FOUR DAYS EARLIER
Marcella stepped carefully into the king's chambers, her voice confident as she tried so hard to hide her worry. "What are you going to do with her? The Vedan girl. What will you decide?"
King Herad leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Why does it matter to you?" he said, his tone cold and dismissive.
Marcella hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I just want to know," she said. "Please, Your Majesty."
The king rose from his throne, a mischievous smile on his lips. He took a slow step toward her, his eyes sharp. "Do you take me for a fool?" he said, his voice low.
Marcella frowned, confused. "I don't understand, my lord. What do you mean?"
Herad stepped closer, his face now only inches from hers. His voice dropped to a whisper, sharp and probing. "What is your connection to the girl?" he asked. His eyes narrowed, filled with suspicion. "You're too concerned. Why?"
Caught off guard by his observation, Marcella's heart skipped a beat. The secret she had desperately tried to hide now lay exposed before the powerful king. She hesitated, torn between revealing her true feelings or retreating further into a web of deception.
Closing the remaining gap between them, King Herad intensified the atmosphere, his voice quiet "Tell me, Marcella, what connection do you have with the Vedan?"
"I have dedicated years to protecting this kingdom," Marcella declared firmly. "Why should you think that I would suddenly do anything to jeopardize it?"
"I want to believe your words," King Herad replied, pacing back to his imposing throne. "However, I have made a decision. The Vedan girl will be killed, like all Vedans."
Marcella couldn't contain her emotions any longer. "She is your child," she burst out. "Would you truly kill your own flesh and blood?"
The king's face registered shock. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Taking a moment to compose herself, Marcella continued, "She is the daughter that the queen bore. The queen didn't die at her hands; she willingly sacrificed herself."
"Lies!" Herad spat out, his anger flaring.
"You are so blinded by your anger that you place blame on the innocent child for the queen's death," Marcella retorted. "If only you could see the truth."
"Get out!" Herad roared. "You are no longer welcome in this palace. You are no longer fit to call yourself a sorceress."
"Please, don't make the mistake of harming your own child," Marcella pleaded desperately.
"You don't understand," Herad replied, his voice laced with anger. "Now more than ever, I am determined to end her life. Leave and never set foot before me again, Marcella." He paused, his voice cold and biting. "You are weak, your magic is fading, and you are not at your strongest. I could easily order your execution for this betrayal, but I won't, for you have indeed helped this kingdom tremendously before. Now, LEAVE!"
His words struck deep within Marcella's core. It was true; despite her youthful appearance, she had lived for centuries, and her magic was waning with each passing day. She took a deep breath, silently acknowledging the truth, and bowed once more before leaving the chamber.
King Herad, consumed by hatred and vengeance, vented his fury by hurling objects against the walls. Marcella's revelation had ignited an inferno within him, intensifying his desire to kill Jamari, even though he knew deep down that she was his own child.
Revenge now consumed his every thought, blinding him to reason and compassion. The flames of anger flickered in his eyes as he plotted the demise of the innocent girl who unknowingly bore the weight of her mother's sacrifice.
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*****TWO DAYS LATER*********
"I wish to see your king," Marcella spoke with determination to Kira, standing at the entrance of Reagan's chamber.
Curiosity gleaming in her eyes, Kira questioned, "Who are you?"
"I am someone who can assist you in achieving what you seek," Marcella replied confidently.
Kira studied Marcella from head to toe, contemplating her request. "Tell me about it, and I shall convey your message to my king," she offered.
Marcella's resolve remained unshaken. "I wish to speak to him directly," she insisted.
"You cannot-" Kira began, but was interrupted by General Cedrick. "Let her speak to him," he interjected. "The sooner we leave, the better."
Sighing in resignation, Kira relented. "Wait here," she instructed Marcella, disappearing into the room. After a few minutes, she reemerged. "You may enter," she informed Marcella.
Drawing a deep breath, Marcella stepped forward, entering King Reagan's chamber. The room was dimly lit, the king's face concealed behind a mask, his attention focused on the crackling fireplace.
"I now understand why you are here and what it is you seek," Marcella began, her voice steady. "In a few days, she will face beheading, and your desires will remain unfulfilled."
Reagan shifted his gaze, fixing it upon her. Intrigued, he urged her to continue.
"However," Marcella pressed on, "if you ever wish to use her powers to free your second dragon from captivity, you must protect her at all costs."
Reagan rose from his chair, his presence commanding as he approached Marcella. Their eyes locked, neither showing a hint of fear.
"When they discover her true identity, when they realize that she is no ordinary Vedan, but the Queen of all Vedans herself, she will face more enemies than she can handle," Marcella warned with conviction. "They will attempt to kill her before she can fulfill her destined purpose."
"She is currently weak, devoid of her powers, and until she regains them, you must protect her," Marcella pleaded with earnestness.
Reagan's eyes remained fixed as Marcella continued her plea. "The only way to ensure her safety is to make her your queen," she exhaled, her voice heavy with the weight of her words. "If she becomes the Queen of Drakonia, your wife, no one will dare harm her or lay a finger upon her. Enemies will keep their distance, merely watching from afar, too fearful to approach. Only you possess the ability to help her," Marcella emphasized. "It is the necessary path to take if you wish to use her extraordinary powers to release your second dragon"Zarathus" from it captive in the future."
"Leave," Reagan's deep voice commanded.
