As Eris, Noah, and Marianna were surprised to see the true and rightful queen, Furia in person, they had so many questions about Elem’s instability and why Yenish is occupying the castle.

“I take it that you three would like an explanation of why I am not on the throne?” Furia asks.

The trio nods.

“So be it.”

Furia signals all 5 safekeeps to stand. As the safekeeps stand and move away to the side, Furia signal Eris, Marianna, and Noah to come closer to the throne, Furia decides to tell the story.

“The rumors about me being dead, now you three know it is a lie. Everything was well in our precious land within the first two years I was queen. With family and loyal companions by my side, I thought everything would be fine, until the betrayal when I was 13. My former water safekeep, Hanchia went on a bloody rampage in Bura. I stripped her of being the safekeep and banished her from the castle. She was taken to the jail in Tanz for killing the people in Bura. Then Yenish was the next one. I was so oblivious that she was planning behind my back. The next thing I remember, my parents were killed, and my brother went missing. My parents trusted Yenish, they recommended her as my advisor and I’m certain my parents felt that way that day… Three months after Oma became the new safekeep of water, Yenish cursed my mark that day, and her followers took the castle over. She was going to kill me until we made our escape from the castle to this structure. Yenish and her followers rule Elem as totalitarian dictatorship and it has crippled Elem to its very core, and it must not continue. With the curse she put on my mark, anything I would do would weaken me. I have Oma, Senuo, Xianchi, Yurich, and Landon to keep my power balanced.”

“Wait.” Eris speaks. “Since you say your mark of the queen is cursed, does that mean I will suffer the same as you. Even… right now?”

“As long as I am still alive, the curse won’t harm you.” Furia replies assuring her. “Also, I decided to wait for the next girl or woman to have the mark so we can start preparations for the liberation.”

Eris then sighs.

“Why?” She asks. “Why did I become the next to be queen? And why did I have to hear that song at Cailo Lake?”

“Because our great Alpha chose you.” Furia replies. “Whatever you did at that lake, his song decided you were the next one.”

“Thinking about it, coincidence is a big stretch.” Noah comments.

“That’s what I was thinking.” Marianna agrees. “Well, your majesty, that is a very… interesting story. I didn’t know that’s how it happened.”

The safekeeps look at Furia who was saddened when she remembered her parents and her brother. Furia then smiles as she looks at the trio.

“Well, I’m sure you three are tired.” She speaks. “We can talk about this in the morning, if possible. So, I bid you all goodnight.”

Oma and Xianchi help Furia get up from her throne and guide her out of the room. Senuo looks at the trio.

“Well, I’m going to retire for the night.” He speaks. “Landon and Yurich will show you to your rooms. Tomorrow afternoon, we will start your training, Noah, and Marianna.”

“What about me?” Eris asks.

“Well… since you are a queen to be, you cannot be trained with a weapon.”

Eris thought his response as puzzling and ridiculous.

“Senuo…” She responds. “What happened before you and Oma came to the house, I was being chased and almost killed by Kabu and his bandits until his second in command saved me and took me home. After experiencing that tonight, I need to learn how to fight, and I am willing to do anything to defend myself. So please.”

Senuo listens to her words, then nods in agreement.

“Alright then.” He speaks. “We will train you along with your friends. So, you all have a goodnight.”

Senuo proceeds to walk up the first level of the spiral stairs leading to a hallway while Yurich and Landon look at the trio.

“Well, shall we go upstairs?” Yurich asks.

He starts walking upstairs with Landon following him and the three hurrying behind them and making it to the second floor of the sanctuary to the hallway. Yurich opens two doors that were next to each other revealing two bedrooms. Landon opens another door on the opposite side of the hall revealing another bedroom.

“These two bedrooms are for you and Ms. Collie.” Yurich informs. “The bedroom Landon is showing is for Mr. Knight. So, you kids get acquainted, and we will see you three in the morning.”

Yurich and Landon leave out of the hallway and back downstairs while the three go into their new rooms to get themselves acquainted.  

.   .   .   .   .

In the early morning in Koko, Kabu and a few of his bandits found Eris’ home due to it being near the lake, the house having a barrier around it, and a familiar scent. He knew the barrier was Senuo’s, but the scent was what Kabu knew too well as he chuckled.

