Chapter 34 – The Calm Before the Collapse
Screams echoed across the palace walls.
Chaos erupted like a disease—unseen but rapidly spreading. Servants dropped trays, guards ran in confused clusters, and nobles shouted orders no one obeyed. Lightning cracked across the sky, not from nature, but from something ancient and angry.
The queen stood at the top balcony of the palace, her arms raised. "Let the palace tremble!" she declared, her voice splitting the night air. "Let truth drag them all into the storm!"
A thick, unnatural fog crept from the outer gates, swallowing the palace grounds. It slithered through windows and doors, into lungs, into minds. A voice in the wind whispered, Run. Hide. Betray her.
Below, the citizens panicked.
"She cursed the king!"
"She made our prince disappear when he was needed most!"
"She's not one of us! She's dangerous!"
"No one knows where she came from!"
Chaos exploded into paranoia.
Back in the royal garden, Prince Kimo stood frozen as Oki gripped his arm tightly, her eyes glowing faintly green. "They're turning against me," he said coldly. "But they forget. I was never theirs to begin with."
Oki's grip tightened. "It's her doing—sown with fear and fed with lies."
Just then, three guards stormed in, weapons drawn.
"Prince Kimo," one said, his voice shaking. "You're under palace investigation. By royal order."
"Whose royal order?" Kimo snapped.
The guards faltered. "T-The queen."
Oki stepped forward, her aura sharp like a blade. "He takes no orders from her."
"But—"
Before they could move, a surge of invisible force burst from Kimo, sending them flying back, unconscious but alive.
He was done hiding.
He turned to Oki, eyes glowing bright blue. "She wants war? She'll get it."
"But we need to find your father," Oki urged. "If she's taken him—"
"She hasn't killed him," Kimo interrupted. "She's keeping him alive as leverage. As a symbol. But she doesn't understand—my patience died with my innocence."
High above in the tower, the queen watched the chaos below and smiled. "Let them fall apart from within. Let their hope eat itself alive."
Suddenly, a voice from the shadows spoke behind her.
"You underestimate the storm you've woken."
She turned—but saw no one.
Yet somewhere in the air, Queen Elira's name whispered again.
And in the forest beyond the palace, a cloaked figure opened her glowing eyes.
To be continued…