26 Chapter XXVI

The following day, Emress prepared a lot of food. The sun had risen fully before Ayaan woke up. He took a bath and got ready as usual before leaving the room.

"Good morning Emress," he said when he reached the sitting room.

"Morning Ayaan," she returned.

"So much food... What's the occasion?" He asked.

"We're celebrating, you can now control your powers." She said with a smile.

"Thank you Emress, for always guiding me." He said.

"It what I was made to do. Let's eat, I'm starving already." She said.

They had breakfast quietly. After that, Emress went into her room and returned with her crystal ball.

"Prince Ayaan, come sit." She said tapping the seat right next her.

"Show me the medallion!" She said placing her hands on the crystal.

"What do you see?" She asked him.

"A blue glow," Ayaan said.

"That's the condition of your medallion. It's warmth has been restored." She said.

"I don't understand..." He turned seemingly puzzled.

"Today you will." She said.

"I made you train to prepare you," she said.

"Prepare me for?" He asked.

"A fight," she said.

"A fight, that's what 'it' meant?" He remembered and asked.

"Haha yes Ayaan, you've solved the mystery." she said.

"Why didn't you say so?" He asked.

"It had to be between you and someone with powers equal to yours." Emress said.

"That was the one thing that could help you tame your powers," She added.

"I could have gone in search of the person with Father's help." Ayaan said.

"You'd have had to travel far and wide to look for the one medallion that glowed with yours" She said.

"Tell me how you were going to do that? The powers Ice and fire are rare remember." She said.

"Okay fine you have a point." He said.

"You're lucky destiny is on your side and it brought Reem to you." She said with a smile.

"Reem?" He asked with a suprised look.

"Yes Reem. Her power is the equal opposite of yours," she said.

"Well blow me away!" He returned his eyes widening.

"That's why the medallions glowed..." He said.

"That's right," Emress returned.

"And I thought I was hallucinating the first time when something seemed to glow from where it hung on her necklace," he said.

"If only you had told me all these before," he whined.

"Hahha, it just wasn't time yet." She said.

"The night you had that nightmare, those memories and emotions incited your power like never before." She continued.

"And the medallion's power is never in harmony with negativity. That's why it lost it's warmth completely the night your fears got the better of you." Emress added.

"Oh no, can you fix it?" He asked anxiously.

"It got fixed the day you met Reem," Emress said happily.

"How?" He asked.

"It takes a medallion to bring back the warmth of another, even our spells can't do that." She said.

"Phenomenal!" He returned, amazed.

"What about the ropes in the forest? Are they normal ropes?" He asked.

"No they're not. They protect the golden glow and have the ability to sense negativity in any form on touch. That's why not every person gets pass them." She said.

"To get to the golden glow you have to swing pass the quicksand and walk three hundred steps." She added.

"I was still angry at myself for hurting Liam, I never got the courage to forgive myself." He buried his face in his hands.

"That's why I held back my powers all those years, afraid someone else might get hurt." He said.

"The ropes sensed it, that's why you got burnt everytime." She said.

"When you forgave yourself in the trance, you freed yourself." She added.

"That's why we could grab the ropes. We had let go of all the anger," he said.

"Exactly." She returned.

"The leaves of the golden glow serve as a reward for your unwavering determination and hardwork." She said with a smile.

"You might want to cast a spell on mine, it might wilt." He said funnily.

"Hahaha no it won't. It's the flower that never wilts. It's Dralde's everlasting flower and pride." She smiled.

"Does it have powers just like the ropes?" he asked with a smile.

"It does, so keep it safe." Emress said.

"I'm proud of you Prince Ayaan and I'm sure everyone will be too." She added.

"I couldn't have done it without you Emress, thank you." Ayaan said and gave her a tight hug.

"Now you can go home," Emress said with delight.

Emress made preparations for his departure. Ayaan smiled at the thought of his parents and had no cause to worry. He was going to return home. His powers, tamed.