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A week has passed since the supposed secret mission to summon the late King Hanson’s guardian Jago, but there was still no news of his arrival yet—and this has bothered the older Blacksmith kids to the point of aggravation. Though Kamilos has been quite the accommodating host towards them, he still changes the subject when the conversation is steered towards the topic about the prophecy by subtly telling them that their questions should be answered the moment Jago arrived at Terriona, but a week is too long enough to wait for Hurricane and the others.
Surprisingly enough, they had also adapted to the way of living in Terriona. Though Aquamarine is still fussy with the choice of food she eats sometimes, she’s been eating quite regularly with the other kids. Yellow and Lucy too had made friends with the other supernatural creatures.
Yellow’s currently teaching them the art of beautifying oneself, and surprisingly, it has been a trend to the pixies and fairies now. Multi-colored braided hairs and fashionable garbs could be seen being donned by the creatures as they sauntered at the nightly gatherings of Terriona.

Jethro, Cyclone, Hurricane, Jullian, Mint, Aqua, and Emman on the other hand, chose to learn with the elves in the art of battle. Occasionally, King Gunther also invites all of them to go hunting with them—which they sometimes accept but they always go with Kamilos around to supervise them.
As of the moment, Cyclone is mastering both long and close-ranged bows with the bow masters of the elven kingdom. Jethro and Jullian had the same peculiar choice of weapon, a scythe in which one of the elves also obliged in teaching them how to use it. Mint and Aqua along with Hurricane and Emman were learning hand-to-hand combat with some of the great fighters of the elven tribe.
They were also taught how to handle and fight with the use of bows and swords while periodically given practical trials to test their reflexes in emergency situations where their last resort is to fight.
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Meanwhile, it seems that Terriona’s crowned Princess caught wind at the rumors of Jade being her childhood best friend, Jade, and was intent on cornering her to talk—and by talking she means forcing the truth out of Jade, which Jade, on the other hand, is not ready yet. That is why she’s currently hiding from Ellia who’s also hell-bent on finding her.
Jade’s instinct seemed to be failing her. Everywhere her instinct tells her to go, Ellia keeps showing up like she knew Jade would be there and as much as it bothers her, it’s also confusing her to no end. How much does this princess know her? And is she really THE Jade the princess wants her to be?
“Jade, I know you’re there! Remember? I recognize prints, and it tells me your presence is still here.” Ellia called out in the middle of the forest. Jade almost groaned aloud. Dear Gods, this woman has no sense of privacy! She’s so annoying! Jade thought in annoyance. Instead of prolonging her agony of concealing herself beneath the thorny bushes, she decided to give the chase up and confront the princess finally. She went out of her hiding place with a scowl imprinted on her face.
“Why are you so persistent? I don’t have the answers too okay. I am in the same predicament as my cousins, I don’t know you or any of these people here. Hell, I can’t even remember being here my whole life!” Jade ranted in frustration. This seems to shock the princess. The Jade she knew was so meek that the thought of shouting at others terrified her. The princess shook her head in confusion.
“No, you are right. You are not the Jade I know, the one I grew up with—but you must be if what they say is right!” Ellia sputtered out.
This was not going the way she planned it to be! It was supposed to be a fruitful confrontation between friends... a reunion—but this, this is a sham!
“What they say? Hell, I don’t give a damn what they say! Ever since we came to this place, I’ve been nothing but terrified! I’m frustrated that no one seems to believe us! I’m angry that no one gives us the answer we need to know why we are in this situation in the first place!” screamed in anger. She seemed to be beyond caring if she’s screaming the princess’s ear off for all she’s thinking about is to release all the frustration that’s been pent up for so long.
“Why didn’t you say so in the beginning?” the bi-polar princess retorted.
“Are you for real? I’ve been ranting it out to everyone all this time!”

“How could I ever know? I wasn’t at the council meeting remember. I was barred from it the moment father knew of my secret trip to the infinite forest.” The princess mumbled with an exaggerated eye-roll.
“Why were you there in the first place anyway? You know, you are the shadiest person I know in my entire existence. I mean, why in the world would a princess be found inside a dungeon if she’s not even convicted to be there?”
“Excuse me? I am not the shadiest! Well, compared to Kamilos that is… God knows how shady that old man could get. But to satisfy your curiosity darling—I was there because I got a lead that my friend Jade—who coincidentally has the same name as you, was found there by some of the prisoners. I only realized too late that it was to lure me inside that blasted forest to kill me as revenge to my father who granted them a lifetime of imprisonment.” Princess Ellia admitted lightly.
