The Hunt for Aquatenite

Chapter - 13 Liza

We were standing in front of the councilors, waiting to be punished. It all started when we had a little combat.

As we'd planned last night, we were talking to Oliver but it wasn't going smoothly. I had thought it would be easy to convince him but I guess I was wrong. Even Lucy's puppy dog face didn't work on him this time.

"Oliver, you don't understand. We'll be okay. And you will also be there." Lucy said.

"No, you don't understand. You need more training. Besides, you can't depend on me every time you get in trouble." Oliver denied it for the hundredth time.

"If you don't come with us, we'll go alone," I said with a desperate look on my face.

"Oh, so you know how to reach Earth? You know where to go? You know how to defeat the giants?" He asked us, looking us straight in the face.

I walked up to him, keeping a straight face. "Let's have a dual. We'll see how unprepared I am."

He looked like his eyes would pop out of their sockets. After a moment he said, "You will have to do that with Olivia." That was fine with me. I just wanted to prove him wrong.

* * *

Lucy, Olivia, Oliver, and I were standing on the same land we'd won Aten & Fenu on. I hoped I was right about us being prepared for the mission.

I had just used my energy to defend myself. Olivia looked exhausted so this was my chance to start attacking. I raised my sword and set it on hers, pushing as hard as I could. She finally fell to the ground and I kicked her sword away. I raised my sword to end the dual but she muttered one word and her sword reappeared in her hand. She defended herself and set her blade on mine. I felt the same current running through me that had happened with Malirin but a lot stronger. I tried to find the strength to start fighting again but I had only a little left. In a few seconds, I was too drained. Olivia hit my sword hard and it fell out of my hand. She was going to point her sword at my neck to declare the end of the dual when something unexpected happened.

Water from the nearest pond plunged out and struck Olivia straight in the stomach. She clutched her belly and coughed. I stood there, surprised, still taking in what had happened. I looked towards Lucy, staring at the soaked Olivia, eyes wide. She turned her gaze to her hands and then to the pond. That's when I realized Lucy had controlled the pond water. This must've been the energy inside her.

Lucy was the first one to come out of her daze. She helped Olivia to her feet. She didn't have any injuries but the water had smacked her a little too hard. I could hear a chorus of apologies from Lucy.

I rushed to her aid too while Oliver just stood there, looking down. Footsteps approached us. 8 people wearing cloaks were making their way to us. They looked intimidating with anger edged on their faces. They all were adults—each lady from the four groups with twin brothers.

Olivia and Oliver bowed to them. We tried to copy them and gave an awkward bow.

"Hello, Albester and Albesterin." The lady from the Air group spoke up. She had dirty blonde hair tied in a low ponytail. "I guess these are the twins you were looking for?"

"Yes, Lady Leni," Olivia answered, still clutching her stomach. "I was wondering if you could forgive Lucy for her mistake."

"Never!" The Fire guy shouted. He had perfectly gelled slicked-back black hair. His tanned skin looked like it would burn from his anger. "They've broken two rules in one day."

At that comment, Olivia looked confused and angry at the same time. She gave a deathly look to Oliver as if he knew about the second rule that we broke.

The Fire lady couldn't keep her mouth shut so she had to talk about our parents. "You two are in your parents' footsteps, breaking rules, I see. We'll have to give these two severe punishments for their good deeds."

I wanted to say something but my voice didn't work. I knew Lucy wouldn't speak up. Olivia and Oliver looked so little in front of those trolls. The matter was out of their hands.

In a while, we were entering Miss Leni and her crew's office. It was like a palace from the inside. It was a big hall with 8 large thrones of different designs. At every throne was a name written in the haven language. At the center of the ceiling was a huge chandelier made from shining crystals. There were different scenes painted on the walls. Scenes from different eras.

Lady Fire, Cassier as her name was written, clapped for our attention. "We all know why we're here-"

"No, we don't." I found the courage to speak up. "We don't even know what rules we broke. Can anyone tell us what it's all about?"

Lady Cassier was freaking me now. She was looking like she would turn me to ashes any second. The only one looking sympathetic for us was the Air guy, Lord Lemino. He was looking at us with puppy dog eyes. I hoped he would save us from this disaster.

"Liza, you can't challenge a haven to combat but you challenged Albesterin. We don't feel like it was even friendly combat." Lord Lemino spoke politely in a controlled tone. "And Lucy, while doing so, you hurt Albesterin. Without any reason, you've tried to injure a haven. And Albesterin? You accepted this challenge. You will also have to be punished for not taking any action."

That confused me a little. While we had challenged a haven, it wasn't Olivia. We had challenged Oliver. I couldn't say anything about hurting Olivia. Yes, Lucy didn't do it intentionally but it was still a rule that we broke.

Olivia talked about the things that were swarming in my mind. "Lord Lemino, I don't think it was a challenge. Albester had told me that the twins wanted to see how good they had gotten at sword fighting so I helped them. And about the second rule, Lucy didn't do it intentionally."

Lady Cassier spoke up again with her peaceful words, "Do you think someone can use this kind of power by mistake!?" Her voice echoed through the hall making my ears ring.

"Also, Albesterin, you are wrong about your brother. You can ask the Braven twins about it. It really was a challenge." Lady Earth, Ahren, said.

Lucy looked so small in front of them. She hadn't spoken since these havens had come to us. I never saw her so quiet.

For a few minutes, they whispered to each other discussing ideas of punishing us. At last, Lady Water, Erliana declared our punishment in her sweet voice which didn't go along with her words.

"Albesterin, we will need to change your position as the in-charge. Tyrek will need another assistant for his work. You can't even teach your lessons. As for the twins, we will have to lock them up for a month."