The Crystal by Jones M (the chimp paradox .txt) 📕

told to be ready by six in the morning. That was the time that we were set to leave Crystalia. Apart from the fear of being defeated by the erwiches, there was the curiosity of what lay behind the mountains. 

Okay, people knew what was behind the mountains. They just forgot what it looked like.

While in the shower, my mind drifted back to the dream I had. Who was Penelope and what was she doing in my dreams? More importantly, what was her background? Who else apart from Eva was related to her, and why wasn't she ever mentioned in the history books?

I got out of the shower, drying myself while looking for clothes to wear. Digging for information on Penelope would have to wait. I had about forty minutes to get ready, and I needed to focus on that as my priority.

Thirty minutes later, I was dressed and ready to leave. I was glad that I was done ten minutes before we left. During that time, I didn't even bother to brush my hair and to apply makeup. I was going to deal with erwiches and erboons, not on some formal party.

I rushed past my bedroom, entered the hallway and went into one of the dining rooms in the castle. Some of the people I knew were already seated. Three seats were left vacant, and one person decided to join us. It was Selena. 

I did not recall arguing with her not to go with the rest of us. I wanted to complain to her about going with us to Eva's castle, but then I realized I would have to go through a back-and-forth conversation that would lead to her winning. So I kept quiet.

Selena, Erick, my mother, the Queen and two guards stared at me before continuing with whatever conversation they were having as they dug in their meals. 

"When did you all wake up?" I asked in disbelief. I expected to be the earliest one, but apparently, I wasn't.

"Good morning to you too, Emery," the Queen said, ignoring my question at first. "Most of us woke up at four."

I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment. There they were: the Queen, the Prince and some of the castle guards. They were all there, having woken up an hour earlier whereas I, the crystal, woke up after them. I wanted to slap myself on the face.

"Why are you standing there, Emery? Join us for breakfast," Erick said with a mouthful of pancakes. I frowned with my lower teeth exposed, disgusted at the action.

Then I smiled at everyone before moving towards one of the empty seats. Once I sat down, a butler came towards my direction with a covered tray. He placed it on the table and uncovered it. I was hit by the wonderful aroma of pancakes.

"You need to eat, Emery. We have miles to walk to reach Eva's castle," Erick said in the middle of his breakfast. My face contorted into a look of confusion.

"What?"

"Oh, you didn't know?" he asked. "There's a possibility that erboons are patrolling around the mountains. Part of our journey will involve going by foot, especially before we reach the exterior of the rocky surfaces. They may be able to smell our magic if we use it."

I wanted to groan. I did not sign up for an additional unwanted foot trip to Eva's castle. But what can one do when they're a crystal? Responsibility apparently comes before luxury.

Dragging my attention from the information I was given, I poured chocolate syrup and sprayed whipped cream over my pancakes, getting ready to devour the meal.

Everyone was quiet for the moment as they ingested the food served on the table. My eyes traveled around every face in the dining room. I couldn't help but notice that some faces were missing. There were two empty chairs around the table. Who were they reserved for?

"Hey guys," Liam said as he and Ethan entered the room. At first, I was confused by their presence. Then my eyes widened in comprehension as the memories of the previous day replayed in my mind. 

At the time, both Ethan and Liam wore black jackets. While Liam had a lime-green undershirt, Ethan had worn a blue one. They had also worn a dark blue pair of jeans and a black pair of jeans respectively.

"Your Majesties," Liam said as he bowed, making Ethan feel clueless. Then Ethan shot up and copied his friend as they both bowed before standing to face us.

"Ethan, Liam! How good it is that you decided to join Emery on her first mission. Come, sit. Eat with us," the Queen beckoned the two, leaving me shocked.

I couldn't believe I allowed them to join the rest of us.

"Oh come now, Emery. It doesn't hurt to be hospitable once in a while," the Queen stated, leaving me gobsmacked. I forgot she could read my feelings and my mind.

"It's okay, your Majesty. We ate before coming here."

Damn it! Even they got up earlier before me. But then, they are boys. They could have gotten up like I did and rushed with their morning routines before eating.

Once the rest and I were done with breakfast, apart from the two members of the Ordinary Brothers, some of us went to get our bags. I got into my room and took mine before going back downstairs and heading outside the castle.

Once I was outside the building, I looked upwards towards the sky. It seemed to have brightened. Then I looked down at my wrist watch. It read 6:10, which meant we had to hurry if we wanted to be done with what we planned.

"Emery!" Erick called out to me. I turned to face him, seeing that he was with the others. Selena was talking to Liam and Ethan while the two guards joining us conversed amongst themselves.

"What do you think about all this?" he asked, motioning his hands over the people who were coming with us.

"This seems like an alternative version of an African safari," I commented, making him laugh.

