Capítulo 7: Chapter Seven - The Water Nymph and the Queen
"Gaila! It's Gaila!" shouted Globus and Granger while Brix and Reevahn hurried in surprise after hearing the name of a lost comrade.
"Gaila! Gaila wake up! Where is Nina? What happened to you?!"
Gaila is still unconscious so they called a carriage to transport her in a safe place.
"Are you the one who was walking with Nina yesterday?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"In Elder's vision. We saw you together. So now, where is Nina? You should know something!" said Brix
"They said they were going to walk around the town. I thought they were just enjoying themselves. I didn't expect to lose my sight of Nina"
"Then, how did you know Gaila's on the river if you didn't do anything to them?"
"I was going to check if she visited the shrine, then I saw Gaila on my way to the shrine so I called for help. I also thought she was watching how to make the sword that I will give her."
"Is that true? Then take us to the swordsmaker."
"Where are Nina's things?" asked Reevahn
"In her room upstairs. She left it after we arrived from the shrine"
"Your Majesty…" whispered Gaila
"Gaila! You're awake!"
"Your Majesty… Nina… she…"
"Gaila, what happened last night?"
"Majesty? Who exactly are you?" asked Brix
"Excuse me, visitor, please respect the dowager, the previous queen and dowager of Queen Allythycne, Queen Arthemia."
Brix startled and suddenly bowed. "I'm sorry your Highness. I was just worried about our friend. I didn't mean to do that"
"It's okay. I understand. Now, Gaila, what are you trying to say?"
"Nina… was shot… with an arrow… and fell in water… then… I lost… my con… scious… ness.."
"Who did this to you?" asked the dowager
"Black… suit… in… shrine…"
"Where is that shrine? We should get revenge for Nina!" declared Brix.
"Wait. Don't just attack. You should think. Is Nina still alive?" asked Reevahn
"Yes.. I can still… feel her…"
"See? We should look for her first then attack." Said Reevahn
"No, no! Not yet. They're armed. You should have your weapons too." The dowager suggested, "I can also ask the bleacksmith to make you swords just like Nina"
"Thank you. After that we can attack" said Brix
"No, not yet. The sword is like a creature. It needs a soul to last. It should be elementally baptized before it can be used."
"By whom?"
"By Queen Allythycne"
"What about Nina?"
"In the palace, we will call the Elder. Nina fell in water. Water is the territory of the water nymph."
"and the Nymph is like the Elder's sibling so she can help in finding Nina?" added Reevahn
:You're right. So let's go to the blacksmith while Gaila takes her rest."
The dowager ordered swords for Brix and Reevahn. Later, she offered to go with her to receive their wishes in the shrine.
"Receive wishes?" asked Brix
"Yes. Yesterday, we went to the shrine to try how it works. I heard that the primary needs can be asked at the shrine" said the dowager
"Okay, I want to see that too. Where's Reevahn?"
"The human? He's upstairs to get Nina's things."
"Human eh?? Is there anything else I should look for?'
"Yes. Your unicorns."
"They're not unicorns. They are horses. They do not have horns you see."
"Maybe Gaila is the only unicorn?"
"What do you mean?"
"When I was walking with Nina and Gaila on the way to this town, she said something about Gaila being a unicorn."
"That wasn't a good basis. Nina has a very wide imagination and that would include her love and interest for mythical beings." Said Brix. "and also, my little pony" he followed
"Don't you think hybrids are mythical beings?"
"No. hybrids are crossbreeds whose abilities are from the purebreds." Mythical beings have some magic in them."
"Then. What can you say about the shrine's gifts? Aren't they magical?"
"Well, Santa Claus fever of children ceases after they know that it was their parents who asked for their wishes, let them sleep then put the gifts on their socks."
The dowager was amazed of Brix's way of thinking. Now that she thinks about it, she confirms something with Gaila.
"Your highness, where are you going?" asked Reevahn while going downstairs with Nina's belongings.
"I wanted to ask something from Gaila. Why don't you come with me?"
"What were you talking about?" Reevahn whispered to Brix
"Many?" said Brix
"the latest?"
"Santa Claus?'
