Chapter 25: Ludin

Elzilaura was glad to see Kanunia up and about. She runs to her sister and embraces her tightly. "I'm so glad you are well, Kania. Thank goodness." Elzilaura says.

"Likewise. I am really happy. I saw the proceedings. It was viewed all over the planet. You were amazing. No wonder they gave their support." Kanunia kisses her sister's forehead.

Dazifae comes forward with Harrion and Merus behind her. 

"Congratulations, your highness." The lady behaves formally and curtsies properly. Elzilaura shifts her attention and immediately embraces her cousin. She knows how the latter looks up to her. Perhaps she was trying too hard to win her affection that she tends to screw up at times. She knows the cousin had good intentions.

"I'm glad to see you, Dazi. I may not have told you how much I appreciate your efforts to do your task well. I am grateful that you are always here for me. Thank you so much, Dazi. " The lady sheds a tear upon hearing her cousin's kind words.

She lets go of Dazifae and addresses all of them. "And all of you." She scans the perimeter and tries to meet their stares. "I am truly grateful for all your help and support for me and my kingdom. I will never forget such kindness from all of you. I hope that you will never think that I do not appreciate you. I take note of every sacrifice and trouble you did just to save me.

One day I will return the favor but for now, I still need more of your help and support. Please join me now. Let us continue the voyage so we can save our home world, our Fliska."

"Long live Fliska!" Harrion shouts and the rest of them follow.

"Long live the alliance!" Enna yells out and everyone follows again.

"Long live." Dazifae pauses and everyone laughs. She was about to give up when she utters. "Long live the Crystal Princess!" Everyone cheers. Elzilaura embraces Dazifae in gratitude and kisses her cousin's cheek. Dazifae embraces back and rests her head on Elzilaura's shoulder.

As they prepare to depart, Enna and Lem claim that they need to get back to Tergiel 6 but will gladly offer any form of help they could give if they needed backup. After all, they were just a communicator away. Zyric and Elzilaura both understand they have other important matters to attend to. The couple bids the Fliskan team farewell. Merus and the rest of the technicians also say goodbye and pledged their allegiance to their cause. If there was anything they could do, they would help also. All they needed to do was to send a message.

The Fliskans together with their backup support crew head to Planet Ludin. The journey went well and soon, they enter the star system where Ludin belongs.

The planet is almost the size of Planet Mars but its proximity to its sun star is like Planet Mercury. The temperature would have been intensely unbearable for life forms to flourish. Luckily, it has a cryosphere.

If planet Earth has a magnetosphere that protects it from harmful radiation from its sun, Ludin's cryosphere is a barrier made of ice shards and vapors. This barrier protects Ludin from the intense heat of their sun.

Carefully, they review the information guide sent by the Ludinians on how to safely maneuver through the cryosphere. Once they received the landing permission, the Fliskan vessel started its descent. After evading the ice shards and enduring turbulence, the surface came into view.

Ludin was known to be a winter wonderland or Ice Paradise. Although they have a summer season, the weather is often cold and some areas are iced all year round. Though the people are the kindest in this region, they tend to have uncomfortable first impressions. That is why there is a saying describing someone being as cold as a Ludinian.

As they land on the runway, Zyric reminds them about the weather outside and that all of them should be wearing a cloak to keep them warm. Kanunia and Dazifae distribute the winter garments from the closets located at the back of the ship.

Upon disembarking, General Vedro of the Ludinian Military welcomes them with their basic greeting which translates as "Welcome to Winterland." On their way, they see the beauty of Winterland whose architecture looked like a modern depiction of ancient Egypt and other old Mediterranean structures. The general pointed to their grand temples that resembled pyramids with carvings atop these structures resembling a square cut gem.

When they reach the royal palace grounds, he leads them to where the monarch of Ludin awaits. The Queen was the same age as Queen Azestina. The tall regal staunch-looking lady stood there and opened her arms as she warmly welcomed them.

"Greetings, I am Monandra, ruler of Ludin. I have been expecting you and your company, royal highness." She bows slightly to Elzilaura. "All is set for your trial of light and I am pleased to perform the gem-linking ceremony for you."

Elzilaura responds. "It is a great honor to finally meet you, Queen Monandra, and have my trial of light to be conducted by you. When can we do the ceremony, your majesty?"

"Anytime you are ready, my dear." The queen smiles as she informs.

Elzilaura was pleased with the queen's response.

"I prefer to have it today if you give me a few minutes to meditate."

"But it's too soon. Can we wait a few more days? Just to make sure you have good health." Kanunia expresses her disagreement.

"But we do not have that much time." The princess expounds. "I must learn to commune with the gem if I am to maximize its full power and use it against our enemies. We are at war and there is no time."

The Queen of Ludin then invites them all inside her abode. The guests noticed that the Ludinians are clad in dull colored heavy looking cloaks but upon removing them, they are dressed to the nines. Men and women were dressed in structured silk and were well adorned with jewelry. The women lined their heads with gems and other ornaments.

The queen sent the princess to get changed for the ceremony while the people who are permitted to watch gathered in the hall of the sacred pool. Upon reaching her preparation room, Elzilaura requested a brief moment to meditate. The servants waited for her outside the room as she meditated and reflected on what she is about to do. Then, she allowed the servants to dress her up.

When they were finished, Kanunia came in. "I'm here just to remind you that the pool is ready and that Queen Monandra is waiting. No rush though."

Kanunia then noticed the younger sister was troubled by something.

"What's bothering you?" Kanunia asks.

