CHAPTER 58

CIRA WAS FUMING MAD when Xeke returned. Her bow and arrow was ready, but Xeke brought good news and she couldn't shoot him even after he stole a kiss from her!

"Don't you dare do it again!" Cira hissed at Xeke. "Ask first you bastard! Don't you dare! My lips are very precious!"

A fussing Cira looked so adorable in Xeke's eyes that even though he was being cussed at, he was still smiling. "Yes. I'll ask first."

"Good—"

"Cira?"

"What?!"

"Can I kiss you?"

"Of course, not!" Cira snapped and started walking, then she heard Xeke's voice with a hint of laughter.

"Cira, you're going to the wrong way." Said Xeke who was stopping himself from laughing.

"Piss off!"

Xeke chuckled before he held Cira's hand. He didn't let it go even when Cira bit his hand.

"I have to hold your hand, Cira." Xeke reasoned with his elf. "You might get lost again.

Grumbling to herself, Cira finally let Xeke hold her hand as he guided her towards the right direction.

Walking in the sacred forest, holding hands, Cira kept grumbling.

"You know, Xeke, we can travel faster if you let me go and lead the way through teleportation like you usually do."

"Hmm... You're right." Xeke agreed and then he suddenly just picked up Cira and run.

"Xeke!" Cira bellowed, but Xeke just pretended that he didn't hear it. He continued running with Cira on his arms until a group of elven warriors blocked their way.

And elven warriors meant they're on the right path.

Cira immediately jumped down from Xeke's arms and draw her bow and arrow against the elven warriors. Cira was ready to go to war just to enter the sacred forest when Xeke spoke.

"It's okay, Cira. I spoke to them." He said. "They won't do anything to you."

Cira turned to Xeke, frowning and confused. "Why? I'm pretty sure they all want to throw me out for breaking their sacred law."

Xeke took a deep breath and answer Cira in the most simplest way. "Warlord Hakkeran Adral."

Hearing that name, Cira clicked her tongue at Xeke. "Please don't tell me you're working for him." Cira clicked her tongue in annoyance again. "Of course, you're working for him. Everyone is working for him! Is that the real reason why you accompanied me, you annoying theft warlord?"

"I don't work for him, Cira." Xeke explained calmly. "We're friend and I'm just helping around. And you know why I accompanied you, Cira. Do I have to say it again? I don't mind."

Cira glanced at the elven warriors in front of them and she glared at Xeke. "Don't you dare say it. Don't be shameless in front of them! Have some decency, Xeke!"

Xeke chuckled and bowed his head a little to humor his adorable elf. "After you, my lady Cira."

Cira glared at Xeke again and with her head held high, she walked straight towards the royal castle of the elven kingdom while Xeke was behind her, as if escorting and guarding her.

Everyone Cira passed gasp and murmurs after seeing her. Cira didn't mind though, it had been a long time since she'd been kicked out. She didn't care what they say about her.

She's here for one reason only. And that's to help her queen fight the moonrite stone effect.

Without asking for permission and without receiving any grant of approval to have an audience with the King, Cira just barged into the throne room together with Xeke who was still standing guard, and the two only stopped when they were already in front of the Elven King sitting on the throne.

"Such insolence..." the princess beside the King muttered, but Cira heard it.

"Silence, Cora!" Cira throw the princess a sharp glare. "A brainless princess like you should shut up."

"You...!"

Cira didn't pay attention to Princess Cora and looked at the king. "I'm here to use the Elven elders' essence and insight to analyze a stone. I'm here under Warlord Hakkeran, so the word 'please' is not needed, is it?"

The King took a deep breath and sighed before he answered Cira. "Ciradyl, you're not even going to greet your father 'hello'?"

Cira grimaced. "The moment you kicked me out and stripped me of my title, you made it clear that you're not my father anymore. I'm here under Warlord Hakkeran, not for personal reason. Ate you going to lend the Elven elders or not?"

The Elven King sighed. "Why are you even asking me, Ciradyl, when you know I am in no position to say no to that Warlord?"

Cira smiled. "Good. I want the Elven elders now. I'm in a hurry."

"For the Mistress of Flame?" The king asked and when he saw the surprise on Cira's face, he added. "We hear things. So, Queen Sollel is back."

"Yes." Cira answered proudly. "And she will burn anyone who'll stand in her way." Cira turned her back on the throne. "Tell the Elven elders to meet me in the Sacred tree. The faster they come, the faster I will be out of your hairs."

Xeke followed Cira as she walked out of the throne room and when they were finally out, Cira stop to take a deep breath as if she was suffocated inside.

