The last Dawn: blessed curse of Meloria(Maha) Prologue:

To their surprise, it was a girl. For a kingdom used to receive the news of a prince's birth as the first child, for every king sits on the crown.
It was bad news for the silly kingdom people to have a princess this time. The more they talk, the more the king gets worried about his thrown. He eventually was convinced that his daughter was a curse when he lost his queen for a cureless disease after the labor.
His consultants advised him him to take the princess' life before the situation gets worse and for the sake of controlling the people's panic.
'' My lord! It's your daughter, your first child.''
The king's brother and the defender of the kingdom firmly objected.
'' Do you think I have another choice? I've lost my precious queen and about to lose my people too.'' The king stood up insulting his brother.
'' If your majesty worries about her curse, allow me to take her away from the palace.''
'' I'll raise her in the eastern castle and won't step inside the palace again without your permission.''
The royal uncle kneeled before his brother and begged for his niece's life.
The anger on the king's face vanished and started to wander inside the room and his brother followed.
After few minutes, the king looked at his brother with a smile saying:
'' Do as you wish. I hope this will make the people calm down.''
'' Thank you, your majesty!'' the defender ran to take his beloved niece with him.
He didn't even think of having a nanny for her. He raised her himself. He was even the one who named her Elisha, by the woman he loved and wasn't destined for him.
A whole decade passed without any worries, and Elisha was a very pure princess who was beloved by all the sub soldiers inside The Eastern Castle. She used to take the king's permission to get inside the palace only on the king birthday to wish him a long healthy life, that was her duty after all as a princess.



Chapter 1: The change spell.

In history books of Magia, there were legends talking about magical Magia. People were informed all over the country that Magia was built by four people who were as saints to them. They were the symbol of magic in Magia, and the ones who protect it by their magical power.
Well, no one had ever seen any of them, or even witnessed anything magical. The legend only said their names were Dak- Ho, Hye sue, the yudal mountain saint and the girl twin of Dak-ho. Mock was the great saint, and Ray, the white cloud. He was light as cloud, that's all.
On the morning of the king's birthday, the General entered Elisha's bedroom to wake her himself as usual to get ready for riding to the palace, but Elisha was different to him that morning. Her left eye turned to light blue unlike her right black eye. The General got panic and locked the door for no one to see it. Elisha wasn't allowed to get out of her room until her uncle prepared an eye patch for her strange eye. People started to talk about her caught a fatal disease specially when The General sent that his niece was ill so that she wouldn't be able to attend the king's birthday celebration that year. It was the first time since she was sent away with her uncle. on the next morning, that time, it wasn't her eyes which changed, all of her body changed.
" Elisha, you are a leopard!" The General wasn't the only one who was shocked, Elisha got panicked too and started to run and jump all over the locked room. The General kept yelling and running after he until she was calm. She then remembered she had tears to pour.
" It's getting out of control; you really need help." He tried to reassure her, and left to get some help. He ran to write a letter to the king to ask for his assistance. Peru, the pigeon carrier knew where to go with it but unfortunately, it landed in a dangerous place to get some food or someone led it to its death on its way so the king couldn't get the message.
Someone knew what Elisha suffered from and set a journey to The Eastern Castle. Dak-ho, the eastern saint, who was mentioned in the legends of Magia. His magical power enables him to sense other magic all over Magia and identify it. He sensed Elisha's power and decided to follow its echo to reach her. His journey took about three days. When Elisha and The General were about to lose their minds waiting for the king's respond.
Someone knocked two light knocks on the door, then stepped in as if the door wasn't locked.
A tall young man who was in white even his blinded eyes were white. He only handled a branched stick which was also white.
" Who are you? How could you open the door? I'm sure I locked it very well." The General wandered while putting his niece behind him.
" I didn't open it, I walked through it. That's how my magic works. " Dak-ho hoped he didn't make them panic.
" I came for that Leopold. She has to come with me." He continued.
" You have to answer me first, who are you?" The General stood up with anger.
" I beg your pardon! Have you heard of the great saints of Magia?" Dak-ho gave the ground two little hits with his stick.
" Of course, every magian knows his country's history." The General responded immediately.
" I am Dak-ho, one of the great saints, the saint of The East coast of Magia." Dak-ho put his right hand on the locked door, and The East Sea appeared on it as if he called it.
The General kneeled down before the saint, then said: pardon me, my blinded eyes couldn't catch your highness.
" It's me who is blind, General." The saint got closer to Elisha, kneeled down to reassure her with his hand.
" You have to come with me, don't worry. Everything will be alright." He looked in her eyes.
" Excuse my rudeness, but where are you taking her? " The uncle was worried about his niece.
" To The Yudal mountain. My sister is the only one who can help her right now. " The saint helped Elisha to dry her tears and get her up.
" They would see her. " The General tried to stop the saint from leaving through the door.
" Don't worry, they didn't see me and they won't see her, too." The saint took the young leopard and left the castle without any sign. Elisha gave her uncle the last look then left obediently with Dak-ho to The Yudal mountain which took four days walk with not much rest and sleep .



Chapter 2: whatever it takes.

