Chapter 4

The elders approached Prince Kaid, who was sitting in the courtyard, lost in thought. Lord Thomas cleared his throat to announce their presence.

"Prince Kaid, we need to speak with you," Lord Thomas said, his voice serious.

Kaid looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What is it, elders?"

Lord Edward stepped forward. "We've come to discuss the kingdom's fate, Your Highness. The darkness is spreading, and your father, well, he's not listening to reason."

Kaid's expression turned grim. "I know. I've tried talking to him, but he won't listen. He's too consumed by his own power."

Lord Michael nodded. "We fear for the kingdom's future, Kaid. But we believe you may be the only one who can save it."

Kaid's eyes widened slightly. "Me? How can I save the kingdom?"

Lord James spoke up. "You have the people's trust, Kaid. And you have a good heart. We believe you can reach your father, make him see sense before it's too late."

Kaid sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'll try, elders. But I make no promises. My father can be... stubborn."

The elders nodded, their faces grave. "We understand, Kaid. But we must try. For the kingdom's sake, we must try."

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MEANWHILE

Queen Lyra entered the dimly lit dungeon, her heart heavy with concern. She had come to visit King Ryker's mother, Queen Lirien, who had been imprisoned by her own son. As she approached the cell, Queen Lirien looked up, her eyes filled with a deep sadness.

"Lyra, my dear," Queen Lirien said, her voice weak but warm. "I'm so glad you've come to see me."

Queen Lyra nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "I had to, Lirien. I had to know you're okay."

Queen Lirien nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'm not okay, Lyra. My son...he's gone down a path I never wanted for him. He's destroying our kingdom, and I'm powerless to stop him."

Queen Lyra's expression softened. "I know, Lirien. I'm trying to find a way to reach him, to bring him back from the darkness. But it's hard...he's so consumed by his own ambition."

Queen Lirien's face contorted in anguish. "I know, Lyra. I've seen it too. And it breaks my heart to see my son, whom I loved and nurtured, become the very thing I feared most."

The two queens shared a heartfelt moment of silence, their eyes locked in understanding.

"We have to find a way to save him, Lyra," Queen Lirien said finally, her voice resolute. "We have to save our kingdom from his destruction."

Queen Lyra nodded, determination in her eyes. "I will, Lirien. I promise you, I will do everything in my power to bring light and hope back to our kingdom."

Queen Lirien's face softened, a hint of a smile on her lips. "I know you will, Lyra. You have always been a beacon of hope in these dark times."

The two queens held each other's hands, their hearts heavy with the weight of their kingdom's suffering, but also filled with a newfound determination to fight for its future.

__________________________

Kaid entered the throne room, his heart pounding in his chest. His father, King Ryker, sat on the throne, his face stern and unyielding.

"Father," Kaid said, bowing his head slightly.

King Ryker's gaze narrowed. "What do you want, Kaid?"

Kaid took a deep breath. "I've come to talk to you about the kingdom, Father. The darkness is spreading, and the people are suffering."

King Ryker snorted. "The people are always suffering, Kaid. That's what makes them weak."

Kaid's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his voice calm. "That's not true, Father. The people are the backbone of this kingdom, and we need to protect them."

King Ryker sneered. "You're as naive as your mother, Kaid. You think the world is all sunshine and rainbows, but it's not. It's dark and cruel, and only the strongest survive."

Kaid's face set in determination. "I'll never believe that, Father. And I'll never let you destroy this kingdom and its people."

King Ryker's expression turned cold, his eyes glinting with anger. "You dare to threaten me, Kaid? I am the king, and you will obey me."

Kaid stood tall, his voice firm. "I will not obey you if it means harming the people, Father. And I will do everything in my power to stop you from destroying this kingdom."

The air in the throne room seemed to crackle with tension as Kaid and his father locked eyes, the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance.

