CHARLOTTE: The Injured White Peacock
Other World Girl

Next day.

All day long, Ellena just sat in her room. He wanders with his empty mind. I don't know, he seemed to lose his spirit when his mission was successful.

In her hand, the bracelet Mae wore by Zendaya was held gently by her. Ellena is still shocked by the loss of Varl, Yuya, even Mae who has been her best friend all along. They laugh together, get angry together, even have the same mission. But why would anyone leave too?

Ellena's cry grew louder even though her gaze was hollow. He regretted this sad ending.

Suddenly, the door to his room opened. The new Charlotte appears in a white dress of hers, which she has spent a hundred years in the service of the Crystal of Eternity.

Charlotte took her place next to Ellena who was now sitting on the bed without the spirit of life. Both Charlotte's netra caught Ellena's brown hair, which is now predominantly white.

Yes, Ellena is still covered in the ice curse of immortality. Charlotte does not yet know how to release the curse that she gave to the poor girl from another world.

It hurts to see her, Charlotte certainly feels guilty. How not, all this time Ellena has been made to bother by him until he almost lost his life because of his selfishness.

However, Charlotte could do nothing. This is not the time to talk about it. Ellena looked even sadder than when she got the ice curse. The woman smiled at Ellena gently and asked, “What's up, Ellie?”

However, Ellena did not answer with a clear script. He just shook his head slowly and limp like he had no passion for life. How not, the people he loved one by one went away.

“Ellie, get together with the others. In two hours there will be Steven's coronation to become king of the Everfalls. I will also give you honorable titles that make me back—”

“No, I don't need it,” replied Ellena quietly with a still blank look.

Both of Charlotte's eyebrows were intertwined. “What do you mean? You deserve it so much.”

“No.” Ellena lowered her head, instantly her crying broke again. Then, he looked at Charlotte sharply and said out loud, “How can I have fun after seeing my three best friends vanish?! I haven't done anything this long either! I am just a burden from another world!”

Ellena's voice filled her room. Despite being yelled at like that, Charlotte did not feel hurt. She knows that Ellena is currently devastated by the deaths of her three best friends.

Silent.

Just heard Ellena's sobs getting louder. Then, Charlotte stroked the head of the girl whom she admired so much. He smiled gently and said, “Ellie, did you know that you are the one who plays the most part here?”

Chief Charlotte looked up, staring at the glittering ceiling of the palace room with white gold and peacock feather carvings.

“Ellie, your every sentence touches my heart. You know, how powerful are words? If you do not say many things and awaken me with your words, then I will never doubt the power of the Crystal of Eternity that has imprisoned me all this time with its evil whispers.”

Charlotte looked back at Ellena who was now also looking at her with a sad look.

“Because of your words I began to believe that I was not alone and that I would always have you. I am loved, as you say. I've proven it. Seeing the Everfalls to the point of crying over the return of their queen made me even more aware that everyone loves me, including you.”

Charlotte stroked Ellena's head again gently.

“Everyone plays a role with their respective roles. You made me realize with your words, Varl sacrificed his life to free Elise from bondage magic, and Yuya sacrificed himself to bring Dragon back to where he came from.”

Going deeper, Ellena listened to every sentence of Charlotte even though her heart was still hurting for the departure of her two friends.

“No, not even just you guys. Mae The Lover of Trees sacrificed herself to serve the Atma Tree in return for which Everfalls was nearly destroyed by the leader's arrogance and his Sturdy Spirit, Phoenix.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yes, long ago every country in Wolestria was entrusted to the five Spirit Sturdy. Everfalls itself has the Spirit Phoenix to guide its citizens to always be on the right path. However, since the Phoenix is more immortal and does not die easily or reincarnate like other spirits who have even had ten generations in every history, he became arrogant

Charlotte paused her sentence. He tried to recall the legend hundreds to millions of years ago when Wolestria was formed.