Every saint had some places which he or she was responsible of, and where he surrounded it with his magical web so that none of the natives could find it. These places were the only magical spots in all over Magia. The Yudal mountain where Hye- sue used to live was slightly to the north but still near to the east sea. Saint. Hye-sue was known of her truth magic, she can return anything magical or not to its true shape. That's why the natives called her the pure saint because she doesn't know lies or fake.
The way to Yudal mountain had no transportation so they had to walk all the way.
" You haven't talked since we left the castle, although you are on the change mode but you still can talk. You can ask me anything you want." The white saint told Elisha while eating and resting.
" Are you really The white saint?" asked the cute small leopard after hesitating.
" Finally, here's your voice. " The saint sighed with a smile.
" Do the natives call me the white saint? What about the others?" He felt eager to hear the answer, not because he is ignorant but because he wanted her to talk more.
The little black leopard nodded her head and kept answering:
" We call you The White saint, your sister is the pure, and Mock is the great saint." She answered in a cute calm tone.
" What about the fourth one?" He wondered.
" We just call him Ray, we can't tell how he looks, do you know how he is and what is his magic?" Her eyes sparkled.
" Mmmm... Neither nor I can tell, he is very introvert and mysterious. He rarely shows up. " He quietly answered, his behavior gave Elisha a message that she should stop talking about him and try changing the subject.
" When did you lose your sight?" She really wanted to know.
" I was born blind, but I can see the magic. My eyes see the magical stream, that's how I found you." He respected her efforts to get his sorrow away.
" We have to keep going, let's go.".
All the way to the mountain, Dak-ho tried his best to make her talk more and more to take her worry away, and because he wanted to know who she was exactly. He could know that she was the princess of Magia, although it waked up some worry inside him but didn't show.
On the outskirts of the foot of the mountain, Dak-ho stopped Elisha, and got close to the invisible magical web his sister made to unlock it, and succeeded then directed Elisha down to the mountain where they could meet Hye-sue.
Like it was a piece of heaven; water, earth, wind, and mountain creatures were hugging each other. The Yudal mountain had the best and most beautiful nature all over Magia. If you were to talk, I would say that that place was what really resembled magic.
Hye-sue was waiting for them down to a waterfall since she sensed them getting through her web. She knew exactly what they came for just by looking at the poor little leopard.
With a lavender hanfu wear, she came closer with a great aura as if the light draws her path to them. When she reached in front of them, Elisha could see her beauty despite of the burqa she put on her face. Her brother greeted her as if she was his queen, and introduced Elisha as the first princess of Magia. Hye-sue took both of them to a small palace structured house where she lived. On the dinning room, The Pure Saint waved with hands, and the plates full of delicious and nutritious food filled the table and waited for their appetite to get what desired through their journey.
" Oh. Pardon me! It will be easier to eat now." She waved to Elisha, too and Elisha is human again. That made her very thankful and fell in love with her purity and power.
" Make yourself home, princess. Service yourself, please."
All of the three ate some food and it was the time to talk seriously about Elisha's situation.

"Elisha, I guess you know about the four nature elements: Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. Each one of the saints resembles one of these elements. I resemble Air, Dak-ho is water, Mock is fire, and Ray is earth. Your magic is earth, too. It's a first of course to have two magical powers service one element but I am sure there's a purpose for it. Anyway, you will have to stay here with me until you find the deep soul of your magic and control it."

Elisha needed much time to believe what she heard from the pure saint but she had to accept it anyway. Meanwhile, both of the saints left her alone to get some rest, and went out the house where they could talk freely.
" It's the change spell, brother. Mock has to know." Hye-sue felt worry and sorry at the same time.
" I've sent my bird to him before. I hope he's home, not on a journey. Meanwhile we have to take care of her till Mock arrives." Dak-ho answered his sister.
" I hope she doesn't turn like Ray. It would be a disaster." She expressed her anxiety.
" She is of the same blood, too." She added.


Chapter three: Meloria forest.

Every magical spot resembled its owner, that was as clear as the sky that day. The twin saints made a deal with the princess to help her control her powers, and she made a promise to do her best to the fullest. To tell the truth, it wasn't even close to easy, she took nearly a year to start using her magic on small objects like stones. The saints wanted her to use the change spell on it, and it took so long to even could get her power out to use. They also made her do balance exercises, and mediate for days next to the waterfall. She was slow learner but firmly disciplined, although she was only twelve years old. Whenever she failed or fell down, Dak-ho was always in the back protecting and taking her away from harm.
After exercising for three years, they started to realize that Mock hadn't appeared as they thought so Dak-ho decided to take Elisha to Mock's home, kapora, which was a volcano island in the distal west of Magia. No one except for someone used magic could bear living there, the heat and lava wouldn't leave a life. That was the second magical spot Elisha visited so her heart was flying.
The journey to the west coast took much time travelling but luckily that time, they rode horses. She could see the palace on her way, and had to send her greets without seeing her parent, it wasn't the right time, yet.
Hye-sue could accompany them because she had something to take care of, but she promised to follow.
During heading to the west, the pure saint took the ride to Meloria forest, in the distal south, where all the saints imprisoned Ray. They put a triple magical web around the forest so that he can't get out of it. As soon as Hye-sue reached the boards of Magia forest, she kneeled to feel Ray's magic, she wanted to know if he was near to the border so that when she opened the web, he wouldn't take benefit from it and release himself. Luckily, he was on the other side of the forest so Hye-sue entered safely and returning the web intact again.
She kept walking through the forest until she sensed his existence.
" I am sure you sensed it, too. Someone would take your place; you won't serve the earth any more." Hye-sue started talking.
" Who is she? She's still young to even think of taking my position." Said a deep voice coming through the woods.
" She is young, true, but in few years, she will be just suitable for carrying her responsibility. She is on her way to Mock; she should be there by now." She was like she meant pissing him off.
" How dare you think of replacing me with a kid! May my curse be upon all of you." He roared in anger.
" Why are so pissed off, you should be proud instead. She is of your own blood, your first niece, Ray. Congratulations, you have become an uncle." She kept her sharp words.
" What!? " A huge black leopard with a blue left eye the same as Elisha's showed up from the shadows of the trees.
" As soon as she is ready, we, the four, will set you free from your magic. Maybe, that time your curse will be broken or maybe you should have to live as a beast till death."
Hye-sue's words were so cruel to him that he started to attack her with paws, but she rode the wind, and vanished while leaving a rude laugh echo behind her. Ray began to roar as if it was the end of the world.
Meanwhile, Dak-ho and Elisha couldn't enter through Mock's web because he was mediating inside so he inhibited any creature from entering. They had to wait outside the web for a week which Elisha took advantage of it to resume her last exercise.
After Mock had enough of mediating, he allowed them to get inside his magical spot. Nothing was on that island except for the volcano and lava cutting the rocks at the foot of the mountain.
" Haven't you received my message? Why didn't you come to The Yudal mountain? " Dak-ho blamed Mock even before Mock could welcome them, his anger was obvious. What was funny to Elisha that he didn't care about waiting for a week outside, but cared so much about ignoring his message.
" I wasn't free at all." Mock's sharp accent made Dak-ho angrier.
" Wasn't free, what? You were busy mediating for a whole week? " He expressed his anger.
" Now, you mention it. " Elisha talked to herself. It was her first time to witness Dak-ho's anger, she felt fear and anxiety at the same time.
" I see you handled it very well; you didn't need me anyway." Mock looked at Elisha with his sharp eyes.
" You just came here and started sweating." He gave her his attention.
" She needs you now, we did our best but there is no more development." Dak-ho returned to his calm mode again.
" The magic is so stressed here, follow me or she would faint any time." Mock led the way to quite calm place away from lava so that Elisha could finally take a natural breath.
" How do you live in here?" She wondered.
" I cultivate, the volcano dust is a wonderful soil for planting. Well, I help with my powers, too." He pointed at his small farm behind him, he had a small humble hut as well.
Unlike Dak-ho, he had everything in black.

