Elmira Sielstone: The Empress

Twenty-Seven

The night has been so peaceful in the Palace. There were no signs of danger around and everyone was just sleeping so soundly in their own rooms, except Elmira who had been in her veranda for quite some time now, as she was looking for any movements of Loisselle.

The quiet night is quite disturbing her as it was so unusual to be that peaceful at night. The wind is not barely moving, the two moons were still up in the night sky, providing Harzenia a bright night. Winxpells were not present around, even the noises of the Winxpells that should be awake through the night haven't been making any sounds and movements.

Everything’s so unusual especially, it’s Already Alexis’ Day in just a few hours.

Elmira had chosen to stay inside the Palace to ensure their safety beside her as she had also felt the presence of the black smoke near the Palace.

She’s staring at the forest and looking for some movements inside, but she can’t feel anything. There was nothing inside, and she couldn't feel and see her presence there, not a single trace of Loisselle.

“Where is she?” She was talking with the wind through her mind as she closed her eyes to feel something, but even the wind didn't give her any sign, not even a little.

She opened her eyes in disappointment and glanced below her. Her eyes formed a deep furrow as she was looking down.

“How long have you been there?” Rebecca was there, on the veranda down on her right, looking at her, as Elmira talked towards her mind.

“Thirty minutes, I guess?” She answered through her mind. She was just looking at her, watching what she does and wondering what Elmira was thinking as she looked so occupied.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to get some fresh air, and I happened to see you up there.” Rebecca explained.

Rebecca still couldn’t feel at ease as she was still feeling that something bad will really happen, she’s just not sure what it would be, but her intuition speaks so loud.

“And he’s also there, inside the garden. I think he’s feeling the same thing.”

Elmira glanced at the garden to see who she was talking about. Alexis’s driver was inside the back garden, walking around for some time now to remove his worries inside his head, that won’t even leave him.

There was just something inside them, so strong, that they could feel it at the same time.

Elmira’s brows formed a deeper furrow as she’s already so confused with what was happening that she didn’t even feel their presence.

It’s nearly midnight and they are still outside, waiting for their thoughts to subside as they will face another day tomorrow that lies into the unknown.

“Elmira.” Rebecca was looking at her from below her, as she called for her name.

“I can… feel your presence. And… And it’s so strong.” Elmira stared at her, wide eyed, then glanced towards the man inside the Garden and he caught him looking directly at her, it means that he also had felt her presence that no one had ever felt before.

Elmira’s three Gemus had suddenly appeared beside her, looking so worried at her and scared at the same time.

“Get inside.” Savvy dragged Elmira inside her room and Sinn locked her veranda’s door completely, covering it with the thick curtains, as they were all so nervous as they could also feel Elmira’s overflowing presence and Qarath.

“What’s happening? We suddenly felt your strong presence, it never happened before.” Savvy was looking at her, directly through her eyes as she was so worried about what was happening, and getting confused, as it never happened, even before that they were all still in Emerald.

“It must already be past midnight.” She said, sitting on her bed. She was feeling a little worried but she had already seen this coming. “Everyone must now have felt my Qarath, and will eventually come, looking for me.”

“Wait… wait… We can’t understand what you’re trying to say, Era.” Sinn was looking at her, furrows formed into his brows as he was being so confused about what she’s trying to say.

“You know this, coming?” Savvy concluded on what he had understood from her.

Elmira nodded, looking down on the floor.

“Before you get here, bring with you my ring.” Elmira had seen the Royalties had been awakened by what they could feel, coming from her room, and she knew that they would come to see her.

“I knew that this would happen, so I prepared something.” She glanced at them as they were all standing in front of her, staring at her in confusion. “This Hazzle’s birthday was just a week from now.” She said, pertaining to herself. “And this is another consequence of having a new body.” She said.

“A week before this body’s twenty-first birthday, my presence, my Qaraths and everything will be felt all over Harzenia, as my Qarath is preparing this body to get what is left in Emerald.” She said.

There were loud knocks outside her door as they all looked towards it. Sid decided to open the door as it became louder and louder as time went by.

As soon as he opened the door, the Royalties came rushing through her, looking at her in disbelief. Her Gemus moved to the other side of the bed to keep their distance with the Royal Family and kept their closeness with Elmira.

“It’s really coming from you.” Alexis was staring at her in disbelief and confusion as he can now see where the strong presence and overflowing Qarath was coming from, and she’s just right in front of her.

“Mira. What’s happening to you?” Redina was also there, as well as Smith and Rebecca, all looking at her with deep furrows in between their brows.

“Don’t worry Ma. It’s normal.” She said, flashing a half smile. Obviously, she’s also worried about what may happen, now that everyone could now feel her, and she could see now, through her mind, how the Gemus inside the dungeon had reacted when they had already sensed her. They were all losing their control, trying to get out of the cell they were in.

She directed her gaze towards the Queen who was just looking at her, and didn’t even talk since they arrived.

“Where’s my ring?” She asked her, as she seemed like she didn't have a plan to give it to her as she was still lost in her thoughts.

“Eliza.” The King held her hand and got the ring from her, as she was still not responding after Jack had called her. She was just staring towards Elmira without showing any expressions in her face.

“Here.” The King handed the ring to Elmira that she received fast, and inserted it towards her ring finger as soon as she got a hold of it.

As soon as the ring was in her hand, her presence slowly decreased as well as her Qarath. Everyone was just watching her from what she was doing and how she managed to lessen her presence with just putting the ring in her finger.

