Everess, with closed eyes, floated above the water, as she was deep in concentration. Beside her, two pink orbs and one atop appeared. The gushing waterfall and the sound of the forest at night were all to be heard besides the faint resonance the orbs made as they spun. She took a deep breath as she tried to maintain her control over the orbs.

The orbs began to circle her as she raised her palms toward the air. She felt the pull of all the three orbs around her, the weight they have. She took another deep breath as she asserted control over her magic.

So far, so good, she thought, satisfied with the power she was wielding. After a short moment, she felt a slight tingle all over. The pull of the orbs became stronger with each second. They pulsated and began to struggle to control them. The pink orbs darkened as energy began to leak out and the tingle became stings. Sting that became unbearable by the minute.

She grappled with it to assert control. As her already thin grip slipped, she gasped for air, and the orbs turned deep purple. She hurriedly launched them into the sky, where they exploded in a spectacular burst.

She caught her breath as she hovered to shore, needing a moment to rest.

What’s going on? She asked herself. Unable to explain what had just happened. Glancing at her palm, she noticed the purple energy still leaking out. She closed her hands as she struggled to keep it under control. Her hands shook until, finally, she felt it subside. She opened her hands once more, and the leak was gone.

That’s too much power. She murmured to herself. Feeling the weight of the immense energy she had just experienced. It was her first time feeling such overwhelming power. Suddenly, she recalled the words of the light maiden from her dreams.

“I’m sorry for what we have to do.”

Was this what it meant? Her nose flares up and her breathing becames shallower and shallower. She felt that the world was against her. Everything was piling up all at once. Her frustration and anger finally welled up as she let out a terrible scream.

The surroundings felt her resentment of the world. The birds that rested for the night flew away while the falls itself briefly stopped flowing. She then held her head as she began to sob, as she had no one to turn to anymore.

She looked at the ground as she cried; I need my friend; she pleaded.

She looked at the ring her mother gave her. It bore a shiny maroon-colored ruby with the insignia of their people. How it was the only thing she had brought with her that carried any significance?

She thought of the task ahead and the challenges it would bring to her. Her lips still trembled and fear sat in as she saw her surroundings, disturbed by her scream alone. Then behind her was Ravaen, who landed gently, and Glaivel, who approached her cautiously.

Ravaen only looked at her with confusion, as if he felt sorry for her. Glaivel only looked at the surroundings, astonished — and frightened for what she had done, unknowingly.

“Everess,” Ravaen softly called out.

“You did,” Glaivel softly said as he slowly approached her.

“I — I did not do this on purpose. I swear.” She tried to explain. When Glaivel pulled his bow on her. Ravaen quickly got between them as he spread his wings.

“Calm down there, Glaivel. You need not to do that.” Ravaen tried to reason with Glaivel.

“Look at what she did! She said it herself. She did not do this on purpose. Imagine what she could do if she did!” Glaivel shouted.

“I said, calm down,” Ravaen said as he pointed at her. “Look at her. She is as stunned as both of us. There has got to be an explanation as to why.”

Then Ravaen looked at her. “I’m sure this is why the Empire chose Everess,” Ravaen said.

He was right. It pains her to know it, but Ravaen was right as she stood up slowly.

“She’s too dangerous. We are fodder for Tamiron for her to do her work.” Glaivel explained harshly.

“I’m pissed too, okay?!” Ravaen suddenly shouted as he tried to get Glaivel’s attention. “Right now, though, she is our best shot against him! You have no idea how powerful Tamiron is with the Tamiron Stone on his chest!”

“Don’t you think I know that?!” Glaivel shouted back. “That is precisely the reason I did not train him years ago when they asked!”

Her ears rang as the two still argued about what to do with her. They spoke as if she was not there. The ringing in her ears became deafening as her anger and frustration welled up once more.

“Enough!” she shouted and an immense wave of force emanated from her, throwing the two off their feet.

“I’ve had enough of men talking about me like I’m not here!” she shouted as the wave of force continued to emanate from her as she hovered. “I will do what I must to stop Tamiron! I will do what is asked of me, so you better do yours!”

“Everess! You need to calm down!” Ravaen shouted. “We are your allies! You need to calm down!”

