The booming voices from the outside came thrilling my ears. The Echelons are ringing us so early in the morning."Wake up! Wake up! Rise and find, rise and find!" A bright light hit me in the face. It's not coming from the rays of the sun, it's Nathalia's light! Her hands were aglow again irritating our dear eyes."Get your light away from my face you witch!" Corinthians spat angrily as she tried to push the light away from her face. Nathalia seems to be enjoying as she just chuckled at our reaction specially to Corinthians's annoyance."I'm trying to wake you up, duh? Let's get ready!" Nathalia said, still chuckling as the light from her hands slowly ceased. Corinthians and I could finally breathe and move properly as our vision adjusted to the sudden darkness. I squinted my eyes and roamed around the smokey woodland. I could see nothing but white smokes, the early dusts in the forest.The sun hadn’t risen yet, but we had to hurry with the search because we weren’t the only ones loo
My steps were heavy just as how I stepped from that labyrinth in the palace before. The only difference is that I am in more dangerous reality now, this is life and death. This ain't fairytale and illusion anymore. This is happening. My extrasensory perception remained awake. We made a quick journey to the place I was heading; to the cave I saw last night."Are we still far?" Corinthians asked."We're near." I replied."In your vision, we are near. I can't even see a cave here, it's full of thick bushes and stems." said Nathalia, I didn't respond. I just went straight. The cave came closer and closer to my sight, and the things that shone inside became clearer."Fray is coming!" Greyson's enthusiastic voice boomed. But his forehead immediately wrinkled as the eagle landed on his shoulder."What is it Fray?" The eagle was loud, it was restless."Did you roam around?" Greyson didn't stop asking his pet as if they were the only ones there and they were the only ones who really understoo
My screams rang out and echoed throughout the wilds when I felt like I had drowned in my run. I thought I was going to stumble down but then suddenly I felt myself floating in the air. Simultaneously, with my floating in the air was the fall of the tree beside me. The big bear just ran into the big tree that almost hit me.What the heck?"Oh gosh!" I cried out in pain as I fell to the ground. I turned to the prince who's now looking down at me. I trembled, I tried so hard to prevent my eyes from welling. I felt like I just failed, I felt like I did a very crucial mistake at such early game, and had not because of the Prince, I would have been injured so bad. The Prince saved me once again.Oh ghad! I really need to get myself together. But what can I do? I am fully awake, it's just that, I cannot catch up with their pace this instant. They trained their whole lives for this while I was just brought to be a bait, and here I am now, facing the consequences of being stupid. I know I can
The prince looked down at me until our eyes met. He reacted, "Tss," before letting go of me.Argh! How many times have I fallen this morning? And how many times has the prince been the cause of that as well? The grassy Prince just knocked me down!"We're here, stop dreaming!" the Prince said rudely and walked ahead to follow the Echelons. Because I didn't want to be left behind, I immediately complied. My clothes got dirty right away, and some parts of my clothes got wet. Fortunately, my insides didn't come off somehow despite getting wet, because it would be really difficult. I don't want anyone to think of me rudely.We will climb this ascending forest again. It's tiring, I'm not happy at all. But I could do nothing. Because in the first place, it's me who decided to join as I took the Echelons' and the Prince's decision as an opportunity to be with them despite being a bait."Stupid, can you move faster?" The prince said looking annoyed after looking back at me. I was shocked at th
From my normal vision my eyes went to the upper part of the cave tunnel."A STONE!" I shout. We stopped at once. It’s amethyst, the color is freaking amethyst — incant be mistaken, I know it belongs to the gemstones with high scores."Let's get it!" Nathalia shouted, just as she jumped to pick it up, the ground we were standing on cracked and the rocks in the tunnel fell."The cave is about to collapse we need to get out!" Corinthians shouted."But the stone!""Run fast!"I didn't know what to do, so I just ran out of the cave so as not to be trapped inside. Corinthians and Greyson were out, I was about to go out but I turned to Nathalia who was still looking for the gem."Nathalia stop it! Let's go!" I yelled.When she didn’t listen to me, I turned to her and tried to pull her away."Let's go..." I shouted."Let go witch! I can already see the gem!" She shouted.I can see it too. But the rocks kept falling on the entrance of the cave, if we could not get out immediately we would be t
Everything rushed in my mind at the same time. I could not think clearly, all the evil I had done, all the sufferings I had been through, all the pain, was all at once whispering and spinning my brain.And I'm running out of breath.I'm in the middle of thick bushes, trees that are source of oxygen but I'm running out of breath. I held on to a tree to support myself not to fall. I massage my chest to calm and manage my breathing."Let it out." Chrysler said.Chrysler was there. He lend me his hands and helped me to stand up. He cupped my face with his bare hands and wiped my tears away."Shh, look at me. Let it out, don't stop your crying more painfully." He smiled and shook me gently."I — I'm fine," I sobbed."No you are not. Come here, come on," He said and let me rest in his chest. I felt his hands rubbing my hair. "Shhh, It's okay. It's all right. Everything's gonna be fine." He said comforting me.And for the mean time, I spit out half of my pain. It was only halfway there but
