Arika: The legend of the lost jewel

chapter 15

Leaving the survivors to rest, Ellen made her way to the deck where Kyle stood, gazing at the setting sun, its golden rays casting a warm glow across the calm sea.
“So, Captain, what’s our next move?” he asked with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

“We need to find a safe place for the villagers,” Ellen replied, her expression serious.
“But where?” Kyle asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
Ellen pulled out the map, her fingers tracing a small cross she had marked. “There’s a hidden land around here,” she said, pointing to the spot.

Kyle stared at the map, confused. “But there’s nothing there,” he replied, squinting at the blank space.
“I thought so too,” Ellen said, “until I used my ability. It lets me see landscapes in a vision-like form, but it drains a lot of my energy, so I rarely use it. It’s how I found a way out of Eris.”
Kyle nodded slowly, understanding. “That sounds like a plan.”

Before they could continue, Eva appeared, her hands on her hips. “What are you two talking about up here? You should come eat. The intruders had stockpiled a lot of food, enough to last us at least three more months.”
Kyle chuckled. “We’re just figuring out our next move.”
“And what’s the plan?” Eva asked, curious.

Ellen explained her vision of the hidden land and their route forward. Satisfied with the plan, they all headed below deck for dinner, the tension of the day fading slightly as the calm sea rocked the ship gently.

In the early morning light, Prince William sat at his desk, carefully writing a note on a small piece of parchment. His handwriting was swift but precise. Once finished, he rolled the paper into a tiny tube and made his way toward the deck. A messenger bird, black feathers shimmering in the dawn, landed gracefully on his arm. With a practiced hand, he fastened the note to the bird’s leg, and after a moment, it took flight, disappearing into the sky.
A few minutes later, another bird landed on the king’s arm, this one carrying a note of its own. The king untied it, and as he read, his expression darkened, his face growing more severe by the second. The bird fluttered away, unnoticed.

“I’ve sent the message, Father. It should reach its destination in about four hours,” Prince William said confidently, but as he looked up, he noticed his father’s grim expression.
“What’s the matter, Father?” he asked, concern creeping into his voice.
The king crumpled the note in his fist, his voice low and tight. “Word from your mother. It’s worse than we feared. The wall has completely collapsed… and the lands surrounding it have begun to fall as well.”
The weight of the news hung heavily between them, as the implications of the collapse began to settle in.
Far to the east, the bird soared over mountains and lush, picturesque landscapes, its wings cutting through the crisp morning air.

It travelled swiftly, until it arrived at a small village nestled among towering trees. There, a dark-skinned woman sat outside, her laughter mingling with that of the children playing around her. When she saw the bird approaching, she rose to her feet, her smile fading as she recognized its significance.
The bird landed on her arm, and she gently took the note attached to its leg. After reading it, her expression turned serious. Without hesitation, she ran toward a nearby cottage, urgency in her steps.
“Father!” she called out as she burst through the door. “I bear news from the Prince of Eris… He asks for my presence.”

Inside the dimly lit cottage, her father, an older man with greying hair and kind eyes, looked up from his seat beside the bed where her mother lay, pale and weak. His face creased with concern. “How so, my daughter? Your mother is gravely ill. It wouldn’t be wise to leave her now.”

The woman knelt beside her father, her voice steady but filled with emotion. “I know, Father. But the prince seeks my help in locating the Midorian stone. He promises that once it is found, it will heal Mother. I cannot ignore this… it may be her only hope.”
Her father’s face was lined with uncertainty as he glanced from his daughter to his ailing wife. “I am not sure… it is a dangerous journey. And what if he is wrong?”

She met his gaze with determination. “It’s a chance we must take.”
Reluctantly, her father agreed. Soon after, preparations were made—a ship and a few men were readied to escort her. As she boarded the vessel, she carried with her the weight of  hope , following the directions rewritten by William. The wind caught the sails, and they set off.