Lucien entered the warm, fragrant kitchen, where Aunt Mariam stood stirring a pot of stew. The soft glow of the evening sun streamed through the window, casting golden light over the scene, but Mariam's face was clouded with worry.
"Mariam," Lucien began, his voice low but urgent. "She's awakening. Truly awakening. She told me about a dream—her eyes turned white, and she saw a symbol drawn on her forehead."
Mariam sighed deeply, her hand pausing mid-stir. "I know, Lucien. The signs have been there for weeks now even the Moon flower has bloomed with only one red petal. But I'm not ready to tell her—she's not ready to hear it. There are only five days left before November, and on the fifteenth, it will be her birthday. I just… I just want her to have a few more days of peace before everything changes."
"She's stronger than you think," Lucien replied, leaning against the doorway. "Golderine will handle the truth. She'll handle living differently, even in a world like Aethoria. Besides, there are schools there that can guide her. She just needs to be careful—stay clear of the nobles and their schemes."
Mariam's lips tightened into a thin line. "You expect me to take her to Aethoria? To those power-hungry royals? I don't trust them, Lucien. The Grandes and the Redmonds might welcome her as family, but the others? They're snakes in gilded armor. I won't let them poison her. And not to forget My family and the Grandes they also snakes. "
Lucien moved closer, his voice calm yet firm. "You've done a remarkable job raising Golderine, Mariam. She's smart, resilient, and kind—all because of you. But you know as well as I do that she can't stay hidden forever. If your brother hadn't been so blinded by his own ambition, he would have lived to see his daughter today. Aurora, too." His voice faltered at the mention of Golderine's mother.
Mariam's eyes darkened with a mix of anger and grief. "I warned him, Lucien. Over and over, I told him that the pursuit of absolute power would destroy him. But he didn't listen. Now, his soul is shattered—scattered across realms, with no hope of restoration. I tried collecting the fragments, you know? For Golderine's sake, I tried. But five pieces are still missing." She turned back to the stove, her voice trembling. "And Aurora… I never found her soul. Do you really believe she could return after everything?"
Lucien hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Aurora gave up her immortality to protect Golderine before she was even born. I don't think she could have survived the damage done to her—she sacrificed too much."
Mariam nodded slowly, swallowing hard. "No use crying over spilled milk," she said bitterly. Then, her voice softened. "If Golderine must go to Aethoria, she'll need to be prepared. I'll give her everything—her parents' belongings, and even the fragments of her father's soul. She can decide whether to let go of the past or try to reclaim it by finding the missing pieces."
Lucien placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Whatever path she chooses, she won't walk it alone. You've prepared her for this, Mariam. Trust her—and trust yourself."
The kitchen fell silent except for the gentle bubbling of the stew. In that quiet moment, both Lucien and Mariam knew the storm ahead would test them all. But for Golderine, it would be the start of a destiny greater than any of them could imagine.
_______________________________________
Alice View.
The trio returned home swiftly, a tense energy following them through the door. Anticipation hung thick in the air as they waited for Tristan to elaborate on his earlier statement. It was Caspian who broke the silence first.
"So," Caspian began, his voice laced with urgency, "this morning, you said you saw someone's face on the moon. Whose face was it?"
Tristan hesitated for a moment before replying, "It was Golderine's face. But… it was different. She looked even more beautiful, almost ethereal, and there were no freckles."
Caspian's eyes narrowed as he processed this revelation. "If you truly saw her face, then maybe we should kidnap her. The kingdom is dying, Tristan. Everyone is suffering because of her mother's curse. If only your parents hadn't acted so harshly, Alice… if they hadn't harmed Golderine, we wouldn't be in this situation." His voice trembled as he added, "I'm scared of losing my parents. And Alice, you're a princess—you can't stay here in Raven's Peak forever."
Alice's expression darkened. "I know I'm a princess," she snapped. "But I wasn't even born when my parents did whatever they did to Aurora and Aesen. I didn't know they wanted to steal Aurora's power for themselves. Stop reminding me of their mistakes. Everyone is dying, Caspian. My parents might already be dead for all I know." Her voice wavered with anger and frustration.
Caspian took a step back, guilt flickering across his face. "I'm sorry, Alice. But that's why I say we have to act now. We need to kidnap Golderine. We can't waste any more time here. Tristan, don't you miss your little sister?"
Tristan's face was a mask of conflict. "Of course, I miss her," he admitted. "But kidnapping Golderine isn't the solution. Even if her powers are awakening and leaking, there's another aura surrounding her. It smelled… like death."
Caspian stared at him, incredulous. "Death? What do you mean, death? That makes no sense. Are you just making excuses so we don't kidnap her? We don't have time, Tristan. I refuse to wear white funeral clothes for my parents!"
"None of us want to wear white funeral clothes Caspian . Do you really think you are special , let me tell you something that your parents never told you. They putted a hand in a scheme of taking Aurora Grande's powers . I did not want this to come from my mouth but know since you provoked me I will deal with you accordingly " Alice said in anger and Tristan just opened the fridge and took out water and watched them while drinking his bottle of water.
