Elmira Sielstone: The Empress

Chapter Three

Before the sun finally rose to the horizon, Elmira slipped out of her room and took a morning walk in the Royal Garden.

"This feels like Home." Elmira smiled, walking across the flower beds. The morning breeze is very soothing, and calms her inner self, as she strode around the front Garden.

"They ordered us not to go around with him anymore." Elmira closed her eyes as the wind touched her skin, savoring the fragrance of the flowers mixing with the air.

"That's a big problem." She opens up her eyes, glancing at the flowers with different colors in front of her that glows under the morning light.

"It isn't. He's coming back to the Academy. It's the best time for us to collect his Qaraths."

"Sinn, be with him. I'll call the others. Make sure he doesn't see you. And you Zid, come with me."

"What do I do, Savvy?"

"None. You'll just stick with me, because you haven't done anything right."

"As always. I should've just didn't asked."

The three had passed by Elmira, and as soon as they were all facing their backs towards her, she stood straight, looking at those three intensely, with a bitter smile flushed on her face.

"You even talk with your mouth closed. That's why they never knew you at all, because you can communicate through your minds, that you knew they can't." Elmira shrugged her thoughts away and continued doing what she was doing earlier before she noticed them coming.

"You need to take your vitamins now. I haven't given you anything since I left." Elmira whispered as she's giving the plants the vitamins that she had no time to give when she left for Glith.

"I'm sorry for not taking care of you." She poured a white and nearly invisible dust to each plant that she's having contact with, as their vitamins to make their flowers bloom even prettier, and their roots to be stronger and protect them from harmful chemicals that Hazzles started using since they had invented things.

"Why are you still here?"

"I told you. I won't be leaving, not until I finish my business here." Elmira didn't stop from what she was doing even Alexis popped out behind her. "And you? Why are you still here? You should've be there by now"

"Mind your own business."

"I am doing it right now. But you suddenly came." Elmira casually said without looking at him, that has been following her from behind wherever she goes inside the garden, tracking the small path in the middle of tall flowering plants while giving them their vitamins.

"What are you doing?"

"Touching the plants."

"Why?" Elmira shrugged.

"Just wanted to feel that I'm alive." Her answer puts Alexis into some kind of spell that made him stop and refuses to take another step towards her.

"What are you doing?" Alexis asked her sister who has been following the trails of the plants inside the Palace's front garden.

A morning light is peaking from the horizon, as he follows her.

"Touching the plants." She happily said while touching every plant that they were passing through.

"Why? You can be hurt from what you're doing El."

"Because I want to feel that I'm alive, and living with these beautiful plants in this garden… Ah." She withdrew her hands from touching the plants and looked at her little hands that had been hurt from sliding her hands through every plant they were passing by.

"I told you!" Alexis grabbed her hand and looked at her palm with a little blood coming from her index finger. She just passed a thorny plant that made her palm bleed as she didn't notice it.

"But at least I can feel that I'm alive, because it hurts." She smiled looking at her finger as her older brother removed the blood covering her wound.

"Let's get back inside. I'll clean your wound with your med kit there. You should be careful El. Because no one can heal your wound with our Qaraths. So please."

"Why did you stop?" Elmira's now facing Alexis as they have reached the end of the flower path leading to the front gate of the Palace and had just finished giving the plants a little vitamins that can help them survive and last longer in the Garden of the Palace.

Alexis didn't give any response, didn't even blink his eyes once but was directly looking towards her eyes.

"I should've not answered the same from before, but why did you ask that question exactly as you had asked me that day?" Elmira shrugged internally and remained watching him looking at her intensely.

"I think you need to talk with your people first. They're coming. Got to go." Elmira disappeared in front of her, which caught him in surprise. He looked around him, looking for her, but ended up facing his tails.

For a very long time, he was with them, escorting him wherever he goes, since her sister died, at least just in his mind. He wasn't comfortable being around them, and it's the very first time in that long years they've been together to part ways.

"Where's Sinn?" He counted them but, whatever he did, he couldn't find him in between them.

"He couldn't come for a sudden duty in the Palace. I'll just relay the message." They were all bowing in front of him, giving respect to the only Heir of the Palace even when talking.