Elisha thought.
"They really resemble the water, and fire. "



Chapter four: Level up!

While waiting for the pure saint to arrive, Mock wanted Elisha to experience a new level of her training.
" Dak-ho told me that you are capable of changing small objects, give me an example." Mock pointed at a rock besides her.
She closed her eyes for a while to focus her power, then waved at the rock to turn it into a large piece of ice.
" How about turning it into a living thing?" Mock wondered.
" No one can, Mock. She needs a living soul to change it to another soul. " Dak-ho objected firmly.
Mock looked at him then stared at Elisha.
" How about turning this all soil?" He hit the ground with his left foot. His looks made Elisha thought that he was underestimating her, she pumped up her fullest power, and sent it from hand to the ground under her so that she can turn it into snowy field. She couldn't, of course and that made her furious at herself.
Mock laughed loudly at her.
" It's ok, no one gets the first shot." Dak-ho explained her failure. She was about to cry but held it badly.
" What have you been doing all these three years?" Mock went too far.
" I always thought that the royal family had super potentials and intelligence." He didn't stop talking even after seeing her furious teary eyes.
" Mock, stop it right now." Dak-ho shouted at him, but it didn't make him stop.
" Have you seen Ray, yet?"
Elisha's rage reached its peak that she gave the ground a strong punch turned it into glacier.
" Fantastic! I feel the cold as well. " Dak-ho expressed his surprise.
She was shocked, too by her ability to do it.
" Well done! Now, cancel it." Mock ordered her.
" Cancel what? " She asked.
" Your spell, everyone throws a spell can cancel it unless you aren't capable of." He returned to his annoying accent.
Elisha took a deep breath and tried to cancel her spell. It took a little long while but could do it which drew a smile on both Dak-ho's and her face.
" Right now, we will try to spread your power more, try turning more ground." Mock wanted her to take the next step.
" It's an overload on me." She looked very tired.
" I guessed you want to finish it fast and go home." Mock tried to implant some enthusiasm into her.

The pure saint took few other days to reach Kapora island. When she was finally there, she found Elisha much different, and stronger.
" Well done, Mock! I haven't expected that. "
" Oh, you are here... finally." Mock welcomed her on his land.
" Hye-sue, what took you so long. Where have you been?" Her brother looked worried about her.
" I am sorry I'm late, I had to visit someone, and he didn't want to let me leave." She got closer to Elisha.
" I think you are ready for another level up." The pure saint praised her.
" Yes, she can start with the living things, now. Where is your bird, Dak-ho?" Mock felt proud of his teaching results.
" It isn't even near from here. It would take days from it to come here." Dak-ho refused to make his bird a lab rat. Mock got him and smiled.
" What about you, Hye-sue?" He asked the other saint.
" I didn't bring mine, too." She was obvious.
" She can use her own body as she did before." She looked at her and suggested.
" What do you mean?" Mock missed that situation.
" That's how I sensed her magic, she somehow changed into a black leopard." Dak-ho explained to him.

" But won't it be dangerous?" Elisha felt worried.
" At all, it will make you focus more than ever." Mock said with a big creepy smile.
" Don't worry. I am always by your side, Hye-sue is here, too. Go ahead." Dak-ho reassured her.
As soon as she started her new level, they heard her stomach growling of hunger so the training was cancelled that day and started over on the next morning.
The three saints didn't leave Elisha until she was able to not just change anything but also fight with her powers. Everyday, Mock was stating his desire by beating the princess up for getting her ready to go home safely, and in everyday her eager to go home increased more and more.
Another three years passed, and Elisha's power was well formed, and developed. She washed all the worry and hesitation and became a magical warrior who can't be easily beating. Even Mock was having a hard time trying to give her few hits. That morning when they thought she was ready, they informed her that it was the time to meet Ray...
" Finally! " She felt extra power on hearing it.




Chapter five: Back to The East Castle.

The three saints and Elisha set the journey, although they knew it wasn't a good idea. They had no other option, if she to serve the earth, she should identify the forest and merge into it.
Near to the same border Which the pure saint visited before, they released their horses to their freedom, and started to get ready to break the triple web. They couldn't though.
Ray, the burly black leopard, was waiting for them. He didn't seem to have a special plan of escape, but still hoped a slip he could benefit from, although it was unlikelihood.

