Author's note: There will be many characters in this chapter, I'd suggest referring to the image attached above to remember their Houses and Realms.

***

I walked carefully, concealed behind a black woolen cloak, a black tunic and a black headscarf that covered my face. Treading slowly through the cold streets buzzing with shopkeepers and enthusiastic pedestrians, I kept a wary glance around me. Being on the watchlist of two royals - Una's mother and Prince Nova, I needed to be careful to ensure that I wasn't being followed.

With a heavy heart, I replayed my last conversation with Serena. She had found me sneaking out of the chambers, after our work hours. I was about to go the dress shop at the Winter Gala's outskirts, to get the stuffy cloak, when she had stopped me.

"You know, we can always leave here and go back home," she said with a stoic face.

"And will that change things?" I asked startled but not letting my relief show. She did care a little for me.

"People forget quickly. You... You have landed yourself in a big mess, haven't you?"

I looked at her properly this time, noticing her worry disguised as anger. I wanted to hug her, hug my only friend. But I needed to keep her at a distance more than ever. The irony was not lost on me.

"To be very clear, Serena, I did not land myself into anything. The mess knocked on my door. You of all people should know that." I could feel my voice rising as my words echoed in the chamber.

"Eleni, I know, but..."

I cut her off, "But what? Guess, you're just jealous of me, that I am having all the fun, while you are stuck here in the same old job. And let me tell you, Serena, this is not an adventure, not a fairytale, where you meet handsome princes and go off running in the meadows, fight enemies and rule the world," I glared at her, drawling, "This is my damned life."

The hurt in her eyes pained me. But I stayed my ground, reminding myself that this was for the best.

"Have a great life, then," she said with a sardonic smile, after staring at me for a while.

I did not look back as I shut the door with a bang after me.

The cold winter breeze became even more prominent as I climbed the slope, shaking my head as Serena's face dissolved into the chilling winter. All the other palaces, were a part of embassies, and not the actual palaces, but what I was about to see was a real palace. The palace of House of Pisces, Lady Orella's home. The thought excited me a little but it was clouded by the terror of what I was about to do.

Being a Corresponder had its uses, as I had recently started to understand. I had sneaked into the storage room of our building and found a map of the Winter Realm. Memorizing all the routes, to enter the Grand Palace, a vague outline of a plan had birthed in my mind. I placed a hand on my wildly beating heart, not knowing if it was beating out of fear or excitement.

The only problem was my poor sense of direction.

I felt grateful for Una as I kept climbing the hilly road, trying my best to hide in the dark shadows of pine trees. If it weren't for the rigorous training that she was giving me, I might have been struggling the steep climb, a little too much. Magic needs focus, and focus is achieved by strengthening both the mind and body, were her exact words. She made me workout, meditate and then ask me to release my powers. I was physically sound but mentally - it was all crumbling.

My boots dragged in the rising level of snow, that glinted in the afterglow of sunset, making me struggle. I would've appreciated the beauty, if the circumstances were different.

By the time, the Palace of Dreams, came into view, I was more exhausted than scared. I found a large shrub and hid behind it. As I let my ragged breathing return to normal, I let my eyes wander around my destination.

I'd been expecting a palace made of glass, but even in my wildest dreams, I would not have imagined the grandiose beauty of the Winter Palace. From where I hid, I only had access to view the top portions of the palace. The blue walls of the huge castle, with dozens of adjoining towers and manors around the main bailey, shimmered with the hues of evening sky.

There was a wide moat circling the palace, and the draw bridge to its entrance was open wide. I watched with narrowed eyes as a royal carriage with red flag was slowly crossing it.

I tiptoed towards one side of the palace, hiding behind the trees and shrubs, thanking them for their density. Counting the windows, and entrances, I marked the one entrance that was going to be my doorway. There was just a huge wall in my way.

I called onto my Earth magic, feeling elated. To my surprise, this time it obeyed me. Focusing on the soil around the moat from a distance, I made it pile up, giving it a shape of a ladder. I grinned to myself. I was going to climb it, but not immediately. There was something else to be done first. And with that I set out ahead.

I particularly kept in mind a small detail that Doran had once told me - the earth people are good at hiding, and they walk softly over the ground. Thus, we made the best spies - I smirked at that. I was getting a perfect example of my stealthy power right in the moment.

