Chapter 3 Piercing Eyes Like Silver

• His eyes were piercing. It was the first thing Mira noticed when she saw him. His skin was olive, it made his eyes stand out even more. He was young, between 20 and 24 years old. He wore a red cloak with golden details, covering it all. An outfit of unmatched quality, not even the king the girl had seen wear something like that.
• The stranger was beautiful, the most handsome man the young woman had ever seen. There weren’t many young men in her village, most of them were in the army. So the girl didn’t have many references.
• The man had a sarcastic smile on his lips, like Jack. But the difference between the two was that the idiot was superior. That mysterious man really was, possessed with a very strong energy that seemed to hold Mira there. And her gaze, her gaze seemed to see everything in her soul.
• "My queen," he had said.
• "I don’t know what you mean by queen. " she replied.
• The man laughed as if he found his confusion funny.
• "You’re very naive, and you think less than you know. " he said arrogantly.
• Mira didn’t like it. She sat in one of the chairs and exclaimed:
• "Then show me what I should know! But first, I think you should tell me who you are.
• She was to get out of there, or at least keep a safe distance from that unknown. The strange force held her there, but it seemed not to be him. The girl observed him. She could leave if she wanted, however, the unknown intrigued her, made her curious. And something she certainly had was curiosity.
• Mira looked around. The room had a sofa, a bookcase on the side, a red carpet covered the floor and there was a table with two chairs in the corner. One where he had sat and the other where the tallest was.
• He was much taller than the healer, maybe 5′ 11″ compared to her who was, 5′ 4″
• "Who I am doesn’t matter. You are the future queen of the kingdom of Harlisze. Daughter of Queen Sophie and King Neelas, sister of the current king. "replied the stranger seriously.
• Mira almost fell off the chair.
• "You’re lying! I would never be a princess! Much less queen! I can’t even remember the correct preparation of a medicine, imagine ruling a kingdom? I know he knows me, but sister? Really? You are talking nonsense.
• The man smiled at me.
• "What matters is that you will be. " He got up. " You speak in an unusual way to someone who came from your kingdom.
• "My mother’s friend taught me. "said remembering the strange way Liam spoke and that his mother was angry every time she spoke informally that way.
• The stranger approached and said:
• "You’re really curious, Mira, in many ways.
• The man looked out the window, went to the door and said:
• "I think it’s time for bed, right? I’ve taken up a lot of your time.
• "What? But that’s it? We don’t even talk. Tell me who you are!
• "Shiii.
• The girl began to feel sleepy and then went out.
• "Hey, wake up! Mira!
• He opened his eyes and saw that he was in his high school room.
• Kendra had the uniform there: Skirt, tie and cuffs black coat and white shirt and coat.
• "Let’s go. Get dressed. " she told her friend. " Landlady Betwein said we have half an hour.
• Mira got up and took a shower. I was confused about what had happened the night before. If that had really happened.
• After changing, he asked:
• "Did she say what we would do today?
• Kendra denied it.
• Mira wanted to talk about what happened to the other girl, but the coordinator was waiting outside.
• "Ready?
• "For what? " asked Kendra, curious.
• "Let’s find out more about you. If you have any power or anything.
• They went to a white room with a circle in the center. Inside this was an 8-pointed star and inside it a 4-pointed star.
• "This magic circle will show us what power you have, if you have one of course.
• "The 4-pointed star represents the 4 basic elements: Fire, Earth, Water and Air. The 8 star symbolizes all the powers of each element. Probably, I think, they’ll learn more about it in their first class tomorrow.
• "Who goes first? Miss Millers, want to try it?
• Kendra entered the middle of the circle, indicated by Astrid. She felt something unusual pass through her body. The light pink color ran through her veins.
• "What is happening to me?
• "Your powers are coming, Miss Millers. The main element is air, which has clairvoyance as a power, but you are already used to this, right?
• Kendra came out of the surprise circle.
• "My turn. " Mira whispered to herself.
• She was apprehensive, but that was it. When she entered the circle nothing happened.
• The healer stood still for a few minutes and nothing.
