Thirty years had passed, but sometimes, in the stillness of his office, the memories returned with haunting clarity.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA6QKDvCFExU
The emperor closed his eyes, and the shadows of Willow Forest unfurled in his mind. A younger version of himself stumbled through the underbrush, dirt-streaked and bruised, a thick rusted chain clinking around his neck.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAx9mb9BKeAB
His bare, bleeding feet pounded against the forest floor as he fled, clinging to the delicate Queen of the Night flower, the only fragment of hope he had left. The monster pursued him, a grotesque specter with sickly yellow eyes, gliding silently through the trees.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAPNZLtmcCJ8
“Foolish child,” it had whispered, “beauty in the dark always comes with a cost... Are you willing to pay it?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA19JTFIcL2o
The boy’s desperate voice still echoed in the emperor's mind: “If it means saving her... then yes.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAPtA3nBCIr1
A heavy knock pulled him back to the present, shattering the dark recollection. The emperor opened his eyes, his heart still pounding as if he had just escaped the nightmare all over again.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAdl2RCpIR9a
“The door swung open, and his secretary, Knoxville Tennessee, stumbled inside. His usually composed demeanor was shattered, his face pale and his hair disheveled, as if he had just witnessed something terrifying.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA74eSAcagOL
“Your Majesty,” Knoxville breathed, his voice urgent and trembling, “the priestess!... She's already here.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANArE6GIXj8Ja
"She's here?" The emperor's brow furrowed in surprise. "If so, let her in, and we'll go to La Maison Fleur."
79Please respect copyright.PENANAnbsIKYZXsZ
The door swung open, and his secretary, Knoxville Tennessee, stumbled inside. His usually composed demeanor was shattered, his face pale and his hair disheveled, as if he had just witnessed something terrifying.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA11mvWHP4WU
“Your Majesty,” Knoxville breathed, his voice urgent and trembling, “the priestess!... She's already here.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAnfFeTQfkm7
"She's here?" The emperor's brow furrowed in surprise. "If so, let her in, and we'll go to La Maison Fleur."
79Please respect copyright.PENANAxzvVwh3Qhl
Knoxville nodded quickly, composing himself as he backed out of the room to fulfill the command.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA3X1nj2pX4K
_______
79Please respect copyright.PENANAXxNuQOzapf
In the hallway of the main palace, where the priestess was walking, she saw Queen Saraphina. The priestess offered a formal bow, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAWTcJXFVELU
“Your Majesty,” the priestess said, “what a delightful honor to be in the presence of such... unparalleled grace.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANABRInawZEwg
Queen Saraphina’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, Priestess,” she replied, her tone equally mocking, “how fortunate I am to receive such glowing admiration from someone so… spiritually enlightened.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANALU4PYF5eJ7
The priestess tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I do my best, Your Majesty. After all, with such divine inspiration around me, how could I not?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAB6DpVOsyvK
Saraphina folded her arms, her voice dropping to a sharper edge. “And yet,” she mused, “with all this divine inspiration, I can’t help but notice a rather unsettling aura. Surely it isn’t coming from you?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANALO1PAlNpMt
The priestess let out a soft, humorless chuckle. “Perish the thought, Your Majesty,” she said smoothly. “It must be the air reacting to your… overwhelming presence.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAz3iPxxbyWj
Queen Saraphina’s eyes narrowed, and her smile grew colder. “Overwhelming, is it?” she said, her voice deceptively calm. “How fascinating that even the air knows how to show proper respect. Perhaps I should take notes from it.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAm9oe6eVJki
The priestess’s lips twitched, her amusement barely concealed. “Or perhaps,” she retorted lightly, “the air is simply trying to make room for the immense power you so effortlessly exude.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAGFmbMxBWmp
Saraphina took a deliberate step forward, her gaze fixed on the priestess. “Power is a curious thing, Priestess,” she said, her voice low. “It can protect, or it can destroy. Which would you prefer to witness today?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAeE7sry6xUP
The priestess’s smile faltered for a split second before she composed herself. “I’m sure destruction would be... quite the spectacle,” she replied, keeping her tone airy. “But I have faith that your grace knows when to wield such power wisely.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA84cGV8TeCv
