Avaboya: Hidden World

Melodious goes over some new legislations the Council have presented. Dark hair pulled up to keep out of her face. Focusing on the ink glowing from pen into fine print. Kanda, a spell caster and an agent of her Court, provides aid. Looking over the volumes lining her bookshelf on her desk. While telling anecdotes from her recent travels with her ward, Karma. Currently lays sprawl on a settee across the room. She placed her boots underneath the settee and her feet up on the couch. Her robe draped over the back of the small settee, just long enough to lie on with her long blueish-grey hair fan out. Her grey eyes roam the patterns on the ceiling. Soon her gaze fixates on the globe in the corner of the room.

Sneaking over to the globe and double checking the two are occupied takes out her runic stones. Taking in a long breath and drags out an exhale feels an energy course from her heart and mind. Concentrated energies, magenta and green flows to her hands, charging the runic stones. Slowly, the globe turns and soon she adds the stones to float about the globe.

"Karma." Stones clatter and the globe slows to a screeching halt.

"Karma," Reprimands her mentor, "do not play with your magic that way, it is not a toy."

"Yes, ma'am." She replies, conjuring her stones back into her bag. "I couldn't help it. I'm bored."

Kanda dismisses the excuse, "Well, find something else to do then. Review your elemental spells or something."

"Um, if I may make a suggestion," said Melodious, "If you would like something to do you could feed the birds. I have a tin on the sill."

"Yes, I mean thank you, your majesty." A stain glass opens to a wide sil, and a tin is already in place. Setting out the seeds and settling on the window seats becomes entertained by the small birds.

Kanda continues her earlier points of notes. "Now, as for the gala, it is our turn next year and could be a good way to gain some more rapport among other kingdoms. Although this will be difficult; it’s not our first gala, but it will be the first since the upheaval…” She drags out the last part.

Her nib pauses over the ‘I’ “Yes, this gala will be most difficult for us.” She solemnly says, looking at an old picture of her younger self in a fancy gala dress. Sat next to her was a princess her age from the original goblin kingdom of Kor’Tunik. Taken over by the Amviar and Or'launde clans years ago. Kanda places a hand on her shoulder. “I never get used to not seeing faces of friends, long lost.”

The air is thick with morbid reminisces at least for two of them in the room. Kanda places a hand on her shoulder. "It was tragic what happened."

"I sometimes feel like I could have done more."

"Do not put that on yourself again. There was nothing that could have been done." Placing the picture back, Melodious solemnly reminisces. "But it’s hard not to feel like we should have suspected something. The turbulence with the Kar’ Lorikes and the Or' Laundes has always been evident.”

“But we must leave an unforeseen foresight in the past. Speaking of which, this will be an opportunity to regain a long-needed rapport with the Ka’Lunic Republic. Lord Ma’Kune is a distant relative; I’m sure that night still haunts them as well. While we have helped them establish a new kingdom, they are still shaky on their feet. This is the point of the Unification Gala to celebrate the Unification of the Seven Kingdoms.”

"Your majesty," a small voice spoke, an apprentice messenger, Julia standing in the doorway. "I have a message from Jino."

"Yes, please come in."

"Jino, he is in dire straits about something. He only says he needs you in the crystal room right away."

***

Jino, Melodious' friend and assistant, paces around a giant orb sitting on a pedestal in the middle of a small room. A soft blue-green glow emits from the center of the orb signally for the first time in years of a portal opening. Periodically, he hiccups triggered by stress. Nervously, he combs his fingers through his hair. It was minutes ago that he saw a soft glow as he passed by and prayed it wasn't what he thought it was, but it was.

'Why? Why now, after all these years?' He hiccups again just when he hears footsteps approaching. Jino turns to see Melodious, Kanda, and Karma.

"Jino," asks his friend, an expression of disbelief, "… is one really open?”

“As the light shows, but we would need someone to see for sure where it has happened.”

“I could,” Karma volunteers. “I specialize in divination arts and sights.”

