Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a safe and merry Christmas. As promised, here is a brand new chapter two weeks after the previous one. I hope the wait was worth it!


Despite what Tecna had said the rest of the day, Musa was not ogling the prince. Sure, he was tall, had a nice face, and muscles that would make any woman faint, but she did not ogle him. She was assessing the prince. Besides, even if she was ogling, which she wasn't, nothing could happen. Prince Riven was a means to an end – an end to her people's suffering. If the prince was good looking, it would just make Musa's task a little bit easier. But again, she was not ogling.

The only problem, though, as Musa thought about it that afternoon, was that her mind kept drifting back to the image of the prince in the training area. It seemed like she was not only fighting a physical war but a mental one. Logically, she needed the prince to gain information but the other part of her felt some kind of empathy. Should the prince be told about his heritage? If he learnt the truth, would he be willing to change sides? Then Musa's other problem would be less of an issue. WAIT! Other problem? No, Musa thought. She did not have another problem. The prince was easy on the eye and aside from the fact they both share Melodian blood, they had nothing in common. How could Musa feel anything toward the prince except for empathy? Could anyone really allow themselves to feel anything more than that for the son of the man that ruined her family?

"Lady Musa!" A feminine voice finally called to her.

Musa blinked a few times, finally breaking from her internal monologue and noticed Lady Mitzi and a few other ladies of the court staring at her over their teacups.

Now that Musa was able to walk around the palace and gardens, within reason, by herself, Lady Mitzi and a few of her friends from court jumped at the chance to finally invite Musa to their high tea that afternoon.

"Wow, Lady Musa," Lady Mitzi giggled. "You were so lost in your thoughts we thought we would have to dump water on you."

"Has not the prince already done that?" one of the courtiers joked with a teasing smirk.

Lady Mitzi turned and gave her friend a death glare.

"The prince was helping her, nothing more," Lady Mitzi immediately retorted.

Musa tried to hide her blush from the girls. Ever since that night where the prince helped her with the nightmare, Musa heard whispers from some of the courtiers that they thought a fling was occurring between herself and Prince Riven. Of course, Lady Mitzi, whom already had a crush on said prince, immediately squashed those rumours but every now and then someone would say something to get a rise out of her. The situation though did make Musa think about her plan further. Lady Mitzi was already finding her every few days to get more gossip on the prince, checking whether Musa had been speaking of Lady Mitzi where she could, and other things. It made Musa's task harder. She needed to get closer to the prince for information without gaining an enemy in Lady Mitzi, and without the whole kingdom thinking that there was an affair going on between them. That would really set the king off and could put both Musa and the prince in mortal danger. It was a tough line to walk but Musa still saw no other way. Besides, with the prince going back to his usual avoidance tactic, Musa saw no threat in the gossip of courtiers.

"I am sorry, your ladyships," Musa said breaking the death glare from Lady Mitzi. "My mind has been elsewhere lately."

"We understand," one of the other courtiers said. "You have been through a lot recently."

"But we will not let you fall victim to living in the past," Lady Mitzi added. "I am sure I speak for everyone here that, although it was horrible what happened to you, you helped us all in punishing Sir Jet."

Musa gave a small smile in return. "I only wish that he was punished sooner for some of the other courtiers."

"All that matters is that it finally happened," the first courtier said with a grateful smile.

"I am noticing, though," Lady Mitzi began. "That Prince Riven has been practicing more frequently with the new recruits. Some have even joined your security team, Lady Musa."

"Yes, I did notice that," a third courtier added. "Seems someone wants to quickly add more bodies to his army."

"Or he is finally taking his father's punishment seriously," Lady Mitzi laughed. "I swear, ever since he was a child, the prince has been disobedient towards his father."

"But never to his mother," the second courtier said grimly. "He never dared challenge her."

Musa listened intently to their mindless chatter. It was clear that the women had no idea of the Queen's true heritage. Again, it made her wonder if they would feel any different towards Musa's people now.

"It was a dark day when she passed," the first courtier said.

"I am very sorry," Musa said sadly, and she actually meant it. "From what I have heard, Her Highness was a magnificent queen."

"She was," the third courtier replied. "Do you know why your people wanted to start this war, Lady Musa?"

