Closer Than Ever

Beyond the walls of Teikhi Prostasias, Aurelius and Marina had gone to the outskirts of the academy, where a visitor was scheduled to meet the Headmistress would meet them first.

The visitor happened to be none other than the companion of Aurelius's great grandfather, carrying a precious gift—Cosmos Starflowers, the elusive blooms from which the Essence of Celestial Light could be extracted.

When Aurelius's great grandfather received his request and at the same time found out about the visit his friend was about to make to the academy, he had arranged for the meeting.

So in that way, the headmistress would not be notified of the unnecessary use of the portal.

Meanwhile, Crystal and Ambrose ventured towards the office of Professor Hippocampus Nereus, a renowned mermaid known for his expertise in the realm of potions and elixirs.

Professor Nereus was in the midst of delivering a lecture to his students and Crystal had suggested that it could be their chance to get their hands on the Stardust Elixir if he had any.

They found themselves tiptoeing towards the professor's office, their anticipation building with each step. The corridors were silent with the hushed whispers of the wind at the time of daylight.

Carefully, Crystal turned the doorknob, peering inside the office with bated breath.

As they stepped inside very carefully, they found the shelves were filled with rows upon rows of neatly organized vials and jars, containing potions of various hues and enchanting fragrances.

As Crystal and Ambrose scanned the labels, their eyes flickering with anticipation, they found themselves engrossed in the mesmerizing collection of potions and elixirs. Each vial held a tantalizing color and its own secret.

But before they could delve further into their search, the tranquility of the office was shattered by a sudden splash of water. Crystal's eyes widened in alarm as Professor Nereus emerged gracefully from a hidden pond within the office, his mermaid form captivating and majestic.

Reacting swiftly, Crystal instinctively grabbed Ambrose's hand and pulled him behind a nearby table, seeking cover from the unexpected arrival. Her heart raced, adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Crystal's face contorted. "Holy mother of cow! Why do the mermaids have this privilege?" she whispered in a hushed tone.

The underground connections specifically designed for the merfolks within the academy, provided them with the ability to travel between locations, even when they had the ability to transform their tails into legs temporarily.

Ambrose couldn't help but snicker softly at Crystal's sour expression, finding her reaction amusing. Crystal swiftly placed her hand over his lips, silencing him, and pressed her finger against her lips, signaling Ambrose to remain silent.

Behind the concealment of the table, Crystal and Ambrose waited, their hearts pounding in sync with the rhythm of their hidden intentions.

As Professor Nereus approached the table, getting his golden tail to transform into legs, Crystal and Ambrose exchanged a quick glance, and on all fours, swiftly maneuvered their way beneath the table.

Ambrose's tall frame made it a tight squeeze, and Crystal struggled to stifle her laughter at the comical sight of it.

Hovering just above the floor, their hearts raced in anticipation of being discovered. They held their breaths, their bodies pressed against the cool surface of the table and each other, as Professor Nereus came closer, oblivious to their presence.

Crystal strained to listen as the professor mumbled to himself, "Why have I become so forgetful these days?" His voice carried a hint of frustration, laced with an air of absent-mindedness as he picked on a box of ingredients that he intended to use for his upcoming lecture.

As Professor Nereus gracefully dove back into the small pond, Crystal and Ambrose seized the opportunity to emerge from their confined hiding space beneath the table and frantically started to search for the elusive Stardust Elixir within the professor's office once again.

Their eyes darted around the room, scanning every nook and cranny for any sign of the coveted elixir. Time was of the essence, and they knew they had to act swiftly.

Just as frustration started to creep in, their eyes fell upon a secluded safe nestled discreetly amidst the shelves. Hope flickered in their hearts as they approached the safe.

Crystal's hands trembled with anticipation as with bated breath, she carefully unlocked the box for the hidden treasure within.

Their astonishment was palpable as they beheld the minuscule vial containing the Stardust Elixir. It was smaller than they had anticipated, yet its shimmering contents held immeasurable power. The room seemed to glow with the ethereal light emanating from the vial, casting an enchanting spell upon the empty office.

Crystal and Ambrose exchanged a knowing look, their excitement evident in their eyes as she said, "We should get going now."

Ambrose nodded in agreement, his hand intertwining with hers. With a shared understanding, they knew that time was of the essence, and they couldn't afford to linger any longer.

Crystal instinctively put the vial in her pocket, ensuring the Stardust Elixir was securely concealed, its otherworldly shimmer masked from curious gazes.

Summoning their magical prowess, Crystal and Ambrose focused their energy on the teleportation spell. Their intertwined hands glowed with a faint ethereal light as they channeled their intentions into the incantation. In an instant, the world around them blurred, and they vanished from the office, leaving no trace of their presence behind.

Those two appeared in Crystal and Marina's dorm room and they found Marina and Aurelius already present, their focus intent on a delicate arrangement of Cosmos Starflowers spread across a table.

Marina, her eyes lighting up with excitement, looked up from her work and exclaimed, "Crystal! Your Highness! You are back! We have been working on extracting the Essence of Celestial Light from these Cosmos Starflowers."

Aurelius, his brow furrowed in concentration, nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, we thought it best to make use of the time and resources available while awaiting your return. The process is intricate, but I believe we are making progress."

Drawing closer to the table, Crystal observed the delicate brown petals of the Cosmos Starflowers, their vibrant hues hinting at the immense power contained within. Her gaze met Aurelius's, and she smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, Aurelius. Your expertise and effort are invaluable to me." Crystal was thankful for his spring element for sure.

As the room brimmed with anticipation, Aurelius maintained his unwavering focus on extracting the Essence of Celestial Light from the Cosmos Starflowers. The delicate process demanded his utmost attention, yet his lips curled into a gentle smile in response to Crystal's words, even without directly gazing at her.

Suddenly, a phenomenon unfolded before their very eyes. The Cosmos Starflowers, their chocolate brown petals aglow with vibrant hues, emanated a mesmerizing light that cascaded through the room. Crystal and Ambrose exchanged astonished glances, their hearts racing with exhilaration and curiosity.

Time seemed to hold its breath as the ethereal light coalesced, converging into a single, luminous point. Crystal's instincts kicked in, and her fingers flicked. In an instant, she conjured a crystalline sphere, capturing the Essence of Celestial Light within its radiant confines.

A gasp of wonder escaped Crystal's lips as she marveled at the sight before her. The crystal ball shimmered with an otherworldly glow, pulsating with the untapped power of the celestial light’s essence. She felt like she was closer than ever to find out every truth behind her disappearance from the Fae Kingdom.