It had been three weeks since Willow and I had joined the Mixies on their journey, heading to the dead lands.
Willow had become close and made friends with the leader's daughter, Lucy, a kind, warm-hearted girl that brought light to My sister's eyes. One good thing that came from this journey. I was happy my sister didn't resent me for being the reason we had to leave home.
Last night I'd another visit from the goddesses in my dream, they informed me of the six gems of destiny, these six gems are to help the chosen one to activate their powers. They'd also told me that those gems were hidden in five different realms of LOC, and I had to find them and keep them somewhere safe.
In two weeks we will be crossing the border between Barvadon and LOC, my mission is to find these gems before a dark force does.
****
"The six gems of destiny?" Katrin muttered to herself as she closed the journal, They were hidden here in realms of LOC! This couldn't be a coincident, being both but Ethan, a duke of the Elven realm. Was that also something that was destined to happen?
She sighed and shifted to lay on her back, her head turned, eyes peering out the window. The sun had already gained a yellowy-orange, which means it had begun to set, also meaning the guest would be leaving soon.
Once they did she could finally leave the room, her ears picked up the sounds of hooves leaving the gates. If she waited a while, she would finally be free from the praying eye of all those regal people.
She waited, and after what seemed like an hour, the sounds of rolling tires had long stopped, she took it as a sign and quickly got out of bed.
Without stopping she crossed the threshold of her door and into the corridors. Her expectations were that the royal siblings would probably be in the grand hall, and f they were, she could finally talk to Ethan about the sudden engagement.
She could understand he was trying to get out an arrange marriage but did it have to be her? he could have picked a maid or any lady at all... so why her?
Her expectation's were right. Ethan, Felix and Aeliana were standing in the great hall, but so were the red-haired siblings who were grinning from ear to ear. And by the looks of the luggage pile beside them; they were going to be here for a while.
Knowing she wouldn't be able to talk to Ethan she retreated to her room before anyone could notice her her, determined to try again tomorrow.
Sadly she didn't get the chance as after that day Ethan and Felix became busy with their duties. Three days had passed since engagement dinner the Phoenix siblings, Eldor and Ruby, had stayed at the castle and Katrin was already getting sick of them.
Ruby was as curious as a cat, she followed Katrin everywhere asking questions about everything. And at first Katrin had found the seventeen year old girl's thirst for knowledge surprising and cute, but later on as she answered a new question every ten minutes she was starting to wish she'd never answered the first one.
Her brother on the other hand was different kind of annoyance. At this point she could no longer count the amount of times she'd seen the couple rendezvousing in the halls, all in indecent situations. By the third day she'd already learned to listen before she made any turns in other not to see things she didn't want to.
What made her more annoyed was that since the day of the engagement's announcement Ethan he'd been too busy with work and official visits that she'd barely seen him, except at dinners which was no use as they had to put up the "engaged and in love act" for every one, which was something he seemed to be very good at.
It was now after dinner, Katrin stood outside Ruby's room, hesitating for a moment before mustering the resolve to knock on the door Earlier in the day Ruby had invited her for midnight tea, and for the life of Katrin couldn't find a way to decline the offer as it would would only raise suspicions. She raised her hand again to knock, but immediately she felt a peculiar warmth spreading through her body which she quickly dismissed as nerves.
A few moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Ruby with her ever-curious eyes. "Oh, Katrin! Come in!" she exclaimed with a welcoming smile. However, as Ruby took in the sight of Katrin's flushed face and the beads of sweat trickling down her temples, her excitement turned to concern.
"Katrin, are you alright?" She asked, reaching out instinctively to touch Katrin's forehead. Yet, as her fingertips made contact, the intense heat emanating from Katrin's body startled her, causing Ruby to retract her hand in surprise. Even as a Phoenix her fingers couldn't handle the heat.
"I... I'm fine," Katrin reassured with a forced smile, inwardly puzzled by the sudden surge of warmth within her. She entered the room, looking around and noticing the contrast between the royal quarters and her own. The Phoenix siblings seemed to favor opulence and vibrant colors, a stark contrast to the more subdued elegance of the elven aesthetics in Katrin's part of the castle.
Ruby closed the door behind them, still eyeing Katrin with concern. "You don't seem fine. Are you sure you're not coming down with something?" she inquired, genuine worry etched across her face.
"I appreciate your concern Ruby, but it's probably just a bit warm in here," Katrin replied, attempting to downplay the situation. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself, but the warmth within her persisted, almost as if it had a life of its own.
She stumbled a little and quickly reached out to hold onto a near by chair to stable herself, but immediately her finger tips grazed the fabric of the chair it caught fire, blazing brightly it startled the girls.
Without wasting time for the fire to spread Ruby immediately used her powers to calm the flames till they died down.
Once done she turned to Katrin to fined the lady gasping for air. Katrin wobbled back before colliding to with the floor, Immediately the wooden floor boards of the room blazed with fire.
Ruby panicked and quickly rushed to ring the helpers call bell. As the sound rang trough her ears and her eyelids folded; the last thing that Katrin's was Ruby hovering above her and the red jewel dangling from her neck.