Sorry if I kept you guys waiting. Here's the next chapter at last.

Chapter 5:
An Empty Throne

That night, Vira enters her chambers and locks the door after closing it. Her pupils seem to be glowing in the darkness.

She walked over to a bookshelf, pulls on a book which activates the bookshelf to turn, revealing a hidden little lepidopterarium that houses colorful butterflies called Sunray Monarchs.

"Good morning, little rays of sunshine." A single butterfly lands on her hand. "A volunteer. How eager."

The room is suddenly illuminated by dark magic. After that, she exits the room, breathing deeply in relief, while the butterfly she used lies grey and lifeless.

Calla was experimenting with the cube, putting it and the Primal Stone together to see one of the symbols glowing. Then she looked at a sleeping Raylis, and thought of something. She walked over to him and kneels down to have the cube near him. A different symbol glows for him as well.

Calla started pulling away and moving it closer to Raylis constantly, until suddenly Raylis grabbed her hand. "This doesn't end well for you."

"Last night, you thought the cube was just a worthless toy. But now we know-"

"It's a glow toy." Raylis cut her off.

Bait sniffs at the cube, while another symbol glows.

"Exactly!" Calla exclaimed, ignorant that Raylis is unconvinced of it being useful.

"Exactly." He repeated sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "I'm going to find some food."

"Wait, we got food. We grabbed a sack of bread at the Banther Lodge." Ezra said, showing the loafs she stuffed in her backpack.

"I thought this was a sack of clubs." Raylis swings the bread around like a sword. Then yelped in pain and grabbed his left hand, making him dropped the bread, cracking a rock in half.

"No, it's food... -ish." Ezra said, trying to bite on the bread.

"I'm... good." Raylis heads into the woods to look for any edible food.

Vira enters the throne room and marches towards the throne.

"Thought I might run into you here."

Vira turns to find General Amayus and his translator and trusted lieutenant Gwen.

"We need to talk." Gwen translated.

Raylis continues searching the woods for food, but is secretly looking for a quiet spot to try and remove the white ribbon bound to his hand.

He found a cliff overlooking a forested valley, and sit on the edge.

"Here goes nothing." Raylis tries to cut it off with one of his blade. "Easy, now." However, the ribbon remains intact. "What is this thing made of?"

"Help! Help!" Calla suddenly shouted, prompting Raylis to hurry back.

"What is it? What happened?" Raylis said, holding both of his blades battle-ready. Only to find Calla holding the Primal Stone while lightning is bursting out of her left hand.

"Help!"

"She tried to copy Claude's lightning spell, but she doesn't know how to finish it." Ezra explained.

"Yeah, I only saw him out to do the first half. But I'm very good at the first half." Calla said sheepishly.

"Seriously?! That sounds like a really good and safe idea." Raylis snarked.

Calla sighs, "Okay, lecture well-deserved! But what do I do now?!"

"Well, when you release a spell, there's usually a word or a phrase or something in ancient draconic." Raylis explained.

"Okay. Uh, anybody speak dragon?! I don't speak dragon!" Calla said.

"You didn't hear Claude say anything?" Raylis asked.

"No. I mean, I think right when I grabbed his hand away, she might have called me a fool." Calla stammered.

"Yeah, fool seems about right." Raylis agreed. "Okay, give me a second. I know some draconic words. Just let me think."

"You know what? I'm just gonna throw it." Calla said.

"What?! No!" Raylis said.

"Yeah, I'm gonna throw you the Primal Stone."

"That sounds like a good plan." Ezra agreed. Bait croaked in response, as if agreeing with Ezra.

"No, that's not a good plan! Throwing is bad!" Raylis said.

"I won't throw it. I'll just gently toss it." Calla stated.

"No, no! No throwing, no tossing!" Raylis yelled.

"Tossing it." Calla tossed the Primal Stone at Raylis, who hold his hands up in defense.

To Calla's great relief, the spell dissipated. "Ha! Ah! It worked. I'm okay."

The lightning temporarily causes all of Raylis' hair to stand on end. "You're kind of making a sizzling sound." Ezra said.