Jade frowned upon the confession Ellia disclosed with her. So, the princess was there to find her friend Jade? The one who concurrently she shared a namesake with?
“So, your father imprisoned those lot? Man, now I know how you got pinned on that web! You were ambushed, weren’t you? That should teach you not to easily trust everyone. For a person in your position, you sure do live recklessly.” Jade replied with a dubious smile. The little spitfire in front of her is proving to be quite the character.
“You’re one to say!” the princess stated with a malicious smile. It felt as if she knew something Jade don’t—something vital. And this caused Jade’s brain to overthink once again. She seems to be doing a lot of that lately.
“What are you trying to mean?” Jade asked cautiously.
“That golem that you easily accepted within your group…” Princess Ellia began with a taunting smile. She was deliberately teasing Jade to take the bait—and Jade knew it. But it was painful not knowing something that could possibly harm her family. And with the way the princess was smiling at her as if adopting the golem was really a case of bad decision on their part.
“Why? What about him?” Jade countered challengingly. She wanted answers, but she’s not going to get it by playing the princess’s games—well, not if she could help it. It had to be the other way around for her family’s sake, all she had to do was play it cool.
“Keep your head grounded, daughter of the earth. Fighting with words, kill faster than swords. Words uttered by rage kill far more than races and spill more than blood.” That deep subconscious voice in Jade’s head spoke yet again. Her subconscious voice was indeed right, she would only cause more trouble if she let her anger and frustrations rule over her head. Head over heart… that’s what her mother always tell her in these situations.
“Did you ever wonder why or how that adorable creature got stuck in that place?” Ellia asked tauntingly.
“Does it even matter? Kindness comes in all shapes and matters; we accepted the orphaned golem out of kindness. Plus, he’s harmless enough.”
“Harmless? Are you deluding yourselves? That creature was in there for a reason. In fact, a very legit reason for that matter.” Princess Ellia scoffed in disbelief.
“Why so cryptic princess? You could’ve just given me straight answers.” Jade retorted.
“And spare you the trouble of finding out for yourselves? Where’s the fun in that?” the princess replied arrogantly. Jade was about to give a sassy remark when a giggly fairy materialized out of nowhere. She was obviously influenced by the trend Yellow and Lucy’s been spreading, because the said fairy was sporting an ombre cobalt and teal hair color. She also donned a sparkly blue dress that glimmers with every move she makes. It must be the fairy dust… Jade pondered on the thought.
“Your highness, Lady Jade, —the tribe leader request both of your presence, it is needed at the council room.” The blue fairy said in a small thin happy voice after making a curtsy as a sign of respect. Jade frowned after the fairy let out another round of giggles which was abnormally so happy for a creature that portrays happiness. And Lady Jade? Where did that come from? It sounded so posh that Jade wanted to vomit at the thought of being called one.
“Lay off the happy drinks, Azure—how many times do I have to tell you that?” Princess Ellia scolded the simpering fairy. Jade almost smirked upon hearing the princess call the fairy by her given name. Azure, so that’s what the ensemble was all about… how original.
“Well, I am a creature of happiness, princess. It is only natural that I’m happy.” Azure, the fairy reasoned. Jade saw a fleeting sad look past the fairy’s expression, but it was swiftly wiped away and changed into an overly exuberant one.
“Ugh! Stop fooling yourself okay? Happy drinks do not mend broken hearts! That reminds me, I need to find a way to get some of those choco-whatever it is from that brat, it seems to be a valuable find.” Ellia muttered in frustration. Jade threw her a suspicious look. Did she mean chocolates, perhaps? Jade shook her head at the thought. It’s impossible, this was not earth… unless…
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“Ah, there you are!” Kamilos greeted happily the newcomers. It was Jade and the stuck-up princess.
The council members, tribe leader, and the visitor were yet to arrive at the courtroom. Emman could tell his cousins were anticipating the grand reveal—even he himself felt anxious at the thought. It seems that the answers that they will get from meeting the King’s guardian will change their lives drastically—not that it did not happen already, but the type of change that none of them would ever foresee.
It did not escape Emman when Jade threw Grub a suspicious look before taking the empty seat beside him. Now the golem was seated in between Jethro and Jade, who’s still intent on glaring holes at his rocky head. Emman elbowed Hurricane who was sitting beside him and pointed at Jade,
“What does it look like to you?” Emman cryptically asked Hurricane. Hurricane smirked at the child—here was the punished one, forgetting he was barred from talking—the punishment lifted only a few days ago. But instead of berating him, she complied and indeed noticed an odd scene.
