Elmira Sielstone: The Empress

Twenty-Four

“Tell me, what you have seen, Rebecca.” Elmira was looking in front of her, glancing at each and everyone of Rebecca’s Family members, while she was talking to her through her mind.

They were still at the entrance of the forest from the open-green field behind them. Ashes were flying everywhere, smokes had covered the place, and the heat of the wind was touching their skins.

“There’s a lot of traps inside the forest. And I saw their plan. When Alexis enters the forest, they will get their people out and retreat from putting down the fire, and let Alexis finish everything.”

Rebecca said in her mind, as she’s staring at her.

“That’s it?”

“No. They have a plan that once Alexis was left alone inside the forest, they will grow the fire bigger, that’s why they have called fire users.” Elmira nodded as she was listening to what she was saying from her mind.

“I’m sure something was not right here. They were not capable of doing this kind of crime, especially for the Prince of Harzenia.” She said it through her mind, but Elmira did not even say anything or showed any signs on whether she agrees with her or not, as she remains silent and glancing towards her family.

Alexis was just staring at her, directly towards her eyes, but Elmira didn’t do the same as she was busy looking out for the Hazzles behind him, and she’s studying their every movement and eye contact towards each other.

“ Aren’t you gonna help your people to stop the fire?” Elmira asked them as they were not even moving and it looks like they have no plans on helping them.

“We’ll help them but--” Her father stopped, as everyone does.

There were loud cries inside the forest, shouting and crying for help. Their loud noises were echoing all over the place

“What’s that?” They were all looking everywhere, extending their gazes inside the forest, but the thick smoke was stopping them from seeing anything from where they were standing. Everyone became more alert as they couldn’t even know what was happening inside there that made them all scream for help, and it seemed that those who were shouting were all in so much pain.

They weren’t doing anything, not even running to help their people inside. They were just listening, and didn't even want to risk their lives to help them.

“I’m going inside.” Rebecca stepped forward as she couldn’t even take it to just stand and listen, they were also her people, and she just couldn’t let them die inside.

“Stay there.” Elmira said, not looking at her. She was looking inside the forest. The thick smoke and ashes didn’t even bother her nor hindered her from seeing what was really happening inside. She had a clear vision of what was happening, but she didn’t even bother to help them.

“I can’t. I need to help them.” Rebecca still insisted, so her mother had held her tighter than she was holding her earlier.

“You can see what is happening there, don’t you?” Elmira heard Alexis talking in his mind, and she knew that he was trying to communicate with her, but he just couldn't get past Elmira’s head.

“Stay still Becca. I will let you two see it.” Elmira extended her Qarath and let them see what she could see.

There were black smokes flying inside the burning forest. It was not the smoke of the forest nor the ashes in the wind. It was different. The black smoke was coming through the Hazzles, enclosing them in the middle, while it’s rotating fast. And then, when it is done with its final turn, it leaves the Hazzle lifeless, on the ground, and then, will transfer to another Hazzle fast. It moves fast and kills Hazzles in less than a minute.

Other Hazzles who had gone inside the forest were running for their lives, but the more they tried to get out, the more the smoke moved fast and coming for them.

“What’s that?” Rebecca couldn’t contain herself and gasped as she was watching the thing killing their people. Everyone looked at her as they were taken aback for her sudden uproar, except for Alexis and Elmira who were just silently watching.

“What’s that?” Her mother asked her. “Can you see something?”

She didn’t respond to her mother’s questions as she’s not ready to explain yet, as she herself is still unsure of what’s really happening inside. She could just see it, but it’s not yet clear for her.

“What is it doing?” Alexis asked Elmira through his mind, as he’s still unsure of what he’s witnessing with his own eyes.

“It’s getting their Qaraths.” She answered him and made sure that Rebecca could also hear her answer through their minds.

“Have you transported them all?” Elmira communicated with Savvy through her mind, as she does want them to be there with her.

“Yes. We just have transported them all to the dungeon, as what you have instructed us.” He answered. They were walking in the hallway of the dungeon, checking the Hazzles for the last time before they’ll be back to the South, to be with Elmira again.

“It’s the Black Smoke.” She said through their heads, and she made sure that the other two Gemus could hear what she had said.

They all stopped at the same time, in the middle of the hallway. Hazzles inside the cells were all watching them, having fears as their heart beats fast, as they were waiting for them to open a cell to get anyone one of them. They were all aware that when any of the three had opened a cell, and got a Hazzle from there, they would already face their ends, as they know that it's their time to get killed.

But they were all left in shock, when the three Gemus just vanished in front of them without opening any cell and getting another batch of Hazzles to be killed. They just left, and that’s probably the best thing that ever happened in their stay in the dungeon.

“Now tell me. Why do you want to kill Alexis?” Elmira asked the Hazzles behind her as she was still watching what was happening inside the forest. This is why she doesn’t let Alexis come inside the forest as she had already sensed this coming.