Reevahn and Brix followed the dowager to Gaila.
"Gaila, how are you?" asked the dowager
"I feel better now. Thank you."
"Can I ask you something?"
"Yes, your highness, what is it?"
"Where were you last night? What were you doing before the incident?"
"We were by the river when Nina saw a light from the cave besides the shrine. We went there then suddenly black suited people attacked us. I tried to fly away with Nina but my wings aren't that strong enough. I wasn't able to save Nina… if only I was strong enough to protect her…"
"Gaila, don't tell me you developed romantic feelings for Nina?!" said Brix
"No. we're both female"
"You're a female?!" Brix and Reevahn were surprised "since when?!"
"Since I was born"
"That's enough. It doesn't matter whether she's a girl or a boy. We should check the cave already."
The dowager, along with Brix and Reevahn went to the cave.
I feel like I was asleep floating in a cold, wavy atmosphere. I opened my eyes and saw the water around me. I startled and tried to breathe. I can't believe I can miraculously breathe in water. I tried to swim to the surface but its too deep to visualize the depth of my location.
"Look at the situation around you first before struggling to free yourself." Said the echoing sweet female voice which sounds from the deep. "Look around, look down, look behind, and you will see the answer for your confused mind." She added
I tried to follow the instruction of the voice. I looked around from left to right and saw just water and bubbles. I looked down and saw a staircase made of compacted seaweeds. Finally, I looked behind and held my breath to my surprise. I saw a small underwater palace.
"What is this place?" I said to my mind
"This is my home" answered the voice
"Why can you hear my mind?"
"Because you are in my palace's territory. I can also hear the minds of anyone in the water."
"Where are you?"
"Inside my palace. Come in, you're my guest."
Luckily, I was able to take swimming lessons during grade school so it wasn't that difficult to mobilize in water. I swam until I reached the arch door of the palace. While swimming to the door, I was wondering what is the use of the staircase if you approach the palace downwards from the surface. Before the arch door, there is a court as the size of a junior Olympic pool.
"Hello? Where are you?"
"I'm here. Keep swimming."
As I reached the source of the voice, a silhouette of a mermaid amazed my sight.
"Are you a mermaid? A hybrid of human and fish?"
"No," she smiled
"You're so beautiful"
"Thank you."
The image of the beautiful creature appeared before me. She has a hip-length icy blue wavy hair decorated with a ribbon of pearls with poth ends pinned at both sides of her temporals. She wears an Arabian gypsy top matched with a pearl necklace. She has a tail of a mermaid in deep blue color which shines if reflected by light. Her face is as calm as an innocent girl and as caring as a mother's delight.
"You really look like a mermaid. A goddess of mermaids."
"Enough flattery" she blushed "I am embarrassed"
"Why are you embarrassed? A beautiful creature like you shouldn't be embarrassed. Hasn't anyone told you that you are that beautiful?"
"I have seen a lot of creatures from my waters. There isn't a single creature above that didn't have nose."
"That is because you live underwater. You see, I am not embarrassed if I lack something. I know that I'm not beautiful, strong or smart, yet, I struggle and think in positive way to free everyone including us."
"I don't know but I really feel shy about this."
"What is it?"
"You are my first personal encounter of above creature. And you are the very first to see me."
"Then I should be flattered. Anyway, why are you here alone underwater? Don't you have co-hybrids with you?"
"I am not a hypbrid nor a purebred. My name is Theta. I am the nymph guardian of this magical hidden spring, Thetys."
"Y-you are a water nymph? I'm sorry for my rudeness"
"No, it's ok. I have a friend above who treats me equally even if she doesn't see me while knowing I am a nymph."
"Anyway, why would a nymph take me to her place?"
"I want to know the personality of the person that I helped to bring back to life last night."
"What do you mean… back to life? Did I die?"
"Fortunately not but almost there. Poison infested your body and you had also severe hemorrhage. I don't want the smell of blood in my water so I healed you."
"Thank you. You saved my life so much that I don't know how to repay my debt to you."
"No. Don't think too much. I need you and your friends to save this spring. I want you alive until you're done with your mission. I also want to have a new friend."
