Hermes.
Shock couldn’t begin to encompass what we felt in that moment when we saw that display of power from Lienna. I looked around and saw people had begun to take to their heels, running for their lives while the ones that were left behind could barely move, their legs frozen in fear as they stared at Lienna who was floating in the air, her eyes turning white, a light halo glowing around her. The air was electric with an otherworldly energy, and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
I turned to see Caspian equally shocked, his eyes widened and jaw slackened as he stared at Lienna. He looked like he had seen a ghost, his face pale and his eyes filled with a mix of fear and awe. Adonis, on the other hand, had a tranced expression on his face, his eyes fixed on Lienna with an unnerving intensity. It was as if he was under some sort of spell, unable to look away from the spectacle before us.
That display of power looked too much like the Moon Goddess’s own. The way Lienna’s eyes glowed with an ethereal light, the halo surrounding her, it was all too familiar. I couldn’t help but wonder, is she perhaps the reincarnation of the Moon Goddess? The thought sent shivers down my spine. Could it be that the legends were true, and the Goddess had returned to us through her?
We broke out of the trance we seemed to have fallen under when the glowing stopped and Lienna dropped to the ground, unconscious. Springing to my feet, I made my way towards her, my heart racing with concern. I noticed that Adonis and Caspian were doing the same, with Caspian lagging behind, his eyes fixed on Lienna with a mixture of fear and fascination.
People parted way for us as we walked through the crowd, trying to get to Lienna. We finally reached her side, and I was struck by how pale and fragile she looked. Her hair was still white, and her skin had a ghostly pallor. I lowered myself to the ground, gently lifting her into my arms, and stiffened when I felt just how cold she was. The power she had displayed in that moment must have been too much for her fragile body.
I touched her face gently, calling out her name, but all I received as a response was her body shaking before she slumped against me, limp. My eyes widened in alarm as I felt a surge of panic. “Quick! We need to get her to the castle, she’s unresponsive!” I called out, my voice filled with urgency.
The execution forgotten, we immediately rushed her to the fortress, our footsteps echoing through the halls. We brought her to her room, laying her on the bed, and did our best to warm her while we waited for the Royal healer. Adonis grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around her, while Caspian stood by, his eyes fixed on Lienna’s face, his expression unreadable.
I held her hand, feeling her icy skin, and called out her name again, but she didn’t respond. I looked up at Adonis and Caspian, seeing the concern etched on their faces. We had to get her help, and fast. Where the hell was the Royal healer?
He burst through the door soon, apologizing profusely for his lateness. “Forgive me, I was attending to another matter,” he said, rushing to Lienna’s side. I stepped away, giving him space to work, as Adonis and Caspian watched anxiously.
With a bated breath, we watched as the Royal healer began to care for her. He forced potions and herbs down her throat, checking her body with a practiced eye. Even in her unconscious state, the energy was still radiating off her in waves, and that seemed to concern Caspian. He frowned, his eyes fixed on Lienna’s face.
It took forever, but she eventually regained some color back to her skin, and the white in her hair began to recede. I looked closely and saw the shallow breaths she was taking, and I let out a breath of relief. She was going to be okay.
“What’s wrong with her?” Caspian asked, breaking the tense silence that had settled in the room.
The Royal healer hesitated before answering, “It’s her soulcore.”
We all exchanged glances at that statement. Lienna has a soulcore? But she’s human! I thought, confusion etched on my face.
“Is it shattered around in her body once more?” Caspian pressed, his voice laced with concern. We all turned to look at him, unsure of what he meant.
The Royal healer shook his head, “No, but it is severely weakened. Her display of power earlier must have been too much for her fragile body to handle. It would take a long time for her to recover and be in good health once more.”
Caspian’s expression grew pensive, his eyes fixed on Lienna’s face. “She also needs to be strictly monitored during this period. She’s in a very fragile state.” the Royal healer added, his voice firm.
“Is there anything we need to know as well?” Adonis asked, his voice almost hesitant.
The Royal healer thought for a moment before responding, “None at the moment, your Majesty. I will drop off potions and elixirs she needs to take to hasten her recovery and will come to check on her regularly as well. It might take a while for her to come back to consciousness, but when she does, ensure she’s on proper bed rest as well.”
“Thank you for your help, khal,” Caspian said, his voice filled with gratitude. “You can leave now. We will call on you if we need anything.”
The Royal healer bowed his head, walking out of the room and leaving us alone with a sleeping Lienna on the bed. For a while, neither of us said anything, completely lost in our thoughts. The only sound was Lienna’s shallow breathing, a reminder of the fragile state she was in.
Finally, I broke the silence. “I’m sure we all saw that display of power, didn’t we? It’s why we are here anyway.” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Caspian glanced at me, his eyes filled with a mix of awe and concern. “I always suspected that Lienna had some sort of hidden powers, but what I saw today has surpassed all expectations. It looked too much like the…”
He trailed off, but Adonis finished it for him. “Too much like the moon goddess?” He said, scoffing. He was still in disbelief. “The moon goddess is back, that’s so hard to believe.”
“Still, we all saw it, didn’t we?” I asked, my voice firm.
Caspian nodded, his expression thoughtful. “My question now is, is Lienna the Moon Goddess reincarnated, or is she just a vessel for her?” His voice was quiet, but it still felt like a bombshell has been dropped in the room.
“That is a question only she can answer,” I said, my eyes fixed on Lienna’s peaceful face.
We fell into silence again, each lost in our own thoughts. The weight of what we had witnessed hung in the air, a reminder that our world would never be the same again.