The Fallen Queen~[✓]

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 45

Three weeks.

It had been three weeks since the attacks started and increased day by day on three-fourth of Etis. Enchanted Islands saw the most part of it. Cecila, Prakash, and Fayna met extensively in Pentatox, and it started bustling with people all the time. An all-round emergency was declared in Etis (that's Etis's term for national Emergency). The Warrior training increased extensively and all the people of Etis were encouraged to work broadly on their magic and contribute to the security system. The Builders had already started the construction of the boundary walls, making them higher than before. The Water realm restricted the movement of anyone except Varya and Prakash and only the rulers and the Season Sisters could travel to and fro from the Enchanted islands to the Air Realm and Water realm (Zephads were used for traveling, as they proved much safer and everyone could go into the water on them).

Even the Water realm and the Air realm saw attacks, and there were almost fifty casualties reported by all the three realms together. The Beguiling Islands became so noisy, that from the borders, screeches, and laughter could be heard coming from there. The teachers of the School of Etis organized defense and awareness camps for the Youth.

All five of us migrated to Aspen and Mat's village, which was considered the safest for us for that moment of time. As things were proceeding, information was minimal to us. We just hung around, trying to improve our skills there. I could work more on my fire magic and hit people so hard that they flew off. I also could now sway my hands and produce some amount of smoke which apparently confused people and froze their brains for a millisecond.

What was the most problematic in Etis was that magic wasn't really grouped into a certain do's or don'ts. Generally, people owned a set of minimal powers they could use, and magic was just a touch of glamour in the Enchanted Islands, so it was difficult for people to be using it for something as grave as a defense. But Etis was working well, the measures taken up by the Pentatox were effective enough to push people forward.

Although Nature's Village was strongly guarded, we saw attacks almost every three days. I could fight away the serpents or the eagles or the ashy stuff that came up much better now, although Ryan would always stay beside me and help. What I was unclear about was the motives of all this happening around. Why was Zachariah so interested in attacking the place? It seemed like they were searching for something. Because if the motif was to destroy, I think those evil creatures could have done much better.

'Matilda.' I called out. She was sitting beside a bonfire, her face lit up yellow by the fire's light. 'I want to know what is happening.'

'I was waiting for you to come and ask me this Karishma.' Matilda replied calmly, with a smile on her face. Her eyes were looking even more lifeless than before. By the time she answered back, Ryan, Aspen, and Varya had joined us already. Mat stayed away, he hated the fact that I was living with them and practicing magic. He also was pissed about the entire situation, hence he wanted to stay away from us as much as possible. 'The stone, remember? It possesses the power to answer all your questions, you just have to concentrate harder. Go to the shrine, where Veer's mighty statue awaits you.'

We all obliged. And after rigorous meditation-type concentration, we slipped into the Beguiling Islands.

Answers.

Finally.