Magic in the Mist

Chapter Seventeen

     The moment Hazel and Thalia woke up, they immediately got ready to leave. Hazel let a mixture of golden and blue magic swirl around Bri before she and Thalia raced down the stairs. Hazel said goodbye to her dad, but he pulled Thalia aside for a moment, talking quietly to her. Thalia nodded and Eric hugged her.

'Come on, Thalia, we have to go.' Hazel said, beckoning to her.

'Right, I'm coming.' Thalia said, and the two on them raced out of the door and headed straight to Orian.

Thalia mounted him first and lended Hazel a hand. When Hazel was seated comfortably on the skirt of the saddle, Thalia urged Orian forward, who took off so suddenly that Hazel slid onto Orian's dock before she was able to pull herself back by the help of the cantle. Orian soon got to the point where he was able to soar above the ocean, neighing as they traveled over miles and miles of blue water. Soon, though, Thalia and Hazel were able to see the mythical island in which they were looking for, and Orian dove, heading straight for the MoonTribe village.

Hazel had hoped that they were able to land in the stables and not have that much of a grand entering so she wasn't humiliated in front of so many elves. However, Orian had different plans. He landed right in the village square, in front of the castle. Hazel felt Thalia tense as elves gathered around them. Queen Raya was already mad at Hazel, she didn't want the furious Queen mad at Thalia, too.

Hazel braced herself for the worst when Queen Raya came storming out of the castle. But she didn't look mad at all, she looked worried, and even relieved to see Hazel and Thalia. A seagull was perched on one of her arms, while in the other hand she held a small scroll. Queen Raya lifted her arm and the seagull lifted off, squawking as it flew away. Hazel and Thalia dismounted Orian.

'I've just got news from ShellTribe, the Tempestes is attacking them.' Queen Raya said, worry edging her voice.

'Okay, I'll leave immediately.' Hazel said with a nod.

'Bring Japhim and Seridia.' Queen Raya said, beckoning to the warriors, who walked forward.

Japhim whistled, and only a few moments later three pegasi touched down on the grass next to them; Astro and Lighting. The MoonTribe warriors mounted their pegasi and Hazel mounted Orian, and the small patrol flew off, Japhim at the lead as he led them through the fields and over a small river until they reached the ShellTribe island, which floated off of the main island. It was cut off by a small river which had magical water that protected the Tribe from the attacks of the Tempestes. But now, however, the dark mist that made up the Tempestes was swirling around the border of the ShellTribe camp, hovering just above the water as it slowly but surely made its way into the village.

Hazel spurred Orian who dived down quickly, and Hazel could feel the wind rush past her as they zoomed through the air until they reached the ShellTribe village. The moment Orian touched down on the village, Hazel could see and hear mayhem. The citizens were screaming and running around, children were crying and warriors were making feeble attempts to protect the village as the king of ShellTribe threw out orders left and right. When he saw Hazel dismounting Orian, he must have been surprised. Hazel didn't blame him, she wasn't really the epitome of an elven warrior, even if she looked it.

Wearing a black blood-stained tunic over green pants, a sword strapped around her waist along with a brown belt, Hazel looked like any other elf. Besides from her hair, which was dark brown in color. While she had traveled to each of the Tribes, she noticed the elves' hair was different. MoonTribe elves had white hair, LavaTribe elves had black hair, BlossomTribe elves had red hair, WindTribe elves had light brown, almost blonde hair, and ShellTribe had light blue hair. Hazel's hair stuck out a lot.

Shaking her thoughts away, Hazel approached the king and bowed briefly.

'Queen Raya sent me to help,' Hazel explained. 'I have magic that will ward off the Tempestes,'

'Okay, thank you. Please help as much as possible.' the king said with a grateful nod.

Hazel nodded back and turned around to face the Tempestes. It was now swirling at the edges of the village, the dark mist circling around grass and wildflowers that had sprouted from some of the ShellTribe elves' gardens. Like clockwork, Hazel placed one hand over the other and conjured a sphere of silver magic before lifting her hand and letting a dome cascade over the village and create a protective force field between the Tempestes and the village. The dark mist of the Tempestes hissed against the force field as familiar pain flooded through Hazel, blinding her every thought.

Although the pain was familiar, one that Hazel knew, didn't mean it didn't hurt less. Hazel tried to hold back a screech of pain as she fought the Tempestes, channeling her magic to try to keep the force field up as the dark mist swirled around the force field and a dark figure solidified before her.

'Hazel Martinez,' the familiar drawling voice of the wizard who had conjured the Tempestes spoke. 'I had been wondering when I would be meeting you next. I did not, though, think it would come so soon. . .'

'Who are you?' Hazel said with difficulty, gritting her teeth in pain. 'W-what is your name?'

'My name is Cronan,' the Tempestes said. 'And you, Hazel Martinez, are now the only person alive who knows my name. . . what you will do with that knowledge is frightening to me. . .' at the words "frightening to me", the Tempestes suddenly retracted, surprising Hazel so much that she tumbled forward as the force field fell.

However, the Tempestes didn't fight back, instead it retreated, fading into the distance. As Hazel watched it, she thought about what the Tempestes had said. Hazel was now the only person who knew the wizard's name. She knew the Tempestes. But why was he scared of her knowing that knowledge? What was this dark magic hiding?