The Crown's Entrapment

At Ebodia Kingdom

King Stephan felt at ease upon receiving the good news about the appointment of a new Seer. Ebodians mourned the loss of Beirut, but they quickly became hopeful again once his replacement arrived just at the right time for their kingdom.

He had a satisfied smile after reading the letters he received from his two daughters. Both of them were doing great. Also, Jayra had just sent him a report informing him of how hands-on King Darius was being in Xenia’s training to ensure her position as his Queen.

“There’s no doubt that it’s the Werewolf King you saw in your vision Beirut,” he whispered to himself as he stood up from his seat.

With the letters in his hand, he walked out of his study to look for his wife. Walking through the hallways, he was just about to reach his wife’s chambers when he chanced upon the Queen’s chamberlain.

“Where is the Queen?” King Stephan asked the Queen’s chamberlain.

“In the Babel Tower, milord,” the servant informed.

King Stephan nodded at the information and made his way to the highest tower in their kingdom, the private sanctuary of his wife along with a few chosen mages that helped her in her studies.

Reaching the tower, King Stephan frowned when he saw that his wife was alone.

“Where are the others?” he inquired as he sat on the chair beside her.

“I dismissed them,” Dana informed. “I wanted to check on this alone.”

Stephan frowned. He was aware of how his wife had been studying Xenia’s blood ever since he opened up to her that their daughter would need to go through Cordon’s Five Trials to secure her position as their Queen.

“Xenia has my blood, but it’s not pure, so I wanted to make sure that she’d be safe enough,” Dana absently rambled as she continued to mix potions.

Xenia also had his father’s human blood in her body, after all, so she wanted to make sure that the angel blood in her body would be capable of overpowering it. “I need to know what can trigger the power within her, Stephan.”

Xenia trained like her siblings. And unlike Mineah, she had a stronger physical body capable of supporting her chosen lifestyle. Her agility and strength were more exceptional than a mere human, and the same could be said for Ezekiel. That was one of the reasons why they also assumed Mineah was the cursed one amongst her children, seeing as she had a weak and fragile body despite being of the same blood as her.

That cursed… a punishment that would continue on through generations because she was a fallen angel.

“I can’t understand why the power within Xenia is still passive,” Dana frustratingly murmured out, her voice almost cracking to the point of exhaustion. “Ezekiel got a hold of his power as soon as he turned eighteen, while Xenia’s already twenty-one…”

Stephan gently caressed Dana’s back, noticing her tired disposition as he soothed her. “Take it easy, my Queen. I’m sure our daughter come to wield the strength within her.” He then handed her the letters. “Here… Read this.”

Giving her the missives, Stephan quietly watched his wife as she read each of the letters from Mineah, Jayra, and Xenia.

Dana bit her lower lip as she tried her best not to cry.

“Hmm… Are those tears of joy?” King Stephan humored, and Dana nodded despite the tears continuously flowing down her eyes.

Stephan then pulled his wife in his arms for a hug and whispered, “You’ve been working too hard. You shouldn’t strain yourself too much like this. Our children won’t be pleased if you get sick, you know? They’ll scold me for not taking care of you properly, my dear.”

“I just can’t help but worry too much,” Dana sighed. “These letters gave me reassurance, however. Still, it isn’t enough. I need to find out more to help Xenia in her coming battle.”

It was the least she could do as her mother. She knew her capabilities as a fallen angel, but that knowledge was limited when it came to half-breed like her children. All she knew was that her siblings would harbor her strength and power. And although not in a full capacity like hers as pure blood, it would still be considerable.

“The elements… You can naturally connect with them, correct?” Stephan reminded. “If so, then I’m sure Xenia would be able to do the same. It would be in her instinct to do so.”

It only made sense, of course. He strongly believed in the capabilities of his children. Plus, Beirut also assured him of Xenia’s future and long life before these events. Taking all that into account, Xenia would definitely make it through all this.

“Yes, but she has no ability to heal even though her and her siblings’ blood can cure and give life. Only Ezekiel had shown the capabilities to do so, for some reason,” Dana pondered with a frown as she gently pushed her husband to look at her. It was still a question to her as to why Xenia and Mineah weren’t able to heal on their own, unlike Ezekiel.

“I guess my blood is just stronger in Xenia and Mineah while yours is strong in Ezekiel?” King Stephan randomly answered.

“No, it doesn’t work like that…” Dana frowned deeply. “Something’s amiss.”

“Anyhow, I have a feeling that King Darius will manage to train our daughter well, especially now that he knows that Xenia has angel blood in her veins,” Stephan comforted.

Dana let out a sigh at her husband’s words. “I can only hope that is the case. It’s a consolation that Xenia trusted King Darius enough to disclose to him this family secret of ours. I guess she must really like him.”

Stephan chuckled, “Right? So stop worrying too much about our daughters. Those two seem to be enjoying the company of their men anyway. Why, I wouldn’t be surprised if we soon hear news about our future grandchildren.”

Dana finally smiled at those comforting words. The thought of her being a grandmother just made her giddy somehow, removing all those worries inside her and replacing them with warmth.

However, her smile soon faded when Dana’s eyes darted to the transparent bottles lined up on her table. Her lips parted as she whispered out, “What is this…”

“Why?” King Stephan inquired, seeing Dana’s rapid blinking as she stared dumbfounded at the lined-up bottles.

“This sample…” Dania picked up the bottle as she continued,” This contains Xenia’s blood from back when she returned to us with the Werewolf King.”

King Stephan frowned. He couldn’t get a grasp on what was going on since he only saw different colors of liquids in each bottle and nothing else. He honestly couldn’t be bothered to understand how his wife and Mineah were able to mix alchemy, spells, and magic all at the same time.

Curiously, he watched his wife perform some spells. And as time went on, he soon understood what she meant. It was the key; the triggering factor to activate Xenia’s full potential strength and power.

***********

AN: These poor parents are not aware that in Ezekiel’s body resides a powerful dragon’s soul. That’s why Ezekiel is exceptional compared to the two siblings. Btw, can you guess what’s that triggering factor? Haha

EN: If it’s what I think it is, let me be clear that I had no part in its inception xD