Lost, But Found

"Send a word to Zaki my precious gem is lost." She said calmly to a white furry rabbit on her right arm, her draped gown brushed against the concrete floor as she moved around gracefully settling on a King sized bed, her silky long hair dropped loosely on her shoulders.

"It's such a pity I'm stuck here Oh my poor sweetness." She muttered emotionally.

"I'll get to work immediately Your highness." The rabbit replied jumping off her it disappeared into thin air.

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* Loel's POV *

I had been journeying back to the Woodlands of the Spirits for two days now I misplaced our only source of survival and on top of that my Mistress had gotten swallowed into a deep tunnel.

That cunning mirror I ranged within me it had obviously deceived her by promising her a wish.

If only the Queen hadn't banned the whole Universe from the use of sorcery I knew some certain tricky spells that could teleport me to my destination immediately.

Pure Magic was the sole privileged access to casting spells and majority of the inhabitants of the Mist Universe are foreign to it.

Zaki would be of help that was the main reason why I had been on this strenuous trip down the mountain.

I scanned my environs the energy of the earth seemed fresh, the trees chatted and waved at me all day I stopped by a clean stream along a rocky hillside therein I drank of it washed my face and half of my body except the part covered by the loin clothe.

I examined my reflection closely in the water my brown smooth hair was messy I had grown more slender probably because of the harsh weather of the past few days and up mostly the gem stone was lying somewhere unknown it could attract wandering wraiths my heart raced in agitation.

Now that I thought carefully about it I have been walking alone in this solitary path for days but yet to face any assailant grotesque unlike the times while I was with my Mistress.

It baffled me,

what was going on? Does this mean there's an actual intent to harm my Mistress?

In an instant droplets of water splattered on my face like something got thrown into the stream I backed away quietly waiting for any movement but it got stilled instead.

I breathed a sigh of relief turning back to the route I had came from an excited voice called out,

"Hi Peggy it's me your Mistress's mirror friend how are you taking in everything?" A feminine like voice asked delighted.

I halted in my steps surprised, looking back at the Mirror it floated on the surface of the stream it's hands stretched towards me for an handshake.

"Who are you?" I asked eyeing the hands suspiciously in front of me

"A mirror!" It replied giggling

"I'm not blind I can clearly see I meant what's your name and where are you from." I retorted in a serious tone, I wasn't even sure why I stood there listening to the Mirror's words for all I knew this could be one of the artifacts from the Dream Empire which had probably slipped out while the door was left ajar.

Rumors had it that most of the artifacts that escaped were all captured by the treasure hunters and sold in the black market at a ridiculously high price which would later be bought by sorcerers they used their binding dark magic to enslave vulnerable beings to join their army, the sold artifacts would have been bounded by loyalty to their masters thereby seizing targets for them.

"Don't be too scared I'm Freya, Princess Amber's friend before she lost her memory I was one of her favorite possessions." Freya explained withdrawing her extended hands She left the water top flying towards me in a swayed manner.

"Hey! Hey don't come close to me stay back how come I do not know of your existence? You claimed to be my Mistress's friend I'm her personal bodyguard moreover why did you address me as Peggy Who's Peggy?" I fired questions at her impatiently, she refrained from advancing to me.

"Hmmm so many things you wish to know I'll answer each and everyone of them just relax, sit on the log over there or If it'll be too uncomfortable I'll rather summon a chair." She said gladly dangling in the air, she dazzled magically

"No no no need for that I'll be fine besides I don't trust you enough to let you cast a spell right here." I said turning to my side I spotted the log, this sly mirror knew it was there all along? How come I didn't notice? I had to be wary of her I reasoned, Mirrors tend to be crafty in this our world.

"Well I'll start by reintroducing myself I'm Freya like I said earlier you didn't know about me because I had been one of her most beloved artifact at Quewarnds before she got sent to Lake Swilock for the records I've known Princess Amber for a while." Freya revealed to me, my butt were beginning to itch from sitting on the rough woods I adjusted due to discomfort I hid my disturbed facial expression.

"I guess I should believe you but I'm not naive I know this path well you must have an ulterior motive for roaming around this unfrequented area." I accused her battling with my inner self against the temptation of jumping off the log and scratching my behind.

