Echos of the Queens

The group traveled further north, their path shrouded by towering trees and the distant calls of unseen creatures. The sun was sinking below the horizon when Antigone called for a stop.

"We'll camp here tonight," she said, glancing at the others for agreement. Alex muttered his approval, Pip shrugged, and Ophelia nodded, already distracted by the weighty magic book in her hands.

Freya lingered at the edge of the clearing, her brow furrowed.

"Alright, let's get the fire going," Antigone said briskly, taking charge.

Alex stepped away from the group to gather wood, his mind consumed by the haunting whispers of the dream. The Fallen king's words replayed over and over. The Queen will be the end of all if awoken in her state… She deserves to stay in the in-between… Once my pets find the Harbinger, it's over.

He shook his head, his fingers tightening around a dry branch. "No. I cannot tell them. Not yet. They'll think I'm losing it. Maybe I am losing it?" Uncertainly swirled in his stomach.

By the time Alex returned, the fire was roaring, its flames casting flickering shadows over the group. They sat close, their faces illuminated in warm hues, though their expressions were tense.

"Let's write everything down," Antigone suggested, pulling out a worn piece of parchment. "We need to track what we know so far—prophecy pieces, clues, spells—everything."

Ophelia flipped through the magic book, her fingers skimming the empty pages hoping for another clue. The book remaind stubbornly silent. Her eyes caught on a faded bit of writing "Ignight Aminos" and in even more faded writing she read "ignight the soul" but nothing more could be read.

"Humph, what am I supposed to do with this?" Ophelia asked herslef.

She frowned, feeling an inexplicable pull, despite no other information being provided. "Ignite the soul?" she murmured aloud, drawing the others' attention.

"What does it say?" Antigone asked, leaning closer.

"I don't know yet. It's... complicated," Ophelia admitted, her brow furrowed. She couldn't shake the feeling that this spell was important, though she couldn't say why. "The book showed me a name of a spell, I assume, but nothing about the spell or incantation. "

Nearby, Pip had spread the map across her lap. She tilted it in the firelight, her fingers tracing invisible lines. "This thing is useless unless I figure out how to activate it, I have been lucky so far" she grumbled.

"Keep trying," Antigone encouraged. "It's bound to make sense eventually."

While the others worked, Freya sat quietly, staring into the flames. Her eyes grew distant, unfocused. The flames entranced her, drawing her into the flames.

"Freya?" Pip nudged her. "You alright?"

Freya didn't respond. A cold sensation swept over her, and suddenly, the forest around her was gone.

She was standing in a vast throne room. The walls shimmered with crystalline designs, and the air was heavy with magic. Two grand thrones sat opposite each other, each adorned with intricate carvings. Seated in the thrones were two identical women with alabaster skin, flowing red hair, and piercing green eyes.

Freya recognized them immediately,—the Queens.

The woman on the left, Ayid, sat stiffly, her posture rigid and commanding. Her fingers drummed impatiently on the armrest, the sound echoing like a heartbeat. Sparks of magic danced around her hands, sharp and crackling, but they dissipated before they could take shape.

The woman on the right, Diya, was a stark contrast. Her shoulders slumped, and a sorrowful expression shadowed her face. Her hands moved slower, the magic she conjured softer, but no less powerful.

"Sit up straight," Ayid snapped, her voice sharp as steel. "We'll accomplish nothing with your moping. It's affecting our magic!"

Diya sighed, her gaze falling to the floor. "You know I am affected by our people, Ayid. They're suffering. How can you expect me to ignore that?"

"Our suffering won't end with your pity," Ayid retorted. "These attacks weaken us, yes, but it's no excuse for weakness in ourselves. I would handle this alone if I could."

Diya's head snapped up, her green eyes flashing. "You're so quick to say that, but we don't even know what's attacking our people! Protection spells, shields—nothing is working! Our magic is strong, but will not come into fruition until our eighteenth birday."

Freya could feel the tension crackling between the sisters. Ayid's impatience radiated from her like a storm, while Diya's sorrow hung heavy in the air.

"We have to at least try," Ayid said with a softer tone " We have some magic but something is blocking our efforts. Where is the price?" She asked her sister. "There has been no cost for what magic we have used to help our people."

"We always pay a price for our magic, this time should not be different." Diya continued. "And while the cost has not shown itself, what if we face it and it is too great to bear?"

Ayid scowled. "What if that cost is the only way to save our people?"

Diya's eyes softened, and she looked away. "I miss them," she whispered. "Mother, Father... our siblings. Sometimes I wonder if they would've known what to do."

A brief flash of sadness crossed Ayid's face, but she quickly buried it beneath her stern exterior. "We have no time for mourning. They're gone. We should be thankful for the others in the castle that are like us, at least we were raised by them knowing of magic."

Diya's gaze lingered on her sister, her heart aching for the connection they'd lost. She whispered an incantation under her breath, her green eyes blazing with blue fire as her spell took hold. "There is someone here" she said.

"What are you doing?" Ayid asked, her voice sharp with suspicion.

Diya's gaze turned, locking onto Freya. "She's watching," Diya murmured, her fiery eyes meeting Freya's.

Freya gasped, the vision shattering like glass.

She blinked, finding herself back at the campfire. Her sisters were staring at her in concern.

"Freya? What happened?" Antigone asked.

"I... I saw them," Freya whispered, her voice trembling. "The Queens. Ayid and Diya. They were arguing, and Diya—she looked at me. She saw me."

"What do you mean she saw you?" Ophelia asked, her brow furrowing.

"She cast a spell," Freya explained. "It was like... she knew I was watching. She looked right at me."

The group fell silent, the weight of Freya's words sinking in.

"She said something's missing," Freya added, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something's wrong with their magic."

Antigone frowned, her mind racing. "We need to figure out what this means. If the Queens were struggling, then whatever is happening now might be connected."

Alex, who had been silent until now, stood abruptly. "I need some air," he muttered, walking away from the fire.

The others watched him go, worry etched on their faces.

"He's been acting weird," Pip said.

Antigone sighed. "We'll talk to him when he's ready. For now, we focus on what we know."

Ophelia glanced down at the magic book, her fingers brushing over the Ignis Anima words. Something about it felt important.

Freya shivered, her mind replaying the vision. Diya's fiery gaze haunted her, as did her final words: She's watching.

Somehow, Freya knew that Diya's words were not just meant for her—they were meant for all of them.

Across the fire Ember stared at Freya, a blue glint in her eye and her brow is furrowed. What Freya said sounded familiar somehow.....