" You know you will never set yourself free, you are a sinner. You will be prisoned for good." Mock tried to make him step back to the deep. Ray stepped forward instead, and Elisha's body was shaking just on seeing him. He was some kind of monster she never knew or seen. She also didn't expect that the only saint she dreamed to see since childhood would look like that.
" Don't prevent me from seeing my successor. Here you are, come closer. Let me see your splendor." Ray mocked her weakness and it was a little annoying.
" Just break the web, and beat him up. He won't be able to fight all of us anyway." Mock suggested incautiously.
" We're not in a hurry, give him some time." Dak-ho refused firmly.
It was obvious that Ray won't abdicate his freedom, whatever how long they stayed waiting for him change his mind, he kept waiting, too. He loved to a have a company after being isolated for nearly twenty years.
" I am done. Mock was right, let's just end this stupidity. I don't have much time for playing around." Hye-sue reached her peak.
Of course, Ray had no change to even think about winning this battle. They took only five minutes, and Meloria Forest was under their authority.
As soon as the web was broken, Elisha was the first target for Ray, but Dak-ho threw him away with his stick and saved the princess who fell down even before she realized his quick move.
The battle increased Elisha's confusion, her eyes almost caught a move or two. With a second triple magical web formed like a cage, Ray was double prisoned inside the forest.
The three saints and Elisha went deep in the forest to give Elisha a chance to spread up her power to its fullest for that every magical spot of a certain nature element enlarge the capacity and limitation of the same magical element.
The first month inside the forest was just about training, and Elisha had no time to wander around the forest. After the first month, she started to walk here and there, the saints never allowed her to go far though. She felt some connection and wanted to check every corner for her inner desires.
One morning, she pushed herself near to Ray when the saints weren't around her. She felt the desire to see him again and even if allowed talk to him. He was taking a nap when she came closer, but her steps waked him up.
" I see you gained some courage to come to me alone." He started the conversation.
" Whatever how many times I look at you, you are really the creepiest among all the saints." She expressed her anxiety.
" Is that supposed to be a complement. Thank you anyway... I guess you have a question." He felt her desire.
" True! Why did attack me before?" She asked immediately.
" Every king would kill anyone wants to take his crown. They're preparing you to get rid of me, what prevented them from killing me was that there was no successor to serve for the earth. " He explained his behavior.
" What crown do you talk about? I am not concerned about your crown, I'm already the princess of this nation. I've my own crown." She criticized him with pride.
" Your crown is fake, I'm the only one who has the right for this crown. Your father stole it from me, and your uncle stole my woman." Ray roared into her face.
" What're you talking about?! Are you insane? It's called treason." She poured her anger.

Their discussion woke the pure saint up who ran to protect Elisha from any harm Ray may cause. She threw Elisha away and tried to control his prison which was about to be broken by his passion.
" Do you think your stupid web will prison me forever. I already figured out a way to break it along ago. " He fought back with Hye-sue and could make a crack which helped him break through the web.
The apostatizing of the web magic hit both of Hye-sue and Elisha who was running back to give her a hand.
When Elisha was recovered from the magical shock, she found out that Ray escaped from the forest, and the other two saints were trying to save Hye-sue whose body couldn't bear the apostatizing.
Elisha tried to recall what Ray had told her, and concluded that Ray might hurt her uncle. That was the first thing to come into her mind so she left the three saints, and without telling them she ran back to The East Castle to save her beloved uncle.



Chapter six: The truth of the matter.

Elisha couldn't allow herself any rest as she hoped to get to The East Castle before Ray, but it was impossible. Ray left the forest along ago, and all she could do was to take wider steps.
The way to The East Castle was by agricultural lands, and farms which were considered the main source of magian income as Magia was known of her valuable and rare types of flowers, and herbs.

Elisha then went through a vast majority of hills along the eastern coast. She was close to the magical spot of Dak-ho but had no time to even give it any interest, she should save her uncle first.
While jogging through the hills, something strange stopped her steps. The hill lands somehow started to change to somewhere familiar to Elisha, like flipping a paper page, Meloria Forest showed up from nowhere. She couldn't understand why she was shifted to the forest again, she supposed to go forward not backward. Wherever she wanders around the forest, she couldn't find a way out.
She thought maybe Ray did that as a distraction to prevent her from helping the general, but then remembered that Ray can only form the earth not changing its nature. No one can except for her, that's what the saints told her.
She ran forth and back to escape from these shadows, but there was no crack she could get benefit from. She was about to lose her mind when she heard something, a deep shallow sigh, it was a female voice but unrecognizable to her. She tried to determine from which direction it came from but it was everywhere. Elisha closed her eyes to focus on what the sound was saying but it looked only like sighs, no specific words. It took her mind away for a while, then the three saints' voice waked her up.

"Wait a minute! Where is the princess?" It was the pure saint recovering from the shock.

" She seemed to follow Ray; I feel her magic near to the eastern coast." Dak-ho answered his poor sister.

" But strangely I feel her inside the forest right now." He talked to himself with confusion.

Elisha followed their voice until she found them but it seemed that they didn't see or feel her except for Dak-ho who was suspecting his sensitivity for magic stream.

" I guess she was afraid about her uncle, that's why she hurried after her father." Mock explained Elisha's behavior.
" Father!? No, Ray is her second uncle, right?" Hye-sue looked at her brother wondering.
Mock shocked his head, and Dak-ho explained:
" She was young when this happened. Ray is Elisha's biological father, Hye-sue."

" How so!?" She raised up claiming for a reasonable answer for that nonsense.
" Twenty years ago, the three princes fell in love with the same woman, who is Elisha's mother. She chose the second prince, Ray as her man. Ray changed after that and followed his selfish desire to claim his father's throne. The two other princes tried to stop him quietly, they didn't want to set the war fire inside the palace, but Ray was stubborn and used his power to kill his father. He cursed himself and couldn't get back to his human form. He stayed a leopard forever. That time we, Mock and I had to interrupt the war and punish Ray for his great mistake." Dak-ho explained the truth of the matter and Elisha was shocked by the fact of being a daughter of a monster. She kneeled down wrecked unaware of what she should do after that.
The forest vanished and Elisha's body came back to the east hills. She forced herself to stand up, she still needed to get her uncle safe. Her tears learnt to stop and the road became shorter and shorter by her rapid jogging.

