Q: Is it a published novel?

A: Yes, it is.

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Q: When is the released date?

A: 31 August 2021

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Q: Who is the publisher?

A: CV. Dexa Berkarya Indonesia

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Q: May I know the ISBN?

A: Yes, you may. It's 978-623-98101-0-8

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Q: Is this a series novel?

A: No, it is not. This book is a stand-alone YA Fantasy novel.

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Q: May I print this book illegally/without permission?

A: You may not.

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Q: How to purchase the hardcopy?

A: Access desty.page/clairiest. You can purchase the book through Shopee App (Online Store) or contact me through WhatsApp.

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NOTE for readers:

There is a map in the book which will make it easier for you to imagine where the main character is. However, to avoid an illegal copy, I would not put it in *******.

I humbly apologize.

Please enjoy the magical Aetherux Dream.

🏔️🌲⛱️

Elyvenor, an elven island with three different lands to be born in; mountain, beach, and forest.

Aetherux, a feather village, located in the forest with its rich herbs, flowers, and lumbers. Decorated by the beauty of Aetherux elves' lifeblood-magic string. The magic within each one of elves is non-identical – no elves have the same magic. They cast their magic string through the tip of their fingers. Allowing the lights pass through the magic string, it is their tradition to learn how to knit it around rattan canes rings into oval shaped hoops. Thanks to the birds Aetherux befriended with, for once in a week their feathers fall to grow another. Aetherux uses these feathers to decorate their magic for they believe to mass magic by doing so. They call it "Magic Catcher" ever since.

Each and every one of Aetherux elves has birds of their own, except me. I befriended with a forest cat.

As you can see, I'm different from the rest.

My name is Claire Priest, a pharmacist born without magic in the third centuries' summer of Elyvenor. For many years, Aetherux teachers succeeded in identifying what kind of magic the children have. The children were taught to let their magic spark into beautiful catchers. Meanwhile, each season; spring, summer, autumn, winter had passed twenty-four times since I was born, but kept on failing to cast magic strings inside of me. I became the only Aetherux elf who does not have any magic. We elves may have magic catchers, but do not depend on it.

Those with fighting spirit choose to learn how to use weapons such as archers, assassins and knights. While others choose to support them; tailoring, crafting, and curing; like me. I became a pharmacist for my family heritage in brewing potions. Aetherux has five kinds of herbs; blue, green, red, yellow, and purple, which I use for brewing. With a perfect measurement in potion brewing, each herb has different ability; blue herbs for wounds, green herbs for stamina, yellow herbs for vitamin, red herbs for burn and purple herbs for potions. Unlike the other villages; Moustier and Brealis, herbs do not grow in their lands due to their lands is different with ours.

Moustier, a village known for its source of metal located in the Mountains; forever snow. On the contrary, Brealis, a beach paradise village where the land has the brightest sun, produces the richest shells, clams, and pearls. The three villages live peacefully with their differences. Until, Moustier without a word built a half- mountain tall gate to separate them with the others.

Most of Moustier elves claimed that the gate was made to protect Aetherux and Brealis away from the wolves they have befriended with. For centuries, every villager did not mind about the reason why Moustier built it. Meanwhile, I believe Elyvenor peace was neither a charity nor deal, but earned for the suspicion of Moustier elves towards me in every potion delivery for them.

Aetherux's former leader and the head of pharmacists had approved this idea of mine to sell potions to other villages.Delivering these potions for years was expeditious, until the thought of helping each land maintains peace in Elyvenor is gone when one of them unexpectedly cause danger for Aetherux.

Birds have just awakened from their nests, singing beautifully to greet another day in Aetherux. The soft blue light from the sky beautifully enlightens the colorful feathers through children's magic catcher on the class ceiling. Their beauty has concealed tears from flowing down on my cheek for remembering that I do not have my own magic string to knit into as beautiful as theirs. I could use a breather from the thought of - elven in my age had already mastered the skill to control their magic catchers - by watching each one of their catchers spins around gently as the wind blows through the window.

The edges of my eyes catch busy looking elves walk pass the Magic Catcher School. Some elves are carrying lumbers, herbs or cottons in their hands. As hard as it is to say goodbye to the children's magic catchers, I had to go back to work. I grab my bag strap, filled of potions, herbs, beeswax, and flowers inside. Before I turn around to the door, a glimpse of an elf is waving at me.

Leir, a black-haired young man with a feather attached to a leather hood on his shoulder wrapped with roller-bandages on his chest, arms, and legs as the outer outfit, is standing by an apple tree in front of the school. He smiles brightly while waving at me. I point my chest then switch to him, to tell him that I am coming there.

I open the class door and close it back. Leir leans his back on the tree as I go out from the school. I walk pass elves who are going to the public cottages in the center of Aetherux; the craft, tailor, medical, library, and inn.

Leir giggles while stroking my hair, "Phew, you almost bumped into one of them." He smirked as I finally arrived by the apple tree.

I sulk, "They're busy. We should be too." I fixed my messy hair from being stroked.

"Let's fill in our stomach first." He walked to the inn, while I followed beside him.

The moment we take a few steps away from the school – BOOM! My body falls down by my hands as I lose balance. The earth was shaken by the thrown bomb when it hit the ground eighteen meters away from the tree we stood at. Leir had fell down to the ground with his left arm burned by the fire. The elves who had been working are unconscious on the ground.

Birds chirp panicky as they fly away from where the bombing is to the other side of the forest. My lungs ache from breathing in the brownish smoke which came out from the burn trees. I cough the smoke away from my lungs, barely able to catch a breath. With my eyes half opened from the smoke, I try to stand up.

The edges of my dress are slightly burned. As the smoke slowly fades, my legs are hobbling when I hurried to get roller-bandage, red salve, and cold water in my lab at the Medica.

Pharmacists run outside the cottage with potions and salves in their hands, as I arrived by the door. Without knowing who, I stopped one of them to see whether they bring roller-bandage and cold water. I immediately took it from them when I saw it in their medic basket.

I run towards Leir with cold water and roller-bandages in my hand. He is half awake while groaning. I kneel down to pour cold water on every inch of his burn on left arm. The cold water slowly dry as I blow my breath to his arm.

The moment I finished applying red salve on his left arm, he stopped groaning and started to breathe normally. I lift his arm, then wrap it with the bandage.

Just as I catch my breath while sitting down on the ground watching over him – BOOM! Another bomb was thrown at the same spot where the first one was. My body was slammed to the center of public cottage along with Leir's.

My ears are ringing all my thoughts away. The smoke covers my nose from breathing oxygen with its burn smell. My vision on Leir blurred in the middle of the smoke. When I try to reach his hand, my eyes are shut closed.

