Chronicles of the Forbidden Jewels

The cacophony of internal screams, unexpressed emotions, self-blaming voices, and the warnings of the Chafelons were like bells ringing into my ears, making my head ache. I fell to my knees and my words were taken away from my mouth as I witnessed Thyra being dragged into the sea just like that day I was in that same situation.

This is impossible. Someone needs to wake me up from this nightmare. How can they find Thyra that easily the moment she dipped her hands into the water?

Once the aquamarine Izavenes steal her ring, it will be the end of her – of us all. Because Thyra is the key to wiping out the Izavene race.

Startled by the sound of hurried footsteps and an exasperated voice calling out Thyra's name from behind, my mind snapped back into the present moment.

I caught a glimpse of the grand duke swiftly unfastening his cape from the chained amethyst brooch at the corner of my vision.

Without hesitation, he sprinted towards the water and plunged in with determined speed.

For the second time, his proactive nature toward rescuing Thyra made me feel useless. The mixture of emotions within me held me back from doing something, but even if I impulsively did jump into the water, I won’t be good enough to save her, however desperate I am.

A tremendous spreading of light beneath the sea sent shivers into my spine as I figured out its meaning. At this point, I can no longer imagine the possibility that she’ll make it out alive.

The immense display of light was undoubtedly a result of her lightning abilities, and all I could do was offer silent prayers for a miraculous outcome, yearning for the chance to hold her safe and alive once again.

As my last glimmer of hope dwindled, to my astonishment, the grand duke reappeared before me, cradling Thyra in his arms. Water trickled from their drenched bodies as he moved, and a mixture of shock and disbelief are written in his eyes, and there can only be one reason why.

Gently, he carefully placed her still, lifeless form upon the rugged terrain. With trembling fingers, I pressed them against her neck, desperately searching for any sign of a pulse.

The feeble, faint rhythm I detected felt like a ticking clock, each beat a reminder of her life slipping away. As I assessed the dire situation, the grand duke's incredulous gaze met mine, his expression mirroring the disbelief and anguish that consumed us both.

He knelt beside us on the ground, fully aware of the gravity of the moment.

“Her Highness was already unconscious when I found her. She was surrounded by blood floating around her which I suppose was hers,” He described. “For the second time, you did nothing. You must have your reasons.”

“Attempting to save her the way you did would be counterproductive to me. Water is my weakness. I feel bad for being pathetic, but I can save her in a different way that might cost me my life. I shared my power with her, and that enough consumed a big part of my life force to protect her. Sealing her in a Rhinecrest is the only way I can prolong her life and hide her from the world.”

Rhinecrest. A marquise-shaped device that will help an Izavene have their bodies restored to health at the cost of someone else's life.

It’s another way of encapsulating her in an alexandrite stone – the one that she’s born with, and her alexandrite ring will expand in size, growing to fill the space of a palm.

On the surface, it will look like an alexandrite gem with light from the inside, except that it will be wrapped with Eiscifine, a magical seal that can only be created and removed by me.

Creating a Rhinecrest would be the best way to hide her from the world and let her restore her power, and the grand duke should be the one who’ll keep it.

“I will be the one of the few people who’ll risk my life for this. If in case this will cost me my life, take care of the Rhinecrest until it lets Thyra return to her normal body, but I’m not sure how long it will take. If I’ll make it alive, I might be able to speed up her healing process.”

“How can you decide with reckless abandon? Will you turn your back on the empire just like this? I understand your love for her and I also want her to live, but you shouldn’t let someone else rule over the empire. It is your duty as the crown prince.”

“I can’t save both the empire and Thyra. Again, when she returns, please take care of her. Aquamarine Izavenes shouldn’t capture her again just like today. At this point, whoever inherits the throne no longer matters. If it’s true that Eviona is a part of this uprising, the winner is given. Eviona is my nemesis, and she is considered the most qualified heir to the throne. Nobody can defeat her. I have a theory that she’ll seize the throne alone and betray Hervouet after.”

He shifted his gaze away and let out a sigh. “The Eviona I know will undoubtedly do that.” He admitted.

“You know my sister? A lot of people don’t know about her because she was banished many years back. Most people in high society never met her because she didn’t have the chance to have a debut.”

“She’s an acquaintance of mine who was a major nuisance for me. We were in the same imperial academy in our teenage years.”

Realizing the evident distress it caused him, I refrained from delving deeper into the topic, understanding that it had triggered an emotional response. His discontent and reference to her as a ‘major nuisance’ may hint that he has ill feelings towards her. Could it mean that he wants revenge?

