Elena had the guards squaring the waters for any sign of the thief or anything. She had the men that night tended to immediately, she went over everything from that night. It was foolproof, she made sure of that. Yet the thief still managed to get away. And to make it better, the citizens knew which spurred panic and worry. She couldn't blame them, feeling horrible she wasn't able to keep her word upon what she said she was going to do. How did this one person manage to slip by so fast? So easily? It nothing but a game to them, they enjoyed it. The only good that came out of this was one, Mateo had managed to in a sense injury them, by his spell. It took them off guard, actually, as Elena recalled his presence in general took them off guard. They weren't expecting magic, which was good. Very good.
The second one was that she managed to get a sort of look at them, even Mateo. And with that knowledge, there was only one person who could help bring it view. Isabel, her little sister. She was an excellent drawer and very detailed. She told her sister the details that could recall along with Mateo. Isa wrote them down and begin to construct the face. The best to her abilities.
Meanwhile Elena meet with the council."The guards have come up with nothing."her grandfather tells her."They've looked at ever single inch and nothing can be found."
"It's like they vanished. Without a trace."Luisa informs her."I wonder if the water carried them away...You did say they where injured."
"She."Elena corrects them."She was injured."
"The thief is a she?"Naomi laughs, only to hold her side as it was still healing."Ow. Forgot. Sorry, it's just funny because well Gabe won't be happy."
Elena did her best to control her own laughter and amusement."Yes well, they thief is female."
"She's quite good."Francisco acknowledges."She was able to maneuver very well in the palace. Like she knew it. "
"And she knew where and what she wanted."Luisa states."I am surprised she took that."
"Me too..."Elena agrees."Has anyone figured out what affected the guards?"Looking at the others, they didn't really know.
"Well, Mateo went to see them."Naomi tells her."He should be here soon, he said he might just know. How is the sketch coming from your sister?"
"She's been working on it for the last two days. With this, it should give us some sort of lead."Elena tells them.
"We should be thankful that there hasn't been anymore robberies."Esteban points out."Anymore and who knows how upset the citizens would become. We should though just in case increase the guards more. We don't know when they will strike."
"I highly doubt they will."Elena tells him."But some extra guards would b-"
Right then Isabel and Mateo come bursting in at the same time. Eager to show and tell Elena."I have something to show you."they both said in unison, quickly looking at each other.
"Whoa."Naomi quips. Suppressing a chuckle to avoid any pain.
Standing up Elena calms her sister and friend, ready to hear what they both have to say. Because she could tell it was important from each of them. Trying to decide who to go first, Mateo let's Isabel go.
"She can go first."
"Thank you."Isabel thanks him and hurries over to her sister and shows her what she had. The finished sketch of thief."I was able to put together what you and Mateo told me. It took some time and a few tries but, after carefully going over my notes...This was what I came up with it."Handing the paper off to her sister.
Elena looks at it, while signaling for Mateo to go."So I went to see the men and one thing they're fine."Luisa sighs relieved to hear."That is good news, the other news is the reason for condition well...since there was physical harm done to them, so far. I think it might be the use of magic. The kind, I'm not sure. But I have feeling it is magic no doubt."
Elena heard him but was more focused on the sketch her sister brought her. Trying to place the face, showing the rest of her council to see if they might know."Here."And gives her full attention to Mateo."You're saying magic? They used magic? What kind though?"
"That't what I said, I don't know what kind really."he scratches his head."If it's potions or something else. But it is no doubt some form of magic. How else would you explain them not waking up."
"That's not good."Elena begin to worry."That leaves us with less guards."Quickly realizing what the thief did. Or so she assumed."They crippled us, just as..."This thief was more crafty than she thought. She would have been amazed if he wasn't upset."Is there anyway you can, wake them?"
Mateo shakes his head sadly."No. Not yet, but I'll keep looki-"
A sharp gasp from Esteban and Naomi turned Elena and Mateo back to the others. The shock and disbelief look on their faces, Naomi's had more of a fearful one."What? What is it?!"Elena wanted to know worried.
"Do you know who this?"Naomi asked her, turning the sketch around, Mateo studies it and is shocked too. Clearly everyone seem to know who this person was, well almost everyone besides her grandparents and sister.
Still puzzled Elena looks at them."Ummm...okay who this person?"
