Three days had passed since the storm over Zephyria, and the castle had grown quieter than ever. But silence was never peace—it was the kind that hid something dangerous beneath it. On the third night, Josephine fell very, very sick. Her skin burned with heat yet turned pale like marble, her breath coming in heavy gasps. Xavi was by her side, his thumb tracing her cheek gently as he whispered, "Jojo…" His voice trembled. "Please wake up."
Anesthesia sat beside her, holding Josephine's cold hand tightly. "Jojo… what's wrong? Why aren't you getting better…" she said, her voice breaking. Josephine's chest rose and fell harshly, her breathing heavy, her eyes flickering between pain and delirium.
Kara rushed into the room, robes fluttering behind her, eyes glowing faintly yellow. "Is it a fever?" she asked sharply, kneeling beside the bed.
Sienna shook her head, her expression grave. "No. If it was, the herbs and potions would have worked. This isn't an illness…" She looked up at Kara with horror. "It's the poison. It's still inside her."
Kara's face hardened. She placed her glowing hand on Josephine's forehead, scanning through her magic. Yellow light poured from her fingers, sliding over Josephine's skin like liquid sunlight. But what Kara saw made her pull back fast—her breath caught. "It's the poison," she said through clenched teeth. "But it's not just killing her… it's driving her insane."
She stood suddenly. "Get a rope."
"What?" Xavi's voice thundered. "What do you mean by that!?"
"GET A FUCKING ROPE!" Kara yelled, sweat running down her temples.
Josephine's eyes snapped open—burning red. A violent scream tore from her throat as she kicked wildly, strength unnatural, hurling herself from the bed.
Sienna grabbed enchanted chains as Xavi lunged forward, but Xoni raised her hand and cast a binding spell that slammed Xavi to the wall, freezing him there. "Let her go, Xoni!" he roared.
"She's gone mad!" Kara shouted as Josephine clawed and twisted, her laughter turning into cries and back again.
The chains glowed as they bound her wrists and ankles. They carried her down to the underground hall, her body thrashing as her screams echoed through the castle. The guards and healers watched in horror. Kara and Sienna cast a spell over a reinforced cage—the air shimmered gold for a moment before sealing shut.
Inside, Josephine kept slamming against the iron bars, shaking them so hard the floor trembled, but they were indestructible. When the spell holding Xavi finally broke, he stumbled forward, his heart pounding.
"What the hell is this? What have you done!?" he shouted.
Kara turned to him, her voice trembling but firm. "The poison has reached her brain. She's lost her mind—for now. We need to find a cure, fast!"
Oliver tried to approach the cage, eyes full of tears. "Jojo…" he whispered. But when he reached out, Josephine lunged forward and bit his hand. "Ouch!" he cried out, pulling back.
Xavi stood there, silent, his hands trembling as he watched his wife—the once graceful, fierce Queen—now looking wild, broken, her hair tangled, her body trembling.
Healers came from every kingdom, one by one. None found a cure. Nine days passed.
Nine days of madness.
Adris, too young to understand, tried to crawl closer to her cage, tears wetting his cheeks. "Mama?" he called softly. Josephine's eyes flickered; she smiled and cried at the same time, pressing her palms to the bars, laughing softly, whispering sounds that weren't words.
Queen Olyida pulled Adris away, holding him close as he kicked and screamed for his mother. Xavi watched with dead eyes, patience slipping away, his mind crumbling alongside hers.
Josephine finally lay on the cold floor of the cage, asleep, blood at the corner of her mouth. Kara slowly opened the cage and gestured for Xavi. "Go," she said quietly.
Xavi entered, heart heavy, and lifted her frail body. He wiped the blood gently from her lips, laid soft blankets beneath her, and covered her up. Then he kissed her forehead, eyes glistening. "I'm here," he whispered, even though she couldn't hear him.
Outside, Sienna was buried in books, her table covered with pages of ancient texts. Xantha entered silently, brushing her silver hair from her face. "Need help, sweetheart?" she asked.
"Kinda," Sienna said distractedly.
Xantha grabbed one old, dusty tome from the highest shelf and flipped it open randomly. Her fingers stopped on a page, eyes widening. She handed it to Sienna without a word. Sienna scanned the writing—and froze. Her lips parted, then a grin spread across her face.
"You're a goddamn genius," Sienna whispered, grabbing Xantha's face and kissing her deeply before darting off in excitement.
She ran into the council chamber, panting. "Xavi! Xavi!" she called, but he was already in a meeting. She turned, rushing toward the dungeon. "Josephine—" she stopped. The cage was empty.
"Josephine?"
Panic spread through the hallways. A guard rushed in, breathless. "She's on the roof! She—she wants to jump off!"
They all ran.
Outside, the night wind howled. Josephine stood at the highest point of the castle, clutching the flagpole, hair whipping around her face, eyes hollow.