Musa was stunned into silence. Her people started the war?! They most certainly did not! How could they think that? Musa only just discovered that the woman was Melodian and a friend of her mother's. Perhaps Musa should educate them. But would they actually believe her?

"I sadly do not know what happened to your queen," Musa eventually answered. "For I know that my own mother was friends with her."

The courtiers gasped and Lady Mitzi dropped her teacup. Musa looked at the four women nervously. Perhaps it was too soon to mention that.

Lady Mitzi quickly looked around before leaning in closer to Musa.

"If you value your life, Lady Musa, you will never say that again," Lady Mitzi whispered.

That got Musa's attention.

"Why is that?" Musa whispered back.

The other three courtiers leant forward like Lady Mitzi.

"The king refuses to acknowledge that to this day," the first courtier said.

"So, you all knew?" Musa replied.

"Everyone in the court has heard of the rumour," the second courtier explained. "But they were quickly squashed down by the king and we all thought it was a rumour started by the rebellion intended to make the king lenient towards the rebels. To hear it come from you though, well, we do not know whether to believe it or not."

"The one thing we can tell you, Lady Musa," Lady Mitzi continued. "Is that you cannot say it aloud again. You will be punished on the spot."

"By whom?" Musa whispered.

"By me," a new voice answered.

Lady Mitzi and the rest of the courtiers immediately went rigid in their seats, sitting completely straight, and pale faced. Musa knew that voice anywhere and it sent chills up her spine. A second later, a tall, dark, thin woman walked out of a shadow near a tree behind their table.

"Madam Darcy," the first courtier stuttered. "What a pleasure."

Darcy merely gave a sneer to the courtier as she walked up to their table. The air was immediately filled with a dark aurora with tension so thick that you could cut it with a knife.

"So, I hear you were speaking about the queen's friendship mishap with your mother, Siren," Darcy began.

"S-she did not know what she was saying, Madam Darcy," Lady Mitzi tried to defend Musa.

Darcy sharply turned, staring dark glowing eyes to Lady Mitzi and her friends.

"I think it is time for you all to leave," Darcy replied.

Lady Mitzi gave a small glance to Musa, who gave a reassuring nod, before the four women quickly grabbed their things and power walked away. Musa did not blame them for fearing Darcy. A lot of members of court were terrified of Darcy and the dark magic she wielded. It was the first time Musa had been left alone with Darcy since she was a little girl, and Musa was very nervous.

"Well?" Darcy said. "I am waiting."

"I…..I….." Musa had no idea what to say in response. She knew that she had been caught. Musa wished she could go back in time.

"I told you that I would be watching, Siren," Darcy continued, easily slipping into a chair across from her. "Did you really think that you could fool everyone so easily?"

"I….I do not know what you mean, Madam Darcy."

Darcy scoffed as she crossed one leg over the other. "I know you are up to something, Siren, and I am going to find out what. No one who had been so defiant just suddenly changes and accepts their fate. There is no possible way that you could have figured out your mother's relationship with the queen on your own. I know you are hiding something."

Musa knew in that moment that she had to pull out all the stops to get out of the situation without Darcy's powers being used. If she did one wrong move, at any minute, the rebellion would be revealed, and all hope would be lost. Darcy was a walking lie detector, ready to jump into your mind in a second, and the best way to beat a lie detector was to tell the truth. So, Musa reached down deep and sat up straighter and gave Darcy her most innocent smile.

"Madam Darcy, I assure you that there is nothing going on. As you may already be aware, the rumours of my mother's unfortunate relationship with Her Highness has been going around the court for years. You heard yourself from Lady Mitzi's friends that they all have heard it. I simply heard the same rumour."

"You said it as fact, Siren. Do not play games with me."

"I would never dare play games with you," Musa replied, and she was telling the truth. "I merely repeated the rumour as a fact because the fact is, is that the rumour has been heard and it has spread. Not by myself but the Valkarians. If I want to be a Valkarian then I must find out the truth and not fall victim to gossip."

"I could punish you right here, right now, for speaking about said gossip," Darcy threatened darkly.

"You could," Musa agreed. "But what evidence do you have?"