His words reached her clearly, cutting through the ringing in her ears. She drew a deep breath, allowing the lingering echoes to fade away, and gradually, amidst the persistent calls of Ravaen, she descended, settling back onto the ground.

She felt weary, worn out by the constant challenges thrown her way. The weight of her parent’s deaths, the empire’s keen interest in her, and the unbearable truth that she has to end Tamiron’s life — her friend — pressed heavily on her shoulders, like an invisible burden that she couldn’t shake off. The pressure was taking a toll on her, and her weariness was causing her to lose what little control she had over her magic. She looked at both Ravaen and Glaivel, who has put away his bow to check up on her.

“We need a plan. Because right now, it is clear why they want you on this mission.” Ravaen said as he tried to explain it to her.

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“It’s really going to be hard not to die now because we not only have Tamiron to worry about, we have to worry about her as well.” Glaivel pointed out.

“Will you just shut up? My animos, seriously, shut up. We realized that, okay? Can you just for one second try to read the situation? I swear, you Sulinhawis are all like this,” Ravaen called Glaivel out as he pointed at him.

Glaivel only sighed as he checked up on her too.

“I’m just too tired right now.” She said with heaviness in her voice. “I don’t think I can end his life, despite what the Imperial Council asked of me.” She explained to them.

But both of them only looked at her. With Ravaen, clearly being relieved of some sort as he smiled at her.

“You know, I’m really glad you said that. Because I have my reservations too.” He explained. “I want to know why he did what he did. It isn’t really like him.”

She felt a wave of relief as she smiled directly at him. “I’m so glad it’s not just Sevidon who thinks of that way then.” They share a brief laughter. A shared understanding between the two.

“Why are you even here then? Can’t you just go to him yourself and find out?” Glaivel said as both of them looked at him. “I’m here to end a threat. He is one. Now you two may have some deep connection with him, and I respect that. But he is clearly a threat. So you two do what you wish. But I will make sure all of us come out alive after this.”

Then that relief was replaced with sadness. Glaivel’s words hung heavy in the air. His words hit hard. She was hurt and disappointed — yet she understood what Glaivel meant.

He was right, Tamiron is indeed a threat. But she was torn between her loyalty to Tamiron, and her promise to Moselei, and the need to follow through with the council’s will. Glaivel only spoke about survival and their safety — and seeing the mission through. Clearly, it says a lot about his character.

“Can we try to discuss this as a group once we have everyone, then?” Ravaen asked of him.

“Again, Ravaen. I will respect your wishes. But I will follow through with this. You and the rest can discuss it yourselves. If Everess is only meant to use us fodder for him. Then I don’t see the reason not to use you all the same way?” Glaivel then promptly left.

“Glaivel, come back!” Ravaen called him out, but he went straight back to the temple.

Ravaen only looked at her as he sat her properly on a nearby rock that was enough to sit on. “Rest for now. I’ll try to take you back once you are okay.”

“Thank you.” She said to him, as he only nodded.

“You know, I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one that Tamiron had an impact on. That he has allies everywhere at least,” Ravaen said with relief all over his face.

“He is my friend.” She said softly, a gentle smile played on her lips. Her gaze remained steady, offering a glimpse of her friendship with Tamiron.

“I can see that,” Ravaen said. She was surprised and looked at him as he smirked. “Your smile says a lot. And I won’t press you any further about it.”

“Thank you.”

“How was he?” Ravaen suddenly asked her. “You know, before all this.”

She chuckled. She didn’t really know where or how to begin as she tried to figure out where or how to sift through memories of their past.

“He was different, you see. I’ve met other royalties before. But he was different.” She said, with nostalgia evident in her voice.

“All I could say really is, he is a man you can rely on. He inspires confidence. He’s oozing off it. The fact as well that he cares a lot for us, despite not being Trasidian in the first place, really says a lot.” She said as she looked at the night sky, littered with stars and a full luna.

“That does sound like him.” Ravaen said as he did the same.

As she reminisced, all the memories, the happy memories, became a burden to her. As she once again remembered what she was supposed to do. To him. Her smile slowly dwindled as she once again grappled with the situation.

“Don’t worry. The others will see.” Ravaen suddenly said. She turned to him as he continued to admire luna at that time.

