Chapter 47: Nimeralia

One morning, Elzilaura awakens to disturbing news. She was about to face her first and perhaps greatest ordeal as queen.

"Apologies, your majesty, but there seems to be an emergency. The Lord Marshal shall meet you in the study." Kanunia barges in together with the servants.

The servants help the queen with a quick change. Then, they all rush to the Queen's study where the Lord Marshal has just arrived.

"Your Majesty." He bows but proceeds as he recovers. "Fliskan radars detected massive enemy vessels are fast approaching." Harrion opens the screen and shows the enemy vessels speeding toward their planet.

According to intelligence reports, this is the Argoen, a new robot by RAXA tech and Galmar scientists." Harrion says. As it comes into Fliskan space, the colossal robot holds proudly its greatest weapon.

"That, your majesty, is an Ultra Ion Canon which can destroy an entire planet. It acts like a black hole but faster. In the blink of an eye, it can crush a planet by disintegrating and erasing every trace of molecule this said planet possesses. The aftermath sends solar waves to nearby planets causing serious damage to them as well."

Meanwhile, as the robot looms over the planet, it blocks the sun star's light creating an eclipse. The Fliskans were frightened but the security and other peacekeeping forces tried to calm them down.

"The Fliskan apocalypse has begun!" The superstitious people particularly the anti-monarchists roared out.

Back in the palace, Elzilaura felt fear but she had to act immediately. "Very well Harrion, prepare a vessel for me. I will meet with the enemy."

"But your majesty, you cannot go alone." The Marshal worries.

"Trust me Lord Harrion, this is for the best." The queen asserts herself. "Just like the battle with Kyron, there should be no further bloodshed. I will face them myself."

"Affirmative, Your Majesty but please allow me and my men to follow as your backup." Harrion requests his Queen. "Please"

"Permission granted." The Queen approves. "Let's go."

"They proceed to the spaceport and each rode individual jets. Though it has been a while, Elzilaura remembers how to fly a jet. Harrion was amazed seeing his Queen speed on. He follows immediately together with the rest of his men.

Upon reaching Fliskan planetary space, Elzilaura jettisons herself and after drifting, she meets the dreaded killing machine. The robot loomed over her like a moving mountain looking down on a small tree. The killing machine blasted off the space carrier jet she was riding on. It tries to blast Harrion's carrier as well but he evades their offenses.

She uses the Crystal Cross which protects her in a luminous bubble. She meditates and the gem glows even brighter. Agroen tries to open fire but then a huge force field that springs from the levitating princess envelops the planet.

Initially, she struggles with the massive energy she was controlling but soon goes into a calm state. As she continued to meditate with her eyes closed, she calls for help from her allies. The monarchs with their power gems have been meditating in their palaces. It's as if they too began their meditation when she called out for help.

Quickly, they now execute what they had practiced back then during their exercises back in Desdan. Monandra shares with them a recent discovery by scholars in Ludin. It was a manuscript containing meditation secrets of the ancient monarchs. One of them suggests a special ability to send help to their allies. It can only be executed properly when the situation was dire. In their greatest hour of need, their gems can be sent to another monarch in peril. With this knowledge, they attempted the special telepathy and teleportation exercise.

Soon each gem appeared encircling the Crystal Cross. Elzilaura opens her eyes and they glow brightly. She then utters the word, "Nimeralia". Immediately, the darkness of space above her changed, and a colossal glowing heavenly body appeared above them. The primordial planet of the gems and stones which existed at the beginning of time appeared.

Suddenly, a huge wave of blazing light strikes the deadly robot and sends it flying across the universe. The canon is destroyed but a heavily damaged Agroen is floating in space before it explodes.

Darsodama comes in trying to save its fallen ally but arrives too late. The unsuccessful rescuer was also intercepted by the newly improved Galaxis with Lem Corsi as its new captain.

Darsodama lets lose its flame comet, deadly blazing fire from its arsenal. Galaxis opens its ice engulfnet. It casts a laser grid and when the flames reach this said grid, it chills the deadly fire until it is gone. The net disappears as well.