“Jade knows something about Grub that we don’t,” Hurricane answered. That just amplified his growing suspicion that Jade has indeed found something about the garden golem that they kept with them. He could only wish it weren’t bad, after all, Grub’s been adorably close to all of them in the little time they’ve been together.
“Thought the same too...” Emman trailed off as the council along with a big winged lion came walking into the courtroom. The door slammed shut immediately the moment the winged-lion creature completely entered the vicinity.
Jade felt Grub squirmed at the sight of the council. This made her frown at the golem beside her—her suspicions escalating quickly with the weird actions of the golem. Why would he be scared of the council? Is this the reason Grub has this unexplainable tendency to suddenly disappear to thin air this whole week whenever her cousins hang out with the Fairies, train battle with the Elves, or hunt with the Dwarves? Is he hiding from the council? Or just playing hooky?
“You all had a pleasant morning I presume?” Kygo began with a small smile. Both he and the lion creature stood in all fours while the rest of the room is already comfortably seated at their places.
A chorus of agreements was heard among the Blacksmiths, it was obvious that they were already comfortable at the thought of staying in Terriona. But it was a different case with Jade and the princess who still hasn’t resolved their dispute, and Grub who obviously has an issue with the esteemed council.
“Everyone, you must know why your presence is needed here right now. And that is for us to clarify if you children really are the children foretold in the prophecy as we thought, or just mere lost kids. After then shall we determine your fates.” Kygo calmly said while throwing all of them a small smile.
Hurricane stared at the winged-lion creature, who stood in all fours—looking all honorable and authoritative like the noble creature that he is. Jago, the late King’s guardian, was said to be the strongest of all the guardians.
“You need not ask me who they are, tribe leader. I could affirm that these children are indeed those children the priestess took with her to that safe place. But I precisely remember there were only eight of them and not ten.” Jago said in a clipped tone. The council was alarmed at that. They were looking at each other as if silently relaying messages.
Seeing as the council would make their move soon, Hurricane stood up to divert their attention to more important matters at hand. Before the council decides what to do with them, she has to press them with answers they need first. Then she and her cousins would make do with the answers they get and plan how to flee this place.
“Now that our identities are already confirmed, does this mean you will answer all our questions now?” Hurricane interjected.
“By questions, you mean what child?” Jago asked in an amused tone. Hurricane bristled. The guardian was obviously underrating her.
“Who are you? Who are they? And why are we here?” This caused the winged lion creature to chuckle in amusement.
“Always straight to the point, I see. You never changed princess.” Jago commented cryptically. Hurricane was getting aggravated at the creature for skirting around her questions.
“I am Jago, the guardian of Titania’s true Kings. Obviously, this council is the ones who run the earth tribe which is one of the six continents of Titania.” Jago uttered upon seeing Hurricane’s scowl forming.
“True Kings? You mean there are many of them?” Hurricane couldn’t help but ask.
“Indeed, there are, and I’ve served all of them. The last one was your father—the late King Hanson. A great king he was. And now, you.”
“What me? And what do you mean by my father being King Hanson? Are you joking with me right now? I know my father and he isn’t the man you’re telling me he is. He is back there at earth searching for Grandma Isadora.” Hurricane retorted in confusion and anger.
“I never play with truth child. Since you are the remaining one alive from King Hanson’s bloodline, you are the next heir to the kingdom of Titania. Therefore, that makes you the next Queen, and I, your guardian.” Jago confessed.
“What lies are you trying to tell us? Are we being punked or something? Maybe this is all filmed, right? Ha-ha-ha! You’re caught now! Where are the staff? The cameramen? Anyone? Man, am I in Hollywood or something?” Mint couldn’t help but interject. All this news was overwhelming all of them—all they’re trying to do was ask for answers-not get into a more complicated situation.
“So, she is the Blood Queen, right? Why I never saw that one coming.” Ellia commented with an ugly smirk while pointing at the now confused Hurricane.
“ELLIA!!!!” All of the council shouted in aghast. It was obviously a great sin to go against the royal family, but mocking the heir that will rule the whole world? It is considered a mortal sin in itself. They thought the queen herself would berate the willful princess, but they thought wrong… She did nothing—instead, Hurricane was staring at Ellia-wondering what she has done to anger the princess so much. Then there it was… Jade, the princess’s beloved friend.
Jago darkly chuckled the princess before him—
“Do you know what you just did child? You just mocked the one that will rule even the kingdom you treasure so much. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. As the guardian of the true kings, I will only follow what the true heir will command of me. Even if it means killing the ones who harm them. Remember child, words kill faster than a sword.”