The Secrets of the Elements

Chapter 36: Books, Coffee, and More

Zarna sat down on the floor as Advika emptied her bag. Maya locked the bedroom and sat next to

them.

"So many books," said Zarna as she picked one of them. It had a thick deep blue cover and was locked

with a few threads attached with what looked like white pearls.

"I knew you would pick that one," said Advika dusting the treasure box. "It kind of reminds me of the

ocean."

"By the way," said Maya as she scanned all the books and artefacts lying on the floor. "How is aunt

doing now?"

"She's recovering," said Zarna untying the threads. "Queen Bhilangana," she read on the first page of

the book. Advika peeped in. "See this," she said, lifting a thick black book. "Even this has her name."

"King Agneya," said Maya as she picked a book with an orange and yellow cover. "Queen Amber," she

said, opening another book; it had a sky blue colour cover.

"King Bhaumik," said Advika lifting a book with a brown mud colour. "King Samir," read Zarna from

another book covered in a transparent sheet-like thing. "And finally," said Maya picking up the last

unread book. "Queen Agrata." It had several colours on its cover, which made it look vibrant out of all.

"Let's read them all and find out what secrets they hold," said Advika. Her eyes gleaming with

excitement. She smiled and opened the book she had previously read.

"So you got that spell from this book?" asked Maya and examined the treasure book. "Yes," replied

Advika. "Don't tell me you haven't read it already," she said. "Yes, we know the thing with you and

books," added Zarna.

"Yes, well, only half of it," confessed Advika and dug her head in the book.

"What did it say?" asked Maya and kept the treasure box on the floor. "Queen Bhilangana," began

Advika, "had this power of the element water," she looked at Zarna, "just like you."

"And?" asked Zarna. "How did she get it? Was she born with it? Are these books true? Or just any

other storybooks?"

"Well, firstly," said Advika. "She was not born with it. It is said that she earned these powers through

practice. Well, yes, she was born with some powers of course, but then she developed it with some

teacher of her."

"So you're saying these books are true? I mean-"

"Yes," replied Advika. Maya pursed her lips and tilted her head to the right looking doubtful. "The spell,

it worked," said Advika.

There was a knock on the door. Maya and Advika exchanged glances. Maya walked towards the door

as Advika pushed everything, including the books, treasure box, other artefacts, under the bed at once.

Zarna stared at her blankly. "We can't disclose it, can we?" whispered Advika.

"Thanks," said Maya and smiled at the cook, who left after serving them some snacks and hot cups of

coffee and green tea.

Advika pulled out those books at once and opened the book she was reading. "So what I was saying is

that this Queen Bhilangana held the powers of the element water, plus she had other abilities as well."

"Like?" asked Maya and offered a cup to Advika.

"Like that spell, I used," said Advika and sipped the coffee.

Zarna munched what looked like mini samosas. "What are these? They're good."

"It's called Nimki," said Maya and turned to look at Advika. "So Queen Bhilangana could harness the

power of other elements as well," she said and sipped her green tea.

"Yes," said Advika and kept the book down. "It's just about her journey from being a newbie to a

Queen."

"Just like us," added Zarna and scanned through the pages of the blue book. "Has some spells," she

said. "Might try these when I'm around the sea."

Advika and Maya exchanged a glance. "The sea?" said Advika and took a bite of the nimki. "And when

exactly do you plan to go to the sea?" asked Maya reaching for the book covered in a transparent

sheet.

"Well," said Zarna, turning the pages, "whenever the book wants us to be there."

"I don't know, Zarna," said Advika and sipped the coffee. "It won't transport us unless we all are

together."

"Exactly," added Maya, reading the first few pages. "This King Samir, he too went through training and

stuff before attaining those powers."

"We have Grantha, but then, she never revealed herself," said Advika.

"Yes, we don't have a teacher as such," said Maya.

"Maybe we should contact Grantha then," said Zarna and got to her feet. She walked towards the

balcony and fixated her gaze on the sky.

"Good idea, Zu, but how exactly are we supposed to do that?" quizzed Advika and picked up a small

telescope from the junk. She tried to zoom in and out, fiddling with it.

"You can," said Zarna and turned to look at Advika, who had now kept the telescope away, staring

blankly at Zarna.

"Please elaborate," said Maya and sat cross-legged on the floor.

"You were the one who first talked to Grantha," began Zarna. "You are the only one who has ever

talked to her." She leaned on the balcony grill and took a deep breath. "It's you who can try to do it

again."

"No, Zarna," said Advika and got to her feet. "We were in danger," she walked towards the balcony and

stood next to Zarna with a cup of coffee in her hands. "Grantha showed up to save us. Not to

communicate."

"No, but she has a point," added Maya. "Try to communicate with her, somehow."

Advika shrugged.

"So, I think we should divide these books among us," suggested Zarna. "Yes, we should," agreed Maya Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

and picked up a few of them. "Are you going to see aunt then?"

"Yes, I'll have a word with the doctor as well," said Advika and thought of Tej and Rey. "Are they still

mad at us?"

Zarna made a pout and blinked. "Sort of, but I think they'll be fine soon," she answered and kept her

hand on Advika's hand.

~~~~

Rutuja's black heels tapped against the floor, making a loud sound in the quiet library. Her white high

neck lace top and dark blue jeans almost matched the posh furniture in the library. She scanned

through the covers of the books, walking from section to section.

Her eyes fell on a book having an old-fashioned torn cover. She picked it up and touched it. It felt like

somebody had spilt black and red paint over it.

'The Moon and Magic by Huro,' said the cover.

She pulled a chair and sat on it, scanning through the pages.

~~~~

"No! Stop!" yelled Rishi as he pushed Daksh and closed the portal that was sucking everything inside

it. Daksh got to his feet and made his way towards the portal, which was now diminishing in size. Rishi

stepped in his way and applied all his force to keep him from it.

"Leave me!" yelled Daksh and pushed Rishi out of his way, but it was too late; the portal had vanished.

He held Rishi by his collar. "Why!?"

"I couldn't let you meet Azazel, not now," said Rishi breathing heavily. Daksh let go of him at once. He

took a few steps back, wondering how Rishi had known his secret when even Indra couldn't.