“How did you-” For another time, they glanced towards each other as they were again surprised by the thought that Elmira had known what they’re planning.

“Because, I know. Now look at what you’ve done. You’re people are suffering because someone had sensed a really bad energy in the forest. Your strong intention of killing him, had driven someone to get inside the forest to look for it, but because your people were there, they were the ones who got killed, mercilessly.” She said.

As they heard her explanation, all of them got scared about what they had heard from her and feared for their lives as they were really the reason behind the sudden killing inside the forest. But they weren’t so sure how she had known everything when she was just standing there all the time with them.

“We just… We just wanted to kill him, because their family, the Royal Family, hadn't done anything for Vainussei, and we believe that… that they don’t deserve to be ruling Harzenia.” Rebecca’s father explained. Alexis was already clenching his fist and his jaw as he couldn’t believe that he just heard from someone that they are not deserving for their positions in Harzenia.

“That’s why you put on an act, and invited those Hazzles from Pyrisium so the Palace could notice you.” Elmira said, concluding their reason.

“Calm yourself Alexis. That smoke could feel negative emotions, and it’s the reason why it is here, in the forest. The urgency to kill drives it to be here, so be careful. I’ll take care of this.” She said through his mind, as they all could be in danger once Alexis had lost his calm.

“Why? Do you even know what’s going on in the Palace right now?” She asked, keeping herself calm, although she didn't need to, as no one could even feel her presence.

“Three of Harzenia’s jurisdictions were facing a crisis, if you didn’t know. Crymph had experienced bombing which killed a lot of Hazzles and totally ruined the North. The Palace had experienced bombing, The Academy was invaded by Gemus and classes were suspended, and all the students were still inside. Tarfelli is facing a health crisis, and is getting worse day by day. But then, you’re telling us that the Royal Family doesn’t deserve to be the rulers of the Palace, in front of your Prince.” She said. They were all left so speechless as they didn’t have any idea what was happening in Harzenia, but here they are, doing their own problem just to be noticed by the Palace.

“All of us were very thankful that the Western and Southern Harzenia didn't even need any support as they both were doing good, and you both have great rulers that were capable of maintaining the order of your place. But then, here you are, even made a scene to get noticed, and put an act to trap the Prince and kill him eventually.”

The three Gemus arrived beside her that made them all step backwards, including Alexis as Elmira had said, they were Gemus, and they know the story of Gemus getting Qaraths, so they were distancing themselves towards them, to protect themselves.

“I think they weren’t the ones who didn't deserve their positions. I think it’s you, and your irrationality.” She continued and looked towards them who were already wanting to sink from where they are standing, from the realizations they have right now. They weren’t aware of what was happening, but they had decided to find a way just to get the Palace’s attention, that in the first place, they didn’t even need.

Vainussei and Pyrisium are the two lands of Harzenia that can stand on their own, as they have great rulers. Whenever they have troubles, they can fix it right away, even without telling it to the Palace, but when things get out of hand, that’s when they will let the Palace know, and let them decide for their place. But all through this time, the reports from the two aren’t that much. And the Palace were so proud of how they were so independent. And they didn’t even realize that, earlier.

“It’s the Black Smoke, You said.” Savvy started as they were staring at Elmira.

She nodded once and glanced at her three Gemus quickly, and returned her gaze inside the forest.

“It means that she has killed a lot, now.” Sinn concluded, not minding about the Hazzles behind them who could hear them clearly.

“Yes. And it means that she only has one stage left to fully get the very last and dangerous kind of getting a Qarath.” She said, “And it means that we're already behind, and we don’t have much time left.” She added, before flushing a blue and sorrowful smile on her face, as she faced them all.

“We need to get going. We can’t stop the fire as long as the black smoke is there, and we must not stay here for too long.” Elmira said, after she had pulled herself back to her usual self, who doesn’t even get shaken by anything.

“We’ll teleport you back to your house. Stay there, and tell your people to stay inside their homes and let them know what is happening near you, so they can be aware and ready for what may happen.” She looked towards each and every one of Rebecca’s family members, and one by one, they vanished in front of them, leaving the six of them at the entrance of the forest.

The smoke from the forest fire had already reached the green fields and they were all covered with ashes.

“We’ll bring you two back to the Palace. Stay there and always be alert. I have let you see the Black Smoke inside the forest and how it killed the Hazzles, so you can be familiar with it. The Palace will be a very good target for that thing as the Royal Family’s there. So be very extra careful.” After giving them a notice about what to do, Elmira held the both of them on their shoulders.

“Let’s meet at the Academy.” She said towards her three Gemus, and they all teleported back at the same time. Her Gemus came back to the dungeon, and Elmira teleported the two inside the Palace, before returning to the Academy, without talking and seeing the other Royalties.