the rest of the room’s, turned to Nasima.
“I also have two bonded couples who will be joining us in moving around the world in an effort to lessen the damage that is happening because of the absence of the earth king and queen,” the air queen said. “One of the couples has worked mostly in different harbors and seaports around the world, attempting to keep dark water elementals and acolytes from causing dangerous storms and shipwrecks.”
“Dude, what happened with Hurricane Katrina?" Gabby asked before she could tell her mouth to shut up.
“Totally was going to ask that,” Shelly said.
Nasima looked at them and raised a single brow. “Though it might seem like it, we are not all-powerful. Nor can we be all places at once. Sometimes, enemy diversions are successful, and, unfortunately, natural disasters occur. We were devastated that we were unable to redirect the hurricane.”
Gabby’s head tilted as she gave a single shoulder shrug. “That’s understandable. Thank you for explaining it. I can imagine it must have pissed you off.”
The air queen’s lips twitched. “That is one way to put it. The next pair has been working on their own to help clear pollution from some of the most populated cities in the world. Before the rift between our kind, caused by the dark elementals, they worked with other water elementals to keep the dark acolytes and elementals from tainting human water sources. Oftentimes, the contamination that people think is caused by human pollution is actually caused by the dark elementals.”
“Sneaky bastards,” Shelly murmured.
The air queen chuckled. “That they are, child. That they are.” She turned to Kairi. “The floor is yours.”
Kairi smiled and nodded her head. “Miles and Josie are the water elementalist soul-bonded couple many of you met at yesterday’s meeting. They’ve been bonded for a hundred and twenty-five years. Their primary assignments have been working on purifying the air in some of the most polluted cities in the world.”
“Let me guess,” Liam said. “Dark elementalists are behind a lot of that as well?”
Kairi nodded. “They also are responsible for the hole in the ozone. The warriors behind Miles and Josie have been working on that problem for the past fifty years.”
Gabby saw movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Shelly shaking her head, eyes wide with wonder.
“It’s crazy how clueless humans are,” Shelly said. “So much we think we’re responsible for. Yet this whole time, it’s dark elementals and their minions wreaking havoc.”
Gabby snorted. “Humans are hardly innocent.”
Shelly looked at her. “I’m not saying they are, new bestie. I’m just hoping that we aren’t completely lost. Maybe there’s hope for us yet.”
Kairi spoke before Gabby could respond with what was sure to be a less-than-positive response. Gabby had lost her faith in mankind a long time ago.
“Humans are the only created beings that are redeemable,” Kairi said. “The Creator gave them souls. He gave them free will. He wanted them to choose to do good, not be forced. After all, does it really count if a person does something for the good of another if they were forced into it?”
Gabby couldn’t deny that the water queen made a compelling point. It didn’t change the fact that people sucked. They had a choice to choose to be kind, yet so many of them chose to be cruel butt-munches instead.
Kairi turned to look at Gabby as if she knew what Gabby was thinking. “I think that, despite what we’ve seen in the past, humanity is not completely lost. The elementalists in this room have proven that. Though you have been made more, you are still human. And now you choose to sacrifice yourself for the good of others. Not only that, but you are also willing to do it knowing you will receive no accolades for your good deeds. None, save us and those you defeat, will know of the anguish you will face.”
“Is this a pep talk?” Shelly asked. “Because words like sacrifice, no accolades, and anguish don’t really rev up the old pep-meter.”
Gabby couldn’t help but grin. “She is a little rusty on the whole pre-battle inspirational speech bit.”
“Right?” Shelly nodded. “No offense, your majesty, but I think you need to consult Braveheart before your next motivational speaking engagement, especially one given on the precipice of war.”
“Noted,” the water queen said with a small smile, obviously taking their teasing in good humor.
Terrick stepped up and nodded. “What you say is so true, Kairi. Though these are dark times, there is hope.