The room was filled with a heavy silence. Candlelight flickered on the altar, casting eerie shadows on the black marble walls, reflecting the void felt by the three immortal men.
"Réveille-toi... comme un bébé né...
Un rire joyeux vous accueillera...
Pas de rancune..."
The Elves stood in a circle, their hands extended, channeling a healing chant that had gone on for so long it felt like the air itself was humming with it. Despite the passage of time, they persevered, chanting from day to night. These were healing Elves, capable of staying awake for up to seven days. On the final night, despair began to cloud the faces of the people of Zephyr Kingdom. The Elves halted their chant.
"I'm sorry, Prince. It seems she can't find her way back," said the long-haired man with white hair in front of Liam.
Ethan approached, gently holding Taylor's hand. He smiled faintly as he gazed at the girl before him. "Wake up, Delcy. Wake up, Taylor⊠for me," Ethan whispered weakly, his lips trembling. His focused eyes suddenly welled up, and tears began to fall.
"We haven't tried everything yet, not all of it," Ethan murmured, glancing alternately between Liam and Alex.
Both men adjusted their positions. Alex stood at Taylor's feet while Liam faced Ethan. Together, they closed their eyes and held onto her hands and feet, channeling restorative Mana.
"Aucune Ăąme n'est perdue Ă jamais.
Les jours passeront.
Ils trouveront un moyen de pouvoir.
Une Ăąme perdue trouve une vocation.
Pour entendre le bon. Par avion."
The murmured chant was so soft it was almost inaudible.
Every pair of eyes in the room fixated on Taylor, still motionless without a sign of life.
When the three finally opened their eyes, despair once again loomed over them.
"Ethan, it's over," Alex muttered weakly, unable to hide the sadness on his face. Even Liam, who had not shown sorrow in nearly a thousand years, looked weary. His gaze resembled cracked glass.
Taylor lay still in the middle of the circle, her expression serene, as if enjoying her long slumber. But as some people bowed their heads in mourning, a small movement came from Taylor's fingers, and her eyes slowly opened, drawing everyone's attention.
"She's awake!" an Elf whispered enthusiastically.
The onlookers, including the leaders of the Zephyr Kingdom, began murmuring to each other, their eyes fixed on Taylor.
"She's beautiful⊠like the legend passed down for generations."
"Yes, this must be Princess Delcy⊠Her eyes are like diamonds."
"I can't believe this is real!"
The whispers were like fragments of wind seeping into Taylor's ears, igniting her anger without warning.
"Did I awaken in Delcy's body?" she muttered, touching her face.
"No, the wolves aren't glaring at me, which means my body is destroyed, and I'm trapped in Delcy's body."
"HahâŠ"
Still confused, Taylor blinked repeatedly, her gaze sweeping over the admiring faces, including the three handsome vampires standing beside herâEthan, Alex, and Liam, who were too stunned to speak.
"Princess Delcy, drink this," a servant stepped forward respectfully, handing a glass of water to Liam, who took it nonchalantly and offered it to Taylor.
"Drink, it will make you feel better," Liam said with a smile. But before the glass could touch her lips, Taylor pushed it away angrily. The glass flew through the air, striking Alex, who stood at the foot of the bed, before crashing to the floor and shattering.
Crash!
The sound of breaking glass silenced the murmurs. Some people held their breath.
"Hah. I can't believe this is how you say thank you," Alex muttered irritably but chuckled enthusiastically.
"I am NOT a princess! And I do NOT need a prince!" Taylor shouted, her face flushed with anger at being compared to Princess Delcy.
Liam raised an eyebrow, smirking nonchalantly. "Oh, clearly you don't need a prince. You're more like a stray cat," he teased.
Taylor gasped, her mouth hanging open. "I'm prettier, aren't I, Alex? What did you say? A stray cat? A desert dog? Did you just compare me toâ" she pointed her finger accusingly at Liam.
The scene was awkward for the people of Zephyr Kingdom, who began forming negative opinions about the beautiful girl.
"Oh. You're a wild cat⊠in heat," Liam said, mimicking clawing motions and making a playful growling sound.
"Argh⊠damn it!" Taylor grabbed a pillow and threw it at Liam, who dodged toward Ethan. The pillow missed and hit Ethan squarely in the face.
Thump!
Ethan glared at Liam with a frustrated sigh. "Hah!"
"Liam, enough. You know she just woke up," Ethan said firmly.
"Fine, but you better move her to a room before she bites someone in this castle," Liam teased, laughing softly.
Taylor's attention was suddenly diverted by whispers in the corner of the room. She had felt this strangeness earlierâher ears seemed enhanced, catching even the faint flapping of bird wings and people's breathing.
"Ah, maybe she isn't Princess Delcy... but the witch who killed four Xeltic wolf princes."
"So, that crazy witch is her? The one who took the princes' lives just like that?"
Taylor furrowed her brows, her jaw tightening, clearly irritated by the gossip. Instead of venting her anger on the people around her, she turned her gaze to Alex, busy brushing off his wet clothes at the end of the bed.
"AlexâŠ" Taylor called softly, her voice like a puppy whining for attention.
Alex raised an eyebrow, looking at her curiously. "What?"