"I'm glad to have a friend like you but what do you meed you need us for the mission?"
"Yes. You and your friends are the chosen ones."
"Ah! I get it."
"No, you don't. I can read your mind and you don't understand what I was saying."
"Well, maybe I just don't know how to start."
"Then, I will. Since the bad omen was created in the world, I was made together with this spring. The creator granted me powers to grant wishes and to read minds so that only good wishes should be answered. Many centuries have passed and the rumors might have spread from the land above. Almost everyone seeks for the magical hidden spring to grant their selfish wishes. Most of them are too greedy and got mad for their ungranted wishes. Then, there was calm before the storm. Not too many years have passed and I heard brain crashing mental sounds that echoed in the water. Not too long after that, I heard noisy people above the waters. They occupied the territory that the creator assigned me to protect. Because of my depression, the creator asked me to make just one wish for myself. I can't say that I don't want people because without them, the magic spring is nothing so I wished for a help from outside. Every fifty years. Three people arrive here. This time, it's you and your friends. To be acknowledged by everyone, I put spell in every portal to transform you into respectable knights."
"I understand but why didn't you show yourself to us the moment we arrived?"
"People of Cazanette only see me as legend and you are also part of that legend. They assigned someone to introduce you to the job of saving them."
"So you are responsible for Reevahn's rings?" I laughed
"Yes, I am. It will return to you after you fulfill your mission. Don't worry because you are the first to approach me, I have a gift for you."
"A gift? No. You don't need to"
"I'll give you a wish that will be surely granted whatever it is."
"I don't want to. I want to pursue for everything to reach my goals." I explained. "It will also be unfair to my friends if I get something and they don't"
"Therefore, you refused my offer. However, whether you wish for this or not, I will really give this to you." She said while reaching the gem on my suit. "I will give you the power of the element that is sleeping in your body and spirit. You'll be able to use it however you want."
"What is happening? I feel so warm inside."
"That is the power that I grant you. It will help you escape. Now, go back and reunite with your friends. Save yourselves, save the citizens, save the spring. You can ask for my help by calling my name in very water in Cazanette."
"Wait-" Theta covered me with a big bubble and ascended to the surface. "Thank you. I hope we'll see each other again." I whispered.
The shrine maiden opened the shrine's gate and welcomed the visitors. The dowager, Brix and Reevahn went directly to the cave to get what the dowager and Nina wished for.
The rock that covers the cave opening was rolled aside the opening. There was an altar where the gifts were set.
"C'mon, Reevahn, let's look for Nina's"
"You don't need to order me"
"I saw mine already". The dowager was holding a pack wrapped in red silk cloth tied with golden ribbon where her name was written. She opened the package and said. "These are what I wished for. But my wishes are easy for a Santa Claus syndrome"
"Santa Clause syndrome? Then, let's look for Nina's. I know, by this time, she can't resist not reading the latest release of anime magazine." Said Brix.
They saw a box and suspected that it's Nina's. They opened the box and saw ropes, magnifying glass, binoculars, shades, slingshot, mittens and hourglass. They checked the ribbon and confirmed that it is Nina's.
"Why are there no anime magazines?" said Brix
"Maybe The Creator doesn't know what are those" said the dowager
"But look at the things Nina requested. These are the things that were on the escape game she's addicted with. Maybe she's thinking of…" Suddenly, the phone's message alert tone is ringing. "Wait, excuse me" said Reevahn. He checked inside Nina's bad where the phones are kept. He saw Nina's phone flashing and saw a new message notice. He read the message which says:
"I know you're strong and I trust you. I'm glad you can send me a message. Brix and Reevahn's mothers contacted me and I texted them what you said. They don't want to believe you're in another world but that is our last hope since the rescuers I've sent didn't saw any traces of you there. I hope you'll come back soon"
"What is the meaning of this?" Reevahn was surprised.
"What?" asked the dowager and Brix in unison
"Nina has been able to text her mother inside Cazanette and she also replied… just now or a delayed message?"
"Now, I'm already confused about this cave. It can transmit signals between worlds, huh."
"It made me feel like I want to investigate more" said Reevahn
"Before that, we should baptize your swords to help you in your investigation. Come back here again if you're prepared." said the dowager.
