Few days later…
In a small room, Thia sat cross-legged, her posture calm and focused in a meditation pose. She closed her eyes, striving to center herself, drawing all of her essence toward the mark on her chest. The symbol glowed faintly, as though it could sense her will. After a few seconds, Thia felt a subtle pull within her, taking her from her current location into another dimension entirely.
The moment Thia crossed the threshold into the Phoenix Queen's domain, the air around her seemed to crackle with latent power, a stark contrast to the quiet turmoil of the mortal world she had just left behind. The mark on her chest, a fiery emblem of the Phoenix Queen's essence, pulsed with warmth, guiding her through the molten landscape. The ground beneath her feet thrummed with the pulsing beat of rebirth, as blazing embers gave way to lush, verdant bursts of life, an ever-shifting dance between destruction and renewal.
As she walked, the familiar scent of sulfur and ash lingered in the air, mixing with the subtle fragrance of flowers that bloomed and withered in mere moments. Towering spires of blackened stone loomed above, their jagged forms casting long shadows over the constantly changing terrain. Rivers of molten lava twisted and merged like living veins through the land. Above, the sky bled into hues of orange and red, as if the very atmosphere burned with the stories of those who had entered this domain.
Thia's footsteps echoed as she moved deeper into the heart of the domain, her eyes following the constant flux of flame and foliage around her. There, in the midst of chaos and beauty, the Phoenix Queen appeared—a figure of immense grace in her human form, her fiery presence radiating through the air, a living embodiment of both death and rebirth.
"Thia… You're here. Glad to see you're fine child." the Phoenix Queen's voice echoed, soft yet commanding, the sound like the crackling of a thousand flames. Her eyes—brilliant and molten—fixed on Thia with an intensity that seemed to pierce through her very soul.
"Have you completed the task? Have you found the child?" the Queen asked.
Thia lowered her head in reverence, her fingers brushing the mark of the Phoenix on her chest. "Yes, my Queen. I've found him. He is alive and well…"
"That's wonderful news," Queen Artemisia replied. "At least you have good news on your end," she said, a somber undertone creeping into her voice. "Things have not been great here in Eru."
Thia frowned. "What is the matter, my Queen?" she asked.
The Queen hesitated for a moment before speaking. She wanted to point out that Thia had yet to call her 'mother,' but she didn't want to force their relationship. She would prefer to wait until the child was ready, after all, Thia had barely even had the chance to mourn her real mother.
"Jai has made his move," the Queen continued, her tone heavy with concern. "Everyone thought he would dedicate his time to searching for the prince next, but we were wrong. He attacked one of our cities yesterday, wiping out everyone and everything in it."
Thia was stunned. "That's… horrible," she whispered, shock evident in her voice.
The Queen narrowed her eyes. "Did you know, Thia? Did you know that there's a demon in this world?"
Thia's gaze dropped, her expression troubled. She had kept it a secret from the Queen until she had enough details. She didn't even know who the demon was until recently.
"Yes," Thia replied quietly.
The Queen's brow furrowed. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
"I didn't know who it was or if it was even true," Thia answered softly.
"And you didn't trust me?" the Queen pressed, her eyes fixed on Thia.
There was silence. Thia didn't respond.
Queen Artemisia sighed deeply, her fiery form shimmering with the weight of unspoken thoughts. "I know you don't trust me yet, but you should have at least told me about the demon," she said softly. Is there something else I should know?"
Thia hesitated, her mind racing before she finally spoke.
"Yes," Thia replied quietly.
"Are you willing to tell me?" the Queen asked, her voice gentle but firm.
Thia took a deep breath before continuing. "I'm not the only one who carries this curse," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know exactly what makes my curse so special, but apparently, there are two others who carry a similar curse. One of them is a boy from Omi named Gor Kindel. He's the son of Bale Kindel. His curse is called Ares. The last of the three of us is the prince of Wize himself. He carries a curse called Ashell."
The Queen's eyes widened in shock. "What! You mean Ra and Kokou's curses were also summoned?" she asked, disbelief in her voice.
"Yes," Thia replied, her voice steady.
"How? Why?" the Queen asked, her mind struggling to process the new information. She didn't know exactly what was happening, but it seemed like things were spiraling out of control.
"Listen to me, Thia," the Queen said, her voice gaining strength. "By now, you should be aware of how extraordinary your curse is. Not only is it powerful in itself, but it also belongs to a powerful entity…" The Queen paused for a moment. "The story is a long one, but I'll tell you this: There are three beings who are the products of an abominable union between the most powerful demon to have ever existed and the very first goddess of love. Those three are known as the abominations. Their names are Ra, the sun god, Kokou, the war god, and Plutonia, the death goddess. But that's to the gods. They are known as something else to the demons, they are known as Ra, the demon of void; Kokou, the demon of wrath; and Plutonia, the demon of curses. Those three are not just gods, Thia. They are demons too, and they are the most dangerous on both sides. No other gods or goddesses can challenge their powers, neither can the demons. That's why I knew you had to be special if you were able to summon Plutonia's curse. But I never thought there would be others like you."
The Queen's words hung heavy in the air. "I also don't think the demon being here is a coincidence. It must be after the three of you," she said, her voice low and concerned.
"Yes," Thia replied, a frown forming on her face. "Iku suspected that was the case."
The Queen took a step closer, her gaze intense. "Then you must listen carefully, Thia. The three of you must be careful. Although I doubt this demon can do much, given its strength will be greatly diminished, but, demons are powerful and dangerous. They are not mere men and are not bound by mortal rules when it comes to strength. So, you must be cautious."
"If you encounter the King again, run," Queen Artemisia said firmly.
"I can't do that," Thia replied, her voice resolute.
"Why?" the Queen asked, surprised.
"Because he's going to keep searching for me. For us," Thia said, her eyes dark with uncertainty. "I don't know why, but Iku said it has something to do with a veil."
"The veil between the mortal and immortal realms?" the Queen asked, her voice tense.
"It must have weakened," the Queen mused. "This is more dangerous than I thought…"
She turned to face Thia. "How do you plan on taking on a demon?" she asked.
"I'm not going to do it alone," Thia replied. "I want to speak with Kin and Gor about it too. Can you send one of the pillars? We'll need help."
"That will be quite difficult…" The Queen's expression turned grim. "We've lost contact with Meliesse, so we're presuming the worst. Dante has been sent to defend HappyLand from an attack. Hazel can't enter Wize now—not with things as bad as they are here. General Kyle is missing and also presumed dead. Dylan is helping to prepare for what's coming, and Mystos is always away, but I'll send him your way…"
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Thia said with gratitude.
"Listen to me, Thia," the Queen said, her voice turning serious. "You must not allow Jai to capture you or the prince. I fear what he might do. You need to get him out of Jai's reach until we figure out how to deal with him. No demon hunting, is that clear?"
"Yes, ma'am," Thia replied firmly.
The Queen stepped closer and gently held Thia's chin, her fiery gaze softening. She couldn't believe what Thia had gone through as a child. It must have been tough for her.
"Was it hard on you?" the Queen asked, her voice softer now. "Losing your mother?"
Thia lowered her head for a moment before answering, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes…"