Elmira Sielstone: The Empress

Twenty-Six

It’s a very bright, sunny and a busy day in Harzenia. Everyone in the Palace were all doing their own chores with much anticipation for the day as it was the day of preparation for the one and only Prince of Harzenia, Alexis.

They have always been looking forward to his birthday celebration every year, and one month before the actual date of her birthday, they were already preparing, planning for what they will be doing, in the middle of what was happening in Harzenia. They always make time to spare just to talk about their plans.

But this time, the only day that they can prepare was this day, the day before his birthday.

Harzenia is in the middle of a crisis, a much bigger crisis than the last years. Everything got so hectic that they barely remember his birthday, as they have been going through a lot these days.

They have been going back and forth from Crymph as their new assigned rulers were all struggling as they haven’t totally recovered yet from the bombing on their place, building their houses and getting back what has been lost, and the New assigned rulers were still starting anew to their positions, so they needed to assist them firsthand, to guide them and give insights on what is best for their people.

The Royalties were also not able to plan for his upcoming birthday as Elmira just returned from Glith. Now, they are planning a simple yet presentable birthday party for him, so they are all preparing for the next day. Although Alexis insisted not to celebrate his birthday this year, as they were still in the middle of chaos, and there tomorrow still lies in the unknown, they still insisted as they keep on saying that this is just a one time experience every year. And so because it’s his parent’s decision, he just stopped arguing about it.

“I have a bad feeling about this plan.” Rebecca was beside him, on the second floor’s veranda

overlooking the people in the grounds, doing their own tasks, preparing for his birthday.

“What plan?”

“Your birthday.” She said, and flashed a half smile on her face, as she’s not at ease from the Palace’s plans.

“Stop troubling yourself, Becca. Things will just be fine.” He assured him.

But Rebecca couldn’t still help herself to stop being bothered about the troubles in her mind. She’s nervous, and she has a really bad feeling about it, but she doesn’t know why she is feeling that way.

“I just hope so.”

Jack and Elizabeth walk past Alexis and Rebecca behind them and proceed to their office. There were still reports coming from Crymph and they were still busy collecting the month-long supply of the Academy that they had requested for them. They haven’t heard from Pyrisium and Vainussei again even after Alexis and Rebecca had come back to the Palace, unsuccessful in their mission to control the fire on their borders. And they haven’t had any reports from Tarfelli after the explosion happened in Crymph.

They entered their office and sat on their chairs, in front of their office table.

“It’s just a week before it’s her birthday.” The Queen started and heaved a sigh. She was going through the written reports laid on their table from Crymph.

“I wonder what her plans are for that day. I know she won't be here on the day of her birthday, but I just wish she’ll attend Alexis’ tomorrow.” She added.

“A black tornado-like smoke appeared above the mountain that separates the Palace and Crymph, Yesterday.” A deep furrow has formed in her brows as she read the report out loud. “It’s not moving but it seems to be observing something.” Her eyes widened after she read everything.

The King got the paper from her hands and read it through her eyes and mind. The Queen was looking at him in disbelief.

“Is this the smoke those two were talking about?” The King asked, as he read what was written on the paper, all over again.

“I’ll call them.” Elizabeth said.

“Come here to the office. Bring Rebecca with you.” She contacted them through her Daydream Qaraths so she doesn’t need to get over where they are, just to call them in.

They arrived within a minute as Alexis just teleported the both of them inside.

"What's the matter?" Alexis asked as soon as they arrived. They walked towards them as his parents were both staring towards the paper the King was still holding and they didn't even notice that they were already in the room.

They both looked at them at the same time when they heard Alexis. They waited for them to get over the table before they had given the paper to them.

“Here.” The King said as he gave them the written report.

They both read it at the same time as Alexis was holding it. As they were reading it, furrows were forming on both of their brows, and they glanced at each other after reading it, worrying about what the report had said, and looked again at the report.

“You told us that you have seen it in the forest from the South.” The Queen started. “But you didn’t tell us what it was doing there.” She was hesitating to ask them about it, as they probably had a reason why they hadn't told them everything that they had seen in the forest.

The two of them looked away and avoided the gazes of the two Royalties who were sitting on their thrones, as they didn’t even want to remember anything from that day.

“Becca. Al.” The King called them. “Tell us. We should at least know what had happened there. Is that smoke the same as that written on the report?”

“It is.” Alexis, who was still hesitating, and doesn’t even want to look back, collected his courage to answer the King. Rebecca sighed as she heard him answering. It wasn’t easy for them to talk about it, and they had already talked about it so that they wouldn't bring up what happened there.

“What happened?” The King asked in a low voice as he was trying to be careful as he knows that they don't want to talk about it, but they need to know what happened there so they can prepare for what may happen.