Here's a possible next step:

King Ryker's face turned red with rage, and he slammed his fist on the armrest. "Guards! Take Kaid away and throw him in the dungeon. He will learn to obey his king!"

The guards moved forward, but Kaid didn't back down. "You'll have to go through me first, Father," he said, drawing his sword.

The guards hesitated, unsure of what to do. King Ryker's eyes widened in shock. "You dare to draw a sword against your king?"

Kaid's voice was firm. "I dare to defend the people against a tyrant."

With that, the guards charged forward, and Kaid prepared to defend himself...

Just as the guards were about to charge, the queen burst into the throne room, her presence commanding attention. "Wait!" she cried, her voice firm but urgent.

King Ryker's face darkened. "What are you doing here, Lyra?"

The queen stood tall, her eyes fixed on her husband. "I will not let you harm our son, Ryker. Not again."

Kaid's eyes widened in surprise. He had never seen his mother stand up to his father like this before.

King Ryker sneered. "You dare to defy me, Lyra? After all I've done for you?"

The queen's voice was steady. "You have done nothing but bring darkness and suffering to our people, Ryker. And now you seek to destroy our son, who wants to bring hope and light to our kingdom."

Kaid's heart swelled with pride and gratitude towards his mother. He had never realized she felt this way.

King Ryker's face turned red with rage. "You will regret this betrayal, Lyra. Guards, take the queen away as well!"

But the guards hesitated, unsure of what to do. The queen's words had struck a chord, and they knew that Kaid's desire to protect the people was not a crime.

The queen took a step forward, her eyes locked on her husband. "I will not let you harm our son, Ryker. And I will not let you continue to destroy our kingdom. It's time for a change."

With that, she turned to Kaid and nodded. "Go, my son. Forget about your father, it's time someone talk some senses into him” she turned to king who kept silence watching them

Kaid's heart soared as he looked at his mother, and then at his father. He knew what he had to do...

_______________________

*THE HAPPY PLATE RESTAURANT*

Precious stepped out of the kitchen with a tray of food, her eyes fixed on the door as if waiting for someone. As she made to deliver the dishes to the waiting customers, she heard the words again, "Save us, chosen one, we need you, save us." She spun around, her heart racing, but there was no one there.

"Who are you?" she asked with a trembling voice, her eyes scanning the empty kitchen. "Show yourself."

The voice echoed again, "Save us, chosen one." Precious felt a chill run down her spine. What did they want from her?

Just then, Alex, her coworker, approached her. "Hey, Precious, are you okay? You seem a little spooked."

Precious smiled nervously. "Y-yes, I'm fine, Alex. Just a little...distracted."

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Well, you seem to be talking to yourself, and it seems weird. Are you sure everything's all right?"

Precious forced a laugh. "Yeah, I'm just...talking to myself, that's all. Don't mind me, Alex."

As Alex walked away, Precious felt the weight of the mysterious voice's words. Chosen one? What did it mean? And who was behind the voice?

She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. She had work to do, and she couldn't let some strange voice distract her. But as she delivered the food to the waiting customers, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off, that something was waiting for her just beyond the edge of reality.

THE KINGDOM OF VALTORIA

Lord Kael Erica's uncle sat in his chambers, a sly smile spreading across his face as he met with his trusted friend, Lord Thrain.

"How are the people doing, Thrain?" Lord Kael asked, his voice dripping with deceit.

"They're unhappy, my lord," Lord Thrain replied. "They want a stronger leader, and they think you're the one to provide it."

Lord Kael's smile grew wider. "I'm the best choice, Thrain. And soon, I'll be the one in charge."

"What about Erica, my lord?" Lord Thrain asked. "She's a skilled warrior and a clever diplomat. She won't give up easily."

Lord Arin waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about Erica, Thrain. I have a plan to take care of her. The king and queen are the ones we need to focus on. They're the ones standing in our way."

Lord Thrain nodded, his eyes gleaming with understanding. "I see, my lord. And what of the king and queen's loyal followers? They will not give up power easily."

