Ellie watched as Charles manoeuvred through the destruction to reach the crowd of hooded figures with Alec sitting on his shoulder. The warriors on the wharf were frantically organizing their plans to assault the coliseum around Karn’s fallen pack.
Her gaze fell upon the wreckage left by the monster, triggering a flood of memories and trauma from Earth. Ellie watched in disbelief as the Reaper, a creature that consumed the living, reformed before her eyes. As the hooded warriors fought, their gestures and expressions had revealed the horrifying screeching the beast had made. In that moment, Charles had clutched Ellie's arm tightly, his face set in a wince as he let go of her arm and clutched his ears.
At that time Ellie’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of helpless people being devoured by the monster. History was repeating itself, bringing with it the same despair she had felt. However, amidst the darkness, there was a glimmer of hope. Her new watery friend swiftly tore the beast apart, preventing it from splitting and multiplying. The horror was averted, at least for now.
The black Gem Scarf shattered was just like the one Alec had destroyed. The corrupted gems held the key to obliterating these monsters. Ellie couldn't help but wonder if the Reapers had followed them or originated from this world.
Moving alongside Charles and Alec, Ellie navigated through the destruction and bloodstains on the docks, making her way through the traces of the Reaper. Hope, a pretty girl who apparently knew Karn, pointed towards a ship adorned with a giant golden emblem.
Ellie focused intently on Hope's lips as she spoke, "He was on the King's ship." The gravity of her words was evident, as Hope held Karn's pack tightly, treating it as if it were something precious.
As the zipper of the pack was pulled open by Hope, Ellie's eyes widened in anticipation. Her attention was drawn to the red book nestled within. Another memory resurfaced, a painful recollection of the moment she had first encountered the book's power, an encounter that had left her deaf.
"He was going to take this to the King," Hope conveyed, her words clearly understood by Ellie stared at her lips.
Deep in thought, Ellie contemplated those words. According to Maze, the King had an insatiable desire for the Book. If it held such paramount importance, wouldn't it be delivered directly into his hands, rather than being left waiting for him on his ship?
The puzzle pieces of the situation started to fall into place as Ellie's mind raced with possibilities and implications.
Ellie's eyes moved from the ship and towards the blonde women that surrounded them.
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The golden clad woman warriors stood around them refitting their cloaks around themselves, hiding the alluring outfits behind thick dark robes. They were eyeing the coliseum in the distance with the same hunger she had seen on wild animals. Ellie found herself watching the women with fascination.
Shaking off the distraction, she redirected her thoughts back to the ship.
Why there? The ship looked ready to depart at any moment. Even some ropes that moored the ship had been released. Perhaps the man behind the monster intended the book to be delivered to someone else. She dismissed the thought and examined the faces before her.
A cool hand fell on Ellie's shoulder as Scarf stood beside her. Scarf’s liquid features mirroring Ellie's own reflection. Scarf looked deeply into Ellie's eyes and smiled. With a swift splash of water, a tiny droplet entered Ellie's ear canal.
Ellie flinched at the chilling sensation but then froze as the familiar sound reverberated through her entire being, bypassing her ears.
"What troubles you?" a feminine voice asked.
Ellie's grin widened as she recognised the voice from the temple. Scarf was reaching out once again.
As Ellie responded, Charles turned curiously. A calm expression washed over Alec's tiny stony face as Ellie reassured him, "I'm okay, really. Thanks."
Scarf nodded in understanding; her watery features filled with dismay. They pointed at the destruction, where the remnants of the shattered black gem were still visible.
"I've put the young one to rest," Scarf said, their voice tinged with sadness.
A rumble resonated through Ellie's chest as a masculine voice echoed, shaking her very being. It was as if the earth itself shifted.
The voice reassured the young Elementlet, "It's okay, little one. You did what you had to."
Suddenly, a realisation struck Ellie. The magic gems bore a striking resemblance to Alec’s and Scarf's own heart stone. She placed a hand on Scarf's shoulder, pulling her into a hug. Despite expecting to be drenched, Scarf's control over her watery body formed a cohesive surface, preventing the water from dispersing.
Slowly, Scarf's face transformed, revealing a warm smile as she embraced.
Gently, Charles placed a hand on both their backs, pulling them into a tight embrace for a moment. Then he signalled it was time to move. As Ellie broke away, she noticed the warriors dispersing down alleyways or scaling buildings.
Her eyes shifted from Scarf to the green book in Charles' hand. The Black Ink within all the books bore an uncanny resemblance to the black corruption of the Gems. It seemed that the Ink was at the centre of it all.
Charles nudged Ellie, snapping her out of her dark thoughts. She gazed into his handsome features, feeling a swell of warmth in her chest. She was proud of how quickly Charles had grasped the magic and how impressively he unleashed it from the book. Even Maze seemed surprised by his level of control.
In the distance, a hand waved urgently, catching Ellie's attention.
She thought to herself, speak of the devil, as her eyes landed on the weathered face of the storyteller.
He looked alarmed, almost panic. Ellie tapped Charles on the shoulder and pointed towards the man. As soon as he spotted him, Charles began to run, spurred on by words lost on Ellie.
Soon, the five of them were racing down the path.
Hope sprinted alongside Ellie, her grip on Karn's pack tightened, her knuckles turning white with the force of her grasp. A look of sheer panic was etched across her face, her eyes wide with fear and urgency.