Just like the Virgo and Gemini palaces, even this palace had a seacoast in the backyard. Hiding behind a huge cedar tree, I bent down touching the sandy land, keeping my eyes trained on the dozens of guards patrolling. I closed my eyes shut and called onto my powers again.

This time the magic purred in my veins joyously and flew out in a flourish. Like a trained elemental, I watched the land creaking, breaking apart, under my command. The guards standing on the opposite side of the gap, that I had created, were startled. I grinned as I wiped the dirt off my hands and stood up straighter, watching with a fanatic delight, as the guards all convened around the break in the land, bewildered.

My coast was clear, with a successful distraction. Great job, Eleni.

I hurriedly ran off to the ladder that I had kept at the ready and climbed it. With a swift jump, I was on the other side. At the last moment I decided to destroy the evidence of the ladder too, and flicked my fingers and heard a thud, as the soil collapsed on the other side.

I was on the grounds of the Winter palace.

Taking pleasure in the distant voices of the guards, who had fallen prey to my distraction, I proudly took in the doorway that was straight ahead. I had carefully chosen this place to land since, the map had told me this was where the servant chambers would be. Tending to all the royal guests, would require every guard and servant to be working on this night. So, it was safe to assume that, this part of the palace would be completely deserted. It had been nothing but luck that I had found this entrance without getting lost.

Anxious and thrilled, I put one hand over the belt on my waist that had my daggers concealed, and swaggered inside.

***

The tightness of the blue blouse and skirt, were suffocating me, as I changed into them like my life depended on it. I groaned as I realized, whosoever's dress I was stealing right now, was thinner than me. I had broken into a dormitory, that had eight beds and cupboards, all giving out feminine vibes. Marveling at the neatness of the servant chambers, I hurriedly hid my black clothes under a bed which was at the farthest corner from the door. I took a quick look at myself in a mirror, and smiled awkwardly at my reflection.

From my satchel, I hastily removed the boxset of petals, and applied a blue tint over my eyelids. By this time, I was completely relying on luck, not even knowing whether the women of Winter Realm, applied blue glamouring color or pink. To be on the safer side, I clutched a pink petal in my fist, just in case, if I needed to change it.

Now the only thing left to do was to change the color of my hair. I remembered Una's session on modifying the characteristics of solid objects.

Focusing my attention, on the strands of my capacious black hair, I perceived it as being a single entity. In my head, I visualized their blackness changing to white and simultaneously swirled my fingers near my ears. A soft feathery touch, nuzzled over my head, and when I opened my eyes, I was dumbfounded by the reflection that stared back at me. I looked hideous.

It's too late to go back now, Eleni, I muttered to myself.

Trusting my auditory senses to guide me to the destination, I walked with elegant strides to where the sound seemed to be coming off the loudest. I was freezing cold in the blouse and skirt, but I had to act like one of the Water Elemental, immune to the cold. I clenched my teeth to murder their loud chattering.

The ice-lights started shining even more brightly overhead, as I made my way to the pantry. I stopped a little distance away from its door, as I listened intently to the voices inside.

A man was speaking, "We might need more wine soon, and also the pies. The Summer King and his entourage are here only for all the pies, clearly."

A woman chuckled, "I will get them out soon, you go ahead."

I feigned casualness as the man-servant, came out of the door and walked right past me. I let out a long breath that I was holding, realizing that luck clearly was on my side. But then he cleared his throat, turning around.

"What are you doing standing there?"

I fumbled before answering, "Coming to get some more pies for the...uh... horsey king," and chuckled.

"Horsey king, hah, good one," he laughed and added, "Go stand near the table of wine near the entrance. When the wine finishes up, come back to inform."

I nodded at him gratefully and walked in the direction he had pointed. Serena's nickname had worked like a charm. Could this be anymore easy? He had not recognized me. But maybe a female servant might. I sternly instructed myself to not let my guard down.

I felt my body being illuminating with a shine of thousand stars as the grand courtroom came into view and I ducked out of sight, clinging to a wall. Standing like a frozen statue, near the table of backup dishes, I slowly let my gaze wander around the great hall.