"No, seriously. While we will be guaranteed safety in the former, this one looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Not only will I have to worry about my safety, but I would also have to worry about yours, Selena's, my mom's, and unexpectedly, the boys'."

"What about the guards?" he asked. I shrugged with nonchalance, making him laugh again.

"They are guards. They are trained in the field of weaponry and protection."

"And you think the rest of us aren't?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Well, I can agree if you mention Liam and Ethan, but the rest of us? You should not have to worry about us. We are all witches, and we have our powers. Okay?"

I pondered over his point in my mind. Even if he was a witch, he should have known that he was not immortal. Anything could happen to him. However, I didn't want to argue in the morning and jinx things up. So I nodded.

"Good."

The Queen walked towards us with a couple of her servants. Her expression was serious, and it did not help the nerves I had about the journey.

"Hello, fellow Crystalians. You all have witnessed the erboons' peculiar behavior, and you know what you have agreed to do. We do not know what you will see in the journey before you. I just want you to be careful. Keep an eye on your surroundings and on everyone around you," she told us, the rest of us nodding in acceptance.

My mother made her appearance as she approached.

"Mom!" I greeted her. We smiled as we hugged in greeting.

"Are you sure you want to come along?" I asked her once we retracted the hug. She smiled at me.

"Don't worry about me, Emery. What you should worry about is the task ahead of us."

"Mom—"

"I'll be okay. Don't worry," she cut me off before going to the Queen.

"We'll be going by carpet," one of the guards announced. My eyebrows furrowed.

"But wouldn't that make us noticed?" I inquired.

"It will if we are very near the mountains. We'll stop a mile away from them."

One of the servants that came with the Queen teleported two carpets to us. They landed on the ground, and I noticed they were both lime-green. They even resembled grass.

What were they going to do? It's not like they could fly like in the movie Aladdin.

Then, within a second, they levitated a few feet off the ground. 

"I have to ask," Liam said. "Why carpets?"

"They are fast and they can take us to the mountains without us wasting our energy to the walk there. Besides, we may be able to use them again once we reach the other side of the raised rocky grounds," the other guard stated.

"Not a bad idea," Ethan commented. "But how do we drive these things?"

One minute later, we were all aboard on the carpets. The guards were the ones who knew how to operate the damn things, and so they sat at the front.

I sat with the boys while Erick sat with my mother and Selena.

"Are you all ready?" the Queen asked. "Okay. You all have to be invisible. You will only be able to see each other and your things, that's for sure," the Queen said as she threw stardust over every one of us. "The effects will wear off once you reach the mountains. We wouldn't want the erboons to spot you."

Everyone adjusted their luggage on the carpet. Unexpectedly, the carpets rose another foot off the ground.

"Alright. Have a safe journey, and good luck in the task ahead all of you," the Queen said. 

In an instant, the carpet rose high in the air with Erick's mother staring at us. Then the carpet moved towards our destination.

 

Ethan's P.O.V

Liam and I had told the rest of our bandmates that we wanted to join Emery in her adventure to Eva's castle. Recalling the events that led us to discover Crystalia, they decided against it. They had plans to visit their families. So that left Liam and me among the other six people who were going with Emery.

The carpets were moving at a quick pace. I felt like I was in a car but without the actual car body. I could have enjoyed the scenery around us if I was not clinging onto the guard flying the magic carpet for dear life like a parasitic host. I was afraid of falling because there were no handles on the enchanted object.

"Ethan," Emery tried to calm me down. "You won't fall. Now, be a good person and let go of the guard."

I did not listen at first. I unlatched my hands from the man's torso and slowly retracted them. The carpet suddenly lowered, making me hold onto the person again.

"Relax, Ethan," Liam joined Emery in trying to calm me down. "We aren't that high up. We are all safe," with that, I began to slowly retract my hold from the guard. We seemed to have gone a bit high again when I held onto the driver again.

"To be honest, I would think that you were gay," Emery said, making me sputter in shock. That comment was enough to have me let go of the guard.

"Don't stop on my watch. I get it. You fancy Brian," Emery said, fueling my embarrassment. I heard the guard driving the carpet rumble with laughter, making me blush.

"I am not gay!" I responded.

"How are you holding up there?" Prince Erick shouted, directing our attention to him. He was on the other carpet that was beside us.

"We're fine!" Emery shouted back.

"Hey, weren't you supposed to be quiet on this trip?" I asked Emery.

"Oh, please," she stated with a roll of her eyes. "We are far from the mountains. I doubt the erboons can hear us from here."

Other conversations started before they ended minutes later. I turned my attention to the ground below. It turned out that Emery was right. We weren't that far high. In fact, we were low enough to touch the tall grass below us.

The grass species below us were of a different variety. They were shades of green and