Chapter 27: The Trial continues

At the great hall, the assembly was still watching. Queen Monandra announces the second phase of the trials has been completed successfully. The people clap as they continue to view.

Elzilaura tries to scan the room and analyze where she is. The gloomy court hall was empty and the ambiance quite resembled that of a horror house. A half-beaten chamberlain scampered across the room as fast as he could. The chamberlain thanks Elzilaura.

"Oh, thank you for coming." The Chamberlain says as he curtsies and kisses her hand. "It has been so horrible. Every member of the royal family is dead. They were killed by Masaa." He sobs.

"She is still here. I will lead you to her. Only you can stop her. Put an end to her madness before she kills everyone else." The chamberlain tried to escort the princess to where the murderess may be.

They left the court hall and entered the corridor and the chamberlain pointed to the last door. "Masaa entered that room. You must go now and kill her. As much as I want to help you, I am too weak. I cannot carry on any longer." The chamberlain drops to the floor. Elzilaura tries to help him up but he holds out his arm refusing her help. "No, you must go on without me. Go now and save us. Please." The Fliskan princess slowly laid the chamberlain down.

"Yes, I will. Just wait for me here." Elzilaura says.

Hurriedly, she rushed to the door. At the end of the corridor, she found herself entering a narrow room that seemed like a passageway. The walls seemed glass-like screens projecting different movie clips. As she looked at each phase of the walls, it flashed a portion of Masaa's life and most of them were her most bitter memories.

In one scene, she sees Masaa being bullied by some classmates envious of her. Next, she sees Masaa being punished by a cruel teacher. She was asked to kneel in front of a class for not being able to finish her homework. On the adjacent wall, the scene pictured the teacher verbally abusing Masaa who would often pick on the poor student because her parents were so influential. This teacher would make Masaa stand for hours when she is unable to recite and all the other cruelties were shown in that scene. The next few clips were about Masaa's friends she trusted the most who ended up betraying her.

As Elzilaura walks on, she views more disturbing scenes where Masaa was mistreated by her nanny to make her obedient. The said nanny also framed Masaa when the former accidentally broke a piece of furniture in the house. Her mother thought it was Masaa's doing and the poor girl was punished unfairly.

At the end of the narrow passageway was another door. When Elzilaura opened it, she goes into a dark room. In the middle of the said room was a girl sitting on a wooden stool. The girl was dressed in black from head to toe. Her back and tuft of hair were the only ones visible to Elzilaura. When the princess called out to the girl, Masaa turned to face Elzilaura. To her surprise, Masaa looked exactly like her.

In the blink of an eye, the dark shadows that seemed to be near Masaa rushed and enveloped Elzilaura even before she could scream out loud. Soon, there was a reversal of fate.

Elzilaura was the one seated on the stool all gloomy and a bewildered Masaa was standing right before the stool where Elzilaura was. The girl's appearance changed. The black clothes were gone and she was now wearing a blue dress and had light brown hair. She no longer resembled Elzilaura.

"Where am I?" Seeing the gloomy princess scared her and she ran out the door. As she passed through the narrow passageway, the walls were full of scenes now about Elzilaura's bitter experiences.

Masaa saw Elzilaura being sternly treated by her tutors and mentors. They were all pressuring Elzilaura to do better for she was to be the next queen. She saw how strictly her mother brought her up in the traditions of a Fliskan royal. She also saw the princess running away after her failed speech attempt.

Masaa saw a part when the princess was still on planet Earth under the identity of Laura. She was betrayed by her fiancé and best friend. The scene where she learned her mother's secret and when she had to leave Earth was also revealed. Masaa continued to rush to the door leading to the corridor. When she reached the said corridor, all the doors melted away.

From behind the chamberlain who was now able to walk and miraculously cured speaks.

"If you think you can escape then you are so wrong." He then laughs ominously. "You cannot escape from the past." She looks at her wrist and surprisingly, they were bound by dark big cuffs. She stares at them and then goes into a trance. Bitter memories flashed in her mind again and there was nothing in her heart but revenge. Then, a tornado sweeps Masaa away.

Meanwhile, Elzilaura was seated on a stool grieving about the bitter experiences she had as they all flashed through in her head. But then, she realized, the past is gone and could never be changed. She must move on and accept every experience.