Stepping up to the orb extends her arm; hands on either side of her. Breathing deeply, Karma incites, "As I focus my mind's eye, let me expand beyond my physical sight. Allow me far sight to where this portal be. Let me see where this portal connects our old home, earth."

As she repeats the lines with clear intent, the magic once again swirls around her arms and within the orb. The lights of the orb mix with her magic and up her arms. Her vision changes from the white light of the orb's center to the forests of Ambrias, then over fields, hills, and other kingdoms. All those sights lead to the Willow's grove; a small glen of willow trees that is a common perch for a black bird slightly bigger than a raven, red eyes, and long black tail feathers. A large, circular portal with a soft blue light opens. Most fly away, but one flies into it.

"Oh, my… this is bad."

"What is it?"

"Um, well, a portal opened," Karma finds the best wording. "It is closed, though. " She looks at each person. All leaning forward, eager to hear her news. All is silent until Jino hiccups once more. She deeply breathes in and on the exhale says, "but not before a red-eyed bird flew into it."

Hic, "What? Oh no, that is worse." Cup.

"Your trusty assistant has worried himself into hiccups again."

"Jino," Melodious said, "I need you to inform the rest of the counsel of an emergency meeting today by seven bells, twilight.." -Hic- "Yes ma'am." After he leaves, she turns her attention to the two spell casters. "Would you two please have someone watch this? I would like updates whenever a new one opens if one does. If you could find someone to provide more information about them, that would be helpful."

They respond in unison. "Yes, your majesty."

"One more thing, until further notice. We might not need to tell anyone else right now unless you find one."

"Understood."

***

Jino does a fast walk-through winding corridor. He knows which Court Agent to head to first. After another hiccup he knocks on the door of his apartment. An elder elf answers the call; He stands tall and strong, but his fine lines reveal a long life and his grey eyes reflect years of learning. The elf wore a smock over plain clothes and goggles on his forehead. His thin lips widen to a grin as he greets the Queen's assistant.

"Mornin lad, what brought you so early?" He beckons him inside, softly closing the door. The man's eyes roam his visitor, frowning he asks, "Jino what is the matter? Come, Sit, have some tea. I just brewed a pot of furgular root tea." He motions to the group of chairs in the center. Jino grimaces at the smell of the bitter tea which sits before him. "Come now Jino, not the face today. I know it is not your favorite but Furgular root has relaxing properties." He sits across from him taking a generous sip of his tea.

Jino declines, "I am sorry Felix but I have no time for tea today. I have a message for you."

"A message huh, must be important for you to be as shaky as you are; surprised your hiccups are in check." On cue a loud -HICCUP- With a chuckle he nudges the tea cup forward,

"Drink, the news can wait a bit." Jino resigns and begins to sip his bitter tea. Over the rim of his cup sees Felix pouring a third cup. In the vacant chair a small portal appears; from there came out a man. Whose coloring is mostly red and black perches on the sofa. His long duo-colored hair curtains his face. The newcomer's origins and abilities are a mystery. Suffering from severe amnesia on bits of his past is known. His name is Ben, given by Felix who is like a father to him and to Felix a son. He slightly tilts his head towards Jino and nods, Jino nods in turn. Gingerly Ben picks up the cup with his hands cradling the tea cup. His long nails softly clink the porcelain.

One tea cup later Felix and Ben stare at Jino, his head lolled back, eyes glaze over, and a calm over his face. Even his hiccups are quiet.

"Well Ben," Felix goes around to nudge their guest, "Seems like Jino finally calmed down some. Hmm, I suppose I may have made the tea too strong." He nudges Jino more. "Lad, snap out of it." He said pulling a vial out of an inner pocket. Briefly it passed under his nostrils. Jino perks up and wrinkles his nose.

Felix returns to his seat, "Now is time for the news." Ben leans towards Jino eager to hear more.

"Yes, well Melodious sent me to relay a message that there will be an emergency meeting starting at the twelfth bell of the twelfth hour today. The meeting concerns the event of a portal opening resulting in a red-eyed bird flying through and potentially exposing us. She plans to converge on possible solutions for this situation." Jino looks between the two, silence for a few beats.