Saraphina’s eyes glinted dangerously. “Faith, you say? How charming. Let’s hope that your faith isn’t misplaced.” She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Because once it is… even the gods may not save you.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAmQt96Xe8Sn
The priestess met her gaze, a spark of defiance flickering in her eyes. “Then I suppose,” she murmured, “it’s a good thing I have my own connections to the divine.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANALWGQrHhzY4
The tension hung thick in the air, both women locked in a silent battle of wills. Finally, Saraphina pulled back, a slow, calculated smile curving her lips.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAoAGnmv3WGn
“Be sure to use them wisely,” she said, her voice lilting with a final note of mockery. “You never know when a simple hallway encounter could become something... far more entertaining.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAiiJVOYgixK
With that, she turned and walked away, her presence lingering like a shadow. The priestess exhaled slowly, the weight of the queen’s words pressing on her heart. Yet her own smile returned, sharper than before.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAu9rrPWQbdP
“Entertaining, indeed,” she whispered to herself. “Let’s see who finds the next performance more amusing.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAy5H0oVglxC
____
79Please respect copyright.PENANAYTXIfi6t6g
Meanwhile, the emperor was already waiting for the priestess at La Maison Fleur, where Lethyxia stood by, her expression unreadable. When the priestess arrived, she greeted them both, but the emperor did not acknowledge her greeting. Instead, he spoke coldly.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAeiRp29Miup
"Priestess," he commanded, "examine Lethyxia at once."
79Please respect copyright.PENANANYPGmCjnmc
The priestess swallowed her irritation, stepping forward. She raised her hands, preparing to call upon her divine power. As she invoked the spell, a radiant light glowed brighter than she anticipated, flooding the room with an intense brilliance.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAz4r0newf4H
Suddenly, the light swallowed her whole, and she was wrenched away, dragged into a chaotic battlefield. Warriors surrounded her on all sides, their expressions frozen in a mix of rage and desperation.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAAe8jKJHa8H
The ground was littered with broken weapons, shattered shields, and skeletal remains, the rotten stench of death filling the air. Skulls lay scattered across the landscape, and a dreadful, heavy atmosphere pressed down on her.
79Please respect copyright.PENANADF8csRynoz
The priestess's heart raced as she took in the scene, her pulse pounding in her ears. “Where… am I?” she whispered, her voice nearly drowned out by the ghostly echoes of past battles.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAv4sYxJ6MCq
The weapons glinted menacingly in the dim, unnatural light, and the air crackled with remnants of ancient curses and unfulfilled oaths.
79Please respect copyright.PENANADi2qJIU6fL
“The follower of the gods who dropped my existence has followed a demon like me. What a twisted soul,” a horrific voice echoed across the land, chilling the priestess to her core.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAe0wg1s9T5s
She spun around, her eyes landing on a small figure standing amidst the scattered skulls and decaying remnants. The girl was petite, her silver hair cascading in shimmering waves down to her shoulders.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAPx78SIIraP
Her gray eyes glinted with an unnatural intensity, and though she appeared no older than five, her presence was overwhelming, brimming with a sinister energy far beyond her youthful form.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAJ6CaR4tzJd
The priestess instinctively took a step back, her pulse racing. “Who… are you?” she demanded, her voice wavering despite her attempt to sound confident.
79Please respect copyright.PENANATS9MtXspyV
79Please respect copyright.PENANAgUVwmAhKUJ
The girl tilted her head, a wicked smile curling her lips. “Names are such trifles, don’t you think?” she said, her tone deceptively sweet. Her aura pulsed, sending ripples of dread through the air. “But for you, Priestess, you may call me…. Or,” she added with a giggle that sent shivers down the priestess’s spine,
79Please respect copyright.PENANA9tZwVLUv4m
The priestess felt a trembling aura same as what she felt what talking to the mother of demons as she gasp "m-mother? Your the great mother of demons!!' her eyes field with joy.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAtgFvVkHOWL
The girl tilted her head further, her wicked smile never faltering. “Mother of demons?” she echoed, her gray eyes gleaming with curiosity and mischief. “How fascinating that you would recognize me so readily, little priestess.” Her deceptively innocent giggle cut through the dreadful air, each sound laced with a bone-chilling menace.