"Sorry about that." Calla said, picking up her sketchbook. "I guess I'm just so excited to be learning magic, and I got a little carried away."

Raylis fixed his hair. "Okay, enough almost-killing me. The sooner we return this egg, the sooner, maybe, this war can end. It's time to hit the road." Raylis toss the Primal Stone back to Calla.

"Road? Why wear ourselves out walking down a road, when we can let the river do the walking?" Calla gestures at their boat.

"Nope. Say goodbye to the boat. We go by land from here."

"But why? The river's going the right direction and moves much faster than we ever could on foot. I mean, look at those legs." Calla gestures at Ezra, who was trying to jump high to grab some apples from a tree.

"What? I have nice legs." Ezra remarked.

"We're walking. That's final." Raylis said.

"Is there maybe another reason you don't wanna take the boat? Something you're not telling us?"

"No! There's no secret reason." Raylis said quickly.

"So wait." Calla giggled. "Are you, like, this back-flippin', tree-climbing', sword-stabbin' elven warrior, but scared of a little splish-splashin'?"

"Aw, that's so cute!" Ezra cooed.

"Fine, we'll take the stupid boat!" Raylis said reluctantly, just to disprove to the princesses that he hates water.

Calla and Ezra shrugged.

"How could you let it come to this?" Gwen translated for Amayus, who's called out Vira for failing to protect Queen Hera.

"You speak as if I invited these assassins." Vira said, offended.

"I had to leave our stronghold at the Breach. Do you have any idea the dangerous forces gathered at our border?"

"I am well aware of the dangers in Xadia! I did everything in my power to protect Queen Hera. I was willing to give my own life."

"Then what went wrong?"

"She did!" Vira pointed at the empty throne. "Her own stubborn ways stopped me from helping her. You know her as well as I do. Her pride was more important to her than her life!"

"You wanted this outcome." Gwen repeated in an accusing tone, while Amayus gives Vira an accusing stare.

This made Vira angry, disbelief that he would actually believe that she's glad that Hera is gone. "How dare you suggest-" Gwen cuts her off, finishing Amayus' accusation.

"Her death creates opportunity for you."

"Her death breaks my heart!"

"Then honor her. Find her children."

"They're gone, Amayus! Captured by a Moonshadow elf! If they're not already dead, they soon will be!" Vira then walks up the throne. "This is a time of crisis. An empty throne is a beacon of weakness, an invitation to destroy us." She turn to see Amayus still glaring at her accusingly. "We must defend Katolis and all the human kingdoms against what's coming. I can help us from there."

Amayus shakes his head, unconvinced.

"You think I'm being an opportunist. But I couldn't be more selfless in my motivation." Vira then repeats the last words Hera said to her, while banging her staff. "I am a servant of Katolis. I am a servant!"

"Those are awfully nice clothes for a humble servant, Vira."

"You don't believe me." Vira moves aside to show them the throne. "Then you take it. Go ahead, sit down. I'll support you as regent. I'll gather the High Council, and we'll send word to the other crowns of the Pentarchy immediately."

"The throne stays empty until we find the girls. And that is final." Gwen translated in a firm tone.

Vira pushed Gwen out of her way and storms out of the throne room in frustration. Amayus and Gwen look on with suspicions.

Meanwhile, the young travelers calmly sail downstream, with Calla doing the rowing. Raylis sits on the front seat of the boat, while Ezra sits by the end. Ezra then noticed Bait is sitting too close to the edge.

"Bait, you know you're not supposed to do that." Ezra scolded. "No playing in the water."

"Bait loves the water, but she should be afraid of it." Calla tells Raylis. "Wanna know why she's named Bait?"

"Not really, no." Raylis said sickly.

"I'm gonna tell you anyway. It's kind of a sick joke, I guess. Glow toads? They're apparently... delicious."

"Gross." Raylis replied.

"Deep-sea fishermen use them to catch giant fish, stuff like that. That's why she's named 'Bait'." Calla giggled. "Get it? That was my dad's sense of humor. But, yeah, that's why we have to be extra careful about him not getting into the water."

"Guys, she doesn't know how delicious she is, so shhh." Ezra said.

Bait croaks at the three suspiciously.

