Elara and Kai's Journey...
Elara and Kai stepped cautiously into the dark forest, the orb floating ahead, its glow illuminating a narrow path through the suffocating gloom. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and faint whispers seemed to echo from unseen corners.
Around them, the remnants of past battles lay scattered—broken weapons, shattered shields, and the skeletal remains of fallen warriors. Kai paused to examine a rusted sword half-buried in the dirt.
"This place is a graveyard," he muttered.
Elara's eyes narrowed as she kicked aside a cracked helmet. "And a warning," she said. "But we don't have the luxury to turn back."
As if in response, the orb pulsed with a deep purple glow and floated higher.
{Stay close. The forest won't take kindly to intruders.}
The atmosphere grew wilder with every step. The once-still trees swayed violently, their branches twisting unnaturally. Roots erupted from the ground, snaking toward them as though alive. From the shadows, pairs of glowing eyes appeared, followed by guttural growls.
Suddenly, a horde of zombie-like goblins shambled into view. Their rotting bodies were clad in remnants of armor, their beady eyes glowing faintly green. Behind them, winged monkeys with leathery wings and razor-sharp claws screeched, circling overhead.
"They're weak," Elara said, drawing a rusted dagger.
"Yeah, but there are a lot of them," Kai replied, gripping a broken spear.
The orb's voice boomed in their minds.
{You won't survive with those toys.}
It released a burst of light, enveloping them in a glowing haze. When the light faded, Elara stood armed with a sleek black bow and quiver of glowing arrows, while Kai held two curved swords that shimmered with dark energy.
"Now, that's more like it," Kai said, testing the weight of the swords.
The creatures lunged. Elara's arrows flew with deadly precision, piercing multiple goblins in a single shot. Kai moved with unnatural speed, his blades cutting through the horde like a whirlwind. Despite their enemies' numbers, the pair held their ground, determined to push forward.
Elara felt more agile and skilful at archery. She initiated long ranged attacks beside protect her son as he hacked and slashed with passion. She liked that side of him. Indeed. She now believed the true power of the orb. It wasn't just a normal orb. There was more.
" Mum! Watch out!"
She quickly rolled to the side upon hearing the call. Three flying monkeys were closing in on her. Her bow was unloaded by then. She wasn't fast enough to react. And so she watched their sharp claws and screeches lunged at her.
In a jiffy, a flying sword sliced through their necks and wings as it's curved trajectory hit a tree and got stuck. Elara's bow was now loaded and she quickly took care of the rest.
Kai slashed a goblin off it's right hand and it screamed in pain. It jumped at him and he vanished instantly appearing beside it and delivering an attack through it's back.
Just as the last goblin fell, the ground trembled. From the shadows emerged towering shadow beasts—fast, massive, and invincible. Their glowing red eyes locked onto the siblings as they surrounded them.
Kai tightened his grip on his swords. "These don't look weak."
"No," Elara said, notching an arrow, her hands steady despite her racing heart. "They look hungry."
The beasts roared in unison and charged from all directions.
---
Lysandra and Billy...
In the royal medical center, Ella lay in bed, her pale face framed by unruly black curls. A bandage covered the wound her mother had inflicted, but her breathing was steady. Lysandra guided Billy to her bedside.
"Ella," Billy whispered, taking her hand gently.
Her eyelids fluttered before opening, her amber eyes locking onto his. "Billy?" she rasped.
"I'm here," he said softly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Ella's gaze turned serious. "What happened? Where's my mother? And Kai?"
Billy hesitated but finally answered, "They escaped the kingdom… with the orb."
Her eyes welled up with tears, but before they could fall, he added, "Don't worry. It's going to be all right."
Ella shifted her gaze to Lysandra, who stood nearby, smiling warmly. "You need to stop them before it's too late," she said, her voice trembling.
Lysandra stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I will, my princess. I promise."
Billy turned to Lysandra, his brow furrowed. "Why did you bring me here? To see her?"
"Yes, partly," Lysandra replied. "But also because she has a connection to your powers and destiny."
With a flick of her wrist, Lysandra conjured two glowing, throne-like chairs. One appeared beside Ella's bed, where Billy sat hesitantly. Lysandra took the other, her expression grave.
"It's time you knew the truth," she began. "I needed to win your father's heart after Elara bore him you Ella and Kai. I thought I was barren from using too much magic, but I knew ways—dangerous ways—to correct my situation. I wasn't ready to break the laws of nature… until one day—"
A sharp cough interrupted her. The door creaked open, and King Morphine stepped inside, his piercing gaze sweeping the room.
Lysandra straightened, startled. "My king…"
To Be Continued…