Early the next morning, Billy awoke with a sense of urgency and headed straight to the hidden chamber where his mother lay. However, as he approached, the door was nowhere to be seen on the wall.
"It must be somewhere here," he muttered, pressing his hand against the cold stone. He carefully felt along the surface until he reached the spot where his father used to strike with his staff. Summoning his strength, he tapped it firmly.
To his surprise, the wall trembled slightly, and a hidden door materialized, creaking open to reveal the chamber.
His entry was met by the confused stares of his father, King Morphine, and Magus Ben.
"How did you do that?" the magus asked, eyebrows raised.
"I don't know," Billy replied casually, stepping into the room. "Good morning, everyone."
"The hidden seal recognizes royal bloodline," the king explained, nodding approvingly.
"Have you managed to place the golden ring on the queen?" Billy asked, keeping his distance from the unconscious figure of his mother.
"Not yet," Magus Ben sighed. "The dark force field surrounding her still resists our efforts."
"Speaking of darkness, Dad, there's something about Queen Elara you should know," Billy began.
"What is it? And why did you scream last night?" the king inquired, his tone sharp.
Before Billy could answer, Agent Smith burst into the chamber, bowing quickly.
"Your Highness," he said, rising hurriedly.
"Why the rush this early, Warlord?" the king asked, his voice steady but curious.
"It's about my idea last night," Smith explained. "The four tribal elders have requested a council meeting with you immediately. It's regarding the kingdom's stance against the looming danger."
The king glanced at Billy and Magus Ben.
"We'll combine our strength for the queen's ring," Billy said, turning to his mother. "You handle the council, Dad."
"You might need this," the king said, handing his lightning staff to Magus Ben.
"Thank you," the mage replied, gripping it tightly.
The king left without another word.
---
The Council
King Morphine strode into the royal court, where the Four Elders of the tribes and the royal council sat waiting. A murmur filled the room, but it died down when the king cleared his throat.
The elders and council members stood, bowing respectfully.
"You may sit," the king commanded. They obeyed. "I understand the urgency of this meeting. Let us focus on saving the kingdom."
"Not so fast, Your Highness," Elder Reed of the Inaru Tribe interjected. The small-framed man stood, leaning on his spade-shaped staff, a symbol of his tribe's mastery of building and construction.
"What do you have in mind, Mr. Reed?"
"Where are the heirs to the throne? They should be present in this meeting," Reed questioned, his voice carrying a tone of challenge.
A ripple of agreement spread through the room as murmurs grew louder.
"Silence!" the king ordered, and the room fell quiet. "We need experienced minds to tackle the shadows, not immature children vying for power."
"What about the other queen, your second wife?" Elder Dura, adorned with animal-like decorations, teased with a smirk.
Laughter echoed softly through the room, but the king's scowl silenced it.
"She is not interested," Morphine said firmly.
At that moment, Queen Elara appeared at the entrance, her presence commanding.
"Apologies, my king, but I am quite interested," she said, her voice smooth and sharp. Dressed in a regal red gown, she walked with grace, the click of her heels reverberating in the hall.
The room fell into a tense silence as she took her place beside the king, kissing his cheek lightly.
"So, where do we begin?" she asked, her tone dripping with mockery. "Do we confront the shadow creatures blindly... or shall we consider seeking aid from the dark orb?"
Gasps filled the room, and an air of fear settled over the Council.
Back in the chamber, Billy stood before his mother, the golden ring clutched in his hand. His nose bled from his previous attempts, but he remained determined.
"You should stop, Billy. The same force will knock you back again," Magus Ben warned, standing behind a shimmering golden shield, the lightning staff in hand.
"Better die trying," Billy muttered, steeling himself. "Three... two... one!"
As soon as he touched his mother's force field, a surge of dark energy blasted him backward. He flew past the mage's shield, but instead of crashing, he stopped midair, floating effortlessly.
Magus Ben grinned. "Congratulations. You've awakened the power of flight."
Billy descended slowly, his eyes glowing pure blue. He stretched out his hand. "Give me the staff."
The moment he grasped it, lightning coursed through his arms, illuminating the chamber. Holding the ring tightly, he stepped toward his mother.
