Sandra's Legacy

"Need it for what?" I asked William,

He touched my knee. "Son, can't you feel the tension in the air. As long as that red diamond exists, there will always be a possible chance of war."

"The diamond can be used for so many things, that's why we are going to get it back and destroy it," he said. "For now you are the only one capable of destroying it."

He then signaled both Ned and Nancy.

I stood up avoiding the pain I was currently experiencing. 

"I want to come with you," I blurted before Nancy headed for the front door.

She stopped. I thought she was going to say something like 'you have no idea what is outside Ralph' but instead she asked, 

"Did you have feelings for Sandra?"

I froze.

"Wait…of course, no..I…I don't have feelings for Sandra…" I don't know why I was finding it hard to answer.

She then gave me a cold glance. "Then stop saying her name in your sleep," she said then walked out through the front door.

Ned gave me an awkward look that meant 'sorry man'. Then followed Nancy out. 

I sat back on the sofa and faced the wooden floor hopelessly. Thinking why she had just acted like that. Of course, I don't have feelings for Sandra. I didn't get to know her long enough for that to happen.

Miss Eloise closed the door, then moved closer to us.

There was silence for about ten seconds before she finally said something to me. "Have you seen the demon lord?" she asked,

"No, let me be the first to ask, who are you guys?" I asked both of them. 

"We are knights," William answered. "A secret order of knights Sandra had created centuries ago to fight dark forces." 

"Dark forces like the demon lord…" Miss Eloise added. "But ever since magic also appeared in your world. The demon lord's servants have been growing by hiding and recruiting new humans. We've lost seventeen knights in the past ten years."

"How many knights were you?"

"Fifty," she said

"And how many are remaining?" I asked,

William frowned and answered, "Fifteen."

"We believe the demon lord wants to use the diamond as compass and key to the holy relics." 

I didn't know what to say. All of this was coming to me so fast and had me somewhere in the center of it. But it was clear why they wanted me to help. I had their leader's powers. Well, if this leads me to Celeste and Rebekah. Why not?

I turned to William and smirked. "How can I help?" I asked. 

.

.

.

First, we had to leave Alum and head for a small district called Eldore where the knights' headquarters were located.

 William hadn't explained much, but he believed that Sandra had the power to destroy the diamond. According to him, the fey progenitor had enough magical energy to create an enormous force. A force strong enough to destroy something made from pure black magic.

But am not sure I can cast something like that. 

Black magic was the toughest of the toughest. In the new human era, we call it old magic--it was mostly infused in instruments for example King Arthur's sword, Poseidon's trident and so much more. It was the kind of magic that could only be used by a specific group of people. It could be by blood or by curse depending on who forged the instrument. The diamond is by blood and Rebekah happens to be the only person who can use it.

We were being transported by a super hi-tech jet and it was so cool. I felt like I had walked into a fictional world of sci-fi and I was loving it. 

After thirty minutes, we landed on a huge helipad that was hidden in the grass close to a castle that looked like it was built in the Mediaeval times. I guess they were taking the knight thing seriously.  

On landing, the doors opened and a staircase unfolded itself to guide us to the ground. 

The first thing I felt was extreme coldness. Because suddenly it was very windy. 

I started shivering.

Miss Eloise held my hand. Then cast a teleportation ring that we all walked through and ended up within the castle. 

And the shivering stopped instantly.

The castle wasn't what I expected at all. The interior didn't look anything like a castle. The floors were made of marble and the medieval architecture had been maintained, but in the center even before you reach the stairs was a huge holographic projection of Sandra. She was dressed like a warrior, with a brown breastplate that was made from cloth. In her right hand, she was holding a silver sword and her hair had been pulled back to make a ponytail.  

I split away from both Miss Eloise and William who were standing with me. To get a clear look at the projected image. 

"That was taken during the first battle we fought as her knights," William stated,

"She had led us into a battle with ogres that wanted to burn down the entire Tlavacus and rule it. No one even got to know her acts of heroism because we swore to keep ourselves hidden."

I said nothing. 

I just continued staring at the image. She looked so young and beautiful. But somehow I could feel her presence and I could tell how much this place meant to her.   

I wish I could say you made the right choice, I thought.

The doors upstairs suddenly slammed open and a bunch of other changelings walked through and down the stairs.

 Some were holding swords others with bows and arrows strapped on their backs and many of them looked around my age. They were having conversations, probably discussing fighting techniques and strategies. 

When they reached our floor they all scattered without saying anything to us. It was like we hadn't been noticed.

 "I thought the knights were recruited by Sandra?" I asked William,

"Yes, why are you asking?"

"Because half of them look like teenagers."

"Oh, that…." William laughed. "We age slowly son, all the people you see there are a century and above old."

That made a lot of sense. Explains why the fairy boy was well…a boy. That also meant that Miss Eloise must be something around nine centuries because she looked old along with William.

Miss Eloise suddenly held my hand and pulled me as we head upstairs. "Let me show you to your room. Tomorrow is the Summit, you must have your rest if we are to steal back the diamond and your human friend," she said, 

"What is the Summit?" 

Miss Eloise stopped at a door, twisted the doorknob and it opened. 

We both walked in and she slammed the door shut.

She raised her chin and sniffed the air to make sure we were alone.

SIGH

"The summit is the meeting of the progenitors. It happens once  every after  a century, but this one is an emergency because of the diamond and you,"

I pointed at myself. "Me…" I was scared,

"Yes, you…" she hissed. "This is why you shouldn't have come here."

She started rubbing the sides of her head with her fingers. She was probably thinking. 

On the other hand. I was seeing the summit as an opportunity to meet Celeste one more time. I don't know why but I needed to. Call it a hunch feeling. 

Miss Eloise grabbed my shoulders and leaned forward till were now face to face. 

"I things don't go as planned," she whispered, "go back to the human world with Nancy, Ned, and the human. The ministers will protect you."

The tone she used was so serious and at the same time terrifying. She had that crazy look in her eyes the look of a mad person. 

"What is wrong Miss Eloise?" 

"The darkness is coming…" she hissed, "…and we may not win this time…." 

The moment she said that. She pulled herself upright and walked out of the room without saying a thing.

I was left freaked out by what had just happened. Something bad was going to happen. I could feel it.