The people of Elysium are all asking for an answer and find it hard to believe that the fire stone vanished like a bubble suddenly popped.
No one knew what happened. No one knew what went wrong at that time. No one understands.
Elysiumian wants an answer. They want an explanation. They want to know the truth. However, no one can give an answer, no one can give an explanation, and no one knows the truth.
That time, after the fire stone disappeared, the light council decided to stop the event and the Epsilon courted the people to leave the coliseum with unanswered questions.
The three Beta and the chosen of the fire were ordered to go to their respective rooms in the Light Palace.
After a few hours, the story quickly spread across the regions. A story with different sides. A story told from several points of view, showing how different people see, perceive, and hear the situation.
Some people are saying that Valen is not the fire bearer. Some people are saying that the Valen in the ceremony is a fake one.
The situation rapidly spread across the fire region, making people ask and find answers by rallying in the front of Ignis Palace.
They are trying and taking a chance to get information.
They cannot be blamed for their actions. Fire stone is the most valued stone in their region. It is the source of the high fire energy. Without it, the energy of the region will slowly weaken that would definitely result in weakening their region.
After all, a fire bearer is needed to maintain their stronghold and balance the energy between regions.
"Master Valen, aren't you the Chosen of the Fire?"
"Master Valen, show yourself!"
"The Fire Stone faded because you are not the real Chosen!"
"Master Valen, please assure us."
"Royal Family, show Master Valen to us."
"Tell us about what really happened!"
There's commotion outside of the Ignis Palace. People ask and shout at the same time, making it so chaotic.
After an hour, an Epsilon showed up in front of the rallying people. The people slightly settled down and waited for an announcement.
"On behalf of the Fire Royal Family, we understand you and we also have the same questions but we are doing our best to get information about what happened. We will send an update once we get it. Master Valen is not here. The Council did not let the Prince go home and they are staying in the Light Palace. I am politely asking you to go to your houses and go back to your businesses. Have a great day, everyone!" an Epsilon formally said with a clear and solemn tone, then bowing his head in front of the people.
After that, there are people who leave, probably going back to their houses and businesses. But, there are still a few people who are staying and calmly waiting.
In the Light Palace, the three Beta are eating snacks in the garden.
"What if the fire stone was burned?" Tellus playfully asked while tapping his chin repeatedly, as if he was using his critical and logical thinking.
"I don't have time for your nonsense joke, Tellus," Aerona coldly replied to the man, without looking at him.
Tellus acts as if he was stabbed in the heart. "The cold air just struck my heart. It wasn't heartburn though…. cause the fire stone is gone." He exaggeratedly laughs, a laugh that can be heard throughout the garden.
However, the two Beta did not pay him any attention.
"Am I the only one who had an assumption that it might be an illusion?" Aella suddenly asked, looking at her cup of tea and gently stirring it.
"It is a high level of illusion," Aerona told them in a clear and steady voice showing that she is confident in that.
Three of them looked at each other.
"Looks like we have the same thought," Tellus said while fidgeting in excitement about their idea. "Though, I really thought it was burned because it was the fire stone," he seriously added, with his unwavering eyes and fixed looking at his cup of tea.
Some people might believe him but not Aerona, who's done with his nonsensical thoughts. She just rolled her eyes and spoke harshly, "Yeah, cause you are dumbass."
Tellus widens his eyes then covers his mouth with his palm, as if he is shocked with what he heard from Aerona.
"There are many people who can do illusions in the water and air regions but that is a high level of illusion," Aerona stated.
"It's so strange, isn't it?" Aella said it with a calm tone. "Usually, illusions disappear when they touch a higher level of energy. But this one... it stayed even when Tellus's stone touched it. It only faded once we all used our stones together," she added with her melodic voice.
Tellus raised his hand, asking permission to speak.
"No. You can't speak." Aerona denied his permission without looking at the man.
However, Tellus just chuckled. "Only one person can do it… and that's me!" he continued, confidently chinning up.
Aerona flatly looked at him and coldly said, "Shut up. You can't even do minor illusions."
Tellus burst out laughing. "Kidding aside, that should be the Gamma, the bearer of the illusion stone," he said, still chuckling while there are few tears in his eyes because of too much laughing.
"Tsk, those freaking Gamma! I really don't get the idea why those people are not publicly known," Aerona paused, crossing her arms and leaning in the chair. "And, why the hell are they scattered around the region?"
"Most of them are not for fighting, so they need to be protected," Aella explained gently, her eyes softened.
Tellus slanted in his chair. "So, what about us? We need to be protected too!" He dramatically slammed the table.
"What the hell, Tellus?!" Aerona hissed at the man, narrowing her eyes to him as if she was ready to use the fierce air to cut him down.
Tellus, who felt that Aerona would not hesitate to cut him, raised his arms to surrender. "Sorry," he immediately asked for pardon and smiled forcefully.
She just rolled her eyes and calmly took a deep breath. Aella on the side was just quietly watching them.
"Aric is the name of the bearer of illusion stone, right?" Aella whispered softly while staring at the flowers.
Aerona nodded, "Yeah. I met him once during my training in the Aerilon region." She uses their mind link to relay the face of the man named Aric, a picture from her memories.
Mind link can only be used by people who bear an elemental and prime stone.
