Chapter 8

Crystal woke up in her bed, she had just had a horrible dream. Then she realised, it wasn't a dream. She had attacked Ash the night before, but where were the others?

She noticed a hooded figure sitting down on a chair that sat on the far corner.

"It's good to see you again." The figure said.

"Who, who are you?" Crystal asked.

"A friend." He said.

Crystal looked at him, "If you're a friend, take off that hood."

"Certainly." The figure took off his mask, his face was scarred, he wore a necklace almost identical to Crystal's but embedded inside of the locket was a Topaz.

"Father?" Crystal gasped.

Topaz smiled and ran to Crystal with outstretched arms.

"Why did you come here?" Crystal asked.

"To warn you, I was told by the elders to bring you home, now come quickly.."

River walked into the room, she was sweating like crazy. Once she laid eyes on Topaz she rushed into his open arms. Tears rolled down her cheek as she squeezed Topaz tightly.

It was the first time Crystal saw River cry in a long time.

River ran to her father and hugged him tightly.

"Hi honey." Topaz said, "It's great to see you."

"How did you get here, where were you when we needed you most?" River cried

"I was chasing after the leader of the fire realm." Topaz said.

"And Ash?" Crystal asked.

"How did…"

"He told us himself." River said, still holding Topaz tightly.

The rest of the group walked through the door.

Ash gasped. "Wait, is that dad?"

"Don't you dare call him dad!" Crystal said.

"Wait, who now?" Breeze asked.

"It's my adoptive father." Ash said.

Icy and Ripple both looked from Ash to Topaz.

"Why are you here?" Ash asked.

"I was told to bring Crystal back home with the lost mages." Topaz explained.

"Wait, lost mages, like the magical mages?" Breeze asked.

"Wait, like the original mages?" Ash asked, "They were wiped out years ago.���

"Hold on, can you explain, some of us don't know these things." Icy said.

"The magical mages were the very first mages, the gods made two beings, an angel and a devil." Breeze explained.

"Yes, they were the ones who created mages, what else do we not know?" River asked.

"Well, the angel met a human and had a baby, that was the very first mage and he harnessed all the elements." Breeze said.

"Yes, we know the story." Ripple said.

"Shut up Ripple!" Breeze snapped. "Anyways, that mage had children, each harnessed one element."

"And they were the first of our kind." Crystal said.

"Yes, but the dark mage and the magical mages didn't get along, once the mage population started to grow, the dark mages and magic mages went to war," Breeze said. "The water, ice, earth and nature joined the magical while the fire joined the dark, the magical mages knew the fire mages were more experienced, so they sent their fiercest warriors and went to take on the fire and dark mages, they never returned."

"Exactly, anyways they never said I couldn't bring more, so why don't you all come along." Topaz smiled.

"The truth is, we're competing in the ring." Ripple said.

Icy nodded as she held onto Breeze's hand.

"Then all the more reason, the governess and the dark mages are planning to attack the realms, we must hurry." Topaz said running for the door.

The others followed, except for Ash and Crystal.

"Listen, I'm sorry for, you know." Crystal said. She glanced towards Ash. Sure he was part of a community of murderers, and he may have killed her parents but did Crystal have the right to choose his punishment. All of a sudden, death didn't seem like the answer.

She could see Ash glancing right back at her. "I won't forgive you, what you did, it wasn't right." He said as he stormed out of the room.

Crystal grabbed her wand and chased after them.

"Ok, we need to get to the staff room, through the window and into the portal."

"Ok, got it." Ash said.

They snuck past guards and got into the staff room. It was empty except for the governess.

"I've been waiting for you." She said with a sly grin.

"Go, go!" Topaz yelled.

The group ran for the window, they all got into the portal, but as Crystal was about to go in, the governess grabbed her leg. "You aren't going anywhere."

Crystal raised her wand but it was thrown out of her hand by a dark mage.

The dark mage fired a ball of black mist at Crystal.

Crystal moved aside and rached for her wand.

The dark mage jumped down from the window and kicked Crystal's wand aside.

Crystal raised her hands and the rocks flew up into the air.

The dark mage looked up as the rocks rained down on him.

Crystal then grabbed her wand and pointed it at the governess.

The governess raised her arms in defeat.

Crystal hopped into the portal and was amazed. She was in a cave filled with jewels, crystals and minerals.

The others shared the same expression.

River placed her hand on the wall. "It's wonderful father."

"This is the place where all the lightning mages have been hiding?" Breeze asked.

"Yes, and it's rather cozy." someone said.

Crystal turned around.

A young boy with purple hair and the same color eyes sat on a rock.

Breeze gawked at him. "Your a, a-"

"Magic mage, yeah I get that a lot." The boy said.

"You're part of the most powerful mage clan in all of the realms." Breeze said.

"Yeah, I know."

"I'm Breeze, what's your name?" Breeze asked

"I'm Bliss." The boy said.

