Crustel

Chapter 13

  "I told you! She doesn't deserve to be a queen. She is just eighteen and acting childishly. Do you think we can give her this entire Crustel? Mounja, we need to pick a new queen," someone was roaring fiercely at mom. The voice sounded familiar. The only one who calls mom Mounja is Aunt Ayari. She hated me. Aunt Ayari was forced to sacrifice the throne for her younger sister as her younger sister, my mom had inherited the ancient ability which was able to speak with our ancestors. Aunt Ayari was jealous of mom and mom knew it. So, she definitely doesn't like me too. Aunt Ayari became a traveller, then was appointed as Crustel's royal ambassador but it didn't satisfy her. She wanted the throne. Right after I opened my eyes, I saw mom was defending me. Lama accompanied her. I saw my wrist. The aventurine bracelet was gone. I couldn't believe it. Erica betrayed me. She was always at her family's side but I was... I was not at my family's side.

  "Aunt Ayari?" I whispered but she heard. She stared at me as her arms were crossed. For the first time, she talked to me slowly and firmly. "Cora! How come you believed that Lanshiren girl? She killed your father, grandmother and grandfather," she took a deep breath. I cut her, "I never knew betrayal tastes bitter as much as this. I never knew she would do this to me," I hugged her. This time Aunt Ayari was not as usual. She showed me, love. She was not showing her hate as usual. Lama came near to me. "Cora, you need to start your practice again. You have been knocked out for ten days and..." I understood the meaning of his silence. I was just left with four more days to practice for my war practice. If I lose, Crustel would be no more but I couldn't lose. I must win. I tried to get down from my trucle wood bed but Aunt Ayari stopped me. "No! You're not going for practice. The new queen is on her way. You are going to be the royal ambassador." I saw my mom with my watery eyes.

  To my surprise, mom's eyes were in anger. "Cora is the queen! She needs practice. Cora, go for your practice now!" Mom roared with her thunderous voice. I got up but Aunt Ayari stopped me. I pushed her away and ran out of the tent. Soldiers were marching and practising their new war tactics with General Maven Lorenzo. Ethan saw me from far. He waved at me. I waved him back. I changed into my armour at Mom's tent. I could hear the huge argument between mom and Aunt Ayari. I was muddled. I didn't know who she meant as the new queen. I placed my sword and took my sphere shield. I ran towards General Maven Lorenzo. All of sudden, I heard horses neighing. A carriage was right in front of me. A gorgeous girl in golden armour stepped down. Her war boots were made from wildfire dragon. Her hair was long and braided neatly. Arrogance accompanied her.

  The horses transformed into their human forms. I went near her. "Who are you?" I asked her but she didn't even look at me. She headed to the tent. "Mama!" She sounded like a typical rich teenager from high school. Aunt Ayari hugged her. "Oh, sweety. Finally, you're here. Mounja, this is Emerald," Aunt Ayari introduced her to mom. Emerald was my closest friend when I was in Crustel but when years passed she was turning exactly like her mother, Aunt Ayari. Emerald born five seconds after I was born. So, I am the heir of the throne but Emerald tried so hard to get the throne. The vital thing that made me be the heir of the throne was, I inherited our ancient ability. She was so good looking than me. "Mounja, you can't let Cora be the queen. My daughter is more eligible than Cora. Emerald need to be the queen and... Cora can be the royal ambassador if Emerald wishes," Aunt Ayari expressed her thoughts to mom as she smirked at me. Guess what mom might have said? She told that we should organize MADZITATEGURU. I couldn't believe it. For the first time in forever, Madzitateguru is going to be held for the second time before the second test. 

  I was frozen. I thought mom would defend me but she didn't. We only had four more days and there was no time for discussing and deciding who should be the new queen. I was equally worried and muddled. Ethan entered the tent. "Emerald?" he whispered to me. I nodded. "Princess Ayari tried to sneak to the secret library in Corta. She was talking about a book and a sorcerer," Ethan whispered to me. I pulled him out of the tent and we went quite far. "WHAT?" I hissed through my gritted teeth. He was wandering around. "How did you know about the library?" I asked him furiously. He was frightened as my eyes glowed. "Your mom told me. She told me that it should be a secret and the book you brought..." he didn't continue. I stared at him. "The book you brought is with me." The sorcerer replied. I was elated to see him and relieved to know that the book was safe. I told him about Madzitateguru. Both of them were terrified. "No way!" They told it in chorus. "Cora, you shouldn't attend Madzitateguru! I have a...uhmm...much more crucial news for you," the sorcerer trembled with words. I didn't say anything. 

  "The aventurine mine is controlled by Lanshirens. The leader of the tranquets is going to burst the mine and make it rain aventurine in entire Crustel." He spitted out. This was the worse news I have heard in my life. I was terrified. "How are we going to stop it?" I questioned him worriedly. "Cora, listen! You need to stop it before dusk. Now it's noon. You have to use your sphere shield," suddenly Ethan cut him, "What should we tell Queen Mounja, Lama and Princess Ayari? Wouldn't they ask about Cora during Madzitateguru?" The sorcerer growled. "We don't have time for that, you little boy!" All I realized was I am going to get into trouble and Aunt Ayari is going to have a valid point to make Emerald queen.