Darsodama uses its slime rod and somehow it reaches the armor of Galaxis partly scratching it. Galaxis defends itself by using its green ray which immobilizes the slime and when it partially reaches its enemy, it inflicts damage upon its armor as well.

Darsodama is stunned by the improvements in Galaxis. However, they are determined not to give up so easily. It sprays nitro gas freeze and Galaxis counterattacks using thermoblocks. Then, the desperate Darsodama unleashes its Lazo viper, a laser whip with a snakehead at the edge.

When Darsodama strikes Galaxis with the said weapon, it spirals around its enemy with the viper head at Galaxis' head and activates its electric charge. Galaxis and its crew shake in pain due to the electric shock. However, Lem manages to press his control and unleashes its defense mechanism, the pendulum knives. The armor opens like ion-charged blades resembling Swiss knives and they all move like pendulums loosening the grip of the lazo viper. Upon breaking free, it opens a set of missiles in its armory to damage its opponent.

In the end, Lem uses the inventions of the Invoris scientist. The staff of Udri summons eolom energy and unleashes a supernova defeating Darsodama and its plasma sword. The robot disbands with Daris destroyed. Sogros is badly damaged and trails the last ship hastily retreating to their headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Mudrogos Vel army retreats but the Galmarans decide to invade Fliska. Luckily, Craiinian troops met them and engaged in combat. In the end, the Galmarans recall the few remaining vessels they had.

After her battle with Agroen, Elzilaura drifts into space trying to recover her strength. Nimeralia disappears and the gems are returned to their rightful bearers. Before Harrion could catch her, a space jet opened and snatched her. The queen tries to fight but is too weak to do so. Though she was half-conscious, she notices the symbols on his uniform which appears to be Galmaran.

Harrion opens communication with the unknown space jet. "This is Harrion, Lord Marshal of Fliskan Defenses. Hand over her the queen to us and we will not harm you."

"Why should I? I am not her subject. Besides, she is responsible for my brother's death." The pilot says.

"Who are you?" Harrion asks.

"Telen of Galmar, brother to King Rovan and the late Jarin. I am here to avenge my brother and put an end to this Fliskan Witch!"

"Oh no, you don't." Harrion was angered and opened fire at the jet. Telen speeds up until Harrion hits his engine. "No one disrespects our queen." The Fliskan was expecting the pilot to jettison but the Galmaran makes an emergency landing at Craiine.

He lands on the meadow and then gets out of the jet dragging the queen into the forest. As he goes deeper, an arrow hits his arm taking him by surprise. He drops Elzilaura to the ground.

He turns to see a stranger approaching him.

"Let her go." The stranger commands.

"Not until she has paid off her debt!" Telen stresses out.

Elzilaura who is partly conscious sees her rescuer be Zyric. Still, she was so weak that she may be delirious. It must be Harrion but he is in the distance fast approaching. This is a different person.

"She owes you nothing!" Zyric exclaimed as he punched Telen knocking him down.

Angered, Telen hurriedly gets up and tries to attack Zyric but the Fliskan blocks his offenses. Soon, one of his kicks connects sending Telen flying across the trees and hitting his head on a rock.

Zyric goes to Elzilaura's side. He scoops her in his arms. "Do you remember me?" He asks.

"I never forgot who you were. You are always in my thoughts." Elzilaura gets teary-eyed. "But how could this be possible?"

"Close your eyes. I will show you." He covers her eyes and, in an instant, she is transported into a different place.

It was the place that only existed in dreams. There was light everywhere. The stars and galaxies were visible in the bright skies above. A woman in white and gold approached them. It was the late Queen Azestina. Elzilaura rushed to embrace her mother. She could talk but the hug says it all. She missed her mother so much.

"I missed you too. I know you have so many questions and I am now here to tell you the answers." Queen Azestina speaks.

The late queen lets go of her grip on her daughter. Then she continues to explain.

"Legend says that in a moment of great crisis, a monarch using the power of the Crystal Cross may be granted the strongest power that ever existed which is to summon Nimeralia, the primordial planet of great energy, to defend Fliska and the rest of the universe. You are the first queen to have done so. You are the first to be called the High Queen of Fliska"

Glittery tattoo markings have appeared on Elzilaura's wrists. It was the symbol of her status as high queen or great cross majesty. Suddenly, they recall the dreams they both had just before the Nybian invasion and it made sense.

