ELEMENTALIA: Tale of the Elemental Guardians

Chapter 1: PAST AND PRESENT

Three children ran inside a dark forest. They could not afford to take a rest because their lives depend on it. They were exhausted because they were also carrying a big wooden cart.

One of them pulled and while the other two were pushing at the back. Before they run out of breath, suddenly everything turned pitch black and they closed their eyes, wishing they would not die.

BEEEP BEEEEEEP!

They heard a loud noise but can't move.

Luckily, the driver managed to stop the car before it hits the children. He goes down and checks them. He also found out that the wooden cart contained a baby and his mother hugging him.

He brought them home and took care of them.

Three days later…

The mother first woke up and she was so amazed at what she was seeing. A big beautiful room was full of shiny expensive furniture.

Distracted after she felt someone approaching, she grabbed a vase and hid at the back of the door.

BAAM! She hit the man on the head and he fell.

Fascinated by the way he dressed and his appearance, she looked closer to his face. Then he suddenly woke up and they looked eye to eye.

He touched her face and said, "You're much prettier when you are awake.".

"UWAAAH!" She shouted then hid and closed the door.

Trying to catch her, the door hits his nose. "AW! Ouch! That hurts!"

After few seconds, he leaned on the door and spoke gently, “I know you're afraid, maybe because I'm a stranger and you're in a place that you don't know. But please don't be afraid? I will not do anything bad to you and to your children. They are safe.”

Her face lit up and she opened the door slightly. He smiled and said, "I will take you to their room."

Her tears almost fell when she saw her children sleeping peacefully in the other room. Suddenly the three girls woke up at the same time and hugged their mother, laughing. They were playing and jumping on the bed when the man came back and called for them. "Come, let's eat!"

There were many foods at the table, and the three jumped onto the chairs and started eating with their bare hands. Their mother coughed, a scary look in her eyes.

The man chuckled. "It's okay, just wash your hands first and use a spoon and fork.”

They tilted their head in confusion.

"This is a spoon and this is a fork,” he said while pointing at the utensils. But they still wore the same confused expressions.

He laughed. “Just use your hands, then. I know all of you are hungry."

"Sir Charles, your son still doesn't want to go outside his room. And he barely touched his food again." The maid sadly told him.

"Thanks, Manang.” He was sad to hear it.

"By the way, I'm sorry if I did not introduce myself earlier. My name is Charles Andrei Martinez, but you can call me Charles. My son's name is Liel Cedric. He is a bit shy and is still devastated from losing his mother 3 months ago, so please bear with him."

He looked at his wristwatch and noticed that he will be late for work. "Got to go now! Just ask Manang if you need anything. Please feel at home."

Just before he got out, the lady walks towards him. She touches his face and leaned closer until their foreheads touch. She smiled and said, "Thank you so much!"

He knelt before the girls and they did the same thing. "Thank you!” they said happily.

After Charles left the house…

"You all want to help in cleaning the house?" Manang asked.

"YES!" the three girls chorused.

"Okay, just do what I say,” Manang said. Then the girls happily followed her as she began ordering them. "Sarah, dust the furniture. Peach, help Mr. Chef at the kitchen. And Joy, help Manong Ben organize the boxes at the storage room."

After a while, Sarah was almost done dusting the furnitures, but she still wanted to clean all the things up in the big cabinet, the wall frames, and the chandelier. She looked around but can't find anything that could help her reach them. Sarah has no choice but to use her supernatural power: the power to levitate.

At the storage room...

"So here's what you should do, Joy. Put all the boxes of the same size together. As for the boxes of fruits from the orchard, just pile them up near the entrance. Manong Ben will be here soon, he will help you with the heavy boxes,” Manang explained.

"Yes Ma'am!" Joy said.

"I'll just go check on Sarah. I'll be back after few minutes,” Manang said then she left Joy to do her work.

"This is so easy! The villagers used to ask me for help in carrying giant rocks heavier than these boxes before!" Joy said to herself.

She started lifting the big boxes with one hand only as if it weighed nothing. As she continued,Manong Ben saw Joy and his eyes bulged in shock.

"You-You’re a monster! Don't come near me! Help! Somebody help me!" Manong Ben shouted then ran away screaming.

"Manong, don't be afraid of me! I'm not a monster. Wait!" Joy chased Manong Ben, but he stumbled on the big pile of boxes and they fell over him.

"Oh no! Manong Ben!" Joy cried.

Meanwhile, Manang returned inside the house and found Sarah floating in midair while cleaning the chandelier.

"Sa-Sarah! You-you-you’re floating!” Manang said before passing out.

"Manang! Manang, what happened to you? Someone please help us!" Sarah cried.

In the kitchen...

"Oh no! We're out of tomatoes!. Peach, can you get some tomatoes at the vegetable garden?”

At once, Peach already left using her super speed. She found the vegetable garden and picked up some tomatoes then returned to the kitchen after a few seconds.

“Sir Charles likes the fruits and vegetables freshly picked so—“ Mr. Chef had not yet finished talking when Peach handed him the tomatoes.

"Here are the tomatoes, Mr. Chef,” Peach said.

"That was so quick! I'm not even finished with what I'm saying,” Mr. Chef said.

Mr. Chef checked the other ingredients and found out that he still needed a few more vegetables. "Will you go back and get some carrots, potatoes, and lettuce—“

“Okay." Peach ran again with super speed, leaving Mr. Chef with his mouth wide open. After a few seconds, she returned quickly go back but tripped and hit Mr. Chef while he was still astonished.

"W*-AAAAHHH!" Plates and glasses shattered on the floor.

"What is happening here?" asked Mina. She was so shocked to see the kitchen in such a mess while Peach was sobbing and Mr. Chef was lying on the floor unconscious.

"Mama, Manang passed out!" Sarah cried.

"Mama, please help Manong Ben. He is buried under the boxes!” Joy pleaded.

"What?” Mina shouted.

Later, Charles arrived from the office and saw the three girls sitting in the living room and crying.

"Hi girls! I bought some new clothes for you... Hey, why are you crying?" he asked.

"Charles, you need to know the truth," Mina said seriously. Charles's expression turned serious too.

"Okay. Tell me everything I need to know,” he said.

"You see... I'm not a real human, because I'm a Diwata. And that makes them a half-diwata a half-human. We came here from the past to run away from the evil creatures that wanted us dead! And my husband..... My husband died protecting us!" Mina's tears spilled while telling their story.

Author: TenTenJOY03

Editor: Kenneth Villa