Chapter Eleven: Second Encounter
"Place the stone on your palm with the mark and hold hands," a voice spoke through their minds at the same time. They stared at each other, confirming whether the other had heard the voice. The communication was silent but clear—they both heard it.
The parents at the back watched in silence, their curiosity piqued by the strange occurrence. Then, they saw something breathtaking—a soft glow of blue and white emanating from the stones. The glow had a calming effect that eased the worry in their hearts, leaving them in awe. Unlike Elara and Ariella, who had witnessed the magic before, it was the first time their parents had seen the stones in action.
For the grandmother, however, the shock was different. It wasn't the glow she marveled at but how the girls had the stones and for how long they had kept them hidden. Questions swirled in her mind, but now was not the time to ask.
The glow grew larger, and everyone felt the ground beneath them shift gently. The earth beneath their feet began to carry them downward, guiding them into the crevice. Unlike the first time Elara and Ariella had fallen in, this time they were gently lowered, the stones still resting in their palms.
The light dimmed, leaving only a residual warmth, a reminder that what had just occurred was no dream, but reality.
"What is this place?" Mrs. Bristow asked, her voice trembling as she looked around, trying to make sense of their surroundings.
Before the girls could respond, a wall behind them parted, revealing two glowing figures—one surrounded by a blue light, the other by white.
"The Queens!" the grandmother exclaimed in shock. As if in agreement, the two queens smiled warmly at them.
"Welcome back, Elara, Ariella. Your work has just begun, and there's not much time. The Shrouded One has returned. I assume he has already come to find you?" The white queen spoke gently.
"Thank you for the gentle transport. This time I didn't have to tumble and land heavily on my butt," Ariella joked with a smile.
"About that, sorry. The last time you both arrived separately, and the key to this place is the combined glow of the two stones," the white queen explained.
"Just like you and Elara complement each other, the stones work in a similar way," the blue queen added with a smile.