Moonlight's Deception (Eclipse of Hiestora, Book 1)

Chapter 22 | The Essence

"Professor Rhyb took the rock. I still need it."

Deep lines formed on the prince's forehead as his gaze transfixed on the sage. Professor Rhyb shifted on his hooves. Even if he had the authority over the academy's students, the two in front of him still held much power over words.

"Princess, this thing"—the sage held the rock at a level which pulsed an eerie red—"is not something that you or anyone should keep."

"But you can?" Clara said, rendering him speechless. "It's mine, and I found it. Please, Professor Rhyb. What are you so worried about?"

The sage fumbled around his desk and opened a drawer. When he turned back on the two of them, his eyes were wide with fear.

"Where did you get it anyway? If I don't know any better, I'll take it as some kind of threat."

Clara's mouth dropped open. "A threat? Of course not! The worst I can do is throw it at you."

"Where did you even get that from, princess? And Prince Emir, you were with her. That means you are equally accountable." Professor Rhyb gripped the edge of the desk, his breathing a bit shallow. "It could do far worse. Don't you understand what that is?"

"If you could just tell me, please, then I will understand. Or just give me the rock back, Professor Rhyb. I originally planned to find out what it is in the first place."

He lowered his hackles but pressed himself further to the wall, trembling.

"Please, Professor, I'm just here looking for an answer. When I touched it, I saw—" Clara felt her hand being squeezed. When she looked up at the prince, his face bore no emotion, pinning the sage frozen by his stare. Then he veered his head to the right only by an inch, and Clara knew straight away that he meant to say no. She bit her lip when she remembered he did warn her not to tell anyone what she saw.

The sage narrowed his eyes at them though his shoulders relaxed a bit. "I'm afraid I cannot return it to you, princess. What you've been holding is an object of incredible evil. And there's no reason you should have it."

He slowly approached Clara and Emir, but his gaze darted about the room, and one of his hooves thumped nervously on the ground.

"I apologize, Your Highnesses. You just caught me off-guard," he said with a slight bow of the head. "I've never seen one of these in the flesh before, only in textbooks. It just startled me. That's all."

Professor Rhyb cleared his throat when Clara and Emir remained silent. He fiddled with his pan flute, trying to appear calm.

"Now, what are you two doing in the redwoods so early in the morning? And how did you come across that—that rock of abomination? More importantly, are you two alright?"

"Professor, I'm fine. I just want to know what this rock is," said Clara.

"It is not important. A trifle, really. An essence is nothing a student like you needs to worry about."

Clara's face brightened. She pumped her fist into her palm. "So it's called an essence! Do you know what it's used for?"

"Princess!" Professor Rhyb said in mock apprehension. "This is not a matter up for discussion."

There's got to be some way I can convince him to tell me more, she said to herself. But I'll have to be smarter with my responses.

"Trust me, learning more could be dangerous." Professor Rhyb sent an imploring look to Emir, seeking the prince's help.

Emir sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Just give it to him, Anneliese."

"No!"

He gently tugged Clara, the sides of their body pressing. Emir leaned closer to her ear to whisper. "You don't even know where to start with it yet. If you don't let go of it, they might become suspicious."