“The others will see reason. The others will see the reason as to why we decided to do this in the first place. They will see who Tamiron really is” Ravaen suddenly looked at her. “I’ll punch him myself to wake him up.”

Both of them chuckled.

“Well, count me in then.” A voice suddenly said.

They turned to see a man, covered with a beard, with fangs coming out of his mouth from the bottom.

“Who are you?” Ravaen suddenly called out as he began to draw his sword.

“Easy there, friend. I’m not looking for trouble.” The man with a fur coat said. “I’m here because the Imperial Council summoned me.”

Confused, she asked. “Who are you exactly?”

“My name is Graveloth Demio of the Iron Kingdom of the Kra’ens. I’m an ally.” Graveloth finally introduced himself.

Confused, Ravaen said. “I have not heard of the Demio clan from the Iron Kingdom. Are you new? Because the current royal family is the Jaghjourns.”

“Ah, yes. About that.” Graveloth said, and he began to tell them what had happened.

Her eyes widened as Graveloth recounted the unexpected turn of events. A gasp escaped her lips as she was frozen in disbelief. Ravaen was dumbfounded. Amazed at what he was hearing. She was in disbelief, with a bit of concern, as she was not expecting it to go that way in the first place.

“And that is how I got in on this quest.” Graveloth finished his tale.

Ravaen suddenly had a laughing fit.

She only shook her head in disbelief. “So, you mean to say that you have a special ability to command the air, and no one knew?”

“Yes. They were pretty shocked. The crowd too.” Graveloth said as he humbly brag.

“Come on now. That is quite impossible that no one knows. Right?” she clarified, because it was simply impossible. “I have not heard of any other beings on this continent that could manipulate the elements. We could, with our magic. But nothing outside of us, no.”

“I wish I could really tell you. But I do not know why I could either. I just do.” Graveloth said. “But the Imperial Diplomat then said that I would be an asset, so here I am.”

“The Jaghjourns deserves it, really. They are the most arrogant people I’ve ever had the pleasure of entertaining. The Princess there as well was a headache. They deserve the humiliation they got.” Ravaen explained as he finally got a grip on his laughter.

“Yeah, I agree with you on that front. They did throw me in prison.” Graveloth said as he chuckled a bit.

“Everyone’s going to be surprised. You should ask Glaivel for a sparring match!” Ravaen suddenly suggested.

“What? No! You are just going to make things worse!” She immediately shot the idea down, but Ravaen was still enjoying it.

“So, since we are going to be allies. I want to be honest with both of you.” Graveloth smile slowly faded as he became serious. “I overheard most of your talk and with the other fellow who walked out. And there’s three of you, who doesn’t want to end Tamiron’s life?”

“Yes. Pretty much.” Ravaen said as he finally calmed down. “Are you with us or with Glaivel, then? Seeing as you heard most of our conversation, you eavesdropper. Might as well tell us now, so we know who we will watch out for.” He said, straight to the point.

Graveloth only sighed. “I will be honest. I only met the Imperial Prince once in my shop. He seemed like a good person. But I see your friend’s point too. So I would need some time to think about it.”

“That’s all I ask, really. Thank you.” She said to Graveloth.

“Look,” Ravaen said as he pointed out to the water.

Her eyes widened, captivated by the scene. The water shimmered in a soft, light blue glow, casting a gentle radiance into the air. It seemed to sparkle, creating an enchanting display. The glow was like a luminescent dance. As it painted the air. It was as if the essence of the night had blended with the water and night scenery of the forest. Making it seem like the forest was enchanted. It was truly mesmerizing.

“I’ve only experienced this once or twice. Still amazes me whenever I get to experience this,” Ravaen said as he appreciated the night canvas the forest provided them.

“I remembered going to the small pond outside of Sanctum on these types of nights because of this phenomenon. It was the only time I could really appreciate its beauty.” She said, fascinated by the show. This was not her first time, but it felt like it every time.

She looked at their new companion, Graveloth, and saw awe in his face. She just let him appreciate the beauty that unfolded in front of them.

“What is this?” Graveloth could mutter.

She took a deep breath and said. “A phenomenon that only happens when summer is about to end, and when fall was about to begin.” She looked at the glorious sight. With Luna shining to its fullest. “It’s a Lunaflare.”

End of Chapter XIX