As soon as Ray reached The East Castle, he looked and found his aim. The General was making a round by himself, Ray could see him getting down the right watch tower. Although Ray was invisible, The General had the total ability to feel, and even recognize his brother.
" Let us do not disturb the others, follow me to the training ground." The General moved firmly and slowly to the training ground followed by his older brother. In the middle of the ground, the general stopped, and turned to Ray who showed himself up in his terrifying shape. The General gave him a pity look.
" Long time no see, Joan. I guess you missed your older brother. Your king! Ray walked around his younger brother.
" And I think you've seen your daughter as you are here." Joan answered him.
" She still thinks that Rudolph is her father. I heard that you are the one who raised her up, no wonder she is weak and silly." Ray tried to piss him off.
" Do not underestimate her, she is a quick learner." Joan felt proud of his niece.
" Each of us knows that you won't get what you want, Ray. Just surrender, and stick to your prison, let Elisha, your lover rest in peace." Joan tried to gain his empathy.
" Don't even mention her name with your dirty tongue. For her, I wanted to be the king and I will get my crown even after her death." Ray showed an intention to attack and kill.
That night was the darkest among all Magian nights, when Elisha stepped on her uncle's blood. Neither tears nor screams of sorrow were capable of describing the details of this situation. All the soldiers of The East Castle gathered around their leader, sharing the same disaster Elisha was in.



Chapter seven: coming back to senses.

Elisha replaced her uncle's blood lake by the water of Dak-ho's magical spot, she could call it somehow with her sorrow power and filled all the training ground by it. That water was special as it had the ability of healing and refreshing the soul. Elisha kept hugging her uncle's body all the day long preventing his soul from leaving his body until Dak-ho reached the east castle. He was confused by all the magical flood she made and asked all the soldiers to leave so that he could try to control it without any harm.
" Dak-ho! my uncle...save him, please." She looked at him with teary eyes.
Dak-ho kneeled to sense the general's pulse; it was weak but his soul was still fighting. He implanted his white stick to the water, which grew up high as a big old tree whose leaves were replaced by small colorful balls of light.
" What is that?! What are going to do?" It was her first time to see his stick like that.
" It's called the tree of spirits. I am going to use its magic to guide your uncle's soul, and about his physical injury, it depends on him. That's all I can do to him." Dak-ho used his magic to enable the tree balls surround Joan.
" You can leave him now. Well done, this water will help your uncle heal faster." He reassured her.
" Right now, you need to go to the capital, your king needs you. Mock and Hye-sue will follow you from Meloria Forest." He rushed her to leave.
" I won't go anywhere until I see my uncle safe and sound." She refused firmly.
" You can't help him; I am here so don't worry. I won't leave until he wakes up." Dak-ho covered Joan with his upper coat.
" Come back to your senses, the king has no one besides him. You have to leave." He blamed her for being lame.
Elisha wiped her eyes, and formed herself into a black leopard again. She rubbed Joan's forehead with hers then departed to the capital.
That road was familiar to her, she used to go through with her uncle on the king's birthday, the only day she was allowed to get inside the palace.
The king wasn't acting as a father to Elisha, but at least he took care of her mother until she died. She thought maybe it was enough for her to take a step forward and save his life. He was also her king and her duty called her. She must answer it.

Mock and Hye-sue searched for shortcuts to the capital to stop Ray, and bring him back to Meloria. Because Hye-sue lent her air magic to Dak-ho so that he could move faster to get Elisha and Joan from Ray, she had to depend on Mock while traveling. They also couldn't move faster like Elisha as she was in her leopard shape, and they can't change up. They had to take rest for food and sleep, too.
" Do you think he made it?" She hoped Mock can assure her.
" Why did you lend him your air, we could have been to the capital by now." He blamed her for her empathy, he sighed and looked back at her.
" Let's just hope he managed to do it… How are you feeling, now?" He felt guilty as he yelled at her.
" Much better! I will heal myself in Yudal Mountain after we fix all this mess up. " She smiled at him.
" Come on, we need to hurry up. We should be next to the king when Ray come to steal the throne." Mock stood up to complete the road.

It was night when Elisha stepped inside the capital, most of the streets were empty from the people, and that helped her to sneak out to the palace. She didn't feel or see Ray so her hopes went high, it was true she developed much but still not enough to stop Ray. She believed that Mock and Hye-sue would catch up with her, she couldn't hide her fear though.
She climbed the back walls of the palace, being a leopard was helpful more than she thought. She managed to do few quick skips for not being discovered and making a big trouble by terrifying the people inside. It's true she didn't live inside the palace, but she knew it well. She zapped to the throne hall, where she was sure the king would be although it was late night.
Her coverage didn't last long, when one of the servants screamed on seeing her. That made the hall guards run to assess the situation, but Elisha was faster. She went back for another path to the hall, she pushed the door with her paws, and made a dramatic entrance in front of the king. The slippy floor helped her alot.
" My lord! Save the king! " The king personal guard shouted at the other ones who surrounded Elisha with their swords to her face.
" Sheathe your swords, immediately." The king ordered from the back.
" Is that you, Ray? " He walked closer to Elisha.
Elisha changed herself back.
" It's me, my king." She was relieved to see him safe and sound.
" Elisha!? Oh darling." The king was glad to see her after all these years. His years were drawn on his face, he seemed so lonely and weak in so far Elisha asked about his health and if he was suffering from any illness. This time Elisha and the saints were one step ahead. It's okay now.



Chapter eight: The cursed crown.

It's been years since the king last saw his Elisha. He seemed really lost not seeing her. On looking into his eyes, she felt his pain. Even if it was just one day a year, he was fine with it. It made her feel a little guilty, but she had to hold on, Ray was coming. She needs to answer her duty.

