The Elemental Read online

  The other man nodded. “A definite target, then.”

  “Should we alert the Yun Zeru that we found one on the run?”

  The man guffawed. “And let him know that she got away? He’ll have your head.”

  The visiting group gasped along with future Elara. Yun Zeru?

  “What does Yun Zeru have to do with any of this?” questioned Miela. “He’s a Guardian. A General! And those two men are Guardians as well. Why is she running from them? Why are they after her?”

  Future Elara held her mouth with both hands again, pressing them tight against her face and hoping that the men hadn’t heard her gasp. Her eyes bulged out of her head slightly as she tried to hold her breath.

  “Did you hear something?” The two men froze, straining their ears. Future Elara, cold and covered in sweat, desperate and terrified, closed her eyes. She crouched down slowly, her hand trembling as it closed down on a small stone. She took a deep breath, and then threw it further ahead into the forest.

  The men’s heads snapped up at the sound.

  “She’s moved ahead! Keep searching,” ordered one of the men. “She can’t have gotten far.”

  Future Elara sighed in relief as the sound of their footsteps drew further and further away from her. she peeked through a slit from the tree trunk, watching to see if there was anyone else lying in wait. A few silent moments passed before she took off running once again. The group watched her as she fought her way through the forest’s overgrown shrubberies and trees, finally making it to a large, stone wall.

  Without hesitation, she stuck her feet into the crevices of the stones and hoisted herself up. The group watched as she scaled the wall, her fingers bleeding and slipping with the mud caked onto her palms. After what seemed like ages, she made it over the wall and dropped to her feet on the other side, wincing as she felt the shock of her landing travel through her legs and up her spine.

  “It’s the forest behind Polaris Castle!” the visiting Noiro exclaimed, pointing at future Elara as she ran through the castle grounds. “She was in the forest behind the castle!”

  Future Elara burst through the doors to Noiro’s cottage, where future Noiro, Argon, and Miela were seated quietly at the table. They looked up, alarmed at the sudden outburst.

  A filthy, muddy woman stood at the door, panting hard. Her hair was matted, and tear stains streaked through the dirt cakes onto her face.

  “Elara!” Argon yelled, recognizing her. He clambered clumsily towards her and fiercely grabbed her, pulling her into a tight hug. His fists were closed tightly on her coat, not caring as the dirt rubbed off onto him. She hugged him back tightly, burying her face into the crook of his neck. She held back tears as she felt him hug her tighter. He suddenly pulled away, holding her at an arm’s length, seething through clenched teeth at her.

  “God, Elara. Do you have any idea...?” Future Argon was shaking, fear flashing in his eyes as he looked at her. His eyes looked hollow; she knew he hadn’t been sleeping. “Three days, Elara. Three days! Meer got back on Tuesday! You’ve been missing for three days! We’ve been going mad! Three days!”

  “Damn it, El. Where have you been?” Future Miela pushed her way past the man and squeezed Elara tightly. “If I weren’t so happy to see you, I’d kill you!”

  Elara shivered as she looked at Miela and Argon, the cold setting into her bones as water and mud dried on her skin. It was clear that their overjoyed relief was short-lived, melting away into raging fury.

  “Where were you?” future Miela demanded, folding her arms and gritting her teeth.

  Future Argon took her hand and brought her into the sitting room, sitting down next to her. He wouldn’t let go.

  “We’re married,” the visiting Elara remarked, glancing at the platinum wedding band flashing on Argon’s finger as he held Elara. She spied the sapphire wedding ring on her finger as well. “I wonder how long it’s been.”

  Future Elara glanced at future Noiro as she sat down, still shivering. Noiro quickly ran over with a thick woolen blanket, throwing it over her shoulders. She nodded her thanks.

  Miela sat down across from her. “I’m waiting, Elara.”

  Elara frowned as she gathered her thoughts. “You said Meer made it back? What about Venus? Did she get back okay?”

  Noiro glared at the table. “Venus is dead,” he said flatly.

