The Priestess Visit

The Priestess Visit
❤️ The Priestess Visit ❤️

Queen Ashani’s Palace:

Dika was still fuming, her body tense as she turned to leave the dining room. But her mother’s voice stopped her in her tracks.

"I did not ask you to leave, Dika."

She gritted her teeth and turned back, lowering her head slightly. "I’m sorry, Mother.

Queen Ashani sighed, "The Nightweaver that came here isn’t someone we can afford to make an enemy of," she said firmly. "You don’t want others to suffer because of your recklessness, do you?"

Dika’s fists clenched. "I wouldn’t have kissed him if I knew it would lead to this. I don’t want to be married, especially not to him."

Queen Ashani’s gaze sharpened. "So, it's not marriage itself that bothers you. It's the groom?"

Dika exhaled sharply. "I don’t want to get married at all. Please, Mother, you are a queen. You have the authority to refuse this ridiculous tradition. I know you can do something."

Her mother shook her head and stood up, walking over to her until their faces were only inches apart. "It’s not as simple as you think," she said, her voice calm but heavy. "You may not realize this, but the Nightweavers are not people you want to cross. Vyrelen has the Emperor’s backing. If you want a way out, you’ll have to convince the Emperor himself to side with you. Otherwise, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do."

Dika’s heart pounded in frustration. "So even with a queen status, you can’t refuse his claim?"

Queen Ashani sighed deeply, sadness flickering in her eyes. "You won’t understand, my daughter." She lifted her hands and looked at them, her fingers curling slightly as if remembering something long buried. "Do you know why I stopped fighting? Why these hands haven’t held a sword in years?"

Dika frowned, curiosity stirring inside her. She had always wondered why her mother, a warrior queen, never participated in any ongoing training, she would just stare at the people training, that's it.

"I was about your age," Queen Ashani continued, "maybe a few years older than you when I first encountered a Nightweaver. She was a woman, strong, fierce, unlike anyone I had ever faced. She and her female friend were the most powerful fighters I had ever come across. And I…" she hesitated, her gaze darkening, "I chose the wrong side in a war I did not fully understand. After that, I swore I would never pick up a sword again."

Dika stared at her mother, stunned. She had never heard this story before.

Queen Ashani let her hands drop to her sides. "In life, we all make mistakes, Dika. But if you refuse to acknowledge that you are sometimes the devil and the cause of your own troubles, how will you ever learn from them?" She turned toward the door walking away, but paused for a moment before adding, "I was young and selfish once. Don’t make the same mistake I did."

With that, she left the dining room, leaving Dika standing there, confusion swirling in her mind. She doesn't understand what her mother just said.

Something wasn’t right. Her mother was holding back something, something deeper than just regret.

She wanted to push for answers, but now wasn’t the time. Shrugging off her thoughts, she turned and headed toward her chamber. She had more important things to focus on.

Tomorrow, she had a mission.

For Nyxoria.

★★★★

Nyxoria's Dream: The Ruins:

Nyxoria turned to face Ora, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You...you can really do that?"

Ora nodded her head. "Yes. Do you think I would bring you this far if I didn’t know what I was doing? I told you, I have freed your wolf, and I wasn’t joking. You might not see it yet, but once I’m done, you will."

Nyxoria’s gaze shifted back to the massive skeleton of the wolf pinned against the crumbling wall.

"But why would they pin the wolf like this? Who did this? What kind of wolf is this?" she asked, her voice heavy with unease.

"I have no answer to why it was pinned to the wall Nyxoria, but what I do know is that, that is the wolf Queen Dragon." Ora answered.

Nyxoria’s breath caught in her throat. "You know something about this wolf, don’t you?"

Ora sighed. "Not much. Your spirit led me to this place, and the moment I laid my eyes on it, I knew what it was. I would say that's one of my powers."

"But who are they? And where exactly is this palace?"

"I have no idea but you can ask your Uncle, he might know."

Nyxoria narrowed her eyes. "What makes you so sure?"

"He is the High King and most times the other Kings and Queens are sworn to keep some secret, so yes, I am sure he might know of any ruined palaces." Ora answered.

"Thank you Ora, you have been helpful, so now how I get my wolf back. Seeing these," Nyxoria said pointing at the crumpled wall where the dead wolf was hanging and the skeleton of the queen in the old throne chair, "It hurt my heart and I wish I would find out what had happened to her."

Ora tilted her head. "I can help you find out, but it will take time. Days, maybe even weeks. You have to choose what you want first, your wolf or this palace."

Nyxoria didn’t hesitate. "I want my wolf and my dragon spirit back first. Once I have them, we’ll search for the truth about this queen and what happened here."

"I accept," Ora said. "Time is not on our side but I will visit you tomorrow night to start because we are doing everything in this ruined palace. The first thing is to merge your body with your spirit Dragon." Nyxoria nodded her head.

Nyxoria nodded. "That’s fine by me."

"And do remember not to eat whatever Mary prepares or anything she brings for you to eat. I will see you soon Nyxoria."

"I won’t forget."

Ora nodded her head. "Then I will see you soon, Nyxoria."

"Thank you Ora for everything."

"Thank me once I have successfully merged your wolf and dragon spirit with your body."

Nyxoria smiled and soon darkness engulfed her, pulling her back into the waking world.