They returned to the town with their things to get the swords from the blacksmith and fetch the three horses.
"Let's also bring Nina's sword so that we can make it baptized too" Brix suggested.
"We'll definitely bring it but I'm not sure if it can be baptized." said Reevahn.
"I believe the Queen needs the presence of the owner"
They left the Town of Knowledge and started to walk to the Cazanette Palace. They went through the fields where the townsmen harvest their crops. There are also grazing animals just like Master Ren's ranch. There was a mixed pack of animals like alpacas, giraffes, antlers and many different four legged herbivores.
"I wonder if the cattle is composed of hybrids" Reevahn wondered.
"No, they're not. They are purebreds. Can you imagine yourself eating a hybrid beef or pork? Before you slaughter them, they will beg you 'Please do not eat me, my family needs me'." teased the dowager.
Everyone laughs.
"Well, the truth is, they cannot be slaughtered. What I said earlier about them begging had happened before but there was a proclamation to use beans as a source of protein and only chemical extracts are used in beans to make a synthetic meat." explained the dowager.
They walked a not-so-long-distance to visualize the palace. Unlike in several kingdoms, you cannot see any gates or fences that separate the royal property from the commoners. They reached the village of the royal servants and later the doors of the palace.
In front of the big wooden door, the six of them stand lead by the dowager. Suddenly, servants lined up and greeted the newly arrived.
"Welcome back, your highness and visitors!" greeted the 12 Royal Servants in chorus who were wearing dresses similar to Sweden's National costume but in black, gray and white colors.
They marched through the hallway with pale wooden floors draped with indigo-flannel-long-carpet leading to the main hall with tall-ecru-walls-with-golden-pillars and indigo-ceiling-with-golden-chandeliers that looks like twilight sky with sparkling starlights. Suddenly, a red haired girl dressed with an elegant Victorian style beige and salmon pink gown is running towards them crying, "Welcome home mother!"
Brix and Reevahn downed on their knees and the three horses bowed to greet the queen. "Our pleasure to meet you, your highness."
"My pleasure to meet you, too. Come with me. Let's chat in the living room."
All of them followed the queen. Behind the throne is a passageway that leads to the stairs to the rooms. They entered a wooden arch door and they saw the wide living room. There are three red couches, a wooden center table and an indigo carpet. Behind the center couch is the glass door that leads to the veranda where the mountain range and the river can be seen.
"Come on, sit down. I heard from the messenger dove that you need me to baptize your swords."
"Yes, your mother suggested that." said Brix.
"Then shall we start?"
"Of course. We are ready." Answered Brix.
"Let's stay at the veranda. Elemental baptism needs the presence of the elements, the weapon and the body. Both of you should hold your weapons as I release the dominant element in you."
"Wait. If the weapon's owner isn't present, you can't baptize it?"
"Of course not. I will just release the hidden dominant element in your bodies to connect them with your weapon. If the source of power is absent, I can't transfer any energy in the weapon. Get it?"
"Yes. I'm sorry" said Brix
"Let's just wait for Nina's return before the baptism of her sword" said Reevahn.
They suddenly had a moment of silence. Queen Allythycne gently closed her eyes and released a white aura. The aura is like the tentacles of an octopus that flows freely in the wind. Brix and Reevahn's aura were like sucked by the tentacles and enveloped their bodies.
"It feels so warm." Brix whispered.
"I know. I feel it too." Reevahn whispered back.
While Brix and Reevahn's auras continued releasing, the Queen's aura returned to her body and watched Brix and Reevahn.
"Now, feel the presence of your released inner element and make your body and weapon as one. You should accept the weapon as the extension of your body." The Queen coached.
Reevahn's aura continued flowing as it advanced to the handle of the weapon. The Queen is still watching their progress. Brix has a little difficulty controlling the element as it hasn't flowed gently yet. Few moments later, even if startled, Reevahn remained standing and watched his sword melt into water and went inside the four gems on the right strap of his armor.
"Congratulations! You did it!" the Queen clapped.
