Only when the footsteps of the devil completely receded, I let the fear overtake me. I slid to the floor; my back pressed to a cold wall. Hugging my knees closer to my chest, I let Prince Nova's words wash over me -

A life for a life!

Serena was spared...

In that moment, all my friends' faces flashed across my head. 

If only Una would've believed me, if only she would have let me finish. If only Doran would've approached her, with my satchel, they might have found the wand.

The enmity of the Realms - the enmity of both my Realms was fast becoming a real hindrance.

The idea of what Ralph must have faced for having known about me, made a steady flow of tears gush out. I shut my eyes as I recalled how he had protected me. How he had called me his sister! I found myself having a sudden urge to see him again.

To see Doran.

Serena. Una.

Anyone.

To just escape and survive.

I looked at the blood clotting on my open palm, cut twice now. The scar would be forever etched on my body and soul. My blood would become a reason for the world's damnation.

Not knowing how long I sat there, how many hours, how many days - mulling over the past  events, about the Alchemist, about King Orlon, about Doran, about Serena, about Prince Nova who was planning something evil - I did not realize when the earth below me started to shake.

At first it felt like an illusion, but soon it was unmistakable. I clutched the chain tightly with my unwounded hand and shrunk closer to the wall behind me.

What now?

I sensed a faint trace of magic in the air, getting stronger every moment, but that was impossible. There were protective wards that even I couldn't get rid of. Sweat formed over my forehead as I waited for something to happen. Something dreadful. 

And right then, the ground hollered. I watched as a massive split appeared in the center of the cage, right a few paces away from me. Even the walls shook as the split became larger and larger.

I blinked rapidly at the magically disappearing piece of land and a hole forming in its stead. There were specks of blue and gold mingling together from the bottom, as it grew and grew. Finally, the magic vanished. The shuddering of the land stopped, leaving a large hole in my prison.

"Is it done yet?" A boyish voice spoke, penetrating the silence of the dungeon.

"Yes, Dylan. Patience." A woman's voice answered promptly.

The voices were completely unfamiliar and I shrunk more into the wall, a fist clutched to my mouth, my hands trembling. Dylan who?

Why couldn't people just leave me alone?

And with eyes opened as wide as they possibly could, I watched a man jump out of the hole.

"Hello there," he said through the thick scarf that he had wound around his face, letting only his eyes be seen. I saw them crinkled. Was he smiling at me?

"Tsk tsk. They never learn." He said, the scarf making me unable to see his face, but his eyes were a bright shade of blue and his coppery hair wayward. His gaze roamed around the cage and stopped at my shackles.

"Dylan, quick. The Chief's going to murder us if we're late." The woman spoke from under the hole. And added, "Is the victim okay?"

"Injured, yes, but okay." He said, scrutinizing me, his gaze halting on my palm.

Who were these people? And I was a victim? Not a criminal?

"Umm, excuse me," I said and found my voice croaked. I cleared my throat, "Who are you?"

The man laughed as he came closer to me and I flinched. He seemed young – maybe as young as me.

"A slow one, this." He said bending towards the pit, and the woman's chuckle echoed around.

Even before I could say anything, I looked down to where he was extending his hands. He had his eyes closed and right then he leaned onto me, I raised my hands to put it on his chest to push him away.

But he did not budge and a strong magical haze spread around me. I looked to my sides and found him clutching the chains on my both sides and a red glittery substance poured out of his hands.

Red water? Or oil?

My mouth opened wide as I stared at the beautifully chilling magic which seeped into the iron chains and they bent - transformed into a rubbery mush! My arms no more held their weight. 

I looked at the man, his face hovering near mine, and eyes closed in concentration. What was this magic? Fire or Water? But the wards?

Right then his eyes flew open and the blue of his eyes pierced into mine and I embarrassedly looked away.

"And done!" He squealed with pride and winked at me before getting up.

The chains were broken. I was free.

"Took you long." The woman's voice traveled up.

"Honestly, Celia, they are getting better at the wards."

It was too much for me. My curiosity broke free just like my hands and I stood up. "Who are you?"

The man turned to me, "Aren't you happy that you're free?"

"I..." my brain was freezing up. This was hands-down the most bizarre thing happening to me, "I will celebrate once I know who you are."

"Extreme trust issues detected," The man, Dylan joked and the woman laughed.

I took a few bold steps ahead and peered inside the hole, and what I saw blew my damn mind.

