Hazel grew increasingly astonished as she witnessed the sudden appearance of a mysterious power that aided Lia and the others just as her plan to take revenge was about to succeed.
The sight of the vines, both protective and aggressive, encircling her targets and lashing out at the silver and golden stage beasts left her seething with frustration. Her carefully laid plans were falling apart before her eyes, and the realization only fueled her anger.
The vines seemed to come alive, moving with an eerie grace as they twisted and turned, weaving an impenetrable barrier around Lia and company.
Each lash against the beasts sent shockwaves rippling through the air, as the vines crushed bones and tore flesh with brutal efficiency.
"Ehh???" Hazel's eyes narrowed, her fury intensifying with each passing moment. The bizarre turn of events was like a slap in the face, a direct insult to her.
"I must break this barrier, or my plan will fail," Hazel thought, gritting her teeth in frustration as she watched the vines ensnaring her targets. However, before she could act, a sudden mental pain struck her, causing her to freeze momentarily.
As Hazel tried to regain her composure, she realized an orange-red-haired elven girl had appeared seemingly from nowhere, launching a spiritual attack targeting her mind. The unexpected interference added another layer of complexity to the situation, further infuriating the girl.
Hazel clenched her teeth as she witnessed Eve's mischievous smile. The elven girl's expression was like a thorn in her side, and she could sense the mockery behind it. It was as if Eve was laughing at her, ridiculing the carefully laid plans that Hazel had spent so long devising. The frustration, anger, and vulnerability consumed her.
It seemed as if Eve had predicted every move Hazel would make, and was now gleefully watching as her plans crumbled to dust. The feeling of being outmaneuvered and outsmarted was like a bitter pill that Hazel couldn't swallow, and it fueled her rage even more.
'Who is this elven girl?'
'Why is she helping them?'
'Why didn't my Vision of the Void show me anything about her?'
Leaving the garden behind, Hazel strode confidently towards the castle, ready to take her place on the throne she had finally captured. Even though Lia and her father had escaped, she knew that with her power and connections, she would eventually track them down.
***
Eve, having escorted the group, including the tied-up Emperor, into the wondrous realm, turned around to see the heartbroken faces of Lia, Nyla, and Layla, their tears flowing freely as they sobbed for the lifeless Helia cradled in Rio's arms. The boy's eyes were downcast, his expression a mixture of grief and disbelief.
Layla, despite having known Helia for only a few days, also had tears streaming down her face, as she felt the pain of losing someone who had quickly become dear to her.
The Emperor, his eyes filled with tears, was an enigma to Eve. She couldn't tell if his tears were for his great mistake or for the loss of Helia. Eve had thought to leave him behind, but considering he was Lia's father and they might need him later, she reluctantly brought him along despite his sins.
Realizing they were safe in the wondrous forest realm and that Eve had saved them like a savior or messiah, their eyes shifted back to Helia's lifeless body. In this moment of respite from danger, their grief was drowning and weighing heavily on each of them.
"Rio," Eve spoke urgently, "hurry, bring her to the Samsara Lotus now!" She could sense the depth of their sorrow and knew that time was of the essence if they were to save Helia.
________________________________
Please vote with power stones and Golden tickets to support this book. The more, the better.
I'll add the important character images on the:
Like it? Add to the library!
Edited By: TheWhiteSnow