" How's your health, my lord? " She felt ashamed as she didn't visit him for years.

" I am sure you can tell by yourself. Do you know that I have arranged for my birthday every year thinking that you may come to see me as you used to? but as soon as I was sure you won't come, I cancelled everything." Even his grouch was deadly sad.

" I don't deserve your forgiveness or your welcome." She kneeled down, then remembered what she came for.
" Your highness! Ray managed to escape from the shadows of his prison, he is coming for you. " She stood up to warn him.

" I see. Don't worry, I knew that day would come... Guards! Close up every door of this palace, and get ready and sharpen your swords. Ray must not enter these walls." The king gave his orders steadily as if he was preparing his soldiers all these past years for such a situation.
He looked back at Elisha: " Take the princess to her room." He didn't want her to see her king and father fighting, but Elisha's answer surprised him.

" I won't leave you alone with him. Actually, it is my war not yours. Enough is enough, someone should stop his foolish. I don't care if he is my real father anymore."

There was no time for recalling the memories of every corner inside the palace. She followed the guards everywhere to make sure Ray wouldn't be able to touch the king. Number of the soldiers at each gate was reduplicated, and she did her best to change the field around the palace with the magic. She thought maybe it would give the saints more time to catch her up.
Ray wasn't far. Actually, he was aware of every silly try Elisha and the guards were using. He knew exactly how to get inside without making any quarrels.
When he was young, Ray used to run away from the palace to catch up his friends, using a quite big hole in the back walls of the palace. It was the right time to use it again. No need to fight all these guardsmen, it's a waste of time and effort. It's also boring, that's what Ray told himself.
From the backyard to the throne room, he wandered slowly and invisibly to surprise his older brother, but he found the king welcoming him with his royal sword. As if Elisha's presence gave him the power, he put on his armor and prepared the sword he made only for big battlefields. The sheath was decorated with gold, and the edge of the sword had no like. The king waved his sword then pointed it at Ray declaring war.
Elisha thought Ray would come from the front door, but for an exact moment, she convinced herself that Ray was already inside. She ran away to the king to find him among Ray's rock spears. He was cursed but was still able to control the earth. The king's body was full of scratches and wounds but not fatal fortunately.
" Ray! " Elisha shouted then turned herself into a black leopard. She rushed towards him, and the king yelled back " Elisha, stay away!"

Both of the father and daughter made a spectacular combat show that was strange even to the king's eyes. If he didn't know they were human, he would believe it was a real leopards fight in the wild. Elisha couldn't think of her position, and possibility of winning. She seeked only for the king's safety. Although her fighting spirit, she could only give him few slaps with her little paws. Only three minutes were enough to show her that she is nothing to Ray, The Saint of Earth. Her body wasn't able to bear more.
" I like the moment when I break a man's ego. Both of you are under my mercy now, and I will take what I desire so do whatever you do, it doesn't matter." He walked with pride, and a big evil smile.
" Should I start with her?" He looked at the king, with his heavy paws on Elisha's head.
" Don't you dare touch her again. Have you lost your mind? She's your daughter." The king fought to stand up but his wounds didn't allow him to get of his knees.
" Do you think because you called her Elisha, I would fondle her? "
Ray sharpened his paws to spank Elisha but was struck by a ball of fire instead threw him out from the room.
Mock finally reached out with Hye-sue. Elisha and the king were rescued. Hye-sue helped the human Elisha next to the king and surrounded the room with an enormous wall of stormy wind to separate Mock and Ray from the others for their protection and making a free field for the big battle.



Chapter nine: The great confrontation.


Mock was literally on fire; he gave himself a permission to beat Ray up with no hesitation and it seemed like it was his wish. Hye-sue limited her power for just protection and controlling the fight from outside. As usual, it was hard for Elisha's eyes to catch all the movements and the windy walls made it even harder. As the confrontation was between the fire and earth magic, the room quickly turned into destructed field.
Although the guards came to help, they just kept watching mouth opened. " So, the saints aren't legend !?"

They fought for about an hour, neither the fire went down, nor the earth got tired.
" I guess it's time to share Mock the booty." She was about to put away her winds to join Mock but Dak-ho tapped her left shoulder.
" Leave it to me, you stay with the king. Elisha, come with me. " He always came in time.
" She's tired. Let me help you! " Hye-sue objected.

" Protect the king and the others. Elisha, you protect Mock and me. Don't fight! " He opened a door in his sister's walls to go through and Elisha followed.

" How's is Joan? " She asked him desperately.
" I left the spirit tree with him. He's recovering, don't worry." He answered quietly and steadily.

Elisha waited by the windy walls, and Dak-ho joined the battle. It's true that he was blind, but it wasn't a problem at all. Elisha almost fainted by the magic concentration and did her fullest to hold on.
Only few minutes and it's over. Hold on, Elisha. She told herself.
From changing the ground to turning Dak-ho's water into glacier, she wasted every magical shot she sent. Her hand wasn't that helpful. The more she tried to help, the poorer became her magic. Her body started to shut down and couldn't handle anymore.
" Elisha... Elisha! " Dak-ho waked her dizzy brain and asked for a last favor.
" Give me water, I need plenty of it."

Elisha gathered all her remaining magic and sent it to Hye-sue's walls, she changed all the windy walls around the room into surf of water. Dak-ho gathered it immediately around him and made a huge wave, washed all who were in the room even Mock whose flames were extinguished. " Hey! I am on your side, you know. " Mock expressed his disappointment.