"I heard you, Siren, with my own ears. Those girls you drink tea with will not help you. They will buckle under pressure and testify for me."

"They also could," Musa agreed again. "But lately you seem to be having trouble with people testifying for you."

Darcy's face immediately grew dark and Musa could see a spark in her eyes.

"Prince Riven was a witness to your claims of rebellion whispers but they too were just rumours, were they not? Did the Prince not agree with you and instead stated that they were not rumours, but mere rants of drunks? Did the king not say not to waste his time with rumours without evidence?"

"I have been given authority to punish those who speak about the Queen's past in court!" Darcy hissed. "He would not question my punishing of you, Siren! You have no power here."

"Correct, I do not," Musa said sadly. "But I am a guest of the king, I have been given pardons-"

"You have been given a longer leash than before, Siren, that is all! Remember that."

"I am a guest of the king and he, and the prince, have previously punished those who have harmed me."

"They have harmed you."

"The king has harmed me," Musa correct.

Again, Musa spoke only the truth. Over the last few encounters with the prince did Musa realise that not once had the prince ever laid a hand on her. It had only been soldiers of the king following orders. For some reason, Musa only realised it now.

"But only the king, or those he permits, can harm me, and that was before I saw the light. I have been pardoned, Madam Darcy, in some areas as the king sees me as a studying Valkarian who cannot be harmed without evidence or reason. Punishing me over a rumour would not make His Highness happy. So, I ask you, Madam Darcy, are you willing to risk it?"

The two women had a staring match for a few minutes with Musa refusing to look away under Darcy's powerful dark gaze. She continued to show her most innocent and non-threatening look to avoid Darcy reaching into her mind and discovering the truth. As the saying goes, those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. Musa just needs to show that.

"Know this, Siren, you are only alive because the king still has use for you. If I had it my way, you would have been removed along with your mother and father the day we invaded. I know you are up to something, and I will be watching. You cannot hide from the shadows forever, Siren."

With that, Darcy stood up and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Musa waited a few seconds, in case Darcy came back, before she casually gathered her things and walked away from the table. She headed for a secluded area in the courtyard that was directly underneath the sun. With no shadows in sight, Musa finally released her breath with a gasp and fell to her knees. Her body shook, hands trembling, and tears formed in her eyes. It had been a long time since she felt that kind of fear and it was all too much for her. The only thing that kept Musa from breaking down further then and there was the fact that she succeeded. She came across as non-threatening and Darcy saw no need to invade her mind, at least for now.


Musa had no idea how long she had been sitting in the sun that afternoon. All she focused on was watching the remaining birdlife flying in the air above the garden remnants. She needed to slow her heart down, regain her composure before stepping back into the castle. A few guards gave her strange looks as they walked past, but Musa hardly noticed them. Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared on the pavement next to her, causing Musa to jump. She quickly stood up and turned, fearing that it was Darcy again, when she saw Prince Riven standing next to her. A wave of relief washed over Musa.

"Your Highness," Musa stuttered out before dropping into a quick curtsey.

"Nervous, are we?" The prince said once Musa stood upright again.

Musa was taken aback by not only the prince talking to her again but his accurate depiction of her.

"I-I…No, Sire," Musa finally replied, eventually finding her composure.

The prince's eyes stared into Musa's like he was reading her from inside out. Musa found herself unable to look away as he stared at her. She finally assessed the colour of his eyes again. They still were unlike anything she had ever seen. The beautiful amethyst colour, a vibrant purple that became magenta in the light, truly as a sight to see. The perfect mix of Melodian and Valkarian eye colour. After all this time, how had Musa not noticed? The secret was staring at her in the face, literally.

"I do not appreciate being lied to," The prince said breaking Musa's train of thought.

"I-I'm not lying, Sire," Musa immediately replied.

The prince rolled his eyes and walked closer to Musa, causing the woman to stand up straighter. The prince was within an arm's distance from Musa, and she found it harder to hide her true feelings.

"I am not nervous, Sire," Musa repeated. "I was surprised by the sudden company."

"You do well to remember to watch your words," the prince gently warned.

"Is that a threat, Sire? Have a done something to offend you?"

"Not a threat," the prince answered, his eyes quickly running over the rest of Musa. He was always assessing people. "A reminder."