"How is Reevahn done before me?" asked Brix
"Honestly, I did not have an idea on what element you have but while watching you, I can understand what those are. Reevahn's element is water. His aura is as calm as flowing water if controlled peacefully. Yours is a fierce wind. The reason why you can't control it easily is because it flows independently and struggling from your control. When you signed, it suddenly fused with your body during your relaxation. About your swords being sucked to the gems in your armors, I don't have any idea what happened. I've never seen that case before."
Queen Allythycne chatted with Brix and Reevahn. The Queen dowager took a walk at the Palace's backyard, a river bank.
A little boring travel underwater while inside a bubble reminds me of a mall attraction in our world, the bubble ride. I haven't been there before because I was afraid of hypoxia. But now, I can say that the feeling is very wavy that if you have motion sickness, you will die of dehydration as a result of vomiting. I cannot also see well underwater as I can see colors of vermillion green and navy blue to black. The water currents throw me wherever it wants. I wanted to be on the surface already. In my mind, I called,
"Oh, the most beautiful creature, nymph Theta, you know that I'm so very grateful to you but can you please make this bubble ascend to the surface? …beautiful nymph? …nymph Theta? …Theta?"
"Oh! I'm sorry Nina! I fell asleep! What was that again?"
"I'm asking if I can ascend to the surface."
"Oh! I'm sorry. I fell asleep. I lost control of the bubble. I will ascend you now. I have no idea where you will arise but please be careful."
"Okay, Thank you! I'll talk to you again soon!"
At last, my underwater travel is done. I can see the light of the sky little by little. Finally, the bubble is a foot away from the surface. Suddenly, the bubble burst out and I felt like drowning so I tried to swim my way out of the water and reached the bank. I rose up and saw a beautiful palace. Cypress trees were lined around the palace. While drying myself, I saw a familiar silhouette walking in the palace's hallway. I continued drying myself while watching it when it stopped for a moment and suddenly run towards me.
"Nina!!! Is that you?!!" she cried.
I suddenly stopped and trying to recognize the running figure. "Y-your… Your Highness!!" We both cheered while embracing each other.
"Where have you been? I'm worried so much about you." She said.
"I've been underwater. I was surprised to see that I'm in front of a palace. Since you are the queen dowager, you live here, right?"
"Yes, yes, I was just taking a walk. By the way, come inside, dry yourself and have a change of clothes."
"Um… I really wanted to but I can't remove my armor. Only my bottoms can be undressed."
"Oh, I forgot, sorry. Then dry up, and change your bottom wear. I will let you choose from my dresser."
"Oh, by the way, your Highness, I remembered you love fashion and tailoring. Have you claimed your requests in the shrine? Have you seen mine?"
"Ah! Yes, I did and guess what."
"What?"
"Someone already claimed it for you!"
"Gaila?"
"No. Male human friends?"
"Brix and Reevahn?! Wow! Have you met? Where is Gaila? Have you seen Gaila?"
"Gaila is with the other two."
"Where are they?" Suddenly, I heard a galloping sound. "Nina!!!"
At last, I was reunited with my unicorn friend. Next is the reunion with my male best friends.
"What do Brix and Reevahn doing her?"
"They wanted to take revenge for you and as what Gaila has told us, you were attacked by black suited people from the cave. The boys wanted to attack directly without preparing, like fighting with guns with no ammo, so I took them to the blacksmith where I ordered your sword and told them to be elementally baptized with their sword. They are currently with my daughter. Let's go"
We walked to the palace and I can still feel the buoyancy. It feels like the surroundings are revolving but still, I managed to enter the palace. It looks like we are from the backyard. We went up the stairs and entered a room, the dowager's room.
"This is my closet. You can choose whatever clothes you like while drying your bottoms."
"Thank you." I said and spotted a very nice skirt.
"That's good. Nice choice." She praised. "Here. Change your underwear. I never used this one so don't worry. I'm giving this to you."
"Thank you again. Isn't it a little too much?"
"Don't worry. We're friends, right?"
I changed the bottom clothes and not the armor. I can't remove them and it doesn't get wet. It matched with the pastel yellow above-the-knee-long balloon skirt. The dowager also let me borrowed some of her flat shoes to dry up my boots.
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