Elementeers: The Superiors

Ten years later..

Esmeralda Greene balled her fists a little more tightly, the witch looked out at the hauntingly beautiful castle which was standing tall; the slight thunder reflected the castle all over making it eerily glow in the death of the night, even from this distance she could feel the powerful aura that was radiating off from a few miles away of the generations that lived here; a slow cunning smile twitched at the corner of her plump lips. She was waiting for this moment ever since she was a child.

She skipped on her steps, walking ahead along the cobbled path, the surroundings around the castle were breathtaking. Trees after trees lined up as if someone put a charm on them to sway gently along with the serene wind which blew away softly. The sweet smell of a vast variety of herbs that were specially planted for brewing potions and making medicines caught the young witch's nose. She inhaled deeply taking in the scents of climbing roses and daphne.

The inky black sky gently rumbled, the dark clouds swirling around the castle, hiding the dull light of the moon behind them, promising her the magical night of secrets and depths of larger than a life story she was about to unveil; the growling breeze picked up its pace making Esmeralda reminded how cold she felt, in her excitement of getting here, she actually forgot the jacket back home, she cursed mildly under her breath and cast a small charm that made her body warmed instantly, making her sigh in relief when the warmness settled inside her veins.

She quickly knocked on the door, her excitement getting the best of her. She smiled brightly one last time to herself to get rid of the small smiles that seemed to keep creeping their way back to her now slightly chapped lips without her knowledge and consent. She huffed out and arch her back. She was about to meet the infamous, legendary, the outrageously powerful Elementeer of her time, Odriana Larsen, for Deppler's sake.

The young witch took in the large Oak door, which felt smooth like silk to her knuckles when she knocked on it again. She could still feel the power of spells that were still tingling on her knuckles. She felt mesmerized, everything about Uliopa Castle was darkly powerful, laced with generations-old spells and charms that made her wonder to slip any little trinkets or pieces of stones that were casually lying on the ground as a part of the decoration, to take home with her and study it deeply for hours until she figured out the magic of Elementeers.

Moments passed when she realized that the large Oak door which she was looking at with googly eyes had long opened. She felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment, her curiosity and giddiness getting the best of her once again. She again shook her head and forced herself to go inside like the responsible, laid-back, talented adult witch that she was. She was chosen for this role and yet here she was daydreaming like her teenage years.

The inside of the castle was just as enchanting as the outside of it. She gasped slightly under her breath every now and then when her hungry eyes took in the large hall which looked no less like a giant ballroom, only much more serene. Heavy crystal chandeliers hung down the ceiling, large paintings gracing the dark grey walls of all the Elementeers that once resided here. She didn't realize the small eyes looking at her irritatedly ever since she came here and bumped into them accidentally.

"Oi, watch your steps." Esmeralda jumped in total fright. She didn't realize that there was indeed another person or another species residing here. How could she forget that Elementeers have different species living in their castles to help them with daily chores, not that they would need help but that their reputation, power, status, and nobleness were enough to lure in every species to work for them and earn their favors?

"I am sorry, I didn't know you were here," The young witch said apologetically to the fairy dwarf whose little face turned red in annoyance.

"Clearly." The fairy dwarf grumpily replied to Esmeralda's amusement, she wanted to pull their cheeks in delight but held herself as fairy dwarves were proud and well known for their short temper like a little spoilt child. They don't have their own magic like fairies but they have the flexibility of a rat and the cunningness of a sly fox, so the young witch kept her wishes to herself. She had obviously offended them by not acknowledging the fairy dwarf in the first place and now she accidentally kicked it in their tummy.

The fairy dwarf walked ahead of Esmeralda with pride as if to tell the young witch to know her place and not to touch or glance at the things for too long. Esmeralda held back her short laugh with great difficulty when the fairy dwarf jumped twice in the air to hold the golden eagle handle and turn it down.

If Esmeralda was under the trance before taking in the castle's gut-clenching beauty, now she was completely immobilized in her place. She looked at the vastly spacious room filled with an endless amount of books that promised the centuries of knowledge only Elementeers can hold and use.

"Ahh... Miss Greene, Welcome to my humble abode. I hope you didn't have any problem on your way here." spoke the infamous Wind Elementeer, Odriana Larsen, Esmeralda immediately felt the wind knocked out of her. Her face immensely heats up when she felt heavy, dense air surrounding her with lightning speed as if somebody has thrust her into an open area where there's nothing but an endless amount of wind thrashing her skin but gently, not piercing her and to think of she still hasn't moved inside the room yet.

"Forgive me. I tend to lose track of my ability. Blame my old age and lack of guests that hardly visits me nowadays." Odriana waved her hand in the air and within a moment the atmosphere around the room visibly relaxed and Esmeralda once again found herself breathing the same air which felt too heavy for her to take in through her nose merely seconds ago. Her heart drummed against her ribcage in pure ecstasy and fear. Just how much power does Elementeers hold; Odriana Larsen holds?