"And that's how the noodle got its name." Ezra said, pretending that they were talking about something else.

Amayus pays a visit to his late brother, Hera's husband Saran, at his burial site. Gwen remains at a distance as Amayus delivers his message to his dead brother. Tears comes out of his eyes. Gwen doesn't translate for him this time, there's no need.

"Hello, brother. You were my hero. Perfect, strong and unbreakable. Kind and loyal. I'm sorry, older brother, I failed you. Your children were safe and I let them slip away."

Shortly after, Vira joins Amayus in peaceful grieving for Saran as well. "May I... light a candle?" She asked.

Amayus smiled and nodded.

As the young ones continue traveling downstream, Raylis has becomes seasick.

"You alright?" Calla asked, noticing Raylis has his head lower.

"I'm doing great." He groaned and gagging. "I just love boats so much. That's why I'm down here. To be close to the boat."

"Tell you what, I'm gonna ask you five questions."

"Please don't."

"Come on! It'll be a fun distraction, help take your mind off things."

Raylis sighs, "Five questions, that's all you'll get."

"Okay, question one. We always heard about all these crazy things about Xadia. Like, it was this place with just... magic everywhere. Is that really what it's like?" Calla asked eagerly.

"Yes." Raylis answered flatly. "Next question."

"It must be so weird that everywhere you look, there's magic."

"That's not really a question. And it's not weird. In Xadia, magic is pretty much in everything. It's no different from saying, 'Everywhere you look, there's nature.' It's just part of the vibrance or spirit of things, you know?"

"I can't wait to see that. It sounds incredible."

"Yeah. Yeah, it is." Raylis replied happily.

"See, it's working, right? Don't you feel a little better?"

"I guess I am. Ask your next question."

"Okay, question two. What are your parents like?"

"They're dead." Raylis answered coldy.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Calla said sadly.

"No, it's fine."

Calla and Ezra suddenly noticed that the boat is entering fast rapids.

"So, this might not be the best time to bring this up, but are you sure you're not scared of the water?"

"I'm done with questions now."

"I know, it's just... the water's about to..." Calla stammered. "Look!"

Raylis turn to see that they're about to fall down a waterfall.

"Pull the boat over!"

"I don't think there's time."

"Pull it boat over! I admit it, I'm afraid of the water! It makes me sick! All of the bad things!" Raylis confessed.

"It's too late, hang on!" Calla yelled, as the boat begins its plunge. With the sisters laughing and Raylis screaming. "Hold tight!"

Amayus and Vira both reminisce their days with Saran.

"Hera made your brother a better man. She told me King Saran was never as strong or brave as she believed him to be, but he tried every day to be stronger and braver so he could live up to what she saw in him. A king she deserved. An equal partner." Vira said.

"He was compassionate and patient. Unless, of course, you took the last jelly tart." Gwen translated.

"I only made that mistake once." Vira said, sharing a laugh with Amayus and Gwen.

"A sweet tooth and an iron fist."

"General Amayus, I am very sorry for what happened in the throne room. You helped me see the truth." Vira apologized.

"And why was that so hard?" Gwen translated in a questioned tone.

"I was blinded by my abiding love of our kingdom and humanity itself."

"Guard, fetch a stable boy, quickly. I've encountered a giant pile of bull... droppings." Gwen translated, but was shocked by that last word, so she censored it.

Vira chuckled awkwardly. "But you are right, the princesses come first. Finding them is absolutely the top priority of the kingdom of Katolis."

"Good. You see it my way then. I'll be departing at sundown with a rescue party."

"Of course. But allow me to ask... what happens to the Breach?" Vira asked, making Amayus stop at his tracks. "You said yourself how precarious the situation is. Without you commanding the fortress, do you believe, in your heart, that the border will hold?"

"Make your point."

"If the Breach falls, the enemy will surge into Katolis, and I can hardly imagine the death and destruction that will follow."

"Then what are you suggesting?"

"You return to the border, hold it fast. It's where you're needed most. A party of our best will be dispatched immediately to find the princesses. And in case you still doubt my intentions, I will task my own children, Sonja and Claude, with leading the rescue expedition."