  “W-what?” Elara stammered. “No, she can’t be! I saw her! I saw her leave with Meer. They got away…”

  “She’s dead,” Miela confirmed solemnly. “What happened to you? Meer said that they ran, and they also saw you leave. But then you disappeared—”

  “For three days,” Argon growled again, fuming at her. He squeezed her hand tighter, his worry and relief mixing together as he felt her leaning into him. She held his cheek, her remorse and guilt weighing her down like a ton of bricks flung onto her chest.

  “The mission wasn’t over,” Elara said firmly, her eyes burning determinedly. “We were on our way back from getting some supplies. And then we stumbled upon a group of…them.”

  “What? You saw them?” Miela demanded.

  Elara nodded. “There were about twelve of them. Looked like they were on a patrol. But I couldn’t see who they were,” she said, looking down and staring at her knees. “I knew we had to find out more. It was a chance I couldn’t pass up. So I tailed them. I saw Meer and Venus leave, but I had to continue. I had to find out.”

  “Alone?” Argon raged. “You followed them alone? You could’ve been—”

  “I know,” Elara snapped angrily, another wave of guilt washing over her. “But I had to. I saw an opportunity that I needed to take. We needed to know.”

  “Did you learn anything?” Miela demanded. “What did you see?”

  Elara shook her head. “They saw me. I’m not sure if they know who I am, or if they recognized me. But they saw me.”

  “Elara!” Miela gasped. “You could’ve been—”

  “I know,” she snapped bitterly. “I was careless.”

  “We need to leave,” Noiro declared. “We all have to leave. And we need to have everyone else leave as well.”

  “I’m sorry,” wailed Elara. “I’m—”

  “It’s okay,” said Miela. “It was only a matter of time before they realized…”

  “That’s not all,” whispered Elara. “The attacks. We’ve had it wrong the whole time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s the Guardians. They’re the ones behind this.”

  “The Guardians?” Miela repeated in disbelief. “No. No way. No, you must have seen it wrong—”

  “I know what I saw,” Elara snapped again. “It’s the Guardians.”

  Miela and Argon both shook their heads. “No way,” Argon declared. His mind flew back to the comrades he spent so long with. He made it his life’s mission to join the Guardians to fight and protect. She had to be wrong. “You’re wrong.”

  “Argon and I are Guardians. How can you think that the Guardians are part of the attacks? Are you saying Argon and I are part of the attacks, too?” Miela demanded.

  “Of course not,” Elara shot back. “But I didn’t want to jump to conclusions, either. That’s why I needed to stay and tail them. I didn’t know I’d take that long to get away… I kept trying to make a break for it, but every time an opportunity presented itself, I had another discovery about the attacks.”

  “And?”

  “It’s not all of the Guardians. Just the ones under Yun Zeru.”

  “General Yun Zeru?” Argon’s mouth dropped.

  “But…what?” Noiro stammered, completely flabbergasted.

  Elara sighed. “They call themselves the Elites,” she explained. “And they’re looking for power.”

  “Power? They want to rule Polaris?”

  “No.” Elara shook her head. “They’re looking for physical power. They’re looking for something called an Elemental.”

  “What?” Noiro leaned forward in his seat. “An
Elemental? But that’s a myth. How do they—”

  “Hold on,” said Argon, interrupting Noiro’s rant. “What is an Elemental?”

  Noiro sighed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “It’s not what,” he said. “It’s who. An Elemental is someone who has the power to control the elements. Water, Earth, Fire, Air… But it’s a myth. It’s not real.”

  “Of course it’s not real,” scoffed Argon. “That stuff is just… myths!”

  “So… Yun Zeru is tearing the world apart… looking for a myth? A person?” Noiro rubbed his temples, his white hair falling onto his forehead.

  “He thinks that the Elemental is the key to giving him power,” said Elara dismally.

  “So he wants to, what? Destroy everything? There’ll be nothing left to rule,” muttered Miela bitterly.

  “That’s not entirely true,” corrected Noiro. “Think about it. The attacks on that scale… He can’t carry those out alone. He must have supporters.”

