Crustel

Chapter 15

  I refreshed myself and attended Madzitateguru. "Are you sure? What about the aventurine mine blast?" Ethan whispered to me. "The blast is after Emerald's coronation. I have to follow Emerald after this ceremony," I tried to be calm but the thought of Emerald trying to kill me overtook me. I was equally outraged and startled. Ethan tried to cheer me up but he was horrified too. Before the Lanshiren attack at Crustel, Aunt Ayari was not in Crustel. She went to an international conference meeting with royal ambassadors all over the world in Taleas. Taleas is a kingdom with powerful magical stones. Some Lanshirens were from Taleas. They came to Crustel for trading and vacation. The Lanshiren that Aunt Ayari married was from Taleas but I never knew he was the leader of the tranquets. All this time, I thought Erica was his daughter but Emerald was his real daughter. I remembered Erica begging Emerald to not hurt her parents and her little brother. I realized that she was forced to attack Crustel. 

  Suddenly, mom ran towards me. "Cora, where's the sorcerer?" I didn't answer her. I was lost in my thoughts but Ethan answered for me. "He went to the aventurine mine...uhmm. He wants to check whether Lanshirens aventurine attack is real or not?" He trembled with his words. Mom was standing without any reaction. She pressed my shoulder and whispered, "Use this chance wisely..." Mom left. We followed her. All of sudden, Ethan stopped me, "Are you sure about attending this ceremony? Erica warned you about Emerald. Emerald might kill you!" Ethan was worried. I didn't answer him. I saw the preparations for Madzitateguru. Aunt Ayari was so excited as she was believing that her daughter could kill me tonight. Mom was worried. She was searching for the sorcerer. I held my amulet tightly. 

  My amulet glowed in red. It was shiny. I knew it was a warning or a message from the sorcerer. I ran to the trees. Quite far from mom, Lama, and Aunt Ayari. Ethan accompanied me. I opened it. The book levitated. Its pages turned wildly and quickly. Magical sparks in blue, red and white were produced from it. An image appeared above the book. The image was two girls who looked alike, fighting for the throne. One is defeated but the other is rising back with a covetous hand holding aventurine. That's a powerful aventurine where only the kingdom of Taleas has it with superior security. The most dangerous stone. All of sudden the image disappeared. I heard footsteps. I immediately shrunk the book and hid inside my amulet. I turned back slowly. To my surprise, Erica was standing there. Ethan was outraged, as he saw her as a Lanshiren. "Why did you come here? Do you want to give that aventurine bracelet again? Knock out, Cora?" I stared at Ethan. He was right.

  Cora did something harmful to me even though she knew about aventurine's effect on Crustelicians. I didn't stop Ethan. Erica didn't smile. She was confused instead. "What? Aventurine bracelet? I haven't seen Cora since the day she sneaked into the castle..." Erica told us. Ethan and I stared at each other. We knew who might have done it. "EMERALD?" I hissed through my gritted teeth. Ethan and Erica's eyes got wider. I remembered Erica behaving like a servant. I had no choice but not to control my curiosity. I spitted out. "Erica, what happened to your family? Who are you?" Erica took a deep breath. The moment she opened her mouth to unveil the dark side of her life, mom lunged out, "Cora, it's time for Madzitateguru!" I knew I had to face Emerald.

  Erica stopped me. "Emerald is going to use aventurine to attack you..." she didn't continue. I held her hand, "I know what to do!" I whispered. Ethan and Erica were in fear. I changed Erica into a butterfly. She sat on Ethan's shoulder. So, we went to attend the ceremony. I sat in the circle. We sang the holy songs. I saw my ancestors finishing the circle. I was expecting Emerald's arrival. The ceremony started. One of my ancestors asked mom, "The reason for this ceremony, Mounja?" her voice was firm and steady. Mom explained about Aunt Ayari's confession. The ancestors made a decision. "In that case, we need to know who is wiser and stronger. Emerald and Cora have to fight. In this fight, we have three rounds and three different situations!" They told in the same tone. I searched for Emerald.

  I heard horses neighing. I knew it was her. She came to the ceremony. She was looking exactly like me. I was stunned. It was like seeing myself in the mirror. To my horror, she had the aventurine bracelet. The wrath in me grew. I knew my real foe and I had to face her. Mom and Lama were shell-shocked. Only the way Emerald walked revealed that it was her. One of my ancestors questioned Emerald, "You can't copy someone. Be yourself!" but Emerald didn't bother. She wasn't giving respect to anyone at the ceremony. Erica flew towards me and sat on my shoulder. "Think wise. She has aventurine," she reminded me and flew back to Ethan. "Well, when is our fight starting?" I asked calmly. "In a few minutes, Cora. First-round is going to be held underwater. You guys have to fight with two tranquets and take the gem. The one who gets the gem first has to combine the gem with the winner of the first round's wand. The reward of the first round is, your magic will combine with tranquets's magic and makes you stronger!" I was stunned. I know Emerald could do anything for the throne but I would do anything for Crustel.

  We went to Aura river. "In the count of three, your mission starts! Three...Two...One...Jump!" We jumped into the river as we turned into our mermaid form. I swam towards the underwater castle. Behind the castle, the tranquets live in an underwater cave. I knew they were too strong but I had a plan. Emerald followed me. We stopped at the cave's entrance. So many tranquets were swimming there. I turned myself into a tranquet. So did Emerald. I saw a tranquet alone, quite far from the cave. I went towards it. I spoke to it. It was suffering from loneliness. I used the chance to hypnotize it and took the gem. The tranquet died at the spot. Emerald was scared. I used the chance and swam back to win this round! The tranquets noticed me. One of them shouted, "Murderer! Seize her!" At that moment, I turned myself to look exactly like Emerald. The tranquets stopped following me, "Princess Emerald?" I smirked and swam back quickly. Emerald was surrounded by them. She was muddled and had no idea. She wasn't able to escape as she looked like me; the tranquets only foe!