Tiny Note I swear: Attaching an image of a centaur, for reference. 
This chapter might be long but the next won't, so  do avoid skimming. 
~Happy Reading ❤✨~

***

"Stop fidgeting with the armlets, Eleni," Serena pinched the back of my palm.

"Ow!" I hissed as her long nails dug into my skin. It would be an understatement if I said that I was a little nervous. Truth be told, I was extremely panicked. I had never been invited to any of my school parties. I had left school early, of course, but all the years that I attended, it was just a building where I went to get humiliated. I flinched at the memories that were wheezing in my head.

And now I was at a ball, a proper royal ball.

"You look great. Just calm down, alright?" Serena put her arm through mine and we walked slowly after Kevyn and Jordan. We had our badges pinned to our dresses, but looking around the massive hall, it felt useless.

Landon advised for the fifth time, "Just mingle a little or if anyone feels overwhelmed," he looked at me at that part, "just stick to the group, okay?" I nodded nervously and every chorused affirmative.

Everyone other than Serena, of course, was visibly nervous.

"Time for some food," Rosa said in a sing-song drawl, her eyes twinkling. I followed her gaze to the small tables laden with desserts and a huge table at the far corner with drinks.

"Rosa, dear," Violette placed a hand on her shoulder and spoke in a tone that one usually takes with a child, "how about we take a glass of something to drink first?" Rosa's smiles vanished but she nodded nevertheless. We giggled as Violette led us to the drinks table.

I looked around me at the vast expanse of the ballroom. The stunning dresses and beautiful crowns; the gleam of nobility. The interior aesthetic was something out of a painting. A few couples were dancing in the middle of the hall, while a quartet of musicians played a chirpy country tune. There was loud chattering all over as it was quite seldom that the Four Realms congregated in such a manner. The antique furniture shone in the bright lights and I suddenly jumped as my gaze fell over a taxidermized elk. Rich people are crazy, I mused. Why keep a dead animal's carcass?

Serena grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the table as soon as she had secured us wine glasses each, "Are you feeling bold yet?" Her eyes were twinkling again as she passed me my glass, filled more than needed.

"Serena, for heaven's sake, it's just a quarter of an hour that we have arrived," I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, but look, there's Lord Gareth. And oh my, who's the lady on his arm?" I turned in the direction she pointed sipping my wine.

"Must be a noble lady of the Spring Realm, of course."

"Eleni," Serena stretched the last vowel of my name a little too much, "look, it's the horsey king." And sure enough there was the infamous King Orlon sitting on a couch bellowing loudly with some stately men his age. His back was facing us but his bellowing laughter had given him away. He was sitting on the couch that means he had finally decided to let go off his beastly centaur avatar, I pondered.

"Oh, do you think the driver Prince is here too?" She had her eyes wide open now, scaring me. I felt hopeful for something, but I didn't know exactly what for. The mere memory of the incident with the black tower still gave me chills.

"Serena, go slow on the drinks and also on the sugar. You already seem pretty much drunk without even getting started," I gulped some of the drink and let my eyes wander around the room.

I felt conscious about my attire suddenly. Serena and Rosa had helped me get ready for the ball. I was in a white lacy gown, with puffed grey sleeves and a grey girdle in the middle. The dress was soft and I didn't care if Serena's older sister had worn it before or not, I loved it every bit regardless. My hair was pulled up in an elegant bun with pearl white hairclips, the only item that was mine or rather Amelia's. It was as regal as I could have ever gotten in my life and maybe for the first and the last time. The only thing that I didn't like were the scarves that I had to wear over the outfit because of the senseless cold despite the heat spinners.

"Eleni, listen," Serena leaned forward suddenly and whispered nearly in my ear, "there are too many people here, and I am worried for you, honestly."

I looked at her in disbelief, "Wait, what?"

"Listen, you are from the Spring Realm, but you have Earth magic, you know it doesn't go well at all," She looked grave, "you've got to be careful."

"Yes. I know that very well. But thank you for giving me some more nerves." I said sarcastically and gulped down all the remaining wine in a go, but looking at her genuinely concerned face I added, "I see your point. Don't worry, I will be careful." I squeezed her hand in assurance.

"Just try not to make anything shoot up from the ground. I'd hate to see the beautiful carpet ruined." Serena said and I rolled my eyes. "Well, okay," she exhaled loudly, "now to refill." I couldn't help but snigger as she wiggled her empty glass. 