"I do doubt your intentions. I will return to the Breach, but your children won't lead the rescue. The mission will be assigned to... Commander Gwen." she finished translating. "That's me. I am Commander Gwen."

Calla, Ezra, and Raylis finally make it to a calm area of the river after enduring the rapids.

"You faced your fear." Calla tells Raylis. "Do you feel better about water now?"

"I have never felt worse about water." Raylis muttered.

"Well, anyway, we're making great time."

"Hey, guys? Does anyone else see Bait?" Ezra asked worriedly. They search around the boat, hoping that she's just hiding. Ezra heard Bait croaking, and saw the glow toad was left in the water.

"Bait! Come back here! Do your froggy paddle." Ezra shouted. Bait manages to quickly swim for the boat before being eaten. Ezra retrieves Bait. "You know you're not supposed to get in the water." Ezra reminded.

"What a disaster." Raylis sighed.

"I know, right? My socks are all soggy!" Calla said. "A disaster! A soggy disaster!"

"Uh, Calla..." Raylis suddenly noticed the Ocean rune of the cube begins to glow strangely.

Calla picked up the pulsating cube. "Hey, Ocean Rune. I've never seen it light up before. Wait, why would the Ocean Rune be-"

They realize too late that the cube was detecting a large river monster that tosses all of them off their boat.

"Oh, now I get it!" Calla screamed.

Raylis found himself thrown to the shore, much to his relief. He started kissing the grass. "Sweet, solid land, we meet again."

He looks around for the princesses and Bait, but to his horror, they're still in the river.

He noticed that Bait is farther away from Calla and Ezra, making her an easy target for the river monster. The princesses are unaware of her predicament as they try to swim to shore.

"Girls, behind you! Bait is in trouble!" Raylis shouted.

"What?!" Ezra yelled back.

"Bait needs help!" Raylis shouted.

"Bait sneezed kelp?" Ezra asked confusingly.

"No. I think he says, Bait's knees smell.'" Calla believed.

"Now that's just mean. And how can knees smell?"

"No!" Raylis yelled aggravatedly.

The monster swung its tail, causing Bait to be thrown up in the air, and landed right on the monster's eye. Now it's trying to beat her.

"It's down to me, isn't it? Of course it is." Raylis said reluctantly. "Good-bye, sweet, solid ground, I barely knew you." He climbs up a tree, ran and jumped off a branch facing the river, and landed on a floating hollowed-out log. "Come on, Raylis, do it for the frog." He said to himself, while clinging onto the log. "The grumpy frog that hates you. Here goes!"

Raylis stood up and draws out his blades. The monster was about to devour Bait whole when Raylis jumped on its head, diverting it away from Bait. The monster flung its tail again, causing Raylis and Bait to be thrown up in the air where the elf caught the toad. And they dived deep into the water.

The monster tries to devour them both, but Raylis manage to get them both out of its mouth. Now he's using one of his blades to grab on its lip as it jumped into the air, causing a huge wave which pushes Ezra and Calla back to land.

The princesses look back at the river as Raylis and Bait are still struggling to escape the monster's attacks. Calla looks at the Primal Stone and an idea formed in her head. "I have an idea. Raylis, jump!"

"But you don't know how to-"

"Just jump!" Calla yelled as she performs the lightning spell again.

Raylis hold onto Bait tightly as he jumps over the front of the monster as it opens its mouth, then Calla drops her hand into the water carrying the lightning at the river where it electrocutes the monster. Raylis and Bait now float in the river, surrounded by several fish that were also killed in the process.

Amayus is briefing two of his most-trusting soldiers. One of them being Marcia.

"I've send word to Raptora that Queen Hera has passed." Gwen translated.

"Is Lady Vira aware that you sent Raptora to track the princesses?" Marcia asked.

"No. Do not trust Vira. It may be a month from now, it may be a year, but he will stab you in the back." Gwen translated, sharing her general's suspicions. The two guards nodded.

The four are unaware that Vira is watching them. While she can't hear what they're saying, she suspects that they're onto her.

"I'll be careful." Gwen reassures Amayus. The two hug. Then Amayus sees Vira and Sonja approaching just as he gets on his horse.