79Please respect copyright.PENANATzWpD4q8cI
The priestess’s eyes widened, and a mix of awe and disbelief flooded her face. She felt the familiar aura, ancient and overpowering, the same one she had sensed in the presence of the mother of demons. Her breath caught in her throat. “M-Mother?” she stammered, her voice breaking. “You’re… the great mother of demons!” Tears of joy welled up in her eyes, her body trembling with reverence.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAgL73hxcllZ
The girl’s expression shifted ever so slightly, amusement dancing in her gaze. “Ah, so you do remember,” she said, her voice dripping with mock affection. “How delightful. Tell me, Priestess, do you still cling to the gods you serve, or have you finally realized the beauty of what you call corruption?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA2jJbq6kFZg
The priestess’s heart raced. She had long prepared herself for this moment, but standing before the being who commanded the darkest of forces, she felt both exhilarated and consumed.
79Please respect copyright.PENANATJ0jn4apqY
“I—I am your chosen one and your devoted daughter!” she proclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of joy and desperation.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA4l0nfT03P1
The devotion she had once felt for the gods wavered under the intoxicating pull of the great demon mother’s presence.
79Please respect copyright.PENANApwkvyDa4oo
Her lips curled into a wicked smile, her gray eyes glinting with approval. “Ah, how delightful! To hear such fervor from one so lost in the light. Tell me, little priestess, what does it mean to be a devoted daughter in a world that has forsaken you?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAjVEY4J2csl
The priestess felt a rush of warmth flood her chest, an overwhelming sense of belonging she had never experienced among the gods.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAdmL454Fpwc
“I will do anything for you!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in fervor. “You are the embodiment of power, and I can feel your strength calling to me. I was meant to serve you!”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAeAlMowElwO
She leaned closer, the air thick with her dark energy. “Serve me, you say? What do you seek in serving me? Is it power? Acceptance? Or perhaps the thrill of embracing the darkness that others fear?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA3oI2UP0CAB
The priestess’s heart thudded in her chest. “All of it! I want to shed the chains of the gods and become one with you. I’ve always felt the stirrings of something greater within me, something that longs to break free. With you, I can be truly alive!”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAG8ff0rZ98V
A low, melodic chuckle escaped her lips, sending shivers down the priestess’s spine. “Oh, sweet child, how intoxicating your devotion is. You could wield unimaginable power by my side. The gods have given you nothing but empty promises. They care not for your pain or your struggles.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA1RoEiqs7z7
The priestess swallowed hard, her eyes wide with yearning. “I understand now! They used me, while you— you would embrace me, wouldn’t you? You see my potential! I can be the vessel of your greatness, the spark that ignites your dominion!”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAne3MyOGyno
Her gaze darkened, her smile widening as she reveled in the priestess’s fervor. “Yes, my little flame. Join me, and together we will rewrite the rules of this world. They will bow before us, and the light will tremble at our feet.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAiljijpgtp5
The priestess felt a fire ignite within her, a consuming obsession that drove her closer to her.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAaFu6ykuqB3
As she opened her eyes, she found herself back in the original space, her heart still racing from the dark encounter.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAzuJRf1FQ0h
She glanced down and realized Lethyxia was holding her hands, their connection pulsating with an energy that sent shivers of exhilaration through her.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAfCQBV5FuGM
When she looked at Lethyxia, a knowing smile played on the demon mother’s lips. The priestess felt an overwhelming sense of purpose wash over her. She had glimpsed the depths of her potential, and there was no turning back..
79Please respect copyright.PENANADBCKHzSSIB
“The princess is all healed, Your Majesty there’s nothing to worry about,” the priestess said, her voice sweet and honeyed, masking the chaotic excitement brewing within her.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA0wE5b28C69
"That's good to hear" the emperor said. And looked at lethyxia. "You will stay at this place from now on."
79Please respect copyright.PENANAjily807xaw
Lethyxia nodded, her expression softening, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Thank you, Your Majesty,” she said, her voice low and cunning, like a cat that had just caught its prey.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAVFNhujLu1W
“Your Majesty, if it’s okay with you,” the priestess interjected, her voice smooth and persuasive, “I would like to invite the princess to the temple. I have sensed some strong divinity within her, and I believe her presence would greatly enhance our prayer rituals for the entire empire.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAU8LSYodNWf
The emperor narrowed his eyes, contemplating the implication. "I'll think about it.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA2WtNvLg3uL
“Oh, but think of the benefits!” the priestess pressed, sensing his hesitation. “The rituals could strengthen the bond between the divine and our people. It would also showcase the princess’s potential as a beacon of hope in these trying times.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAU9ezJ96RHR
Lethyxia smiled sweetly, masking her ulterior motives.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAivQIEhT4wu
The emperor remained silent for a moment, weighing his options. “Very well,” he finally said, though suspicion lingered in his voice. “But, I will send so notice for my final decision."