There, Elisha ran straight to one of Ray's long rocky spears, released it from the ground, and directed it just to Ray's heart while trying to get up again. Her final touch made every one inside the room speechless. Ray was defeated by his daughter; she made the dramatic final touch. The king was saved, too.
! What a joy she brought to the whole kingdom
and what a pride she showed as the only princess of Magia. The great confrontation had ended and the princess had proved that she was the real successor to Ray. That day, everyone in the country called her the blessed curse of Meloria.
They built a grave to the legend Ray in the middle of the front garden of the palace so that everyone visited it could witness the greatness of the confrontation among the four saints and how it ended. The best thing that ever happened was that both of the king and Joan stayed alive for Elisha. She removed every suspect and low self-esteem she ever felt before. She didn't care about her origins, she cared only about her position as the princess of Magia.
In a few days, the capital recovered, and the palace was rebuilt. It was the time to say goodbye again and go back for her training.

" Won't you come to see me again? You know you're the only one to me. " The wounded king asked.
" I won't keep you waiting for long. Just few months, and I will come back." She reassured him and set right to Joan because she was so worried about him.
She found Joan at the same point he was beaten. He was wandering, thinking of his dead older brother, how he turned into that kind of monster. His grief was at its peak, especially that he wanted to save him from sickness but ended up at the verge of death. He almost couldn't hear Elisha's voice while calling " Uncle! Uncle! I am back. How is your wound?".
" Oh… Elisha! Welcome back. I am glad you are alright." He seemed to hear the news from the capital because although the grief, he felt proud of her and surprised by how strong she became.

" Uncle! I came just to reassure you. I won't stay long. " She cut his thoughts.
" Where are you going to?" He held her hands as if she was about to escape and he got her.

" I need to complete the training circle, I've been sent to The Yudal Mountain, Meloria Forest, and Kapora, the volcanic island. Now, it's time for The East coast. " She explained her situation.

" Can't you stay longer? " He asked again.
" There's someone waiting for me, I don't want to be late for him. " She moved away his hands.
" Don't over think! I am staying with you all the day and night." She ran inside the castle.

 

Chapter ten: The blessed curse of Meloria.

People say goodbye when they have to, it doesn't determine their value to us. They're precious but still. They also say that family should be number one, but sometimes we should separate a little so that we can build our own families.

You're precious to me but you're not entitled to fool me.
(Maha Mostafa.)

Elisha was born as a curse to Magia, but now she's a legend taught all over it. Some people may call her heartless, how she could stab her biological father, but no one can feel someone's pain until he experiences it.

All of the castle soldiers were seeing Elisha off on the morning when she decided to leave. Her last stage of training was believed to be the shortest just by looking at how she was developing.

The eastern coast was just like a piece of dream, you could feel as if it wasn't real but a canvas that's well sewed by skillful hands. The east sea looked calm and not very deep, but it's more dangerous than it seemed. The Spirit Tree was instilled into the sea shore, larger than the last time. Dak-ho was gathering The Qi next to it. Elisha was surprised that it was the only magical spot that didn't have a magical web around. She just walked inside it with no problem, but after a while, she understood why. The east sea water was different from any other water, as well as healing and directing souls, it was what gave Dak-ho the ability to sense magic and identify it. It welcomed the good and fight the evil Qi. Thus, no need for Dak-ho to put any protection. It really suited him, thinking of how they were alike. Calm and mysterious!

Elisha joined his meditation, which lasted long enough to forget when she did come or maybe it wasn't her concern when it comes to training.
Dak-ho felt after few months of training that she was confused; she seemed to have nightmares lately at night, and overthinking all day. She wasn't fully concentrated during meditation, and her Qi was disturbed. She never told him the truth whenever he asked her, she was fighting something inside her or something trying to overcome her.

" You need to tell me so that I can help you. You look extinguished these days, what's wrong? "
Dak-ho sensed her suffering.
" It's just a dream, just never mind. " She led him away.
" What dream? Tell it to me. " He paid more attention.
" It's really nothing. " She answered him.
" If it's nothing, speak up! " He insisted to get a suitable answer.

" I've seen the king turning into a monster like Ray; carrying his sword, and spill the blood of innocents. He was killing his people and even us couldn't stop him. I also saw him using magic, it was like real. " She looked stressed out.

" Does he wear the armor? " He wanted to hear more.
" No, just his royal wear and the crown, but he was different from usual, Red eyes and blood abounded everywhere in the throne hall. I've seen the bodies. He...He was stepping on them with no mercy." She was shaking.

" Please, don't do this to me. Don't turn into him. " He walked backward as if he wanted to escape from her.
" What...What do you mean? " She stuttered.

" Back up! We need to see Mock and Hye-sue. " He talked firmly.
Everything turned to black when Elisha heard these words, she thought it was so kind of epidemic she'd caught. Dak-ho sent a message to both of the other saints and demanded to meet at Meloria Forest. It was an urgent matter that had to be handled from the beginning.

"Ray's coming back, let's meet at Meloria Forest."

That's all he mentioned in the message.

Elisha followed Dak-ho near to the east castle then she was gone. Dak-ho couldn't find or sense her. It seemed that all her hard work at the east coast had paid off. It's a fact he didn't sense her but he knew that she would definitely visit her father's grave. She directed to the capital. He hesitated if he had to follow her or warn the saints. The way to Meloria would talk much time than to the capital, he depended on Hye-sue's wind and sent a message via telepathy to his sister which was clearly heard.
She had to wait for Mock's arrival to fly right away to the capital.


Chapter eleven: White pearl princess.


Falling into illusion made Elisha thought that maybe it's in her blood; she is a monster and it can't be healed. She wanted to see Ray's grave thinking that she could get an answer for what was going with her. She also wanted to see the king to convince her eyes that he wasn't what she'd seen. Her high self belief prevented her from just having an idea of murdering someone especially the king.

" The princess is back! " Yelled one of the palace gate guards joyfully.

She directed to Ray once she entered the walls, she cried alot talking to him, but couldn't find what she hoped so she decided to go and see the king. She wanted not to show anything that make him panic as Dak-ho reacted before. She saluted him respectfully and shared him a great dinner meal.