Why would I go wandering about?

***

My eyes fell on a woman in a shimmering dark blue dress; it had miniscule white glittery stars sprinkled over it, and with off-the-shoulder sleeves, her collarbone was highlighting the enormous sapphire pendant she wore, beautifully. The light from the chandelier's candles, glinted off Lady Orella's milky skin and golden wavy hair, as she sat down on a settee near a lampshade, sipping her wine elegantly. She seemed to be waiting for someone as her eyes darted sideways from time to time. I wondered how someone could be so diverse in nature. Just a week ago, she was in the ring fighting against the centaur King Orlon in all her warrior glory, and now here she was in an elegant-noble-lady ensemble; talk about duality.

That was the most epic duel between the Fire and Water Elementals. King Orlon sent spurts of fire foraging her and she relinquished most of them with her water bursts. Her dress had caught on fire once, and she had spent a split fraction of a moment wheezing it off.

And when the centaur tried to attack her head-on, she manipulated the water she had called on; and froze it into flat ice-cubes creating a tall staircase in the middle of the ring.

She quickly climbed the steps of the staircase and once on the topmost step, she had placed one hand on her hip and raised the other hand to the crowd and had actually waved. Lady Orella had been truly living up to the name that she had earned for herself – Snow Queen.

A smile came to my lips as I recalled the grunting of the King as his centaur hooves couldn't climb up the steps. He had tried to engulf her in his flames from all sides, in miserable attempts to melt the huge staircase. But she kept waving to the crowd, urging them to cheer for her more loudly and with the other hand, kept maintaining a firm hold over the ice.

Honestly, it had been so hilarious, watching the mighty King struggle to produce fire that would reach her. If only his ego hadn't been bruised so much, he could have easily turned into his human form and climbed up.

But it was evident from his groaning and pacing round and around the staircase, that he had been struck by the fact that he was losing against a lady. He had been baffled and probably lost his sense of mind in the process.

If only he had seen her as a Defensor and not as a woman.

The gong had been struck as the King hadn't been able to attack for a long while. 

The female Defensor had won in the most witty and amusing way possible. She had then climbed down her ice-steps like a Queen and the crowd had erupted with loud cheers. It was easily the quickest and the swiftest match of the entire Round One. The King had snarled at her from a distance and Lady Orella had thrown a mocking flying kiss his way. Epic.

I blinked back to reality just as Prince Nova sidled up next to Lady Orella.

I kept blinking my eyes still, multiple times as I couldn't digest the scene, wondering whether my sight was deceiving me. She playfully smacked his arm, looking delighted. He started narrating her an anecdote of some sort while she laughed. Soon, they were joined by Prince Nigel, Prince Adrian and his sister and three other young nobles, whom I didn't recognize. Probably the Second Sons and Daughters. The voice of their laughter was the highest in the ballroom now. Most of the people were staring at them.

"Who knew that the Defensors who fought like they could kill each other on the grounds, were actually friends?" Serena was staring at them unabashed.

"Stop looking like that, Serena," I recovered from the shock and turned her by the arm to make her look at me, "I think they must have met at Terraskee, during their training and elementeeship. They seem of the same age, don't they?"

"Smart, Eleni," Serena said and moved past me to help herself to desserts that were kept on the tables a little far away from us, stealing glances at the group of Defensors.

I moved a little away to stand near the window and pulled my scarf closer. There was a small lake outside. The Winter Realm was full of water bodies so it didn't come as a surprise.

I saw a man sitting on a huge boulder. He was wearing a light blue tunic. Jorah!  What was he doing out there and why didn't he have any woolen clothes with him?

Locating the closest door, I stepped out immediately.

I walked faster and spoke from a little distance. As his figure came closer to sight, it seemed less and less like him. "Hey, Jorah, what are..." I stopped mid-sentence as the man turned.

It was Prince Doran.

"You are not Jorah." I spoke, a little too surprised.

"Clearly."

"What are you doing out here?" I rubbed my palms against each other, instantly regretting my decision of coming out.

"Came to get a little air. Also waiting for a friend." He shrugged.

I moved a little closer to his rock, shivering, "Aren't you...um cold in the air?"

In response, he raised a hand, palm faced up and produced tiny flames of fire.

"Oh, right. Fire Prince!" His head snapped at my words and I raised my hands in surrender, "Not Prince, just Doran."

