Chapter 69

The weight of the word hung in my mind like an unbearable weight. The Demon Lord.

My heart thundered in my chest, the rhythmic pounding reverberating through my entire being. The room spun as panic set in, and before I knew it, my legs gave out beneath me.

I collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, my hands clutching at my chest. The walls of my sanctuary seemed to close in, trapping me in the spiraling torment of memories I had long buried.

Fito's panicked voice broke through the chaos. "My liege!?" She dropped to her knees beside me, her hands hovering uncertainly, unsure how to help.

But I couldn't hear her. Her voice was muffled, drowned out by the haunting echoes of my past life. The weight of everything I had lost, everything I had fought for, pressed down on me like a crushing tide.

"I don't want to lose it all again! Please..."

Tears blurred my vision as my mind spiraled further into despair.

And then—

"Aleena?" A familiar voice called from the other side of the door, laced with worry. "Are you okay? Why are you shouting in the middle of the night?"

Mama.

Hearing her voice snapped me back to the present, though my breathing remained ragged. Fito reacted instantly, her form shimmering before she transformed into a small flower pot, hiding in plain sight on the windowsill.

The door swung open, and Mama rushed in, her eyes wide with concern. She crossed the room in an instant and pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Aleena, sweetheart, it's okay," she murmured, her voice soft and soothing. "It was just a nightmare. As long as Mama's here, no one's going to harm you."

Her arms wrapped around me like a protective cocoon, and the warmth of her presence began to chase away the shadows clawing at my mind. My breathing slowed, the frantic gasps giving way to steady inhales.

Mama's touch had always been my anchor. Her gentle words, her steady heartbeat—these small, simple gestures grounded me in a way nothing else could. Slowly, my body relaxed, and the exhaustion from the night overtook me.

As I drifted into a peaceful sleep, Fito, still in her flower pot form, watched from the corner of the room, astonished.

"This woman... she truly is my liege's mother for a reason," Fito thought, her awe evident even in silence.

---

The Morning After

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the kitchen in a warm glow. I sat at the breakfast table, staring blankly at the untouched food before me. My mind replayed the events of the night, the suppressed grief and trauma threatening to resurface.

Mama's cheerful voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "What kind of nightmare did you have last night, Aleena?"

The question caught me off guard, and the spoon I had been holding slipped from my trembling fingers, clattering to the floor. I hastily bent to retrieve it, but Mama's hand beat me to it.

"This one's been on the floor. Take this instead." She handed me a clean spoon, her eyes soft but observant.

Her hand lingered on mine, and she gently squeezed it. "What happened, my little cutie? What did you see last night?"

I opened my mouth to respond but hesitated. How could I possibly explain? How could I tell her about the shadow of the Demon Lord looming over us? The words caught in my throat, and I could only shake my head.

Mama smiled, stroking my back reassuringly. "Don't worry," she said. "No nightmare can haunt you as long as your Mama is here, okay?"

I nodded, though the weight of the secret pressed heavily on me.

"How do I tell her?" I wondered. "I can't. But I can protect her. I have to."

Resolving myself, I straightened in my chair. My will hardened as I pushed aside the lingering fear. I had trained for millennia, forged myself into a being capable of standing against even the Demon Lord. I wouldn't let the past repeat itself.

I closed my eyes and extended my mental senses. I needed information. Answers.

---

Zoth's Training Grounds

Zoth stood at the center of the sprawling training grounds, observing the heroes he had been tasked with mentoring. Nearly half of them had reached a higher level of mana manipulation under his guidance, their progress a testament to his skill as a teacher.

"Miss Woods!" he called out to one of the trainees on the far side of the field.

Maria Woods turned, her auburn hair catching the light as she smiled teasingly. "What is it, Zoth? Off to visit your goddess again?"

"Yes," Zoth replied without hesitation, his voice steady and confident.

The blunt response made Maria flinch, her attempt at teasing falling flat. But she quickly masked her surprise, her smile returning as she pulled out her phone to check her messages.

Two new texts lit up her screen.

"The appointment's set."

"Job done."

Her smile widened.

"Just you wait, Zoth," she thought, her mind racing with plans. "I'll expose this 'goddess' of yours soon enough."

---

Aleena's Call

As Zoth prepared to leave, he received a mental transmission.

"Zoth, come to me as soon as possible. I need information."

He straightened, his expression growing serious. "Yes, Your Majesty. I'll be there right away."

Within moments, Zoth activated a teleportation spell, leaving behind the training grounds—and the ever-watchful Maria Woods.