Realizing and forgetting. They tell her. "This person, right here..."Naomi points."This is Shuriki's daughter."
The mention of her name and realization shocked the princesses and their grandparents."Her what?!"Francisco says shocked but more so upset. Isabel clings to Elena.
"...What?!"Elena still in shock."Her daughter? She had a daughter? I didn't see...Are you sure?!"
Esteban takes it from here."Yes, we are."Pointing to the sketch."I remember her now. As clear as day. That vial spawn."He scuffs with detest."Born of the same darkness as her mother."
"To put it straight,"Mateo smooths over the Chancellor's words."She's bad news. I don't know why I didn't see this before. Of course, with this kind of magic. From my grandfather's notes, it is similar to Shuriki's."
"She was so rotten."Naomi remembers. Growling."..."
"But, when I came back..."Elena tries to recall, from her battle against the women."I didn't see anyone else."
"No doubt she was hiding."Esteban scuffs."And fled when she saw her mother defeated."
"She must have went into hiding."Mateo speculates."It makes the most sense."
"It does, which explains why she knew the palace so well."Luisa gasp horrified. Moving closer to her husband.
"And I let her in..."Elena said releasing she put everyone in danger."I'm sorry."
"There's nothing for you to be sorry about."Her grandfather assures her."You didn't know."
"Of course not."Esteban said mockingly."You just let in the child of our most sworn enemy, endangering everyone."
"Esteban!"Luisa hushes him hardly. He stops.
"Elena..."Isabel comforts her sister.
Grateful for her comfort, it didn't help really. All Elena could think was of what she did and how to fix hard not to make it personal, but clearly was becoming that. She had to push her personal feelings aside and think this clearly through.
There was no time for her mope about the choice she had made. There was a reasonable explanation."So now that we know who the thief is, what is her reasoning for stealing?"
"She can't steal a kingdom?"Naomi quips, laughing for it backfire. Hunching over."Oww...owww."
"No."Elena disagrees."There is another reason...if you all of you say she is a danger, she would have attacked the palace and us, along time ago. But she's not. She has another reason. But what?"
"The more important question,"Francisco speaks."Is where she is? She must either be close or nearby. To be able to come here back."
"The again, her attacks are all spaced out."Elena begins to chart down."Meaning she has to leave to go back. It must take her at least a day because she comes back every..two days. From what I can tell, just a guess. She hasn't caused any harm-"
"Yet."Esteban interrupts her.
"Okay, yet."Elena annoyingly agrees."Meaning, her place is a day way...so it could be...Mmm...if only we had a clue? Something that could tell us where she's hiding."
Right then Isabel remembered something and quickly leaves without the others noticing. She comes back with something."Would this help?"She presents what she had to the others. Elena looks at it astonished.
"Isa? Where did you get this?"Elena looks at her sister.
"It was in the morning after what happened."she tells her."I was walking around outside and found it in the water. I'm not sure where it's from but..."
Esteban takes a closer look at the item. Studying it."Hmmm..."
"Well, what is it?"Elena asked."Will this help us find her?"Looking at what her cousin was holding when she noticed a familiar clue.
Elsewhere the you thief where was being tended to carefully. By a good samaritan."Try not to move..."Letting out a painful grunt, and smirk they comply."You shouldn't be laughing. This time you nearly almost got yourself seriously hurt or worse...Tsk..I don't understand why you insist on doing this?"They tell you worried. Reading the your face who clearly took pleasure in their excursion at the palace.
Holding their side, that was injured. But they didn't care, only came here like before to just waste. At this safe house, just as they did years ago. Against what you did, they knew anything they said wouldn't really get through to you.
All you did was smile."Aw, you worry way to-AH...too much."you smirk at them. Sitting yourself up, ignoring the pain."I barel-barely got scratched..."Pushing yourself up, you stand up, this was nothing. Stumbling to the corner and grab your things. Looking at you tattered cloak, now useless."Guess...I need a new one..."Tossing it aside, with everything packed you take your leave."Thanks. I'll tell Alberto, you say hi."You stop before leaving."Don't worry about me,"you flash them a sinister confident grin."..."
They wanted to say something but didn't. Giving you a worried smile back and gesture for you to leave. Outside flying in the sky a jaquin saw everything."The princess was right!"Shocked from what they witnessed, hurry off to tell Elena.