Crustel

Chapter 12

  I was wandering around with Lama. Mom was stunned. We thought Siku za usoni was a myth in Crustel. I never knew it could be real. "His sorcery was unbeatable. He had no one to compete with. Actually, he was indirectly ruling Crustel. He trained mom once," Mom was telling her memories related about the Sorcerer. Something hit my head hard. I turned the pages insanely. I turned furiously and stopped when I saw back the aventurine picture. I read it carefully. Mom and Lama were shocked at my sudden uncanny behaviour. Ah hah! I found what I was searching for. "Aventurine is harmful to Crustelicians unless everyone uses the sphere shield. Crustelicians become powerful when they use the sphere shield," I knew it. That's the one that Ethan was always keeping with him.  Literally, it saved us from the cave.

 "Lama, we should bring this book and train the soldiers with the sphere shield," Lama nodded as mom whispered to him, "The queen is on track it seems," they were giggling. We changed into ants and then eagle. We landed in the forest. I didn't forget my flying lessons and this time I landed like a real eagle. I turned back into my human form and ran towards the soldiers. I couldn't find General Maven Lorenzo in the sea of soldiers. I shouted out his name, "General Maven Lorenzo! Maven Lorenzo!" Fortunately, he heard me. I saw a head peeking from the sea of soldiers. He ran towards me and "Are you alright, Princess? Did any Lanshiren try to hurt you?" asked me worriedly. I laughed and said I was alright. I told him about the sphere shield.

  "That's a great idea but we don't have much. Some soldiers lost their sphere shield during the silent attack," The silent attack was after Mom and I went to the human world. Lanshirens silently sneaked in Crustel and stole some important Crustelicians' weapons but wait! How come I knew what happened after I left Crustel? Suddenly, the general shook me. I came back to reality. I kept silent. "I have an idea," Now a great man showed up. My hands covered my mouth. I couldn't believe my own eyes. It was the sorcerer but wait...How did I know he was the sorcerer. I think something strange was happening inside me. "That's because you were the only one who was brave enough to choose to know the future. You earned the power, your highness," the sorcerer told softly as he bowed.

  He added, "Not like your ancestors, you don't have only one power. You actually have two. The second power hidden in you is...You can know what happened before or after in a place the moment you step there. It was revealing slowly now. As you get back your memories, the power is working." I was standing in disbelief. All of sudden, Lama came roaring in his panther voice. I stopped him. I told them he was the sorcerer but he still was staring at him suspiciously. "Calm down you big cat," Lama's ruby eyes had infernos trying to burn the sorcerer. The moment Mom saw the sorcerer, she came and greeted him with full of enjoyment. The emotion was as same as the day I hugged Lama after getting back my memories.

  I interrupted their emotional moment with my question, "So, what is your idea?" The sorcerer realized that he wasn't straight to the point. "I have the power to multiply the sphere shield and make them even stronger than the usual," That was really a life-saving idea by him. I nodded immediately. The General went to the soldiers and brought fifty sphere shields. The sorcerer multiplied it in a twinkling of an eye. Based on my estimation, there might have been five hundred thousand sphere shields. I thanked the sorcerer and joined General Maven Lorenzo for the sphere shield practice. "Listen Carefully! The only way to survive the aventurine attack is by using these sphere shields. Use this shield while attacking Lanshirens, " I roared as strong as possible. I knew I lost my feminine voice a long time ago because saving Crustel was even vital than my feminine voice. My voice sounded like an old radio.

  I learnt new war tactics from the General. Later after my training session, I strolled along the Aura River. Imagining a whole new Crustel. The new Crustel was looking better than the old days. I was wondering why was it so. I could see Erica in it. "How come Erica, a Lanshiren survived and is still in Crustel?" I asked myself. All of sudden, a familiar voice answered me, "You promised... You promised about us. I am always here for you," Guess who answered me? YES! It was Erica. She was in her mermaid form. She swam at the Aura River to meet me. I was lucky enough that the soldiers went for a lunch break. "Erica?" I whispered. She pulled my leg as fast as she could into the river. Immediately, I turned into my mermaid form. "Cora, I know you have to kill my dad to retrieve your throne. I know the wrath in you wouldn't have faded so quickly," Her words were as sharp as a knife was forced into flesh. The pain was different. "Erica, this is not for revenge-seeking!" I tried my best to not show my wrath inside me burning to kill the Lanshiren girl but at that moment I could see Erica's blue watery eyes. It remembered me of our friendship. The moment was like Wrath or Friendship and I was left with no choice. 

 "Cora, I can't speak to you much longer. After the Lanshiren attack, I realized that Crustelicians magic is too strong. The Gling Castle couldn't be entered by any Lanshiren. I am here to warn you," she took a deep breath and continued, "There is an aventurine mine outside Corta. My dad and other tranquets are going to control that mine and make aventurine rain for days, which might make you guys weaker or worse...killed!" I was seeing her in disbelief. I remembered what mom said. Lanshirens are liars but were Erica behaving like one of them? I trembled with my words. "Erica, I couldn't stay much longer. I have training sessions," I came out from the river and ran towards my tent. As I was running I saw tears in Erica's eyes. To my dismay, her tears were green. Erica's blue eyes turned green. It was a tranquet. She was in her tranquet from. I immediately saw my wrist. An aventurine bracelet was on my wrist. In a split second, everything went pitch black.