Dark lightning streaks lashed out from the force field, clashing with the staff's blue energy. Gritting his teeth, Billy pressed forward, leaning the staff against the bed. With a final push, he slipped the ring onto her middle finger.
The clash of energies culminated in a small explosion, sending both Billy and the staff flying. Magus Ben caught them midair just before they hit the ground.
They watched as a dark, smoky cloud lifted from the queen's body. Slowly, her chest began to rise and fall.
"We did it, Billy!" Magus Ben exclaimed, rushing to check the magical equipment.
"When will she wake up?" Billy asked, his voice filled with relief.
"In about twenty minutes," the mage replied.
Suddenly, the chamber shook violently. The lightning staff glowed brightly and flew out of the room, through the open door.
"The king," Magus Ben said, his face grim.
Billy followed the staff without hesitation.
---
"ENOUGH!" King Morphine roared, slamming his fist against the table. The ground trembled, silencing the room.
All eyes turned as the glowing staff flew into the king's outstretched hand. Moments later, Billy entered the hall, standing confidently near the entrance.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Billy began, his voice firm. "We must first stop Queen Elara's shadow before confronting the greater threat in the forest."
The air grew heavy as Billy continued. "It was Queen Elara who placed Queen Lysandra in a coma. She now seeks the dark orb to undo her spell."
Gasps of disbelief filled the room, and mouths hung open in shock.
Queen Elara seized the king's staff and fired a bolt of lightning at Billy. Time seemed to slow as Billy sidestepped effortlessly, the bolt striking a pillar behind him.
A desperate voice called from the doorway. "Let me go. Help!"
Billy turned, his heart sinking, and immediately backed away in fear.
Kai emerged from the shadows, gripping Catherine tightly by the neck. In his free hand, he held a sharp shadow dagger that seemed to pulsate with a menacing, dark energy. Elara's lips curled into a wicked smile as her eyes glinted with malice.
"Hello, Billy," Kai said, his voice cold and deliberate. "I won't ask a second time. Where is the Dark Orb?"
Before Billy could respond, a deep, guttural growl reverberated through the chamber. The sound was primal, unmistakably coming from Callus, the elder of the Orthy tribe, known for their beast-summoning powers. Callus stood, his dragon-headed staff igniting in roaring flames that cast flickering shadows across the room.
Kai's eyes darted to the council, his confidence faltering. Mr. Von of the Avan tribe stepped forward, drawing his ice sword, its blade emitting a frosty mist that chilled the air. Drakos of the Ulthar tribe raised his staff, its light magic glowing brightly and illuminating his determined face. Even Mr. Reed, though small in stature, stood firm with his spade-shaped staff crackling with green energy.
The air grew heavy with the combined magic of the tribal leaders, each poised to strike. Kai's confidence cracked, and for the first time, a hint of fear flickered in his eyes.
"Next time, choose your battleground more wisely," Callus growled, his voice sharp and commanding.
Kai hesitated for a moment before vanishing into thin air, his shadowy form dissipating with an eerie hiss. Catherine, released from his grip, collapsed toward the ground, but Billy was faster. He rushed forward, catching her just before she hit the cold marble floor.
The room began to calm as the tribal leaders lowered their weapons. Callus turned to the king, his expression stern. "Morphine, we will leave you to resolve your family problems. This council meeting is over."
Without waiting for a response, Callus turned on his heel and left the chamber, the other elders following close behind.
Drakos paused at the door, his light staff still glowing faintly. He gazed at the heartbroken king with an expression of pity and warning. "You should also consider checking the Dark Orb, your Majesty. If Elara's spells are this potent, the orb may already be stirring to life. That alone should concern you." With that, he departed, leaving Morphine to face the weight of his kingdom's impending peril.
Billy helped Catherine to her feet, her breath shallow and her face pale. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
Catherine nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I thought I was done for."
He helped her stand and then faced the king who was staring at Queen Elara.
She only stared back at him and smiled. " Do you want another kiss?"
" What are you up to Elara?" Morphine asked angrily.
" Achieving my wildest dreams, wanna join me?"
" Dad," Billy called out and his gaze shifted to him. " We need to shut down the Dark Orb before it's too late."
King Morphine sighed and stood up.
" Can I join you guys?" Elara asked playfully.
To Be Continued...
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