"It doesn't matter. "

Elmira had seen Sinn going through the prepared vehicle to take Alexis to the Academy when she had escaped in front of him. She followed him without being noticed using her invisibility Qarath.

"So this is your sudden duty." Elmira said as she sat beside the driver's seat in front without opening the car door.

Not long after, Alexis finishes his conversation with his guards and goes for the car by himself.

It was such a peaceful ride for Alexis, closed eyes while appreciating his freedom from his long-term bodyguards, but not until they entered the first forest leading to the Academy.

The sun had risen, but it's light barely entered the forest as it was covered with tall trees meeting each other on top, blocking the sun's rays from entering the place.

"What's happening?" Alexis opened his eyes to catch a glimpse of what was happening in his surroundings as the vehicle gave a loud screeching sound due to a sudden applied brakes.

"I think we had bumped into something. I'll check outside."

"So this was your plan." Elmira looked at the rear-view mirror to see the one behind him who's still concealing himself just like her.

"Killing him here is a clever idea." She looked outside the car and observed their whereabouts. "But you should've not let me hear you a while back."

Sinn had jumped out of the car without Alexis knowing, and had reunited with his allies outside, that Elmira had noticed.

She smiled bitterly as she observed them all from her seat, waiting for the driver to come back inside.

"What happened?" Alexis asked for the second time as the driver hopped in and closed his door.

"Nothing. There's no-- What's that?" A sudden jolt had startled them all from the car. The car had just shaken a little until it became stronger and faster moving from sideways.

"A sudden quake?" Alexis said while holding tightly in his seatbelt and the front seat. Elmira smiled. as she knew what's going on outside.

"It's not." Elmira appeared beside him at the back as she's not worried to be seen by anyone as the car is tinted and no one can see them from outside.

"How the heck did you end up here?"

"Oh. I was seated in front even before you entered the car. But that's not what's important here. You should be worrying about your lives now. They won't let you go until you're dead."

The shaking didn't stop and just got worse from before.

"What do you mean? Someone's trying to kill us?"

"You're not thinking that you'll be safe now that you're alone, don't you? It'll probably get worse, and it's only the beginning." Elmira's eyes had fixed in front of the car as someone's sneaking from there standing in front of the car, that she can only see.

"This won't stop unless you face them outside."

"What? Who?"

" See for yourself." Elmira gets outside the car after she brings back her invisibility.

They are all surrounding them, and there’s no way to escape it. They have planned this, a long time ago, but they are just performing it as it is the best time for them as Alexis is all alone with the Palace’s Driver who can’t even save himself.

Elmira knocked on the door outside on Alexis' side.

“I can’t see you.” The car is still shaking a little but Elmira made a way to make it stop by putting her right hand on top of the car.

“I’m aware of that. Thanks for mentioning though. You’re aware of the Gemus' existence, right?”

“You know Gemus?”

“Who are you talking to, Prince Al?” He directed his gaze towards his driver who was looking at him suspiciously in the rear-view mirror of the car.

“Someone.”

“The shaking had stopped. I think we can now go.” His driver suggested, trying to start the engine.

“Tell him, you can’t leave the place.”

“It won’t start. I’ll check again outside.” He's driver said.

“Don’t come out.” Elmira had locked all the doors of the car to prevent them from stepping outside.

Alexis watched him try to open the car’s door, but he’s struggling to open it, tried the other side, but he still couldn't.

“So tell me, you know about them right?”

“So what if I knew them? What’s the big deal for you?”

“I was just asking. If you knew them, then you would know how powerful they are, right?”

“Cut the crap, would you? You’re wasting my time.”

“I’m sorry. I just couldn’t open the -”

“I’m not talking to you. And stop trying. It won’t open nor start whatever you do.”

“I’m sorry.” Alexis didn’t argue more and heaved a deep sigh.

“Take it easy, will you? He doesn’t know I was talking to you.”

“Then what do you want?” Alexis shouted in frustration and his driver nearly jumped out of his seat as he had never seen Alexis this way before.

“I was trying to help you…” Elmira sighed as he looked at all the Gemus around them. “But from what I am seeing right now, You don't even need it. And just to remind you, You were surrounded by hundreds of Gemus.” She stopped and looked at him, and then to the Hazzle in the driver’s seat and back at him again. “I hope your ill tempered behaviour can aid you to survive and get you out of here alive. I can’t help you any longer. I’m done here.”