“In the third generation Phoenix, his arrogance is becoming - so let alone the more generations, then the stronger they are. The Phoenix was increasingly arbitrary and treated the Everfalls badly. He never takes care of his citizens, but always troubles us.”

Charlotte looked up at the ceiling.

“And from that, the Lord cursed him until he was immortal forever. The Phoenix could not die from that moment but he always saw death start from the horrible and terrible. He's always been haunted by such a thing all his life.”

Sudden.

Deg.

“Phoenix will die and be free from the torment of immortality if he activates the crystals in the five bodies of various races. It is said that there are five chosen beings who become crystals to make the Phoenix can end its suffering. However, all this time he had only been able to activate one or two crystals only until this moment.”

“Now, where is that Phoenix?” ask Ellena for a moment. He began to look enthusiastic.

Charlotte was holding her chin. “Hm, where are ya? I don't know, maybe he was in the mountain or the cave to perform the five crystal activation ritual. Until now no one knew of its existence. The five crystals belong to the chosen creature alone, no one knows because it happened hundreds of thousands of years ago, maybe even before I existed.”

Charlotte took a breath. It was painful to hear that story. However, it is a reward for the arrogant creature, self-tortured for his deeds.

“Padah, Hydra and Griffin have been gone because they have completed their duties as caliphs in their respective countries. While Pegasus, Dragon, and Phoenix had still not returned. They dwell on themselves who have not completed the task.”

“Is Manu also arrogant so that he has not been able to complete his duties as caliph?”

Charlotte shook her head slowly interspersed with a smile like a mother looking up to her little daughter. “Manu is not like that. Actually Manu's job was done before Hydra and Griffin even finished it. He is the holy Pegasus, but he who is the cleanest of hearts must guide his other two friends. He will not return before Phoenix and Dragon regret their deeds.”

“That's why he blends in with ordinary horse races so as not to be recognized by other races because Spirit is a high-level being?”

Charlotte nodded proudly as Ellena already understood the way the world worked.

“That's right, Ellie.”

Again, Charlotte looked at Ellena's white hair and the frozen fingers of the girl beside her. The guilt was eating away at him.

“Ellie, I'm really sorry,” Charlotte said. His eyes were clear.

“Sorry for what?”

“That curse...”

“It's okay. I'm used to this, although sometimes when my heart crystallizes, it hurts a lot. But no problem, I'll be fine. Trust.” Ellena smiled.

Seeing her like that, made Charlotte's heart melt even more. She realizes that Ellena is beautiful, just like her.

“You're a good girl,” shrewd Charlotte. “Later I will soon find out how to free the curse. Okay well? Before that, please have you take care of yourself—”

“Ellie can't linger, Your Highness.” Suddenly Ruby arrived. As usual, it floated in the air.

The girl's face looked serious. While Ellie frowned.

“What do you mean, Ruby?” ask Ellie for a moment.

“Ellie, you have to go home. The portal to your world is already open around the Atma Tree. I'll drop you—”

“Why is that in a hurry?!” Charlotte got up with a grouchy face.

“Ellie has already completed her mission to bring you back, Your Majesty. Ellie must return to her world before the ice curse devours her. The curse will not work in Ellie's world so she will not be affected by the curse if Ellie returns to her world.” Ruby explained at length.

“Is there no other way? I just chatted with Ellie—”

“No time, Ruby crystal is also on.” Ruby glanced at Ellena's chest which in it seemed a reddish glow lit up. The red Ruby Necklace began to emit its light.

All this time Ellena hid it under her clothes and cloak. However, this time he took it out with eyes that were amazed because the red glow in the Ruby crystal made him so stunned.

“Quick go before the light dims, Ellie! If not, then you will—”

Brak!

Suddenly, Ellena's door opened. Steven and the rest of his friends came in with their faces.

“Your Majesty the Queen, Ellie.. We are all ready!” steven said followed by another nod. Everyone is dressed in royal clothes.

They were all preparing for the coronation. However, Ellena said softly, “But, I will return to my world.”

****