Thank you for reading on ! We provide free access to all our stories, but maintaining this platform requires ongoing costs. To keep the site running and continue offering free content, we display advertisements. You can close the ads anytime, or upgrade to premium membership ($5/month) for an ad-free reading experience while supporting our mission. You can also earn premium for free by completing simple tasks. We truly appreciate your understanding and support!The answer Abril sought was elusive, slipping through her fingers like grains of sand. The guards had done nothing to help. "The guards are useless; their weapons have no effect," she thought bitterly. Magic users could only hold the monsters at bay, but it seemed no one felt that way about the situation. It was just another day filled with despair. "Yes, but I escaped," Alessandro had said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. He approached the door, his expression resolute."Call Dovant if you need anything; he can provide whatever you ask for." "Could you at least give us something to eat?" Abril asked, her voice tinged with desperation. Sirius, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "We'll need a change of gear as well," he added. "We need to clean ourselves up." At the end of the hallway, they could find a place to wash up. Once they exited the room, Sirius appeared at the door, ensuring no one was listening before he spoke again. "It's not enough to just attack the monsters," he said, frustration evident in his tone. Abril felt a pang of guilt."I don't understand why Enzo didn't tell me how bad things were. If he had, maybe we could have done something sooner." "You shouldn't blame yourself; it's not your fault," Alessandro replied, his voice softening. "Just think, if you had closed the gate to Hades, none of this would have happened." "Stop dwelling on what could have been. It will only eat away at you," Abril urged, her hand resting on his arm. She turned to Taren, channeling her magic into him."I hope he recovers soon." "Taren is like a cockroach; no matter how much you try, he never dies," Sirius replied with a hint of a smile. "If he recovers, we just need to give it time." "I hope so," Abril whispered, her heart heavy with worry. Dantriel had gone to the elven kingdom's dungeons, where the two guardians resided. No one seemed to care about their fate, but intrigue gnawed at him. The cell where Ethan was held loomed ahead, and Dantriel hesitated for a moment, torn between entering and fleeing. Ultimately, he steeled himself and stepped inside.Ethan hung limply against the stone wall, bound by thick steel bars. Dantriel saw the queen before him, her head held high as she addressed him. "I've been sent to call you," he said, his voice steady. "What does this mean, Your Majesty? Is something wrong?" Dantriel asked, concern creeping into his tone. The queen regarded him coolly, lifting his chin with her fingers to meet her gaze. "No, just taking precautions," she replied, releasing him and moving toward the chair that dominated the room. Her voice turned icy."Begin." Dantriel stiffened as one of the guards approached with a heated iron in hand. He thought, They're going to torture me. But instead, the guard turned and headed toward Ethan, pressing the iron against his arm. Ethan didn't scream; he merely gritted his teeth, hatred burning in his eyes. Dantriel repeated the name of his sister over and over in his mind, hoping to summon the strength to endure. "What happened to my sister?" he demanded, his voice rising. The king crossed his legs, watching Dantriel with indifference. "Ethan, you need to cooperate.If you keep denying me, this will not end well for you." Ethan remained silent, enduring the torture until he was left half-dead. The queen's annoyance was palpable, her expressions shifting from anger to frustration. "You will die," she warned, drawing her sword and pressing it against Ethan's skull. "Please, just tell me what you want," Ethan gasped, desperation lacing his words. With a slight smile, the queen replied, "That will depend on you." Dantriel's anger surged uncontrollably. The elf queen stepped closer, her voice low and commanding."I want to know what happened to my sister, and I want the truth. Do you understand?" "Yes, Your Majesty. But please, cure Ethan. If you leave him like this, he will die," Dantriel pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. The queen's expression softened momentarily as she cast a healing spell over Ethan. "Take him to the dungeons," she ordered, her voice cold once more as she turned away from them. As the guards escorted Dantriel to the queen's office, he felt a pang of guilt for Ethan. He wished he could have done more, but time was against them."Sit," the queen commanded as he entered her chamber. He obeyed, knowing better than to defy her. "Start speaking, and this time tell the truth. If you lie to me again, you will regret it," she warned, her eyes narrowing. "I wouldn't dare lie to my king," Dantriel replied, his voice steady despite the tension in the room. "But it's worth it if you don't," she countered. "Your Majesty, there's something I'd like to ask before I begin," he ventured carefully. "I believe you are not in a position to demand anything," she replied sharply."If I tell you everything you want to know, will you let me go?" he asked, desperation creeping into his tone. "You may be freed, but not for a long time," she stated. Dantriel recounted the story of Princess Sophia and her daughter, the mestiza. The queen listened in silence, her face betraying no emotion, but Dantriel could see the anger simmering in her eyes. "Where is the mestiza?" she demanded, her voice low and dangerous. "What do you intend to do with her?" Dantriel asked, wary of her intentions. "Is she important to you?" the queen pressed, her gaze piercing.noveldrama"She is in the kingdom of Cosset," he replied, bracing himself for her reaction. The queen rose abruptly, summoning the guards with a wave of her hand. "Take me to her," she ordered, her voice firm and resolute. As they moved to obey, Dantriel felt a chill run down his spine. The queen was a force to be reckoned with, and the fate of the mestiza hung in the balance.