In my burned dress, I stand in the middle of darkness. The pain wiped away by the cold of darkness. I hold my trembling arms. Suddenly, my body enlightened by light. I turn my head to the left while covering the brightness from stabbing my eyes.

Not wanting to let the cold consume me, I walk towards the light. As I take one step at a time to the light, the cold fades. The heat in my body left the cold darkness behind. The tip of my skirt until the top of my hood changes into a light blue cotton dress when I completely inside the light.

M-my dress?!

I lost my consciousness the moment my dress has completely changed. My body is laying down on something soft. I gasp while getting up. The softness under my body was a bed. I hold the light blue dress I am in which was changed my dress back in the light of darkness.

How is that possible?

The sunlight softly brightens the room through the window. I get up from bed and walk close to the wall. The wall is not made of wood. When I look up, there is an unfamiliar white round glass attached on the ceiling.

A mushroom shaped thing is on a table next to the bed. A black chair is tucked nicely inside a white desk. And, a white wardrobe stands firmly beside desk.

I'm definitely not in Aetherux.

Aetherux villagers' homes are cabins. The color of this room is mostly white.

What happened to me?

Lost in thoughts while rubbing the unusual wall. A few birds are chirping through the window to welcome the day in a bright blue sky with soft clouds decorating the view.

There is not much of a tree I can find. A gray thing covers the ground completely. It also divides the houses across this house.

Vroom!

My eyes dazed at an unusual noise came out from a huge oval thing with four wheels like horse's legs but someone is not riding on it.

My head tip to shoulder in confusion while the ride is leaving from where it was. My eyes widen when one gets out from a house with round ears. I hold my ears to make sure mine do not change like they do. I slide my fingers to the tip of my fingers.

Phew! Wait. Am I the only elf here?!

My eyes could not escape from the round eared creature, wondering what they are. I hold the side of my head trying to remember what happened in Aetherux. I hit it a couple of times to let the memory out. My legs drop its knees on the floor as nothing comes out from my brain to know what happened before.

I want to go home.

Without notice my tears flow out to my cheeks. Suddenly – Knock Knock!

I wipe my tears, "W-who is there?" My teary voice stammered.

"Claire, it's me." A voice that I long to hear was behind the door.

Granny? Am I dead?!

I run towards the door and immediately open it. I find grandma is standing with a plate of fruit salad in her hand.

She leans the salad plate to me, "I brought you breakfast."

"Excuse me, gran." I permitted before I slide her side hair behind her ear.

Pointy.

I exhale softly. I let go off her hair. It falls down and covers her ear.

She holds my left cheek. "What's wrong?"

I stare at her eyes, "Granny. Am I dead?"

She suddenly stunned with her eyes widen. "Of course not, dear. You're breathing now, aren't you?" She lowered her voice tone.

I droop my head, "But you..." My eyes burst back into tears. "You passed away last two winters. So was grandpa." The tears made my voice unstably raised.

"Is that what your dream was about?" She suspected my claim while wiping away my tears.

"No! Back in Aetherux, you both passed away!" I accidently raised my voice as she did not believe me.

She hugs me, "Calm down. All that matters now is you are here with us."

I hold her shoulders from hugging me, "That's what I'm worried about! If you guys are here, then I must be dead!" I went downstairs; passed grandpa who was sitting on what seems to be a soft looking bench.

"Morning, Claire." Grandpa's eyes met mine.

I ignore them and go outside the house. A middle-aged woman is walking pass our house.

I wave my hand, "Excuse me!" I shouted while running to stop her from going any further.

The woman stops and turn to me, "Oh! Miss Priest. You're still in pajamas, dear." Her friendly voice reminded me what I wore.

Without noticing grandma was following me, she grabs my arm and drags me back inside the house.

"What were you thinking?! Going out in that?!" She pointed her finger at the pajamas. "Hurry shower, then eat this." She gave me the fruit salad. "This isn't like you to wake up late." She muttered while I take the plate from her hand.

I sigh, "Where's the bathroom, gran?"

She furrows her eyebrows, "Why do I feel a strange vibe that you haven't even been here?"

"Because I haven't!" I sighed deeper. "I know you don't believe a word I said. Just...tell me where the bathroom is."

She strokes my hair, "I'm sorry I yelled." She paused. "It's right next to your bedroom."

I nod to her before going back to where I came from to put the plate on the desk. Staring at swollen eyes on my face through the reflection of the mirror, I frowned. I hold my forehead while drooping my head.

How do I go back to Aetherux?

I bite my lower lip. My stomach is not cooperative in this state of time for it growled when the scent of fruit salad hovered around the room. I open the wardrobe to look for a dress. I pick the one with a hoodie above the dress, similar to what I wore in Aetherux. With a towel in my hand, I went to the bathroom.

I forgot! I have no idea how to use any of these.

This place seems to use an advance crafting or maybe forging like in Moustier. I pull everything there until water flows out above me. I screamed as the water soaked me. Water flows passed through my fingers as I cover my head.

After a while in the bathroom, I have finally figure out how it works. I dry myself up before putting on the dress as I finished showering. I ran to the bedroom with my hair dripping water on the chair I am sitting on.

It hurts when I breathe as if every inch of my lungs is being pinched in the smoke.

Smoke?!

I find myself holding Leir's hand in the middle of brownish smoke when I opened my eyes. Every memory of what happened both when the bombs were thrown until the unknown place I was in, are mixed.

I shake my head to sort both my memories out and focus on what is in front of me now. I let go off Leir's hand to get up. With his right arm lifted up, I swung it around my shoulder to let half of his body lean on mine. I wrap my arm around his waist to guide him to walk to the Medica.

Five elves are lying on the ground groaning in pain in every step that we take. Pharmacists are treating them with their medic baskets. Some of the pharmacists are taking them inside the Medica.

With my knees aching from falling on the ground, I put my strength in keeping his balance on my shoulder, having to lift his right arm up to my shoulder as it slides down every step I take. The closer I get to the door; the more my shoulder gets tired.

Naela runs in hurry downstairs. Our eyes meet, and she immediately lifts Leir's unburned part of his left arm gently. I nod weakly to thank her before we synchronize our steps together.

The moment we arrive in one of the patients' room, Naela and I are panting after we managed to lay Leir on the Medic bed. Naela goes out from the room when she saw Drothe pass by.

I take a chair to put it next to the bed Leir lies. When I sit down with my bag on my thighs, Naela came back in the room.

She taps my shoulder, "I need to treat you as well. Come with me." She shoved her hand while walking out to the door.

I shake my head, "No, thank you Nael. I'd like to stay." I held Leir's right hand.

Naela lets me be with Leir and leaves the room. Not long after Naela left. I lift my bag to see my thighs when they are cold. The bottom of my bag is wet when I held it. A bottle of blue potion broke into pieces as I open the bag. I take a sheet of cloth on the table next to the bed, and put it on the table. As I lay each pieces on the cloth, a faint sound of footsteps is behind me.