  The scene before them changed once again.

  “Miela! MIELA!”

  The visiting group turned their attention to future Elara as she screamed, her feet thumping against the floor as she ran towards Miela, throwing her arms around her.

  The visiting Elara didn’t recognize the place they were in. The walls were dark, and there was very little light. She peered out of one of the windows to see a beach. The waves crashed angrily against the shoreline, spitting and spraying frothy sea foam into the air. She looked at the visiting group questioningly, and they all shook their heads. None of them recognized the house or the area.

  “Elara,” future Miela cried, holding her. Her face was bloody, her hair matted with blood and dirt.

  “Miela…”

  “I’m safe. I’m okay,” she panted, tears streaming down her face, disappearing into the blood caked onto her face.

  “You’re pregnant,” Noiro gaped, pointing at future Elara’s visibly swollen belly.

  “Oh God,” future Elara gasped, looking at future Miela.

  Miela glanced down at herself and realized how terrifying she must have looked. Her clothes were ripped in several places, and her face was beginning to grow sticky from all of the blood. “I’m fine,” she reassured Elara, wiping the blood off her face. “It’s not mine.”

  “Where are the others? Argon?”

  “He’s okay. They’re on their way,” Miela said firmly, avoiding Elara’s gaze.

  “Who?” Elara demanded, following her friend as she walked into the house and stripped off her outer layers, wincing as she peeled off part of her clothes that was stuck to her arm.

  “We don’t know yet,” Miela admitted. She looked angry. “I… I couldn’t help everyone. I barely made it out myself…”

  The scene swirled around them once more.

  They were in the same house, but this time, it was almost dawn. Future Elara was sitting down on a sofa in a loose cotton dress, cradling a bundle of blankets in her arms. She tapped her foot anxiously as she slowly adjusted the blankets in her arms.

  “Helia,” the visiting Norio murmured, taking a few steps closer to the bundle of blankets. A small, round face poked out from the blankets.

  Future Elara sighed anxiously, mumbling to herself as she glanced at the door every few minutes.

  “She’s waiting,” said the visiting Elara, watching herself. “She’s waiting for someone.”

  She watched her future self as she sniffed tiredly, glancing at the door once more, her eyes swollen and bloodshot. Her ears perked up at the sound of the doorknob turning, and she slowly rose to her feet.

  “Argon?” she called out tentatively.

  “Elara,” a disheveled man came in, almost stumbling as he practically ran towards her. Elara squeaked, tears of relief streaming down her face as her husband embraced her.

  “How did—what—are you—”Elara stammered, her words tumbling out faster than she could manage as she stared at her bloodied husband. He was covered in dust and debris, and his armor was ripped into shreds. A few scratches peeked from beneath his clothes, a considerable gash on his side peeking out.

  “I’m okay,” he murmured reassuringly.

  “What are you doing up?” Argon asked, concerned. “Is the baby okay?”

  Elara nodded, sniffing. “The baby’s fine. Helia couldn’t sleep…” she uttered softly. “Are you…”

  “I’m fine,” he said, putting his arm around her.

  “You were gone for so long, Argon. I was so worried,” she whispered, her eyes brimming over with tears again.

  “I know,” he said sorrowfully. “Here, let me put her down.”

  “Argon,” Elara pleaded.

  “I’ll be back, I promise,” he vowed, scooping the baby into his arms.

  Elara nibbled at her lip, watching his retreating back. She knew that he was just a few feet away, but she couldn’t bear it. Not after spending all night worrying and wondering if he was alive or not.

  Argon returned, sitting down softly next to his wife. He opened his mouth to say something, and then hesitated. She squeezed his knee supportively, watching him as he stared blankly at the ground.

  “They took the bait,” he began, his voice flat and emotionless as he stared ahead. “They came, just like we expected they would… But we weren’t ready.” He couldn’t look at her as he recounted the night’s events; it would make it feel too real.

  Elara felt her heart break for him.

