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The rest of the council gasped at what Jago just said. He just threatened to kill Terriona’s heir! —but as hard as they might try, the council knew that if it comes to worst, no one could even par with the guardian’s power-not even the tribe leader. He was a gift from the Gods to protect the true king of Titania—obviously, he was given enough power to achieve his purpose.

“Ellia restrain yourself! I told you so many times not to call her that! You knew not of what happened sixteen summers ago—so you better shut yourself up before you throw all of us to eternal damnation!” Kygo exclaimed sternly as he went to his daughter’s side. Ellia flinched at the scolding—obviously ashamed of being shouted at in public, after all, you don’t see royalties getting scolded quite often in public.
“If what you’re saying is true, then she is not truly my sister?” Cyclone almost whispered in pain. Hurricane stiffened at that. She turned to stare at her brother who in return was glaring at Jago, waiting for an answer to his question.
“Not by blood, yes,” Jago confessed drily. This caused everyone from the Blacksmith family to gasp in surprise. It couldn’t be! They all grew up together—what this winged creature was feeding them lies!
“Oh, God! Stop whatever it is that you are doing! Stop feeding us lies! We honestly don’t know why we are here in the first place, and we are sorry for intruding on your peace, but please stop ruining my family.” It was Jade who broke her silence. She was full out on crying now along with Yellow, Mint, and Aqua who seemed to share the same sentiments. Lucy and Emman seemed to be shocked at the situation and decided not to interfere in case they cause more trouble.
“I could provide you a proof, elemental—but it shall cost you a lot. Jago told the sobbing Jade. All of them turned to stare at the creature. Some of them were even considering the option just to clear things up.
“What proof are you talking about?” Jethro asked this time. Upon taking the attention to himself, Grub who was sitting beside him, stiffened in fear. Grub thought he will be found out by the council, but alas! They seemed to be more caught up in the Blacksmith family’s issue to even notice him!
“What you lost shall be given back to you.”
“Oh, I have no time for this rubbish!!! Stop talking cryptically and tell us straight up what you mean!” Hurricane hissed in anger. She was obviously beyond her limits, even counting up to ten or even to a million won’t easily calm her down like what her shrink always tells her to do. This won’t do, she thought to herself. She needs to calm herself down before she ruins their chance at getting out of here.
“What you lost is your memories,” Jago replied somewhat annoyed with the way Hurricane was treating him. Anyone could tell the noble guardian’s ego was hurt at Hurricane’s blatant display of disrespect.
“Oh please! What memories are you talking about? Do you really think we will be fooled that easily? And what is this proof you are speaking of? Give it to me and I’ll show you—you’re all wrong!” Hurricane all but shouted. Jade, Cyclone, and the others all looked at each other worriedly.
Jago rolled his eyes in an irate manner before replying, “I will. But it has to be all eight of you who have to drink the potion. Those two are excluded.” He said while pointing Emman and Lucy with his snout. This had them frowning. Why?
“Why?” Jullian voiced out.
“Because they are not part of the prophecy. They do not have stolen memories like all eight of you did.”
“Not part of the prophecy? How sure are you that all eight of us are even part of it? If it is indeed true, that is.” Jullian asked again.
“We’ll do it. On one condition.” Cyclone muttered in a clipped tone his statement was directed at the tribe leader.
“What is it, child?” Kygo asked in return.
“No one in my family will get hurt.”
“Okay, your will shall be done. You have my word.” The tribe leader said.
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After the tribal leader retrieved the potions from the pouch, like Jago has asked him to—they all lined up in a horizontal manner, all readying themselves of what may come. Emman, Lucy, and Grub remained in their seats—all feeling terrible at the situation their cousins were about to overcome.
One by one, they were given a rounded vial with sea blue-colored liquid inside. Mint shook the bottle as if to test if it would bubble over and explode or something else, but it did none of the above. Occasional froth could be seen inside the vial. She brought the vial on eye level and was shocked when she noticed what was inside—it was a portion of the sea! The occasional froths that she saw on a distance view were caused by wild waves of stormy water. She shared this knowledge with her sisters and cousins, and together they gaped at the vial in awe. They were so mesmerized that they temporarily forgot the dread feeling they have on what they were about to do.
“It’s the sea!” Jethro squealed excitedly. Jullian whacked her brother on the head, he was acting like a kid once again.
“Oh my God! What do you call this thing? Wait—don’t tell me it’s called the Sea of Memories or something?” Mint asked-uncertain of her answer.
Jago, along with the council stared at her as if she were indeed right.
“Oh, shit! I’m right?” She mumbled in a small voice. Jago nodded, and this caused Mint to blush beet red.
“You are indeed right, elemental. That vial you all hold in your hands is called the sea of memories. In fact, it came from the tribe where one of you came from, Aquilica the water tribe.” Jago admitted good-naturedly. Jade, Mint, and the others stiffened at that announcement. What? Is he going to say they weren’t true sisters next? Hurricane noticed the tension wafting in the air—it was straining her cousins, just as it has to Cyclone and herself. After what Jago told her brother less than an hour ago, Cyclone acted aloof and refrained from talking to Hurricane—and this pains her more than anything.

“So what? We just going to stand here and chat all day?” Hurricane interrupted their talk to divert the attention on her. Jago frowned at how Hurricane’s been acting like she’s not herself—then he noticed her throwing her cousin Jade a look as if saying ‘I got this’. A surge of pride rushed through him that the thought almost made him smile. (A lion smiling? Scary* Q__Q)
“Impatience won’t get you nowhere but fruitless ventures, your highness.” Jago retorted calmly.
“I don’t care. What I do know, however, is that ‘Time is gold’ therefore, it matters. So, shall we?” She quipped sarcastically then proceeded to open the cork lid that closed the vial. Her cousins all followed the act simultaneously.
Jethro being the impatient-excited kid that he is, drank the potion the moment he opened the vial. Then he let out a refreshing “Ahhh…” like he’s in a soft drink commercial or something.
“It tastes like coke!” He blurted happily. Since nothing seems to be happening to him—they all copied the act and drank their own vial of potion. But each one of them had different opinions on what it tastes like.
“Blegh! It’s so bitter like that double-shot espresso dad used to drink.” Aquamarine screeched after gulping the whole thing down.
“Why does it taste like a strawberry milkshake?” Yellow commented next.

“Hmm… just like an energy drink,” Mint said next.
“That is because that potion, the Sea of Memories evokes lost memories that left a strong impact on you. For sure that is the reason you tasted something that has left quite an impact to your memories. ” Kamilos supplied the answer, though no one asked him.
“I feel queasy.” Jethro suddenly announced. Suddenly he got both hands covering his head before falling into a fetal position and started writhing in agony.
This caused the lot to panic. Soon one by one they dropped to the floor, all clutching their heads. Some of them—like Mint, Aqua, Yellow, and Jullian-were wailing as intense pain hit them.
Hurricane threw Jago a betrayed look before spasms overtook her—that had her clutching her head as gravity dragged her to the ground next to her cousins. She felt like fighting over the pain, but it was too much to bear… she helplessly stared at everyone before darkness embraced her.
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