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!Without strength and without power, Cira felt the weight of despair pressing down on her. It was as if the doors of Hades were opening wide, unleashing a tremor that shook the very foundations of the world. She braced herself against a tree, holding on tightly until the earth finally stilled. Liona rose from the ground and stood before the ominous doors of Hades. At that moment, a monstrous figure, shaped like a man, leaped forth from the shadows, striding toward the dark entrance that loomed before them. "Finally, the doors have been opened!" Cira shouted, her voice booming like thunder."Withdraw!" Orsden commanded, but the creature ignored him, bellowing at the top of its lungs, as if calling to those waiting on the other side. "Come forth, brothers and sisters! The doors to the new world are finally open!" Cira raised her sword, confronting the beast. "What do you think is happening here?" "Welcome my brothers and sisters," the creature sneered. "Something a chimera like you could never understand." "I am the one who has opened the doors of Hades! You are nothing but a fool," Cira retorted, attempting to strike at its neck.But her blade met resistance; its skin was as hard as stone. At that moment, Cira realized she was drained of power. The opening of Hades had consumed all her magic and energy. The creature laughed, a cruel sound that echoed in the darkness. "You can't do it. I'm not like the low-level monsters you've been using until now. You can't connect with the Itaves anymore. You're just a pathetic human I can crush with a mere squeeze of my hand." Cira glanced at Liona, seeking help, but Liona was paralyzed with fear, unable to act as she watched the creature prepare to end Cira's life.Cira struggled to control the monsters surrounding them, but she was utterly spent, her magic depleted. "I have to admit, you did well, sister," the creature taunted. "But by consuming Angel's blood, your essence has begun to fade. You are not one of us, and soon you will be free from this mortal body." "You are a curse," Cira whispered, her voice barely audible. "Father is ready to see you. I don't want to see you so pathetic. Just give in and die." In that moment of despair, as darkness closed in, Cira felt her spirit abandon her body.She had regained control, but lacked the strength to lift a finger. She closed her eyes, resigned to her fate, waiting for the end to come. Suddenly, she heard the roar of a dragon. Cira searched for her dragon, but the darkness obscured everything. Just as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness, a powerful force cut through the air, striking the creature that had nearly killed her. The dragon had come to her rescue. Cira collapsed, gasping for breath as her dragon positioned itself between her and the monster.The trees around them were tall and thick, making it impossible for the dragon to land. It must have sensed her distress and flown into the forest to find her. Cira tried to rise, but her body wouldn't respond. The dragon unleashed a torrent of fire, forcing the creature to retreat. Soon after, it spread its wings and lifted Cira with its claws, soaring into the sky. The creature lashed out, but its attacks fell short. As Cira faded into unconsciousness, the dragon flew toward the mountains of Vaizel, sensing that Cira needed help.Nearby, a human camp lay nestled at the foot of the mountains, unaware of the approaching danger. Alarms rang out as the massive dragon approached. Enzo stood at the forefront of his army, waiting for the right moment to strike. As he watched, he noticed the dragon clutching something in its claws, but the darkness obscured his view. When he finally gave the order to attack, the dragon did not defend itself. Instead, it shielded whatever it carried, and Enzo realized it was a woman with red hair-Cira. "Stop the attack!" he commanded, astonished.Elisha, one of his generals, approached him, bewildered. "What are you doing? We should take down the dragon!" "The dragon isn't attacking us. It was defending something-Cira. She must be my sister." "Even more reason to attack! She's the enemy! Have you forgotten?" "I haven't forgotten, but if she had attacked us, we wouldn't have been able to bring down this dragon. I need you to understand something before we continue this fight." "Are you aware of what you're asking me?" Elisha replied, incredulous. "I know exactly what I'm asking.If the dragon rises again, even if I'm nearby, I will take responsibility for my decision." Enzo urged his horse toward the dragon, which had now curled protectively around Cira. He raised his hands, speaking softly to the beast. "I'm not here to harm you. I only want to see what you're protecting." The dragon sniffed the air, as if recognizing a familiar scent. It ceased its growling and opened its wings, revealing Cira, unconscious and pale. Enzo felt a surge of dread. Something had changed within her; he could sense the darkness that had consumed her. "I need to help my sister.Will you allow me to approach her?" he asked the dragon. To his relief, the dragon did not resist as he drew closer to Cira. She was alive, but her pulse was weak. Enzo gently cradled her in his arms, feeling the chill of her skin. "I need to take her with me to help her. Otherwise, she will die," he pleaded. The dragon seemed to understand, lowering its head in agreement. Elisha, witnessing the scene, was astonished that the dragon was not attacking. "What are we doing?