No. Raleigh Von Laszlo has always been known as the most isolated leader in the empire, and trying to lay a finger on Eviona would be treason – that is, if she restores her title as the crown princess. Besides, he’s human and he’s no match for her.

“We don’t have much time. I have to create the Rhinecrest before she dies. If I die, bury me wherever you wish, as long as my body won’t be discovered by anyone in the empire. You can reach the king of Eurhyia to inform him about his sister’s state, or Marquess Jarvis of House Vassezac. Nobody else should know about her whereabouts.”

The grand duke’s eyes widened, as if in shock after hearing those names.

“Jarvis, huh?” he muttered, and the corner of his lip twitched, holding himself back from expressing his feelings – which is an annoyance.

Although the marquess's name seems to be a sensitive subject, exploring the unnecessary details of their relationship would only distract from the pressing matters at hand.

In this critical moment, time is running short, and our focus should be directed towards more immediate concerns.

“I’ll leave everything else to you, Your Grace. I already asked too much so, just live on.”

“You speak as if you’re sure that you’re going to die, Your Highness.” He looked at me intently, fixing his attention on the last things I'm going to express in the last few minutes of my life.

“Because the odds are high.” I can feel the smile full of remorse written on my face as he kept his lips sealed, knowing that there was no way he can convince me to change my mind.

I gently clasped Thyra's hands together, holding them close. Her pale, blood-drained form filled my heart with overwhelming guilt, as the realization sank in that I had not been strong enough to offer the help she needed when it mattered the most.

The weight of my inadequacy weighed heavily upon me, overshadowing any semblance of solace.

I’m such a useless man. I don’t have the right to call myself her lover, being this weak. I’m sorry Thyra, but this is the only way I can think of to protect you from them. I promise that I will be back when the right time comes, so please wait for me. I’ll figure something out, even if I don’t know how or if I’ll ever get the chance.

For the last time, I hope this sacrifice won’t go to waste.

Blinding light spread out of my hands, and I closed my eyes as I laid my hand on her alexandrite ring. I felt the warmth of my body being transferred into the ring, and Thyra’s body began to fade, leaving behind only the luminescent alexandrite gem resting in my hand.

It glowed from within, a testament to the power contained within, now sealed with the protective essence of Eiciffine, ensuring the preservation of the precious Rhinecrest from shattering.

My vision started blurring, and I held my mouth as a tremendous amount of blood came out of my nose and mouth as I coughed.

“Your Highness? Your Highness!” the worry from the voice of the grand duke was relieving, knowing that this man will take care of her one day.

I want to live, Thyra. If there exists a realm beyond this life, I pray for the chance to be reborn so that I may become the man capable of protecting you and bringing you happiness.

May our paths intertwine once more, and may our love find its way in a new beginning.

As the flow of blood intensified, an overwhelming darkness began to creep into my vision, gradually consuming my sight. Coughing up more blood, I couldn't hold back the encroaching vastness of the void that swallowed me whole.

──•~❉᯽❉~•──

As I opened my eyes, I felt the familiar warmth of the sun caressing my skin. The surroundings were bathed in a gentle glow, devoid of the pull of gravity, giving the impression of being outdoors at sunrise.

I glanced down at my feet, finding them suspended in mid-air, instantly sparking a torrent of questions that flooded my mind.

Within the plain expanse of white, fragments of shattered jewels floated around me. Curiosity compelled me to reach out and grasp one of the pieces, realizing it was a fragment of a red diamonds.

The jewels remained suspended in mid-air, reminding me of the frozen stillness of Rosrinas when time stands still.

Am I … dead? Is this what the afterlife looks like?

I held my chest and felt my heart beating. But upon holding it, I noticed that my red diamond ring that was supposed to be on my finger is gone, yet I know deep down that I’m alive because of the warmness of my body. Could this be a dream?

A sudden force pushed my floating body into another side of the unknown space, and traces of light appeared that revealed a transparent wall that separates another peculiar place where Thyra’s body is unconscious, and floating face up with hints of light glimmering surrounding her body.

A transparent wall separated the space I occupied from the room where Thyra are in. Despite our physical proximity, an insurmountable sense of distance enveloped us, intensified by the realization that her surroundings were enclosed by walls crafted from shimmering alexandrite.

“Thank you for being under the same sky, for meeting me, and for staying beside me. I’ll treasure your heart as the most valuable thing to me. Your life, in exchange for mine," a soft, familiar voice that sounded like music whispered into my ears, giving me hope.