Meanwhile, in Astra, the priestess hurried into the grand hall of the castle, her eyes wide with excitement. "Your Highness," she called out, breathlessly approaching the empress, "I have received an oracle!"
Lilian looked up from her throne, the room falling silent at the urgency in the priestess' tone. "What is it?" she asked, rising to her feet.
The priestess's face was flushed with joy as she recounted the oracle's message. "The prophecy speaks of a hero Theo who has been lost in the void," she explained, "and it is my mistake that he is trapped there."
The whispers grew louder in the room, a palpable energy that seemed to crackle in the air.
"But fear not," the priestess continued, "for I have been granted the knowledge to bring him back!"
The room erupted into a frenzy of excitement and relief. Lily and Beatrice both had tears in their eyes, their hands on their swollen bellies.
"We must perform the summoning ritual," the priestess said, "and it requires someone close to him to be present."
The empress nodded solemnly. "I will ensure everything is prepared," she said. "We will not let him stay lost for long."
The whispers grew more intense, the words of the oracle echoing in their minds. They had a month to get everything ready, and they would not waste a single moment.
The court of Astra sprang into action, the whispers of fate guiding them as they worked tirelessly to bring Theo back. The ritual was complex, requiring the purest of intentions and the deepest of bonds.
The priestess and the queens gathered in the sacred chamber, each of them focused on the task at hand. The air was thick with the scent of incense, and the flickering candles cast eerie shadows on the ancient stone walls.
"We must not fail," Lilian murmured, her eyes determined.
The whispers grew quiet, as if in agreement. They had a mission, and they would see it through.
For Theo, the whispers grew faint as he lay in Elara's arms, his mind and heart torn between two worlds. He knew he had to return to Astra, but the thought of leaving Elara was unbearable.
On that night, Elara and Theo slept in the same bed. The whisper grew loud, "My-My dear Theo." It was as if someone was trying to find him in his dream.
"The time has come," it said, "You need to go back..."
Theo grasped, "What? Go back?" He was happy yet sad because of Elara.
"Yes," the whisper reassured him, "But fear not, Ethan will return to his body."
"What... It's good that he's back, but all the things I've done with Elara, if he rejects her, it'll break my heart." Theo expressed his worry.
"Do not fret," the whisper consoled him, "Your feelings for Elara and the memories will stay with Ethan."
"But what if he doesn't accept her? What if he knows it was me all along?" Theo was concerned.
"I will take care of it," the whisper promised, "I will slightly alter his memories so he believes he was the one. It's my responsibility to fix this, as it was my doing in the first place." With that, the whisper began to fade away.
"You have almost a month," the whisper said as Theo awoke suddenly, "Use your time here to cherish your life with Elara."
"W-what happened?" Elara asked, her voice thick with sleep.
"It's nothing," Theo replied, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead, "I just wish you could come with me." He murmured to himself.
Looking at Elara's sleeping face, Theo felt a mix of relief and sadness.
The next morning, Theo woke up to find Elara's soft, voluptuous breasts pressed against his chest, her breathing even and peaceful. The sight was almost too much for him, his hand instinctively moving to her nipple. The sensation was exquisite, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of desire.
Elara stirred in her sleep, a jolt of pleasure shooting through her body as she felt his touch. She had hoped for this, had even pretended to be asleep to see if he would act on it.
Without opening her eyes, she whispered, "Theo?"
Her voice was a siren's call, and he couldn't resist any longer. He leaned in, kissing her gently on the neck, feeling her skin heat up under his lips.
They had been given this time together for a reason, and they were not about to waste it.
Elara pretended to still be asleep, allowing Theo to explore her body. She felt his hand move down to her clit, his fingers gentle yet insistent. Her hips rolled slightly in response, urging him on.
Theo's own desire was building, his cock growing hard at the thought of taking her again. He knew he didn't have much time left in this world, but he also knew that he couldn't leave Elara without making love to her one more time.