"What the fuck…" Oliver muttered, frozen in fear.
Xavi's chair scraped back sharply. Agana rushed in, whispering something in his ear. His eyes glowed faintly red—and he vanished.
He appeared outside, at the base of the tower, looking up. "Josephine!" he shouted. She didn't answer. Tears streaked her face, the moonlight catching them like shards of glass.
"Get down!" he yelled.
She shook her head slowly, her voice broken. "No…"
Sienna appeared behind him. "We found a cure, Josephine! Don't worry anymore!"
Anesthesia's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Yes," Sienna said breathlessly. "Xantha found it—it's real!"
Xavi spread his wings and flew upward, the air around him sparking red. He reached the flagpole and grabbed it, holding himself steady. "How the hell did you even get up here?" he said softly, looking into her tear-streaked face.
She didn't speak—her voice was gone. She just shook, laughing and crying at once, tears mixing with the rain.
"I just want to end it now…" she mouthed silently.
Xavi's chest tightened. "How will your son feel if you jump?" he said quietly. "Adris… he's making cupcakes for you right now. If he finishes and sees your body on the ground, do you want him to grow up with that pain?"
Josephine's lip quivered. She froze, trembling.
Xavi inched closer, grabbed her tightly before she could move. She screamed and hit his chest, crying violently, laughing through tears, unable to speak.
"Shhh… it's okay, my darling," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "It's over."
He held her close, flying down slowly as her body went limp, exhausted. She fell asleep in his arms.
Inside the council hall, the kings rose as Xavi entered, holding her. He laid her gently on the couch, covering her with a blanket. "Continue," he said quietly. "Please… continue."
The kings hesitated but obeyed. They presented him with eighty million golden coins—a tribute for the royal crisis. Xavi distributed them absently, his mind still on Josephine.
Later, he returned to the cage. He placed her carefully inside again, locking it with trembling hands. Adris toddled forward with Hallie, holding something small. "All done!" he said proudly, showing a strawberry cupcake.
He waddled closer to the cage. Josephine opened her eyes, her gaze dazed, but when she saw him, her face softened. She crawled closer, taking the cupcake. She bit it, devouring it like a starving soul.
Xavi's heart broke further.
"We finally found the cure," Sienna said.
"What is it?" Anesthesia asked.
Sienna looked at the book in her hand. "An ancient flower," she said softly. "The Lunara Bloom. A silver-white flower that only opens under a purple moon. Its petals shimmer like frost, and its scent carries the warmth of dawn."
Xavi's eyes didn't leave Josephine. "Where can I find it?"
Sienna turned the page, her voice faltering. "In the Garden of…" She stopped. Her face drained of color.
"Garden of where?" Kara pressed.
"The Garden of Zephyria," Sienna whispered. "It's hidden deep beneath Zephyria's northern cliffs. The Vale awakens only under a purple moon. The air there hums with ancient light… and the river that runs through it glows silver—said to be the tears of the first queen, guided by silent spirits."
The room went silent.
Xavi straightened. "Then I'll go."
Kara crossed her arms. "No. We'll all go."
Adris was humming softly, patting his mother's cheek through the iron bars. "Sleep well, Mama," he whispered. He rested his tiny hand on her face and fell asleep beside the cage.
Xavi looked at them both, his heart heavy but determined. "Let's get packing," he said, unfolding a massive map across the table.
The map glowed, revealing the kingdom of Zephyria—beyond the Mountains of Mount Serathiel.
"It'll take two days," Kara said.
The castle erupted in movement—guards, servants, and mages rushing to prepare supplies, tents, food, and enchanted weapons.
Queen Olyida and Queen Kendra remained behind, but the cousins, generals, and royals prepared to go.
By noon, sixteen carriages lined the courtyard. Xavi placed Josephine gently in his, securing her with enchanted chains. He tied her cherry hair in a bun and kissed her forehead softly.
Adris was with Warrick and Agana in the third carriage, asleep against Warrick's shoulder. Hallie sat opposite a young elf maid with sea-green eyes orange hair and brown skin.
"What's your name?" Hallie asked.
"My name is Anya," the maid said quietly. "I'm a sea elf."
Hallie tilted her head, blowing smoke from her cigarette. "You're mine now. Understood?"
Anya blinked. "Like… a personal maid?"
Hallie smirked, grabbing her by the neck and pulling her in for a deep kiss. When she pulled away, her voice was low. "No. Mine she said and she squeezed her nipples Anya had big boobs and a plum ass.
Anya sat stunned, silent.
Xavi looked out the carriage window as the gates opened. Kara flew above, her golden wings leading the royal convoy forward. The sky was purple with dusk.
"Next stop…" Xavi whispered, his gaze cold and distant. "Zephyria."
Oliver snored softly beside him as the wheels rolled forward, carrying the royal family—and the broken, silent queen—toward their next destiny.