Not minding the sound, I wrap the broken pieces inside the cloth and put it on the corner of the table. I turn around to see who is coming.

A medic basket in Naela's hand. She walks toward me and kneels down, "Let me see your knees."

I scooch to the right to make it easier for her to treat. She slides the singed part of my dress up to see my knees. There are wounds on my knees I could barely feel while prioritizing Leir.

Naela takes out a blue potion out from the basket as well as cotton flower. She pours a couple of drops on the flower, then gently taps it to my wounds. My eyebrows furrowed while biting my lip every time the cotton flower of blue potion touched the wounds. It stings a little.

Not a moment too soon after the bombings, a sound of rain pouring down from outside the window. Mr. Harlord must be extinguishing the fire with his magic catcher before it spreads. The smoke fades the moment rain drops press it to the ground.

After she was done applying blue potion, she takes the cloth of broken potion bottle pieces with her. "I will be back with Medic's clothes for you to change into. Wait here." She left us in the room.

I let my knees revealed to let the blue potion dry. I hold Leir's hand and put it against my forehead. Nothing comes out from my mind except wanting Leir to wake up. When his tip fingers slightly move, I lift my head.

"Leir?" My voice shaken.

Leir groans, "Claire?" He held my hand on his. "What just happened?"

I immediately wipe my tears away, "There were bombs thrown at the school." I paused. "We were thrown away by the explosion and the flame hurt us."

Leir turns his head to the left to see his arm.

"The salve will heal you shortly." I held his hand firmly from touching his left hand.

He turns his head back to me, "Did the bombs hurt you too?" His deep voice asked sincerely.

"Just a little." I showed him the wounds.

He lifts his head to see my knees, then drops his head back on the pillow while groaning. "I need to search for the culprit!" He let go off my hand to cover his face. "I wonder if it was from one of us."

"I don't know." I shook my head. I stare at his eyes. "It's not your job to find it. You got hurt. Even if Sir Aragorn asked you, you're protected by the Head of the Pharmacy." I took his hand from his face. "Stay."

He holds my hand gently as our eyes are having a conversation without words. I lean my cheek on his palm in my hand. He strokes my cheek with his tip fingers.

The hallway is crowded by elves' footsteps. Some are going inside a patient's room; the others are leaving.

I glance at my knees. My skin knees slowly attach together as it heals. I put his hand on bed, then walk to the other side of the bed to check on his left arm.

I lift his arm up to untie the roller-bandage. When I roll down the bandage, the burned skin has been replaced by a new skin.

My eyes widen, "It healed!" I took off the rest of the bandage quickly. "Try to move your arm." I helped him up.

Leir sits on the bed. As he lifts his both hands, his eyes brighten as well as his lips. He hugs me tight and I hug him back. He whispers his thank softly in my ears. Just as he lifts me up in his embrace, the door is opened.

Leir lets me down when Naela walks in the room. She leans the clothes for us to change. Before even touching the clothes she gave, an announcement trumpets blow its melody at the center of public cottages.

I switch glance at both Leir and Naela. She leaves the clothes on the bed. I take my bag with me. The three of us then run outside the Medica. The other victims stay in patient rooms when we run in the hallway.

The head of pharmacy and pharmacists left their work to run outside alongside with us. The moment we were out of the Medica, the central of public cottages are crowded.

The guards are still blowing the trumpets to call for us. The melody is echoing through trees of Aetherux. The muttering of elves glooms the center of Aetherux air due to the bombings. It is growing even more intense as elves are coming from every corner of Aetherux.

Archers and knights are coming on horseback, while assassins jump through trees. Mr. Morthil, the leader's trusted knight behind the guards, hits the ground a couple of times with the bottom of his spear as a cue for the guards to stop blowing the trumpets.

Sir Aragorn steps forward to the front of the guards before he announces, "Aetherux." He pointed at the east where the grounds turned into huge holes, the half-burned trees, and a fallen burned tree. "Have any of you saw who threw those bombs?" His loud but calm voice silenced everyone.

Leah walks forward to face Sir Aragorn, passing everyone here. She bows to him with her magic catcher floating next to her. "Sir Aragorn, after the second bomb, I tried to detect the culprit behind this ambush using my catcher." She bowed down lower. "However, I did not sense any suspicious elf nor anything out of the ordinary. I truly apologize, Sir." She reported with steady voice.

"Shirva and I have searched through the trees to find the possible directions where the culprit might run off after throwing the bombs. They have escaped without tracks, Sir." Mr. Rohan reported.

Naela walks next to Leah, "Sir, we have saved seven victims of the flame bombs. Five of them are in the patient rooms, while the other two have fully recovered, Sir." She pointed her thumb backwards to the Medica.

After they took turns in reporting to Sir Aragorn, the rest of us report to him where they were during the bombings. Some share their complaints about our security.

We are too used to this peace with each other. There are no guards protecting Aetherux villagers, but the leader. I bet the bombings are not from us.

Why would we destroy our own land?

Without notice, my lips states what was in my mind verbally.

"From the looks of it, every one of us are busy with our own job. Clearly it was not from us. We were born in Aetherux. We may lack of security and vulnerable, but that is because we are too used to this peace. I personally think Elyvenor peace was not a charity, but earned, Sir." My eyes focused on Sir Aragorn even though others were staring at me.

"There is a possibility that the bombs weren't from us, Sir." Leir cleared my statement.

Sir Aragorn's eyes may look at us, but his mind is somewhere else. Our eyes never escape from Sir Aragorn, until Sir Aragorn stays quiet for a moment.

Chatters among us has started again since. Sir Aragorn taps the bottom of his spear to the ground a couple of times to silence us. The chatters fade slowly.

Sir Aragorn switches his sight to every one of us without missing any. "Are any of you against where I stand right now?"

The chatters echoed louder the moment Sir Aragorn asked regarding his leader position.

A middle-aged man at the back shouts, "Weren't you chosen by Sir Theoden himself to be the next leader before he died?"

He's right.

Two centuries ago, Aetherux had no leader before Moustier's leader ordered his villagers to build a metal gate as a border between Aetherux and Moustier. Even after they explained why they built the gate, some of us were concerned about it.

We decided to vote for our very first leader. When Sir Alberado had the most vote, others who voted for someone else were not very cooperative with the winner of the vote. We changed the leadership system ever since. The winner of vote leader, Sir Alberado, will be the one who choose the next leader before he passed away.

The next leader was tested in public to prove his worthiness of being a leader. If the next leader failed the test, Sir Alberado will ask the villagers who wishes to be the leader to do the same test. This becomes our leadership tradition for we had no longer argue about votes.

