CHAPTER 2

Elva is taken to the Court Hall at the Palace.

Assistant Royal Commander: Commandant (the attention of the Royal Commandant draws to him). We have finally captured her.

The questioning eyes of the Royal Commandant follow the hand of his junior as it points towards the entrance and the elf maiden is brought in and made to fall on her knees despite her condition.

Assistant Royal Commander: We have finally captured the Masked Thief, the so called legendary invincible thief of our realm. (Studying the firm questioning of the Royal Commandant, he places the items of the Masked Thief on the elegant wooden tiles). Proof.

On further investigation, he search through the items and aligns them according to the facts he himself had collected during his own search of this invincible thief who is knelt before him.

Royal Commandant: You really are the one, after many years of searching.

Elva: (Sneers). What a memory, Commandant.

Royal Commandant: [The Masked Thief is a young lady, how unusual. But her hair color is...](Shakes head steadily). Take her to the dungeon, where she will stay put until the judgement of the Emperor.

Elven-Soldiers: Yes Commandant!!

Elva not wanting to bear the thought of being chained in a cell till the day of her execution for sure, gives out a roar of anger alongside her separated arms and red eyeballs, instantly creating a thick flow of wind like a blast which sends different Elven-Soldiers to the floor. However the Royal Commandant is able to form a blockage for himself. The amount of Energy released despite her condition makes her weaker, she falls down and two Elven-Soldiers immediately take hold of her.

Royal Commandant: (Stands properly in astonishment). (To a male servant) Alert the Elflord.

The Male Servant: I shall do so.

He exits.

Royal Commandant: How did you do that? (Elva remains quiet)Speak!

The Elflord enters with his Royal Advisor and they bow before him.

Elflord: What is going on here? All of you at ease.

All those who bowed stand on their feet.

Royal Commandant: My Lord. We have another guess.

The Royal Commandant adjusts to the left to give way to the young maiden. The Elflord walks up to Elva and order the Elven-Soldiers holding her to support her to stand by the gesture of his hand.

Elflord: (Polite in spite of his nobility) May I ask who you are my child?

Elva doesn't respond.

Royal Commandant: My Lord, this ælfen is the Masked Thief.

Elflord: Her? Masked Thief?

Royal Commandant: Yes, my lord.

Royal Advisor: But how can you be certain that she is the one aside the fact that her hair is colored as that? We have searched for years and our guesses have been to no avail.

Royal Commandant: There's only one way left to found out.

Elva: [What are these sticks talking about?]

Elflord: (Glances at Elva) The Dragon's Scale.

Seeing his hand reaching for her left ear, Elva flinches angrily.

Elflord: (Tender) Easy, my child.

Being too weak to fight back and the mild voice of the Elflord, Elva rests allowing the Elflord to touch the spot he sought for and behold the Crystal Dragon's Scale is there. The Elflord pulls it a little which makes Elva react and the scale flickers hurting the Elflord a bit and he withdraws his hand in pain.

Elflord: Ah. (He covers his hurt fingers with the other hand and gazes at Elva in amazement) Men, after eighteen years, we have finally found the the Red Dragon.

The eyes and mouths of those present gape in surprise, some Elven-Soldiers are flabbergasted at the fact that one of the top Law Offenders in the Edhel-Ambar (Elfland) who had given them a lot of headache and cases to solve is the Red Dragon they have been searching for for years. Without wasting a moment, the male servant that was ordered to seek the Elflord quietly exits the scene.

Elflord: (Along with a grin) Under the Order of the Therds, bow before the Urulòkë.

Everyone besides the Elflord genuflects and make a 'X' sign with their forearms below their chests.

The Male Servant: (Rushing in) Your Highness!

The Eldest Elven Prince losing control of his subconsciousness, breaks through the barrier back to the original world, as a result he breaths heavily. He lets in a deep breath in and releases it calmly.

The Male Servant: They have found the Red Dragon.

When the servant ends his statement, the Eldest Elven Prince glances a little over his shoulder at the servant but his eyes are yet still unseen by the viewers.

Elflord: What is your name, my child? [She looks weak]. (To an attendant of his) Get the physician, she's unwell, didn't you notice that, that you allowed a young maiden to be treated harshly?!

The Elven-Soldiers whom are been scolded by the Elflord try to apologize only if the Elflord will allow them to, and at the mean time, Elva now feeling free within inhales deeply retrieving her energy and then blacks out.