Lord Kael's smile grew wider. "Leave that to me, Thrain. I have a plan to deal with them as well. The king and queen will soon find themselves... unable to rule. And when they are, I will be ready to take my rightful place on the throne."

Lord Thrain's eyes widened in shock, but he quickly composed himself. "I see, my lord. And what of Erica's parents, the king and queen? How do they fare?"

Lord Arin's expression turned cold. "They are weak and tired, Thrain. They have ruled Valtoria for far too long. It is time for a new leader, a strong and capable one. And I am that leader."

Lord Thrain nodded, thinking about what Lord Kael said. He knew he had to be careful, that he had to balance loyalty and betrayal. But he also knew that he could not ignore the opportunity that Lord kael presented.

"I will do as you say, my lord," Lord Thrain said, his voice dripping with deceit. "I will help you achieve your goals, no matter the cost."

Lord kael's smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with triumph. "I knew I could count on you, Thrain. Together, we will bring Valoria to its knees."

MEANWHILE

Erica was in the midst of intense training, unleashing her fury upon the dummy with each swift strike of her sword. Her anger and frustration fueled her movements, driving her to push herself to the limit. With every clash of steel, she felt a temporary release from the burning rage that had been building inside her.

“My princess.. You have been working for too long now, I advise you to take some rest please” her personal maid muttered apologetically

Erica gaze narrowed, her eyes flashing with determination. "No, Rachel. I don't need rest. I need power. And I'll stop at nothing to get it."

Rachel's expression turned worried, but she knew better than to argue with the princess. "As you wish, my princess. But please, be careful. Your uncle is not one to be underestimated."

Erica's smile was cold and calculating. "Oh, I know. And that's exactly why I need to be stronger, faster, and more cunning than him. I'll show him no mercy when the time comes."

With a fierce cry, Rachel charged at the training dummy, her sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Rachel watched, concern etched on her face, as the princess's anger and ambition fueled her training, driving her closer to her ultimate goal: the throne.

Her sword clashed with the dummy, the sound echoing through the training hall. Sweat dripped from her brow, her muscles burning with each strike. She was a whirlwind of fury, her movements swift and deadly.

Suddenly, she froze, her chest heaving with tiredness. Her eyes locked onto a figure standing in the shadows, watching her. Her uncle, Lord Kael.

"What do you want, Uncle?" she spat, her voice venomous.

Lord Kael stepped forward, a sly smile spreading across his face. "I see you're still as fierce as ever, Erica. But anger alone won't be enough to claim the throne. You need strategy, cunning, and allies."

Erica snarled, her hand tightening around the hilt of her sword. "I don't need your advice or your help. I'll take the throne on my own terms."

Lord Kael chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll see about that, my dear niece. We'll see about that."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Erica burning with rage and determination. The game of thrones was on, and Eirca was ready to play.

NIRI KINGDOM, 7:30PM

Sofia paced back and forth in the living room, her mind racing with worries. Precious had been gone for hours, and she hadn't returned from the restaurant. Sofia tried calling her phone, but it went straight to voicemail.

Just as Sofia was starting to feel really anxious, she heard a strange noise coming from the room. She walked over to the door and listened carefully. The noise sounded like whispering, but she couldn't make out what was being said.

Sofia's heart began to race as she slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open. The room was dimly lit, and the whispering grew louder. She saw Precious's book lying open on the bed, its pages rustling as if someone was turning them.

Suddenly, the whispering stopped, and the room fell silent. Sofia felt a chill run down her spine as she approached the bed. That's when she saw it - a strange symbol etched into the wall, blinking with a faint, glow.

“What's going on?” she questioned, the door opened revealing precious

"Sophia, what are you doing?" Precious asked, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her. "Why are you going through my things?"

Precious's eyes narrowed as she examined the book, her fingers tracing the strange symbols etched into the cover. "This book is...different," she said, her voice low and cautious. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before."