It's almost four in the afternoon and we only have one stone found. Unbelievably, a day have passed and we've been doing the same routine. But the wild is really huge and the stones are hard to find. I even wonder if we're able to see another one. Really, I think it'll take us a month before we complete the stones. We've been searching nonstop. We'll only stop for a minute to eat and then we'll continue again. I have not heard anything from the Prince — yes, we're always together, what I mean is I've not heard any words from him since that day. I don't blame him, in fact I reflected with my actions and I swear to be respectful with his decision this time around.Incredible, the Echelons are not ever tired when I'm almost drained. We didn’t stop searching, I also didn’t use my ability much because their abilities were more equipped than mine. The map was given to me but that wasn't enough to keep me from getting lost so Chrysler gave me his compass in case we split up."It's already fo
I rolled my eyes when I saw how Chrysler's lips curved. He is now smirking at me. It's evident, he's happy, he likes it, fooling around with me. This jerk is starting to get on my nerves, nevertheless, it's not that I'm getting real mad at him."Because I want you to be my friend, that's what I mean." He added to his confusing words and smiled mischievously. I rolled my eyes, what a total jerk. I took a deep breath and laughed at him as well to ease my awkwardness.Jerk."Stop fooling with me Chrysler." I said and rolled my eyes once again. How many times have I rolled my eyes already?"Wow, it's so nice hearing you talking casual to me."I suddenly became quiet. Right, they're the highest echelons. I still need to respect them at any situation."I like that, keep talking to me like that. Talk to me like we're old friends, talk to me like we're having an intimate relationship..." he suddenly stopped amidst talking.I raised an eyebrow and looked at him with an annoyed expression. He'
Zalistaír Vandross Magnaté CaésarWe only have a few days left before the search, and my team is a whole mess. I am somehow worried because Zandrus' group is well set up while my group is in trouble. We sent the officials to the districts to get someone to help us, but they haven't arrived yet, which is why my group is still confused."Prince, we need to talk to you." Greyson suddenly entered Princess Zavannah's room, which I was in. I nodded and planted a kiss on Zavannah's forehead before leaving. There isn't a day that I don't visit her; it's been years since she fell asleep after the fall of Luciano Ferrero. I was still young then, so I don't know what really happened. There was chaos in the palace; the brave Ferrero died, and my brother never woke up again. Now we only have the stones as our hope—to wake the princess, to free the kingdom from crisis, and for me to get the throne.We have arrived at the old haunted storage room; the group is already there except for Chrysler, for
Chapter 59I still remember a saying from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."A year ago, I was a hopeless and lifeless person. It was so hard for me to live. The life I had was not ordinary, and everyone saw that. Since I was young, I used to be alone. Until Marcus and Laura came, they were the only ones who made friends with me—no one else. I thought my life would be forever a mess; I can't see any path, so I don't know where I'm going. Until something happened, which led the way for me to become stronger, braver, fiercer, bolder, and more dauntless.The search happened; it turned out to be the search for the beryl and the search for me, and I left a trail. I realized that life is not about what will happen to you but what you do that will happen to you. We choose, we determine, and we live our own destiny. I was the negative yet brave girl, so my life was also negative. I was lost in an unknown place where I
CHAPTER 58A MONTH HAD PASSED. The houses of the paupers were built and established. I have no news from the palace either. Maybe everyone has been busy because of their duties. It's funny; people didn't laugh at me in the first district. They chose me as their mayor, but they call me commander instead. Until I played it. I have been in charge of the first district, and the place they used to trample on has been settled.The first and second districts became good friends; the barriers between neighboring areas are gone. But the status is still not lost; the elite and paupers still can't live together. Maybe there is nothing I can do there, but at least the friendship between the districts will grow. There are no more poor people in the Euphrates; everyone has their own place to live, including us."Mr. Rody, how is your garden?" I shouted at the farmer."Good day, commander! The rice fields are fine; this Elmer has grown his corn!""You can visit there, Commander! Don't worry, the cor