"He is kinda a gloomy and emo person, isn't he?" Tellus chuckled, leaning back with his hand behind his head.
"Well, he is an Illusionist. What do you expect? A very cheerful guy, like you?" Aerona asked flatly then rolled her eyes.
"Yes! A very cheerful guy!" he teasingly answered, winking at Aerona who replied with a disgusted face.
Aella asked gently, "Should we tell it to the Light Council?"
"They're the Light Council, aren't they? They should know it better than us," Aerona coldly replied. "If they don't, then the council is better off without them." She tossed her hair over her shoulder.
A few minutes of silence can be heard at their table. No one dared to say another word in those minutes.
Until Tellus worriedly asked, "Do you think Valen is okay?" he sighed heavily.
"That is so obvious, Tellus," Aerona replied, furrowing her brows.
Aella replied tenderly, "We have trained ever since we were young. Those pains, cries, and struggles just to prepare our body to take the elemental powers." She looked at their right side, the direction where Valen is. "I hope he talks to us about what he was feeling," she sighed and looked at her cup of tea. "But we should understand what he was going through right now."
"He was strong. I believe in his strong mind and heart," Aerona added, holding her head high and eyes full of confidence and assurance.
Tellus smiled fully and expanded his posture. "Of course, he is my best friend! The one and only Valen Ember!" he proudly said.
"I'm worried about Valen. He's a chosen one. His body needed the fire stone," Aella stated. A few tears fell on her eyes but she gently brushed them off.
"Also, the fire region will also suffer for it, they need the fire energy." Aerona stated.
"Let's just hope that the Light Council finds the fire stone as soon as possible." Aella looked up, softly clasping her hands together, her eyes flickered with hope.
Tellus nodded. "Speaking of the Council, they announced an emergency meeting tomorrow," he added. "If it was an emergency, why not now? If it was tomorrow, then it is not an emergency, right?" he pouted then chuckled while tapping the table.
The two women just shrugged and took a deep breath at the same time.
After a few minutes of silence, an Epsilon is rushing towards them.
He gives a courtesy by bowing slightly before speaking. "Your Royal Highness, I am sorry for disturbing your snacks but I was ordered to tell you that there is something happening in Master Valen's body," he said, keeping his eyes lowered.
The Beta looked at each other, then glimpsed at the Epsilon. "Thank you," they said simultaneously, then elegantly rushed to Valen's room.
A chaotic situation unfolded before them, messy and noisy. The medical team is going back and forth, shouting and saying things that can be barely understood.
No one noticed the appearance of the Beta, as all of them are preoccupied. For them, Valen's situation is the most important as of the moment. No time to think, no time to lose.
The three Beta freely let themselves in. The room was full of medical teams, mostly Aquamedics, from the region of Aquaria. They are busy checking on Valen's body, mixing some kind of liquid, and doing some medical stuff.
Upon entering, an Epsilon finally noticed them. "Your Royal Highness, this way, please." He escorted them to the left side of the room.
"What happened?" Aella calmly asked.
Standing straight with his hand on his back, the Epsilon replied, "I am sorry, Your Royal Highness. We are not fully equipped with information regarding it. Master Valen suddenly shivered and red lines were forming in his body. The causes are still unknown."
Aella nodded, "Thank you."
The three Beta looks so worried. Aella's eyes are filled with tears welling up. Aerona is hugging her while avoiding looking at the situation of Valen. Tellus shows frustration by clenching his fist and tapping his foot repeatedly while impatiently waiting for a report from the Aquamedics regarding the situation of Valen.
After more than 10 minutes of waiting, one of the Aquamedics came to them.
She bowed before speaking, "It is a fire energy being wild in his body as he loses control of his energy. We manage to slow down the effect of it... but sooner," the Aquamedic paused and lowered her gaze, then continued explaining, "the uncontrolled energy will consume his body that will eventually lead him to... death."
Aerona furrowed her brows, and straightly looked at the Aquamedics, who were still looking downward. "What do you mean by uncontrolled energy? Valen is freaking one of the most powerful in using fire energy! What do you mean by that?!" she shouts continuously, making the Aquamedic lower her gaze much more.
Aerona knew that answer to her question. Three of them knew the answer to that. They are just in denial.
Aella holds Aerona's hand to calm her down, she warmly looks at her and pleads to calm down.
"Can you please elaborate? Why does he lose control of his energy?" she paused, swallowing hard not to cry. "I-is it because of the fire stone?" she composedly asked the Aquamedic, trying her best to be collected, and softly waiting for her answer.
An answer that they knew already but wishing that they could hear a different one.
"A normal Elysiumian holds an average level of energy. A chosen child holds an extreme level of energy. An awakening means that those extreme amounts of energy would be awakened. Hence, an elemental stone is needed to control those in order not to be uncontrollable," the Aquamedic lengthy explanation, still looking down and shivering due to shouts of Aerona.
It was the answer they knew already but it wasn't the answer that they wanted to hear.
Upon hearing it, Aella and Aerona slightly lose their balance. Thankfully, Tellus was there to support and hold them, who definitely also felt weakened yet standing strong to support the two.
They knew it already but even knowing it and unconsciously preparing to hear that answer, they couldn't believe it and it totally broke their heart.