Arika: The legend of the lost jewel

chapter 20

“We can’t cross the desert without proper transportation,” the king said to his son. “We’ll need to camp here for a while to prepare.”
His son nodded in agreement, signalling for the men to begin setting up camp.
As they moved deeper into the forest, Ellen kept glancing back at Eva, who was now being carried along by two soldiers.

Her sister’s unconscious form was pale, and the patterns that had once glowed brightly across her skin had faded. Ellen’s own green hair, still glowing faintly from their earlier transformation, felt heavy with the weight of what had just transpired.
Her mind raced. They were trapped, but she knew they couldn’t stay like this for long. She needed to find a way out, a plan to free themselves but for now, she had to wait, watch, and gather her strength.

As night fell, the camp was lit by several small fires. The king’s men were on high alert, keeping a close eye on their prisoners… they were all tied to a large tree at the edge of the camp, their chains securely fastened, Kyle was still hanging on, his breathing shallow, as his skin began turning pale, purple veins had began spreading on his face and hands. The forest around them was eerily quiet, only the crackling of the fires and the occasional murmur from the soldiers breaking the silence.
Ellen stared at the flames, her mind drifting. She could feel the pulse of her power, still lingering beneath the surface, but she was drained.

The earlier surge of energy had taken its toll on her, and now all she could do was wait for the right moment. Eva’s power had been even more volatile, and it had completely overwhelmed her. Ellen just hoped her sister would wake up soon.
“Just hold on a little longer,” Ellen whispered, her gaze shifting to Kyle and Eva. “We’ll find a way out of this.”
As the night grew colder, the king’s men began to relax slightly, believing their prisoners were too weak to cause any more trouble. Ellen, however, remained alert, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any opportunity.

The young lady approached and kneeled in front of Kyle. “He’s strong-willed, but it won’t be long until the poison finishes him,” she said, her voice calm. Then, turning her gaze to Ellen, she smiled. “I must truly praise your intelligence, but how long do you plan on hiding that secret from your sister?”

Ellen’s eyes narrowed. “What secret?” she asked, her voice tense.
The lady smiled wider, her gaze piercing. “Well, you see, I may not be gifted like you two, as you are the first of your kind. But my great-grandmother had a special ability. She could see and communicate with Midora herself. It was kind of her to pass a little of that ability down to me… So, are you still denying what I know?”
Zayn and Xavier looked confused, glancing between the two women. Ellen remained silent for a moment, her expression unreadable.
“Why are you doing this?” Ellen finally asked, her voice quieter. “At least let me try to heal him.”

The lady shook her head. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing that can be done. You know it too. This poison was made to be unstoppable.”
“Ellen, what’s going on? Is what she’s saying true?” Xavier asked, his tone urgent.
Ellen didn’t respond. She stared at the ground, her silence speaking louder than words.

The lady stood up, brushing off her knees. “Listen, I’m not the villain here. If it were up to me, I’d help you, truly. But I can’t risk my mother’s health, nor the chance to marry my love.”
She turned and walked away, leaving the camp in heavy silence. Xavier looked back at Ellen, frustration growing in his voice. “Ellen, answer me, damn it! What are you hiding from us?”
But Ellen stayed quiet, her eyes fixed on the ground, refusing to meet Xavier gaze.

The next morning, Eva slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurred. The first thing she saw was her weakened brother, lying motionless. “Kyle,” she murmured weakly, struggling to move toward him. Panic set in as she pulled against the chains that held her, “Kyle!” she yelled, desperation in her voice. The clinking sound of chains only added to her panic as she realized she couldn’t reach him.
She looked down at her bound wrists and saw the same chains tied around everyone else. Tears welled up in her eyes, streaming down her face as she looked back at her brother. “He can’t be dead… He just can’t…” she whispered.

“Forget about him, Eva,” Xavier said, his voice heavy with resignation. “He’s probably dead by now.”
“No, he’s not. He can’t be,” Eva insisted, shaking her head frantically. “Kyle! Kyle, wake up!” she called again, but only silence met her pleas.
“Eva, that’s enough,” Ellen said softly, though her own pain was evident. “I know it hurts, but you’ve got to be strong.”

“I just want everything to go back to normal,” Zayn muttered, his voice cracking as tears filled his eyes.
Ellen glanced around, noticing the wooden carriages that had been built overnight. *It seems like they were busy the whole night,* she thought, taking in the sight of the makeshift vehicles.
“What’s going on here?” Eva asked, still dazed and confused.

“We got captured, unfortunately,” Ellen replied, her voice calm despite the situation. “But don’t worry, I’m thinking of ways to free us.”
“Your Majesty, we have completed the task successfully,” one of the king’s men reported from the front.

“Good,” the king responded with satisfaction. “Gather those prisoners and put them in one of the carriages.”
Four men approached, unlocking the chains around the trees before lifting them into the carriages. Once everything was set, the king, his son, and the young lady sat in one carriage, while Eva, Ellen, and the others were loaded into another, still bound with their hands tied behind their backs.
The king’s men lifted the carriages, and soon the group began moving out of the forest,