"If it's so itchy why don't you stand up there's no award for suffering." She said chuckling softly, even if I felt like smashing her to the ground I acknowledged that she was right regardless I was in pain.

The bugs in the woods were merciless, giving in I jerked my being up my buttocks went numb I touched it to feel it's presence then the sweet enticement to rub on it got into me.

Freya bursted into a loud laughter as she watched me,

"What's so funny? You put me up for it you think you can brush off my queries by this distraction why have you come to see me?" I snapped at her comporting myself.

"I'm not trying to play smart okay I know what your opinion of me must be you doubt me in the sense that I might be from the Dream Empire or probably a tool of sorcery to be frank I've been stalking you since Princess Amber disappeared." She admitted lightheartedly

My eyes wide opened in realization I drew out the invisible dagger from my leather bag that I've been preserving for emergencies.

"I knew it you're that same Mirror where is my Mistress?" I swung the dagger in the air warning her.

"Relax Peggy I'm totally harmless." She said moving backwards.

"Don't call me that what the hell do you want?" I shouted at her ready to strike any moment from then spreading my legs in position.

"I'm not an artifact from the Dream Empire trust me I'm Princess Amber's soul emerald I only took a mirror form to disguise." She assured me in a pleading tone.

"You are what?" I asked again puzzled, I wasn't about letting my guards down for this dodgy Mirror they were skilled in the art of tricksy I tightened my grip on the dagger with both hands.

Suddenly the earth beneath us vibrated steadily I lost my balance landing on the ground, Freya swayed involuntarily in the air the dust covered my sight.

Few moments later the turmoil settled,

"She speaks the truth." A bold voice rang out

I blinked purposely slowly rising up to my feet

"Zaki???" I uttered in shock

"A word was sent to me." Zaki informed me.

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* Amber's POV *

I looked around in the dark mountain where the trolls claimed they lived, the blackness of the hills were soul consuming I wondered why the atmosphere felt so gloomy or did a fellow troll die? The half moon didn't help matters too only a burning wood gave us a little bit of light.

Trosluns, as explained by Toki had been their sole shelter for millenniums behind the rocks when there was sunlight they hid in the caves, I was well aware that trolls avoided sunlight otherwise they could turn into stones as I've read in the books.

They had persuaded me to come along with them to visit their Pinnacle of Prophecy, we've been traveling for a while now.

As part of my royalty treatment I sat on a flying mat although it didn't move further away from the group of trolls walking on land.

I had been too scared at first, but Toki assured me that I was completely safe in the comfort of the flying mat.

I enjoyed my ride but at the same time my heart was troubled what was the reason they persisted on bringing me into their land? Why had I ended up in this dimension? Most importantly of all places why the Mist Universe a total underworld? These questions ran through my mind.

"We are here." Toki announced as we reached the tip of the mountain in front of an open space my eyes darted downwards I shook nervously I guessed the fear of heights still lingered inside me.

"What is this place?" I queried innocently.

"It is where deep life answers lie." Another troll replied me in a grave tone.

"You're being too stiff you'll keep My Lady on her toes with your exaggeration Noi." He countered lightly as we entered the entrance.

"He's right Austi in here the truths about life is unveiled no more no less." Toki replied, a huge altar stood uprightly on a platform along with petrified trolls placed on each sides in different postures a big sculptured book lay at the top.

I alighted from the mat, I seemed like a giant amongst the trolls as it should be, I observed my surroundings.

"What happened to those trolls?" I asked in curiosity my knuckles went red in fright even though I wasn't alone withstanding I felt vulnerable.

"They tried to defile the laws of the book and met their ends right here." Noi answered, they all bowed their heads to the altar hitting it against the ground chanting some inaudible words.

I stood there in confusion watching them, soon after a raven flew in distractingly.

"Why have you come?" Toki asked rising up he advanced to it, the raven settled on his left shoulder chattering.

"I hear the diviner with a bodyguard is at Slvkinles they asked after My Lady." He confirmed from the bird, gazing at me

My heart raced in anticipation,

"You mean Zaki and Loel are here for me?" I enquired in uncertainty as the bird flew off.