After all, these moments have made her into the person she is today. She tells herself " I am not perfect though even though I had to go through a lot that is the beauty of tomorrow. We have tomorrow to accomplish those that we truly cannot finish today."

With that, the darkness that has consumed her was gone. In an instant, the room was no longer gloomy but it turned out to be an empty room. When she passed through the narrow passageway, the movie clips were gone. All that was left were the glass walls so she rushed to the door. As she opened her way to the corridor, she saw the mysteriously healed chamberlain turning to face her.

"If you think you can escape, then you're wrong." He laughs hysterically again. "You cannot escape the past." Big black handcuffs appear. She also goes into a trance upon looking at them. Bitter memories flashed through her head but she kept on constantly saying that it is over. She accepts the past. Then the faces of those who treated her cruelly appeared and she felt anger towards them. She wanted to exact her revenge on them.

Soon, she also recalled the experiences she had recently which were favorable. She then sees the importance of these unfortunate events in her life and accepts them again. This time she vows to let go of her hate and move on now. Filled with love in her heart, she forgives these people who have done her wrong instead of seeking revenge. She speaks and though she does not see the chamberlain, she tells him, "For so long I have lived in hate. Now, I chose to live in love."

Doing so, the black cuffs cracked before it disappeared. As she was in the trance, a storm was brewing and the tornado was prepared to sweep her off just like what happened to Masaa. Now that she has awakened and the cuffs were broken, the tornado took the chamberlain instead. He screamed out loud and as it slowly faded, all that was left was the Doppler effect of his scream.

Suddenly, the scene changed and she found herself in the royal apartments lying in bed pregnant. It was a stormy night and she was caressing her belly. The doctors had informed her that her pregnancy was sensitive so she has to take bed rest. She is also forbidden to use the Crystal Cross' power for it would endanger the baby's life. Her husband whose face she cannot see for the room was poorly lit warned her not to disobey the doctor's orders.

When the doctor left, a member of the royal council informed her that Fliska is under attack by different enemy forces. They are fast approaching and the defense force needs her. She must use the Crystal Cross to help them in protecting Fliska. She explained to the minister that she cannot go against the doctor's orders but the minister implored her to use the power gem. Thousands of people shall die if she does not take action.

She hurriedly got out of bed and as she reached for her slippers, she heard her husband threatening to leave her should she choose to go. If she uses the power gem in her weak state, she will surely die and the baby as well.

Elzilaura wanted to obey him but she needs to protect her people.

She leaves her room and goes to the courtyard where the soldiers cheered on upon seeing her. She raises her power gem allowing the power to flow within her. She felt a sharp pain in her belly and lower extremities but she continues to let the light emanate from her. Light beams appeared which repelled the enemy forces. Once she stops the light from flowing, everything went pitch black.

She couldn't see anything until a flicker of light came from a candle. She then noticed she was holding a candle and walking along a dark corridor. Not for long, she heard once again the voices that often broke her calm.

"Oh, there is the poor pampered princess who doesn't know anything about ruling a kingdom."

"It's the little lamb of her lioness mother."

"She's old enough to marry and yet she's still clinging to her mother's skirts. It's so childish."

"I wonder what will happen when she takes the throne."

"Well, if she can take it before someone else beats her to it."

"She doesn't know how to be decisive."

This time around she mustered her remaining strength and answered back.

"Lies."

"All you're saying are lies."

A flicker of light came out of nowhere. Slowly, her strength was returning.

"I have let you rule over me. You are in my head for so long."

"You are not even real."

"You are fear, doubt, and anxiety. You are a figment of my imagination."

"I am real."

Suddenly, she reaches the doors leading to a ballroom where the noble lords and ladies of the Fliskan Royal Court were chatting. All eyes were on her. She scans the room and stares at these eavesdroppers and gossipers. Instead of chiding away, she confronts them.

"I know who I am and what I am capable of doing." Some continued to murmur while most of them stared in astonishment.

"What you say against me is a reflection of your weakness, not mine."

In an instant, everything swirls and fades to black once more.

