Elmira Sielstone: The Empress

Thirty-One

A day had passed and Elmira and her Gemus were still inside the Palace, as the only thing she could do was to just sit on her bed as she was still regaining her strength from all the things that had happened inside the Academy which they still couldn’t enter.

When she needed to use the bathroom and the toilet, she needed to call for help and she was thankful that Rebecca’s there to help her, as her three Gemus don't even know why she needed to use the toilet, so they do not know what to do. They didn’t even experience that for their whole life, not in their whole life in Emerald.

Elmira was inside her room with Rebecca and the three other Gemus who are all sitting on the coach across her bed, while Rebecca was sitting next to her, braiding her hair as it’s all over her face.

“Do you have any news about the Academy? We couldn’t see anything.” Savvy asked her, not directly through her mind, that the other two Gemus could also hear. Rebecca doesn’t have any idea that they were even talking to each other, ever since she entered.

“She’s still there. Looking for something.” She answered while She was eating a sliced apple that Rebecca had served her. She had also brought a glass of juice and different kinds of fruits freshly harvested from their Fruit backyard farm.

“Did they already kill everyone? Including Yves?” Sinn asked her also through his mind.

“Yves? They’re busy, protecting their students.”

“You mean, they’re still alive?”

“It sounds like you’re not happy about it, Sinn. Want me to kill him, myself?” She’s just eating and not even glancing towards the three as she was so overjoyed by the amount of food she had in front of her.

“You’re really so ruthless.” Elmira just chuckled as she took that as a compliment that she had received from Sinn.

“Thank you for that.” She said.

“But are they really still alive?” Savvy asked her.

“Yes. They were all still alive, that’s why she hasn't left the Academy yet, as she still didn’t find the Hazzles she was looking for.”

Rebecca had finished braiding her hair, and sat on the couch beside her bed after, so Elmira and her could move freely.

“And where are they? How did they manage to hide from her?” Sinn has so many questions inside his head that he wants to find the answer, but he couldn’t just ask everything at once as Elmira’s still not so well.

“They’re inside another small dungeon, under the forbidden forest. She won’t be able to find them as she can’t sense and feel their Qaraths because it is a well protected dungeon. I had instructed them beforehand, and told the three Headmasters of the Academy about where they could find it. Just saying if you want to know how they find it, Sinn.” She grinned as she had already read his mind beforehand, and was just teasing him for having unclear mind, as he had so many questions inside his head.

“By the way. I have a mission for the three of you.” She said, as she flashes a smile towards Rebecca as she was staring at her for so long now.

They all sat straight as they heard the word ‘mission’ from her which they have been waiting for since they entered the Palace.

“What is it?” Sid asked, as he was more excited than anyone.

“Sorry. But… Are you that hungry?” Rebecca asked her as she had nearly finished everything on the table in front of her on top of her bed. Elmira hasn’t been eating since the day they entered the Palace. She can survive through days of not eating, but when there are foods in front of her, she won’t stop eating unless she has finished everything.

“Just a bit?” She smiled as she put the last piece of Grapefruit inside her mouth. “Thank you for this, Becca.” She chewed it fast and drank her orange juice at once.

“Aren’t you gonna tell us our mission? I think that’s more important than thanking her. She didn’t even pick those fruits herself, so why bother thanking her?”

“Sinn, why did you grow up becoming like that? Didn’t I tell you to always be grateful for anything? You’re becoming so illogical.” She said, as she looked towards her Gemus, Sinn.

“Here it is. You need to get to Pyrisium and Vainussei and tell them to prepare everything that they need for a month-long supply. They need to get under their places, where wind couldn’t enter. There’s a big dungeon under the border of Pyrisium and Vainussei, and that’s the safest place for them. Tell them that they need to be there before dusk tomorrow as it’s really urgent.”

The three of them couldn’t remove their stare on her as she became so serious in the shortest period of time, and they were all so dumbfounded from what she had said.

“You mean by tomorrow…”

“No. But they need to be prepared. Sooner or later, she would achieve her last stage of transforming and getting Qaraths, so everyone must prepare. The Palace couldn’t afford to lose another Hazzles, just like what had happened to Tarfelli. We couldn’t save anyone there, but we could at least do something to protect the others. It’s the least we could do, but… to be honest with you… I couldn’t guarantee their safety through that way, but at least they will live longer.”

