Abandoned Tear -The Elementals Saga by hima vemula (unputdownable books .TXT) 📕

“Are you still worried about the swim? I told you that won’t happen. I’m here for you.” He snaked his arms around her shoulders and brought her to his side.

“I want you to meet someone.” He said opening his other arm, like a show host announcing the arrival of their guest.

“Jesse…” Lila watched the hot stranger as his glance swept through her entire frame. A slight tremor swept across her frame as he assessed her.

“Jesse… does that ring a bell?” Lila averted her eyes away from him and frowned at Kyle.

“Remember that time, we fought?” Lila looked at him incredulously. They fight every time for everything. Lila made it a point to fight with him at least once in a day. She would miss if they didn’t, at times when they were fighting she would forget all about not having a sibling to quarrel with. To her, Kyle was the brother that she would never have.

“Okay, the time when we hardly spoke to each other for a month?” She punched him squarely in the chest. “I get that you remember it now.” He smiled. “How couldn’t I? Isn’t it because of the boy next door to your house, the one who magically disappeared after a month?” she said. She had no clue why Kyle brought this up after so long. She remembered that it had taken her a whole month to forgive him.

“Meet the boy next door, Jesse.”  He said with a twirl of his hand, like the magician’s would do in the regular world when they conjured up something.

“Jesse meet Lila, the girl I used to talk to you about.” Lila sheepishly met his gaze, he was 6 foot tall towering above her. Lila wasn’t short she stood somewhere around 5’7 and yet she felt small in front of Jesse.

She took his extended hands, she was hit by static too strong. She pulled her hand away, her gaze resting on his full lips. She craned her neck a bit to see if he felt the same. His intense gaze made her uncomfortable in her own skin. “There we are.” Kyle said pointing to a canopy of trees that arched above them, hiding them from the direct sun. Rays of light seeped in through the canopy. The air is filled with mystifying scents of flowers which Lila couldn’t even name. Twitters of birds somewhere in the trees, called her to imitate them.  

“You guys have like 20 minutes before this boat is gone. Gather your things and head down to the beach.” Kyle shouted over the excited chatter of his crazy friends.

When the last of them was accounted for, the boat vanished into thin air, leaving a thick glimmer of fading magic in its place.  It’s been over a year since she moved to Madira, but this world never ceased to amaze her.

“We’ll have refreshments and start on our quest. We’ll be back at this very camp tomorrow evening sharp 6, the boat doesn’t wait for anyone. Remember that.”

“I thought this was a party and we are supposed to enjoy.” Erin looked at her skeptically, she never understood why the regulars treated academics and fun differently. She would’ve understood if she sat working out endless hours of calculus or which country started which revolution or even better chemicals and energies.

“This quest isn’t like the other one’s that we have at Ashram(A word for school in Madira), this is a real life adventure. Somewhere in this island hidden is the palace of Samudra. It has been lost to our world as the generations of elements went extinct.”

“I thought the elementals went extinct two centuries ago.” Kyle nodded. “It’s been 200 years and no one found it? Wasn’t there some spell to uncloak the hidden objects?” she asked.

“You have to understand the person who hid the palace must be someone who was more powerful than any of the class 5 wizards that exist now. Besides, the point of this quest is not just finding the palace, it’s about team work and doing a fun quest for the Siksha(A term loosely used for teaching and training in Madira).”

Lila rolled her eyes, she would never get these theories. She is a regular from her upbringing, if she were brought up here may be she would see a point in this. She thought wistfully.

She enjoyed the breakfast in the open sunlight, sinking sands, warm morning breezes. She couldn’t remember when it was, the last time she ate out of her family kitchen. Her family is not big on outing. She corrected her thought with a nod of disapproval ‘never on outing.’

“Thanks…” She whispered to Kyle.  He winked at her and pulled her close to him. “An adventure awaits for you in the most mystical islands in the world.”

Lila watched Kyle, as he grouped the people into teams of four. Instructing them all the safety guidelines. While Lila watched him with a casual sort of interest, Erin watched his every move; the way his muscles moved when he flailed his arms to explain things, chiseled jaws, unruly hair that covered his slightly wrinkled forehead. As if he felt her lingering gaze he waved to her. Erin felt a jolt of shock, she averted her gaze away from him.

She could hear footsteps in the crunching sand, she was sure that it was Kyle his muscular frame cast a shadow on them. Kyle met her honey brown eyes which seemed to look at him, yet not really focused on him.

