Chapter 170 Aunt Lily’s Bond
Lily's POV
I stared at the countdown on Aurora's forehead: 29 days, 12 hours, 3 minutes.
Elara had told me about it. About the Void Empress's warning. About Aurora's "true power" manifesting soon.
But sitting here watching my niece sleep, I saw something else.
The countdown was draining her. Literally pulling life force with each tick.
"No," I breathed. "This isn't just a timer. It's a curse. Again."
I touched Aurora's forehead. Felt the dark magic underneath.
The Void Empress had embedded a spell. One that would weaken Aurora over thirty days. Make her vulnerable when her power finally manifested.
"Wake up, sweetie," I said gently. "Aunt Lily needs to help you."
Aurora's eyes opened. Sleepy. Confused. "Lily? What's wrong?"
"Nothing you need to worry about." I smiled, hiding my panic. "Want to learn some magic?"
Her face lit up. "Yes! Always!"
We'd been doing this since she was born. Magic lessons disguised as playtime.
I created a glowing ball of light. Made it dance through the air.
Aurora giggled and shifted to dragon form. Chased the light playfully.
"Now you try," I said. "Create your own light."
She concentrated. A ball of mixed energy appeared. Part golden light. Part purple void.
"Beautiful," I said. "Now make it dance like mine."
She tried. The ball exploded instead.
"Oops," Aurora shifted human. "Sorry, Aunt Lily."
"Don't apologize. Learning means making mistakes." I created another light ball. "Try again."
Over the next hour, I taught her while secretly channeling healing magic. Trying to counteract the countdown curse.
It worked. Slightly. The drain slowed.
But it would take weeks of daily sessions to fully remove it.
"You're the best teacher," Aurora said, hugging me. "Better than anyone."
"Better than your mama?"
"Mama teaches me about being queen. You teach me about being ME." Aurora looked at me with those wise silver eyes. "That's more important."
My heart melted.
Over the following days, I spent every moment with Aurora. Teaching. Playing. Secretly healing.
I created magical toys for her. A dragon that flew on its own. A doll that changed clothes with a thought. Ice sculptures that sang.
"These are amazing, Aunt Lily!" Aurora played with each one, delighted.
But I noticed something. Every time she used one of my toys, the countdown slowed more.
Joy. Happiness. Love. They weakened the curse.
"We're going to beat this," I whispered while she slept. "You and me. Together."
I worked harder. Created more elaborate magical gifts. Spent more hours teaching her.
Aurora thrived. Her magic grew stronger. The countdown slowed to barely moving.
27 days, 18 hours, 55 minutes. We'd gained back nearly two days.
"You're exhausting yourself," Elara said one evening. "You barely sleep."
"I'm fine."
"You're not. Lily, you can't save her alone."
"Watch me." I created another magical toy. An entire ice castle that Aurora could walk through.
"Lily…”
"She's my niece, Elara. My responsibility. I failed to protect her before. When Morgana took me. When the Void Empress corrupted me. I won't fail again."
Elara pulled me into a hug. "You never failed. You were a victim. Just like Aurora is now."
"Then let me help her. Please."
She nodded. Let me continue.
But Aurora noticed my exhaustion.
"Aunt Lily, you need to rest," she said one afternoon. "You're using too much magic."
"I'm fine, sweetie."
"No, you're not." She touched my face with a small hand. "I can feel it. You're draining yourself. For me."
"You're worth it."
"Not if it kills you!" Tears filled her eyes. "I love you, Aunt Lily. I need you. Don't sacrifice yourself for me."
"I'm not…"
"Promise me. Promise you'll take care of yourself too."
I looked at this brilliant, caring child. And promised.
That night, I finally slept. First real sleep in days.
I woke to screaming.
Not Aurora. Mother Moonstone.
I ran to her chambers. Found her collapsed on the floor. Gasping. A countdown on her forehead too.
14 days, 6 hours, 12 minutes.
"What happened?" I demanded.
"The curse," she gasped. "It spread. From Aurora to me. Through our bloodline. The Void Empress is targeting all Moonstone women."
Horror filled me. "Does that mean…"
I touched my own forehead. Felt it.
A countdown. 7 days, 3 hours, 28 minutes.
Shorter than Mother's. Shorter than Aurora's.
Three Moonstone women. Three countdowns. All ticking down to different times.
"What happens when they reach zero?" I whispered.
Mother Moonstone looked at me with terrified eyes. "The Void Empress takes us. All of us. Uses our combined power to break free completely. Consume the world."
We were all cursed.
All doomed.
Unless we found a cure in seven days.
Before the Void claimed me first.