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief. "The dragon is protecting her. We need to help Cira," Enzo insisted.Elisha's generals surrounded them, uncertain. "Should we continue the attack?" one asked. "For now, we will not attack. But be prepared. If the dragon approaches again, we will defend ourselves." Enzo carried Cira to his tent, where Hans rushed to meet him, alarmed at the sight of Cira in his arms. "What happened?!" "The dragon didn't attack us. It came seeking help for Cira," Enzo explained, gently laying her on the bed. "Her pulse is weak. We need a healer," Hans said, panic rising in his voice. "I'll find one," Elisha offered, her expression grave. "You've gone mad!Why would you betray the camp? She is the enemy!" "She is my sister. The sinister power that once surrounded her seems to have vanished. I don't believe she is under the influence of darkness anymore." "How can you be so sure?" Elisha challenged. "Can't you see? She's unconscious! She poses no threat right now." "But what if she wakes up? How can we trust she won't attack us?" "It's not easy, but I ask you to trust me. I'm letting my feelings guide my actions, even if she doesn't represent a danger at this moment." "This is a dangerous gamble, Enzo.noveldramaThe lives of thousands depend on your decision." After Elisha left, Enzo remained by Cira's side, watching her pale form. He wrapped her in a blanket, hoping to warm her. "I hope I'm not wrong," he murmured, feeling the weight of his choices. Hans returned with a healer, who began to examine Cira. "What is her condition?" Enzo asked anxiously. "She has lost all her power. She is completely drained," the healer replied. Relief washed over Enzo. As long as she remained unconscious, she couldn't pose a threat. Hans squeezed Cira's hand, his voice trembling."Is it serious?" "I can't say for certain. Sometimes, a user's power can regenerate, but in other cases, it doesn't, and the user dies." The thought of losing Cira horrified Enzo. "You must do something to help her! Save her!" "I will do everything I can, but I hope it's not too late," the healer promised. Cira's hand grew colder, and Hans urged her, "Don't die, Cira. You must wake up. Come back to me. Don't give up." Enzo knew he couldn't remain idle any longer. He turned to Hans. "I have to return to the front. Let me know when Cira wakes up.Even without her magic, we can't be sure this isn't a strategy to destroy us." "I doubt she's lying," Hans replied, still holding Cira's hand. "But this is war, Hans. Cira is the enemy. We must stay vigilant. Remember, many lives depend on us and our choices." Meanwhile, Liona seethed with frustration at Dagón for allowing Cira to escape. She remained silent, observing the unfolding events. Dagón stood before the doors of Hades, but nothing stirred on the other side. "What's happening?" Liona asked, fear creeping into her voice. "Can't you see?" Dagón replied, discomfort etched on his face."I don't see anything," Liona insisted. "Nothing can be seen. The kingdom of Hades is shrouded in darkness." "What do you want me to do?" Liona pressed. "If I perform the ritual correctly, why not take the risk?" Dagón suggested. "You should have waited for me to finish." "I can't decipher what's written on these columns. You didn't tell me what they said." "Damn it! I need that girl back. She must come to find me." "The dragon is with her. I don't know where it could be," Dagón replied. "There's a human army nearby.If they come out, I'm finished." "I'll provide you with an army to accompany you. As soon as you see that human, kill the foolish dragon that helped her escape." "Where do I even start looking?" Liona asked, exasperated. "Dragons have great strength and power. If you track her down, you'll find her." "Then you'll leave me to it?" Liona asked, determination hardening her resolve. Dagón ordered the monsters surrounding them to follow Liona. Eila mounted one of the horse-like monsters. "Do what you asked me," she said. "Just prove your worth.Don't make me regret bringing you along." "I won't let you down, I promise." Liona rode off, determined to find the dragon. The monsters could sense other creatures with greater power, even dragons, so controlling them shouldn't be too difficult. She knew that if she didn't return soon with Cira, Dagón would unleash his wrath upon her. As the earth shook, Leriana ordered Fay to prepare for their journey to the human kingdom. Meanwhile, Cassiel approached her. "I also have to stay. You know the truth," he said. "Yes, I know," Leriana replied."I can't force you to fight, but if we have your help..." "I