Crustel

Chapter 30

  The beauty of Ardian was indescribable. This was a red-letter day in my life. Ardian was a wondrous place. I wanted to stay there. The floating wands and books of master level magic were like a floating path heading somewhere. Kanyal and Erica were too surprised to see the magnificent Ardian. There were lots of fairies and elves, rushing, wandering around and cheering all the way. One just flew above my head and an elf stopped near me. "Well, you look familiar. I have memory problems. So, who are you?" he asked politely and quickly as he was rushing. Before I answered, he assumed something and "Oh! You're the new librarian! How did I forget," he groaned. I denied but he ignored it. "Well, the library is straight at the left. Hurry or else he would be mad. Hurry!" He said and hurried towards the way we came. I turned back as my eyes met Erica and Kanyal. "What did he meant with the 'HE'. Who might he be?" Kanyal asked with his signature theatrical way. I was elated as he spoke but was irked as he was behaving like the old Drama King. I shrugged.

   "Let's head to the library. We need to check out for clues. Especially for the Ardian map!" I whispered. Both of them nodded. We walked following the elf's instruction. I never knew anything about how fantastic Ardian was. It was really awesome. On our way to the library, I saw a fairy on the ground. She was almost stomped by a short, corpulent elf. I bent and took her. She was scrawny. Her purple-pink wings were damaged. It looked like it was burnt. I spoke in Ard with her. "Era uh ahoy?" I asked her calmly which meant 'are you okay'. She nodded as she tried to fly. She tried to flap her wings but it ripped. She groaned in pain and had tears in her neon green eyes. I told her to sit on my palm carefully as we entered the library. The library was only left with books. There was no one. I made a quick plan. I told Erica to act as the librarian meanwhile Kanyal and I walked backwards. I asked her where could we ask for help for her. Luckily, she was able to speak. "Un tate. Mourlie orh fuji!" She fainted. I was startled. She told that behind the library, there was a well. Only a healer could use their power to heal a fairy. Only an advanced master healer could do so with the water from the well. She fainted immediately. I rushed. Kanyal followed me.

   We saw a huge gate with a small key hanging on it. I was puzzled. All of sudden, I heard the song but this was different. The lyrics were different but same haunting voice.

A thrilling chase,

In a wondrous place,

Dare enough to save your enemy,

deserve to let go your friend,

The betrayal never fades,

Tastes worse than bitter,

You made a blunder,

And made another,

Let the fairy die.

Dare enough to pass the gate,

No one can stop fate...

  I couldn't let the fairy die on my hand. I couldn't let her hope on me just become hopeless. I took the key but Kanyal stopped me. "Don't!" He whispered through his gritted teeth. "I can't let her die even when I could do something to let her stay alive!" I told him with sorrow in my voice. He let go of my hand. I took the key and opened the gate. The moment I opened it, I saw an enormous wall. It was too deep. I went near the well. I put the fairy on Kanyal's palm. He took her as she was like a newborn baby. I rubbed my amulet gently. I heard Lama groaning. "My beauty sleep. What's wrong Cora? It's too early in the morning!" His spirit exited from my amulet and was standing beside the well. All of sudden, he looked around and, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" He groaned. He was outraged. "What have you done? What have you done, Cora?" He was angrily repeating the same thing. "What's wrong? I called you to heal the fairy's wing!" I asked with my cold voice. He roared till the well itself trembled for a moment, "This well is cursed... CORA, I know I taught you about Ardian when you were just five but how come you forgot it?? No healers should get near to this well!" Slowly Lama was fading.

   I fell on my knees. "Lama..! You're fading!" I cried. "It's my time to go to the spirit world. Healers can never come near to this well because a healer can be killed with this well's water! That's how I was killed but now..." he didn't finish his sentence but faded. I cried so loud. My throat dried. I didn't cry like this for his death. It was because of the hope that he would be back with me as a spirit but I made a huge blunder. I cried so hard. Suddenly, Kanyal pressed my shoulders hardly. I turned and looked at his eyes. The disappointment was in it. I immediately looked at the fairy. She breathed her last breath. She died in Kanyal's palm. I couldn't even get up. I was even hopeless and powerless. I felt all my powers were against me. I screamed and cried so loud. I got up and jump into the well. I heard Kanyal screaming, "Cora! NOOOO!!!" I knew it was a cowardly act but I couldn't fight the humiliations. It was my fault. I betrayed my own best friend, my teacher and the greatest healer, Ethan and Lama. I knew I should have listened to Ethan. He was right. I shouldn't have come to Ardian. I realized that I was so down. The moment I fell into this well, my powers automatically made me a mermaid. Something shiny was under the well. I swam towards it. I looked up. I realized that I swam too far till I couldn't see the sunlight. The tranquet gem on my wand glowed in shiny, shimmering, bright green.