If only I weren't in such a dire situation, I might have stopped to appreciate the Palace that seemed to be made of Ice, with its blue sparkly luminescence appearing watery. The floor as I realized peering down, was transparent, that reflected my surprised face back at me.

The word 'blue' meant sorrow, but here in the Winter Palace, it only meant beauty.

But the world seemed to stop, as my eyes fell on two men, sitting on tall-backed chairs, side by side around the vast circular table, laughing at something. My heart thundered with dread - what was Prince Nova doing talking to Doran?

Of course, they were friends, the realization hit me. Was there anyone Prince Nova wasn't friends with?

Gulping, I looked around and found Una, her mother and Prince Nigel, discussing something with utter seriousness. Her familiar face, calmed my anxiety a notch down.

At some distance, High King Maris and King Orlon were engaged in a rapt conversation. My eyes lowered in reverence, for it was the very first time that I was seeing the Wielder of the Four Elements up so close. It must feel so powerful to have been chosen by the Throne thrice!

My attention moved to a lady in dark blue dress, making her way to a chair to the right of Prince Adrian. I did not know whom to look at for she looked like a Snow Queen and Prince Adrian - like a character sketched for a fairy tale.

Lady Orella never failed to impress with her style. She put an elegant hand on the shoulder of a man, who sat to her other side, Lord Ralph of House of Aries. I watched him smile amiably at her, a clear dimple visible on his left cheek and the red of his irises glowed.

I counted the people, now occupying all the chairs - Ten powerful people, from all the Four Realms, were apparently in charge of finding the Lueshas.

What if they had found a way to lure the Eclipses out? What if they catch me right now? My knees trembled at the thought. Why had I been so rash in deciding to come here? This was the most unsafe place for me in all the Four Realms.

I watched as Doran suddenly, coughed loudly, placing a hand on his chest. He seemed troubled all of a sudden.

Was he feeling my fear? Is this how it affected him?

I steadied myself. Remembering Una's words, I took three deep breaths and felt my heartbeat slowing. With my eyes affixed on Doran, I noted his demeanor calming. When he had said, that he could feel what I felt, I did not know, that he meant it in a literal sense. Our bond was getting stronger by the day, and I felt bad for putting him through this. For him at least, I needed to stay as calm as possible.

Right then, High King Maris tapped on his wine glass and spoke in a clear authoritative voice, "Let us resume our discussion from earlier. What were you saying Una?"

My eyes turned to Una as she spoke in a gentle voice, "The man that we had captured on our island fled away. But before that we had extracted some of his blood for experimental use," she paused to look around everyone, "with that blood we are working on a potion, that can help us detect traces of Luesha power in the surrounding, if there is any."

Everyone seemed to be nodding at her appreciatively. But all I felt was horror.

Lord Ralph, cut in, "So where is the potion?"

Una's mother glared at the Fire Defensor, "It's almost done."

"When can we see it then?" Doran spoke smirking at her. And I saw Una clenching her fists.

I wanted to roll my eyes at them all. Were they seriously being competitive in front of the High King?

Prince Nigel came to Una's aid, "It's not easy to invent a whole new potion, you know."

The Summer Realmers scoffed at the same time, earning High King Maris's warning, "None of this in my palace. This does not concern the feud of your Two Realms. All of the Four Realms is at stake here, with the uprising of this new mysterious army."

The offenders mumbled their apology, like school kids. I pursed my lips, suppressing a giggle.

Suddenly Prince Nova cleared his throat and everyone turned to him with utmost attention. My breath hitched in my throat.

"I have a plan," he spoke slowly, "but it can only be executed once we find at least one Luesha."

"Go on," the High King urged him.

He took a small sip of his wine, before speaking, "Once we find even one of them, I propose that we," he took a pause to make sure everyone was listening to him, "execute them."

"Nova..." the High King started, clearly stunned at his harsh words, but the cunning prince continued.

"Your Majesty, it would be like a warning to their leader, that if they don't surrender, then henceforth the execution of Lueshas begins again."

My lips quivered and fists clenched tight. He already had a Luesha in his control now, didn't he?

Was this his plan for me? But then why had he not revealed it now? Why had he not dragged me here and branded me as his bait?

What was he planning to do with me?

But something even worse than fear creeped in me -

"Sending a warning sounds great," Doran seconded. And everyone started nodding their heads.

I shook with nothing but terror.