A strange silence engulfed the palace as a surge of raw energy crackled in the air. Pearl, who had just awakened, stood in the center of the grand hall, her once-soft features now carved with an expression of sheer, uncontrolled power. Her silver eyes burned with an ethereal glow, pulsating with an energy far greater than anything the kingdom had ever witnessed. The locket around her neck hummed with an ancient force, responding to the storm brewing inside her.
Queen Veliean gasped, stepping back as the walls trembled. The power within Pearl was not just strong—it was untamed, wild, and devastating. A realization dawned upon everyone present—Pearl was far more powerful than Ambrose. And worse, she had no control over it.
Before anyone could react, Pearl lifted her hand, and a pulse of energy shot forward, shattering the marble pillars around her. The entire palace shook violently as an explosion of power sent a wave of destruction in every direction. The guards, the royal court, even the enchanted creatures of Damsel trembled in fear.
"Pearl! Stop this!" Queen Veliean commanded, using her own celestial force to contain the chaotic energy. But Pearl did not hear her. Or perhaps, she no longer cared. Her mind was lost in a whirlwind of new power, her soul overridden by the strength she had unknowingly possessed all along.
Ambrose, barely able to stand, forced himself forward. His body was weak, drained of energy from the battle with his father and the perilous journey to retrieve the locket. Yet, seeing Pearl like this—unrecognizable, consumed by her own power—was more agonizing than any wound.
"Pearl, please..." he whispered, his voice hoarse.
But she did not turn to him. Instead, with a mere flick of her wrist, she sent another wave of dark energy ripping through the castle, striking down everything in its path. The sky outside turned a sinister shade of crimson as the very fabric of Damsel trembled beneath her wrath. She had become destruction itself.
Veliean called upon the celestial forces, summoning all her might to hold Pearl back, but even she began to falter. The queen had never encountered such resistance—not even from the most dangerous of creatures. This was beyond power. This was chaos, unrestrained.
Pearl's face remained devoid of emotion as she advanced, her gaze scanning the palace like a goddess of ruin. The world around her blurred, and she no longer recognized friend or foe. She no longer saw Ambrose. She no longer cared.
Then, just as another deadly blast erupted from her, Ambrose stepped into its path.
The force struck him hard, sending him crashing against the floor, blood trickling from his lips. But he did not move to defend himself. He did not raise a hand against her. Instead, he simply stood, his breath labored, his body drained.
"If you must destroy everything, then let it be me," he said, his voice steady despite his weakness. His crimson eyes, once filled with fire, now carried nothing but sorrow. "But I will not fight you."
For the first time, Pearl hesitated.
Their eyes met, and in that instant, something shifted. The locket around her neck glowed again, resonating with his. The power she had been drowning in began to ripple, its control slipping. A flicker of recognition passed through her gaze, and her breath hitched.
Her hands trembled as she realized what she had done. She had attacked Ambrose. The one person who had protected her, who had nearly died for her, who had tried to bring her back even when she was lost.
"Ambrose..." she whispered, stepping toward him, her fingers shaking.
But before she could reach him, the air behind her tore open.
A blinding light emerged, and from it stepped Miraculas, his presence overwhelming, his eyes burning with an unreadable expression. Without a word, he extended his hand towards Pearl.
A golden chain shot from the void, wrapping around her wrists before she could react. A sharp gasp left her lips as an invisible force dragged her backward.
"NO!" Ambrose roared, forcing himself to move, to fight, but his exhausted body collapsed to the ground. He reached out, but his fingers barely grazed the air before Pearl was torn from his grasp.
"Stop this! Where are you taking her?!" Queen Veliean demanded, stepping forward, but Miraculas did not answer. His face was unreadable, but his gaze held a silent finality.
"She does not belong here," he said, his voice echoing like a celestial decree. And before anyone could intervene, before Ambrose could rise, before the queen could summon her magic—Miraculas vanished, taking Pearl with him.
Silence fell upon the ruined hall. The destruction Pearl had caused still lingered, the scars of her unleashed power marking every corner. But none of it mattered.
Pearl was gone.
Ambrose, with what little strength he had left, slammed his fist against the ground. The marble beneath him cracked, mirroring the torment in his soul.
Where had Miraculas taken her?
Why had he done this?
And most importantly—
Would he ever see Pearl again?
A cold gust of wind swept through the ruins of the castle, carrying with it an unspoken truth—nothing would ever be the same again.