"So how long have you guys been here?" Ripple asked.

As the others talked about history, Crystal held her wand in her hands. She fiddled with it and threw it up in the air.

"Be careful with that, an earth mage's best friend is their wand," Topaz said with a knowing smile. "But with great power comes great responsibility."

"Do all earth mages have wands?" Crystal asked.

"No, only some of them." Topaz said.

The two of them looked at each other.

Crystal had missed her father, it was tough to be adopted.

"Where did you get the wand?" Crystal asked, pointing to Topaz's necklace.

"I got it from here, these are the jeweled caves, only earth mages can get in here." Topaz said.

"So, if I wanted a new wand."

"You can, that wand didn't choose you, so it won't be at its full potential." Topaz smiled.

Crystal handed Topaz her old wand. She then walked over to the cave wall and closed her eyes.

"Feel each jewel, look for the one that calls to you." Topaz said calmly.

Crystal grabbed a jewel, she tightened her grip on it.

"Yes, I've been chosen!" A voice said.

Crystal opened her eyes.

There was nobody there.

"I'm down here silly." Crystal looked down at the jewel. It was a beautiful round transparent blue stone.

"Hi, I'm your new wand." The voice said again.

Crystal screamed and dropped the jewel. "I am not keeping that."

Topaz laughed. "They all talk, your old wand is talking to me right now."

Crystal looked at the jewel. "What is it?"

"It's an aquamarine, it probably chose you because of your mother." Topaz laughed.

Crystal picked it up and it shifted into a blue transparent wand with a starfish at the end.

"Ooh, you're a daughter of a water mage." The aquamarine said.

"This is going to be awkward." Crystal said.

"Yes Amy, I know you missed me." Topaz said to the amethyst.

"You named it?" Crystal asked.

"Yes, I did." Topaz said.

"What about the ruby?"

"Oh this old thing?" Topaz laughed. "It's my wife's."

Crystal's jaw dropped. "You have a wife?"

"Of course, I was rather lonely."

"Where?" Crystal asked.

"She's down there, in room five."

Crystal bolted down to the rooms.

The caves were really nice, it was like an underground hotel.

She saw room number five and knocked.

An earth mage opened the door. She looked really familiar, then Crystal realized who it was.

"Amber?" Crystal gasped.

"Oh, hi Crystal, your father told us that you were coming." Amber said.

"Us?" Crystal asked.

Amber moved aside.

A young boy, about eight sat on a sofa.

"This is schist." Amber said.

Schist waved shyly at Crystal.

Crystal gasped and left the two of them dumbfounded

Crystal stormed into the room that she and her friends were staying in. She gripped her wand tightly.

"Ow, that hurts." The wand said.

"Shut up!" She snapped.

River gave Crystal a weird look, "Who are you talking to."

"This stupid wand, it keeps talking to me." Crystal explained.

"What?" Breeze said, enthused, "That's so cool!"

"So cool? It's so annoying!" Crystal groaned, exasperated. "And River, we need to talk." She took River by the arm and went into the bathroom.

"So, what's up?" River asked.

"Dad and Amber are married." Crystal said.

"What!" River yelled.

"I know, and they have a son."

"Holy starfish!" River gasped.

"I know and," Crystal stopped. "Wait, holy starfish?"

"Apparently it's a term used by the water mages," River said. "Ripple told me."

Crystal looked at her sister with a puzzled look on her face. "Anyways, his name is Schist."

"Why did dad not tell us?" River asked.

"I don't know?" Crystal said.

Someone opened the bathroom door. It was Ash. He turned red and walked out. "My bad."

Crystal and River both followed Ash out the door.

They found their father talking with their friends.

"What drove everyone here?"

"The governess wants everyone on her side, she eliminated the ice mages because they allegedly 'serve no purpose.'"

Icy cried into Breeze's arm. "My family, my friends."

"Some were able to escape to the aqua realm, that's where they'll be safest." Topaz said.

Icy continued to cry. "Why would that awful woman do such a thing?"

"I think you just answered your own question." Ripple said.

Icy sniffled and hugged River once she came into the room.

"What's wrong?" Crystal asked.

"The governess started her attacks." Icy cried.

"We need to do something." Ripple said.

"Well, there is a reason I brought all of you here." Topaz said with a wink.

"What?" They all said.

"You are some of the best fighters I've ever seen, if you combine all of your skills, you could defeat the Governess, I propose that you guys go on a quest to destroy the dark mages."

"Are you sure?" Crystal asked.

"Yes, now I've packed your bags and everything you'll need."

"Wait, now?" Breeze gasped.

"Yes, now go!"

The travel party walked to the exit of the caves.

"Wait, wait for me!" Someone yelled.

It was Bliss. He sprinted through the cave tunnel.

"What are you doing?" Ash asked.

"I'm coming with you." Bliss said with a smile.

"Are you sure, it's really dangerous." Ripple said.

"I will die for my people," Bliss said and saluted the group.