Alicia couldn't contain her giggles. These oversized children were much too funny.
Bell-like laughter filled the room. Though it sounded rough around the edges due to cracks and dents, the sound was pleasing nonetheless.
At least for the three men who had been arguing found comfort in the sound as they smiled, laughing along with her.
They'd been at each other's throats mere moments ago, yet now they're filled with harmonious laughter, as if what happened were all but a dream.
This didn't last quite as long as they all had hoped. The warm atmosphere tensed when that bell laughter turned into coughs.
Clutching her chest, once again Alicia was having trouble breathing as coughs lodged themselves in her throat.
Cláudia was the first to act, gently coaxing her daughter. "Alicia dear. Shu, breath slowly."
She took her daughter from her panicked husband and cradled her lovingly as she cooed.
Behind that calmness was anxiety as fear took root in her heart. Was her baby going to slip into a coma once more? She doesn't think her heart could handle another episode so soon.
"Little one, look here." With difficulty, Alicia followed the voice which had pulled her out the darkness.
Dressed in red waves of brocade, glasses resting on his nose, and a full beard of silvery grey hair was an old man. If he was larger, fatter, and carried a sack, she'd have doubted her eyes and began asking where her presents were.
Her gaze left his aged face that still looked quite striking for an old fellow and followed it to his outstretched arm. Focused on what was in his hand, her breathing somewhat soothed.
"Do you like it?" Old Man Lu asked, walking closer with a chuckle when she nodded. "Here, I'll let you borrow it."
Soothing warmth filled Alicia once she touched the jade orb. She smiled as the discomfort she'd felt abated.
How precious was this orb that it could have such an instant effect, she thought to herself.
If it weren't lilac in color she even pondered if she could summon a dragon since it was so mystical.
That thought prompted her to giggle.
Alicia cradled it like a mother hen, protecting its young, clinging to her own mother as she smiled in comfort.
Cláudia sighed in relief, then looked up in concern. "Old Lu how is my daughter?"
Truly a woman's intuition was a scary thing, the old man pulled at his beard as he thought. "Your daughter is not sick."
"Not sick?" Von's eyes hardened as he snorted. Just another useless healer, he thought to himself.
Cláudia glared at her husband, which shut him up before he could say another word. Alicia inwardly applauded her mother at her dominance and pride.
'That's my mom!' Even her father has to bend his head towards her. What a powerful woman!
"Continue Old Lu." Cláudia urged.
Old man Lu nodded. "Medically, she's healthy. Yet, this old man doesn't dare give his diagnosis just yet." He glanced towards the emperor and continued. "With permission this old man would like to appraise the young lady first before further words are spoken."
Without question, Fredric nodded. He looked towards Von with knowing eyes.
Von gave his acknowledgement. Cláudia and Roy seem to have a silent understanding as they shortened the distance between each other.
Alicia looked at them in confusion. Her questions were swallowed and pushed down with her mother's soothing touches, and reassuring gaze.
Shining from his left index finger, Fredric's garnet ring burst out with magic as it engulfed the room.
Alicia was in awe at this sight.
Despite living in this fantasy world for five years, witnessing a few magical sights normally seen in movies, games, or read in novels, this sight was spectacular.
Soon the light solidified, twisted, then vanished from the room along with the people within.
* * *
Lapis lazuli walkway encrusted with amethyst glimmered beneath the sun. Clear Quartz pillars with onyx bases rose into the sky with star light dancing all around the noble cathedral.
Clerics walked doused in scholarly aura, their staffs clicking on the ground along with their shoes.
Passed the holy walls, deep inside, through the corridors and into the audience hall, light shined, bursting into diamond dust revealing visitors who'd come through teleportation magic.
"Welcome, your Majesty." Head cleric Balbazar Nemel bowed solemnly.
The emperor grunted in response. "The appraisal tool," He glanced towards Alicia who looked around curiously. "I'm in need of it."
Head cleric Balbazar followed the emperor's gaze. He narrowed his eyes at Alicia which caught her attention. Alicia slightly trembled when he smiled her way.
Cláudia soothed her daughter, whispering words of reassurance. This was her daughter's first outing. It came to no surprise she'd be nervous.
Head cleric Balbazar turned his head.
"Of course." He stretched out his arm, palm up, unfurrowing his long white sleeve, embroidered in gentle gold waves. "Right this way."
He walked off and to the left corridor. Alicia's party followed in tow.
Head cleric Balbazar's stride swayed in elegance, his long cloak fluttering, just barely missing the floor.
There was something about this man Alicia did not like, as if he had owed money and kept refusing to pay her back.
Glaringly she stared at his back, burrowing a hole into his head, attempting to see through him.
Perhaps if she looked long enough, glared hard enough, he'd take the hint? Yet the man was like an ox, stubborn as a bull and immovable as a statue.
Alicia was not amused yet twice as stubborn.
They stopped at a large obsidian door, amethyst protruding out in the shape of a great tree. It quite resembled the world tree in Alicia's opinion.
She reluctantly took her eyes off the stunning door when she noticed the head cleric's gaze.