Sophia shrugged, her eyes avoiding Precious's gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about. I just found it on the floor."

Precious's eyes snapped up, her gaze piercing. "Don't lie to me, Sophia. I know you've been going through my things. What are you looking for?"

Sophia's face went pale, her eyes darting around the room. "I-I was just curious, Precious. I didn't mean to snoop."

Precious's expression softened, her voice gentle but firm. "Sophia, we need to trust each other. Whatever is going on, we need to face it together."

Sophia nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. "I'm sorry, Precious. I didn't mean to betray your trust."

Precious smiled, her eyes warm. "You haven't betrayed me, Sophia. But we need to be careful. Something strange is going on, and I don't know what it is yet there is something about that book."

As they spoke, the book on the floor began to glow, its symbols ticking with a strange, magical light. Precious and Sophia exchanged a nervous glance, their hearts pounding in unison.

Precious's gaze fell on the open book, and her eyes widened as she saw the strange symbol written on the wall. "What have you done, Sophia?" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger.

Sophia took a step back, her eyes wide with fear. "I didn't do anything, Precious! I swear!"

"I am sick and tired of all this, Strange voices, symbols, and weird things happen all the time! I'm tired of it!" Precious exclaimed, her frustration boiling over.

"What do you mean by strange voices?" Sophia asked, her eyes wide with concern.

"I told you, this book was something special, extraordinary" Sophia added, her voice barely above a whisper.

Precious scowled. "Special? It's cursed, that's what it is! And I'm getting rid of it."

She stormed over to the waste bin and tossed the book in, feeling a sense of satisfaction as it landed with a thud. "There, it's gone. Let's move on with our lives."

"What did you do with it?" Sophia asked, her eyes fixed on Precious.

"I threw it away," Precious replied, her voice firm.

Sophia's eyes widened in surprise. "It's gone! The symbol is gone!"

Precious nodded, a look of relief washing over her face. "Good. Let's just forget about this whole thing, okay?"

Sophia nodded, but her eyes lingered on the spot where the symbol had been. "But what if it comes back?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Precious shook her head. "It won't. I got rid of the book, and that's the end of it."

But as they turned to walk away, a faint whispering echoed through the room, making them both freeze.

"What was that?" Sophia asked, her voice trembling.

Precious's eyes narrowed. "I don't know, but I think we're not done with this yet..."

The dark shadow seemed to be watching the ladies, it watched them for a while and disappeared into thin air.

NEXT MORNING

Precious couldn't sleep, her mind racing with vivid images of chaos and destruction. She tossed and turned, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her chest. The nightmares had been recurring for weeks now, and she couldn't ignore them any longer.

She threw off the covers and got out of bed, as she walked softly to the bathroom. The mirror reflected a tired face, with dark circles under her eyes. She splashed some water on her face, hoping to wash away the fatigue.

As she dried her face, she noticed Sophia standing behind her, fixing her makeup. "Morning, Sophia," Precious muttered, trying to sound cheerful.

Sophia turned around, concern etched on her face. "Hey, Precious, are you okay? You look a bit... haunted."

Precious forced a smile. "Just a bad dream, that's all. I'll be fine."

But as she walked out of the bathroom, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The nightmares were trying to tell her something, but what?

Precious tried to distract herself by getting ready for the day. She put on a flowing white dress and braided her hair, but her mind kept wandering back to the nightmares. She couldn't shake off the feeling of impending doom that lingered long after she woke up.

As she walked into the living room, Sophia was already there, sipping tea and scrolling through her phone. "Hey, Precious, I'm so excited for my today I got new customers yesterday and they will be coming to shop for a measurement!" she said, beaming.

Precious forced a smile, trying to be happy for her friend. "That's great, Sophia! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time."

But as they chatted, Precious's phone suddenly rang, making her jump. She hesitated for a moment before answering it. "Hello?"