“Is that what you prepared?” Savvy asked her, not minding about the Royal Family in front of them, as they seemed that they didn’t even notice them inside the room with them as they directed their gazes towards their direction at the same time.

“Yes. It won’t hide everything, though. But it’s better than leaving my Qarath that way.” She said, looking at the ring.

“Why didn’t you just make something that will help you to conceal everything? That would be better.” Sinn commented.

“I can’t. As much as I wanted to, I can’t Sinn. I was in my very bad condition back then. And I had to limit the usage of my Qarath as I had prepared a very long-time plan ahead. I had to ensure that everything would be fine before leaving, as I needed to keep that body alive in Emerald in order to keep everything from working, even if I am not really up there.” She said, as she’s still looking at the ring in her finger. The ring has a medium-sized Emerald Green stone on it, and it was getting her attention very well as she hadn’t seen it for so long, ever since she handed it to The Queen.

Elmira had felt everyone’s stare at her and the sudden silence inside her room, so she glanced at them, one by one, reading their gazes towards her, after she had told them the story behind the ring she was using right now.

She just flashed a half smile before she directed her gaze back to the ring. She just can’t help it not to stare at her ring as she can see her Castle in Emerald inside it, that she had intentionally included on the ring. It’s not just a mere illustration engraved on it, but it was a three-dimensional representation of her actual Castle in Emerald. And she’s just missing it so much.

“Why don’t you just say that you're the Empress out loud, Era? You had just clearly given them all the hints anyways.” Sinn said in his mind that Emira had heard, loud and clear.

She suddenly chuckled and that made them even more curious and confused about what was happening to her, as everything was just so unclear.

“Six out of the nine of you had known me, for real. Well, it should be seven, because I already told MaRed about it, but she’s constantly refusing to accept the fact.” She said, not even looking at any one of them.

“You have already felt my presence and my Qaraths that you never had felt before, so you might have had the idea now, what I am trying to say... It’s not so important anyway... By the way…” She looked directly towards Alexis and smiled. “Happy twenty-third birthday to you. I will grant you a wish this time because it’s your special day, just tell me what it is.” She said, grinning towards him.

“Get lost.” That was the first thing he had said as soon as Elmira had finished talking.

“Alexis!” Elizabeth and Jack had called out for him at the same time, as he was already going below the belt.

“Get lost, along with all of the Gemus out there.” Elmira raised a brow while grinning, as she was looking at him. The three Gemus behind Elmira were already clenching their jaws as Alexis was already crossing the line, and he just had the audacity to say towards Elmira to get lost in front of them. They really hated Alexis, even though they were still his bodyguard, but if it's not wasn’t for Elmira’s order, they wouldn't have dared to protect him back then.

“Ever since you had entered the Palace, everything went f****d up.” He continued

“I don’t like what’s coming out of your mouth Alexis. Watch your words.” Jack couldn’t hold his irritation towards Alexis now, but still being patient as they were all inside one room, and he didn't want to embarrass him in front of her girlfriend, so he was still trying to contain his annoyance. Elizabeth was also controlling herself not to yell at his face as they’re still respecting the people around them.

“I couldn’t take that as a wish, Alexis.” She said, still grinning at him, not minding what everyone was saying around her.

“Why can’t you? That’s my only wish for this day.” He said. His gaze was fixed towards Elmira, as he was very determined to kick them out of Harzenia.

“Because we’ll do that anyway, and there’s not much time left for you to wait.” She said. “I’ll wait for your wish before the day ends, so make sure to think of the best wish that you can come up with.” She continued.

Elizabeth looked away, trying to control her tears from pouring, as she heard what she had said. They knew that she’ll leave again ever since, and it hurts her more than anyone else to hear that again coming from Elmira, as she thinks that Elmira could just easily say that in front of them because she doesn’t care at all. And that she thinks that Elmira was just thinking about their business that they have between them, not their relationship as her relative, not as her Mother, and a parent for her.

“For now, you should all rest. You have a celebration later, so make sure to get some good sleep. And Rebecca, stop worrying about anything, just rest.” She said, glancing at them, one by one.

“You can all go now.” She told them, and flashed a very genuine smile in front of them. “Sid, Please open the door again so they can all go now. We all need to rest.”

Sid nodded and walked towards the door, and opened it for them.

“We’ll see each other later.” She said, assuring them that they weren’t moving. “Alexis, don’t forget your wish later. I’ll grant it to you... Savvy, Sinn, please assist them to go out.” She said, and the two behind her moved in front so they all took a step back. They eventually get out of her room and Sid locked it after they all went out.

As soon as they were all out of her room, Elmira held tight on to her bed, closed eyes, a deep furrow formed in between her brows, as the three came rushing towards her.

“What’s happening?” Sinn asked first as they were all getting worried.

“Era, what’s happening?” Sid also asked, as Savvy was holding onto her, supporting her as she became so white and pale. Her lips got dried, and she’s sweating a lot.

“Did you just control the pain you’re feeling that long for them not to see?” Savvy asked.

Elmira slowly opened her eyes, and it was glowing mad. They all shut their eyes as they were being blinded by her glowing eyes.

“Gemus… They’re out of the dungeon… killing everyone... And… she’s there… in the Academy.” She managed to say what they needed to hear from her, even though she's having a hard time talking.

“And… I - I couldn't get hold of anyone.” She said, as tears poured down her face.