"Though Nimeralia's appearance saved our people, the adverse effect of summoning it is possibly bringing back or activating new power stones which will cause chaos in the future." Elzilaura looked worried but the late queen went on.

"Nevertheless, you will also rediscover or find new power gems which will subdue the chaos of these power stones so do not fret. Besides, you have your allies to help you." Queen Azestina informs. Elzilaura was relieved by her mother's statement.

Queen Azestina waves her hand and shows them the Fliskan atmosphere. Out of nowhere, the sky islands reappeared. They glowed more brilliantly. "They too are a product of summoning Nimeralia." Elzilaura and Zyric admire these beautiful wonders restored to their world.

"Because of your bravery when you faced the gigantic enemy, the ancient ones decided to reward you with an extraordinary gift." She motions to Zyric. The couple looked at each other lovingly and glanced back at the late Queen who went on.

"Zyric's existence would have been erased completely but because he was struck by a lightning called The Giver of Light, his essence is protected. The one who possesses the Embera will be able to remember him."

Elzilaura recalls the time she gave him milk. It was the first time they connected and perhaps would have realized that they were soulmates. Queen Azestina continues.

"Because his essence remained intact, the ancients were able to reverse the effect of the oblivion orb. Your summoning of Nimeralia also allowed him to be free from the crystal covering he was placed in. With the blessing of the ancestors, he is your gift and your reward for such bravery and prowess on the battlefield. Well done my daughter." Queen Azestina shifts her gaze to Zyric.

"As for you Zyric, the Giver of Light is an energy field that stems from the virtues of the first Duke that manifest physically long after he has expired. It allows him to defend Craiine centuries after his death. More so, you have the same genome as his second son who is his namesake. The Young Corvan led his armies long ago together with his beloved, a warrior named Olori. She died in battle defending him from the enemy.

Just before she expired in his arms, the Young Corvan promises that in the next life, he will make amends and be the one protecting her. Olori was destined for greatness but her untimely death ended her promising career. Thankfully, the genome has existed again in Elzilaura.

Though you are the recurrence of Corvan and Olori's physical manifestation, you are not the rebirth. They are with us together with all the ancients. You both represent their second chance should they exist today in our world. You have the power of choice to choose differently. You may or may not end up together. The choice is up to you." Queen Azestina looks at her daughter for a moment but soon shifts back to Zyric.

"The Giver of Light chose you to be a defender not just of Craiine but of Fliska as well. Thus, you will be able to summon a lightning-thunder dome, a force field to protect all your loved ones in your greatest hour of need. Be cautious because drawing energy from the Giver of Light can absorb your essence and trap you in another dimension again."

"Understood. You're Majesty." Zyric responds.

"Good." The late Queen approaches Zyric. "I am proud of the man you have become. You are like my son. There is no better person to entrust my daughter to." She expresses her approval of him.

"Thank you, dear aunt." With a smile on his face, he bows for a moment and when he rises, he utters the word. "Mother." Queen Azestina smiles back and hugs him tightly and then releases him to face them both.

"I shall watch over you both. For now, the time has come for me to return to paradise with all the ancients." She then focuses on her daughter.

"I promise to guide you always, especially in your times of difficulty. I will be the stars and the heavenly bodies that will light your way. I will no longer be in your dreams but I will always be in your heart."

The mother and daughter hug each other tightly. "I love you, Mama," Elzilaura says.

"I love you more, my Lianka." Azestina blows a kiss. "You will always be my one and only." Azestina's image slowly faded.

Soon, she opens her eye and notices that they are back in the forest.

Harrion then arrives at the scene. He commands his troops to recover Telen's body. He approaches the Queen who was conversing with someone. When he looks into the stranger's eyes, he remembers Zyric of Craiine all at once. Soon their memory of him returns. All of the men present bowed to the returning Fliskan.

"Long live the High Queen! Long Live Fliska!" Zyric chants while the rest of them follow his lead.