The Secrets of the Elements novel Chapter 36

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.