Christopher finally managed to leave the house and he began following the voice. It led him into the outskirts of the village and finally into the Forest.
He wondered why Shimira was in the forest alone and he thought that maybe she was captured by a wildling.
That thought alone prompted him to look for her and he followed the voice even deeper into the Forest.
Meanwhile, Raphael woke up due to the noise outside and then the door burst open.
"Here, protect your sister!" His mother shouted with fear.
"Where's your brother?" Amber asked with a shaking voice.
Raphael looked over to Christopher's side and saw that it was empty. His eyes widened and he got down from his bed.
"He was right here mother." He said.
"Then where is he!" Amber shouted.
"He kept on talking about saving Shimira because he could hear her voice outside." He explained.
"I told him to go back to sleep because there was no way Shimira was outside and he went back to his bed to sleep. I didn't know he was serious and that he left." He continued.
"Oh my goddess! We are doomed!" She said and began crying.
"Here, protect your sister. The kingdoms have gotten your brother's scent and they are here for war because our king failed to keep his word by killing all Astrals and has jeopardized the safety of others." Amber said.
"Do not leave the room or your sister, we are going to find your brother." She said.
With fear, Raphael hugged Shimira to himself.
"Are they going to kill Chris when they find him?" Shimira asked innocently.
"No. Mother said they'll find him and bring him here, where it's safe." He said, hugging her tightly.
Raphael Sr was among the councillors who were summoned by the king concerning the message he received that there was an Astral in the kingdom and the other kingdoms will intervene if the kingdom fails to put an end to the threat.
Raphael Sr was shaking on his seat because his mind went straight to the boys in his house. Could this be about them? Did the spell wear off? He wondered.
The king declared that the child or whoever it was be found and killed immediately.
No sooner had the king finished saying those words than the door to the meeting room opened. The kings from other kingdoms entered.
"We are working on the matter." The king said.
"The fact that you're taking long in having the threat eliminated means you want to keep it for yourself and use it to control us." One of the kings said.
"We are here to find the threat ourselves and put an end to it since you have failed to do so. Our men have already started the search and if anyone tries to get in their way, they'll be killed." The other king said.
" How dare you come to my kingdom and threaten my people!" The king roared.
The other kings saw that as a threat and charged at the king, killing him. Raphael Sr saw that and ran out of the palace to his home to get his family and escape.
On reaching home, he found out that his wife had gone to look for their son while the other son was in a corner hugging his sister.
"Get up! Let's go!" He commanded.
"What about Mother and Chris?" Raphael asked.
"We'll find them, now let's go." He said.
They went out through the back of the house and started running towards the outskirts.
The kingdom fell into a big war with people defending their families. Others fled the kingdom while others fought back. Bodies where everywhere.
"No!!!" Shimira shouted as she pointed to a certain direction. Raphael and his dad turned to look at what she was pointing at, they saw Amber lying in her own pool of blood.
Both brother and sister rushed to the scene and Raphael knelt down, holding his mother's body close to his and cried.
Raphael Sr stood fixed at his spot like he had seen a ghost. He snapped out of his trance when he saw soldiers matching towards them. They might have picked up Raphael's scent he thought. He ran up to his kids and dragged them and they all ran.
The soldiers were a lot and in no time they caught up with them.
"Run! Protect your sister and don't stop running!" He shouted at Raphael. He then turned to face the soldiers and transformed into his Velnar form.
Raphael ran with his sister in his arms and when he looked back, he saw a beast tearing his Father apart. He continued running but some were chasing him and one bit his leg and he dropped Shimira.
"Continue running!" He shouted at her and he also transformed into his Astral form.
He began fighting them off.
Christopher who was just coming back from the forest was excited to go back home and tell his parents that he found a cure for him and his brother.
After following the voice, it led him to a cottage and on entering he found a woman inside.
"I've been expecting you, young prince." She said.
"I'm no prince. And why did my sister's voice bring me here?" He asked.
"That was the only way to get you to come here." She said.
"What do you mean? I'm not allowed to leave the house and me being here is risky." He said.
"And that's why you're here. You see, I have a solution to your problem. I know all about the Astral Velnar's curse." She said.
"What solution are you talking about?" He asked.
"The goddess has shown me a girl that is yet to be born, She is the solution to your problem." The woman said.
"How is she the solution?" He asked.
"The goddess will bring her to you and you must protect her because the world will be after her. Your beast will know her when he sees her." She replied without answering his question.
"Now leave. They know you exist." She said.
Christopher wanted to ask more questions but he found himself outside and the cottage was nowhere to be seen.
He then started going back home and he heard Shimira's voice again together with his brother's, he began rushing out of the forest.
On reaching the the outskirts, he saw his brother fighting off beasts. He transformed and joined in the fight.
"Haaaaaaaa!!" They both heard a shrieking sound and turned to see a beast approaching Shimira who was hiding in a small cave. They got ferocious and killed the beasts that were surrounding them and rushed over to save their sister.
They were late, the beast had already riped her apart.
Still shocked and in tears, Christopher slowly transformed back into his human form.