"Should I start calling you Princess Cira?"

Cira glared at Xeke. "Try and die."

Xeke chuckled and stood beside Cira. "You were amazing back there. I fell for you again, lady Cira. What am I going to do?"

"I don't care, you theft!"

Xeke chuckled again and hold Cira's hand. "You might get lost again. Let's go."

Cira had no sense of direction, but she knew she could find the sacred tree without anyone's help. She could even see it from where she was standing. So she didn't know why she let Xeke held her hand without complaints.

Maybe because Xeke's hand feels nice? Yes. That's probably it. Xeke had a nice hand and she liked it.

♕♕♕

SHE REMEMBERED. Those were Hakken thoughts when his lady asked him if he still haven't changed his mind about marrying her. He was too stunned to speak and answer, but his lady just laughed heartily and she turned her attention to Zassia who just finished bathing.

As the two conversed, Hakken still couldn't believe what he just heard. His lady remembered him. He thought that it was insignificant to her, but she really remembered.

Hakken wanted to speak to Sollel, to be alone with her again, to explain himself, but he didn't get the chance.

In no time, they were back to cross the desolate land valley. And because of his festering wound, he could only wield one blade and it was not enough to fight the monsters attacking them.

But Hakken needn't worry, Sollel's flaming bow was fierce and it pierces the monster's skin easily, burning them from the inside. Even though it was dangerous because of the beasts constantly trying to prey on them, Zassia and Sollel were more than enough to defend the whole group while Grath was looking out for Hakken who couldn't fight with his full strength.

Though they were lucky that they didn't encounter packs and hoards of monsters. Oh, they did, but Sollel let it rain flame and the monsters fled away, afraid to be burnt alive.

Sollel already had one-half of her strength back, even with only that, she was already a force to be reckoned with. But she knew it was still not enough to save Gatria. She needed her companions to save Gatria because the whole prison would surely be overflowing with moonrite stone.

When they reached the Hallowed Valley, she would not be an asset, but a liability to her group.

Three days of fighting monsters in the land beast's territory, Sollel, Hakken, Grath, and Zassia finally reached the edge of the Desolate land Valley.

After finally crossing the Desolate land Valley, Hakken called Nessus and they all rode him to see and observe the whole Hallowed Valley from above so they could formulate a plan.

And finally seeing the Hallowed Valley, Sollel knew that Gatria was there. The whole valley was barren, no vegetation could be seen. And after miles and miles of barren land, in the center of the Hallowed Valley was a big canyon.

"I think she's in there." Zassia said and pointed the center of the canyon. "That's the only place that has structure in the whole valley."

Sollel agreed with Zassia.

"Nessus, bring us down." Hakken ordered his gryphon. "We will be seen by wind sorcerers if we continued flying forward."

Nessus immediately flew them down and returned to the bead after rubbing his beak against Sollel's hand.

"We're still hundreds of miles away," Grath commented while facing the canyon in the center of the valley.

"This is safer," said Hakken.

"I have a plan." Sollel spoke and everyone looked at her and listened. "I, um," Sollel didn't want to speak of it, but as she travelled with her companions, she began to trust again. Not only Cira and Hakken, but also Zassia and Grath, and it may be hard for her to share it, her companions needed to know for her plan to work.

Sollel cleared her throat and muster all the courage she had. "I have a weakness," she started and Zassia and Grath immediately became worried and Hakken gritted his teeth. "And this weakness, the humans knew about it. That's how Yther's Kingdom fell. And," Sollel glanced at the canyon hundreds of miles away from them. "I'm sure Gatria's prison is filled with them. This stone weakens us and drain our essence. So, I can enter the prison with you. My plan is to stay outside and caused commotion as you enter the prison and save Gatria."

Sollel looked at Hakken, as if asking for his opinion, but he didn't say anything and just nodded, as if he was giving him her consent to do what he wanted and he will support her all the way.

That made Sollel smile. "I will enter the canyon through their entrance while you three will circle back and look for a way in while I distract them. Their attention will be focused on me, so that will give you an ample time to save Gatria. Of course, for that to happen, we have to part ways here and go to the canyon separately. We shouldn't all be seen together."

"And this stone..." Zassia bit her lower lip in worry. "You said it weakens you, I'm sure they will have that while fighting you, teacher."

Sollel patted Zassia's head to calm her down. "Don't worry. I have my cloak. Somehow, it absorbs the effect of the stone on me, but I don't know how long will this cloak last, so you three have to move fast and get Gatria out of her."