“That woman, with the green highlights…” He started. “She let us see what was happening inside the forest. I don’t know how she did that, but we had witnessed everything.” He told them what had happened there in detail, without living any single piece of the story untold. From how Rebecca’s parents had planned to kill him, when Elmira had entered the scene in the office, to her next appearance in the entrance of the forest, what they witnessed, and how they came back fast from the South.

“Her Gemus appeared, and they were talking about someone who had already killed a lot, who had a one stage left before getting to the most dangerous kind of getting a Qarath, and she was talking about having not enough time left. I don’t know what they were talking about but that’s what they had said.” He ended his story with what they have talked about that they haven’t figured out yet.

The two Royalties who were seated in front of them were left staring blankly in the air, and they were left with no words to say. Minutes had passed before the King glanced at them.

“Okay. You can now go. We’ll just call you if we have other things to ask regarding that matter.” The King dismissed them, and Rebecca bowed in front of them before they got out the room.

The Queen stood up and was walking back and forth, thinking about what they had heard.

“They already don't have enough time…” Her gaze was fixed on the floor as her hands were crossed on her chest, thinking, and worrying about what may happen, especially to their daughter Elmira. “Who do you think they were against? Who were they talking about?” She couldn’t stay still in one place as she’s having a bad feeling about it.

“I also don't have any idea. She didn’t even mention anything about that even for once.” The King was tapping his finger on the table as he was also having deep thoughts regarding that.

“If that smoke was already in the North yesterday, it means that it was just waiting for something to happen, right? It’s probably observing the Palace or the Crymph.” The Queen concluded without stopping from walking.

As time passes by in Harzenia, their worries keep on rising and they are being tormented about their thoughts of what may possibly happen, and how worse it could be.

Alexis and Rebecca came back to the veranda where they were before they had been called.

“I told you. I was really having a bad feeling about this.” Alexis just remained silent as he was still thinking about what the black smoke was doing in the North.

“And I wasn’t the only one who could feel it.” She added.

“What do you mean?” Alexis was already staring at her, and she successfully got his attention.

“I was in the front garden this morning. And I overheard someone talking. So I moved closer and found out that it was your driver way back then.” She said, looking down at the grounds. Hazzles were still busy, preparing for the event for Alexis’ birthday for the next day, and didn't even have any idea about what was happening around them.

“He was constantly mumbling about his worries, saying that this isn’t right. So I came closer and talked to him, as he was just all alone. I asked him what he was worrying about, and then he told me that he’s feeling bad about the party, that he was feeling that something bad will happen.” She said, remembering what she had experienced earlier.

“But I didn’t tell him that I was feeling the same, and he just left after telling me his worries.” She stared at him, directly in his eyes, as he was doing the same.

“And I don’t think that’s just a coincidence, Al.” She added.

“I also think so.” They both looked at the person who had just appeared behind them, at the same time.

“Elmira.” Rebecca called her, as Alexis just stared at her. She was with her three Gemus again, inside the Palace.

“You both have felt the same, as I brought you two back to life and gave back your Qaraths. As it stands as your second life, and you directly received your Qarath from me, you have obtained another set of Qaraths, other than what you already have.” Elmira explained. They had understood what she had said, but it’s still a mystery how she even managed to give them their lives and their Qaraths back, with an additional set of Qaraths, as what she had said.

“But… How did you-”

“I just did. That’s enough information for you.” She said, cutting what Rebecca was trying to ask her.

“We’ll be staying here just until tomorrow. Just bare, and work with us. Especially you Alexis.” Elmira was staring at him, in her very serious and nearly blank stare.

She was worried about what may happen in the Palace as it is Alexis' birthday the next day, so she decided to get inside the Palace to make sure everything will be fine, and brought her three loyal Gemus with her to accompany her for what may happen.

After ensuring that the Academy had already raised their barriers to protect them all inside, they had entered the Palace just to be sure that everything will be alright.

“They will stay on the top Balcony during our stay. So if you don’t want to run across them, do not ever go up there. They won’t get down, unless there’s something wrong.” Elmira reminded them, as Alexis was constantly glancing back and forth from Elmira to them.

“And stay alert. If you could raise your barriers for another layer of protection, do it. I have already talked to your parents about this matter. Just help them to make the Palace even more safe. As I told you before, this place will be a very good target for her, so we need to be very extra careful.” She said, glancing towards the both of them.

It makes them feel more nervous, and unease, as Elmira’s talking in a very more serious tone than she ever did.

“Who’s that you’re talking about?” Alexis asked as he was really getting curious about the person she was always talking about, even in the South,

“She’s someone you need to be feared. Her name’s Loisselle Alteria.”

“What?” Rebecca exclaimed. “You mean, her? My… my old friend?”

“Yes. And she’s way more stronger than the last time she had gone here, and tried to kill you, As you both had witnessed her in that Black Smoke form.”

“She’s the black smoke?” Elmira nodded to answer her question.

“And she’s more dangerous than you could ever imagine.” She said, witnessing how the both of them had both stared towards each other, and looked at her again, showing their worries through their eyes.