Elmira’s heart was ripping inside her, as she could already foresee what could happen in Harzenia a few days from now. But she could only keep it to herself as she should not let anyone’s fear arouse.

Rebecca had seen the three Gemus in front of them having the same expression as Elmira, but the only difference is that Elmira's are way heavier than theirs. At that moment, she knew that they were all communicating inside their heads, even though no one had opened their mouths to speak, and it was more quiet than ever. She feels like she’s not existing in the room by the way they were looking towards each other.

“They won’t believe you, so just read those Orders I made.” Two Rolls of Parchments appeared in Savvy’s lap. One in Red, and the other is Blue, with a white seal of the Palace that Elmira had prepared just now, so the Hazzles would believe them and will take the situation seriously.

“And drink this potion that I made so she can’t read your movements and won’t know what you’re up to.” Small vials appeared in front of the three of them, floating in front of their eyes, and they took it fast.

“Drink that before you leave this room. And you need to get moving for the next five minutes.”

“But how about Quoatilphus and Crymph?” Sid asked.

“I will let someone know in the Palace. Just focus on your mission. And please, be extra careful. You can now drink that.” She said as she turned her gaze towards Rebecca who was just watching them drinking the fluid in the vials they were holding.

“Becca.” She had gotten her attention and now was looking at her in confusion as she didn't even know what was happening around her.

“I’m sorry if we wouldn’t let you hear what we’re talking about, but the less you know, the better, and it applies for the rest of you in the Palace.” She said as flashed a half smile in her face.

“We’ll get going.” Elmira glanced at them as they were all now standing and ready to go. She just nodded and they all left the room through teleportation.

“I understand." She nodded as she removed the table on Elmira's bed.

"Do you perhaps want to walk outside? Inhaling fresh air would greatly help you to recover fast. What do you think?" She shifted her expression fast to lessen the heavy atmosphere in the room. She was already smiling from ear to ear as she wanted her to feel that it's just fine for her.

"I think I needed that too." Elmira answered and prepared herself to go for a walk. She had already regained a small portion of her energy and could now walk properly, but she remained on her bed for a better rest.

Now, she can already go out, as her Gemus wasn't around and she already has the strength to do so.

Rebecca was still there, supporting her from time to time, but Elmira insisted that she can now properly walk without falling. Rebecca transported her to the garden in front of the Palace, as Elmira could barely even use her Qaraths properly as she's still saving her energy for a more important matter than going to the Garden.

"Are you now her servant?" They were already walking inside the garden, when they both stopped as a figure of a man had appeared in front of them.

"I was just helping her." Rebecca answered as Alexis was looking towards Elmira with so much intensity.

"Why does she need help if she's much stronger than all of us here?" He was being too harsh towards Elmira, but Elmira didn't even mind how he was talking about her in front of her, it's just not bothering her at all, as she was just staring back at him with her bored look.

"Becca."

"Hm?" Rebecca glanced at Elmira as she called her.

"Could you spare us some time? I just need to discuss something with him. I wish you would allow us to do that." She said, still staring towards Alexis who didn't even change the way he stares towards her with disgust.

"Will you be fine?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Just call me if you already need to get back to your room. Al…" She said, shrugging her head sideways as she was looking towards Alexis. She didn't say anything to him, but she surely let him know what she was trying to say, 'Be good', before she left.

There were just the two of them in the garden, staring at each other, when Elmira started a conversation inside his head.

"You still have a wish that I need to grant. Have you thought about it yet?"

"Is that the reason why you wanted to be alone with me?" Alexis looked away as memories flushed through his head with his younger sister when she was still alive. He couldn't just help not to think about her, when he was staring through her eyes.

"No. But I was just hoping to grant your wish when I was still here." She said, slowly walking through the pathway inside the garden, in between the flowering plants that are taller than the both of them. Alexis just turned around to observe what she was doing.

"This might be the last time you'll see me and those three Gemus inside the Palace. So I was just hoping you already have your wish."

"Are you going somewhere?" He absentmindedly asked. "Well, it's better if you leave the soonest" But he suddenly took his words back after a second of realizing what he had just asked.

"I'll be leaving Harzenia, and I'll take every Gemus out here." Alexis stays silent as he listens to what she was saying, and slowly walks behind her, hands in his pocket.

"We'll be leaving before next week. But before we do…" Elmira stopped walking, feet closed, looking in front of her.

"I need to make sure of something." She said, as she turned around slowly and met his longing, and sad gaze towards her.