She straightens her posture as best she could, looking anywhere but him. Thanks to this, she missed the smile on his face as he turned his head back around.
Clerics donned pieces of armor, holding staffs of smokey and clear quartz as they bowed towards the head cleric, opening the door and returning to their stations.
This new room was half the size of the audience hall, but still quite large. Rows of seats circled the room, with one large marble throne situated at the front.
Sitting mystically with an aura of pride and spirituality, in the center of the room stood a rhodonite tree. Resting in its branches was the clearest, purest moonstone Alicia had ever laid her eyes upon.
In awe, she tuned out the conversation exchange between the adults, only coming to when her name was spoken.
"Alicia Cadarvic." She pouted in irritation. Even his voice pricked at her conscious. "Place your hand here."
Reluctantly she followed his instructions, resting one hand on the moonstone, while the other remained, protectly around her lilac orb.
Sparks formed in the orb at her touch, entrancing Alicia immediately. Lightning followed her fingers. A natural plasma lamp? She thought to herself.
Suddenly that lightning was swallowed into darkness, engulfing the moonstone in a night sky, vanishing into a cloud of mist, fading away.
Alicia was in awe of this sight, looking at her hand like it was an alien existence. She was oblivious to the tension in the air.
"What is the meaning of this?" Von's irate voice brought Alicia out of her stupor. Shrinking into herself, she glanced towards her father.
It was the first time she'd heard that tone of voice. Her adorable father who never showed an angered expression, looked ready to kill.
As expected from one who's seen battle.
She was too frightened to look at her uncles, after all even her mother looked ready to murder something.
What had she missed?
"It's just as you can see." Old man Lu solemnly walked forward, taking hold of Alicia's wrist. "Your daughter is blessed with the lightning and gravity elements."
"Blessed you say." Von snorted in contempt, "No wonder you refused to speak a word in my estate.
If you had, this duke would be more than happy to add a bloody scar to my reputation. Ripping an old bag of bones to pieces, feeding to the wolves and Magna Feles."
What murderous words. Was it alright for her father to sound so vindictive? In a cathedral nonetheless.
Alicia didn't dare to speak as she grasped her mother's shoulder. Cláudia came back to her senses as she reprimanded her husband.
"Watch your words Von." Von trembled as his eyes left the old man and onto his scolding wife, "Alicia can hear you."
Shocked, Von instantly went to his daughter.
"Oh no princess, did daddy frighten you?" Von's heart sank at his daughter's tear filled eyes, inwardly cursing at himself.
He melted when she lifted her arms out to be held. Without hesitation, Von took his daughter into his arms and held her tightly.
Alicia had no idea why her magic provoked her father but she wrapped around his neck nonetheless, deciding to be his chill pill so to say.
As long as she was in his arms, the duke, her father couldn't do anything rash.
"Indeed she'd blessed." Head cleric Balbazar surprised everyone but old man Lu with his words. "But with every blessing comes a curse. Hers just happens to be a major factor in how she'll be living her life.
Regardless if spoken here or elsewhere, this fact cannot be unwritten. You know this to be true Duke Cadarvic."
Von grit his teeth as he didn't want to accept the Head cleric's words, even though they were right. Yet, he had more respect for the head cleric then old man Lu so he had nowhere to place his anger.
He wasn't the only one as Roy and Fredric were equally as angered by this, tightening their fist beneath their sleeves. They just had more tolerance than a father raging, ready to pick up his sword and take it for an outing.
"Alicia Cadarvic," head cleric Balbazar closed his eyes as he placed his hand on her head.
"Lightning gravity born, your achievements, though unseen will be great, while your life, hard. Born without the corresponding gravity core, your fate is unfortunate."
Opening his eyes as he looked down at Alicia, he smiled knowingly. "Will you take the leap or sit upon the cliff, not knowing what the abyss holds."
Alicia looked up, her childish, lapis lazuli eyes hiding nothing as she smiled challengingly.
Alicia giggled, stealthily curling her finger for him to come closer.
He did with a smile, missing the mischeivous glint in her eyes.
Aucheish!
Shocked, dumbfounded even. Wide eyed, head cleric Balbazar's mouth hung open in disbelief. She didn't just do what he thought she did, right?
Yet, the evidence was right on his face.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to sneeze." Alicia innocently blinked as if she hadn't done a thing. "Can't you smell it?"
She looked around wrinkling her nose. "There's a strong nasty smell in the air."
Head cleric Balbazar stood straight, whipping his face, his expression unknown but Alicia clearly saw him frown.
Pride swelled up in her as she grinned wider.
Sadly, the other men in the room were having a bit of trouble. Their faces were beet red as they tried their hardest not to laugh.
"That's my princess for you. Way to go!" Mentally raising a thumbs up, three men spoke in their hearts while internal injuries were pending.
»»————- ✼ ————-««
Author's note: In case of theft. This is an original -English- novel done by yours truly [MyKataren]. This author will state here and now, oh ye thief of old, thanks for the free advertisement!
Original : www.tinyurl.com/MVPGAwebnovel