A Light in the Shadows.

The Earth Element

I would visit her, anyway. I flew out of the palace beginning towards the city, but noticed Jelequi in a forest clearing. I happily spun down towards her landing in front of her. "Seraphina!" Jelequi got up, hugging me close. I hugged Jelequi close, saying "I discovered life actually does have meaning!" "Of course life has a meaning..." Jelequi mumbled. "And i know that now" I said in a softer tone, leaning my head on Jelequi's. Jelequi smiled, "Hey Seraphina... Do you think we should try t-to do some flying today..?" "if you feel okay with it." I said gently. "Alright.. I just think we should." Jelequi said, her voice sounding slightly nervous. I turned into a dragon. Jelequi carefully got on, holding on tightly. I slowly rose into the air, just above the trees. Jelequi had her eyes held tight like always, holding on tight. I flew a little, circling slightly. Jelequi just held on tighter. I flew down, turning human so I could hug Jelequi. "Thank you for everything..." Jelequi mumbled quietly. "Of course." I said softly back. "Forever and always..." I mumbled "because i love you." Jelequi ignored that mumble, saying, "I think we should try to go to the earth element soon, or maybe today..." "Jelequi.. Look how far you've come. Thank you. For everything" I hugged her close. Jelequi rested her head on my shoulder. "Why is life cruel..." Jelequi asked quietly, "Why does it make horrible things happen..." "I don't know. It makes me wonder what beings on this earth did to deserve the possible death of us all." Jelequi shrugged, "Do we even know if we will be able to talk to the earth element...?" Jelequi asked. "What do you mean?" I asked. "If we get to the earth element, will we actually get any answers, or help?" "all the sources have real feelings." I said "they talk and all of them want to fix the mistake shadow and sky made." I said. "Alright..." Jelequi mumbled, just hugging me. "I can't see the earth source not helping us," I said. Jelequi nodded, "Lets just hope the help is enough to actually fix things at least somewhat..." Jelequi mentioned. "The door and key. We need to find them. With the earth source, we will be able to figure it all out." Jelequi was going to say something, but we both heard the crunch of leaves nearby. I spun around, turning into my dragon form. From behind a tree, came Xentri. "Seraphina, change back quickly. Hurry." Xentri hissed, running over. "Xentri?" Jelequi asked, "What are you doing in the forest?" "I'll explain later." I turned human. Xentri quickly stood in front of me as another person came into view. It was a tall, white haired muscular man. "Xentri, get the hell back here." He growled. I observed, a disgusted look set upon my face. Jelequi looked to Xentri, before speaking, "Mister Frostpetal, Xentri and I had planned to meet out here to train." Jelequi said. "Y-yeah!" Xentri said. "Whatever. Be back by sunset." He turned, leaving back through the forest, back towards the city. I breathed through her nose, saying "I hate him." blankly. "It's the first time you've ever seen my dad." Xentri mentioned, "Can't hate him too much." "I hate the stories, i hate the look of him, and i'm sorry if i offended you" I said, taking Jelequi's hand. "It's fine.." Xentri mumbled, "Just please, don't try to kill him." "i'm not going to" I promised. "Xentri, please explain." Jelequi said. "I pissed off my dad again. Not much to say." Xentri replied. "I hate him" I repeated. "Yeah, you mentioned that." Xentri said coldly. "I'm really sorry if i offended you..." I said. Xentri shrugged, "I don't care too much." "Xentri!" They heard a panicked voice of Zenial, "You just left me!" "You were running slowly, I didn't mean to." Xentri said, turning to an out of breath Zenial. "You still.. shouldn't have left me!" Zenial said between breaths. I laughed quietly. "You guys don't need to fight." Jelequi said, trying to stop the siblings from fighting. "Whatever." Xentri replied. "Xentri, be nice" I chided. "Yeah, yeah." Xentri rolled her eyes. "Mhm!" Zenial hummed, still seeming annoyed with Xentri. I rolled my eyes. Xentri glared at me. I scowled right back. "Guys, all of you stop fighting..." Jelequi said, hugging me. "But why?" I said, leaning my head on Jelequi's shoulder so she wouldn't see when I continued glaring. "What are you guys doing in the forest?" Xentri asked. "I just wanted a little break from work, so I went for a walk in the forest, and Seraphina flew down to me," Jelequi explained. I nodded. "What about