Chapter 72: A TASK

“Grandma I don't know what to do. I don't even know how to save Álfheimr.”

“You don't need to know how; just let the spirit lead you. You know, the power of the stone doesn't need struggles; it comes to you naturally. But I can see you have been struggling too hard to get it.”

“What do I do? How do I get my body back?” 

“Siofra, have you considered that maybe there was a reason you entered a human's body instead of an elf?

Alma is after all stones; she has been travelling from villages to villages to capture the chiefs and then the queens.”

“But I thought the queens were supposed to fight her off easily.”

“No one can fight the power of the black stone and Almaruda combined together. It's a suicide mission. But if we work together, it can be possible.” 

“How do we know what we need to do to stop Alma?”

"First, you need to hide your stones. I have been keeping them safe for too long. Alma will soon come for me to ask for the stones. I want you to keep them in the human realm; that is the only place she cannot find them.” Grandma said, placing the stones in my hand. I stare at the crystal-green stones in my hand as I void within myself to protect them.

“How do I stop Alma?” 

“We will get there, Siofra; let's wait for the others to join us.” 

“The others?”

“Yes, you five are the only people I can trust.” Just then, Eldarion and Albina walked in, followed by Elba and Alda.

"Let's get straight to the point. Eldarion, get the map to the palace and that of the armies.” He did as Grandma said, handling her two scrolls. 

“Everyone gather around me; I have a task for each of you.” We all gathered around her as she opened the first scroll.

“This is the map to the palace; it holds all the hideouts or secret passageways. It can help us know how to get inside the palace and get out without getting spotted by Alma’s armies.

“Eldarion and Albina, your task is to get Siofra's body out of the palace and come back safe and sound.”

“Can I get someone other than my sister.?” Eldarion asked.

“No, you both will have to learn how to work together, and working together means being able to stand each other.” Elba said.

“But why do you hate working with me so much?”

“Do I need to spell it out to you?” I watched as they glared at each other. Why does it feel like we are already experiencing a world war? 

"Okay, that's enough.” Elba said, hitting her hand against the table. Grandma just stood and waited for the noise to die out before she continued.

“Elba, I need you to go into the place as a servant, find Alma’s most trusted servant, and make yourself look like that person. I want you to find a book with the title “The Black Book" written on its cover.” Grandma said, leaving me confused.

“I'm sorry, but what did you just ask her to do?”

“To make herself look like Alma's trusted servant.” Grandma casually replied. I stared at Elba, and then she smirked at me.

“I told you I have many powers,” she said. I just couldn't wrap my mind around the meaning of her words.

“To look like her trusted servant,” I mumbled to myself.

“Siofra I have already given you a task, and that is to keep those stones safe. What's your name, dear?” Grandma asked, turning to Alda.

“My name is Alda.”

“Alda, this task is for the both of you. Please help Siofra guard those stones. Alma can never get her hands on those stones, and I also want to thank you for accepting Siofra and guiding her in your body.”

“I should be the one thanking her for saving my life. I will make sure we both guard the stones with our lives.”

“Elba, you have the most difficult task because you are the strongest among them so far. I want all five of you to be vigilant. Siofra, it's almost time for you to go back to the human realm, but before that, Elba will take you to someone you need to meet, a prisoner. You all are dismissed.”

I wanted to ask more questions since I was still confused. Like, why does Elba need to risk her life just to get a book, and how is this book supposed to help stop Alma? But I remembered Elba’s words about being vigilant.

“Come with me, but you better say your goodbyes to your grandmother before you leave; you might not have enough time to come back to do so.” Elba said to me, She has a way of being annoying and caring at the same time.

“Grandma, I still have piles of questions to ask, but I guess I will just leave it until my next visit. Take care of yourself until I get back.”

“I will be fine, but remember not to force the powers to come to you; just let it flow.”

“Even though I didn't understand a thing you said, I will still try.” I hugged her before I followed Elba out. She took us a little into the woods before we found a cabin sitting in the middle of the woods.

There were about four elves guarding the area.

“Who exactly are we meeting?” 

“Someone you probably hate the most in the world.” Elba replied, getting me more confused. I wonder why she can never be straight-forward about something.

“Wait here; I will bring her to you.” She said. She left me in an empty room as I tried to figure out who I was about to meet.

Elba came back with a girl, a little bit younger than I am. Her hands and legs were chained as Elba dragged her out, pushing her down on the floor. I couldn't see her face since she had her hair all over her face.

“Who is she?” I asked Elba.

“Why don't you ask her yourself?” Elba yanked her by the hair, reviewing her face for me. The face in front of me was unfamiliar. I have never seen her in my life.

“I don't think I know her.”

“That's because she is a shapeshifter and, at the same time, a witch. She took the form of the powerful witch Hama, and she worked alongside your sister to separate you from your body.” My mouth nearly dropped wide open.

“How is this even possible?”

“I found her in the woods, where Alma left her to die after taking her powers.”

“I'm sorry. I'm really sorry that I did that to you, but I had no option. All I wanted was to be accepted into Álfheimr like every other elf. I never took anyone’s identity; I only made myself look like my mum just so I would be feared.

After my mum died, it was just me and this big, scary world. I did what I thought was right so I could survive.” 

Elba yanked her up by the hair and slapped her hard across the face.

“No one fucking asked you to tell your life story. You helped her obtain the black stone, knowing the trouble that it would cost us.”

“Elba stop!” I said, stopping her before she could hit her again. She pushed her back to the ground and stormed off, leaving me alone with her.

“Apart from helping my sister with that spell, what other thing did you help her with?”

“There was this book called the Black Book. It contains all the strongest spells and magic. I just helped her read an instruction out of the book, nothing more.”

“Instructions about what?”

“If I tell you, will you let me out of here?”

“I will put some words for you.”

“Then come closer." I took a few steps towards her before squatting down so I could hear her properly.

“Move away from her!” Elba’s scream had me jumping back on my feet as I backed away from her. She changed into a big lion; she would have bitten my head off if not for Elba.

“How could you be so reckless!?”

“She tricked me; she told me she knew something about the black book.”

“I told you to be vigilant; instead of asking too many questions, be vigilant!” Elba sounded angry, but she wasn't the only one flaming up in anger. I hate the fact that she has to be right all the time.

I angrily stormed off as I went in search of Alda. I found her with Eldarion and Albina.

“Let's go, Alda.”

“But the portal hasn't appeared yet.”

“It will come in no time.”

Alda's POV

Why was she so angry? Who did she go to meet? I just followed her out as she asked. Just like she said, it didn't take much time for the portal to show up.

Siofra was the first to enter the portal. I took one last look at Elba before going after Siofra.