The young witch went inside the magical room; stepping towards the large table which was accompanied by a matching set of dark wooden chairs where Odriana sat on her throne-like chair, exactly opposite to her, like the regal queen that she was. Her back instantly arched up, hands grabbing the notepad and quill to put it gingerly on the desk the second she sat on the soft cushioned chair. She couldn't help but pass an awed smile towards Odriana who was watching her with her kind yet hawk-like eyes.

"No, Mrs. Larsen, It was no problem at all." Odriana's eyes twinkled at the young witch's answer and nodded with a hum of noise.

"Poppins, would you be a dear and get some refreshments for our lovely guest here." Esmeralda once again forgot about the fairy dwarf, Poppins whose mood took a sudden turn. She was cold towards Esmeralda but now she was beaming with joy when she heard the soft command of her master.

"Yes, my lady." Poppins squeaked out delightfully, she turned on her heels and disappeared from their view while softly closing the door on her way out.

"Fairy Dwarves are one of a kind." Odriana smiled at the empty space where once Poppins stood. She clearly adored her servants which made Esmeralda respect her more. Nobles were famous for many great things especially for their not-so-kind nature towards weak species so it brought Esmeralda a new sense of adoration towards Elementeers who were the most powerful lineage among all of the species combined that ever existed in this world.

"So, Miss Greene. I hope that you understand the depth of the task that will be given to you shortly." Odriana's face became serious and the young witch felt the sudden slight cold in the room.

"Yes, Mrs. Larsen. I do understand that." Esmeralda said kindly, preventing herself from getting on her knees to get the older Elementeer's approval and to beg her that she was indeed worthy.

"Miss, Greene, I can see the potential in your work. I have heard an awful lot about you. Your honest work in the reporting world is honorable, noble, and praiseworthy, and your unbiased opinions towards lower species of the spectrum are quite heartwarming and eye-opening. I have read your columns and articles on green earthens and sea swans."

"Oh my, You did? Thank you so much, Mrs. Larsen."Esmeralda was blushing like a five-year-old as if she heard her favorite teacher praising her great work in front of the whole school.

"Yes, I did. Your writing is phenomenal and gut-wrenching. Nobody wants to listen to the horrors that lower species have been going through for centuries after centuries. Everybody is blinded by power and status so much that they don't bat an eyelash at the abuse the lower species are going through again and again." The wise Elementeer clearly has a soft corner for lower species just like Esmeralda, she can see how Odriana frowned deeply while talking about such a sensitive topic.

"My great grandmother was half pixie and half human. She went through so much just because she was considered a weakling by those who were of pure-breed or upper in the spectrum of species, not only that my grandmother, who is half pixie, half human, and half witch, went through the same endless cycle of criticism, abuse, bullying, and insults. My mother and I had enough of obnoxious bullying and abuse from those who think they are capable enough to walk on us over and over again just because we don't have enough magical lineage or generations of wealth. We decided to take charge and stand up not only for ourselves but also for those who are considered lesser in the eyes of so-called hypocrites." Esmeralda breathed deeply, her cheeks flushed after speaking the harsh monologue that came straight out of her deeply hurt heart.

Odriana's wrinkled face glowed under the softly lit chandeliers and well-lit candles that were hovering above the little stands all over the room, the fire cracking gently in the fireplace. An amused yet appreciative smile graced her facial features on hearing the passionate statement of such a young talented witch who was not only driven deeply with the touchy subject such as the justice for lower species but also the hunger, the power, the obsession she was spewing out of her body language.

Oh, Odriana knew the obsession of the young witch that sat with a reddened face in front of her, slightly huffing still, courtesy of her anger and a bit more shyness when she realizes Odriana still hasn't said anything yet only admiring the young witch with her kind yet sharp eyes as if nothing could hide from her razor gaze, no matter how sly they were, that made Esmeralda quiver in her seat.

"Miss Greene, you know what I most like about people who are passion driven? It's the hunger for knowledge, the knowledge that consists of the potential that could change the world." Odriana spoke with a slight smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"But isn't that knowledge that's been earned, that could perhaps be used to change the world for the worse?" Esmeralda spoke on her own accord. She felt scanned from head to toe as if she was being tested for the task she was here for. She didn't want to come across as fake sympathetic in front of Odriana to earn her favor. No, she only spoke that monologue because that's how she was raised. Strong-headed and Ardent.

"Well, it depends from person to person for whatever they might want to do with the pieces of knowledge they gained over years. It could either be bad or good." Odriana replied, her bony fingers resting on her lips as if challenging Esmeralda to prove herself afterward.

"I can't say about others, but I know what I want to do with the knowledge that I have gained throughout the years," Esmeralda replied, holding her ground, not showing the intimidation she felt under the highly experienced and mighty powerful Elementeer's gaze.

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