.

Ah, the other royal heirs; let's not forget them, my favorite bunch of troublemakers. They treat me like a regular person, which is such a refreshing change from the constant worship I receive from everyone else. They don't hesitate to pull pranks on me, making me trip and fall like a clumsy oaf. But you know what? I love every bit of it. They're just being them, and that's what makes them feel like family to me, even more so than my own blood.

Every six months, the four kingdoms come together for the Kings Summit. It's a tradition that dates back to our great-grandparents, implemented after that horrendous war a hundred and seventy years ago. You see, there used to be five kingdoms in Artimi: Air, Water, Fire, Earth, and Shadows, ruled by Umbraria. But when Umbraria decided they wanted to rule over the entire realm, the four kingdoms stood firm and refused to bow down. And you know what happened next? War. A bloody war claimed millions of lives, leaving behind countless maimed souls and decimated villages.

But guess what? We came out victorious. We fought tooth and nail, and we won. Umbraria and its people vanished into thin air like a magician's trick gone wrong. No apology, no accountability; they just disappeared. And let me tell you, the people of our four kingdoms still hold a grudge against them for that. Can you blame us? It took us a whole century to get our kingdoms back on track, overcoming poverty and damage.

The Kings Summit, that momentous occasion where all the important decisions for Artimi's betterment take center stage,. And guess who gets a front-row seat to all the action? That's right, us, the heirs to the thrones, accompanied by our esteemed parents. For the whole two weeks.

Oh, those two weeks are like a magical escape from the ordinary. Six months may feel like an eternity, but when the Kings Summit finally arrives, it's like time fast-forwards, and suddenly, we're all reunited again. Aryan, Cyrus, Blue, Inan, and me—it's our little crew.

Inan is the big brother of the group, and I mean, everyone's big brother. He's got five years on the rest of us, always looking out for our well-being and showing us the ropes. Inan may be a bit older, but that's never stopped us from having the best time together. We're like a band of rebels, taking on the world—or, well, the realm, I should say—and making it our playground.

Cyrus is the only one among us who isn't a direct heir to the throne. He's Inan's younger brother, and I've practically been his guardian since we were kids. You could say I raised him, and he looks up to me as his role model. He's definitely taken after my charm and wit; I can't blame him for that.

Now, let's talk about the other heirs. Aryan, the heir to Zephyria, is a bit reserved and quiet, but he enjoys spending time with us. You can see it in his expressions; he's got that stoic demeanor. His mother, on the other hand, is fierce and all about discipline. I thank the heavens that my mother isn't like that.

And then there's Blue, the heir to Aquaria. She's got quite the personality—kind, witty, but also a stickler for rules. She's got her own style, and I gotta admit, it suits her well.

The memories we shared during those two weeks are the stuff of legend. We laugh until our sides hurt, explore hidden corners of Summit Fort that others might not even know exist, and create mischief that makes the elders raise their eyebrows.

But hey, that's what being young and adventurous is all about, right? We're like a perfectly imperfect team.

Those two weeks are my happiness and my sanctuary. They're the times when I can truly be myself—no expectations, no burdens of royalty. Just me and my incredible friends, ready to take on the world, one adventure at a time.

Anyway, I could go on for days when I talk about them. Today is just another mundane afternoon, and I was escaping from the mind-numbing royal lectures on "How to Be a Good Ruler 101." Seriously, they've been hammering the same lessons into my head since I was a kid. At least switch up the teacher once in a while, would you? Boring.

But today, something's off. Not in a good way. More like a bad, gut-wrenching kind of way. I glanced around, expecting to see some ominous sign, but everything seemed normal. Well, as normal as it can get for me.

Then, out of nowhere, a surge of magical energy washed over. It was strange, and nothing about that sensation felt good. On the contrary, it was bad—really bad. The feeling compelled me to run towards the soul tree; I had this gut feeling that it was connected to whatever was happening.

I dashed as fast as my feet could carry me, and by the time I reached the tree, I was panting like a mad dog. I wiped the sweat from my face and lifted my head, only to be met with a shocking sight—the once lush grass surrounding the Soul Tree was now wilting away. I tried connecting with them, but it was as if they were cut off from me.

It's the very life of them that is being sucked out; no tree ever dies in soul forest; it's the unwritten rule from centuries. I tried connecting with them, but I couldn't feel anything. I felt something. Because every time I try to connect with dead plants or animals, I can see how they died or what they were feeling when they died, but now I feel nothing.

I believe sometimes silence is the best answer, but now, nah. It is devastating.

Approaching the soul tree with an exasperated sigh, I tried to reason with it, as I usually do. "You can show your attitude later, but right now, please tell me what's happening." I pleaded with the ancient tree and placed my hands on its gnarled bark.

Suddenly, a jolt coursed through me as if my soul were being pulled into the very heart of the tree. I found myself engulfed in a radiant green light—the life force of the Soul Tree. It pulsed with power, but there was something terribly wrong. It was draining, slowly fading away. I could feel it, and I knew if we didn't stop it now, the Soul Tree would die, and future generations would lose their elemental powers.

Desperate to understand and intervene, I reached out to touch the vibrant light, but my soul was abruptly pushed back into my body. As if the soul tree were protecting me, keeping me from harm.

Oh, for the love of all things magical, what is happening in the forest?

I need to get the elders here, and fast. I raised my hands to grab the communication stone from my pocket, only to realize it wasn't there. Great, just great. I left it in my room this morning, thinking I wouldn't need it. Now, when it's crucial, it's nowhere to be found. Ugh! Of all the days to forget my stone...

Think, think.

I smacked my forehead, berating myself for not thinking of the obvious solution earlier. "I am so dumb!" I muttered to myself, feeling a mix of frustration and relief. Of course, I could send any of my animal friends to deliver the message to the elders and bring them here.

With a gentle breath, I released a soft whistle through my lips, and in an instant, he responded. Landing gracefully on my shoulders, his feathers shimmered in the warm sunlight, reflecting hues of gold and green. It was dew.

"Okay, buddy, time for a mission. I don't have the luxury of writing a note right now, so I need you to be my winged savior. Go get the elders and my parents here ASAP. I don't care how you do it; just make it happen," I commanded with urgency in my voice, hoping Dew could sense the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, Dew spread his wings and took flight, soaring towards the scholar grounds where the elders resided.