"Just a little scared. You know what happens right? It's either you pass or fail. You live or you die in the pool."

"I told you to postpone." Kanunia crosses her arms.

"Delaying it will not calm my nerves," Elzilaura states.

"Then now is the right time. There should be no room for these doubts in your head." Kanunia draws closer. "After all you've been through, you should trust yourself. Time and again, you have proven your worth. The outcomes may not always be perfect but you are emerging victorious out of your predicaments." Kanunia stresses her point as she clasps her sister's wrists.

In Fliskan custom and tradition, the wrist was an important part of the body. When you hold one's wrist, you emphasize support. When you grab the wrist and pull the person unwillingly, you can be charged with sexual harassment or even prelude to rape. This is so because the wrist is important to lovers. Husbands and wives hold hands as well as wrists during their wedding day.

"Thank you, Kania," Elzilaura affirms.

Suddenly, someone enters the room. It was Dazifae. "I came to wish you luck, dear cousin." She moves closer to the two ladies.

"Thank you, Dazi," Elzilaura replies.

"And if anything happened to you, may I have your clothes and jewelry?"

Kanunia grabs a piece of paper, rolls it, and uses it to hit Dazifae's arm.

"Ouch." The lady shouts.

"Well, you deserve it. You never seem to learn your lesson. You were told to be ladylike time and again. You are still not behaving properly." Kanunia reprimands the lady.

"I was just kidding," Dazifae says. "Besides, hitting me is not ladylike of you either."

Elzilaura just laughs and gathers both her cousin and sister in a warm embrace. "I'm glad I have both of you here with me." She whispers. "No matter what happens, we stick out for each other okay? The two ladies agree.

"I must now ask you two to join the assembly at the sacred pool so I can finish preparing." Elzilaura requests. The two companions obeyed immediately and left.

Meanwhile, Zyric was helping security. General Vedro affirms that the Ludinian defense forces are well scattered and prepared for this day. Should any attackers come, the Ludinians and their allies are ready for them.

When things are better, Zyric and Alednos left their meeting with the Ludinian security to be present at the great hall. On the way, they paid a visit to Elzilaura's room.

"Hello, Ella," Zyric says.

"We just want to wish you good luck," Alednos claims.

"Aww, thank you, gentlemen," Elzilaura says. "How sweet of you."

"We won't stay for long," Zyric informs.

"Yeah, we just want to wish you well but we also need to be in the hall soon," Alednos says as he pulls Zyric reminding him that they need to go.

"Can you stay for a moment, Zee?" Elzilaura says just before they left.

"Sure." Zyric immediately replies. Then, he turns to Alednos. "I'll catch up with you later."

Alednos nods and takes leave. When they were alone, she approached the Fliskan Marshal.

"Thank you for all your help and for keeping your promise to support me. Should anything happen to me-"

Zyric was about to contradict her when she was cut off by someone knocking on the door.

"Your Highness, I am Captain Maraidos. The Queen says the ceremony must be delayed for a while. Lenron's fleet with Mudrogos Vel troops is approaching with great speed. We need to evacuate now. Please follow me."

"Okay, let's go." Elzilaura follows the Ludinian.

"Let me help you, lead me to General Vedro so we can mobilize the Fliskan and Pataran escort," Zyric says.

"Affirmative, Sir." Captain Maraidos says. He calls upon one of his men and asks him to take the Fliskan Marshal to General Vedro while the Captain brings the princess to the safety of the underground base.

Elzilaura bids Zyric goodbye and tells him to take care. After he agrees, they hold wrists and their gazes meet. Soon, Zyric breaks away and follows the soldier assigned to lead him to the Ludinian General.

Once they are together, General Vedro accepts Zyric's offer. Both men delegate their tasks to the joint forces.

As head of Ludin, Queen Monandra sees to it that everyone else in the castle was safely relocated to a special underground base. When they were all settled, she leaves the secured area to help General Vedro and the rest of the defenders.

She then uses the power of her gem, the Sardonyx Square, and chases Lenron who was flying across the Ludinian skies using his Power Stone, the Misty Marble. Soon, they engage in combat.

Monandra was leading at first but they both grew tired. Then, Bartava and his men come in to help their allies. Monandra had to battle two men.

Back in the underground base, there were special screens and the people saw what was going on outside. Elzilaura wanted to help the queen but the people in the secured chamber refused to let her go. Just before Monandra was overwhelmed, Ovded came out of nowhere. He teamed up with the lady to battle Bartava and Lenron.

Zyric and General Vedro lead their teams against Lenron's generals, Haxani and Tovas. Haxani was a loyal servant to Lenron's father while Tovas was a former Fliskan officer and Zyric's rival. He wanted to be the Marshal but Zyric was chosen. Since then, he was undermining the Fliskans. His bitterness led him to betray his countrymen.

Pretty soon, the attackers were losing men at a considerable rate. Before losing everything else, they decide to retreat. Haxani vows to return and shall be victorious while Tovas promises to Zyric they shall continue their feud soon.

The attack did little damage to the surroundings but alas the sacred pool was once again ruined. Queen Monandra believes that somehow the power gems are connected with the sacred pool. She then asks for the help of Ovded. With their power gems, they combine forces to repair the damage to the important structure. In a matter of minutes, it was ready.

They allow her to continue to meditate. She wanted to call for Kanunia, Zyric, and all the others again but there was no time. She must clear her head with all feelings, anxieties, and doubts. Focus is the only key to her survival and the future of her kingdom depends on it as well. After a moment of reflection, a servant then escorted the princess to where she will face one of the greatest tests of her life.