Chapters 82 - Queen of the Mages
Rahua's POV
I found myself in a state of disbelief, no longer in the dungeons but surrounded by blinding white light. It felt surreal, as if I was not truly myself, even though I knew I was.
Gradually, shapes began to form around me and I found myself once again standing in front of the tapestry. This time, the images told a new story - one of the seven kingdoms and two crowns. Each crown ruled over three kingdoms, with one kingdom standing out for its lack of riches but abundance of culture and knowledge.
Through marriage, the two kingdoms gave their new ruler the third remaining kingdom.
Over time, the joined crown grew in strength and power, becoming one of the most formidable of the three kingdoms. It's power and influence in economics affairs was strong and solid, but still the other two kingdoms were wealthiest because of their abondance of precious materials.
Conflict erupted between the two wealthiest kingdoms, leading them to use their resources for war while the third kingdom remained neutral. When both kingdoms sought assistance from the third, it attempted to brake peace between them, only to increase tensions as they turned against the neutral kingdom.
Despite their strength in warriors, the mages of the third kingdom proved too formidable for the other two, leading to their defeat. However, the hatred between the crowns never dissipated, and they began to conspire against the third kingdom.
As the story unfolded, the tapestry revealed a descent into corruption and deceit among the descendants of the third kingdom. The kings began to distance themselves from the knowledge and culture that once defined their kingdom, succumbing to bribery and greed that severed their connection with the mages and their heritage.
Amidst this decline, a wise young prince emerged. Curious and eager to learn, he remained captivated by the knowledge and culture of his ancestors. It was in the palace garden where he first laid eyes on her – a mysterious woman who captured his heart.
I heard laughter, a joyous sound drawing me towards it. Following the sound, I caught sight of a young man, regal in appearance, and a woman draped in light garments, her long hair flowing down her back under a cloak.
"Morgana," I whispered, her name echoing in my mind.
The two figures embraced and shared a tender kiss, their affection palpable in the air.
Once again standing before the tapestry, it revealed the ongoing saga of the young Prince and Morgana, their love amidst the surrounding chaos and corruption.
Morgana, now crowned as the Queen of Mages, seemed to represent a glimmer of hope for the restoration of the third kingdom's former greatness through her union with the young Prince.
However, the king's advisors, corrupted by treasures and blinded by power, they accept to help the other kingdoms with their hatred towards mages, as they worked to thwart this blossoming love by pushing the king towards more perilous decisions.
Despite the obstacles, the young couple persisted in their love and plan to marry, going against the wishes of the king. Frustrated by his son's defiance, the king conspired to force the Prince to marry a princess from another kingdom, setting the stage for a darker turn of events.
The advisors hatched a treacherous scheme to lure Morgana into a trap under the guise of reconciliation, only to capture her with the aid of dark magic, binding her. Their manipulation deepened as they falsely claimed the young Prince's complicity in the plot, fueling Morgana's heartbreak and despair.
As to completly break the Queen of the mages, the king demanded the Mage, master of the dark arts, to force Morgana use her seer powers to unlock a painful truth - revealing the Prince in an intimate moment with the princess from the other kingdom. The revelation shattered Morgana's heart, leaving her vulnerable and alone amidst the unfolding betrayal.
Devastated by the betrayal, Morgana faced a cruel fate as the king's chilling order to "finish her" echoed through the tense air, marking a tragic turn in the young couple's love story.
As Morgana faced her cruel fate at the hands of the king's order, she was hidden away in the depths of the palace dungeon, her bound body kept in solitude, neither alive, neither dead, where no one could find her.
The loss of their queen struck a blow to the mages, who were forced to retreat further from the kingdom without her guidance, their unity weakened in her absence.
The Prince, burdened by the weight of his betrayal towards Morgana, couldn't bring himself to reconcile with his now wife, who now carried the consequences of their intimate encounter. Ignoring the growing presence of their shared child, a painful reminder of his infidelity, the Prince turned away from the sight, consumed by guilt and sorrow.
The echoes of deception and heartbreak resonated through the once harmonious kingdom, now tainted by deceit and betrayal. The tapestry of the young couple's love story had unraveled into a tragic tale of loss and regret, leaving behind a shadow of what once was a promising future.
The king slowly erased the kingdom story, it's origin and former glory was hidden with and replaced with empty tale, with nothing but darkness and despair lingering in the air. The once vibrant kingdom had fallen into ruin, consumed by the greed and treachery of those in power.
It made more sense now why we were on the verge of starvation, and why the big famine happened. All due extern influence, and greed by those still in power.
As I stood before the tapestry, I felt a deep sense of sorrow and anger at the injustice that had befallen Morgana, the Prince and this Kingdom.Their love, once a beacon of hope, had been torn apart by betrayal and manipulation.
I felt sick to my stomach as I could hear screams and cries. The scene before me was chilling, as I stood face to face with the bound, through flesh and bones, a tormented form of Morgana. Despite being neither alive nor dead, she was trapped in a limbo of agony and despair, her cries and screams piercing through the darkness.
Her pain was palpable, her suffering unbearable. My heart broke for her as I felt the weight of her anguish wash over me. The whispers in my mind grew louder, a cacophony of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. But amidst the chaos, a single, haunting plea rang out .
"Please kill me," Morgana whispered, her voice filled with anguish and desperation.
The request cut through me like a blade, stirring a deep sense of sorrow and compassion within me. To witness such agony and misery was a burden I could not bear. The choice before me was a heavy one, filled with moral implications and uncertainty.
As I grappled with the decision, the weight of Morgana's suffering bore down upon me, urging me to act, to end her torment and grant her release from this cruel existence.
The choice layed in my hands, a decision that would echo through eternity and shape the fate of a soul trapped in a never-ending cycle of pain and despair.
What should I do?