Chapter Three: Royal Treasure

"Miss Wilder?" I am shaken awake by Claudia. I attempt to wiggle my toes under the thick blanket; too thick for the middle of May.

"Miss Wilder, I bear an invitation from His Royal Highness the 18th. He requests your presence at the Meltokio Castle this afternoon." She says. I am wide awake now.

"I'll go," I say. I push back the blanket and drag my legs over the edge of the bed. Claudia hurries to get my cane from the corner. My latest illness has weakened my legs; it is a struggle to even walk toward the window.

As I lean over to get my shoes, I lose my center of balance on my cane. My forehead bounces off the tea table and hits the hard, cold cement.

"Miss Wilder!" Claudia rushes to my side and reaches to pick me up. I motion for her to stop.

"Haha…hahaha!" I laugh. I haven't laughed in four years; since four years ago, when my brother and I were a family.

"Miss Wilder, are you alright?"

"Yes!" I manage to stifle between fits of laughter. I sigh then, staring at the ceiling. "What a curious fate this web has woven me."

"I believe it's 'what a curious web fate has woven me.'" Claudia corrects me.

"What you said." I roll into fits of laughter again, barely able to breath.

"Miss Wilder…the king?"

"Ah, right." I say. I first erect my cane and use it as a lever to hoist myself up. I lean on Claudia as we go down the stares, the stained glass reflected on the pillar.

I had forgotten what a wonderful place Meltokio is. It is almost time for the Midsummer Festival. Everyone is walking around in colorful angel and butterfly costumes. It is break time for the maids of the castle. However, they all blend in with the midsummer costumes.

Claudia helps me climb the marble staircase leading up to the castle gates. There are similar gates all around the town; I wonder if they are keeping the citizens in or evil out.

"Miss Seles Wilder?" the knight at the doorway asks. I nod. "Right this way."
He opens the gates as another knight comes to take his place.

The inside of the castle is beautiful; I have only seen it twice before. The King of Tethe'alla sits on a throne inlaid with diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Princess Hilda, his daughter, sits on his right. She fans herself with a fan of feathers. A golden crown similar to the king's sits on her head. Claudia and I bow.

"Greetings Miss Wilder." The king says. "I trust you are well."

"I'm getting by, your majesty." I reply.

"That's good to hear. I trust they are treating you well at the abbey?" he says.

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, we have matters we must discuss. I've summoned you in regards to your brother, Zelos the Chosen."

I shudder at my brother's name. Has he been injured or killed? No, I tell myself. I drive away these endearing thoughts with those of what my mother did; and my mother did what she did because of Zelos. I shall bear no endearment toward him.

"The Chosen, sir?" I ask. I refuse to call him my brother.

"Not in direct regards to him, Seles." The king says. "See, the Elemental Research Academy in Sybak has been doing research on Zelos's Cruxis Crystal, and they are now finished with their research. Since the Chosen is not to receive the oracle until Tethe'alla begins to decline, we shall entrust the crystal to your care. I trust you have no objections?"

They're giving me the Cruxis Crystal? After all the fighting that we've had over it? There must be some hidden motive.

"No, your majesty," I reply, smiling. "I have no objections."

"Fine then. Talk to the priest in the chapel. He is currently keeping the Cruxis Crystal. We're counting on you, Seles."

"Thank you, my lord." As I turn to leave, the king's knights open the doors for me once more. Just as the king is almost shut out, he shouts one final thing to me.

"Oh, and one more thing! We'll be stationing Papal Knights outside your dormitory in the abbey as a safety precaution!"

I turn to respond, but the doors have already closed.
So that was it. This wasn't about me being the Chosen's sister; it was about being my mother's daughter. I guess I can't complain. I always complain about living in the Chosen's shadow; how nobody sees me for me. Now the have. Now Papal Knights will be stationed outside my room all night and day; to keep me in.

I suddenly know whether Meltokio's big brown gates are for keeping citizens in or evil out; they're for keeping the citizens in.

Because the whole world is a prison.