Musa took a step back from the prince, suddenly feeling warmer in his presence. She did notice though, that the prince had not called her Lady Musa anymore, but he also did not call her Siren. She was unable to read the prince's emotions, and it concerned her. How was she going to change her approach when she did not know where he stood with her?

"What do I owe the pleasure of said reminder, Sire?"

"I understand Madam Darcy treated you with a visit this afternoon."

Musa could not help but widen her eyes at the prince's statement. Had Darcy told him about their conversation? Did she mention her mother to him? Surely, Darcy would never dare tell him that the queens were friends, let alone reveal his heritage.

"Oh," Musa said shocked. "Why, yes she did. Did she speak with you?"

"I have eyes everywhere. I do not need to rely on Madam Darcy's information," the prince answered.

It was then Musa realised that there was another person behind Prince Riven. Standing a few feet away, keeping an eye on the pair, was Sir Caelum. He stood tall, hands behind his back, with the helmet still masking most of his face, except the blonde hair. Musa should have known that someone from the group told Sir Caelum but after her fight with the prince, she never thought Prince Riven would speak to her again.

"I thought you said we could not speak," Musa said after a minute.

The prince was silent in response. Musa wanted to slap herself for the remark. She should not have pointed it out.

"I remember your last few encounters with Madam Darcy were not pleasant ones," the prince eventually replied.

He was worried? No, Valkarians do not get worried. Perhaps he just wanted to check that he would not be punished if something happened to Musa again. Prince Riven is not a fan of Darcy so either way, Musa liked the opportunity to speak to the prince again.

"I apologise for our last encounter, Prince Riven," Musa said honestly.

"Did I not tell you what I thought of apologies?"

"You did, Sire, but unfortunately my studies are not enough to break blood habits," Musa said with her perfected courtier voice.

The prince walked up to Musa again, into her personal space, and stared seriously into her eyes.

"Your studies are pointless," the prince said softly, repeating their last conversation.

"They are not," Musa replied gently, trying to avoid another fight. "Sire, if I cannot apologise then I regret what I said during our last conversation. I had no right to press you like I did."

"We will not speak of it," the prince immediately said sternly.

"But Sire-"

"We will not speak of it," he repeated louder.

Sir Caelum heard the prince's voice rise and walked over to the pair.

"Sire, is everything alright?"

The prince did not answer for a few seconds, merely staring at Musa and calming his rising anger.

"Escort her back to her handmaiden," the prince ordered.

Without another word uttered, the prince walked away from Sir Caelum and Musa, heading for the training grounds. The air was silent between the pair as they watched the prince leave.

"I apologise, Sir Caelum," Musa eventually said softly, turning back to the knight. "I did not mean to offend His Highness."

Sir Caelum gave Musa a small smile and nodded his head.

"He was right," Sir Caelum replied quietly. "You do apologise too much."

Musa was confused at Sir Caelum's statement. Before she could question further, it seemed the knight realised his mistake, and quickly took Musa's arm and led her back to Tecna. It was silent as the pair walked back inside the palace, giving Musa a chance to think. She felt the rift between her and the prince grow wider. No matter what she said, she somehow angered the prince. Why would someone be angry at an apology?


Sir Caelum found Tecna in the library, dusting a few shelves. Tecna gave her typical greeting to the knight, thanking him for returning Musa to her before he left them. Tecna quickly checked that there was no one around before she dropped her façade and gave Musa a hug. Before Tecna could speak, Musa held up a hand and checked the room for shadows. When she noticed that the sun through the windows and bright lights took away all the shadows, she nodded to her friend to continue.

"I heard about your run in with Darcy," Tecna said.

"Geez," Musa laughed. "Is nothing secret in this palace?"

Tecna gave Musa a smirk in return. "Lady Mitzi loves gossip. Seriously, though, are you ok?"

"I will not lie, I was scared. I thought that any minute she would use her powers on me and discover everything. I managed to succeed so I am fine."

"You are worried though," Tecna noted. "You are checking for shadows."

"She promised to keep an eye on me and said that I could never escape the shadows."

"Charming lady. Then we must always check for shadows as well as people before we discuss anything now," Tecna said sadly.

