THE MISSING EMPEROR ~ The Elemental Seven Book I

CHAPTER VIII: A FRIEND OR A FOE?

Two speeding tracks dashed on the forest. The tracks turned left passing through a barn with a man sweeping dried leaves. "What the heck?" the man yelled as all the leaves he swept scatter. They then sped up straightway and halted by the spring. "What is it? You thirsty?" Soujiro asked. "No." Myoku replied. She put a hand in her pocket and pulled out a shiny jade stone. "Is something the matter? What is that?" Soujiro asked again. "Why do you ask too much, Soujiro? Well, I gave each of them one jade stone so I would know if they're in danger. And this one I have will tell me if one of them is." Myoku said. "I see. How does it work?" asked Soujiro. "I'd just have to picture that person's face in my mind." Myoku said. "If the stone turns red, that person is most probably..." the stone suddenly turned red. Myoku trembled. "Who is it?" Soujiro asked. Myoku looked at Soujiro teary-eyed and said, "River." Soujiro understood what Myoku wanted to do. Both of them disappear and the only sign of them were the tracks of their footsteps speeding up, dust covering the area.

River and the man arrive by the shore of the Wolfert clan's territory in LaMahaya. Someone unexpected was waiting for them, though. River's escort bowed to the boy waiting for them and left River. The boy is much younger than his escort. "Welcome back! I'm surprised you answered our message at all," the boy said as he unsheathed a long white ice blade with an Aquarius mark. "However..." he dashed and stabbed straight at River. "...you seem to be quite different than before." he said. River quickly sidestepped avoiding the sword while simultaneously taking out Raifu and Shino. "What is this all about, exactly?" he asked. "You'd best focus on staying alive," the boy said. River's opponent focused his energy on his sword making it glow white and extended a sharp point from the side straight at River. River docked to the ground as the boy's blade followed through. River tried to cut it with Shino, but nothing happened. Ice isn't going to be quite enough. He thought to himself. Shino and Raifu glowed and blue water blasted out of it straight at the boy. The boy's palm faced the ground. Ice rose up, blocked the water, then pushed River back into the ocean. River held his ground and stood on the water with his eyes glowing blue. "How dare you attack a member of the royal family!" his voice resonated with power. "What-ever." the boy said. "I... I am the gifted! I was the one created to rule and conquer! I will not be defeated here!" River said as water swirled around his waist lifting him high like a whirlpool. "Yeah right." The boy crossed his arms and willed, "Ice Element: Call of Defense!" and a shield made of thick ice materialized. River shot water to his enemy and broke through the ice. Impossible no one has ever been able to do water make magic as strong as that! The boy thought to himself. "Water Element: Prison Planet!" River willed the ocean water to surround the boy. "It would seem you're just as strong as ever," the boy said with a smile. "It really is you," he added.

Just then, a girl jumped out of nowhere and destroyed the water prison with a slash. She wielded a sword with its blade made out of sharpened leaves. "RIVER!" the girl screamed as she ran and hugged him. The voice was so familiar River cannot be mistaken. "Emerald?" River looked at the girl whose tears streamed down her face. "Seriously, LeGrande." he faced his opponent. "At your service, Lord River." LeGrande said smiling. "I'm a bit surprised you actually came. I'm very sorry for attacking you. I had to be certain that it was really you. Because my friend, I can't believe... you kidnapped your father." LeGrande said.

"I... Kidnapped... my father?" River asked. 

"Yes, River." LeGrande answered. "You... didn't kidnapped him. Did you?" LeGrande asked. 

"Yes, LeGrande. River kidnapped his father and apparently, he will kill him with water prison and crush him into a mush. For goodness' sake! Of course he didn't LeGrande! Geez! What's wrong with you?" Emerald said. 

"No, I didn't kidnapped him." River confirmed. "And why on earth will I do such a thing? It must have been someone who looked like me!" he added. "No one would have that kind of power." LeGrande said. "Only you, me and five other lords have the power too strong to even capture a very powerful emperor such as your father. Emerald is one of them but even so, none of us look like you with the black streak hair and the Cancer and Pisces marks. Although I have to say that the black streak in your hair seems to be getting more prominent than before," he added. "Well, we should at least take him to see everyone." Emerald suggested. "Everyone. Who's everyone?" River asked. "Well, the lords of LaMahaya, as what Keith said. They are all here. Thanesor Ainsworth, the Lord of Ainsworth, my Father. Clyde Leatherwood, the Lord of Leatherwood Clan and you, Lord River Wolfert, now the temporary emperor, until your father is found." LeGrande said. "And because of that, you haven't been imprisoned yet. Not just yet, my friend." he added. "However, Clyde, my father, will hear your story and perhaps be able to convince Lord Thanesor of your innocence." Emerald hoped. "No need." River said. "I shall call a meeting with them as this is Wolfert's problem. I must do this properly. Thank you, guys." he smiled at them, glad to finally see his friends again. "Seriously, it's been a while since I've seen you two. Although I wished it were under better circumstances." "I know. We feel the same, believe me." LeGrande said. "Let's go, River."

"You, guys, go ahead. I need to be alone for a bit. I need some time to think. Please tell Keith I'm grateful to him." River said.

LeGrande and Emerald left River by the shore. Keith, his butler, was the one who was sent by the leaders to bring him back to LaMahaya. Keith has been taking care of him since he was a kid. He suddenly remembered one of the old stories Keith told him: the truth behind the elemental three.

Long ago, there was a great battle between the clans of Wolfert, Ainsworth and Leatherwood. Their powers almost destroyed the surrounding countries of their battlefield. As all three clans were nearing their limits, they decided on peace. To keep this peace, they agreed to breed the most powerful of masters. However, breeding was not the normal term. More like "genetic engineering".

Ainsworth was the first. They selected the strongest genes in the clan and genetically modified an embryo that would later become LeGrande Ainsworth. However, geneticists made a grave error. The procedure they used nearly killed the developing fetus that resulted in the mother's demise. He was transferred to a laboratory to be grown as a Science experiment in an ice capsule. Lord Thanesor Ainsworth, LeGrande's uncle, took him in when he developed and accepted him as his own.

Two years later, there were Emerald Leatherwood and him, River Wolfert, the second generation. Their mothers gave birth successfully and lived. But, the leaders disliked the amount of power they had placed in the hands of these children, especially him. His biological father, Skye Wolfert, ordered both of them killed, thus attempting to have them assassinated. River was the first. His mother was killed in the attempt and he lost control, finally giving in to the drive to kill.His wrath was enough to destroy the entire city of Camrel. Because of this, the lords halted their plan to assassinate Emerald as they fear the same disaster might occur. The three, then, were called the bane of the gods, the unwanted ones. They became outcasts in their own country. LeGrande's aunt Tracie Ainsworth, Emerald's mother Athalea Leatherwood, and River's master Archer Tynden were just some who cared for them. However, no one could understand them like each other. But, never were the three of them cared for. Always unwanted, always hated, very much feared. Even to this day, they are seen as what they were bared for: monster weapons of mass destruction.

For many years after countless assassination attempts, River left the country. Emerald and LeGrande had never known he decided not to return to their homeland, he never told them. But here he is now, back to his country, being charged for a crime he never committed.