The plan was not sitting well with Grath, but he knew it was the best plan they had after learning of their queen's weakness. "And after we save Queen Gatria, where will we go, Your Highness? Where will we meet afterwards?"

Sollel had a plan to make sure that she wouldn't be imprisoned again so her reply was immediate. "Go to the Dwarven Kingdom. Tell their King that Queen Sollel sent you, and that they should give their all to protect Queen Gatria until I arrived."

Everyone nodded, but Sollel could tell that Hakken was just forcing himself to go along with her plan.

Seeing the queen glancing at Hakken as if wanting to speak to him, Grath signaled Zassia to give the two some privacy before their plan commenced. Fortunately, Zassia immediately understood and the two went behind a large dead tree to give Sollel and Hakken some privacy.

When Zassia and Grath went to rest on the tree, Sollel walked towards Hakken.

"Something bothering you?"

Hakken shook his head.

"Are you sure? You look worried."

Hakken finally gave in and exhaled. "You will be traversing this barren land alone, of course I'm worried!"

"I'm hearing a 'but'."

Hakken sighed heavily. "But... I know I have to let you go alone because we all have our roles to play. A plan is a plan. I won't let my emotion ruin it."

Sollel smiled at how Hakken was trying so hard not to stop her. "Keep Gatria safe, Hakken. I will leave her to you."

Hakken nodded before he stepped closer to Sollel and pressed his lips against her forehead. "Please be careful, my lady. I don't want to see you get hurt."

Sollel chuckled. "Hakken, with my kind of plan, I'm going to get hurt for sure. I'm maybe strong, but they have a moonrite stone to weaken me. It'll be easier if you accept it early on."

Hakken's jaw tightened. "I don't like that."

"I'll be fine." Sollel kissed Hakken on the lips. "The worst thing they could do to me is imprisoned me again. What's new?"

Hakken's expression darkened. He didn't really like the thought of her being imprisoned.

My Hakken is so sweet. Sollel wrapped her arms around Hakken's waist and hugged him close. "Be careful. And don't forget to look out for Grath and Zassia. They're not as experienced as you in battle. They could hold their own, but against large numbers of enemies, they'll be in trouble."

Hakken nodded and hugged Sollel back. "Don't worry about us, worry about yourself."

"Hmm," Sollel replied before she placed a soft kiss on Hakken's jaw. "You too."

Silence fell on Hakken and Sollel, as if their conversation had ended, but no one lets go. The two continued hugging each other, but even after a long while, the two didn't want to part.

But they know they had to.

Pulling away from each other, Sollel and Hakken looked into each other's eyes and smiled.

"Be careful," said Sollel as she stepped back.

"Take care," said Hakken who nearly step forward to hold his lady again.

Turning her back on Hakken, Sollel went to say goodbye to Zassia and Grath. She found the two behind the dead tree. Zassia was practicing her crawling flame— she could not hold it for one full minute— while Grath was using his flame essence to sharpen his claw attacks.

Sollel smiled at that. Her blessing was not for naught. Seeing these two practicing their flame essence and grow makes Sollel felt proud. They've come a long way. From meeting, traveling and now, they were risking their lives for her. Sollel felt moved.

She hated humans to the core of her being, but she couldn't hate Zassia. Her little adorable and smart Zassia.

"Be careful out there, little Zassia." Sollel said and patted Zassia's head. "Don't be careless and if worse came to worst, run and escape. I won't be mad at you if you saved yourself first. I'll even commend you."

Zassia nodded, earnestly listening to Sollel.

Then Sollel turned to Grath. "Grath, take care of Zassia for me. And take care of yourself too. I want you too unharmed when I see you again. That's an order."

Grath nodded and bowed his head. "Yes, Your Highness!"

Sollel took a deep breath and glanced at Hakken who was now walking towards them. "We have to move now. Good luck. I will cause as much disturbance as I can to give you time."

The three nodded simultaneously and with a heavy feeling in their chests, they watched their queen leave. Alone.

Instead of letting his emotion control him, Hakken took a deep breath and face Grath and Zassia. "Let's go. We have to move as well."

With one last look towards the direction their queen took, Grath, and Zassia followed Hakken's lead.

♕♕♕

IT WAS SOLLEL'S FIRST time traveling alone since she met Cira. Walking in this barren land, Sollel was wondering why it was called a Hallowed Valley. Maybe hallowed because it had nothing, but the canyon in the center.

Or maybe it looked different before and it only changed when they imprisoned Gatria here. Gatria's resentment was so strong that she could even feel it.

She was excited at the same time nervous to see Gatria after so many years. If blame would be thrown around, it'll be her fault. All hers alone. It was her idea to help the humans. It was her fault alone.

