Hours later, Zesus arrived.
CHAPTER SIX THE UNTOLD STORY
In the throne room, he bowed low before Maya, his movements deliberate and precise.
"Your Majesty," he greeted, his voice cool.
"Hi," Maya replied with a warm smile.
"My name is Zesus, Your Majesty," he said, tone cold and formal.
"Oh. Okay, Zesus. You may sit," she offered, gesturing to a chair beside the throne.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Simon leaned back in his seat with a grin. "It took you a whole year to get here, Maya," he said, his sarcasm cutting through the tension.
Maya scoffed. "Add a month to that."
Zesus straightened his robes. "Your Majesties, shall I begin?" "Please do," Maya replied, settling deeper into the throne.
Zesus drew in a slow breath. "In this palace," he began, "there is a secret room where the last egg of the Firebird is hidden."
Maya blinked. "A Firebird? Isn't that dangerous?"
"Yes," Zesus said, his tone heavy. "Long ago, when Firebirds were wiped out, the king
then ordered that one egg be spared. It has been shielded for countless years by witches and wizards. That is why it remains unhatched."
He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Legend says, if one finds the egg, they must never touch it. The shell is bound by layers of dark magic. If someone comes into contact with it, that person will become the Firebird — endowed with unimaginable dark power."
Simon squinted. "Weird."
"That," Zesus continued, "is not just a legend — it is a warning. No one knows the exact location of the hidden room. It was sealed away generations ago. But the foretelling speaks clearly: the egg will be found, and chaos will follow. Not even the Stone of Tears will defeat the Firebird. The only way to stop it..." He paused, his gaze locking on Maya. "...is to sacrifice the Chosen One."
Simon stiffened. "So if the Firebird is released... my sister has to die?"
"I'm afraid so, Your Majesty," Zesus answered calmly.
Simon slammed his fist against the arm of his chair. "What kind of legend is this? Why would anyone even want the Firebird? And besides, my sister doesn't even have any powers to lose — killing her would just waste a soul!"
Zesus raised an eyebrow, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "A Chosen One without powers? You do not yet understand how powerful you are, Your Majesty."
Maya froze, a memory flashing through her mind — that strange surge of energy when she touched the Stone of Tears. It all made sense now. She really was the Chosen One.
"I get it," she said quietly. "But how is my bloodline royal?"
Zesus's voice softened, but his words carried weight. "It began when the People's Palace was burned to ash during the Mirandrian attack. Survivors fled into the woods,
suffering for six long years. Danger stalked their every step, loved ones were lost, hope dimmed. Until a man named Albert rose among them, gave them courage, and led them to rebuild. He trained them — every willing child, male and female — until defense became their culture.
"When their home was rebuilt, Albert became their king. He married a woman named Stephanie, naming her queen, and together they ruled Altolem. Two years later, they bore a son — the first prince of the new kingdom. But word of Altolem's rebirth reached the Mirandrians. Their king sent a spy, Zeres, disguised as a friend. Around the same time, a witch from a nearby ravaged village — Elizabeth — came seeking shelter."
Zesus's eyes darkened. "Albert hated witches and wizards. He trusted Zeres instead. Queen Stephanie sensed danger in the newcomer, but Albert was stubborn.
"One day, Elizabeth asked to speak with the queen."
Zesus's voice shifted, retelling the words as if reading from memory.
'Why do you wish to seek an audience with me?' Stephanie asked softly.
'I have foreseen something, Your Majesty,' Elizabeth replied. 'To repay your kindness, I must warn you — Altolem has welcomed an unseen war into its walls.'
'War?' Stephanie whispered.
'Yes. And to win this war, your son will have to give up his life.'
Albert stormed in. 'Our son? Are you out of your mind? I knew we shouldn't have trusted you! I'll have you killed before tomorrow ends!'
'Albert!' Stephanie pleaded. 'At least let her finish!' 'Finish what? Guard!' Albert roared.
Guards seized Elizabeth as she shouted, 'You have fallen for the lies of the enemy — now you face the consequence!'
'Nonsense!' Albert barked.
'Then hear my curse!' Elizabeth screamed. 'You will have three grandchildren — two of them twins, both female — they shall be powerful, but they shall never know peace for the rest of their lives!'
'How dare you!' Albert roared. 'Get her out of here!'
The guards dragged her away, her curses echoing through the palace halls."
Silence fell over the throne room.
Back in the present, Maya shifted uneasily. "That's quite a story. But... how is that connected to us?"
Zesus looked at her with calm certainty. "The name of the baby prince was Alexander Qin."
Maya blinked. "What?"
Simon's mouth went dry. "Our dad?"
"But if that's true," Maya said, "why weren't we born as royals?"
"The queen fled the palace with her son after Elizabeth's warning," Zesus explained. "Your father was never given the right to claim the throne of Altolem."
Simon frowned. "But Maya isn't a twin. Didn't Elizabeth curse us?" Maya nodded slowly, a chill creeping into her bones.
"The truth," Zesus said firmly, "always prevails."
Maya yawned, exhaustion overtaking the weight of revelation. "I guess so. Please... allow me to retire. I'm very tired."
"As you please, Your Majesty," Zesus said with a bow. "Rest well."
One by one, they retreated to their chambers.
In Simon's room, the prince sat in silence, hands clenched.
"A twin sister?" he muttered. "What would happen to me if she's found? What if what that wizard said is true? I'd be replaced. I'll never let that happen."
The next morning, David arrived at the palace unexpectedly. His eyes were tired, his smile forced. He told Maya that he was tired of wandering, tired of fighting, tired of living without purpose.
They walked. They talked. They ate together. For a while, it felt like their dreams were finally within reach.
But days later, a shadow appeared at the palace gates.
A cloaked woman stood before the guards, her face hidden.
"Who are you?" one guard demanded.
"Someone you don't want to offend," the woman replied with a sly smirk.
"Leave now, before you face our wrath," the guard warned. "Not everyone is welcome here."
The woman sighed, muttering to herself, "I told Zesus I'm not good with polite entrances."
She closed her eyes. The ground began to tremble. A thick, choking dust filled the air. Then came the thunderous BANG — the palace gates blew apart.
The guards were flung like ragdolls, landing yards away.
The woman lowered her hood, her smirk sharp as a blade. "Now," she said, stepping through the wreckage, "we know whose wrath you shouldn't have provoked."
In her chamber, Maya's eyes shot open.
"What just happened?" she whispered. A cold chill coiled in her gut. "Nothing good just entered this palace."
She leapt to her feet and ran for the door.
WATCH OUT FOR SEASON TWO! Thank you for reading.