"Tecna, I worry that every day gone by, we risk the rebellion being discovered. I do not know how much longer I can keep this up. I fear the prince is pulling away from me and we are no closer to finding my magic before then."

"We will not fail, Musa. I know in my heart that we will figure this out before you are discovered."

"How can you know that?"

"I have faith. I got word from the girls today and they managed to get everyone that we needed to join the rebellion."

"How? That is fantastic news."

"The rebellion leader apparently had something to do with it. Secretly met with the other leaders we needed. The girls still do not know his identity, but I am sure the leaders will not keep it secret for long. We were desperate though, so it was worth the risk. It seemed he was convincing too. No arranged marriages were required, however, there is a rumour that, if the rebellion succeeds, Valkaris has to provide war reparations."

"What like money compensation?"

"Anything, really. History shows that it is commonly money, but it could be anything from resources, tokens like naming buildings, land, or just simple apologies. The leader promised to somehow get Valkaris to agree to a reparation if the rebellion is successful."

"How can the leader promise that?"

"No one knows. Not even my contact. All Bloom mentioned in her letter was that the leader was convincing enough to get the realms that we needed. Linphea will provide the healers and medical practitioners to heal the wounded. Zenith will provide war ships and Tides with ships. We want to attack from land, water, and air. Everyone else will provide troops. Magix has agreed to not only provide troops but also ships and magic."

"Why would they provide magic?"

"Someone has to help you get it back and defeat Darcy," Tecna answered. "When we save you from here, we need magic to fight Darcy. She and the king may not willingly let you go."

"I cannot believe we finally have a full rebellion," Musa whispered in shock.

"Believe it, Musa. Stella mentioned in her letter that there should be more troops smuggled in today. I have yet to read Flora and Layla's letters."

"How? The girls are not here."

"Having the girls arrive too much will look suspicious, remember? They are being smuggled in on the imports from the other realms."

"The realms that are now part of the rebellion," Musa concluded happily.

"Exactly."

"When can I leave?" Musa whispered.

"When we have enough men at our base here. My contact has not said when that is. What we need to focus on right now is finding out why the king does not want Melodians touching the crystals."

Musa nodded her head and the pair started heading for the third floor of the library. Musa had yet to read the books on the third floor since Prince Riven gave her the previous book. He was right. Every book and shelf were covered top to bottom with thick layers of dust. Tecna pulled out a cloth from her pocket and gave it to Musa.

The girls worked quietly over the next two hours as they took out a book, dusted it, and read through it for information. Tecna sped read every book cover to cover and had yet to find useful information.

Musa, tired of reading another dead-end book, decided to look at every book in the last shelf at the far back isle of the third floor. She was sick of reading the same information her and Tecna had already dug up. It hurt knowing that all the books on Melody were either locked away or destroyed. Finally, Musa was at the last corner of the shelf, partially hidden behind one of the long red window curtains. Musa gently pushed the curtain aside and saw a purple book that had lost its colour over the years with gold trimming. Numerus Melodiam, the spin read. Musa had not had the same amount of education as the other courtiers growing up, but she did remember her Latin lessons when her mother was still alive.

"Rhythm of Melody," Musa translated to herself.

Did Musa really find a true Melodian book hidden behind a curtain? Surely the guards would have searched the library top to bottom when the invasion occurred. Musa called for Tecna before she tried to pull the book from the shelf, but nothing happened. She raised an eyebrow. Musa wrapped her hand around the spine of the book and pulled again to no avail. It was like the book was superglued to the shelf. How was she supposed to read it?

"What is wrong, Musa?" Tecna asked, finally walking up behind Musa.

"This book," Musa said, pointing to the purple book.

"Rhythm of Melody," Tecna read. "You cannot be that lucky! Well, what are you waiting for?"

"I cannot get it out."

"What?"

"It is like the book is stuck to the shelf."

Tecna looked at Musa confused before she too took hold of the book's spine and tried to pull it from the shelf. The pair tried for a few minutes, pulling on the book's spine with increasing force.

"How in the world is this happening?" Musa asked.

"It seems like we found out why the book remains in the library," Tecna deduced.

