E P I S O D E
41

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Soft rays of light peeked through the thin layers of green papers from natures. Evidence of the rain from the night before visible on its body; beads of water rolling down to the moist, muddy ground.

The night from yesterday was definitely not a pleasant one; time was consumed from finding that one mysterious, invisible place. They searched all over the forest, but to no avail, there was no lake in sight.

Crystallites magenta colored orbs wandered around; her mind registering four senses. Fresh, minty aroma from the wet ground and leaves. Lively chirping of birds. The cool breeze brushing to the tips of her fingers. Her eyes dilated, the colorful picture of multiple flowers and lovely patterns of bushes and leaves glorified by the state of her mind.

All throughout her focus; she noticed a faint sound of soft waves of water.

"Lily. I hear a faint gushes of water."
Suisei grabbed ahold of Lily's skirt. The said girl searched for the said water; however when she saw nothing, the said lake came to her mind.

"The invisible lake." Lily muttered and glanced at Suisei. "Maybe it's finally Helden!" Suisei chirped happily. They may be wrong, but they can't slip up this chance.

They searched around every shadows of the forest, careful not to miss any important place.

Lily walked to a well hid shadowed corner; trees covered in tall vines and large trunks. Her hands reached for the veins, making a gap to see what kind of place is behind this shadow. As she made her way to the shadowed place, she looked back to Suisei.

"Shinjou-sama, i found a place here-" she lost footing and was helplessly dragged into the darkness. Her voice stuck on her throat before she could even scream for help.

....

"The Queen had started moving?" Soft, languid voice echoed throughout the wide space of a room; surrounded by only darkness and an out of place silver coloured chair laid solely on the top of the stairs.

"Yes," answered by an anonymous person fully clothed in a cloak, hiding its face from the person. "She sent two princesses in a mission to cause ripples within dimensions."

His lips slowly arched up in a smirk, eyes glinting in malice. "They seem to think it's going to be that easy?" He lowly chuckles. Fingers tracing the scars stretched across his face.

He remembered very well how that country made him suffer just from being a little different from them. Princesses of lights? It's makes him laugh in disgust - they're nothing but a bunch of liars. Appearing to be good outside but they're utterly rotten.

Protecting the core?

He scoffed. They are a bunch of idiots pretending to be smart. He'll make sure to destroy that core they oh-so dearly protected and see what happens to the world. He'll be looking forward to their devastated expression when that time comes.

"What are your plans, master?" The cloaked person asked.

"Let them be. It's all according to plan - let's watch how they struggle to survive."

....

Lily's eyes fluttered open when a drop of water met her pale cheeks. Two glowing red eyes was what she saw first. Sharp razor teeths and a scale like skin. A low growl hissing out of its lips.

Her breath got stuck in her throat when she realized she was surrounded by a lot of monsters. She completely froze in her place, eyes shaking as she scanned her place.

It seemed she fell in a really high ground from how far deep she is in a hole. The whole place was dark and wet, it's probably the home of these creatures. She didn't made a move as she cautiously scanned them all over.

Gathering a small amount of magical energies around her fingertips, she slowly commanded the veins to crawl behind her.

In hesitance of maybe aggravating this unknown creature infront of her; her lips parted slowly and uttered a small word. "Hello?"

To her surprise, the creature spoke with a mellow, yet cranky voice.

"You. From. Up?" It asked rather strangely, but it's enough to reassure Lily that these creatures won't just attack from purely instinct. Considering that they're intelligent creatures.

She slowly stood up with the help of the vines she gathered from behind; wincing from the pain of her buttocks caused by the fall.

"Yes, I am. Do you all live down here?" She softly asked; watching the other go near her.

"We. From. Here." They answered in unison which surprised Lily, so they're all living in harmony in this dark place. Lily thought that maybe giving them a place in the kingdom should be a good idea. But for now, she needs to ask them a question.

"Do you all have a name that you call yourselves?"

"We. Are. Not. Known."

With that, she pondered. Considering that they also didn't know of their origins, it would take long before she figure out what they are called. Or maybe she could just question Otome about this. For now, she needs to search for the invisible lake.

"Do you all know where the invisible lake is?"

They all looked at each other; as if telepathically communicating, all heads turned to her after seconds of staring at each other.

"Our. Place. Home."