There was a sparkling bluish glow inside, while I had expected a dark earthen pit, with walls of stones around, and not walls of water!

"Is that... water?" I asked in a low whisper to anybody who'd answer.

"Of course. What else would be under the Winter Realm's deepest dungeon?" The woman spoke from below and my gaze fell upon her. There was a radiant bluish light shadowing her skin and her face was covered too. Her eyes met mine and she gestured with her hands to hurry. I gulped.

"Come on. Don't want to get caught, right?" The man said, standing beside me and got ready to jump.

Was I dreaming? I stared into the hole – it seemed like, the water had subsided and made a clear path to walk. It looked beautiful.

"I am not going with you strangers," I said suddenly, coming out of the trance.

The man turned towards me and spoke with seriousness, "The ones who have caught you are the actual strangers. Truth be told, you belong with us. So, don't dally and let's go already." He said and reached his hand to hold my elbow, slightly pulling me.

I swatted his hand away and roared, "Who are you?"

He rolled his eyes dramatically, "The Eclipses, silly!"

I froze. They were the most wanted Eclipses.

Lueshas like me.

That magic he did, must be – Fire and Water.

My eyes widened.

"I think I broke her," he said peering into the hole and received another laugh from his companion.

"This was not supposed to be so funny," the woman said, "even if Chief kills us, at least we'd die laughing."

I ignored her words, my mind working excruciatingly slow.

"You are Lueshas."

And in response, I heard Celia's loud voice echo out of the ground, "Don't use that foul word in front of the Chief. We are known as the Eclipses. Now hurry."

I gulped as the terse tone of the woman shook me. Only Una talked to me in such a commanding way. I wanted to get offended but also wanted to grasp the only route of escape.

But my decision was made, as loud echoes of footsteps rang around the dungeon. The guards stationed outside must have traced the magic too.

"Want me to push you or..." Dylan said, crossing his arms.

And like countless other times, I let my impulsiveness make the decision and jumped inside the hole. As my legs hit the floor, I felt a tingling sensation in my knees. I realized how weak I had turned in the past few days, since my meeting with the Head Alchemist. My legs gave way even from the short jump and I was about to topple, when firm hands stopped me.

The thin young woman, was holding me from behind and helped me stand up straight. She winked as she let go off my back. And raised her hands up. The man had landed down too.

I watched as the woman, Celia closed the hole back, a swift magic spell, severing the circular edges together. Blue and golden sparks flew from the land as it got completely sewn shut.

I was out of the prison.

"Now I can breathe." The man said and I suddenly registered what he was wearing. A red uniform. Summer Realm's soldier.

"You...you are a Summer soldier?" I asked staring at him.

He unfurled his scarf and his face shone in the blueness of the water around us.

"You helped me once, remember?"

I did remember him suddenly and it felt like ages ago. He had been heavily injured by King Orlon after a practice match and I had sprouted a plant that had healed him with just its smell.

"You were also at the eatery." I said as it dawned on me in all its entirety.

"Yes, you were with our Prince." He winked again, grinning cheekily.

"Were you keeping an eye on me?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Not exactly, but yes, I felt your powers. Also, you saved my life so I owed you the Debt of Life."

"You did what?" I asked, my voice almost a scream and mind on the verge of going crazy.

"Yes. I saved your life now. You were scared and desperately wanted to come out of here and I was guided to you. And thank the Throne, I am finally out of the Debt. Didn't you feel a bond snapping or something?"

"I don't feel... wait...so, did you feel my fear too? Did it pain you?" I asked, cautiously.

"Why would it pain me? I was just guided to you and now we are equal." He shrugged.

I nodded. Why did Doran feel it all so much?

They both turned to start walking and I hurried to catch up, questions bubbling in my head.

"So, you work as a Sagittarian soldier but you are a Luesha. Aren't you afraid of getting caught?"

"Well, every one of us works somewhere. Can't have a life without a little risk. Also get in the habit of saying Eclipses, not Lueshas!"

I remembered Ralph's words from the Winter Palace – the Lueshas have eyes and ears everywhere.

This is how Eclipses worked – hiding in plain sight. Gathering information, rescuing other Lueshas – no – Eclipses. Trying to fit into this world in their own mysterious ways. I had found the Eclipses. The ones who everyone in the Four Realms was looking for – I had found them. Well, they had found me. I didn't know my own feelings in the moment.

He walked besides me and my eyes bore into the back of the woman.

"Where are we going?" I asked, the realization seeping in. Not waiting for the first question's answer, I shot another, catching up with the woman, "How did you know about me?"