" Have you been good all these past months?" The king asked smiling.
" I have. What about you, your majesty?" She smiled back.
" Well, I guess. You look a little pale; it seems that the training was rough. " He noticed she wasn't well.
" My lord! How did Ray turn into a monster? What was he seeing in his dreams?" She really wanted to know the details.
The king turned to sadness mode, and left the table to the nearest window.
" I beg your pardon, my king but I really want to know, I can't sleep well these days thinking about it. I'm afraid that I would turn into him one day." She expressed all her sorrow.
He looked at her with terrified eyes.
" You're not him, and you will never be near to him. "
" What's wrong with you, Elisha?" He finally touched something strange.

" I am seeing the same dream Ray committed to see before turning into a black monster." She decided to tell him everything.

" No, you're not. You're just fantasizing, don't say it, you will never be Ray." He screamed at her face.

" I am, uncle." She kneeled in front of him and cried and the king Tried to calm her down.

" You're not!" Dak-ho entered the room and Mock with Hye-sue followed.

" Calm down, Elisha. I knew what's going on with you." Hye-sue helped her stand up.

" I think it's one of these little mosquitoes, The Himanshu elves." Mock talked to the king once he entered.

" Himanshu elves! I thought they were banished away." The king objected.

" What Himanshu !?" Elisha wiped her tears.
" They're the only creatures that are able to make illusions like this." Hye-sue continued explaining.

" Someone tell me, how are these creatures?" Elisha got nervous.

" Tell me, do you see other places or feel anything else when you see this illusion? " Hye-sue put her hand on her shoulder.

" I hear sighs. One day, I was moved to Meloria Forest somehow, and heard it. I guess it was a woman's sigh. "

" So, she's there. No wonder Ray gone mad, he stayed there for years. How couldn't we sense her." Dak-ho wondered.

" Won't anyone of you tell me who is Himanshu?" She asked all of them.

" We'll tell you all the story on the way to Meloria. Let's go! We have to act fast." Mock took Elisha from her hands and left the king alone in a state of shock.

About more than twenty years ago, there were elves living in Magia. History says that they're the source of magic, they were loved all over the country and used to share some of their magic helping the people, and showing much cordiality. They used to take White Pearl city as their hometown but as the time passed, they wanted the statehood. They started a coup against the royal family but was defeated and punished away from the all country. We don't know their place right now, and didn't expect them to come back.



Chapter twelve: Forest purgation.

The forest seemed very calm, and there was nothing strange about it at all. They separated to clear every inch of it but there was no good.
They even used the magic to detect any sign for her but nothing at all. There, after three days of searching, Elisha led the four saints to a small hovel she found by accident. It was covered by the forest greens and barely could see its door. Dak-ho sensed her magic inside when he got closer to it.
Before thinking of using any violence, she quietly walked out of it welcoming them as if she didn't do anything wrong.

" I see you've brought me my apple pie with you. " She showed a creepy smile.
A white pale woman with light blue eyes and long black hair almost touched the ground.

" It's impossible! How are you still alive? " Mock pointed at her unbelieved.

" I have never been dead. I used my illusion to make you think that I am dead. " She answered quietly.

" So, Ray was keeping you here all this time. " Hye-sue excluded.

" No. He never knew about my existence here all the twenty years. He was under my illusion, too. " She cleared the misunderstanding.

" So, you chose the strongest of the three princes to make him get rid of all the royals, and get your revenge, right Elisha?" Dak-ho explained what he thought.

" You always were the smartest, Dak-ho. Well said, now give me back my daughter. " She asked politely.

" Wait a minute! Did you just say Elisha? I am Elisha... Wait... Wait. You mean this woman is my mother? " Elisha grasped Dak-ho's arm.

" True! Come to mama, Elisha. " She spread her arms calling her.

" No one is leaving this place with you. Meloria will be forbidden from now on. You chose it to stay and you're not leaving. " Hye-sue ordered her firmly.

" You don't have the right to prison me. I have stayed here for twenty years and no more. " She refused her demand.

Mock sent a ball of fire burning the hovel behind her as a warning. She only knows how to make illusions but can't fight, and they know it. Elisha was the princess of white pearl, that was her title before getting married to Ray. Just few people knew that fact. The saints surrounded her and Hye-sue used her wind to hit her simple firewall.
Elisha fainted and left alone inside the forest. The saints built again the magical web but that time Elisha added her earth power to the web making it stronger to punish the white pearl princess forever. Since that time no one was allowed to enter the forest or even get close to it. The poor people thought it was haunted by a criminal ghost who was punished by the saints inside it.
Each one of the saints went back to his or her magical spot, but Elisha decided to go back to the king to assure him and stay some time with him before heading back to Joan. She decided to make The East Castle her new magical spot forgetting everything about Meloria.

" Put that cat down, Elisha. " The king asked Elisha while taking a walk in the palace garden.

" It's not a cat, my lord. It's a frog." She said smiling, turning the cat to its real shape.

" You're not young to do such things. " He blamed her.

" I am just practicing, don't worry, I won't do it again." She moved beside him.

" I am glad you are alright. " He hugged her forcefully.

" My father! I think of visiting mother. What do you think? " She wanted to hear his answer.

" Not because we want something, that it will happen. There are things that should stay like it is. " The king seemed he wanted that, too but he knew it wasn't a good idea. He learnt to Keep his feelings away and so Elisha had to.

" Don't worry, I am not going right now, but I think some day I will have to go and see her face. She also seemed to like looking at her daughter's face. "
Elisha assured her darling king, and promised not think of anything stupid unless she tells him first.

Your bad luck is also your luck, you must learn how to cherish it and try to use it in a way that would be useful. To change means to develop but the wrong is wrong, and the right is right. Somethings don't bear the change, if you do change it, it will erase. Aims and values can't be changed or divided. Please, keep your manners and never hesitate to do the right whatever it takes. It may cost you much but you are still right, so keep going, Keep shining

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