Felix gives a smile, "Jino, it may look like it now, but this could lead to a good beginning. This could be a good opportunity to introduce a new invention."

"Good, we will be exposed."

"I believe,” He tries to comfort Jino, “that what done is done." He moves to stand up. "Come lad, be off now. We have much to prepare in the few hours we have."

***

In the lower levels where the training rooms are. A robust man, Brunik, sets up targets for new guardian recruits. Joining in training sessions will be star pupils; Anabel, Gabriel, and Marquis. They are Senior apprentices and nicknamed Queen's Defender Trio.All the trainees are family to him and he couldn't be prouder of their progress. Today, they would tutor several new recruits in knife throwing. Which soon enters the courtyard and stands in line. Brunik instructs them about the uses and advantages of knife throwing in fights. The trio show their skills. He paces up and down the line as he speaks. Just beyond his students, he spies Jino walking over to him. His first thoughts about seeing him,

-What is he doing out here? - Brunik doesn't pay mind at the moment. As Jino paces at the edge of the court, Brunik finishes his lesson. Instructing the Seniors to take over training and excusing himself. His long strides reach the fidgeting Senior Steward, who looks up at the Captain of the Guard towering over him.

"What brings you out here?" He inquires. Jino collects himself for the moment.

"A message direct from the Queen." Jino looks past to spy on the students, looking back up at him, relaying the message. Brunik's eyes widened with every word.

"Ah, a challenging predicament. I cannot wait for the meeting. Is that all, Jino?"

"Yes." Brunik turns and heads back to his class. Jino runs back inside. Fast walking through halls to complete his mission, he nearly collides with Kanda and Karma. They have their traveling robes on and satchels hung over their shoulders. His eyes shift to each of them. His spectacles nearly slip when jostled by the near collision; Jino slips them up.

His eyebrows furrow at their attire, "Wha-What, why are you dressed for departure? Aren't you..." Kanda interrupts with a raised hand.

"Melodious sent us on a mission as well. Fare not, we shall not be late; just mind your task and step aside."

With a sigh, he allows them to pass. It takes another while for him to complete his task and the meeting wouldn't start until another couple of hours. That was time for him to work with Melodious in the meantime.

****

After school, Abigail is home playing the piano in the den while her parents cook dinner. She either practices warm-ups, plays songs, or even tries to compose her own work. Playing for a year and going to contests; piano playing and composing. Today, she is trying to perfect this bridge. The notes do not sound right. Perhaps it is the tempo. Or maybe Bethany really got under her skin today. Maybe she is a bit distracted with the conversation going on in the kitchen. Can’t really hear anything, but keywords do pop out.

The divorce was no secret, but details were. Apparently Crystal and Aunt Janet coming over was a secret, too. No, she didn’t dislike them. In fact she loves them. She and her cousin are close. She just hated that they kept their arrival a secret. Adult business, they said, like, really?

“Abigail, you kind of went to the brooding end of the piano again.” Said her father from the doorway.

“Sorry, this bridge is perplexing and a bane of my existence.” She strikes an ominous cord for emphasis. “And apparently as well I am out of the loop of my family’s sorrow. I’m not adult enough to be concerned about my former uncle’s waning feelings.” Another chord struck, laced with her sarcastic tone. -sighs-

Her father just laughs, “I’m sorry, but I can’t take your teenage-brooding seriously with this light color palette.”

“My kingdom for a brooding color. I told you we needed to get a darker color.”

“We compromised that your bedroom was going to be the only place devoid of light and vitamin D with those blackout curtains.” He laughed at his own joke. Abigail rolls her eyes and begins putting her sheets together. “Seriously, I understand how you are feeling about this. A lot to take in, in a short time.”

“Yeah, a really short time. They are coming tomorrow?”

“Yes, they will be here in the afternoon. After school. Hopefully, they will be settled by the following Monday.”

Her mother, Melissa, announced that dinner was ready.