"My parents would never do that they are pure honest nobles . We are in this mess because of your parents . "Caspian replied back irritated and Alice just smiled.
"In this mess because of my parents? "Alice chuckled bitterly, her laughter cutting through the tension. "Pure? Honest?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Caspian, you live in a bubble you might as well say they have a heart. If your parents are so pure, why did they send you here with me? They're just as guilty as mine—and as Tristan's."
Caspian's face flushed red. "You're lying," he growled. "You're just saying that to hurt me because I pointed out your parents' mistakes. You always know how to twist things, Alice."
"Oh, Caspian," Alice said, her voice cold and mocking. "You're so naive. Your anger only makes this funnier. Do you really think your parents are blameless? Let me tell you something they never told you." She stepped closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "My parents, Tristan's parents, and your parents are the reason Golderine has no parents to call her own."
Caspian's hand shot out before he could think. But Alice, nimble as ever, dodged his attack with ease. Tristan stepped between them, grabbing Caspian's arm before he could try again.
Alice's eyes burned with fury. "What's the matter, Caspian?" she taunted. "Did I strike a nerve? How does it feel to know your parents are just as responsible for this mess as mine? That same pain you're feeling right now? That's how I've felt my entire life."
Caspian lunged forward, but Tristan tightened his grip, holding him back. "Alice, stop," Tristan warned. But Alice seemed unbothered by his plea, her expression cold and unrelenting.
"You can't handle the truth, can you?" Alice continued, her voice sharp as a blade. "You want to blame everyone else, but your family isn't innocent. They played their part in this nightmare. And for trying to slap me? Oh, Caspian, you've are going to regret that."
Before anyone could react, Alice rushed at Caspian, her movements quick and determined. Tristan, still holding Caspian, found himself caught in the chaos as the two clashed. He moved out of their sight quickly and watched them.
Alice moved like a shadow, her body light and agile. As she rushed at Caspian, she ducked under his outstretched arm and landed a swift punch to his ribs. Caspian grunted, the force of her strike taking him by surprise. His anger flared, and he retaliated with a powerful swing, but Alice sidestepped effortlessly, her movements as smooth and fluid as water.
"You're too slow," she said with a sly grin, taunting him.
Caspian's frustration grew, and he lunged at her again, this time feinting a punch and aiming a kick at her legs. Alice, anticipating his move, jumped and flipped backward, landing softly on her feet. The room seemed smaller now, their fierce energy filling every corner.
"You think you can win this?" Caspian growled, his voice rough and edged with fury.
"I don't think," Alice replied, her voice calm but sharp. "I know."
Caspian charged, aiming to grab her, but Alice twisted her body with a dancer's grace, slipping out of his grasp. She delivered a sharp elbow to his shoulder, followed by a spinning kick that sent him stumbling back.
"You fight like a wild beast, Caspian," Alice said, her tone cutting. "No strategy, just brute force."
"And you fight like a child playing games!" he roared, his movements becoming more aggressive. He threw a flurry of punches, but Alice dodged each one, her flexibility making her seem untouchable. She dropped low and swept his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the floor.
Before she could press her advantage, Caspian rolled to the side and sprang to his feet, his face red with exertion and anger. He swung wildly again, managing to graze her arm, but Alice used the momentum to spin around him, landing a solid kick to his back.
Caspian turned, his eyes blazing. "You're infuriating!" he shouted, charging at her with renewed determination.
As the fight raged on, Tristan watched, his calm demeanor giving way to exasperation. Their blows echoed through the room, and he knew it couldn't go on. The stakes were too high, and their anger was blinding them to the real enemy.
"Enough!" Tristan bellowed, his voice carrying the weight of authority. But neither Alice nor Caspian paid him any mind, their focus solely on each other.
Tristan sighed, his patience wearing thin. He closed his eyes and extended his arms, the air around him growing colder. Frost began to creep along the floor, and within moments, a wave of icy energy burst from his hands, engulfing the room.
Alice and Caspian froze mid-motion, their bodies encased in shimmering ice. Their expressions, one of determination and the other of fury, were locked in time. The cold silence that followed was a stark contrast to the chaos moments before.
Tristan stepped between them, his breath visible in the frigid air. "You two are impossible," he muttered, shaking his head. "We don't have time for this childish bickering. If you can't control yourselves, I'll do it for you."
He examined his handiwork, ensuring the ice would hold. "Three hours should be enough for you both to cool off—literally."
Tristan moved to a nearby chair, slumping into it with a sigh. The room was quiet now, save for the faint hum of his ice magic. As he rested, his gaze fell on his frozen companions, and he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. But he knew it had to be done. Their kingdom was crumbling, and their unity was their only chance at survival.
"Maybe when you thaw out, you'll see reason," Tristan said softly, his voice carrying a mix of hope and weariness. "Because if we don't work together, we've already lost."