He retreated back to his chair, resuming his stoic position.
Marcella's heart sank, disappointment washing over her. This was her only chance to save her daughter from the doom that awaited her. Her own magic was not strong enough to confront the countless Konica soldiers if she were to fight for her on her own. She took a deep breath, silently acknowledging the harsh reality, and wordlessly departed from the chamber.
As Marcella left, her mind raced with the weight of her decision. She knew that, for now, her daughter's fate lay in the hands of the enigmatic king. Her hope mingled with anxiety, hoping that Reagan would eventually see the value in her proposition, understanding the necessity of safeguarding the one who possessed immense potential.
The journey ahead was uncertain, and Marcella couldn't help but fear for her daughter's safety. She knew that she had done what she could, delivering her message to the king with sincerity and conviction. Now, she could only hope that her words had stirred something within him, igniting a spark of compassion that would lead him to protect the one who held the key to their shared destiny.
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********DEATH DAY***************
Seated on the cold, grimy floor of her wretched dungeon, Jamari found a sliver of comfort in the presence of Corvus. His eyes, filled with compassion, met hers.
"Will they truly end my life?" she asked, her voice filled with despair. "My godmother revealed that the king is my father. Why does he harbor such deep hatred towards me?"
Corvus sighed, a mix of frustration and sympathy in his voice. "I wish I had an answer, my lady. It seems the king is consumed by blinding anger, unable to see beyond it."
A weariness settled upon Jamari, her existence feeling void of purpose from the very beginning. The arrival of her last day on earth drew nearer each passing seconds.
"I need a life that holds meaning," she whispered, her words barely audible above the silence of the dungeon.
Tears ran down her cheeks, tracing paths of unfulfilled dreams and unrealized potential. Each droplet carried the weight of her unspoken desires.
In her dim prison, her cries echoed, blending with the shadows. The darkness reflected her despair, oppressive but real. Amidst sorrow, a flicker of determination danced in Jamari's spirit. Despite her belief in a purposeless life, she held onto a fragile hope, a whisper of possible meaning in her existence, however small it may be.
Jamari's thoughts were abruptly shattered by the piercing screams of men, their terror-laden voices tearing through the air like shards of shattered glass. The stench of burning fire invaded her senses, covering the atmosphere with its ominous presence. Startled, Jamari swiftly rose to her feet, her heart pounding within her chest like a trapped bird desperate for escape.
"What in the world is happening?" she anxiously asked, seeking answers amidst the chaos.
"Let me take flight and witness the unfolding scene," offered Corvus.
"No, stay close by my side," Jamari insisted firmly.
Corvus complied, remaining faithfully perched nearby, his watchful eyes scanning the surroundings.
As the screams grew louder, Jamari's curiosity and fear tugged at her spirit as she wandered what could be going on.
Jamari was suddenly startled as a guard, covered in fire, appeared before her screaming for help while trying to put off the burning fire on him.
She instinctively stepped back in fear, retreating from the iron bars that held her captive in the dungeon until her back hit the dungeon wall. Panic surged through her, leaving her frozen against the wall as an involuntary scream escaped her lips.
The guard, covered in flames, dropped to the dungeon floor, fire still burning his body as live slowly left him. Fear would be an understatement for what she was feeling right now. As Jamari tried to process this scary scene, an unexpected figure appeared from the dark.
It was none other than the Dragon King himself.
Fire danced on his arms, but unlike the guard, they didn't harm him. It was as if the fire came from within, as if it was a part of him. Corvus, perched beside Jamari, trembled with fear, his voice quivering as he spoke the name that sent shivers down their spines.
"The Dragon King," Corvus whispered.
"What? Him?" Jamari's fear grew stronger, her eyes wide with awe and terror. She couldn't help but be confused by the intense gaze he directed at her, even though fear gnawed at her from within.
Reagan, the Dragon King, stared at Jamari through the iron bars. The flames on his hands faded away, leaving only faint flickers. He reached out his hand, holding a dagger with a sharp edge.
With ease, he bent the iron bars, as if they were mere twigs in his path creating a space big enough for him to enter.
Stepping into her cell, he loomed over Jamari who fell to the ground in fear, before she released a piercing scream.
Gripping her arm firmly, he yanked her upright, his towering presence casting fear. Corvus, usually her loyal companion in times of trouble, remained paralyzed by terror, unable to intervene.
His face remained hidden behind a mask, preventing her from reading his expression. Trembling, Jamari mustered the courage to speak "What do you want from me? Please, just let me go."
Reagan's grip on the dagger tightened, causing it to dig into his hands, drawing blood that dripped onto the floor. In a sudden gesture, he flung the dagger aside, its metallic clang echoing through the room. As Jamari trembled in fear, her panicked voice filled with tears, she asked, "What are you doing?"
Without uttering a single word, he slowly raised his bloodied hand, capturing her attention. In a chilling act, he smeared his blood stained hand over her head, staining her once pristine white hair. His eyes fixed on her sightless eyes, his gaze penetrating into her very soul.
Releasing his grip on her, he stared at her for a while before leaving without a word. Jamari stood frozen, her mind filled with different emotions, trying to comprehend the meaning of his actions. She wiped her forehead hoping to get the blood out but it had already stained her white hair and would need more than just a wipe to get it out.
As she watched his retreating figure, confusion, fear, and curiosity consumed her.
"what was that?…"