"I know you have many unanswered questions. Am I correct?" the queen said as she sat on her throne, which rested atop a podium. She peered down at me from above, her presence regal and commanding.
"Caesar, my dear, would you be so kind as to leave?" Her gaze shifted to the man who was friends with Meredith. He bowed his head, casting a smirk in my direction before leaving the room.
Suddenly, Jack stepped forward in a blur and dropped to his knees, bowing low with his head to the ground.
"Forgive me for what I did!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion.
I was stunned by his actions. The Jack I knew would never bow to anyone or care about anyone—least of all me, someone he had always taken pleasure in tormenting.
The queen looked equally surprised, her sharp gaze fixed on him.
"And what did you do?" she asked, her tone laced with cold anger.
Jack tilted his head slightly toward her.
"I pushed him off a cliff, but it was only to awaken his power. I didn't mean to harm him."
The queen's eyes narrowed as her voice rose.
"Did I order you to harm him or take matters into your own hands?" she demanded, her grip tightening on the arms of her throne.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," Jack replied, his voice filled with fear and regret. "I thought time was against us. It was a foolish mistake on my part."
"Take him away and punish him," the queen commanded with a wave of her hand.
Two strong, warrior-like women dressed in ancient, ornate attire stepped forward. They grabbed Jack by the arms and hauled him to his feet before dragging him out of the castle.
"What's going to happen to him?" I asked, worry creeping into my voice.
"He's my spirit beast, so you don't need to concern yourself with how I punish him," the queen said gently, her tone softening. "Oh, my dear, one thing is clear—you have the heart of your mother." She reached out, pointing a finger toward my chest, as if sensing something deep within me.
"Mother, I brought him here because his father is sick," Meredith interjected, stepping closer to the throne.
"We need to treat his father before anything else," she added firmly.
"When you say sickness, do you mean an ethereal cursed his father?" the queen asked, crossing her legs as she peered down at us.
"Yes, Mother, it is an ethereal curse. You have vast knowledge of different curses and their afflictions. Please, Mother, save his father," Meredith pleaded.
I thought of what to say, but Meredith had already said it all. My sole purpose for coming to the ethereal world was to learn about my mother and heal my father.
"What is your full name, dear child?" she asked, her scarlet eyes gazing at me.
"My name is Jaze. Jaze Tygerous," I replied.
"Tygerous? Your father let you bear the name of your grandfather?" the queen said, her tone laced with surprise. Her eyes held a sorrowful look.
"Your father is an unusual man. He truly loved your mother deeply," she added, clutching the pendant around her neck.
"I will heal your father, and if I can't do it myself, I will personally go to the land of the Elven Maids to seek a cure. But you must fulfill your obligation as a royal member of the family."
My eyebrows shot up in surprise, and my old habit of trying to adjust my glasses kicked in—only to realize I wasn't wearing them. I glanced at Meredith, who stood silently by my side.
"Mother, what royal obligations? What's important is getting his father healed," Meredith said, furrowing her eyebrows.
"My dear, of course that is important. But for now, I want you to stay out of this conversation. Do not utter a word without my consent," the queen retorted coldly. She glared at Meredith, though her expression softened shortly after.
"Whatever the royal obligation is, I will fulfill it," I replied, briefly glancing at Meredith.
I could hear a faint whisper in my head, but it was indistinct. It suddenly felt like Meredith's thoughts were trying to relay a message to me, but there was interference. I sensed the queen's energy disrupting our connection.
"Maiden guards, take my daughter to her chambers," the queen commanded.
Two maidens, the same ones who had given us garments upon our arrival, stepped forward and bowed their heads toward Meredith.
"Your Highness, please allow us to escort you to your room," they said in unison, standing adjacent to her.
I stared at Meredith and gently touched her hand.
"Hey, are you alright?" I asked.
Her eyes seemed to scream that she wanted to say something, but her lips didn't move. It felt as though she was trying to speak but couldn't. Instead, she nodded, smiled faintly, and rubbed my hand before bowing to the queen. She then left with the maidens.
"You must partake in the Rite of Bloodhood," the queen said as she rose from her throne. Her eyes gleamed with tension, and her hair seemed to sway in the air as she towered over me, peering down.
I gulped and looked up at her. "What is the Rite of Bloodhood, if I may ask?"
"It is the act of asserting your rightful place as an ethereal and demonstrating that you are a true member of the royal family," she replied, clasping her hands gently at her abdomen.
"So, if I fail to prove I am an ethereal and turn out to be just an outsider, I have no right to be part of the royal family—and neither can I seek your help in matters concerning my life," I said, my voice calm but firm.
The queen smiled, clearly impressed. "You're clever, just like your mother. Everything you've said is correct. Pass the Rite of Passage, and you will be welcomed into royalty where you belong. I will help you heal your father and tell you everything you need to know about your mother and the events of the past. Meredith only knows that your mother was a blood mage, but she doesn't know what happened years ago. I've kept it a secret from her."
I studied the queen's expression closely—the way her eyes searched mine as though seeking an answer. It was then I realized that Meredith's mother might possess powers similar to Meredith's.