don't think I'll go to the battlefield. I'll assist you wherever I can, but don't make me fight against the dark king again." Cassiel embraced Leriana, understanding the weight of her past encounters with the dark king. Despite the centuries that had passed, the memories still haunted her. "I won't," she promised. "Be careful. This time, don't die." "I won't.I promise I'll return to you." "Find the nearest entrance to the Shur desert so you can get there as quickly as possible." "Thank you." Cassiel handed her a necklace, a precious gift from Leriana that he had cherished. "I give you this as a guarantee that you will return." "I'm surprised you still have it." "To me, it's a treasure. I kept it safe in the habitations of the querians because I didn't want to lose it. This will be the guarantee of your return." "Bell will destroy it," Leriana warned. Cassiel knew she spoke the truth. "Please, don't destroy it.Just don't run away." "That's something I can't promise." "I wish you could lie." Fay appeared, interrupting their farewell. "Your Majesty, I'm sorry to interrupt, but we are ready to go." "There's no point in delaying any longer. Let's open the door." Everyone gathered in the garden, where the army awaited the king's command to travel to the kingdom of Xurt. Tarik prepared to bid farewell to his priest and mother. "I'm glad to see you're here to send off the army," he said. "You belong here as the hereditary prince," Leriana replied.Tarik smiled and offered words of encouragement to his soldiers before opening a portal filled with light that led to the kingdom of Xurt. "Good luck on your journey, my faithful friends. May the winds, earth, and sky guide you safely home." With those words, the soldiers crossed the portal. Cassiel followed, casting one last glance at Leriana, wishing he could return soon. Kiara knocked on the door of her mother's workshop. "May I come in?" "Of course, come in," Enora replied, having been in conversation with Dantriel when Kiara entered. She greeted her daughter warmly."Good morning, Princess Kiara." "Good morning, Dantriel. Could you give us a moment alone?" Dantriel looked to Enora for approval. "Make sure you have everything on the list for us," Enora instructed. "Yes, Your Majesty," Dantriel replied, exiting the workshop. "What do you want to say that Dantriel can't hear?" Kiara asked. Noticing her mother in armor, Kiara realized she would lead the army. "Are you truly going to lead your own army? You would send me away?" Kiara asked, concern lacing her voice."What mother would send her only daughter to war?" Enora said, stepping closer to Kiara and caressing her cheek. "I'm facing these monsters. It would be better if I went instead of you. I'm better prepared for battle." "Though I am queen, I am also a warrior, and one far more experienced than you. I've never fought against these monstrous creatures, and I don't want to risk your life." "But..." "Understand that you expose yourself to danger. If you can avoid it, do so. You must stay here, Kiara.Don't insist on changing my mind." Kiara had hoped to return home, but she hadn't anticipated her mother would lead the army herself. If she had known, she wouldn't have returned, for she couldn't bear to see Barto again. Enora noticed the anxiety in her daughter's eyes and felt compelled to speak. "What's wrong, Kiara? Do you have something else to say?" "Please take care of my friends in the human kingdom," Kiara implored. "I will, but first, I must ensure you're safe," Enora replied."The king of Cosset and his brother, as well as the wizard Sirius and Barto, the river fairy informant." Though she had never met Barto, Enora knew of him through Ethan's many tales. "If that's the case, their information has always been invaluable to us. I will do my best to protect everyone you've mentioned." "Thank you, Mother." Enora embraced Kiara tightly. "Take care, my little one. I will see you soon." As Enora turned to leave, Kiara called out, "Mama!" "What is it?" Enora asked, pausing."How do you plan to reach the Xurt desert?" "I can create a portal that will take us there, as you described it well." "Do you want me to help you create it?" "There's no need, but you can come and ensure it's done correctly." Kiara followed her mother to the camp where the soldiers were gathered. She noticed Ethan leading a squadron. "I thought you would want to leave the kingdom," Kiara remarked. "Being in the battle doesn't seem like the best punishment," he replied. "I suppose so." Enora began to create the portal, and Kiara fell silent, not wanting to distract her.When it was finished, Kiara was taken aback; instead of the mountains of Vaizel, only a cloud of darkness lay before them. "I suppose this is the correct place," Enora said, observing Kiara's reaction. "Mother, let me go with you. Let me fight by your side," Kiara pleaded. "No, it's not simply because I want to protect you that I'm leaving, Kiara. You must protect the kingdom and our people." Enora embraced her daughter one last time. "Remember, if I fall, you will be the queen."