"But would not the soldiers just burn the book then?" Musa asked.

"They would burn the whole shelf or library if they had," Tecna answered. "They clearly wanted to keep the library for their own books."

"It is the first time I have seen a Melodian book in years," Musa said determined. "I want to know what is inside."

Musa took hold of the book from the top corner of the spine and pulled down, rather than out. She heard something like metal grinding and noticed the bottom of the book slightly turned downward from the shelf. The girls looked at each other for a second.

"Let me help," Tecna asked.

Musa shifted her body so that Tecna could stand beside her and help pull the book downward. Sure enough, after a few attempts and more metal grinding, the book was pulled down on an angle from the bookshelf with a piece of metal appearing from behind the book to the wall.

"What is that?" Musa asked in shock.

Suddenly, a few more sounds of metal grinding echoed in the isle before a rumbling came through the shelf. Before the girls knew it, the bookshelf moved briefly into the wall before slowly sliding to the left, revealing a small stone hallway. Torches lit up the hallway, showing beautiful old thick stones on the walls, ceiling, and floor.

"A secret hallway!" Musa gasped.

"No way," Tecna added.

The girls stared at the hallway in shock. The hallway looked very sturdy with no evidence of wear or cave ins. From the aging on the stones and slight rust on the metal work on the book, Tecna deduced that the hallway could not be more than a few decades old. Someone kept it in good condition for a while as everything would have been a lot worse. Musa ran her eyes over everything before she slowly looked down to the entrance of the hallway in front of her feet. She gasped and felt tears start to form in her eyes. Tecna followed her friend's gaze and saw a small familiar engraving on the stone in front of Musa's feet. On the righthand side of the symbol was a bass clef and an upside-down treble clef on the left, forming a heart shape. The symbol was surrounded by a circle of infinity knots with a banner of cursive writing underneath reading: Musica est anima mea.

"Music is the soul," Tecna whispered out as she read the cursive writing.

"This….this is the Melodian royal family crest," Musa whispered in shock.

"You remember it?" Tecna said happily.

"Now that I see it, of course I remember it. It is engraved into the stone."

"This must be an old tunnel of your mother's," Tecna added.

"Let's go in," Musa said determined.

Tecna nodded her head and followed Musa as the pair started walking down the hallway. As the pair ventured halfway down the hall, a loud noise echoed, and they turned to find the bookshelf had returned to its original position. The torches remained lit, guiding them down to a large wooden and brass covered door at the end of the hallway. Musa gently held the doorknob in her hand and giggled it.

"It is locked," Musa said sadly.

Tecna moved passed Musa and ran her hand gently over the wood panels of the door. She felt small vibrations on the door, almost like hums.

"The door is protected by magic," Tecna said.

"How do you know that?"

"I can sense the magic vibrations coating the door," Tecna replied. "You will feel it when we get your powers back, Musa. Do not worry."

"Then how do we open it?"

"A spell, perhaps?"

"How are we going to know what spell?"

"I do not know, however, I do have a long shot. Hold the handle again but say your family motto."

"That is a specific long shot," Musa joked.

"Yes, but there is a reason why your crest is engraved in that stone. Perhaps it was to help ancestors to find this hallway. I could be wrong, but I do not see any alternatives."

"Good point," Musa agreed.

Musa held the doorknob again and said, "Musica est anima mea", before turning it again. Nothing happened.

"What about translating the motto?" Tecna offered.

Musa nodded. "Music is the soul," she said before turning the doorknob.

Finally, the door slowly opened, and the girls gasped at what they found inside. It was a large circular room with baby blue walls with white infinity symbols running along the top. In the centre were two plush white couches and soft carpet. At the back was a small white table with gold trimming with a white seat. On another side of the room was a tall wooden shelf complete with Melodian books. Dotted around the room were instruments from acoustic guitars, flutes, to a familiar grand piano. Musa could not help but run to the piano. She immediately sat down and hovered her hands over the same keys that she remembered playing with her mum the day the invaders came. Tears ran down her face as she remembered that last moment with her mum. Tecna was quiet as she watched her friend take in the last piece of Melody hidden in the room.

