Whispering Crystals

Chapter 2: Echoes of a Forgotten Age

Days turned into weeks within the opulent walls of the Sapiro. Cassiopeia, the enigmatic Sinaunang Hara, became a source of both fascination and unease for the reinas of Lireo. Her every word resonated with an ancient power, hinting at a bygone era shrouded in mystery.

Pirena, ever the warrior, remained wary. Though Cassiopeia's demeanor was gentle, her fiery spirit couldn't shake the feeling of a hidden agenda. Amihan, on the other hand, found herself captivated by the Hara's wisdom. She spent hours poring over ancient scrolls and forgotten texts, piecing together the fragmented history of Encantadia under Cassiopeia's guidance.

One evening, as the three queens sat amidst the flickering flames of the Sapiro's grand fireplace, Amihan finally dared to ask the question that burned in their hearts. "Hara Cassiopeia," she began, her voice hushed, "the legends say you vanished during a time of great darkness. Can you tell us what happened?"

Cassiopeia's sapphire eyes clouded with a deep sadness. "It was a time of strife," she began, her voice laced with a poignant memory. "Encantadia was not always divided into four kingdoms. It was a single land, teeming with magic and harmony."

Her voice transported them back in time, painting a vivid picture of a unified Encantadia. Crystal waterfalls cascaded across fertile plains, and luminescent creatures roamed freely under skies painted with a thousand stars. Humans and diwatas (fairies) lived in perfect symbiosis, their magic intertwined like the roots of an ancient tree.

"But this harmony was not to last," Cassiopeia continued, a tremor of pain in her voice. "A darkness, a malevolent entity known as Ether, began to seep into the very essence of Encantadia. It corrupted the hearts of men, twisting their magic into destructive forces."

Pirena, unable to contain her fiery spirit, interjected. "And what did you do, Hara? How did you fight this darkness?"

Cassiopeia sighed, her eyes reflecting the flickering flames. "We fought, my child, with every ounce of our being. We, the four haras, each wielding a powerful gem imbued with the purest magic of Encantadia. I wielded the Sapphire of Wisdom, guiding our strategies. My sisters, the haras of Amihan (Air), Ybrahim (Fire), and Alena (Water), fought valiantly by my side."

"Four haras?" Amihan echoed, her brow furrowed. "The legends only speak of one, the Sinaunang Hara."

Cassiopeia nodded, a hint of bitterness creeping into her voice. "Our bond was shattered. Ether, in its insidious way, sowed discord amongst us. We began to distrust each other's motives, our unity fracturing under the weight of suspicion."

The fire crackled in the hearth, casting long shadows that danced across the regal faces. Pirena's grip tightened on the hilt of her sword, anger simmering in her eyes. Amihan, on the other hand, remained contemplative, her gaze fixed on Cassiopeia.

"What happened then, Hara?" she asked gently. "How did Ether prevail?"

Cassiopeia's voice dropped to a whisper. "In a final, desperate act, we attempted to seal Ether away with a powerful convergence spell. But Ether, fueled by the seeds of discord it had planted, disrupted the ritual. The magic backfired, tearing Encantadia apart and scattering us across the four corners of the land."

A heavy silence descended upon the Sapiro. The weight of Cassiopeia's words hung thick in the air. The seemingly idyllic world they knew was built upon the ruins of a fractured past, a past where unity had crumbled in the face of darkness.

"And you, Hara," Pirena finally asked, her voice laced with respect. "Where were you all this time?"

Cassiopeia's gaze drifted towards the flickering flames. "I was trapped," she revealed, her voice barely above a whisper. "Enclosed within a hidden dimension, unable to break free until the time was right."

A flicker of hope ignited in Amihan's eyes. "And now, the time is right?" she pressed. "Why have you returned, Hara?"

Cassiopeia met her gaze, her sapphire eyes burning with an ancient fire. "Because Ether stirs once more, my children," she declared, her voice ringing with a power that sent shivers down their spines. "And Encantadia needs its queens, united, to face the coming darkness."

The revelation hung heavy in the air, casting a long shadow over the once peaceful evening within the Sapiro.