Chapter 58

Crystal was sitting on the forest floor just a week after the king of Eternia had passed away. The week has been challenging as she had to get fit and according to Elas that does not mean just physical but also mentally fit. 

"Training is done for today," Elas suddenly spoke behind her. Crystal knew immediately she wasn't paying attention and that it could've ended her life.

"Thank you Elas," Crystal replied and walked back to the palace and her first task was to check on the mother dragon.

She laid her eggs just a three days ago and Crystal was surprised to find that several eggs were laid but the once that stood out was the black dragon egg and the snow-white dragon egg.

Crystal was always carefull as to not disturb the mother and only opened her dragon stable door to check on her once a day. 

The elves had there people come over daily to clean and feed the dragons that weren't able to hunt.

Crystal returned to her room where she sat at the desk in her room and studied the material that the elves gave her to learn. She was busy learning of different way's to treat wounds when she heard a dragon land in the palace courtyard. 

She stood up and went to investigate and was surprised to see Prince Leon had returned. Crystal couldn't help but noticed that he somehow changed a bit since she last saw him but what stood out right away was the fact that he refused to look at her but she didn't let it bother her and returned to her studies. 

Prince Leon knocked on her bedroom door later that evening. "I see they have started training you?" he asked. "Yes, it been a week now, some of it is hard and others easy to understand," Crystal replied. 

"I see, tell me did you know the ancient rainbow dragon was going to kill my father," Prince Leon asked. Crystal looked shocked at Prince Leon as the blood drained from her face. At first, she didn't know what to answer and as the prince turned around she knew she had to say something. 

"No, Prince Leon I did not, all though I did get one of those funny dreams again the morning after it happened. You see the only ancient dragons falling into my care is the keystone ancient dragons, the light ancient dragon and the light ancient dragon," Crystal replied

"You're telling me that you did not help the ancient rainbow dragon to kill my father," Prince Leon asked. "What are you talking about, she wants me dead. Why would I help her?" Crystal asked.

"I don't know Crystal, maybe you are behind everything?" Prince Leon asked. Crystal was shocked and was about to ask what he meant when she saw a guard coming towards them.

"You think I killed your father?" Crystal asked. "Who else could have done it? I trusted you, helped you and this is how you repay me by killing my father!" Prince Leon said. 

"You will be sleeping in the palace dungeon from now on. Also, Elas isn't going to train you anymore. I refuse to let the elves train a killer," Prince Leon said.

Crystal was shocked but for the first time in her life, she opened her mouth and fought back. 

"How can you say that I wasn't anywhere near the ancient rainbow dragon or your father," Crystal yelled as the guards dragged her away. "How would I know, for all I know you could be planning to try and kill me," Prince Leon said. 

"You don't understand, I didn't do it," Crystal shouted but Prince Leon turned around. Cyrstal kept shouting even after the guards chained her up but eventually she couldn't scream or speak anymore. 

She heard Prince Leon telling Elas the next morning that she is responsible for killing his father and she was shocked to hear that Elas agreed with him. She felt frustrated and angry. She could not understand how these things kept happening to her.

Every time she thinks she can trust someone they turn around and hurt her even more than before. Crystal remembered the day she met Lady Fella. 

At first, she was friendly and willing to help her. She even went out of her way to make sure she was comfortable but suddenly changed when she one day locked her up and said she was mixing with the royals again. Crystal couldn't help but wondered if this was her doing. 

Crystal shouted and cried over the next few days that soon turned into weeks. Eventually, she just closed her eyes and listened to the forest. She focused listening to the forest and one day she learned a new skill. 

The skill allowed her to hear birds singing that was very far from her and if she closed her eyes and focused she could see what kind of bird it was. Crystal spends the following days training the skill and soon was even able to tell what was happening within the palace walls. 

Crystal was sleeping one night when she woke up to the prince shouting withing the palace walls. "What do you mean she is innocent? You said you saw her ordering the ancient rainbow dragon to kill my father." 

Crystal was shocked to learn that even though the man confessed about lying the prince didn't believe the messenger and left the palace to find out what the truth was for himself but what shocked her, even more, was that Prince Leon ordered his men to keep her locked up. 

The prince returned days later and she was allowed to go back to her room. Crystal was sitting in the palace courtyard with her eyes closed and listening to the forest. She was angry at how she was treated even though she said it wasn't her. 

Crystal was surprised to learn that Lady Fella was coming for a visit. The truth was that at the moment she didn't want to see anyone. 

She was lucky all the ancient dragons was healthy and that the mother dragon was still there and save. She was grateful but she wised humans wouldn't jump to a guilty conclusion the moment someone tells them a story. Word of mouth can be powerful depending on what was discussed. 

Crystal was waiting for Lady Fella when she landed. "Hello Lady Fella, I see you brought company with you?" Crystal asked. "We came because you don't seem to understand that you are not allowed to mix with the royals," Lady Fella asked. 

Crystal was angry and she didn't notice that it had started to rain. "How can you say that? There is nothing going on between Prince Leon and me in fact ask the guards. He hasn't spoken to me since his father died, "Crystal said but again no one believed her. 

"We came here to warn you if you do not stop this behaviour we will have to lock you up again," an older lady said.

Crystal took a deep breath and said, "You know, I would but you see there is this problem I have, in case you didn't notice I do not have a home!" Crystal shouted. 

"That's not our problem Crystal, you know the rules. The problem is like your great grandmother you chose to ignore them," the old lady said. 

"I don't believe this, you would rather I live out there with no shelter or food then let me have a roof over my head?" Crystal shouted but the old lady would not have any of her shoutings. 

"No wonder, you grew up an orphan, I wouldn't want to raise a child like you. All you know how to do is how to be disrespectful," the old lady said. 

"You have no right to say that, what do you know about me?"Crystal said as she was fighting to hold the tears back. The old lady's words felt like a knife driven threw her hart. It hurt, it hurt to know she was unwanted and unloved during her childhood but she wasn't going to let anyone hurt her again.

"You either leave right now, or we will lock you up again," the old lady said.

 Crystal took a deep breath and said, "The prince is never even here, I don't see what you are so worried about." 

Lady Fella was fed up with Crystal's disrespect and used her powers to bind Crystal to the ground. "If you do not do as we promise there will be very bad consciences as a result of your behaviour," Lady Fella said.

"I have a promise to keep the Ella and Jett and nothing you say will keep me from my job besides Prince Leon was away for his fathers funeral and his family has another residence. That's why I can use this place since they will not come here again," Crystal said. 

"Does it look like we care, you are banned and forbidden to make contact with any royal family's, if we catch you we will punish you for your treason," Lady Fella shouted at Crystal.

"You heard her if you are not gone by nightfall you will be removed by force," the old lady said. 

"Your not even listening to what I am saying, there is nothing going on, the royals are only lending me this house to help me get up on my feet," Crystal desperately tried to defend herself.