"And you passed the test. Why would we bomb the ground twice to bring you down?" The middle-aged man added.

"Yeah! Besides we cannot make any destructive bombs. The only explosive we can make is none other than the chemical ones back in the Medica." Said Melaine, a junior in pharmacy who stood at the front.

The moment I turn my head to the right where Naela is, "Why didn't I think of that?!" She covered her face with her head drooped.

For a junior who said it instead of the senior, I guess the seniors, including me and Naela have forgotten how to blow up the potion brew since Pharmacy graduation.

I pat Naela's shoulder, "That's okay, Nael. We haven't blown up potions for many seasons ago." I whispered.

I look at the back when I heard Mr. Iziuel faintly asking everyone to move aside.

He soaked in sweat on his neck down to his cotton shirt, "Excuse me. Pardon me." He walked pass everyone in his way to Sir Aragorn.

Sir Aragorn holds his right hand on his chest while releasing a deep exhale with his eyes closed, "That's a relief." He cleared his throat. "Well then, I would like to –"

Before Sir Aragorn finishes his sentence, Mr. Iziuel stammers, "S-sir Aragorn, I am sorry for my lateness and interruption. Do you by any chance have seen my wife, Elena?" He looked up to Sir Aragorn while wiping his sweat on his neck.

Sir Aragorn searches for every one of elves in front of him to search for Mrs. Iziuel, until his eyes stop at the head of Pharmacy, "Ilrune. Is Elena in one of the patient rooms?" He asked.

Mrs. Ilrune takes out her patient note. She slides her pencil from top to bottom, "Hmm... Elena is not in one of the bombings' victims." She tapped the very bottom of the note.

"P-please let me check in Medica myself for Elena. I-I want to see with my own eyes." Mr. Iziuel stammered while losing a bit of his balance in walking towards the Medica.

Naela raises her hand, "Sir, Aragorn, I would like to excuse myself to show the patients room to Mr. Iziuel." Naela volunteered.

I turn my head to Naela before she leaves to accompany Mr. Iziuel searches for his wife, "I will keep you updated, Nael."

"Thanks, Claire. I'll be right back." She nodded to me and Sir Aragorn before she left.

Leir wraps his right arm around my shoulder. When Sir Aragorn is trying to continue where he left off, with his mouth slightly opened, a woman on the back asks whether any one of us has seen Mrs. Keara's son, Zephyr. I find a woman pleaded Mrs. Keara to sit on a bench next to the Medica for she is too old to stand for too long. The moment Sir Aragorn eyes stops at Mrs. Ilrune, she immediately searches for Zephyr's name on the bomb victims list.

"There is no Zephyr on the list too, Aragorn." She frowned her eyebrows. "Let me check every room in the Medic." She ran back to Medica without the need for Sir Aragorn's confirmation.

The air echoes everyone's chatters, mutters, and whispers in between the trees regarding the missing elves. One elf and another take their chances to state their concern about Mrs. Iziuel and Zephyr to Sir Aragorn. Some said the possibilities of their absence in coming to the announcement call.

I gasp along with others when some guessed that the missing elves are kidnapped.

"Please remain calm!" Sir Aragorn shouted. "Before we come to a conclusion, let us focus on what is in front of us." He pointed at the destruction that the bombs had caused. "Those are able to repair, please form two teams. One to fill in the holes, and the others bring in fallen trees to the Craft." He paused. "As for the others, I need you to form two groups for the missing elves, Elena and Zephyr. East and west."

Right after Sir Aragorn finished his order, everyone turned their heads to the back when Medica door was opened. Naela, Mrs. Ilrune, and Mr. Iziuel are coming out from Medica. Mr. Iziuel's eyes are moist on his pale face.

I knew it, There's no error in the bomb victims list.

My legs automatically run to Naela for she avoids having eye contact with me the moment I turn around to see her out the Medica door. Leir's hand is off of me when I ran to Naela.

"Nael!" I called out for her. "No sign of Mrs. Iziuel?" I asked even though I knew the answer.

She shakes her head.

I tap her shoulder, "Sir Aragorn wants us to form groups of repairs and finding the missing elves."

Mr. Iziuel turns his eyes to me as he heard what I said to Naela. But then he walks towards Sir Aragorn, "Sir. I would like to be on the team to find my Elena!"

Sir Aragorn switches his sight from Mr. Iziuel to Mrs. Ilrune, "Elena and Zephyr are not in the Medica?" His loud firm voice made the entire elves who gathered in front of him changed their sight to Mrs. Ilrune for her report.

"Unfortunately, no. They're missing, Aragorn." Mrs. Ilrune confirmed the missing elves.

Mrs. Keara's eyes widen the moment Mrs. Ilrune said her son's name, "My son is missing?" She said it slowly as her voice a bit trembled.

Mrs. Ilrune approach her, "Your son is going to be alright, Mistress. We'll find him." She calmed her down while holding her back.

"It is officially confirmed that Elena and Zephyr are missing." Sir Aragorn turned his head back to see Mr. Morthil behind him.

When Sir Aragorn nods to Mr. Morhil, Mr. Morthil steps forward, "We do not have time to lose. We need to find them now. Those who are heading to the west are coming with me." Mr. Morthil rode his horse while stirring it to the west, trying to guide the elves who chose to find the missing elves.

Leir turned around to look at me. I nod as I understand that he would join the west side of Aetherux. Mr. Morthil leaves with his horse to guide the west team. Leir jumps to the tree, following Mr. Morthil's horse, so do the other assassins. While a couple of knights and archers are following them on horseback.

As the archers whistle, hawks fly fiercely above them. The hawks fly towards where the archers are pointing at. With the help of hawks, their search will be faster.

I hope.

"The rest are coming with me to the east." Sir Aragorn began his search with the east team, including Mr. Iziuel and Sir Aragorn's two guards who are following behind him.

The clopping of horses' shoes from both west and east teams are fading as they go further away from the center of Aetherux. Mrs. Ilrune waves her hand to pharmacists who are in charge of the bomb victims to go check on them in the patient rooms. Naela wraps her arm around mine as we are heading there as well.

I turned around to the west where Leir is heading. My eyebrows frown. Leir's hand may recover, but I hope he does not move his left arm too extreme.

Please, be safe.

The yellow light from the sun stabs the wooden wall through the window in my small lab. Fighters are helping out the crafters lifting the fallen trees. The crowd from how heavy the trees are loud enough to be heard through the second floor of the Medica.

It cannot be helped that the pharmacists are not helping them for we have to be ready to treat those who got hurt.

Plants, flowers, and herbs decorate half of the lab with other ingredients with flasks and a set of mortar and pestle half of the table. A mix of herbs and potion scent hovers around the room. For someone who is in charge of stocking potions and salves, Calendulas, Carnations, Calamus, Chrysanthemums and Roses are the flowers I use in brewing potion and salve.