She regretted being drawn to humans. She regretted helping them and she wanted to right her wrong. But first, she had to ask for forgiveness to Gatria, Aenwyn and Astrid. She had to ask for her people's forgiveness.

She knew she couldn't bring back what was lost, but she will work hard to protect what was left.

The tears that fell from Sollel's eyes dried on its own because of her body temperature. She was mad and she was literally boiling inside.

Sollel wrapped her cloak tightly around her and she continued her journey. After recovering half of her strength, her body had become indomitable to fatigue. She could walk for days and be okay, but she still rested. She had to save her strength for the chaos she will make.

Alone and resting, Sollel passed her time by playing with her flame. Her blood of flame created small creatures with two hands and legs and it started dancing.

Sollel laughed alone at how adorable her flame was, but in an instant, she felt saddened. She was already used to laughing with Hakken.

Hakken... Sollel hugged herself and sighed. I want to see Hakken. Or Hakkeran. Anyone.

She hated being alone, even before.

Sollel took a deep breath and rested her chin on her folded knee. Being alone was making her think about things she had been trying to avoid thinking.

"Gatria..." she whispered as her palm rested on the barren land. "I'm sorry I won't be able to save you personally. I know, I owe you that and more. This only happened because of me. Because I trusted them. It was me who made a bad decision. It was me who damned us all. It was all my fault. But I didn't mean to, Gatria. I really didn't mean to cause trouble. You can punish me and I'll accept. Even if Astrid made me kneel for a century, it wouldn't be enough to compensate for what I did. I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you... I'm so sorry, Gatria. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

Sollel's tears kept falling from her eyes, but before it could drip down, it'll be dried off because of her body heat. Therefore, it didn't escape her eyes were a flower just suddenly bloomed beside her palm on the ground.

"Gatria?" Sollel couldn't help hoping.

This was a barren land! How could a flower just suddenly bloom here?! It had to be Gatria!

"I have companions, Gatria." Now, Sollel was talking to the flower. "They're taking a different route. They're the one who will enter your cell and free you while I distract the enemies. If... If you could guide them with your flower, if you still have the strength, please, it'll be a big help. And a man named Hakken will save you together with Zassia and Grath. I know I shouldn't ask, but please, heal Hakken for me. I don't want to lose him, Gatria. I still have to make up for the three lifetimes I missed. So, I beg you, please heal him. I'll do anything, just heal his arm. It had been poisoned and it had no cure. But I know you can heal him. Just... Just don't touch him too much. He's mine."

Sollel didn't know if Gatria heard her because the flower started to wither then it disappeared.

Meanwhile, miles away from Sollel, the trio— Hakken, Grath, and Zassia— stopped on their track when they started seeing flowers blooming on a dead land.

They became wary, but when they realized that the flowers was pointing them towards the canyon, everyone was stunned.

And in a heartbeat, Grath kneeled in front of the flower and spoke to it. "Queen Gatria?"

As if to answer Grath, flowers bloomed to make a path towards the canyon. But it didn't last long. The flower started to wither and it disappeared.

"If that's really Queen Gatria," Zassia breathes put. "She's weak, but she's conscious. We have to get to her fast!"

Hakken nodded and the trio started running. From time to time they would see flowers blooming to give them direction. Because they know where to go and what direction to take to avoid anything that could block their path— thanks to the flowers— the trio was already almost near the canyon.

Just a few miles and they'll arrive in the canyon. And after that, they only had to wait for their queen to cause distraction and they'll enter.

They know it was easier said than done, but they were willing to risk it. They already came so far. It's do or die.

And they all chose 'do'.

♕♕♕

AT THE CENTER OF the canyon in the Hallowed Valley, at the bottom where there was nothing but dirt and moonrite stone, a woman was chained to the walls and ground. Her once light brown hair had darkened and was now close to black.

She was weak. She couldn't even open her eyes, but her consciousness was wide awake. She could feel the movement on the ground, the breath of life outside her cell and the vibration in dead soil around her.

Countless of years being imprisoned, countless of years feeling her resentment tripled, and after countless of years being alone in the dark abyss that she was in, she felt her.

She felt her familiar heat on the barren land. She felt her presence closing in. She felt her guilt and her anger and her remorse and her strength.

She felt the presence of another queen— the queen of distruction and fire known to all as the Mistress of Flame.

Weak as she was, a smile made its way to her lips and for the first time since she was caged, a word escaped her mouth— not a word, but a name.

"Sollel..."

CECELIB | C.C.