She removed her hands on top of the car and it started shaking again just like how it shaked minutes ago.

Elmira doesn’t even want to leave them there, but he left her with no choice.

“Let’s see where your behaviour takes you, Alexis.” She moved up to a branch of a tree where she can see everything, away from them still in her invisibility.

Alexis became uneasy as the car started to shake again like mad. He was feeling dizzy, but was scared to even get out when one by one, they’re becoming visible to him and witnessing them all looking in their direction.

“She’s not lying. The f*ck with these Gemus and that crazy woman.”

Elmira grinned as she heard him cursed inside the car. “It’s not my fault. I was trying to help you but you burst out from your anger. I couldn’t help someone who doesn’t even recognize kindness.” She grabbed an apple near the branch she was sitting on and had a bite while watching them trying to open Alexis’ door.

“It’s sweet.” Not like his temper. He's so bitter with everything.

“I can’t open it.” They were all gathered around the car and one Gemus was trying his best to open the door on Alexis’ side and another on the driver’s.

“Break it, if you can’t” Another Gemus suggested.

There were a lot of them in the area, but only few were working to get Alexis out of the car, others were just watching and waiting for their time to collect his Qaraths.

“Traitors.” Alexis had seen them in the middle, watching him side by side. “Sid, Savvy, and Sinn. You were all Gemus. I should’ve known.” He attempted to escape using his Teleportation, but he couldn’t. Elmira just laughed watching him.

“Stupid. You’re a Prince of this land, but you don't even know that you can’t use teleportation inside this forest.” She had another bite of her apple and was enjoying the company of herself when a blue snake crawled beside her.

“Hi Winxpell.” She grabbed another apple from her upper left and gave it to the animal next to her.

“Stay here for a while Winxpell, And keep me company. Let’s watch this land’s Heir to make a fool of himself.”

“Step aside. I’ll get inside and take him here.” Sinn said crossed-arms and vanished through the air.

“How did you-” He’s seated beside Alexis inside the car that made him fear for his life.

“I have ways. Brace yourself now Prince of the Land.” He’s proud and grinning beside him. “It is now your last day here living with your Qarath.” Sinn teleported him out of the car, and as soon as they were out, he was encircled with Gemus, dying to get his Qarath which they know is a special one.

“I see. It’s a lucky day for us.” Elmira nearly fell from the trunk she was seating, when she heard Sid talk like he had helped a lot for the plan to happen.

“Sid, don’t be too proud of yourself. Who knows, it might be your unluckiest day.”

“So what do we do now?” He added.

“Shut up. You just need to shut up Zid, and nothing else.” Savvy said. The three of them were the closest to Alexis and in the front line of the circle as they were the ones who had planned everything as they were once a bodyguard of him.

“I really hate you Savvy.”

“Gemus Savvy, Sid, and Sinn.” Elmira sighed. “You were all born on the same day at the same time. But now, look at you. Here you are filling up your desire and your thirst for Qaraths.” Elmira smiled bitterly as she’s been reminded of how she has seen the three being born, and gave them names herself.

“Amira, look.” She’s rushing through her friend who 's enthusiastically calling for her.

They were inside a garden with tall flowers that are mostly their height. Each flower contains a baby Gemus that will be born when the flower blooms.

“There were a total of five flowers that will bloom today.”

“Really? That's great news.” Amira said while looking at the flowers.

“I wonder if the Empress already made a name for them."

“I already have” she said quietly in her mind.

“Look. I think two of them won’t bloom today.” Amira pointed out something on their stem that her good friend came closer to have a better look of what she was pointing at.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“These two flowers have something in common. But look at those two. If they will bloom later, their stem must be that green. But look closely. These two still have a yellow spot around them. Which means they will bloom maybe tomorrow or the next day.”

“You’re right. Oh wait! They’re coming out!!” She shouted on top of her lungs and as they heard her, everyone gathered around them, witnessing how the flowers opened up. And that was Amira’s chance to slip out and come back inside her Castle.

She watched them through the water fountain inside her Castle and made sure to give them names.

