'Red eyes' ....
What was the big deal about 'red eyes'
Normally,if this was asked to anyone of the elves,they would shrug and just make a confounded expression. What was the deal with any 'red eyes''. But it seemed to distress the Elven Empress for some reason,as she couldn't keep a calm expression anymore. The beautiful assistant beside her was also showing an expression of great worry 'could it be that the prophecy all those years ago.....was actually manifesting now?' she thought while making eye contact with the Empress.
"[Mary...]" The Empress called her assistant.
"[Understood, I'll get him immediately]" she said and left the palace.
Turning to the guest,she addressed "[you may return chief guard....you Marlene wouldn't mind staying behind for a bit, would you?]". Without any hesitation "[No your majesty,this one doesn't mind]" Marlene bowed in acknowledgement.
. "[I would be taking my leave then,your majesty]" . The handsome man walked out.
When the empress and Marlene were alone,she stood up with grace and invited her guest to follow her.
Heading to a small disc-like platform that had the edge connected to a spiralling thick pillar that seemed to reach the very top of the palace,the empress and the scout stepped on it and the platform started moving upwards, gradually accelerating. The disc platform kept speeding up but the empress wasn't bothered by it. She stood unaffected,but this didn't go for Marlene though.
The more the platform sped up the more frightened Marlene became. Noticing the struggle within Marlene,the empress waved her hand and the platform slowed down until it came to a final stop. They reached their destination.
Letting out a little sigh, Marlene was a little thankful for the consideration towards her. The empress led them into a corridor filled with doors to the end, moving straight to the very last room,she placed her hands on it briefly before entering with Marlene. Inside the dimly lit room ,she once again waved her hands which had a little glow on the fingers.
'Whoosh'
The room brightened up and revealed a old storage room,it was littered with candles in a sort of arranged formation. The 'magic circle' looked old and unused for a long time now. Marlene was surprised to see this in the castle, 'what is a magic circle doing here' she wondered but the empress seemed to read her mind. " It's an astrology circle" she voiced looking outwards from the small balcony of the room.
"Ah....huh?" The scout was first surprised then confused. What was the empress trying to do, weren't they supposed to mobilize a few trained soldiers to save the other scouts.
"It's not that simple" the empress voice was low, showing signs of something worrying her, the answer she gave was corresponding to what Marlene was thinking which made her wonder if she could read her mind or just that intelligent.
'sigh'.....the red eyed race....it's something bigger than you can imagine" the empress continued,now looking at her 'Marlene' directly.
" The elven race goes way back in history... infact it could be said we were the main race of this world back then" pausing briefly,she closed her eyes " the elves didn't always live in a small secluded kingdom like this,instead we had the greatest and biggest empire in the whole of Fae. One day, a crisis that even I don't have knowledge about broke out,the Elven empire was on the brink of extinction then but we had someone who was able to save us....an elve in particular,who had the power of clairvoyance. The disaster that was going to befall us back then was avoided,with one of the results being that we had to hide in seclusion from then on....." .
The reason they lived in seclusion wasn't just as simple as race discrimination.
' the power of clairvoyance?, Isn't that the 'seer' ? ' Marlene thought. 'wait.....then that means..'
"I see you caught on, that's how the Alistair family became a highly respected powerful family only below the Empress status since that ancient time till now...and it just happened that he,the elder of the Alistair family, paid the former empress,my mother a visit. The soothsayer once again came bearing bad news that only the royal family and elders of the elven council knows about. The invasion of a race that would bring destruction upon our world and devour it entirely ..and one way to know or identify the coming of it was only one answer back then"
"The appearance of a red-eyed race called demons...they are the ones who would bring the disaster to Fae" this time an old man looking like he was going to die the very next second entered the room with the empress' assistant. He wore purple starry robes and a wizard hat atop his head,with pointed ears that seemed weak. He was pulling his white long beard as he paid his respects to the empress, bowing slightly he sighed heavily...
"To think the disaster was coming this early....'sigh' "
He mumbled audibly, looking at the empress he said "what a disaster, and during the era of your reign little girl..it truly is a pity that we can't avoid it..."
'can't avoid it?'
The empress was speechless, looking like a bolt from the blue skies struck her. "What do you mean we can't avoid it,sir Alistair, perhaps we should use the astrology magic circle to support your clairvoyance ability and know what to-" " they already know where our kingdom is hidden your majesty" he cut her off.
"And they are already on their way, it's too late...." He closed his eyes in pity.
"WHAT!!!"
All three women shouted at the same time,the enemies were already on their way here?. How was this possible, one should know the elven kingdom's location is a secret hidden realm. How was it possible for an enemy to find them that quickly. The empress was vexed "why didn't you warn us beforehand Alistair" she looked at the old man with rage now, wasn't it his duty to help the kingdom with his ability. "I did warn you,I sent a servant of mine here to tell you not to send anyone out the kingdom for now right?"
"WHAT!!!" This time only two people shouted,the empress and her assistant. They never received such message, looking at each other, the empress had questioning eyes but her assistant had clear confusion as well,she didn't receive any messages.
"Hai....looks like we have a traitor amongst the elven kingdom then" the old man said looking outside the room into the sky. " What a bad timing...."
The three women were stunned,an elve traitor?,that was impossible,how could any elve betray their own race. It was well-known how united they were,the elves cared alot for each other,it was something ingrained in their bloodlines. If it were coming from a random person,they might have laughed it off as a joke,the kingdom was always united . Seeing their friends as family,It was nearly impossible,but coming from the present seer of the kingdom,his words were true and not to be doubted.
The empress was distraught,she ruled and loved her people who loved her back,they lived in harmony for years since ancient times, why now,why did a traitor have to appear now of all times.