Time to work.

I squash a kilogram of Calendula and put it inside a litter of flask full with water. I stir it with a wooden spoon until it becomes a dash of Calendula. I put that aside to cut blue herbs into pieces on the mortar, then begin to crush it with pestle into bits.

Fifty mini flasks in line on the side of the table, I put fifty gram of blue herbs in each of the flasks. I pour twenty milliliters the dash of Calendula flower in the flasks with blue herbs.

I stir the mini flasks one by one to mix the dash of flower with blue herbs. Every each one of the mini flasks shines the bubbles inside after ten seconds of stirring it. Once it has stopped shining, blue potion is ready. I pour it into potion bottles.

I repeat the same potion preparation ways with different mix for each kind of potions; green herbs with Carnation, red herbs with Calamus, orange herbs with Chrysanthemums, and purple herbs with Rose.

The moment I have made fifty bottles of blue, green, red, orange, and purple potions, I begin to brew salves. I let out a tube of mixed melted beeswax, and olive oil which I have made back home.

I split the mixture into half in crucible. Then crushing two hundred and fifty grams of red herbs into bits in mortar. I take another mortar to crush two hundred and fifty grams of purple herbs. I prepare two flasks on the table, with bits of red herbs in one flask, and bits of purple herbs in the other.

After I made twenty-five hundred milliliters dash of Calamus, and Rose, I mix half of Calamus dash with red herbs. And half dash of rose mixes with purple herbs.

All done!

By the time I finished brewing potions and salves, I write down in stock notes for the Medica. Sunset light shines the paper note in my hand.

It's sunset already?

Time goes fast every time I focus on work. Birds' chirp can be heard faintly as it is almost time for them to sleep. In contrary, the darker the sky, the higher energy the forest cats get.

I put the potions and salves in baskets. When all of the baskets are full of potions, I brought one by one to the stock room downstairs. When I open the lab door, Naela was behind the door.

"Oh!" I startled; the basket was shaken.

Naela holds the bottom of the basket, "Claire! I was just about to knock." She took the basket in my hand. "Let me help you with that."

I let out deep exhale as the basket is lifted from my hands, "Phew. Thank you so much, Nael! I can stock faster."

I took another basket in the lab. Naela and I took two trips on the stairs to finish stocking the whole potions and salves. We both fall on a bench next to the counter while exhale deeply. Naela's shoulder is against mine on the bench. We pant as the stocking job is done.

"How's...the patients, Nael?" I panted.

"...Let me catch my breath first." She paused to take a deep breath. "Two of them were sent home. They have fully recovered. And the rest of them are still recovering from the burn." She sat straight on the bench, "Speaking of burn. I need to check on them!" She got up in a hurry to the stock room.

With two red salves in Naela's hand, she runs to the patient rooms. A white light brightens the Medica glass door as Naela went inside one of the patient rooms. In every step I take out from the cottage, Light catchers float in the air, releasing its power to enlighten the whole Elyvenor Forest every night.

It's night already?

Night envelopes the sky, however the search team have yet to return. Chirp of birds has stopped, and only silence remains. My heart beats fast. Sweat flows on my neck. I bite my lip while waiting for them on the outside bench.

The sound of clopping from horses' shoes on both west and east can be faintly heard. I stand up, hoping the sound came out from both teams. A rattle sound from knight armors is getting louder as the clopping horses' shoes are getting closer to the public cottages. Elves from Medica, Craft, Tailor, and Inn are slowly coming outside as they hear a loud horses' neighs. The Light catcher enlighten both teams from the dark.

Both west and east team have returned, yet their faces are down. Their body is worn out. They barely hold the horse reins. When everyone has welcomed them back, Sir Aragorn who rode in front of them shakes his head.

They didn't find them?!

Behind one of the horses, Leir is walking towards me. I run towards him to hug him. His body is weakened.

"You didn't find them on the west?" I whispered. He shakes his head. His face is pale.

I take green potion out of my bag to give it to him, "Drink this. You'll regain your stamina back."

Just as Leir drinks small flask of the green potion, knights behind us approach me to get some of green potions as well. Thankfully, I always carry every kind of potions and salves in my bag.

I give them small flasks of green potions which just need one gulp to finish. Naela suddenly appears behind me with a basket of each variation of potions and salves.

"You really know when I needed you." I indirectly thanked her for reading the situation right.

Naela gives green potions for those who have not get it, "You must admit, you can't do it without me." She smirked while rustling potions in the basket.

I smile at her while helping her to give the potions to everyone without missing any. Sir Aragorn gets off of his horse to approach us. He takes the potions when I leaned it to him.

With only one gulp, he finished the potion. He relievedly exhaled. "I am glad to see you all waited for us. However, with a heavy heart I must announce bad news." He took a deep breath, "Zephyr, Mrs. Keara's son, and Elena had disappeared after the bombings. They could not be found in neither west nor east. The west team and mine met at north without any sign of them." He glanced at me, closes his eyes before turning his sight to the others. "I believe what Claire had shared with us this afternoon was right." He paused. "Brealis and Moustier could be involved in the bombings along with the missing elves. One of them, or maybe both of them worked together to kidnapped them."

The dark sky has become even darker with the fact that either Brealis or Moustier could be the reason behind the missing elves. Meanwhile, Mrs. Keara is at her home, not knowing the information about her son which is not in Aetherux.

We are all staring at Sir Aragorn without any chatters; waiting for him to overcome the danger they are in.

Sir Aragorn takes a breath in the cold air to inform his decision, "However, to prove my claim is true, we need to make two investigation teams. One to Brealis, and the other to Moustier." He paused. "I will send one of my guards tomorrow morning to inform Mrs. Keara that Zephyr is not in Aetherux. No one shall inform her tonight without my acknowledgement." He stared at all of us.

A man in knight uniform gets off his horse. He guides his horse by its reins towards Sir Aragorn. Four other men are following his lead behind him.

"Sir Aragorn." Mr. Dior bowed to him with a sword tucked inside scabbard, he stood in front of the others. "Me and my men are ready to accept the investigation mission, Sir." He reported his team's readiness to Sir Aragorn.

Sir Aragorn looks at the other four men behind Mr. Dior, "Very well, Prae. I shall send you to Moustier. Now I need Brealis team." He turned his head down to look at me. "Claire."

I leave the basket on the grass to stand up facing Sir Aragorn, "Yes, Sir."

"I think you are the right person to investigate Brealis. You have been delivering potions to Brealis since Sir Theoden's leadership, correct?" Sir Aragorn asked.

"Brealis and Moustier, yes Sir." I corrected him.