• "Yeah, I don’t think I have any power...
• Suddenly she felt something pull her leg. A woman with green skin and hair held her.
• "Who are you? Let me go! " cried Mira scared.
• "Miss Betwein! What’s going on? What’s that blue light around her? " cried Kendra worried.
• When her friend tried to get close, the coordinator stopped her.
• "Do not interrupt.
• The stranger held her face. The sleeve of her glittering dress leaned against her skin. The girl was frightened. She wanted to get away, but the creature was very strong. Her purple eyes stared at Mira and she heard the same voice that whispered in her ears in that dream forest:
• "A kingdom painted red will rule.
• Stained with the blood of innocents.
• For a war provoked by your ancestors,
• It will bring ruin to your home.
• Caused by the curse that runs through your veins.
• You won’t be free until you’re resurrected.
• And the pain endure."
• Her body was filled with colored lights. The blue light went out and the stranger disappeared.
• "Mira! " The shortest ran up to the brunette and crouched beside her. "All right?
• Mira was panting. Her heart was racing. She trembled, felt weak and exhausted.
• "Who was that? " managed to say.
• "It was the oracle, I believe. " said Astrid. "It doesn’t matter now. Come, dear " said softly. "I think you’d better rest after that.
• The dark-haired one stood up and asked:
• "What did all the lights mean?
• "That you’re stronger than you think. " the oldest answered with a half smile.
• Mira wanted to ask if the coordinator had any information about her mother, but when she noticed, she was already lying in bed.
• Later her friend was asleep, so Kendra went out alone to eat something. She thought about taking something to her friend, but she didn’t know when she’d wake up.
• He took his plate and took some food. In the crowd he saw Jack. He wanted to wave, but hesitated to see that he was accompanied by two boys and two girls.
• "Who are they? - he thought.
• He ignored that thought and went in search of a table. Without noticing anyone approached.
• "Are you all alone?
• The girl jumped up, scared.
• "Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. " said Jack sitting next to her.
• "All right, I just didn’t expect it. " laughed.
• "Are we disturbing the couple? "said a female voice laughing.
• Next to Kendra was a redhead girl with blue-anil eyes. The blonde had never seen eyes of that color. The girl also wore a uniform and had a necklace shaped like a dolphin.
• "Ahn... We didn’t ... " she tried to say.
• "Ignore, my sister is always like this, inconvenient " said a boy who appeared next to the red-haired.
• He was a little taller than Sister, his hair was the same color as hers, but his eyes were sea-green. On his neck was a dragon-shaped necklace.
• "Well, Elliot, looks like I found a new friend. She and her sister came in recently, from what I heard. Right? " said the redhead to Kendra.
• "Well... " tried to answer.
• "Poor thing, not bad enough and already has to endure you. " said the second girl, black skin and orange eyes.
• "How rude you are. You don’t even introduce yourselves. "said the last boy, the second tallest after Jack, black hair, pulled eyes and almost purple blue eyes.
• "These are the twins, Elliot and Isabella Amnus. They control fire and water. And they feel people’s feelings. "said he pointing to the redheads. "Jack Prince you already know. " Then pointed to the black girl. "That’s Mirelle Seles, she controls the land as well as being a hunter. "Finally " pointed to himself " I’m Rick Wing, and I can teleport and my element is air.
• When he approached her to kiss her face, Elliot stopped him.
• "The girl doesn’t need you flirting with her, asshole. She already has Jack.
• Rick seemed offended and began arguing against the phrase spoken by the other. As the two argued, Isa sat down with them.
• "Pleasure, my name is Kendra. " said shy. She hadn’t understood half of what they had said.
• "Don’t be scared, Kendra. They’re just like that " laughed the redhead. "How long have you been dating? You and Jack?
• "Date?
• "Don’t you know what that is? " said Mirelle.
• "I’m not from here. I don’t know the customs " he explained. "Actually... " hesitated " I didn’t understand much of what you said.
• She continued as she squeezed her fingers, apprehensive. It was rhythmic around strangers.
