Arika: The legend of the lost jewel

chapter 12

Moments later, a middle-aged man with a neatly groomed moustache and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses descended the stairs. He carried himself with an air of self-importance, his silk robe trailing behind him. “Ah, Your Highness, what a surprise,” he greeted, his smile stretching as he approached. “To what do I owe the honour of this visit?”
The prince didn’t bother with pleasantries. “This is not a social call,” he said coldly. “I require information from you.”

The man’s smile faltered, but he composed himself quickly. As he took a seat opposite the prince, the maid reappeared, bringing a tray with wine and snacks. She set them down, bowed, and quietly left the room.
“Anything for you, Your Highness,” the man said, trying to regain his charm. “You know, your father has been most generous to my family. All this,” he gestured around, “is thanks to his kindness.”

“Yes, my father is known for his generosity,” the prince replied, his tone laced with irony. “But I am not here to exchange pleasantries.” He motioned to his right-hand man, who handed the portrait to the estate owner. “This girl. What do you know about her?”
The man adjusted his glasses and studied the portrait. “Ah, yes,” he murmured, “she was one of our…merchandise. She escaped during one of our auctions. My men searched for her, and we discovered a piece of her clothing by the collapsing wall at the edge of the land. The dogs picked up her scent, but she’s likely dead by now. No one survives the sea.”
The prince’s eyes narrowed as he listened. “That seems highly improbable. It would’ve taken her more than a night to reach the wall, even with the fastest carriage.”

“Well, that is all I know,” the man replied with a dismissive wave. “If she survived, she’s not in Eris anymore.”
The prince stood up, extending a hand. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” the man said, shaking his hand. “But if I may ask, what’s so special about this girl? She’s just a slave.”

The prince offered a faint, humourless smile. “That’s classified information.” With that, he turned on his heel and left, his men following close behind.
As the carriages rolled away, the man watched them disappear into the distance, his eyes narrowed in thought.
Prince William and his men stood ready, the wind whipping against their faces as they prepared to sail across the treacherous sea in search of the girl. The ships swayed in the water, massive and formidable, towering over them. The prince’s mother stood beside him, holding his hand, her eyes filled with worry.
“Please, take care of yourself, my son,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

“I will, Mother,” he assured her with a determined smile. “And when I return, I shall bring your future daughter-in-law with me.”
A faint smile crossed the queen’s lips. “I shall be happy to meet her.” She then turned to her husband, the king, and held his hand. “Please, look after him,” she implored.

The king, however, remained stoic and unfazed by the sentimental moment. He gave his son a firm nod, signalling that it was time to go. As they boarded the ships, the prince waved one last time to his mother, who stood watching with tears in her eyes. “Please, let no blood be spilled,” she murmured to herself, clutching her chest.
“Your Majesty, shall we leave?” a maid beside her asked gently.

“Yes,” the queen replied, tearing her gaze away from the departing ships as the grand gates closed behind her.
The prince and king sailed across the waters, determination etched into their faces. They travelled from one land to another, marking each location on their map after thorough investigations. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months  and soon the weather began to change. Snow fell heavily, blanketing the lands in a chilling white veil.
Meanwhile, in Zayd…
The weather has grown colder, and hunting has become more difficult with the snow covering the ground. But with Ellen around, it’s not as tough. Her abilities has made  it a lot easier, though the villagers are now burdened with the trouble of identifying who is who, we have taken the liking to dressing the same, it’s quite fun confusing everyone, if I do say so myself.

Ellen  presence has brought so much joy to the family. Her humour is infectious, and she gets along with everyone so well. It’s like the emptiness I used to feel has disappeared ever since I met her. We’ve grown incredibly close, and now we hunt together. She’s a fast learner, and I can’t help but admire her adaptability.

My brothers have taken quite a liking to her, especially Zayn. He’s developed a bit of a crush on her, and I can’t help but tease him about it. Ellen, as usual, just laughs it off.

“Father, it’s been three months now,” the prince reported, frustration evident in his voice. “We’ve been to almost all the lands outside of Eris, and there’s still no sign of her.” The king’s face twisted in rage, his patience wearing thin. He slammed his fist against the table, and the soldiers around him shifted uneasily, sensing the growing tension.
Back in Eris, something strange began to occur. As a couple walked toward a building, they suddenly felt a slight vibration beneath their feet. They paused, looking at each other in confusion, when, in the distance, a massive explosion rocked the earth. The ground erupted, sending carriages soaring into the sky and destroying everything in their path. Panic surged through the streets as people screamed, running in every direction.

The husband grabbed his wife’s hand, yanking her toward the building for shelter. “We need to get inside, now!” he shouted, his voice barely audible over the deafening chaos. They stumbled inside just as another explosion tore through the air, shaking the very foundations of Eris.

The once peaceful land was now in turmoil, and as chaos spread, the king and prince received word of the destruction that had begun to ripple through their homeland.
“We need to hurry,” the prince said urgently. “There’s no time to waste.
The king nodded, gripping the hilt of his sword. “We will find her,” he growled. “And we will end this madness once and for all.”

As the queen watched from within the palace windows, which had begun to crumble, she could only pray. The walls of Eris had been collapsing more frequently, earthquakes becoming a common terror, and the people of Eris had grown restless, protesting for the royals to stop the chaos.
“Your Highness, the people have become even more restless,” a maid spoke as she bowed.

“Alright, enough hiding, time to face this head-on,” the queen muttered.
“Inform them of my address,” she commanded before leaving the throne chamber. She walked towards her royal bedroom, where she dressed in her finest attire—no longer the sweet and gentle lady she once appeared to be. Her aura had shifted completely, embodying a fearless warrior, and her fur coat trailed behind her as she strode forward.

She stepped onto her balcony, overlooking the restless people gathered below. As soon as they laid eyes on her, they knew something had changed with their queen.
“People of Eris,” she began, her voice commanding silence. “It would do you good to stop this at once… as it is, my husband isn’t around.”

“Our people are dying! What is happening? Why weren’t we informed that such horrific events would occur? We worshipped you like gods, for you showed extreme power. You were the reason our world never experienced such misfortunes. What happened now?” one of them questioned, his voice trembling with fear and anger.
The queen briefly closed her eyes and sighed as two maids stood behind her. She looked intently at the crowd.
“Who among you is aware of the Midorian stone?” she asked, her voice steady.

The people looked at one another in confusion. “But isn’t that just a legend?” they murmured.
“Yes, it is considered a legend, but the stone very much exists. Its power has kept this land flourishing. But that power is fading, and the king is on a mission to recover it once more,” she explained.

“How come we are hearing about this only now?” another voice inquired from the crowd.
The queen’s gaze hardened. “Be patient. That’s all I shall say.” With that, she turned back toward the palace, her maids trailing behind her. The crowd continued to yell, still unsatisfied, but she did not look back.

The queen’s gaze hardened. “Be patient. That’s all I shall say.” With that, she turned back toward the palace, her maids trailing behind her. The crowd continued to yell, still unsatisfied, but she did not look back.