"Yes, Moustier too. Yet, I remembered your last report about last delivery to Moustier that they gave you a cold stare. Every time you passed their gate. Yes?" He waited for my confirmation.

"Yes, Sir." I nodded.

"I am sorry to interrupt, Sir." Leir took one step.

"Yes, Leir?" Sir Aragorn turned his sight to Leir.

"If Claire is assigned in Brealis to investigate, I would like to join her team." Leir said with his deep stare at Sir Aragorn, not wanting a no for an answer.

Sir Aragorn stares back at him, "Very well, I shall assign Leah to come with you two." He looked back to search for Leah who joined him in the east team.

A clopping horse shoes from behind Sir Aragorn grows louder as it gets closer. Leah on her horse is walking towards Sir Aragorn.

She gets off her horse, "I heard you loud and clear at the back, Sir. Oh –?" She glanced at Leir. "Leir."

Leir pinches his head up to Leah, "Hey."

"That's three." Sir Aragorn counted.

"I would like to have Naela in my team, Sir." I quickly added Naela on my team before he suggested for others.

Naela, who is kneeling on the ground busy organizing the other potions in the basket, suddenly bend her head up to look at us standing around her, "Excuse me." She stood up. "You called my name, Claire? I'm sorry I wasn't listening." She gave the last green potion to a knight.

"That is settled then." Sir Aragorn put his fingers on his chin. "However, you lack of defense if something bad happen. Of course, I would not want that. I will assign Morthil to join your team. His defense is unquestionable. I trust Morthil in your capable hands, Claire." Sir Aragorn waved his fingers at Mr. Morthil to come to him.

As Mr. Morthil walks next to Sir Aragorn, his eyes and mine met.

"I shall do my best in maintaining Mr. Morthil's health." I bowed.

"It is officially settled! Prae leads Moustier investigation team, and Claire leads Brealis investigation team. Report to me tomorrow midnight at the latest." Sir Aragorn switched his sight to the others. "Thank you all for your hard work in repairing the destruction that the bombs had caused to our land. I shall take full responsibility in the missing elves and our safety. Please go back to your cabins safely. Good evening, Aetherux." Sir Aragorn ended the discussion for the day.

The stars decorate the night sky. One by one, elves chatters fades as they walk back home. I explain to Naela about her being in my team to Brealis. She listens carefully while lifting up the basket on the ground. When she understands the situation, she would like to come by to my house tomorrow to talk more about the mission. Leah and Leir agreed to the idea of coming over to my house, so does Mr. Morthil.

Naela returned to Medica to put back the basket in the stock room. Leah horsebacks to her house in the east, while Mr. Morthil follows her as he is also going to the northeast, where Sir Aragorn's cottage is.

Now, there is only me and Leir. Leir and I always return home together as our houses are close. We head back home to the west. When he holds my hand, my cheeks instantly blush. I have forgotten what it was like to walk alone in this quiet night, for Leir is always by my side. I tried to match our step so my short feet could catch up to his speed. I take a glance at him a few times all the way to my home.

"We're here." He stopped my steps.

Leir lets go off his hand to hold both my cheeks. I stare at his eyes with my warm cheeks. He leans his face close to mine, and my heart beats twice faster than before. I close my eyes. My forehead is warm as he leans close to it. I take a peek to look at what he is doing to me. He leaned his forehead to mine, while his tip sharp nose pokes my nose. My cheeks are cooling down, so does my heart.

"Good night, Claire." He whispered.

"Good night, Leir." I smiled while giggling.

He leans back his forehead while smiling back at me, "Thank you for saving my life twice today, Claire. I–" He looked down for a second then looked at me. "Nevermind. Now is not the right time." He caressed my cheek.

I stare at his violet eyes, "What is it? You can tell me now. I'll listen." I said softly.

He glances at my lips, then stares into my eyes, "I will tell you soon. I promise." He gently whispered.

I nod to him, "Okay, then. Please don't step on a broken branch." I held his cheek.

Birds are chirping me up from bed. The sun replaced the fire place in brightening my home. Another relaxing scent of the herbs and flowers to begin the day. I stretch my body comfortably. I walk to my lab and open the kitchen door on the left to make fruit soup with mint on top. Just thinking about it makes my stomach growls.

As I finished making fruit soup, I take the plate to my bedroom. I eat one scoop of fruit soup at a time while opening my wardrobe to pick a dress for the day while chewing. Putting the picked dress on the bed, then finish the fruit soup quickly.

I open the bathroom door next to the wardrobe. Just as I take one step inside, a glimpse of memory crosses my mind. I remembered an unusual bathroom I was in. Grandma and grandpa were there too. Not to mention normally I always had a dream in my sleep. Now it was replaced with weird memories I had.

I wipe a drop of tear in my eye. After I finished washing myself, I put on the dress. I get out from the bathroom and a blue light from the sky pass through the window. I close the door and hurry stock my bag with full of potions before they arrive here. When I put on my bag while walking outside the bedroom, a meow sound from outside calls for me.

Meooow~!

"Coming~!" I shouted playfully so the cat can hear me. She stroked her body to my legs as I opened the door. "Good morning Sera~ Oh!" I found a mouse in Sera's mouth. "Caught another mouse for breakfast, Sera?" I leaned down to stroke her head.

Sera puts down the mouse to give it to me.

"Oh! Thank you, dear for the gift. But you can have it." I scratched her chin while she purrs. "I'll stock fish today, alright?"

"Meooow~" She stroked her body to my legs for her ways to say thank you.

"Aw~ You're very welcome." I stroked her body.

She bites the mouse and take it away for her to eat. When I stand up, the ground is covered with another shadow. My body automatically jumps as Leir is watching me from behind.

I hold my left chest as it was about to jump away, "You startled me!" I hit his arm.

He grins playfully while messing my hair, "Good morning, Claire." With his shining eyes, he opened his hood to reveal his beautiful hair and smiled.

His beauty races my heart faster than being surprised by him. I hold the feather attached on the left chest while glancing at his feather on his right chest. Every one of Aetherux elves is using this feather to show status relationship. Our very first leader made it a tradition for the solution to the past cheating issue.

"Good morning to you, Leir." I greeted back. "You came here on horseback?" I asked as a horse stands behind him, and its reins in his hand.

"Yes, Claire. Let me horseback you to Brealis." He let go off the reins.

I agree and welcome him in my house. Leir takes a step forward inside the house. Suddenly, footsteps from behind is getting closer. I turn around to see who else has arrived. Naela comes to my house on foot.

"Morning, Claire." Naela greeted me.

"Oh, hey! Naela, come in." I let the door opened.

