The topic was the discussion in the town and soon reached all corners of the dynasty. Two news spread side by side, the World Tree had awakened after about five hundred years. The second was that the daughter of Queen Elna had returned. Most people brushed the second off, taking it as a rumor which happened from time to time.
A banquet was held in the capital for Gilly and all important figures were present. She was given the royal seal of her mother which was the symbol of the royal blood. The celebration went on for an entire week and she became the center of attention. The news soon traveled as far as the southern continent of Nior, reaching as far as the northern region which was Abil province.
However, on the fourth day, Queen Elin took leave going back to her room on the eight floor. She went alone however, as all the guards were too busy to escort her, including Garamil engrossed in telling Gilly tales of her mother's exploits.
Elin was agitated, constantly stomping her feet as she approached her chambers. No maid was in sight so she had the leisure of cursing everyone including the world tree. Taking a cloak of the Shadow Moon elves and a pendant, she snuck into the forest and disappeared into the night.
Few hours later, she arrived at the edge of the capital where the influence of the world tree was the weakest. It had just woken up and its power and influence was still weak. An entrance to an underground passage stood among the corpse of dragons covered by the green vegetation under the canopy of the dense forest.
Proceeding down an array of stairs, she arrive at the bottom, revealing an open cavern. At the center stood nine pillars, each bearing similar engravings as vines twisted around them. Molds and grass grew here and there but the structure was still visible. Elin had discovered this place when her sister was on the run and only a few knew of it.
The teleportation array was a grand one connecting two continents together. She reached the center stretching forth her hand, a faint purple glow surrounded her skin. The whole underground cavern shook slightly which was followed by the vines on the pillar retracting. Light particles shot up from the ground and the next moment, she couldn't be seen anymore.
At the top of a mountain having it peak flattened, was a structure similar to an array, although some pillars had fallen and others where slightly damaged. Elin was on her knees at the center of the structure breathing like a thirsty leopard. She brought out a liquid in a glass bottle that glowed slightly. Breaking it on her head, her body had a slight green glow which lasted for a while then faded.
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“My Queen, you seem to be here two days before the time”. Wind blew dust in the air and the slim figure of a man with who had pointy ears and nose. His hair was black and his eyes white, with no pupils.
“Harzil, you seem to be waiting for me,” Elin was still sweaty, jumping from one continent to another was no easy task.
Approaching, the man’s face became visible as he held his hand forward to raise Elin from the ground. The light of several moons made the entire scene visible. It was barren as far as the eye could see. No light or structure to indicate any sign of life.
“The tree came back”.
Elin was calculative, always cautious. She never trusted anyone, even going as far as to kill her sister. But here she was being vulnerable to a demon. They had planned mischief for the past five centuries and now, they had come to their round table again after another failure.
“What do we do? I don’t have much time”.
She looked at Harzil for an answer, only the wind could be heard.
“Can you lure her out?” he asked folding his hand.
“That’s impossible.” she shook her head sighing.
“Then I guess I will have to cause some more trouble here to get that fox's attention."
“Is it possible?” She was hesitant, knowing the set of people she feared.
After a moment of deep thought, he spoke “We don’t have the advantage. But if I can kill that blue haired bitch and some disciples, then I can vanish for a while”. Elin face turned to an evil smile, she wanted to eliminate all traces of her competitors, the reasom surfacing as to why Elna and Elim were already dead.
“Make sure not to make a move, just sit still I will do the rest”. The plan seemed one side would work more but it was perfect.
“I let Sai out so he should give you feed back on the current developments." The moon shape pendant began to glow and Elin’s face turned sour once more.
“They found out, I have to go”. There said just a mutual agreement between too people. In a flash, no one was left hill top but the whistling of the wind in the moon light.
Making her way to the royal chambers, some members of the royal court and guards led by Katherine and Garamil barged into Queen Elin's room.
“What is the meaning of this” Catherine was pissed and Garamil was also at his tipping point. They both understood the Queens movement but yet no one Knew how she had escaped.
“Queen Elin, did you have hand in this?”
Iylin walked in looking at the Elin who sat on the bed with the moon reflecting on her skin through the open window. Her green eyes glowing in the darkness.
“What is the meaning of this?” She demanded angrily, her voice making the guards tremble slightly.
People were shocked at this response, Katherine's eyes twitched from rage.
“Sai had escaped, you have any idea where he is?”
Mizin voice was cold, she had been standing quietly behind but now she stepped forward her patience dwindling.
“What business do you have with the dynasty issue?”
Elin had to put thing under control. If Mizin was involved, then things will not end well.
“Mizin, I will handle this.” Katherine knew that Elin was right and she had to agree.
“Do you know of his whereabouts?”
Iylin asked again, being more aggressive than his usual self.
“No idea, I have been resting since in here”. This was her ideal case of no witness, no proof.
No one could help but curse under their breath, leaving the Queen's chamber, one by one. Mizin, being the last, gave her a glance then walked out and the guards closed the door behind her.
“Thank goodness I shut that fox up before she joined the fray”, she smiled. Just escaping the danger was exciting.