“Empress Era had already given their names!” They shouted as they read the names written in the stem of each flower.

“Sinn. Savvy, and Sid.” She smiled. After giving them names, she came back where she left her friend, not knowing she had left for a moment to put them on the list of live births in Emerald, where they live.

Elmira sighed as she witnessed how the three of them made fun of Alexis in the middle of all the Gemus.

“Hey Hazzle. Why don’t you kneel down and beg for your life? We have been bowing in front of you in disgust. It’s already your time to respect us.” Sid said boastfully.

Alexis greeted his teeth as he couldn’t do anything.

“Your stupid family thinks highly of you. But they have no idea how incapable you are. That must be the real reason behind why they have hired us to be your Guards.” He added. He only knew how to boast around, but when it came to planning, they were against him. They were just giving him the privilege of speaking as that's the only way he's good at.

“Do not ever mention my family here Gemus. You want my Qarath right? Go on, get it.” Alexis grinned. “If you can.” He confidently said.

“A bad move, Alexis.” She jumped out of the tree she was sitting on and as soon as she reached the ground, the time froze. The wind had stopped, the leaves were hanging in the air, and only she was moving.

She walks by the leaves, clearing her way, going either of her sides as she passes by. Her every step echoed all over the place, stepping on the dry leaves on the ground. Her Emerald highlights in her brown hair glows as she moves.

"Sealing your Qarath is never a good idea Alexis. You're already killing yourself."

She's now visible, setting aside her invisibility Qarath as they can't see her anyway.

"It's already your fifth time sealing your Qarath. Trying to seal it again will only kill you this time.”

She stopped when she arrived at the middle of all the Gemus beside Alexis.

"I would've not helped you. But it’s not yet your time to die. Your Family needs you, and Harzenia is waiting for your enthronement.”

She puts her hand on Alexis' shoulders and seals his sealing and unsealing Qarath by the purple dust coming from her hands going through his well being.

"You must not use it again." She shifted her gaze from him to the Gemus around him, and to the three closest to him.

"This is probably your unluckiest day Sid. I'm sorry for ruining the fun, but it's the best for all of you, and for everyone here in this land."

She summoned her small hourglass with a green dust which she only made visible for her.

"This will help you to limit robbing other's Qaraths. As much as I wanted to stop you totally from what you are doing, I can’t, not until this body turns twenty-one. But I hope you'll learn the lesson from this."

Elmira opened the hourglass and as soon as the lid had been removed, the dust flew out on its own, hanging in the air, waiting for her to give her command.

"Mark all the Gemus here in Harzenia and in Emerald. Do not leave any single Gemus unmarked."

The dust flies after receiving the order. It divided into pieces in the air, making their way to every Gemus around her, entering from their hands, putting them invisible marks before leaving their bodies.

“I think you need to get back to the Academy now Alexis.” As she’s waiting to get her marking up to be complete, she decided to let him go. Elmira tapped his shoulders slightly, and he vanished as soon as she removed her hands on him.

“Let’s see each other again soon, Gemus. It’s not yet the right time for you to see me.”

She turned her backs onto them, and walked directly to the car, where the driver is still in, lifeless. Elmira sighed as she looked at his face which was so pale, which means that his Qarath has been drained and even his life has been robbed.

“You’ve gone so far Gemus. I hope you’ll learn your lessons soon.” She gave back his life and gave him his Qarath back from her own, placing her hands in front of his face and a red light flashes from her hands to the Hazzle.

After giving back his life, she sits at the back seat of the car. She’s breathing heavily, her shoulders are coming up and down as she’s catching her breath. Elmira closes her eyes to calm herself a little as she now can feel the consequences of using a lot of her Qarath and Energy from marking the Gemus alone.

“I can endure this for all of you. So please.” She sighed and opened her eyes. “Please, don’t make it harder for me.” She made a last glance towards them outside the car, who were still not moving, before she teleported them both with the car back to the Palace and made the time flow again in it’s normal pace.

Before the driver had awakened, she altered his memories even before she went outside and teleported back to her room.

“This will be a very long battle between your Greediness.” She said, “Not just for Gemus, but everyone involved, including you Hazzles.” She continued, before resting her mind and body, for as long as she could.