Leah on horseback is almost arrived at my house, followed by Mr. Morthil at the back. I welcome them all to my house. I pleased them to sit down on a bench facing the fireplace. To the kitchen I go and get them a cup of tea. As I put the cup on the table, I sit down in between Leir and Leah, facing Naela and Mr. Morthil to begin the discussion.

"Before we enter Brealis, I need to remind you not to appear cautious. For years of delivering potions for them, I know what they are like. Brealis elves considered the land as a paradise. We need to appear at ease, friendly, and most of all, we need to have fun like we are at a beach party. But do not get carried away by their hyped atmosphere. Watch your expression so none of them think something is off. Once they seem to gain trust in us, ask around. We need to get information related to the ambush. Look around but do not get caught that we are investigating. I am afraid if we get caught, it will backfire us." I glanced at each one of them in turns.

"Understood." Mr. Morthil nodded.

"Watch each other's back. Do not let your guard down. Use your magic catcher for emergency only. I suggest we split once we have arrived. Please blend in. I will give you a cue when we begin to scatter around. Any question?" I added.

"None. I understand, Claire." Naela agreed.

"Got it, Claire." Leir nodded.

"Understood. Let us gather as much information as we need." Leah added.

Without further ado, the five of us ride to Brealis. Naela rides with Mr. Morthil's horse. Three horses' shoes are clopping together in rhythm. Birds' singing is hardly heard when we go further from their nests.

The closer we get to the sea; the louder ocean waves can be heard from where we are now. The wind blows harder as we almost arrived at the shore. A seaweed tent has got closer and closer. There is no gate that separate us from Brealis. Their territory is opened.

Finally, we arrived at the very end of the forest; by the shore. A lot of elves are dancing at the center. Some are splashing the ocean waves. The wide ocean echoes their laugh. Not long after we got off the horses all together, one of Brealis residents greets us.

"Oh, hey forest elves!" He switched glance to every one of us and stopped at me, "I know you. You're Aetherux potion delivery service!"

"That's right. Today is my day off. I'll deliver potions tomorrow. I brought my friends to join my day offs. Is that okay?" I asked softly.

"Hey! I'm not the boss of you. You're more than welcomed to enjoy your day off here in Brealis' endless party!" He shrieked in joy. "See you around!" He waved at us and ran to the sand to join the others.

We tie our horses reins together in one tree. We scatter when I nodded. Leir approaches elves near the forest. Naela chooses the coconut leaves tents. Leah takes the south. Mr. Morthil walks to the southeast. Meanwhile, I still standing here seeing them off. I have no idea where to start because they had already taken every spot.

I walk around the shell sand and finally decided to take the southwest. The open sky echoes the shrieking of many elves until it frightens the pelicans away. This atmosphere is very different with Aetherux. But thankfully, I am used to their hyped voices.

My eyes wide opened when I saw the leader of Brealis is enjoying drinks on the sand. She would be the greatest person to ask around for she knows everything around the place. There is so many other elves holding a tiny glass of drink around her.

I approach her. Her eyes turn to mine when she saw me in her glass' reflection.

"Good afternoon, Madam Ainé. Mind if I join you?" I took a tiny glass of orange as she shook her head while busy taking a sip of her drink and permitted me to take any by waving her hand at the table of full of drinks. I sit down next to her with a bright smile.

"How's work, Claire? I haven't seen you around." Her silk sleeves waved gracefully as her hand lifts a glass of coconut in her hand, while pointing at me.

"Yes, ma'am. Next delivery is next week. I took a couple of day offs. Would you mind if I spend it here?" I sat down across her and the others.

"Oh, dear! What a delightful decision you made there! You are welcome here anytime you feel distress." She smiled brightly.

"It feels nice here in Brealis," I continued, "Feast, everyday! I really enjoyed it every time I deliver potions here." I hyped up.

"Why of course! We live in the richest land in the entire Elyvenor. We own billions of pearl coins to trade with. Aetherux made a really great deal in trading your potions with us." She said proudly.

"Speaking of my potions, do they help?" I took a sip of the orange drink in my hand.

"It helped wonderfully. You really are an expert in brewing those herbs into such a delightful potion to drink. Brealis only has seaweeds, fishes, nasty crabs, clams, fruits and coconuts. None of us know how to brew like you, my dear. You really helped us out." She looked at me with gentle eyes of hers.

"You are very welcome to have our newest sample whenever we succeed in making one for free." I stirred the tiny glass gently.

"Thank you very much, dear! I'm eager to try one. If I may ask, what are you planning to brew?" She let down her empty tiny glass.

"Honestly, we have been searching for a rare rainbow herb. Rumor has it, rainbow herb has an incredible healing ability. Some said it can heal any ailments in existence. Imagine if we find that herb. None of Elyvenor would ever want to buy other potions again but the rainbow ones. However, for years of searching I never seen such one. My grandparents couldn't find one before their last breath." I looked down to the tiny glass.

"My goodness. I am very sorry to hear that, Claire." Her eyes widen, no words came out from her for a moment. "A herb which heals every illness. How wonderful it sounds. You won't find it here for sure. No herbs grow in a sand." She looked down to the sand.

"That's why I initiatively deliver potions here." I took the last sip of orange and put the glass away. "Did you hear anything loud came out of the forest yesterday? Like a blow-up thing." I put down the tiny glass.

"I think I did." She looked up; pointed at the forest, "What made it obvious was that birds flew out from the loud sound over there." She paused. "Claire." Her sharp look stunned me. "Since you've been so kind to us; Brealis, I would like to return the favor." She let a big shell out of a box next to her. "Take this as a symbol of our friendship with Aetherux."

A shiny big shell in front of me takes my breath away. She leans it to me, and I hesitantly accept it.

"This shell can produce a very loud sound. Blow this shell if there's a trouble Aetherux cannot fix. We, Brealis, will gladly help you with everything we got." She opened and placed the shell in my hand. She rustles her bag. She leans a clam necklace in her hand, "Wear this to go everywhere around Brealis. They will allow you to go in even if it's limited to some elves." She put on the necklace around my neck. "Let's try the shell first." She sat down next to me.

A siren's melody flows out from the shell when I blow it. Note by note flow through my ears. Madam Ainé sings in rhythm along with the beautiful melody. Her voice is as beautiful as a siren. Her voice and the shell melody are wonderfully mix to be even more hypnotizing. Despite the harmonious melody of the shell and Madam Ainé's beautiful voice continue to fill the air, a sudden deafening noise disturbs my hearing. It grows even more as the time goes. I do not want to stop this beautiful melody, yet it gnaws in my ears even further. Without notice, my eyes are heavily shut.

My body is slightly trembling as if I had passed the cold darkness I once passed through before my eyes are opened. A glimpse of previous dream slipped through my mind like a slash from a blade. I hold the side of my head with a loud groan when it aches my brain. I pant unstably. I get my half body up from whatever I was laying on.