They both burst out laughing, "Ask better questions, please." The woman said and looked at me sideways.

Even with her scarf intact, I could tell she was gorgeous. And suddenly I was reminded of my own plight. I had not bathed, not changed clothes. I must stink so bad.

Dylan said, "Everyone knows about you, don't they? You put on one spectacular show."

"Can't control your powers or didn't want to control them?" Celia asked walking briskly as I struggled to keep up.

"She isn't trained, Celia. And don't worry, miss, we will get you trained up in no time." He said and patted my shoulder.

"I am not staying with you." I said suddenly, stopping mid-track.

"Here we go again." The woman slammed her palm on her forehead. "Look, let's just meet the Chief and then you can decide, alright?"

I nodded, not convinced.

Their Chief had a thing coming.

For a while, we walked, sometimes climbing a slope and sometimes climbing down. I looked around me, and I knew I was walking through the groundwater. The soil under our feet murky and wet. The water was held at bay, allowing us to walk through it. It was beyond magical.

"Are you doing this?" I asked the woman pointing around to all the water glimmering around us. There were stones and debris floating in the water, maybe some small fishes even. For a heartbeat, I considered putting a hand through the floating water and check if it were real or just me hallucinating.

"Yes," she unfurled her scarf and I saw her grin. I looked down at her hands, which were casually moving as she walked.

"But your hands are not raised, then how?" I asked sounding silly somehow.

"Hmmm... let me explain it to you in the easiest way possible," she said and I heard the soldier snicker from my other side. She continued, "I am a Water and Earth Elemental. When I use just Earth or just Water, it needs more energy, as I have to focus on letting out one power but simultaneously have to focus on holding the other power in."

"But using both the powers together is the easiest. Doesn't even require any special efforts." She shrugged and pointed to the water around us, that the earth was holding in.

I nodded, mulling over her words. That was so accurate and logical. When I had brought out lava from under the earth, it had been so easy! No wonder why my Earth Elementation made me faint every time I used it. Only a fellow Luesha could have told me this significant tidbit about myself.

And right then I found myself climbing a slope, a small opening appeared ahead, where the watery pathway ended.

Dylan jogged to the spot and disappeared outside.

"After you," Celia said, smiling at me and I obeyed.

Bending a little, I squeezed myself through the small opening that gave me a tiny view of the night sky outside.

I climbed out and took in a huge breath of fresh air, that smelled of freedom. It was extremely cold and I found myself raising my right hand and lighting up the flames on my palm. It came easily this time.

The woman, Celia walked out and a gentle swooshing of the waves were audible from the gap. She severed the hole shut again and looked at me, at my fire.

"Missed it, right?" she said and walked ahead, not waiting for my answer. She was right, I had missed it. Missed my fire that I had just found. Missed the ground that purred under my feet.

I shook my head and followed Celia. The man, was nowhere to be seen, but my eyes registered the threshold of the woods that we were crossing.

"Umm, where to now?" I asked, exhaustion settling into my bones. I just wanted a long hot bath and a long deep sleep.

She didn't answer and kept walking, as we passed the canopy of trees, shining in the moonlight, the dried leaves crunching under out feet.

"Took you long," I looked over and found the soldier, Dylan waiting for us.

"The Chief is very excited for some reason, to meet a Fire and Earth Eclipse." He said to Celia.

"Of course, she is the first, after all," Celia winked at me. But a dread settled into my stomach. What was I getting myself into?

Suddenly I found myself stepping into a clearing, surrounded by the dense trees that I had just walked through. Many people, old and young, tall and thick, dressed in varied colors were standing on the either side of a – throne of sorts. It felt like having stepped into a place that was not supposed to be in the Four Realms.

"That's the Chief. Don't worry, you don't have to bow or anything." Celia whispered in my ear but my mind was blank.

I looked at the face of their Chief, radiated by moonlight and flanked by expressions similar to mine. Shock.

All that had happened to me since coming to the Winter Realm, was nothing compared to what was happening in the moment. A stroke of horror, surprise and betrayal hit me altogether, making me dizzy.

I knew the Chief.

***

Author's note: Sorry for that cliffhanger, lol. If you don't remember where we had met Dylan, you can re-read a scene of chapter seven. And see this gif from Moana, to get an idea of what exactly the Eclipse, Celia did -

Also, we reached 10K reads and 2K votes, so congratulations to our TOFR! ❤