With a final, lingering kiss, he pulled away, his hand still on her clit. "Elara," he whispered, "are you okay with this?"
Her eyes remained closed, but she nodded. "I want you," she murmured, "I am ready all the time."
Theo felt a rush of love and lust, his heart racing as he entered her. The whispers grew fainter, their work done for now.
Their lovemaking was slow and sweet, a silent declaration of their love in the face of an uncertain future. They held each other tightly, their bodies speaking the words their mouths could not.
When they were done, they lay there, their hearts pounding in sync. "Thank you," Elara murmured, her voice filled with emotion.
Theo kissed her forehead, his eyes filled with love. "Thank you," he whispered back.
As dawn's light flooded in through the windows, Elara and Theo stirred awake, feeling the tension that frequently follows a night of such intensity. The murmurs of destiny had all but disappeared, their presence now just a tender nudge of the connection they held.
They sat up in bed, the bedclothes wrapped around them like a tight embrace. The atmosphere was thick with unsaid feelings, their glances catching briefly before darting away.
Elara winced as she moved, a reminder of their passionate evening. The servants, who had noticed the shift in Elara's disposition, couldn't resist swapping knowing smiles as they served breakfast.
One servant, unable to hold in her curiosity, murmured to Elara, "It seems you had quite the night, Miss."
Elara's cheeks flushed a vivid pink, and she replied in a low voice, "It was... lovely."
The servant's eyes danced with amusement. "I'm so happy for you, Lady," she said, "You haven't slept that soundly in ages."
Theo, catching their exchange, felt a twinge of guilt. An orphan and penniless by societal measures, he had no business feeling joy with Elara. He spoke up, "You know, I'm just a plain guy, Elara."
Elara turned to face him, her gaze filled with love and resolve. "It doesn't matter," she said firmly, placing a hand on his face, "None of that does."
Theo looked at her, the reality of his situation weighing on him. "But what about your parents?" he inquired, his tone filled with concern.
Elara's expression grew contemplative, and she responded, "They might not be thrilled initially, but if you loved me, I'll support you. Our love is what's important."
Theo felt a warmth envelop him, the whispers of destiny fading as Elara's words filled the air. "I'd do anything for you," he vowed, his voice sincere.
They shared a lingering kiss, the flavor of their love blending with the sweet aroma of breakfast. The whispers of fate looked on, a gentle hint that their moments together were precious and fleeting.
Theo knew he had to go back to Astra, but for the time being, he would savor every instant with Elara, laying the groundwork for a love that could withstand the challenges of time and realms.
As Theo and Elara shared a passionate kiss, the whispers grew faint. "Thank you, Elara," Theo murmured, his voice filled with love and regret.
The maids outside the door couldn't help but exchange glances, smiling to themselves. One whispered, "Finally, she's got him good."
"It's about time," the other replied, chuckling softly.
Elara's eyes searched Theo's, and she nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "I love you, Ethan," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Theo's heart clenched, the reality of his situation sinking in. He had to go back to Astra, back to his harem, back to the prophecy that had brought him here.
The whispers grew stronger, reminding him of his duty, of his fate. With a heavy heart, he pulled away from Elara.
"I'll come back to you," he promised, his eyes shimmering with determination. "I'll find a way."
Elara nodded, her eyes welling with tears. "I'll wait for you," she said.
Theo stepped away, his hand lingering on the doorframe. "Remember me," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Elara watched as he disappeared into the corridor, the whispers of fate now a distant echo. She turned back to her bed, the emptiness of it a stark reminder of the love she had just lost.
In Astra, the preparations for the summoning ritual were in full swing. Lily and Beatrice stood before the priestess, their hands on their swollen bellies.
"Master," Lily prayed, her eyes filled with hope, "Please come back to us."
Beatrice nodded in agreement, her voice trembling. "We need you," she murmured.
The priestess nodded solemnly, her eyes closed as she chanted the ancient incantations. The air grew heavy with power, the very stones of the chamber seeming to hum with the anticipation of Theo's return.