Chapter 52 - LIGHT AT THE END.

Under the luminous glow of the moon, the Morungatuny kingdom blossomed once a gain into a kingdom of joy and anticipation. The air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine as the kingdom prepared for a celebration like no other—the wedding of Prince Odeke and the enchanting warrior, Maria.

Anyway, that would be their first jovialous day.

As the dawn broke, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold, the preparations were already in full swing. The townsfolk adorned the streets with vibrant flowers, and the rhythmic beats of drums filled the air, creating a tapestry of sound that echoed through the corridors of the kingdom.

The people were brimming with excitement; they had never seen their beloved leader, Maria, in anything but her warrior attire. Today, she would don a gown of ethereal beauty, crafted from the silken threads of the mystical silkworms that thrived in the enchanted forests.

As the sun rose high, the kingdom of Ngora, accompanied by their king and queen, were the first to arrive, draped in elegant garments and bearing gifts. Shortly after, the royals from the Abela kingdom graced the occasion with their regal presence. Laughter and merriment surrounded the palace, yet unbeknownst to them, a dark shadow lurked in the periphery.

In the distant kingdom of Getom, the once-forgotten King Emorimori, who had long been captive in unknown place by Ocen. But, ever since the deaths of Amun'ra and Ocen, he escaped from the captivity and seized an opportunity under the vulnerability of Getom kingdom since the murder of their king and the death of Ocen left Getom without a leader, and Emorimori seized the moment, rallying disenchanted youths yearning for power and wealth. With their help, he claimed the throne, and with it, a thirst for revenge against Morungatuny and its newfound harmony was at his peak.

As the wedding festivities continued, Emorimori watched with greed in his soul, from a far, with a plot to infiltrate Morungatuny with an attack when the kingdom's defenses would be weakest.

"Whenever there's a celebration," he murmured to himself, "there's always a chance for me to reclaim what I lost."

When night descended, the moon shone so brightly that it lit the kingdom as if blessed by the god of the moon himself. Maria and Prince Odeke, lost in their realm of love, strolled hand in hand towards the shimmering water pond, oblivious to the impending doom. Laughter mingled with the gentle sounds of water lapping against the shore, creating an atmosphere of pure magic.

Yet in the shadows, Emorimori's men slipped silently through the revelry like a serpent in tall grass, their intentions shrouded in darkness.

As they drew closer, the tranquility of the night was shattered by the sound of clashing swords and cries of despair. The celebration had morphed into chaos and distraction.

The royal knights scrambled to defend their beloved kingdom, but the ongoing festivities had left them vulnerable. Especially the fact that the she warriors were busy drinking; unlike the she warriors, the knights are always far from pleasure as their only joy and responsibility is to defend the kingdom when the she warriors cant. They dutifully split their ranks: some protected the citizens, while others sought for the prince and Maria. But in a cruel twist of fate, as the knights encircle King Emorimori , he pulled his son, Prince Odeke, into the fray.

"Stop!" he commanded, pressing a knife against Prince Odeke's throat with a trembling hand. "Surrender, or I will end his life!" His voice echoed with desperation and malice. He knew at the moment, prince Odeke was Maria's weakest spot.

What could she probably do? Nothing.

Maria, with her heart torn, raised her hands in surrender as she made a sign to the knights not to attack, pleading silently for the safety of her beloved. "Do not harm him, Emorimori. We can find a way."

But just then, a rogue arrow whistled through the air, striking Maria in the chest with a tragic irony. Time slowed. She fell, her body sinking into the ethereal waters of the pond as the moonlit surface rippled around her.

Odeke's eyes widened in horror; he lunged forward to save her as both despair and determination gripped him. "Maria!" he shouted, plunging into the water without hesitation.

As he reached for her, the waters glowed with an otherworldly light, revealing the depths filled not with darkness but with visions of the past, intertwined with the very essence of their love—a love strong enough to fight against even the deepest sorrow.

In that moment, a transformation began. The water around them shimmered, and from its depths emerged the spirit of the long lost water and river goddesses who were sisters to the war goddess, Maria before her reincarnation: a radiant figures clothed in the gowns of goddesses, shining jewels cascading from their hair like stars in the night sky.

"If she leaves the waters she will die and this time , she won't reincarnate" she declared." Sighting at a terrified Odeke as if he wants to ask who they are but his lips were heavy to open.

"We're the river and rain goddesses" they said , at that moment he was relieved as he once heard the moon god's conversation with Maria and they happened to mention the two goddess.

"Don't ever mention what your eyes have seen, and let no lips mention about the village in the forbidden forest to outsiders." They worn and immediately disappeared in the waters after assuring him of her return.

Few moments later, prince Odeke emerged from the waters alone , with a pale skin as his heart pounding heavily, he looked at his father with so much disappointment.

"You don't deserve to be my father," he roared.

"Together, we shall protect our kingdom!" With renewed vigor, the knights, known as the warriors who die in battle whether defeated or not, they never retreat nor surrender. they faced the enemies, a united front representing hope within the chaos.