“You really think this barrier will work, Senuo?” He asks aloud. “I have a greater power that is more efficient to bypass yours, small fry. Also, you were here, weren’t you, Kai?”

He teleports himself and his men inside the house to search for Eris and any person they could find.

“Search every inch of this house. Take any information you can find.” Kabu commands his men.

The bandits split up and go through every room and destroying them in the process. Minutes later after finding no sign of anyone in the house, one guard walks towards Kabu who was still near the front door.

“Sir.” The bandit speaks. “There is no sign of the girl, but we’ve found there are two others that live here as well as we looked in the other rooms.”

The bandit gives Kabu a photo of the trio.

“Do you have their names?” Kabu asks.

“Yes. We found papers in the rooms, and we found three names: Eris Gadison, Marianna Collie, and Noah Knight.”

Kabu growls, then takes a deep breath to calm down. “Were going back to the castle. There’s nothing else here for us.”

He teleports himself and his men out of the house.

.   .   .

Back in the castle in Nora, Kabu walks into the throne room where Yenish is sitting on the throne with three other people standing nearby on the marbled floor. Kabu kneels in respect in front of Yenish’s throne.

“Your majesty. I have a report.” Kabu speaks.

Yenish stands from her throne and walks down the stairs towards Kabu.

“Stand.” She speaks. “What have you learned, dear Kabu?”

Kabu stands and looks at Yenish.

“We’ve found the girl’s home.” He responds. “I smelled Kai’s scent near the house and saw a weak barrier was put on the house. We searched inside the house, but we couldn’t find her. However, we did find names of the people that live there with the papers we found.”

“What are the names?”

Kabu gives Yenish the papers he found in the house. Yenish reads through the papers and sees three names.

“Eris Gadison, Marianna Collie, and Noah Knight?” She reads.

“Yes, ma’am.” Kabu replies. “Also, we found a photo of the three. The girl in the middle is the one I saw last night.”

Yenish looks at photo of the three, specifically Eris. She then remembers the last names of the three and starts laughing sinisterly.

“Your majesty?” Kabu asks confused.

Yenish continues laughing.

“Ernest and Noctina’s daughter, Nylice’s son, and Malakai’s daughter?! What a small land we live in!” She squeals happily. “And the mark chose Ernest and Noctina’s little girl.”

“You… know who their parents are?”

“Did you forget they were the group of people I ordered to be executed two years ago? They refused to side with me, and they were sending their demeaning letters defaming me.”

Yenish then remembers what Kabu said to her and looks to him. “You said no one was in the house?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He replies. “No one was in the house.”

“Hmph. They must’ve been sent somewhere else then. Nicely played, Furia.”

Yenish then sets the papers on fire with a green aura coming from her hand except the photo.

“Right now, our focus should be on Oreads.” She states. “I need some people to keep tabs on that land and the people in it until I can find someone willing to rule over it.”

One of the people on the floor walks toward Yenish. It was a woman wearing golden skimpy clothing with long red hair with a smirk on her face.

“You know,” She speaks. “I told you to kill Kai when you had the chance, Yenish. You and I know what he is capable of, and yet you decided to let him live and take over Oreads.”

Yenish glares at the woman.

“Watch your tongue, Hanchia.” She sneers. “Perhaps if your potion was more potent, I’d still would have control of Kai!”

Yenish then looks back to Kabu. “Kabu. Are you willing to go to Oreads with your men to take back the land?”

Kabu bows his head to Yenish. “Anything for you, your majesty.”

“Good. You, your men, and Hanchia will head to Oreads immediately. Keep the land in your control until I find someone. Is that understood?”

Hanchia walks next to Kabu, and they bowed their heads in respect to Yenish. “Yes, Queen Yenish.” The two respond in unison.

Both Kabu and Hanchia leave out the throne room while Yenish looks to the other two people in the room which were two teenage elven, a male and a female.

“Raijin, you can go back to Pamola. Rokia, back to Alpine.” She commands. “If I need you both, I’ll contact you two later.”

The two nod their heads and teleport out of the castle while Yenish walks back up the stairs to her throne.