Thirty years had passed, but sometimes, in the stillness of his office, the memories returned with haunting clarity.
9Please respect copyright.PENANALdHJ66ZOzC
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAswPgese96X
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAp6loHkPbNx
“Foolish child,” it had whispered, “beauty in the dark always comes with a cost... Are you willing to pay it?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAKfvht633bU
The boy’s desperate voice still echoed in the emperor's mind: “If it means saving her... then yes.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANA7Zocrdad3M
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA0BEyWvAUHN
“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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAftqrMGcoR8
“Your Majesty,” Knoxville breathed, his voice urgent and trembling, “the priestess!... She's already here.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANApBfDnmR5E9
"She's here?" The emperor's brow furrowed in surprise. "If so, let her in, and we'll go to La Maison Fleur."
9Please respect copyright.PENANARmyMtfoiHo
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANABNwhlz7uIE
“Your Majesty,” Knoxville breathed, his voice urgent and trembling, “the priestess!... She's already here.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAVL8KlPoI4T
"She's here?" The emperor's brow furrowed in surprise. "If so, let her in, and we'll go to La Maison Fleur."
9Please respect copyright.PENANAorCs0VBo5e
Knoxville nodded quickly, composing himself as he backed out of the room to fulfill the command.
9Please respect copyright.PENANARpHyKhrAzF
_______
9Please respect copyright.PENANAMZLvX17olq
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANALiMit8j6hw
“Your Majesty,” the priestess said, “what a delightful honor to be in the presence of such... unparalleled grace.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAuDsmgaWA1t
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANArQoYPnyr9v
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?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAAbiSKcXUJL
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?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANA6acLbENYu9
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAQStkGkqu5e
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAwW9AFHmKiz
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAKQNTWrG7lM
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?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANARQFhBlJwHw
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANA2srzfQ4dET
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAHzPsS6m0a1
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAaShMBI4rut
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAGb4EM4Df85
“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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAuN9OjlsVH1
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAjzPKFmsm6i
“Entertaining, indeed,” she whispered to herself. “Let’s see who finds the next performance more amusing.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAVorJIyETvV
____
9Please respect copyright.PENANAMqS3GitJOO
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA0HX3qSU8CB
"Priestess," he commanded, "examine Lethyxia at once."
9Please respect copyright.PENANAqy70pmIRik
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAdHB4ch2QM3
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA8A4mKMpa8A
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA7Vlk8yoOjY
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAs2FrPAoPbj
The weapons glinted menacingly in the dim, unnatural light, and the air crackled with remnants of ancient curses and unfulfilled oaths.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAKehhN6BUGQ
“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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANABmRAtNollJ
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAhpqT94SrP6
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA93MrjctxjI
The priestess instinctively took a step back, her pulse racing. “Who… are you?” she demanded, her voice wavering despite her attempt to sound confident.
9Please respect copyright.PENANARduB26K51H
9Please respect copyright.PENANATBBta02JVy
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,
9Please respect copyright.PENANAtVb9T26ayp
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAzvm2sfk3kZ
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANApeTIrwM4RA
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANARofQpEImgq
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?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAMai0p604iF
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAcy7io8E3ag
“I—I am your chosen one and your devoted daughter!” she proclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of joy and desperation.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAK5b4xfR5Hd
The devotion she had once felt for the gods wavered under the intoxicating pull of the great demon mother’s presence.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA7GXUZKUz5K
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?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANADhoqCVkLzJ
The priestess felt a rush of warmth flood her chest, an overwhelming sense of belonging she had never experienced among the gods.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAaRhlqABEzA
“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!”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAlwp6Jmtl3p
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?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAAS5Gy0A6fp
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!”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAr9Mmxb2XO2
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANA2RjUAnJ2bf
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!”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAe4hR3t8qas
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAjL05EJ7UFn
The priestess felt a fire ignite within her, a consuming obsession that drove her closer to her.
9Please respect copyright.PENANATz3JHgC89n
As she opened her eyes, she found herself back in the original space, her heart still racing from the dark encounter.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAT2Zo0MFX28
She glanced down and realized Lethyxia was holding her hands, their connection pulsating with an energy that sent shivers of exhilaration through her.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAwfR79MkQRW
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..
9Please respect copyright.PENANAMySvtyZrKg
“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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA2l2SXSBtd3
"That's good to hear" the emperor said. And looked at lethyxia. "You will stay at this place from now on."
9Please respect copyright.PENANAE8W9xFvGHB
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAaLiQkqK6kK
“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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANA12cHB4brPa
The emperor narrowed his eyes, contemplating the implication. "I'll think about it.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAZPcaBiecsh
“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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAnIH1AWpDK0
Lethyxia smiled sweetly, masking her ulterior motives.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA7PZSk9zSGs
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."