Musa was unsure how, but she was amazed to find the piano safe and intact. She assumed that the piano was destroyed when her and her mother fled the room that day. Perhaps someone hid it. The piano was pure white and encrusted with real gold trimming and ivory keys. It would be worth a small fortune to some. What Musa was shocked to see were small crystals edged around the stand would hold a music book. Musa jumped away from the piano like she had been burned. Tecna rushed over to her friend and noticed the crystals right away.

"It is ok, Musa," Tecna comforted.

"There are crystals on the piano," Musa said sadly. "I never remembered that."

"You were only a child when they came."

"Everything. Everything in this room is my mother's."

"How do you know?"

"I remember. I remember this piano and I remember her once singing to me as she played that guitar. I….I never remembered them….till now."

"Please do not beat yourself over that, Musa. You were a child. Some things can be forgotten until you see them again."

"This whole room has my mother written all over the place. She loved baby blue and white. Music was her life."

"Music is your life, Musa," Tecna added.

"No, it is not," Musa said, shaking her head. "I cannot play music. I cannot perform magic. All that she taught me; I have forgotten."

"It can be re-learnt, Musa."

Musa ignored Tecna's comment and turned to walk over to the desk. She slowly sat down in the chair and ran her fingers over the desk. She suddenly got a whiff of her mother's favourite perfume. Jasmine. She always smelt of jasmine. She wore pure jasmine oil every day and rubbed jasmine cream on her hands before bed. Musa never thought she would smell it again. Musa noticed a long draw underneath the desk and pulled it out. The inside was gold coloured wood. On the right was a half empty bottle of her mother's jasmine oil and bottle of hand cream. Musa wiped her eyes when more tears ran down her face. On the left was a small A5 sized journal.

"You can pick it up, Musa," Tecna gently said when she noticed Musa staring at the journal.

"It is my mother's journal," Musa said. "I…..I cannot read it."

"Yes, you can," Tecna replied. "You were her life. She would want you to look at everything here as it reminds you of her."

"This book could be the only real memory of her," Musa said sadly.

"You will not break it by reading it, Musa. It is ok."

Musa nodded her head and slowly took hold of the journal and gently placed it on the desk. The book was white with baby blue cursive writing spelling her mother's name on the front. Musa opened to the first page and immediately recognised her mother's handwriting. Musa cried. Tecna leant over and hugged her friend as she read the first page.

"It…..it is dated….the same time….the same time Miranda fell in love with Kataar."

"Before you were born," Tecna said with a smile. "You can read what it was like for her before you came into her life. That is special."

Musa nodded and continued reading the journal. Tecna smiled at her friend before she walked over to the other side of the room to examine the instruments. They were in perfect condition, like the magic placed around the whole room protected it from intruders but also the contents inside. It was almost an hour later that Tecna was interrupted from reading a Melodian history book from the bookshelf by a gasp. Tecna looked up to see Musa's surprised face as she stared at the journal.

"Is everything ok, Musa?" Tecna asked, closing the book she was reading.

"It is my mother," Musa said. "She….she wrote something about the crystals."

"Really?" Tecna said in shock. She rushed over to her friend and looked over her shoulder. "What did it say?"

"I just read this entry she wrote about Queen Miranda."

Miranda loved the wedding gift that my husband and I gave to her. It was a large piece of the Melodian Crystal for her to place securely in the Valkarian palace. I also took a shard of it and turned it into a necklace for her. Although my dear friend will not live on Melody anymore, at least this way, she will have a piece of it with her. Valkaris will also not fear lacking resources during winter now.

My dear husband thought that Valkaris may not be ready for such magic in their realm but with Miranda controlling it, their realm will prosper. I cannot stand by and watch farmers struggle to grow crops in winter knowing that I had the power to help them. Our crystals always ensure that resources are strong on Melody throughout the year, so why cannot we share a small piece of that positive magic to others? My only hope is that one day her children will know the magic of Melody and how it influenced their life.

"I do not understand, Musa," Tecna said as she finished reading the journal entry.

"My mother said that resources will be replenished with crystals on Valkaris, same as on Melody. We were wrong. Crystals are not symbols, Tecna, they are magical. Melody's resources were replenished by crystal magic."


Let me know what you think :)

Till next time!

~AngelAlexandra~