CHAPTER 57What I did was spread fast in the first district. That's why I was surprised when I was greeted by the warm music of the poor people there. All the sentries I passed at each gate saluted me. Those in the second district couldn't be found; they just silently watched me pass by their place.I don't know who made the announcement, but far away I heard loud shouts, clapping, the sound of trumpets, and the beating of drums. I smiled when I saw the people on the streets; the palace moved quickly because someone was already building houses there for the people.They fulfilled their promises. A poor man grabbed me from the carriage and put me on his back; then they jumped down and carried me. These people, I love it! I feel like I've won the lottery or an election; there's nothing more fun than what I feel when I see those who used to be sad on the streets now having fun because everyone has a house."FOR VELURIYA!""FOR VELURIYA!"I burst out laughing. That's what they call my nam
CHAPTER 56All of them were speechless because of what I said."You are selfless, as ever." The Queen's voice prevailed in the room we were in. Her footsteps echoed as she made her way to my seat. The upper echelons, including the princess, gave way for the queen to reach me. "Can't you change your mind?" she asked.I shook my head, my tears falling spontaneously. If it had been possible to rush, I would have done it, but I understand that his decision to forget me and Zavan is for everyone as well."You want to use your stone for the first district?"I nodded. She sighed, "You can hope. We'll work hard to give the homeless people a shelter."I felt happy because those on the streets, including us, would finally have a place to live. I will not stay in the palace; I will go back to Lola and Laura. I will try to forget everything, just like they tried to forget me and Zavan."Everyone in the first district will live happily again," said the Queen. "Maximus said that the people there li
CHAPTER 55The prince is recovering in his room as the upper echelons, including myself, are summoned for our requests. The prince was so weak, he was lifeless. Until now, my tears have not stopped pouring. How is this all happening to us? What did I do wrong that I deserve to suffer this much?I was never a survivor of happiness or love. What exactly is wrong with me? I was deprived of meeting my real family; they were erased from my memory. It was only Manang Omeng who removed my memories, but I still had a hard time remembering them. What about the prince? He was surrounded by elders, and no chant could break the spell they put on him.I'm broken; the prince had forgotten about me. I can't even stand properly because of my weakness, so I remained seated while facing the void. I couldn't think clearly, and after the incident, I didn't speak anymore. Life is so cruel; why does life seem so angry with me? Am I that bad to suffer like this?"Beryl..." Corinthians called. I almost forgo
CHAPTER 54"WHO ARE YOU?"I frowned because of Zavan's question to me. I slapped his arm and said, "You're not funny." I forced a laugh as I had said those words.He laughed at me and faced me again: "I'm not kidding, who are you?"I stopped laughing. My knees shook when I noticed that I was slowly disappearing. It's not Zavan who's missing, but me. What is it?"Za-Zavan?" I asked nervously."Who are you?" he asked again. His expression was blank, and my heart was breaking because of what was happening."Zavan!" I called because I was disappearing and he was becoming a blur in my sight. "NO!"The scream slowly entered my brain. Zavan's voice sounded like he was struggling. What was happening was very blurry, and after I screamed, I heard his voice.I heard a loud bang that woke me from my sleep. "Oh sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t!" It was a nightmare! I had a nightmare!It rattled outside again. I quickly got up, stood up, and hid in the back of my room. I made sure I was awake because maybe this w
CHAPTER 53I was supposed to be immune to the pain; I shouldn't feel anything anymore, so I don't know how I felt the prince's presence at that time."Hush, you'll be fine, precious."That was the only thing I was holding on to at that time—that I would be safe in his arms despite the hardships I was going through."How dare you, Maximus?" said Zavan. "I've heard everything, and you will pay for it."I seem to have been revived by hope. They came before my death; at least it wasn't too late. I have done justice to my father as well as my mother. I protected the Euphrates from the hands of Maximus, and I still triumphed in spite of everything. It's not too bad to die to end all this; I'm having too much trouble... I can't take it anymore."Don't you dare die, Beryl? It is a command," whispered Zavan.I don't even know what happened next. I only felt two drops of hot tears on my cheeks and a long kiss on my lips before I finally took my breath away."I love you..."I feel that someone i
CHAPTER 52"Because you are Lucianno Ferrero's daughter,"What Maximus said ran through my mind over and over again. I tried to understand everything; I was about to explode, not only my body but also my brain."You're an animal!" I screamed and lost my mind. "You have no shame! What have you done to my father?""Do you want to know the true story of your life? I know your story better than you, Ferrero." He said.I cried again while crawling on the floor. Is this as hard as most people say it is? It's not only my body that feels pain but also my mood, and I think that's the most painful of all. I tried to cry while trying to fight the pain. I can't breathe anymore; my problem is increasing with every word Maximus utters. I gasped for air, but I sucked nothing. I'm just forcing myself to breathe because if I give up, I won't be able to live anymore."One night, a girl was born." Maximus began that the more I tortured, I vomited blood again, more this time. "There was no more fun that