you?" Jelequi asked. "Like I said, angered my father, and ran to the forest with Zenial." Xentri said, Zenial nodding. I scowled, but this time not at Xentri. "Why are you scowling now, Seraphina?" Zenial asked. "Nothing," I said."Alrighty!" Zenial replied, spinning around. I slid my hand into Jelequi's. Jelequi smiled, looking into my eyes. I stared softly back. "I'm going to just go." Xentri said, beginning back into the forest. "Okay, see you later," I replied. Xentri waved, leaving. "Imma follow my sister!" Zenial mentioned, running after Xentri. "Bye!" I called after them. "Well, it's just us two now.." Jelequi mentioned. "I didn't notice," I said sarcastically, smirking, my mind flashing to how close our faces were, how if I wanted to, all I would have to do was lean in. Jelequi's eyes shifted, "I- I think we should try to find the earth element today..." Jelequi said quietly. "Are you ready?" I said, hugging Jelequi close. "I don't know, but I want this to just be done..." Jelequi mumbled, leaning into the hug. "Okay." I whispered, not letting go of the tight hug. Jelequi quietly hummed, keeping into the close hug. I closed my eyes softly. Jelequi leaned her head softly on my shoulder. I rested my head on Jelequi's. we stood there quietly, hugging closely. I hummed quietly. "Should we getting going then..?" Jelequi asked after the long silence. "Okay' I said, reluctantly letting go. Jelequi waited for me to change to my dragon form and I did. Jelequi carefully climbed on, holding on tightly. "Do you know where we need to go..?" Jelequi asked. "I need you to concentrate." I said. "Focus on the power flowing through your veins. Where does it come from?" I said. Jelequi closed her eyes, focusing for a few minutes before saying, "The deep forest..?" "Which way?" I asked. Jelequi slowly pointed towards the deepest area in the forest, to the northwest. I lifted into the air gently and started flying towards it. "That would actually make sense," I mumbled. I know thre was this legend where dragons never came back from the ominous mist. Jelequi held onto me tightly. we flew until they were close. There seemed to be a mist, slowly blocking us from the rest of the world. There was eerie silence until a crow cawed. "What is this place..?" Jelequi quietly asked. "It's called the dark woods for a reason. No one knows what this part of the woods hides. Most dragons believe it's cursed. The dragons that come back from here never remember what they saw." I said. "Should I get off of you? Do you think it's safe..?" Jelequi asked. "I believe it is." I said, turning human as soon as Jelequi got off me. I took Jelequi's hand saying "I'd feel better knowing you're right there." Jelequi smiled softly, "Alright..." Jelequi looked around carefully, keeping Seraphina close. "Actually..." Seraphina said, wrapping one arm around Jelequi's waist and pulling her close. Jelequi hugged me, "This is creepy..." "I know..." I said, hugging her. "Where would the earth element be..." Jelequi mumbled, continuing to look around. "Do you feel it? Is it strong?" I asked. "I don't know..." Jelequi hugged me close. I drew soothing circles on Jelequi's back, saying "okay." "A-alright.. Should I try to focus to find the earth element..?" Jelequi asked. "Try..." I said. Jelequi closed her eyes, breathing slowly. I stayed respectfully quiet, though still holding jelequi tight. "Deeper in the mist, I think..." Jelequi mumbled. I somewhat let go of Jelequi, an arm still around her waist, as I let Jelequi lead them further. we continued through the mist, it blocking most of our view. "Do you think we're close?" I asked. "I think... I think the earth element is somewhere in the mist." Jelequi said. "Hey jelequi i... thank you for doing this" I said, changing course. I wished i could confess to Jelequi before she did this dangerous heroic thing, but it would only get in the way, and lets be real, i'm a coward.. "Of course..." Jelequi smiled softly, looking around in the mist. we continued. "We are close... I think the earth element is very close..." Jelequi said, her eyes shifting around. "Hey!" I yelled. "Can't you just swallow us like your sister did and get it over with already?" "Are you trying to talk to the element..?" Jelequi asked. "More yell at them, but yes." Jelequi laughed, hugging me close. I laughed as well. "I don't think it worked," I observed. "Let me try talking..." Jelequi said. "Uh... Earth element, are you there? I would like to talk." Suddenly, like a rip in space and time, Jelequi was gone.