With my feet firmly planted on the mossy ground, four members of the Meadanach approached. They were adorned in ornate attire—often featuring leaf-shaped or tapered hemlines—with layered coats or tunics, along with intricate accessories. The four newcomers wore the same pattern but in varying colors: moss green, fire red, royal green, and dark. There was one commonality among them: the emblem of a true Meadanach—golden and circular, with a hallmark resembling the four gauntlets of the Old Tales.
The individuals dressed in royal green and dark purple stood out due to the precious stones adorning their necks. They were of royal blood, akin to the elves I had left behind for this mission.
The queenly elf in dark purple and flowing lines was Queen Alondra Anguis of the fourth region. She might have appeared stern and malevolent, but her heart was pure gold. She was the embodiment of the saying 'looks can be deceiving'. Her existence taught the members of Meadanach not to judge based solely on appearances, much like my brother Renzo, who projected an aura of command and power to match his role.
"So, this is the winter heiress," Queen Alondra remarked as she approached me. She reached out and touched Idrish's cold hand. Her face was adorned with dark ornaments, and despite the somber decor, traces of sorrow were visible. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "She reminds me of Queen Azuntha, the deceased ruler of the 7th region. Evil now resided in House Calore."
"Are you suggesting that most members of the enemy, the Trapiz, had congregated in the 7th region?" the noble elf dressed in green questioned.
"Our spies in that region confirmed it, Prince Salinas. It appeared that Lady Montay had orchestrated the 7th region to serve as the heart of the Trapiz. The council eliminated Queen Azuntha and now controlled House Calore. My niece was our sole hope for resurrecting the winter heiress," the queen confirmed. Her gaze remained fixed on Idrish's face, her hand cradling the lifeless form.
The elf in moss green cleared his throat and stepped closer to me. "When should we begin searching for the heir of the spring gauntlet?" he inquired.
A distinct power emanated from him—a power akin to mine, bonded to a force that remained dormant. He was a guardian, my intuition affirmed. Like me, his destiny was intertwined with power yet to be awakened. He was a kindred spirit, the green guardian of the vernal heiress.
"Destiny had guided her here. She was at Pudding Street with a group of thieves," the female elf dressed in fiery red responded.
The green guardian let out a laugh that betrayed disbelief. "A—a thief is the spring heiress?"
Queen Alondra frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by the green guardian's words. "She was a lost soul in the darkness, seeking her inner light to discover her true path, Graen."
"Is she more like her mother, Your Grace, your sister?" Prince Salinas inquired.
"It was in her blood. There was not much I could do about it if that's how we were—adventurous, intelligent, and powerful," the queen playfully responded. With a graceful gesture, she parted a thick cluster of plants nearby, creating a mesmerizing, ethereal sound, as if the snakes of her region were composing a magical melody.
As the queen's hands moved through the air, an astonishing sight emerged: a tomb.
A limestone tomb carved from the cave's rock. Ivy and wildflowers cascaded beautifully over its surface.
"This tomb was guarded by the spirits of the first four queens of Springgan. Only one mighty force could break it," Queen Alondra explained.
"What force was that?" the red-clad elf inquired, her curiosity evident.
"Even I was unsure. Only the guardians of the season gauntlets knew. For now, we had to bring the spring heiress to the reaping. This would awaken the dormant energy within her, an energy capable of harnessing the spring gauntlet's power."
Salinas sighed as he gazed at the enigmatic tomb. "If we could gather all four gauntlet bearers successfully, perhaps we could break free from Springgan's caste system—the very system that was consuming our people."
"So, I was supposed to abduct the thief... I mean, the vernal heiress, myself?" Graen asked, his confusion evident.
"We couldn't make our intentions too obvious, Graen."
"So, how do we bring her to the reaping, Your Grace?" the red elf inquired, her expression burning with curiosity.
"I would apprehend her for theft. It could be done without me assuming the identity of a Meadanach member," the prince responded, his gaze shifting between Idrish and me. Sympathy filled his eyes as he looked at her, and then he turned to me, uttering, "You'd done exceptionally well, Kenru. I had faith she'd return."
"T—thank you, Your Grace," I managed to say.
A sad smile graced the prince's lips as he said, "Spring had begun. She was our last hope, and I was determined to ensure that our last hope was the last thing we'd lose."