Crustel

Chapter 47

     I was stunned to see the door fading. I actually saw my uncle. He was really alive but never expected that my aunt would be such evil. I was back. I was standing with my friends. They were all on the ground. It must have been Aunt Ayari's job. I sat down and sang a holy song. At that moment I did what a healer would have done. Fortunately, three of them opened their eyes. They ran and hugged me tightly. I knew how they felt. "Guys, I knew who it was! The one we thought Zwas Elvira is not Elvira. It is... my aunt," I took a deep breath and said her name, AYARI. They gasped. "What???" Ethan gasped even louder. "Why did she do this to you and to... Crustel?" Erica asked as she was confused and shocked at the same time. I looked at the ground. "Her jealousy and the hunger for the throne and its power," I said firmly. All of sudden, I noticed that Lexter and Zoya were not with us. I looked around.

"What are you searching for?" Kanyal asked. "Where are Zoya and Lexter?" I asked quickly. They looked around too. "Maybe they are at the carriage," Erica guessed. We went towards the carriage but there wasn't any sign of them. To my horror, I saw Zoya's pink wings. It was on the wheel of the carriage. Ethan noticed what I just saw. We exchanged looks. "Zoya's wings are...ripped off?" Erica joined us. I closed my eyes to know what happened. I saw everything. When Ethan cast a mild spell, Ayari made it stronger to knock me out and shoot it towards Lexter, Zoya, Kanyal, Ethan and Erica. She took me to the Ruardina Forest and tied me on the chair. When she left me there, she came and took Lexter and Zoya to an unknown place. Since she had evil powers, she couldn't touch Zoya. That's why she ripped off her wings. I couldn't see Zoya suffering the pain. I noticed the purple beam. I opened my eyes immediately.

Much to my dismay, Kanyal's face was too near to my eyes. I screamed for a moment. "Why did you come so near? I was scared for a second," I groaned. "Usually, you won't take this much time," Erica cut Kanyal with a deadly stare, "What happened to them, Cora?" So I told them what I saw. "Listen to me!" Ethan said slower than a whisper. We didn't interrupt him. He continued, "I was in Ardian for almost six years. I was kidnapped by a cruel captain after the Lanshirens attack. He controlled every servant's power and sends it to someone called Elvira which we clearly know now was Ayari. Once my knees were injured when I tripped on a glass mug. At that time, I came to know that the Captain couldn't control my power. So, I escaped from the ship." Kanyal stopped Ethan. "What? Wait, let me digest your story," I knew Ethan was pissed off but he tried to be calm. "You knew about Ardian? So, explain the portrait we saw in the hallway. King of The Dark?" Kanyal had a point but his timing was not right. I didn't stop Kanyal and Ethan. Ethan took a deep breath.

"Let me explain, Prince Kanyal!" He groaned. "I was then caught by the Captain again. At that time, I was ten years old. I was brought to a new ship. That was where I met Lexter and Zoya. We were friends but I never told them about me and Crustel. Then, one day the Captain set me in charge of the cleaning section and brought me to meet Elvira, my mom obviously. She recognized me but acted as she didn't know me. At first, I thought she came to save me from the cruel captain but then I came to know about her evil intention which was taking over Crustel. She asked me for three days leave. She brought me to Crustel. She told me to wait outside the Gling Castle but I sneaked in with her. She met Ayari. I assumed that they were close friends through their conversation. Ayari mentioned Ardian's Dark World. Ardian is not what we think. It is a balanced world of good and bad. The Light World is what we are going to save but the Dark World is too dangerous. I wanted to warn her about this to Cora earlier but she had to focus on her tests first. Now, I have another truth too," He stopped for a while. I saw Kanyal's and Erica's jaws almost hitting the ground. Not to deny that this was too shocking and terrifying for me.

Ethan then continued, "Elvira was the queen of the Dark World. I guess Ayari never liked any Kings or Queens I guess. She took over Elvira's throne. That's when Elvira knew she was betrayed by her own best friend. Ayari gave her two choices which were picking dad or me. As a mother, she picked me and killed her husband to save me. Typically, I am the heir of the throne for the Dark World. I knew this when I got into Ardian with you guys. I was kicked out from the Dark World Castle and met you guys at the Chamber of Maru!" He exhaled loudly. We kept silent for a moment. "So, the thing is, the only threat for all the kingdoms is Ayari! We need to get to Hatakuna and put the stone at the sculpture of the swan's eye." I concluded our current mission. "I am sure that Lexter and Zoya must be at the Dark World. We have to save them first," Ethan said worriedly. However, Kanyal and Erica agreed with Ethan. "He's right. Ayari might use them against us to weaken us. We need to save them and meet Isa. I am sure she will guide us like Lama," Erica said. 

We all agreed. At that point, I was taught, anyone could betray anyone if jealousy is in their heart. I gave Ethan the map but he refused. "No one has the map for the Dark World except for the king," he smirked. We smiled and followed the lead of Ethan to save Lexter and Zoya.