The Elflord of the Elfland, aside his status is a kind, simple and just ruler. He rebukes sinister domineering acts and tries his best with the wisdom of ancient kings to create a steadfast land for his subjects and family to dwell.

Few Hours Passed, Elva opens her eyes, and instantly sits up with her hand on her head.

Elva: Uff, it was just a dream. (Realizes something, and looks around) Wait a... Where am I?

Braiden, a maid assigned to Elva walks in and upon Elva awake, she exclaims with a courtesy.

Braiden: My Lady!

Elva glances at her in shock as she tries to have a grasp of understanding at the name "My lady".

Braiden: You are have finally awoken.

Elva: Uhmm, sorry but who are you? (Braiden tries to reply) Where am I? Awoken? Was I dead before? (She pauses to hear the response from the maid).

Braiden, seeing that the young lady has finally hushed down is about to answer but is shut down by Elva's continued question.

Elva: Or wait, am I? Because this place certainly looks like the afterlife.

Braiden: [Please allow me answer your requests one at a time ,my lady 😭].

Derlinê, a matured female assigned to serve Elva as her Lady-in-waiting, enters.

Derlinê: (Courtesies). It is good to have you here, My Lady.

Elva: (Sighs with her left palm on her forehead and a toothy grin) I must be dreaming right now to even think I am an Eldar.

NOTE: Eldar is an Elven word for one belonging to the Royal Family.

Elva: (Stops with the grin). [Or wait, am I?] (An echo of the word "Urulòkë" sounds in her head, and not wanting to accept the truth of it, she shakes her head severally) No, no, it cannot be. (Observing around herself) I am dreaming for sure, I am certain!

Her thoughtful scary eyes fall on timid Braiden.

Elva: (Points at her) Excuse me, you, come near. (Braiden points at herself in question) Yes, you.

Braiden moves few steps closer to her and then Elva stretches her own right arm at her.

Elva: Pinch me.

Braiden: Pardon?

Elva: Just do it!

Braiden: (Startled) Ah, I hear.

Elva: Really painful (Braiden gives a nod of obedience and does as told). Ah!! (Elva immediately extracts her arm to rub the pinched spot). [Ow, that really hurts.] Do you grow nails?! [Wait! It pains, which means, am not dreaming. 😵]

Braiden: Forgive me My Lady...!!

Braiden is about to bow but Elva immediately stands up from the bed in refusal to such respect.

Elva: No!

They look at her with startled expressions.

Elva: (Walks to the door) Do not bow. Believe it or not, but I am not an Eldar.

Derlinê: But it has already been proven, My Lady. And besides, the Elflord prepares a humble feast for you. (Finished her statement as she and Braiden go on their knees to bow) For you are now, an Eldar.

An epic heroic tune plays on the background.

Elva: Ah,Hah-Ha, I see. Well if that's the case... Then farewell.

She dashes out of the room in rapid steps.

Derlinê: Your Ladyship!!

The two maids and two other guards chase at Elva along with yells of "My Lady!!" Elvyndia runs from the left corridor to the right, and from right to the left. She halts when she notices a number of seven Elven-Guards by her right. The Elven-Guards and her stare at each other in silence until the echoes of Derlinê calling into her get closer.

Elva: Oh lawks!

She picks to her heels leaving the Elven-Guards glancing at one another with furrowed eyebrows and those chasing Elva pass by them like wind. Elva unknowingly enters into the Court Hall through the back exit, she turns and pauses in shock to see the Elflord and few courtiers staring at her.

Elflord: (Stepping down from the altar) Ah my child.

Elva is about to run off the same way she came in but those chasing her come in through that way, panting greatly.

Elflord: What happened? (He glances at Elva but she just shrugs as if she did nothing). (Beams)My child, the celebration draws near, as a Dragon Successor you should...

Elva: (Fed up) Enough. Am no Dragon. I'm just a commoner. [And the most feared thief of the Elfland, no need for applauses 😏]. I am not who you all are saying I am.

The Elflord not knowing how to convince her to listen anymore just let's out a sigh.

Elva: (To herself but quite audible) I'm just a descendant of Skyer Wood.

Elflord: What did you just say my child?Elva: That I'm not who you all say I am? Elflord: No, just now.

Elva: That I'm just a descendant of Skyer Wood?

Royal Advisor: Son of?

Elva: Filial son of Vinar Wood.

Elflord: Peculiar, very peculiar.

Royal Advisor: (With a grin appearing on his face) My Lord.

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