• "That’s when you meet and relate to someone before you get married. " said Isa.
• "How? Isn’t that kind of immoral for you? " she asked surprised, that wasn’t normal in her world.
• "Not at all. " Mirelle replied with a quiet smile.
• "We’re not dating. We’re just friends. " said Jack.
• "I know. " the girls replied.
• Kendra stared at him because that sentence had bothered her so much?
• "And where is Mira? " he changed the subject.
• "She’s not feeling very well. " he said staring.
• The signal was heard ringing.
• "Time to go. " said Rick.
• The students began to get up and go to their dormitories.
• "Come on. " Kendra heard Jack say.
• He pulled her by the hand, taking her to the opposite side of the dorms.
• "Where are we going? Don’t you have a class?
• "You’ll see. " He smiled.
• Kendra followed Jack through the halls of the school.
• "Where are we going? " asked again apprehensively.
• "Shii. " he said putting his fingers under his lips.
• They walked a long way down stairs. Jack opened a bluish glass door. They entered a garden full of colorful and vibrant flowers. They walked among the flowers.
• "How beautiful! " Kendra exclaimed in awe.
• "Isn’t it? But there is something even better. I have a gift for you.
• The boy touched the ground and a hole opened, revealing water. Hot water.
• "I’ll be right back. Don’t touch the water, okay? If you can’t burn.
• The young man dived.
• "Jack! Jack! Are you okay? " Kendra asked when she noticed he was taking too long to get back.
• The boy came back and brought something with him. It was a bracelet with dark blue stones.
• "Are you okay? " she said running to him. " Don’t you have something for you to dry off?
• "Don’t worry. I control the fire, remember? I’ll be dry soon.
• She nodded still worried.
• "Here! For you. " extended the bracelet.
• "It’s beautiful, thank you! " said surprised and grateful.
• "He’s more than a jewel. " he said putting it on his wrist. "Do you still have those dreams?
• "Not yesterday, but... it was an exception. " His face took on a grim expression.
• The boy stroked his face.
• "This object will help you sleep well. Premonitions can come at other times, but at least you’ll sleep peacefully. This can also help you nullify them for a while, but only when you learn to control the air and insert it into your stones.
• "Thank you. " She hugged him. " I can’t believe you did it for me. You could have drowned. Besides, why did you hide him there? " she asked angrily.
• "I’m a great swimmer, despite my element " laughed. "Well, if I took you to my room you might think wrong things about me. And I didn’t want to leave you alone at this hour. So I thought I’d hide it here " smiled. " And... I’d do anything for you.
• When he said that she walked away, ashamed.
• "You can always count on me, too, Jack. No matter what.
• He kissed your forehead.
• "Come on. I’ll leave you in your room.
• Kendra entered the room and saw Mira sleeping. She lay down on the bed and tried to do the same. But it was hard because her heart couldn’t calm down. Jack and she had a bond, a bond from the first time their eyes met.
• Mira found herself at the market near home, in her hand was a basket of flowers. The man she had seen before was there too, walking beside her.
• "What are you doing here, near my house? " she asked surprise.
• "I needed to talk to you.
• "People will find it strange that I’m walking an unknown man. " she replied alarmed.
• He smiled.
• "Since it’s a dream, I think they won’t mind," he said making her smile too.
• "What did you want to talk to me about? " she asked.
• Now she thought she should treat him more formal since she knew him a little more and was not as apprehensive and frightened as before.
• "Don’t treat me that formally. I’m about the same age as you.
• "Or at least it looks. " replied Mira smart.
• "What do you mean? " You made a mistake.
• "You’re not human, right? " she said. There was no way that man was normal. He was different from everyone he had ever lived with.
• "You got me. "Laughed.
• "And what are you? " she asked interested.
• "I can’t tell you now. " replied calmly.
• The man looked into her eyes, making her look away. She was ashamed to look into those eyes.
• "What worries you? " he asked.
• "You must know about that woman... What she said is true? " replied worried.
• "You mean the oracle?
• The young woman confirmed.
• "The fact that there is a prophecy doesn’t mean you can’t change it. What she said is true. If you let it happen, of course.
