Stolen by the Rebel King-Chapter 475: Seven Natural Elements

Daphne didn’t move until at least a few minutes after Atticus had left the room. She heard the telltale sign of the lock clicking in place, then his footsteps disappearing down the hallway. Only after did she finally allow herself to exhale the breath she had been holding for what felt like an eternity.

Her hands were trembling terribly, something she hadn’t noticed until she looked down at her clasped fingers. They hadn’t moved from her lap and whatever Atticus had given her was still encased within her grip. Slowly, Daphne turned her hand so that her palm faced up and cautiously unfurled her fingers.

She sucked in a deep breath of air through her teeth, her heart stopping for a moment at the sight of the object.

Atticus had fashioned a ring to hold a small silver sheen obsidian stone. Three small circular silver sheen obsidians were set into the silver band of the ring, its sheen glistening and sparkling as Daphne moved the ring around. The craftsmanship was immaculate― diamonds made up the band of the ring, allowing the jewelry to shine like a star in the night sky.

It was a beautiful accessory, and this would explain why it was cool to the touch since it was made with stones and metal. Instinctively, she slipped it onto her finger― it fit perfectly on her ring finger, replacing the spot where her wedding band should be.

However, Daphne didn’t understand why Atticus had given her an obsidian ring.

For one thing, she had no affinity with obsidian. That was a stone that hardly anyone used other than Atticus himself. On another hand, even if she had an affinity, Atticus was hellbent on ridding the world of magic. An obsidian ring, affinity or not, would have no use for her other than being a pretty accessory.

’Be it to lift me or to end me.’

’I will willingly die in your arms.’

The frown on Daphne’s face deepened. It didn’t seem like Atticus meant for the ring to be just a visually appealing piece Daphne could wear and parade around. There had to be more than that.

She held out a hand, focusing on the vibrant flowers in the vase on the coffee table. Biting her bottom lip, she concentrated, trying to feel the energy that would usually come whenever she summoned her magic.

’Move,’ she commanded in her mind. Yet, the flower remained as it was, unmoving.

Her hand fell back onto her lap as she let out a cold laugh, directed more at herself than anyone else.

What was she thinking? Why would she ever think that she would be able to have powers similar to Atticus? Just because he gave her a ring didn’t mean that it would be useful for her; it could be something that would only further his cause in the future.

She fiddled with the ring on her finger, twisting and playing with the jewelry absentmindedly. There was still a faint, familiar buzz that resonated from the accessory. She knew she hadn’t imagined the sensation when Atticus first gave her the ring.

It was definitely charmed. There was something magical about this ring. However, what it was for, Daphne had no clue.

Her attention fell back onto the door, eyeing the doorknob with unease.

***

"Is everything ready?" Atticus asked, rolling up his sleeves to his elbows as he entered the infirmary. The room had been cleared out as Sirona’s main headquarters.

Prince Nathaniel had also returned to Raxuvia shortly after Sirona returned to Reaweth; there was apparently an emergency with his younger sister that he had to tend to.

That was good news. Atticus didn’t need any distractions now that Prince Nathaniel’s use had been exhausted. The serum was over and done with; Prince Silas and Prince Alistair were cured. Having an additional eye to watch over him would just hinder Atticus’s progress.

"We have the ingredients prepared," Jonah said. "We’re just waiting for you."

"Good."

Atticus walked over to the table that had been set in the middle of the infirmary floor with a small cauldron placed on it. There was a large magic circle drawn on the ground and the cauldron had been placed right in the center of it. Careful not to disrupt the drawing, Atticus stepped over and eyed the ingredients that were laid out.

The seeds of the Temporal Elderwood Tree, the Symphony of a New Dawn, Xahan’s iron meteorite ore, a kelpie’s eye that resembled a sapphire orb, a portion of the bones from Zephyr’s wing, and lastly, a vial of Daphne’s blood; everything was accounted for other than the last item.

"Are you sure about this?" Sirona asked, fisting the fabric of her dress as she eyed Atticus’s movements.

"Are you getting cold feet?" Atticus shot back, smirking.

"We’ve spent too much time and offended way too many people to back out now," Sirona said with a snort.

"Glad that we’re on the same page," Atticus said. "Let’s begin then."

The sunstone in Atticus’s pocket lit up and the cauldron began to heat up even without the presence of a fire. Other than the ingredients needed, fresh dew had also been added as a base for the mixture. One by one, Atticus added the ingredients to the pot.

A drop of Daphne’s blood to represent fire for she was a daughter of Reaweth’s royal family.

Nereus’s eye — which now looked like a perfectly round sapphire orb — to represent water.

A segment of bone from Zephyr’s wing to represent air.

Seeds from the Temporal Elderwood Tree from Raxuvia to represent earth.

Xahan’s iron meteorite ore to represent metal; when the ore was added, there was a loud pop that sounded, and toxic fumes emerged due to its reaction with all of the magic in the air.

The Symphony of a New Dawn to represent light.

Once the ingredients were added to the water, they immediately fizzed and melted away. What was left behind was a dark mixture that bubbled ominously. Fumes had filled the room, a black mist encircling them as the ritual awaited its final ingredient. Of the seven natural elements of nature, only one was left.

Darkness― for the fallen kingdom of old Reaweth.

"For the last ingredient," Jonah said.

He held out a small dagger and his hand. Atticus opened his own palm and placed it in Jonah’s hold.

"A drop of blood from the original Reawethen royalty," Jonah muttered, slicing a fine line onto Atticus’s palm.

Crimson red blood immediately appeared from the wound, and Jonah held it over the cauldron, shaking it until a droplet dripped into the mixture. Time seemed to slow down as the three of them watched the drop of blood fall. Once it hit the surface of the mixture, a blinding white light filled the room.