Back in the hall, everyone was watching when the pool turned black. The calm waters were becoming wavy now. Queen Monandra says that the test is almost over. The last phase of the tests is not visible to anyone now. It is a secret between the forces of this universe and the one chosen or granted permission to wield these forces. The Queen also informs that Princess Elzilaura will emerge from the waters any minute now.

Meanwhile, Elzilaura found herself floating in a place of total darkness. She sees nothing but the Crystal Cross. It breaks apart and the lights escape from it. A voice tells her to put the gem back together and control the flow of energy. She concentrates and the power gem fuses back together while the glowing energy enters her hands.

As she concentrates more, it flows in and then the voice in her head commands her to release the power. She opens her eyes wide and sends the light into nowhere. Soon, streams of light fly all around.

She was very tired and her body was bruised. As she was trying to stay awake, the voice spoke again. This time, a gorgeous woman in Fliskan attire with a Fliskan crown slowly appeared before her.

"Greetings, princess of Fliska! You are probably wondering who I am. Well, I am an ancient Fliskan Queen. Biologically, I am your ancestor and I would just like to congratulate you, my dear descendant, that you have surpassed all the challenges which tested your skills as well as wisdom and virtues. You are now the Crystal Princess." The queen claps.

"Thank you," Elzilaura whispers.

"Oh, I also must reacquaint you with the origins of the Crystal Cross. Here, let me show you."

Soon, the scene changes, and both of them were floating in space.

"At the beginning of time, a primordial heavenly body existed which was called Nimeralia.

Nimeralia contained all the power stones and power gems. Since the energy within the primordial planet was too great, it exploded. The heavenly body had split into two. The first half consisted of positive energy while the other half was of negative energy. These two halves broke down further and were absorbed by forming heavenly bodies. The positive pieces became the power gems while the negative pieces became the power stones." The queen narrates.

The Crystal Cross soon levitates in front of Elzilaura.

"You have passed the tests. The gem has accepted you. It has read your very entity and is acclimatized with you. It knows you now and trusts you. Now, you can harness its full power. Try it and see for yourself." The queen commands.

The princess slowly grabs the gem with both palms. She started to glow as the power flowed into her very being. In the past, the flow overwhelmed her. This time around, it felt like second nature to her. Allowing the power to flow was as effortless as breathing. Her heartbeat pulsated with the gem's glimmering. She felt as if she was more than complete and that her very soul was merging into the magical gem.

"It is also customary for the new crystal princess to receive a gift. I am sure you will be pleased with it." The voice continued to narrate.

A shower of golden rain fell from nowhere and she was enveloped by it. The queen chants incantation which was a form of anointment. Then, she closed her eyes and felt as if floating on a vast sea.

She gradually opened her eyes and saw that she was already back floating in the waters of the sacred pool. She soon stood up and tried to catch her balance. When she did, she emerged from the pool.

She goes back to her robes and dons them again before moving towards the dais. Simultaneously, the lamp follows and floats back to Queen Monandra's hands. As it was customary, the queen gave back the Crystal Cross to its rightful bearer.

"As all have witnessed, you have completed a series of tests that require physical, emotional, and spiritual strength. You have achieved your goal through determination and courage. You have opened yourself to the power gem and it has opened itself to you thus allowing you to wield its full power.

I declare you have successfully passed this trial of light. You truly are the heiress to the throne of Fliska. There is no doubt about your identity and let no one ever contest your claim. From this day forward, you are now officially the Crystal Princess."

The room then gave her a round of applause. Kanunia, Dazifae, Zyric, Harrion, and Alednos immediately flocked to her but bowed before they expressed their congratulations. As protocol decreed, the princess must be presented to the people. The Fliskans allow the Queen and the Princess to walk toward the balcony while they trailed behind the two monarchs.

Queen Monandra escorts the victorious princess to the palace balcony. The rest of the guests in the hall follow the two royals and the Fliskans. As they stood outside the balcony, Queen Monandra addressed the crowds. 

"Dearest Ludinians, Fliskans, and all peoples present here today, I introduce to you now the valiant royal who successfully passed the trial of light. Behold the Crystal Princess!" Queen The Queen of Ludin says. 

The crowd, the guests and everyone else cheers in delight.