79Please respect copyright.PENANAMD7fx2EX06
“Of course, Your Majesty,” The priestess replied, her smile widening. “Your concerns are understood. We shall take every precaution.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAMAO2P4FdSd
The priestess felt a thrill run through her. “Thank you, Your Majesty. This will be a pivotal moment for our empire.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANALVsvXiSO5s
As the emperor nodded, the tension in the air shifted, and he quietly left with the priestess, leaving Lethyxia alone in the grand hall.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAttVISGXM1w
The dark aura that surrounded her seemed to swell in the absence of the emperor’s presence, making the air thick with anticipation.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAGoX7osHrT4
Meanwhile, the emperor retreated to his office, deep in thought, while Mr. Knoxville, his trusted advisor, guided the priestess to her carriage. “Remember, Priestess,” he warned softly, “the emperor is watching closely. Be cautious with your words.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAHB3UqKmPUU
“Of course, Mr. Knoxville,” she replied, her excitement bubbling beneath the surface. “I only seek to serve the empire.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA9XXZiFvbb2
As they made their way, Lethyxia settled into a heavy silence, her mind racing with possibilities. But she was not alone for long. Queen Saraphina entered Lethyxia’s room, her expression a storm of displeasure.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAmwzCUg1yKt
“What are you scheming you devil!” the queen demanded, her voice cold and clipped. “Do you think you can charm your way into my family’s good graces?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAbmWDcIguTn
Lethyxia met the queen’s gaze, with a curious expression."wh-what do you mean your majesty?"
79Please respect copyright.PENANAAJsy1n0ywG
The queen crossed her arms, a look of skepticism plastered across her face. “Nurture? Or manipulate? I see through your games, Lethyxia. You’re not here to help us; you’re here to serve your own interests. No, you’re not the real Lethyxia.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA3va24n6rJl
At that moment, Lethyxia’s expression suddenly became emotionless, and her eyes turned pitch black, dark tattoos spiraling across her body, glowing with an eerie light.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAsqXeDvPbGV
The atmosphere in the room shifted, heavy with a sinister energy. Her voice transformed, deep and resonant, dripping with menace. “Long. Time. No. See. Saraphina.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAkb5JWnN1cs
The queen's eyes widened, her heart racing. “What have you done?” she demanded, trying to mask her fear. “You’ve deceived us all!”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAHd0L805g8v
Lethyxia no longer the innocent princess but a vessel of darkness stepped closer, the air thickening with power. “Deceived? Oh no, dear queen. I’ve merely revealed what lies beneath the surface. The true Lethyxia was never meant to exist in this world.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAPJzqe3mPLN
“What did you do to her!?” the queen asked, her voice steady despite the dread clawing at her chest.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAG9BeGj0LAO
Lethyxia’s lips curled into a chilling smile, her voice a whisper now, laced with dark amusement. “Soul for a soul.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAn0ih8iZLDt
“Where is she? Where is the real daughter of Mooniegale?” the queen cried, her voice breaking as she held back tears, her body trembling with fear and despair.
79Please respect copyright.PENANANj8ZDX7TkT
Lethyxia went silent for a moment, her eyes gleaming with malevolence as she regarded Saraphina. Then, she gave the queen an eerie smile, one that promised nothing but darkness.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAyyrJkSvKMR
As realization dawned on Saraphina, she gasped, covering her mouth in horror. “No… it can’t be…”
79Please respect copyright.PENANADpPsBQzoZP
Before she could comprehend the full weight of Lethyxia's words, panic surged through her, and she turned to flee.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAfLNUMMKuiB
She ran down the hallway, her heart racing, the sounds of her footsteps echoing ominously against the stone walls.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAmvrl5l4Rty
Each step felt heavy, as if the very air around her was trying to hold her back, to keep her from escaping the truth.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAJGghFS3qvh
Almost stumbling, she skidded to a halt, bracing herself against the cold stone wall for support. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her mind racing as she fought against the terror that threatened to consume her.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAASVJuU3Xzp
In her heart, she feared what "Lethyxia"had truly done to her step daughter, the innocent girl who had once brought joy and light into mooniegale's life.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAh313iuPiiZ
“I will find your daughter...” she whispered fiercely to herself, steeling her resolve. “I will rescue your daughter moon, no matter the cost.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANA4YIRDCf1ya
With a deep breath, she pushed herself away from the wall, her tears stinging her eyes. There had to be a way to fight this darkness, to reclaim her daughter from the abyss that Lethyxia had cast her into.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAtDDhtqpF5x
As she moved forward, her heart was filled with determination.