• "And how can I change that? " she asked.
• "It’s up to you, Mira.
• "And you? Won’t you tell me why you’re in my dream?
• "I wanted to warn you about something. Next week you will return to your old home. And there you will find something the emperor was looking for. Actually, he found you, but he ended up back at your house, for you. When you find him, stay with him, but you cannot allow your blood to fall on him.
• "Why?! " she exclaimed exasperated.
• "If that happens, the jewel will never return to you. " the mysterious explained.
• "What’s so important about it? " she said.
• "I can’t tell you either.
• "It seems you can’t tell me anything! " she exclaimed angrily.
• "I’m going. "Smiled. " You better rest.
• "But I’m already asleep. " Pouted.
• "It has to be okay for next week.
• "You could tell me your name at least. " spoke sly.
• "Maybe next time. " he said kissing his hand.
• ***
• There they were a week later, with new red dresses, inside the invisible carriage, along with Miss Betwein.
• The sun was setting. And the vehicle passed at least 10 times around Mira’s house, checking that there were no more Dowykais around.
• They entered the residence. The place was all trashed. Amidst the chaos, Mira lowered her hood and tried to think of the object to which the unknown man had referred.
• "Take what you need and let’s! " said Miss Betwein.
• "Mira, are you sure he didn’t want anything? " asked Kendra.
• "There’s something. " he said remembering what the man had said.
• Mira ran upstairs. Her mother’s room was torn apart, as were the other rooms in the house. However in the jewelry box there was something the brunette had not seen for a long time. A necklace with a sparkling red stone. It could only be what this emperor was looking for.
• She sat on the bed and remembered his mother. One specific day came to mind, one day where the eldest was waiting for Liam.
• Mira helped her mother to close the dress. Covering the scar that passed through half the back.
• Alice was young. She was 28. She adopted her when she was 17. In fact, it was Alice’s mother, Agnes who found the little lost and alone in town.
• The child didn’t remember anything. The only thing he remembered was the name, engraved on the chain he was wearing around his neck.
• Agnes could not take care of the girl, she was old and sick. But her daughter could. And so Alice became Mira’s mother.
• "Okay. " said the young woman smiling.
• "Thank you, dear. " kissed her daughter’s forehead.
• The woman fastened her red hair, and put a necklace that falls on top of the blue dress, highlighting her brown eyes. Someone knocked on the door and she ran to answer.
• He was a young man, apparently in his early 20s; red hair, hidden by the cap, yellow eyes and a mischievous smile. He wore, as always, weird clothes: black shirt, cape of the same color and brown pants, black gloves and brown boots.
• "Liam! You came? What are you doing here?
• Mira knew that Alice was not surprised. The elder had been preparing all day to see him, waiting for the boy to come.
• It had been a long time since I had seen her mother take an interest in someone like that. In fact, she had never seen her mother take an interest in anyone. A man was the reason for her scar. And a man made her afraid to approach someone of the opposite sex again. Until the day Liam showed up.
• A knock on the door called her back to reality.
• "All right? " asked Kendra.
• "Yes, come on! " he replied.
• "A necklace of blood. An object that returns to the owner. Or at least to the nearest place and with greater possibility of finding it. How did you know he might want it? " exclaimed Astrid.
• "Someone told me. " Mira said deviating from the subject. " Now what?
• "Let’s go. " He concluded. "You stay in school and I’ll come back with more people to find out what to do.
• "Wait a minute. Please! I’ll ask the villagers something. " Asked Mira.
• The village remained the same, the same quiet movement as ever.
• In trade, children ran while their mothers shopped with charismatic merchants and some very astute ones who tried to sell a product for much more than it was worth.
• They asked about Liam.
• A lady said she had seen him the day after Alice disappeared. This gave hope to Mira. She didn’t know exactly who the boy was, but he certainly liked his mother and would help her. I didn’t know if he was a match for the "Emperor", but I wouldn’t be surprised if the man his mother loved wasn’t human like them.
• When they got in the carriage the girl just hoped to be right.