Aurora’s eyes widened in awe as she found herself in an enchanting realm, surrounded by colors dancing in the sky. It was a place of breathtaking beauty that seemed almost otherworldly. As she explored this magical space, she was captivated by the sight of a stunning woman with eyes that sparkled like stars and a handsome man whose warm smile radiated kindness.
Curiosity overwhelmed her, and she approached them with wonder in her eyes. “Why is this place so incredibly beautiful? And why do both of you look so lovely?” she asked, her voice filled with awe.
The woman’s response was soft and soothing, “This place is special, Aurora. It’s where beauty and love intertwine.”
Aurora was taken aback, unsure of where she was or how she had arrived there. “Am I dreaming?” she questioned, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
The man’s gentle laughter resonated through the air as he replied, “You’re not dreaming, but you’re not entirely awake either. This realm exists between realities, where the extraordinary is possible.”
Intrigued, Aurora continued to engage with them. “But how do you know my name?” she wondered.
The woman exchanged a knowing glance with the man before answering, “There are connections that transcend time and space, Aurora. We are bound by fate to meet you here.”
Aurora tried to process the encounter, feeling a mix of emotions, including excitement and apprehension. “What do you mean by ‘between realities’? And why am I here?” she inquired.
The man’s smile grew wistful, and he replied, “Sometimes when people are at a crucial crossroads in their lives, they may find themselves in this realm. You are here because your path has led you to this moment.”
Before she could ask more questions, a sudden cough disrupted the dreamlike ambiance. The colors in the sky seemed to waver momentarily, and Aurora felt a strange sensation of being pulled in different directions.
The woman’s eyes filled with concern as she said, “Aurora, you have to be strong. There’s a poison in your body, and you need to fight it.”
Fear gripped Aurora’s heart, “Poison? How do you know this?”
The man spoke with unwavering determination, “There’s a healer named Morena in your world. When you wake up, find her and show her the mark between your legs. Tell her to use herbs; it will help cure the poison.”
Aurora felt a sense of urgency and desperation. “But how do I wake up? I don’t know how to do that!” she exclaimed.
The woman smiled gently, “You have the strength within you, Aurora. Fight the poison, fight it with all your might, and you’ll find your way back.”
Aurora nodded, determination burning in her eyes. With a deep breath, she summoned every ounce of willpower, pushing against the dream’s confines.
As the dream world slowly dissolved, Aurora’s eyes flickered open, and she gasped for air. Morena was by her side in an instant, her eyes filled with concern and relief.
Morena believed there was no hope left when she expected the king to return with the antidote, but he didn’t come back until Aurora lost consciousness.
Shastina couldn’t bear the sight of blood flowing from Aurora’s nose, so she left the chambers.
As Aurora gasped for breath, Morena felt a glimmer of hope. Though struggling to speak, Aurora managed to whisper the name of the herbs into Morena’s ear before fainting again.
Morena’s heart skipped a beat as she heard the name, “Celestial Bloom”; She had never heard of the herb before, but she knew it was her only chance to save her dear Aurora. There was something about the strength carried in the name of the herb that made her believe it could work for Aurora.
With newfound determination, Morena set off on a quest to find the mysterious Celestial Bloom, her mind raced with thoughts of the herb and its potential to save Aurora, and she realized that there was only one person in all of Gigal who might have the antidote.
Meanwhile;
Xena made her way toward the king’s hall, her mind was filled with a whirlwind of emotions. Jericho’s cryptic instructions weighed heavily on her, and the scroll clenched in her hand felt like a burden of secrets she was not meant to bear. After sharing crucial information with Jericho, she returned to her chamber, hoping to put the matter aside for a moment. But it seemed fate had other plans, as Jericho unexpectedly reappeared with the mysterious scroll.
His words echoed in her ears like a chilling warning. “No one must see the scroll in your hand except the minister of accounting.” Xena’s heart raced with curiosity, and she was tempted to break Jericho’s command and unravel the scroll’s contents. Yet, fear gnawed at her, as if revealing its secrets might thrust her into a realm of darkness she couldn’t escape from.
She grappled with the dilemma, torn between satisfying her curiosity and fearing the consequences of knowing too much. The weight of responsibility pressed down upon her shoulders, and she questioned her loyalty to Jericho and the kingdom. Could she stand by and let something dreadful happen to the king if she uncovered Jericho’s true intentions?
Xena knew that the last thing she wanted was for the King to discover her involvement in his mother’s death. As she approached the king’s hall, she took a deep breath, trying to gather her courage. She reminded herself that Jericho couldn’t overpower Alpha Malik, the dangerous and coldest king. Suspicion towards Jericho grew within her.
When she pushed the door open, she was surprised to see Evans, two guards, and the minister of accounting inside. The minister looked utterly defeated as if he had lost all hope.
“Greeting Your Highness, the king said no one should enter here without him coming with the person,” one of the guards said, indirectly suggesting that Xena should not have come in.
“You are stupid! Are you talking to a whole concubine Xena this way?” Xena muttered, feeling a mix of anger and hurt. She sorely missed Jeanne at that moment, wishing her loyal friend was here to support her.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but we are only following the king’s order,” one of the guards defended himself.
“The king, who asked you not to allow anyone in, is the same king who told me to come here and deliver something to the minister of accounting,” Xena muttered, her frustration evident. She glanced at Evans, hoping for his support in this situation.
Understanding her signal, Evans struggled to stand up, determined to give the king’s concubine the privacy she needed to deliver the king’s message.
Hearing him, the two guards exchanged glances, unsure whether to accept the request or not. But acknowledging that Evans was their superior and an equal member of the guards, they obeyed, stepping out of the room to grant Xena the privacy she sought.
With the guards finally out of sight, Xena’s heart pounded in her chest as she reached into her clothes and retrieved the hidden scroll. She extended it to the minister of accounting, intending to deliver Jericho’s message.
However, just as the minister was about to take the scroll from her, the door suddenly swung open, leaving them all in shock. Xena’s words got caught in her throat, unable to utter a sound.
At that moment, she felt a sense of doom creeping over her. The presence at the door could only belong to one person – the formidable Alpha Malik himself.