___
79Please respect copyright.PENANAK7hsKAQmVs
Meanwhile, the carriage carrying the priestess arrived at the Sere of Hope orphanage. Inside the manager's office, the atmosphere was tense as the priestess sat across from Kila, the manager, her demeanor commanding and assertive.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAfMGJI34qjp
“Show me where the child is,” the priestess demanded, her voice laced with authority as if she were already one of the VIPs at the orphanage.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA5aza4VaXU1
Kila nodded, a hint of apprehension flickering in her eyes. She stood up, gesturing for the priestess to follow her.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAPgOaQLlAXK
As they walked through the orphanage, the cheerful sounds of children playing faded into a heavy silence, replaced by an unsettling aura that hung in the air.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA7EkmmBb4kx
They descended a narrow staircase, the walls damp and cold, leading them to a darkened corridor.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAyOiIq0Ku2B
Kila hesitated for a moment before pushing open a creaking door that led into a room that resembled a dungeon more than a sanctuary.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAY3l6hObf3Z
The room was dimly lit, shadows clinging to the corners where the flickering torchlight barely reached.
79Please respect copyright.PENANArNmPoSA30G
The walls were made of rough stone, cold to the touch, and the floor was hard and unyielding. In the center stood a heavy iron cage, rusted and ominous, casting a long shadow across the floor.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAYYcTg4cC2f
Chains hung from the ceiling, clanking slightly as they swayed with an unseen draft, adding to the atmosphere of confinement.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAPV6BFuF73C
The air was thick with the scent of mold and despair, a stark contrast to the warm, nurturing environment the orphanage claimed to provide.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA4VVZkXraBS
Kila stepped inside, her expression somber. “This is where we keep... Her,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid that the walls themselves would hear her. “It’s for their protection, but...”
79Please respect copyright.PENANATNSS5XYH93
The priestess's eyes narrowed as she took in the grim sight before her. “Where is she?”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAd4PQyeHR0Q
Kila pointed towards a corner of the room, where a small figure huddled in the darkness, clutching her knees to her chest. “There,” she said, her voice trembling. “But she’s been... different since she arrived.”
79Please respect copyright.PENANAL2masgfXgS
The priestess approached the cage, her heart pounding with joy to get a closer look.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA0qwF3X1sLg
Through the dim light, she could see the child—a girl with silver hair pink and Striking silver-white eyes, her expression hauntingly vacant.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAuOAA75mOSq
The aura surrounding her pulsed with a dark energy that sent a shiver down the the child's spine.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAtNisFGnoZV
“xia,” the priestess whispered, her voice filled with a mix of horror. “this time, I'm taking her.” she said with authority.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAujyQBneQY7
Meanwhile, inside the underground arena of the orphanage, Ermis fought fiercely, his every movement a calculated struggle for survival, and for the entertainment of the nobles who cheered with wild abandon. The air was thick with dust and the metallic scent of blood, the clash of weapons echoing in the vast space.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAPackFydcOY
As Ermis narrowly dodged an incoming attack, his focus was briefly interrupted. A whisper of shadow flickered at his side, relaying an urgent message the shadows he had tasked with guarding Xia had grave news. The priestess had taken Xia once more.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAtL0jY5MGBJ
Ermis’s grip on his weapon tightened, rage flaring in his eyes. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the fury that surged within him. "Not again," he thought.
79Please respect copyright.PENANA4DAQprnscl
The priestess's interference had pushed Xia to the edge before, and Ermis knew he couldn't let it continue.
79Please respect copyright.PENANAe5i3EHSpo5
Determined, he forced his mind to refocus on the battle at hand, plotting his next steps. He needed to win, escape, and reach Xia before it was too late.
ns216.73.216.82da2