Crustel

Chapter 18

    We found the dungeon. The calamity was, I didn't know how do the king and queen look. "Ethan, do you know how do the former king and queen look?" I asked him calmly but he was outraged, "Are you kidding me? I knew the fact that they are in the dungeon from you, and you're expecting facts about them from me?" he growled. It was like seeing a gorilla growling in front of me. The dungeon was huge. In every cell, there was only one person except for the cell at the right end of the dungeon. I flew towards the cell. There were three people well, an old man, old woman and a teenage boy. They were lying on the floor as they were trying to sleep.

  "Father, have you seen butterflies in the dungeon?" the young boy asked his dad. "What? The last time I saw butterflies were in our garden. When we ruled Taleas!" he answered his son where his voice hid sorrow in it. "What are you guys talking about? Butterflies at midnight in the dungeon? Are you guys alright?" The old woman snapped. I realized it was them. I knew it. They noticed us. I turned myself into a sparrow. Ethan stayed as a butterfly. They noticed me. They saw me transforming and, "Transforming from a butterfly into sparrow? Son, did you see that? That's Crustelician magic!" the old man explained to his confused and amused son. The old woman ignored them and tried to sleep. I saw the keys were hanging at the entrance. I flew and grabbed the keys and flew back to them. I gave them the key and I whispered to them, "We need to know about Erica. The Taleasean girl who was kidnapped by The Leader of the Tranquets."

  "Before we tell, we have to go to a safer place." The teenage boy told me. "I know the best place!" I told them excitedly. I changed them into sparrows right after the old man unlocked the cell. We flew to the entrance of the kingdom. We turned back into our human forms. The boat was still there. "Aura, we need to go to Corta in five minutes." Everyone blinked as they couldn't believe the fact that I was instructing an empty boat. "Come on! We don't have time to gaze!" I roared. The boat expanded. So, everyone could fit in. To their surprise, we were in Corta in just five minutes. "Unbelievable!" They gasped. Ethan and I walked till we went to the secret library. I turned us into ants and went inside the library. Right after entering the hall, we turned back into our human forms. "Now...Please tell us about the girl!" Ethan cried. 

  "Is Erica alive? Is she hurt?" the old woman asked us. Ethan and I shook our head. I could see relief in their eyes. "Erica is our daughter!" Both of them started explaining. "It was Erica's birthday. Her sixth birthday. We celebrated her birthday grandly as her younger brother was born when she was six. So, we invited all kingdoms except Lanshirens from any kingdom. We didn't allow outsider Lanshiren because we were worried that they might hurt Crustelicians. We were honoured as Queen Bargan and the royal ambassador, Princess Ayari joined us. We had a blast. That was the best and last birthday party we conducted. On that day, we realized Erica was powerful enough to control aventurine! We were equally proud and scared because her power was against Crustel. After her birthday party, Erica and her brother were with their mother at their the queen's chamber and I was planning about the international conference meeting. Queen Bargan left but Princess Ayari stayed with us to help us. When we were waiting for our grand council's meeting we heard a bomb blast. I hurried to the throne room. The bomb blast sound was from there.

  To my horror, the leader of the tranquets was sitting on my throne. I was pissed off. I shouted, "What are you doing at my throne?" He laughed with evil tone. Suddenly, my guards arrested me. I was shell-shocked. I screamed, "What are you guys doing? I am your king!" He replied as he laughed with the evil tone, "Not anymore. Guards send him...Uhmm not only him. His wife and his son to the dungeon. I have to deal with the little girl!" I was handcuffed. You know, that we can only control magical stones. We don't have any special powers.Our powers are nothing when compared with Tranquets and of course Crustelicians." He told us everything. I knew why Erica was forced. I knew what to do. To my horror, the blazing sun rose. Ouh no! My fight! Ethan and I exchanged looks. We had to protect them but at the same time, I should have been in the forest for our fight! All I could do at that moment was to wander around for a better idea.

  Ah hah! I knew a solution. "Ethan, stay here and protect the king, queen and the prince. Buy them breakfast from the bakery right there", I pointed to a blue building. He nodded. "Cora, please be safe." He looked me into my eyes. I nodded and went to the forest. Mom was waiting hands crossed and gave me a deadly stare. I rushed towards mom. "Cora, where have you been? I know you are broken but...you lost the fight. You forfeited the second round. So, Emerald won," Mom's voice was dry. I still haven't told her about the sorcerer and Lama. I analysed her phrases. "EMERALD WON." That phrase almost killed me. Just because I was late, Emerald won. I apologized to mom. I peeked to have a look at Aunt Ayari's proud arrogant face. Emerald was alone. She always will be with her mom but this was uncanny.

  "Where's Aunt Ayari?" I questioned mom. Mom took a deep breath. "That's what I am worried too. I haven't seen Ayari since this early morning. Emerald is acting strange too. She was too polite to me." I was shocked as Mom mentioned the phrase "SHE WAS TOO POLITE TO ME!" Wow. Emerald was always arrogant and doesn't respect anyone. This was super weird. Was that really Emerald?