Chapter 187 Elara’s Book Published
Elara’s POV
“Your book is a LIE!” A protestor threw my published story at my feet. “You’re making unity seem easy! It’s not!”
Hundreds of people gathered outside the castle. Some holding my book lovingly. Others burning it.
“The story is propaganda!” one shouted. “Making mixed marriages seem perfect!”
“It IS perfect!” another countered. “Queen Elara proved love conquers all!”
They were fighting. Over my book. Over my truth.
“This is a disaster,” Drakon said. “Your story was supposed to bring people together.”
“Instead it’s dividing them,” I finished bitterly.
But then schools started requiring it. “The Journey of Queen Elara” became mandatory reading. Every student. Every kingdom.
Teachers reported back: “The children understand. They see the struggle. They learn from the mistakes. They believe unity is possible.”
Mixed-heritage couples sent letters. Hundreds of them.
“Your story gave us courage to marry.”
“We read it together and felt less alone.”
“Our families rejected us. Your book showed us we were right to choose love.”
The book became legend. People quoted it. Referenced it. Built their lives around it.
“You changed the world, Mama,” Aurora said, reading a passage. “With just words.”
“Words are powerful,” I agreed.
But two days remained until her suppressed emotions exploded. And words wouldn’t save her.
“Have you started integrating your anger?” I asked gently.
“I’m trying. But it’s so hard, Mama. She’s so strong. So loud. So destructive.”
“Then let her be loud. In controlled ways. Express anger safely.”
Aurora tried. She screamed into pillows. Broke ice sculptures she created. Wrote angry letters and burned them.
But it wasn’t enough.
Day two arrived. Aurora was visibly struggling. Her eyes flickering purple constantly. Her control slipping.
“One more day,” she whispered. “Can I make it one more day?”
That evening, a delegation arrived. From the Western Coalition.
“We read your book,” their leader said. “It… changed our perspective. We want to propose something.”
“What?”
“A junior ambassador program. Young people from different kingdoms traveling together. Learning about each other. Building bridges.” She looked at Aurora. “We want your daughter to lead it. Show our children what unity looks like.”
Aurora’s eyes went wide. “Really? You want ME? After everything?”
“Because of everything. You represent hope. Balance. The future.”
“I want to do it!” Aurora grabbed my hand. “Mama, can I? Please?”
Looking at her excited face, I saw the real Aurora. Not the suppressed one. Not the perfect one. Just… her.
“Yes,” I decided. “But you start after you deal with your emotions. After tomorrow.”
“I will! I promise!”
The delegation left. Aurora practically vibrated with excitement.
“Junior ambassador! Helping other kingdoms! Making peace!” She shifted forms rapidly. Happy. Energized. Alive.
“This is good,” Drakon said. “Giving her purpose. Direction. Motivation to integrate her emotions.”
But that night, I found a new chapter in my book. One I hadn’t written.
“Aurora became a junior ambassador. Traveled to hostile kingdoms. Made friends. Created peace. Everything seemed perfect.
Until she visited the Iron Kingdom. Where they hated mixed-bloods. Where they saw her as an abomination. Where they planned to use her as an example.
They captured her. Tortured her. Broke her control. Released the suppressed anger deliberately. Turned her into a weapon. Aimed her at everyone she loved.
The junior ambassador program became Aurora’s destruction. And the world’s.”
I slammed the book shut. “This isn’t real! Just another possible future!”
But the words glowed. Different than before. More certain. More real.
A note appeared:
“This future is 87% probable. Unless Aurora integrates her emotions before leaving. Unless she learns to be whole before trying to save others. The Iron Kingdom is watching. Waiting. Planning. They’ve read your book too. They know Aurora’s weakness. They’ll exploit it. Three days after she arrives. She breaks. She destroys. She becomes the monster they always claimed she was.”
I ran to Aurora’s room. Found her packing. Excited. Ready.
“Aurora, we need to talk about the ambassador program…”
“I know, Mama! I’m so excited! I leave in four days! Right after I integrate my emotions! Perfect timing!”
“No. You’re not going. It’s too dangerous.”
“What? But you said I could!”
“I changed my mind. The Iron Kingdom is a trap. They’ll hurt you. Use you.”
“You don’t know that!”
“I DO know that! My book showed me!”
“Your book shows POSSIBLE futures! Not definite ones!” Aurora’s eyes flashed purple. “You’re just afraid! Afraid I’ll fail! Afraid I’ll prove everyone right about mixed-bloods being dangerous!”
“That’s not…”
“It IS!” She screamed. And there it was. The suppressed anger. Breaking free. One day early.
Ice and fire exploded from her. Void and light mixing. The room shaking.
“Aurora, calm down!”
“I CAN’T! Five years of calm! Five years of perfect! I’m DONE being perfect!” She shifted to full dragon. Roared. “I’m going to the Iron Kingdom! I’m proving I’m not dangerous! And you can’t stop me!”
She flew out the window. Into the night. Gone.
And tomorrow, the day her emotions were supposed to explode controllably, she’d be traveling to the Iron Kingdom.
Where they waited. Prepared. Ready to turn my daughter into the weapon they needed to destroy unity forever.
All because I wrote a book.
All because I inspired her to help.
All because I gave her hope.
And now that hope would be her destruction.
Unless I stopped her first.
But how do you stop a seven-year-old convergence child who’s already decided to save the world?
Even if it kills her?