“Is everything okay? You seem so distant.” He said slumping beside her on the beach. Erin frowned and noticed that he was right about Lila. “Are you worried about your mother?” Lila nodded. She was still not sure how her mother would react to such insolent behavior. She had gone through all the possible scenarios in her mind and none seemed to explain the silence from their end. They hadn’t sent a howler or force hasn’t’ been here to drag her back home.

“I haven’t set a wind message to her that you are safe and with me.” Kyle said standing up, he rubbed his hands and held it towards her. “What? When?” He smiled.

“Now, you enjoy the time. You mayn’t know if you’ll ever be able to step outside the house from now on.” Lila knew that’s how things are going to be but not before listening to her furious mother rant.

Kyle shouldered her backpack as well and nudged her, tilting his heard forward, a gesture to come along. “Come on, man.” Erin fell a step back allowing room only for two of them to talk.

“Do you know the story of this island?” Kyle said conversationally. Lila shook her head ‘no.’ her mind was elsewhere, worried about facing her mom. She wished time would stop right where they were, so she couldn’t face the adversities.

“Queen Nadia, one of the most powerful water elements built this island as a gift for her daughter who is turning one year. But it was said that she disappeared on this island, along with her daughter and the palace.”

“One thing that I don’t understand is why we are so adamant about finding this palace, I mean aren’t elementals our rivalry clan.” Erin couldn’t help overhearing their conversation, or expression her doubts out loud.

“Queen Nadia, is a collector and her husband being the greatest warlock ever. It was said that she had collection of many magical items that even our great grandfathers had never seen. And it is our right to have what’s ours back.” Kyle said it with a slight derision in his tone. Lila couldn’t help roll her eyes. She never understood this hatred for the Elementals, I mean what was the point of hating something that doesn’t exist anymore.

“Do we just keep walking?” Their small party had been walking in the narrow path of the jungle for hours, having small talk and sometimes everyone in their own thoughts. Kyle’s gaze drifted from Erin to Lila. Both the girls, looked tired from walking all the day in jungle. They could use rest and the whole point of this quest was to spend some quality time with Lila

“We’ll find a camping ground and settle down for the night.” They walked to the higher grounds, where they found small clearing and Jesse started on setting the camp.

“Can’t you just snap your fingers and save the time and energy on building the camp?” Lila frowned sitting on a stump, her look involuntarily drifting towards Jesse.

Kyle slumped on the ground beside her, his one arms resting in her lap and the other gesturing as he talked.

“Magic is a form of energy and the more you use the more it drains, I thought at least you leaned this in all the while you have been here. He launched to an explanation of basic magic for beginners guide.” Lila zoned out. It’s not that she doesn’t know about it, it’s just a habit of thinking like a regular that doesn’t go.

Jesse finished up setting two tents by the time Kyle came back with some wood, Erin and Lila grilled the food. They had survived the whole day munching on fruits and cold sandwiches. The rich taste of the grilled food and spice, elevated her spirits. She even started humming by the end of their dinner.

Erin sang along as Lila hummed. The boys watched them with mild interest. “So, how do we do this thing? I mean is there any particular place we could start?” Lila whispered laying on her sleeping bag, gazing at the night sky, sprinkled with stars.

Kyle shrugged, even though he knew that she couldn’t see him. “It’s so beautiful!” She turned towards Kyle. “Thanks”

Kyle winked at her. “Good night.” He fell asleep watching her.

“Salila…” Lila jerked in her sleep, the voice was so beautiful and calling, yet somehow she was scared. “Salila…Salila…Salila…” Every time she uttered her name a jolt of shock ran through her body, didn’t Kyle say that people hear voices on this island who then turn crazy. She wanted to wake up, but couldn’t open her eyes, If only she could wiggle of the blanket wrapped around her, the cold air would definitely wake her. She felt paralyzed unable to move. After what seemed to be like many long minutes, she could finally feel the control over her body.

She woke up with a startle. The pleasantly cold breezes, twitter of birds in the woods soothed her nerves. She wiped away the sweat and saw that Kyle and Erin are still asleep. With shaking legs, she stood up and followed the sounds of a stream, the smell of wet mud was intoxicating.  She scooped up the water in to her palms, splashed it over her face. As the cold water kissed her face, she felt a sudden surge of energy coursing through her. All the sounds switched to background, the only noise was from the flowing water, and she could sense that the water is dropping after what seemed to be like a mile away.

“Salila…” Her heart raced as the voice called to her. She saw the reflection of a young woman flickering in the pool. Time seemed to stand still, as she summoned courage to turn around and see her caller.

“Salila…” Every time she