"I expect you to be notified when the princesses are found. And safe." Gwen translated.

"Of course." Vira said. "I'll send word to the Breach immediately."

Amayus and his forces leave the castle.

"Oh, Gwen, bad news. There's been a change of plans." Sonja said.

"What are you talking about?" Gwen asked, then turned to Vira. "What is she talking about?"

"I've decided you're off the mission. Sonja will lead the rescue expedition." Vira explained.

"What? General Amayus was very specific that I was to lead this." Gwen reminded.

"Oh, perhaps there was a misunderstanding? Sonja, set up a meeting for Commander Gwen and I to discuss her concerns. Somewhere quiet." Vira said. "Say, around 9:00?"

"Yes, very good. 9:00 suits my schedule." Gwen said.

"Very good." Vira said.

"Raylis, you saved Bait! Without you, she would have been..." Ezra covers Bait's ears, "fish food."

Bait croaked in confusion over Ezra pressing her hands on her ears.

"That was brave, Raylis." Calla expresses her gratitude as well.

"No, I already told you, I'm afraid of water." Raylis said.

"I know. That's why doing what you did was so heroic." Calla explained.

"Oh, thanks." Raylis said, flattered.

"Why didn't you tell us you were afraid before?" Ezra asked. "It's okay to be afraid of things."

Raylis walked up to the water, staring at his reflection. "I guess I was afraid of being afraid."

"Well, that's kind of circular." Calla said. "But, hey! Worth noting: you're not afraid of being afraid of being afraid."

"That's deep. But stupid. The thing is, Moonshadow elves aren't supposed to show fear. Ever."

"That's sad." Ezra said.

"It's our way." Raylis said plainly. "By the way, I sorta lied, about my parents... they're not really dead, but I wish they were. They're cowards." he said coldly.

"What do you mean?" Calla asked.

"My parents were part of an elite force, the Dragonguard, eight elven warriors chosen to protect the egg of the Dragon Princess. Storm dragons only lay an egg every thousand years. So that egg is so rare and precious. But when the humans came and killed the Dragon Queen, the Dragonguard, my parents, failed in their duty. They ran away. I'm so ashamed." Raylis said with anguish.

"Raylis, I'm so sorry for what humans did." Calla said, putting a hand on Raylis' shoulder.

"So, you see, that's why I have to make things right! When I first came here, I was on a quest for revenge. But the moment I saw the egg, everything changed. Now, this is a journey of redemption." Raylis said with determination in his voice.

"We're in this together." Calla said, putting her arm around Ezra.

They noticed their rowboat is still intact and drifting away.

"Oh, no. Our boat seems to be drifting away. It slipped just out of my reach. What will we do now?" Suddenly it drifted to shore, despite the river going the opposite direction.

But Calla kicks it back into the current. "Goodbye, boat."

"Thank you."

"So, what's the deal with your wrist ribbon thing? Does it mean something?" Calla asked.

"Nah. It's just decorative." Raylis answered casually, as he feels the ribbon growing tighter.

"Decorative?"

"Yeah. Like how you human girls love to decorate."

"I guess." Calla said unsurely. The group continues the journey to Xadia on foot.

Though five minutes late, Vira finally meets with Gwen, who is imprisoned in the dungeon and chained by her wrists. "I apologize for my tardiness."

"It was only 5 minutes." Gwen said.

"So, what are your concerns?"

"Well... you took me off the mission."

"Hmm, noted. Go on."

"And you threw me in this dungeon."

"Ah, I see. Anything else?"

"Uh... no. That's-that's about it."

"Thank you. Your feedback is a gift."

"You're welcome. I appreciate it."

"Mother, it's about our other prisoner..." Claude said.

"Excuse me." Vira said to Gwen before following her son.

Gwen smiles in response and nodded. "Bitch." she whispered.

Vira and Gwen inspect a cell where the leader of the Moonshadow assassins, Runaa, is chained up. "She's still refusing to eat." Claude tells his mom.

"Then let her be hungry." Vira said.

Claude shuts the she-elf's cell door, as Runaa's left arm is showing signs of being squeezed by the continued tightening of her white ribbon.