"This... is a joke?" I shook my head, laughing in disbelief. "You said I didn't use my life force. You... you said I was an immortal!"
The crystal shard shut her eyes. "Your physical body will take some time to repair, even if you—"
"I am sorry." Adam's cries cut through her words. I turned around to see him holding me tightly. "Just come back to me... I promise, I'll protect you this time. Just come back."
My breathing began to pick up. "I have to return to him. This—I can't accept this."
"Elodie!!" He shook my body. I gasped, watching how lifeless I jerked back and forth in his arms. "Get me out of here!" I turned to the crystal shard. The walls of white all around me only made me more anxious.
The crystal shard lifted her hands. The white room around us was suddenly filled in. We returned to the ballroom of the royal family.
I turned around, feeling my mind go numb. The sight made me want to vomit.
Isabella had managed to hit me. Somehow, despite my strength. despite my power and despite all my attempts of reason.
My green dress was stained in my own blood. Adam was holding my dead body. In the midst of my hesitation she
"Emerald Witch." The crystal shard cut off my thoughts. I closed my eyes tightly, feeling my lungs begin to burn. "You must remember. You are an immortal, Emerald Witch."
"Return me to him." I choked. "You must."
"You're physical body is damaged. Even if you are immortal, it will take time." She tried to use logic. It only sounded like excuses. "Give it a while, Emerald Witch. in 5 years—"
"Five years? After all I've sacrificed?!" My words ripped out of me as hot tears began to fall. I kneeled before the crystal shard, exhaling shakily. "Take my powers; take as much as you need to return me to him! I don't need to be an emerald witch anymore!"
"Emerald Witch..."
"No!" I shut my eyes, shaking my head. "Emerald Witch, Evil Witch—I don't want any of it anymore! I will pay the full price. My powers for my life... can't you allow this?"
"You would truly wish to trade..."
"I wish to be by his side!" I closed my eyes tightly, crying harder. "My whole life. That is all I ever wanted... please, just let me have that much, can't I?"
"If you give your powers... then, this kingdom—"
"This kingdom will have you. This kingdom has an heir. They will have the crystal shard... a-and the sword of balance." The words squeezed out of my throat, full of hope but also exhaustion. I stared up at her, pleading. Time was of the essence. "The world doesn't need my powers, Crystal Shard. Please."
"The sword... of balance?"
"That isn't important! I-"
"The sword of balance is only one part." She cut me off again. "Where is the shield?"
"The king... the king has-"
"Elodie, wake up!" Adam's cries stopped me from talking.
I turned to stare at him, feeling my brows soften and melt in floods of my own despair.
The crystal shard came close to me. Her warmth radiated against my spirit. My consciousness kept splitting between the two: The power source of the realms magic and the power source of mine.
"Where is the shield of truth?"
"Why does that matter?" I moved my hand up, but it passed through Adam.
"Emerald Witch. Pull yourself together; we must hurry if you want to live." she finally declared.
"The king is outside, just outside the palace." I closed my eyes, gathering whatever crumbs remained of my strength. "I believe he has the other piece."
"Where is Daniel?"
"He is there, fighting." I laughed bitterly. "A useless fight, this all turned out to be."
"Didn't you hear me? I can bring you back, Emerald Witch." The Crystal Shard spoke stronger, enough to make me go still.
I turned to her, swallowing strongly. "I'm ready."
"You aren't." She stated. "I will contact Daniel to retrieve the sword, but I am afraid my power—the majority of it was used by the princess."
I clenched my hands tightly. "What will it take for me to go back to him?"
"You need to calm yourself." The Crystal Shard spoke softly and then pressed a hand to my shoulder. A familiar warmth radiated through me, reaching the depths of my chest. "Daniel is bringing the shield. When he does, I will use the sword and the shield to bring you back. However, this alone will not be enough. I will give you this."
She held out her hand, showing me the white diamond. My tears paused. I looked at it.
"You..." I gulped. "Isn't this your life force?"
"A part of it." She admitted. "I have been cultivating for many years, enough to sustain both my physical and metaphysical being."
I looked at her. "If you give me this..."
"It will mean part of my powers are within you." She smiled. "I am trusting you with it. And if you are ever led astray—it will kill you."
"I understand, Crystal Shard." I quickly said. "Thank you."
"Thank you," she corrected. "You've saved my kingdom from ruin. You will live out your life—your life as Elodie–to its fullest with this."
"What about you?" I looked up at her. "The price for this..."
She smiled. "Things work differently for me." The crystal shard shook her head. "I have been in an inanimate state for so long; all that this means is it will take longer for me to return as a physical presence. However, I will not die."
I shook my head. "But if that's the case, how will this kingdom survive? With no magic, it—"
"Magic will be lost in this kingdom, yes. But only temporarily." She spoke slowly. "It will do this kingdom some good. Perhaps they will find strength in something beyond my powers. This kingdom will need a new ruler, the Emerald Witch. One who understands the cost of magic. One who will lead this kingdom into a new age of magic, when the time is right for my magic to return."
"Yes, but who?" I squeezed in the last of my efforts; my words were full of hope but also exhaustion. There had to be a perfect person for such a big role for it.
"The shield is here." The Crystal Shard said suddenly, ignoring my question. It was something she seemed to do a lot.