His expressions changed as he chuckled. "You are a fast learner,"

I didn't know why but I actually rolled my eyes at him.

"So, you must be pretty good at your job to get invited to a fancy party." He said scrutinizing me.

"Actually, the whole team is here, not just me."

"Oh, I see."

There was an awkward silence hanging around us. I looked back at the door from which I had come out, the party was in swing, and for some reason I didn't want to go in. Not yet.

"I thought you were one of my teammates since he is wearing a similar tunic today," I said to fill the silence and a thought occurred to me - every royal was supposed to wear their house colors. But here was this weird lost Prince who had ideas of his own.

"I can clearly make out what you are thinking," he mocked.

"What?"

"It's not the first time. I just...I just like to wear anything but red." He looked down at his hands that still blazed with fire and vanquished it abruptly. I sensed the subtle shifting of his mood.

"So, do you still think that I am a spy?" I asked, taking another step closer to him in an attempt to change the subject.

"Naah. You can't be a spy." He shrugged yet again.

"Why not?"

"Firstly, spies are smart." He smirked looking at me with amused face.

"Hey!" I couldn't help but smile as he started laughing suddenly, "What's so funny?"

"Nothing. It's just so easy to talk to you. And you just show up when I... when I think of you," he said, his voice going low and his eyes widened with surprise at his own words.

"What?" I blinked. This was so unexpected.

"Look, I don't know, okay. There's something," he pointed between us both with a finger, "that I can't name. Like something happened between us and I just can't understand." He looked at my quizzical face and added, "I am sorry, forget I said anything."

But something in me kicked too. I had been feeling something similar. There had been just two occasions that we had stumbled upon each other, this being the third, but it had felt strange every time, when I thought of him or even when Serena mentioned him in passing. Like a bond unknown.

"I don't know what to say." I looked around awkwardly, "I think I will just go back. My friends must be looking for me."

"Yes. Of course," he got up from his seat and wiped his hands on his black trousers, "I will walk you."

I felt my fingers shake as I said, "No, it isn't too far anyways, thanks for offering." I turned away and walked.

"Eleni."

I stopped and turned slowly. He remembered my name.

"Listen, let me take you through another route. You don't want to be seen entering a ball unchaperoned." He rubbed his hand at the back of his neck.

I hadn't thought about that. I nodded my head and he came by my side and pointed with his head to the right. I followed him.

He produced flames from his hands again, and I suspected it was because he must have heard the chatter of my teeth. I was grateful nonetheless.

"I have a question for you," I said, suddenly reminded of our first meeting.

"Yes," he looked sideways at me, his tanned skin shimmering in the fire light, and his brown hair flowing with the wind. The reflection of the flames danced in his dark eyes and I almost forgot what I was about to say.

"Umm... what had made you think that I was from the Autumn Realm? Do you remember that?"

He looked ahead for a bit, thoughtfully, "Yes, I do remember. You were looking for greenhouses and your black hair, I guess."

I sighed and nodded. Right.

He continued, "And also now that I see, when you walk, you are light on your feet, no one would even feel you coming, like you did just now. Also, back at the out camp. Earth people are famous for that but you are a natural, being an Air Elemental."

"Oh." I felt my heartbeat racing at his words. Would I be that predictable to others as well?

"I am a good observer, that's all. Not that I am keeping tabs on you. Clearly I was wrong about you anyways." He added sheepishly and I nodded.

"Well, here you are," he said as we approached a door, "just enter and take a turn left, pick up a glass of wine and find your friends. You will blend in, I am sure."

I nodded and climbed up the stairs to the quiet dim entrance. He did know his way around everywhere.

"Thank you, Doran,' I found myself speaking gently and smiled, "I'll see you inside." It was more of a question that I asked him.

He simply nodded and walked off.

I entered through the door and found myself staring at a wide staircase. There was a table to my left just as Doran had said there would be. There were no servants in sight, this must be their pantry then, I supposed; a backup in case the food was all finished in the main ballroom. There was another room to my right that seemed like a library. I made myself retreat back from the temptation of books and dashed to the table to pick up a glass and get on my way to the main ballroom looking for Serena and the team.

Just when my fingers enclosed around a glass, there was a loud bang followed by hurried footsteps. Something had broken. I looked at the direction of the voice.

It had come from the staircase above.