Chapter 28: THE GIFTED FOREST

“Siofra, Siofra '' I could hear someone saying my name in a whisper as the wind surrounded me. I had my eyes closed as I tried to focus on the voice desperately calling out my name.

“Siofra, Siofra.” When I listen closely, I begin to recognise that voice as Alma's voice. I felt someone tap my shoulder from behind. I opened my eyes as I turned, and what I saw had me frozen at the spot.

Alma was standing in front of me, but it was an evil-looking Alma. She was wearing the royal crown. She had a beautiful smile on her face as she turned. She walked over to the throne sitting in the room and sat down.

It was like I was in another world, because I have never seen Álfheimr covered in such darkness, but what marvels me is how the darkness follows Alma around.

It was like she was the source of the darkness. Just then, a strong wind came and surrounded Alma. And then the stones of light—torns of them—came after the wind and floated in circles around Alma, but something was different about those stones.

The stone of light is usually crystal white, but these stones had turned red; it looked like a burning volcano on the inside.

“Siofra!!” At the sound of Alma’s voice, it all disappeared, and I found myself back at the ceremony. Alma was looking at me with a worried expression on her face.

“Are you okay?” She asked. On staring at her, I saw the face of the evil-looking Alma I just saw a few seconds ago appear in front of me, covering Alma’s worried face. I shook my head to clear my vision, but it wasn't working.

"Yeah, I'm fine; I need to go.” I said to her as I ran off the stage. I need to be alone. What was wrong with me? I ran all the way to my room and shut the door behind me as I rested my back against the door.

What was that I saw earlier? Was that a vision? I buried my face in my hand as I started hearing my name again.

Someone was desperately calling out to me, and I could feel it. I covered my ears with my hand as I tried to focus on something, but it wasn't working for me.

I nearly let out a scream when I felt like I could hear every single sound around me. Even though the ceremony was being held in the palace hall, I could still hear every single nosie coming from it.

Alma's POV

What was wrong with her? Why is she acting off?

It's time to present the stones; it is time to watch the spirits make their decisions. I will call out the three queens who once ruled as elf queens and are willing to present their stones to choose a new candidate.” My mum announced. 

I smiled brightly as I walked up to my mum, sitting besides her. The three queens appeared with their stones, presenting them to the queen as the cloud cheered.

“Go say your greetings,” my mum whispered to me. I stood up and approached the three elderly women in front of me. One was a face I thought I would never see again. She has tried a couple times to ruin my plan.

As I approached her, she had a smile that I found very annoying on her face. I greeted her with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

“Alma, you have grown into a beautiful young woman. I am so proud of you. Give your grandma a hug already,” she said, pulling me into her arms.

I knew it was fake; there is no way she would forgive me for being the reason why her own daughter banished her from entering the palace and even made sure she lived far away from us.

“You don't have to pretend like you are really here because you want me to be the next queen of Álfheimr.”

“You are right, I don't want you to be the next queen of Álfheimr, but who am I to decide that? Only the stone can decide who can be the suitable queen of Álfheimr.”

I pulled away from her as we both stared at each other. Our eyes are each saying something that only we understand.

I drew back as I stood in the middle of the stones that were placed in a triangular form on the ground. I have come so far; I have practiced and endured things to be here.

I'm not about to give up at this moment. If all three stones gave out a green light, then I passed, but if they all turned red, then it had sensed danger.

I took a deep breath as the spirit of the stones was called upon by the queens. I was getting anxious every minute. A powerful wind came dancing from a distance as it approached me and danced in circles around me.

I felt the power of each of the stones as they mixed with the wind, moving in and out of my body as I waited anxiously for one to settle with me.

Siofra's POV

I pushed my way through the cloud as I stood a few metres from Alma, who was surrounded by the wind. Just like in my vision, the wind surrounding her turned peach black. The stones that were once placed in a triangular shape around her were raised and danced around her.

The stones turned red as a powerful force pulled them all apart, including the wind. What I didn't expect was the force kicking the stones my way.

I felt my body being hit by the stones as they went inside my body. I was shocked, and so was everyone else. I couldn't understand what was happening, but the wind that was once around Alma came to me as it danced in circles around me.

“Impossible; she was able to absorb all three stones and their powers,” I heard someone say. I turned, looking for someone who might have owned the voice, but then again, I was alone.

The cloud that was once gathered around me was gone. I find myself in an empty room with no door or window. What is happening?

“Are you saying we are all possessing one body?” I heard another voice ask.

“Wow, this has never happened in decades. What was it called again?” There were too many voices.

“Hello!! Is there anyone there?” I asked in a state of confusion.

“Wait, she can't see us? This is rather disappointing.” Another voice said, I couldn't pin out a voice or recognise any of it.

“Someone help me out of here!!” I cried out as I began to panic. I hate closed spaces; I don't think I will survive long in here. I began to run around the room, looking for an exit.

“Do you think we should help her? She looks really confused and scared.”

“This is part of the process she has to undergo; now I want everyone to be quiet; you are distracting her.” 

Who are these people who keep talking to me in the shadows? 

“Siofra, Siofra.” The voice, the one that called out for me while I was doing the dance with Alma, was still calling out for me. Listening closely, I could hear it so close to me, but when I turned, I was alone.

“Show yourself!!” I screamed out, getting angry at the whole situation. Why won't they show themselves? Everywhere went dead quiet; the darkroom was beginning to suffocate me. Just when I thought I might go crazy, a blinding light swung from across the room as a door appeared.

I quickly rushed towards the door and pushed it open. The light became so bright that I had to close my eyes due to its brightness.

"Welcome.” On hearing another voice just behind me, I let out a sigh, thinking it was another voice playing tricks with me.

“I think you might want to open your eyes." The voice came again. I slightly opened my eyes and met a field of green plants and trees. Wow, this place looks so beautiful, with the beautiful flowers dashing their colours out as they shone with the sun. 

The birds hummed a beautiful song as they flew around the trees.

“Surprised?” I turned immediately. I felt a presence around me. The lady I saw standing behind me had a beautiful smile on her face. She was dressed in a gown that was made of flowers. I just couldn't describe the gown's design since it looked like a flower tree, and on her shoulder were birds.

They looked so comfortable, like the lady standing in front of me was their comfort and home. Her crystal green eyes stared down at mine. Her hair fell all the way from her shoulders to her lower hips. They were as white as snow or a clear sky.

“It seems you are still confused. Come with me; the others are waiting.”

“Wait, what? Who are the others, and what is this place? Why am I even here?” I asked, finally recovering my voice.

“You will see; come with me,” she said, and she started heading deep into the forest. I was left in between going back to the dark room and following this lady.

After pondering within myself, I decided to follow her. I really don't think I can go back into that creepy room.

“Wait up!” I called after her as I ran towards her, trying to keep up with her fast pace.

“Can you at least tell me where you are taking me?” I said to her when I successfully caught up to her.

“It is called the gifted forest or the forest of the gifted. Every single tree you see here has its own purpose, and if you notice, you will see that no tree has a supporting one. They each have their own purpose, which makes them appear just on their own.

And today, you happen to appear in our garden with three supporting trees with you. That hasn't happened in years, so we are all excited to welcome you.”

I wasn't able to grab everything she said; I think I got lost when she was still explaining about the forest.

“Excuse me, do you say I appeared in your garden?”

“Yes, that's why you are here. You might need to focus all your attention in that direction,” she said, pointing towards a particular tree.

At first, I couldn't see anything until I looked closely. What I saw had my mouth dropping to the ground.