My bottom sits on something soft. I try my best to open eyes wide to see better. A white cloth is under me. I sit on a bed which strangely familiar to me. The navy sky mixes with white light from the white round glass on the ceiling.

My body moves on its own to run downstairs. I yell their names in each room I opened to look for grandma and grandpa. Until one room next to the stair has not opened. I knock the door.

Creak~!

When the door is opened, there is nothing but pitch black.

Am I not exactly where I think I am?

Vroom!

A familiar sound of ride coming out from this house. I run outside the house to where the sound came from. The glass on the ride is too dark to see who is inside it.

When the glass is slide opened, grandma is waving at me, "Claire, we're home!" She got out from the ride followed by grandpa.

"Hey, Claire. You woke up! We brought you something." A delicious smell hovered around the square box grandpa holds.

I smile at them to hide my confusion of what triggered me for getting back here. I run back inside the house. I keep running, and running upstairs until I reached the bedroom.

I slam the door shut. A familiar empty bowl on the table reminds me of the salad grandma gave me. I hurry lie down on bed with my hands on my stomach. I empty my mind and relax my body; trying to sleep.

Madam Ainé's voice calling out my name echoes in my ears. When I force my eyes to open, my hands are still holding the shell in my mouth.

"Are you alright, Claire?" She held my arm.

Before I let down the shell in my mouth to answer, Brealis elves run towards where the melody was.

A man in front of the others put a fierce look, "Is there something wrong, Madam?!" His scary deep voice asked Madam Ainé. "Did this young woman hurt you?!"

I lean away the shell from my mouth, "Wha–?"

"No, no, no. Don't you see who blew the shell, Eros?" She cut him while holding my back. "I gave Claire, the Aetherux potion delivery, our emergency shell. Inform the others, from now on Claire is our friend. Aetherux and Brealis will help each other out. Understood?" He let go off my back to cross her arms after she gave the man an order.

"Yes, Madam!" He straightened his back.

He bowed to Madam Ainé and I before he leaves.

"You see? My guard came as soon as he heard the call." Her silk sunset orange skirt gracefully lifted up as she crossed her legs with her fingers under her chin.

I lean the shell to my chest, "Thank you so much, Madam. I will treasure it." I put the shell inside my bag. "I should leave you with your lunch for now. I want to see how are my friends" I stood up.

"This is nothing compared to your potions. We had been in a great health since you delivered them to us. Please enjoy our food here. I wish they're to your likings. And perhaps you wanted to try the use of clam necklace?" She smiled brightly.

"Sure thing, Madam." I waved then left her.

Brealis isn't the one who ambushed us!

From that moment on, I realized Brealis has come clean. With this clam necklace, we can fasten our investigation in Brealis.

The blue sky has turned into orange by the time I left Madam Ainé. I fetch Naela is eating in the tent, Mr. Morthil is fishing at the southeast, and Leah at the south. I bring them to the border between Aetherux and Brealis, where Leir is. They obediently follow behind me.

I hurried search for Leir near the forest. Leir is standing in front of a man. His gesture is telling me he is talking to the man. Before I catch up to him, the man has already left.

"Leir." I called him.

He turns around his body, "Claire. Wait, why are you guys here too?" He looked the others behind me.

"Claire wanted to talk to us all." Leah bent her arm for her hawk to land.

Before Leir asks another follow up question, his sight stops at the clam necklace around my neck, "Whoa! Where did you get that?" His eyes widened.

"I befriend with the Leader here, Madam Ainé." I lifted the necklace and showed it to him and the others, "This necklace is our access to everywhere around Brealis. And 'everywhere' I meant even the limited ones. I was thinking of using this to the limited tents. Have any of you found any?" I looked at every one of them in turns.

"She trusts you to hold on onto that?! How nice of her." Naela shrieked a bit until she covered her mouth.

"Not just that." I showed them the Siren shell.

Everyone gasps even Mr. Morthil, "What is that, Miss Priest?" He walked next to me.

"When I asked Madam Ainé whether she heard an explosion from the forest yesterday, she gave me this. She said to blow this whenever we have trouble we could not solve alone," I continue, "She said this shell is a symbol of our friendship, Aetherux and Brealis."

"Are you sure it's safe to blow that? What if it's a trap?" Naela bit her tip thumb.

"Don't worry, Nael. Madam Ainé had already thought that through. She wanted me to test it out before I take it with me. And when I did, Brealis guard immediately came. He thought Madam was in trouble until she explained to him about our friendship. She ordered the guard to help us." Suddenly, I remembered a glimpse of the unexplained world I was in.

Leir frowns his eyebrows when I shook my head.

I try to smile it off so he would not worry about it.

"This is a huge message to tell Sir Aragorn." Mr. Morthil's eyes a bit blanked. "Brealis had put so much trust in you, Claire. You represented a great gesture of Aetherux towards Brealis." His eyes looked amazed.

"Claire, you don't have to bother using that necklace in searching limited tents. Trust me, everything here is opened. Just look at it." Naela waved to the coconut leaves tents. "I wonder which place she meant limited." She rolled her eyes. "I think she meant you can join in even though the tents are full." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Naela is right, Claire." Leah responded. "While I was at the south, I did not see any suspicious tents or hidden place to imprisoned elf. Nor did Litz." She pointed her hawk. "Like Naela said, Brealis are using tents which literally opened to the sky." She turned her head to the sky. "Not to mention their faces are all in high spirit. None of them is in a cold sweat knowing Aetherux elves are here." Leah reported.

"That's right, other me." Leir teased Leah with smirk on his face. "Based on the elves I asked, including the one you guys saw just now. We don't have any bad memories in the past. So, they have nothing against us, and the other way around. Even the first elf who bumped into us was glad we chose their land to spend vacation." He continued to report though Leah hit him for teasing.

"Alright then." I lifted the clam necklace with my fingers. "I will just use this to buy fish for Sera if the tent is crowded." I smirked.

"Miss Claire. I gathered information from elves around the whole southeast and search for weapon or dangerous tool they could have been using to make a bomb. Apparently, they do not own any weapon to use other than fish rods, net, traps, and spears. Some elves even offered me to fish with them with those tools when I was looking around." Mr. Morthil reported. "I did not know they are very kind, Miss. I have never left our Leader's side."

I clap my hands after Mr. Morthil's report, "That concludes it. All of your reports are stating Brealis is cleared from the suspect list. I must admit, we have successfully gathered a lot of strong information to prove that Brealis is not the culprit behind this. Please wait here, I will be back in a second to buy fishes."

They nod to me before I left them at the border. Not long after my bag was filled with a bag of seatrouts at the southwest fishshop where Mr. Morthil was, I lead them back to Sir Aragorn before the sky turns darker.