Special Chapter: The Gathering of the Seven

The Astral Court shimmered with a cold, ethereal glow, a space between realms where only the strongest of the Fae could step foot. The seven fairies, each governing an aspect of fate, stood in a circle, their luminous forms pulsing with an ancient power that shaped the world below. They had not gathered like this in centuries, but something had gone wrong—terribly wrong.

Celestia, Fairy of the Stars, was the first to break the silence. Her hair shimmered like a flowing galaxy, her eyes reflecting constellations that mortals had yet to discover.

"The balance has been disturbed," she murmured, her voice vast as the night sky. "The Villainess has severed the threads binding her to her fate."

A ripple of unease passed through the circle.

Sylphine, the Fairy of Wind, narrowed her storm-grey eyes. "That cannot be. It was my curse she bore in this world. I ensured she would be untouchable, alone. If she has broken free, then something—someone—has tampered with it."

Marigold, the Fairy of Earth, frowned, golden vines coiling tightly around her wrists. "My curse ensured that betrayal would follow her at every step. Even if she tried to build something, the very foundation of her life should have crumbled beneath her. For her to have rewritten her fate…" She hesitated, then met Titania's gaze. "This is not natural."

The weight of their words settled over them like a storm cloud.

Ondine, Fairy of the Sea, remained silent, watching the others with unreadable eyes. It had not been her curse that bound the Villainess in this world, but even she could feel that something was off.

Titania, the Fairy Queen, raised her hand. The space around them quivered as the threads of fate unraveled before them, revealing the last remnants of their curse still clinging to the Villainess.

But they were fraying.

Fading.

Something else had interfered.

And beneath their magic, another force had left its mark.

Morgana, the Fairy of Shadows, was the first to step forward. Her cloak of darkness rippled as she reached out, brushing her fingers against the lingering energy.

At first, nothing happened.

Then—she staggered back.

The Court shuddered.

Morgana's usually pale face contorted with shock. "This energy…" Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was filled with something rare—fear.

The others tensed. They had never seen Morgana, the coldest among them, react this way before.

Celestia's celestial glow dimmed. Marigold's vines recoiled. Sylphine's winds stilled.

Even Titania, the ruler of fate itself, clenched her jaw.

Because they knew this power.

They had sealed it away themselves.

A being that should not exist. A force that should have remained asleep.

And yet—it had left its mark on the Villainess.

"Impossible." Morgana's voice, now steady, echoed through the Court like a distant storm. "It was sealed. It was asleep."

Titania exhaled slowly, golden eyes sweeping over the others. "And yet, it has interfered."

Sylphine clutched her chest, feeling the remnants of the unknown power still resonating against her own. "How could it have awakened? We ensured—"

"We did nothing," Celestia interrupted, her voice tight. "But someone else did."

A terrible silence followed.

If the Villainess had broken free of their curse… if something had helped her…

Then that meant he was stirring.

And if he was stirring—

Titania clenched her fists.

For the first time in eons, she was afraid.

Because if he was waking up, then their entire existence was in jeopardy.

---

The Void Between Worlds

Eleanor leaned back in her chair, watching the swirling abyss beyond. The Void between worlds was a familiar sight now—vast, empty, and endless, yet strangely comforting.

Across from her, the System flickered, its humanoid form pulsing with blue light. "You have successfully deviated the world from its destruction."

Eleanor smirked. "You mean I crushed it."

The System sighed. "That is… one way to put it. However, I still disapprove of your methods."

Eleanor shrugged, stretching her arms lazily. "And yet, here we are. I took down the Carter family, rewrote the power balance, and made Lucas my personal plaything. I'd say that's a win."

The System hesitated. "You are not concerned about Lucas?"

Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "Why would I be?"

The System tilted its head. "He was… attached to you."

Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Lucas will be fine. He always finds a way to land on his feet."

The System didn't respond immediately. When it finally spoke, its voice was softer. "He called you cruel."

Eleanor's smirk faded.

She thought back to their final conversation, the way Lucas had looked at her—not with hatred, not even with anger, but something worse.

Resignation.

She shook off the thought. "It doesn't matter. He was just another piece on the board."

The System remained silent for a long moment, then shifted.

"Very well. Your next world is ready."

Eleanor leaned forward, her grin returning. "Good. What's the setting this time?"

The System flickered, and a holographic screen appeared before her.

[World 2: Imperial Fantasy]

Status: Monarch in Jeopardy

Role: The Tyrant Queen

Eleanor's eyes gleamed. "Oh? A royal setting? That sounds fun."

The System hesitated. "…I should warn you, this world is unlike the last. Your enemies will be stronger. The fairies will be watching."

Eleanor scoffed. "Let them watch."

Eleanor tapped her fingers against the armrest. " let's see just how far I can push them."

The System hesitated one last time, then activated the transfer sequence. The Void shimmered, reality bending around her.

As the world pulled her in, Eleanor smiled.

Let the game begin.