9Please respect copyright.PENANADqr5sLQ9Xf
“Of course, Your Majesty,” The priestess replied, her smile widening. “Your concerns are understood. We shall take every precaution.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAdeiNU3O1Np
The priestess felt a thrill run through her. “Thank you, Your Majesty. This will be a pivotal moment for our empire.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAagZZFNHYix
As the emperor nodded, the tension in the air shifted, and he quietly left with the priestess, leaving Lethyxia alone in the grand hall.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAAqR3R5qT0D
The dark aura that surrounded her seemed to swell in the absence of the emperor’s presence, making the air thick with anticipation.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAEVMfodJ8ED
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAtGNCZPD8m5
“Of course, Mr. Knoxville,” she replied, her excitement bubbling beneath the surface. “I only seek to serve the empire.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANA7uSchDDiEx
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA0glc8dTR4Y
“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?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAHwEmNqQydo
Lethyxia met the queen’s gaze, with a curious expression."wh-what do you mean your majesty?"
9Please respect copyright.PENANAYtamqeA1iI
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAqBE07ZAxvl
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAkzWbByRlbL
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAzLZLraFroH
The queen's eyes widened, her heart racing. “What have you done?” she demanded, trying to mask her fear. “You’ve deceived us all!”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAJBN9SlOJXt
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANASftqxJ3ywh
“What did you do to her!?” the queen asked, her voice steady despite the dread clawing at her chest.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAVwG4pQ1uxk
Lethyxia’s lips curled into a chilling smile, her voice a whisper now, laced with dark amusement. “Soul for a soul.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANA9RcpGQMqFb
“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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA7vtFhFtgqb
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAcEK3ZTglOH
As realization dawned on Saraphina, she gasped, covering her mouth in horror. “No… it can’t be…”
9Please respect copyright.PENANA3WnnzRkTmn
Before she could comprehend the full weight of Lethyxia's words, panic surged through her, and she turned to flee.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAYXdqL64yqd
She ran down the hallway, her heart racing, the sounds of her footsteps echoing ominously against the stone walls.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAqV3zIRh5Oq
Each step felt heavy, as if the very air around her was trying to hold her back, to keep her from escaping the truth.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA1hmSi2WRFO
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAs8bFp0uEZf
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAxqVQZPELij
“I will find your daughter...” she whispered fiercely to herself, steeling her resolve. “I will rescue your daughter moon, no matter the cost.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAwCqnFNu74g
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAOTzRh1JHrj
As she moved forward, her heart was filled with determination.
___
9Please respect copyright.PENANAuEX2RxMQEg
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA0RGbwHV3nA
“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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAloiJEyhoWH
Kila nodded, a hint of apprehension flickering in her eyes. She stood up, gesturing for the priestess to follow her.
9Please respect copyright.PENANASqh1NDtEGO
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAa8sy7KyXEA
They descended a narrow staircase, the walls damp and cold, leading them to a darkened corridor.
9Please respect copyright.PENANADfKDJoxodt
Kila hesitated for a moment before pushing open a creaking door that led into a room that resembled a dungeon more than a sanctuary.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAilNGOOkENL
The room was dimly lit, shadows clinging to the corners where the flickering torchlight barely reached.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAjW0VWrX4MD
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAqS7DyzmTA4
Chains hung from the ceiling, clanking slightly as they swayed with an unseen draft, adding to the atmosphere of confinement.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAn6QrjZ8ttG
The air was thick with the scent of mold and despair, a stark contrast to the warm, nurturing environment the orphanage claimed to provide.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAPbOGrVBFhp
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...”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAkCPkyOoLBa
The priestess's eyes narrowed as she took in the grim sight before her. “Where is she?”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAgwQbn4zdR5
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.”
9Please respect copyright.PENANAfmudSxNZH7
The priestess approached the cage, her heart pounding with joy to get a closer look.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAY7d0nVM2Mu
Through the dim light, she could see the child—a girl with silver hair pink and Striking silver-white eyes, her expression hauntingly vacant.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7E3oH52Z4
The aura surrounding her pulsed with a dark energy that sent a shiver down the the child's spine.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAsaoiJnRuVI
“xia,” the priestess whispered, her voice filled with a mix of horror. “this time, I'm taking her.” she said with authority.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAcRiQxY9kFD
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAJB6CqmQ7W0
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAh1NpZHJ9Y8
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.
9Please respect copyright.PENANAsfgcLlLZTb
The priestess's interference had pushed Xia to the edge before, and Ermis knew he couldn't let it continue.
9Please respect copyright.PENANA430uixENPs
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.
ns216.73.216.94da2