Her eyes brightened in pure happiness, finally finding that seemingly impossible place and to actually encounter these creatures who take care of that place in a very unexpected manner brought a crashing wave of relief and glee throughout her whole body; she softly smiled, but the gratefulness in her eyes was evident - it was enough reassurance for them to trust her.

"Thank you, we've been searching for that place since yesterday. And to think we would actually find it in your abode - it was a pleasure to meet all of you." Regaining her composure as a princess - she didn't forget to bow with one hand on her chest and the other from behind.

They merely let out a growl that means of accepting the gratitude, to which Lily understood and respects.

Before they led her to the place, Lily made sure to call for Suisei who was left on the surface. And there they started walking towards the wondered, mysterious, invisible place.

Many would think that the underground would be full of dirt and muds; but away from the sight of those who were from the surface was a beautiful lighted scenery. Plants completely undiscovered; lights up like candles and lamps, giving life to the darkness of the underground.

Vines would curl up in a very intricate, detailed way that it would look like a painting.

They passed by the houses of these creatures - made by the vines and big leaves of colored purple; they passed by the many lakes that twinkles under the lights of fireflies. And so on, they finally arrived to the designated place.

The water was so clear that it almost seemed like te crystal that surrounded it's body. Lily and Suisei stopped on their place as they took in the clear blue color of the whole place, mesmerized.

"Helden. Lake. Here."

"Yes, we can definitely tell." Suisei softly muttered in a dazed state. She have seen so many beautiful things in her life, but the beauty of this underground lake exceeded so many beautiful things that she could list.

Helden Lake was the hidden diamond of this world.

"Shinjou-sama," Lily called out to the diamond princess, nodding in affirmation; Suisei slowly started walking towards the water.

The moment her feet touched the water; the whole scenery changed. The darkness filled with saturated lights changed from a space-like view; the water was so clear that it reflected the stars. And there at the middle of the lake, stood a golden staff; however, there seems to be a missing piece into it.

Suisei concluded that it must be the crystal she was holding that's missing; slowly striding towards the glowing staff - she carefully placed the swan crystal on top of the staff.

Finally completing it's missing piece, the whole place glowed; an orange glow started emitting from the crystal and all Suisei could do is anticipate what is about to happen.

The blinding light engulfed the entire space; once again, the whole scenery changed.

Lily and Suisei stared agape at the new scenery laid infront of their eyes. The floor was of a golden carved clock with a symbol of sun.

When the new scenery welcomed their eyes, they became familiar of the place - this was from a myth a very long time ago before the Kingdom was even created.

"Don't tell me, this is the Garden of Alonios?" Suisei was amazed by the fact that such a myth was actually true. And to think she would get to see it in her lifetime; it truly moves her.

"There's no mistaking it, this is indeed the Garden Alonios."

The Garden of Alonios was known for it's timeless space that allows everyone to either travel back in time, go to the future, or even go in another world. It was a secret from the world because it was a very dangerous place.

Although it could take anyone to any timeline, there was only 3.17% that it could succeed. The risk says it all, you get stuck in another timeline or in another world; and never come back again.

"So, how do we make a ripple in dimensions?" Lily asked in wonder as she looked around the place.

Suisei went into deep thought.

There's hardly any information about the Garden of Alonios because it was hidden so well from the naked eyes, even them wouldn't expect that such a place is hiding behind the image of Helden Lake.

How could they make it work? Should they look for a clue or just try anything that comes to mind that might trigger the ripples or to open the door?

"Shinjou-sama?" Lily called out to Suisei when she didn't respond for a long time, and before she could ask again - soft, airy singing voice entered her ears.

Suisei started singing.

....

"Do you think they will figure it out, Mizuki?" The empress turned around at the source of the voice, her expression has a knowing smile.

"They will. I'm sure of it." Mizuki answered with a confident smile; the newly arrived woman giggled in delight.

"You really like making the princesses take the longest route. Why didn't you give tell them?" She sat beside the empress.

The two of them watched the sleeping princesses from the crystal ball; both have a carefree smile on their face.

"You're really asking me that?" Mizuki softly snorted and glanced at the female beside her.

"Right, it was your way of 'loving' them."

They both went back to watching the princesses again, and this time - they were surprised when one of the comatosed princesses opened their eyes.

"She finally woke up...."

𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍.

To be continued.

Who was that person the empress was talking to? And I wonder who woke up??

Hehe.

Thank you for reading!