  “We fought. We fought hard,” he said determinedly. “But we weren’t ready… There were too many of them. They were just too many…”

  “What happened?” Her breath gripped in her throat.

  “They seized every Guardian and lined them up outside, almost as if it was a drill. And they asked them to pledge allegiance to the Elites.”

  “They’re not hiding anymore,” Elara recognized.

  Argon stared blankly ahead. “No, they’re not.”

  “And?”

  “And they killed everyone who refused. No prisoners. No hesitation.”

  Elara held his hand, squeezing hard.

  “It was horrible, El,” Argon’s voice broke. He looked up at her, the pain in his eyes piercing her heart. “They… they didn’t just kill everyone. They demolished the entire headquarters. They destroyed everything and killed everyone.”

  “No,” Elara gasped sorrowfully.

  “We weren’t ready.” He turned his head to look at her, tears brimming over.

  “Argon?” She held his face softly. He leaned into her palm, closing his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek.

  “We couldn’t find the bodies,” he continued, swallowing hard. “We fought. And we lost. We couldn’t find…”

  “Who?” Elara urged, feeling sick. “Oh God, who?”

  “Araceli. Altair. Kalani…” Argon faltered, his voice catching in his throat as he looked at his wife. “Miela. Miela…didn’t make it. And there are more…”

  Elara felt her blood run cold at the sound of Miela’s name. She turned to him, her eyes wide in horror, his words replaying in her head and driving into her heart like knives. “No…” she moaned, a sob escaping her chest.

  Argon hung his head mournfully. Of everyone in the war they had lost, the news of Miela hit the hardest. She was one of her oldest friends. Her supporter. Her comrade. Her confidante. They shared countless memories, celebrated so many birthdays and holidays. They fought so hard beside each other for so long. It hurt. There was no other way to describe how she felt. It just hurt.

  The visiting Miela looked pale as she heard her own name mentioned amongst the dead. Her eyes were wide and unblinking. Her throat was suddenly dry.

  “We’re not going to let this happen,” the visiting Noiro murmured to her. “We won’t let any of this happen.”

  The world changed around them once more.

  They were in the same house, but this time, it was crowded to the brim. The visiting Elara glimpsed a few familiar faces, and many unfamiliar ones.
Her heart pained as Miela’s usual place beside her was empty.

  Future Noiro was staring intently at a map, gesturing to different groups. It looked like they were planning some sort of strategy.

  Suddenly, a woman burst through the front door, panting hard. “Polaris Castle is under attack.”

  The visitors were thrown into the same panic that the future group was in, as everyone scrambled towards the door.

  “I’m going,” future Argon stated determinedly, his heart pounding loudly in his chest. Cold sweat broke out across his forehead as he reached for his weapons.

  “I’m going too.” Elara edged towards the door.

  Argon turned around, holding her arms gently, yet firmly. “You know the rules,” he said softly. “One of us stays with Helia.”

  Elara paused. He was right; they established those rules when she was still pregnant with Helia. They knew they were fighting a war. They knew the risks and possible sacrifices they would have to make. She bit her lip, looking up at Argon anxiously, the thought of him going into another battle so soon wrecking her internally. But she knew that every person counted. Every person who was fighting against the Elites was needed.

  But she still didn’t want him to go.

  “Just…please be careful,” she said finally. Her heart pounded as she watched him suit up into his armor and head for the door.

  “This is it,” said the visiting Noiro, watching the scene intently. “This must be the attack we read about in the article.”

  The visiting Miela nodded, concentrating on the events unfolding before them.

  Future Elara shifted anxiously in her spot while she watched the front door swing back and forth in the wind as the last of the crowd in the house left for battle. She closed the door softly, turning the lock with a loud click.

  She couldn’t bear to stay in the house while her family and friends were out defending the castle.

  She heard Helia begin to stir, and then gurgle.

  “Mama?” a child’s voice called out.

  She turned her head and began to walk towards the voice. “I’m coming, Helia,” she called back. She opened the door, plastering a small smile on her face. A small toddler stared back at her. She looked like she was almost two.