The Crown's Fire - Chapter 115

Chapter 115: Mission
The discussion between Nikolai, Ezekiel, and Zoran had stretched on so long that Mineah and Tarah returned to the secret meeting chamber while it was still ongoing. Taking their seats, they quietly listened to the ongoing deliberations with wizard Lurio and two more vampires King Nikolai trusted.

Seated comfortably, Tarah released a deep sigh as she absorbed the discussion. Zoran emerged as a crucial asset, possessing an intricate knowledge of Helion, including its secret passages and chambers, cultivated over his twenty-one years of service to Devon.

“He hoards all the magical and ancient books there. It’s shielded by a spell he believes to be impenetrable, though I managed to breach it,” Zoran revealed with a weary sigh. “But doing so exacts a heavy toll on my energy reserves. If circumstances worsen, my only recourse would be to create a teleportation portal to ensure our escape. However, I’ll need protection at all costs if it comes to that.”

Tarah listened intently, understanding the gravity of Zoran’s role and the risks involved in their impending confrontation with Devon.

“Don’t worry. You’ll emerge unscathed,” Nikolai reassured Zoran.

Mineah furrowed her brow, interjecting with skepticism. “But doesn’t this strike you as odd?”

“What do you mean, Mine?” Nikolai inquired.

“I mean, why did Devon preserve Zoran’s memories instead of wiping them clean along with Dahlia’s?” she questioned, her expression troubled. “What if this is a trap? Something feels off.”

A tense silence enveloped the room as the men contemplated Mineah’s unsettling observation. Eventually, Ezekiel broke the silence, directing his gaze towards Tarah. “Tarah saw a vision of us successfully retrieving those books from Devon.”

Mineah arched an eyebrow, turning her attention to Tarah. “Is that true?”

“Yes, it is,” Tarah confirmed in a hushed tone. “But as I’ve always said, not every vision unfolds exactly as I see it…”

If only she could, Tarah would reveal that it was undoubtedly a trap, with Devon anticipating their every move. However, exposing the truth would jeopardize Levi’s safety.

Tarah only found solace in her vision, hoping fervently for its fruition: Ezekiel’s success in extracting Vulcan’s soul from his body permanently, and Queen Mineah breaking free from her own curse. In the end, she clung to the belief that despite the looming danger, victory would ultimately be theirs.

“Nonsense. Everything still happened the same way you saw them,” Ezekiel rebutted. “It may not have happened as exactly as you saw them, but as a whole, all of the visions you saw came to pass.”

A few seconds passed, and Ezekiel’s gaze at Tarah wasn’t wavering as he spoke. “She’s the fated Seer of Ebodia. Her visions and dreams are bound to be Ebodia’s guide for it not to fall… I trust Tarah,” he firmly stated. He then looked at Nikolai and Zoran and said, “The map Zoran made is enough for me to infiltrate Devon’s lair alone. I will understand if you two wouldn’t want to join me on this mission.”

“I need to personally destroy Vulcan’s soul, so I need it outside of your body,” Nikolai stated. “I also want to have the magical chronicles of fallen angels, so I’ll go with you from that alone. And since I will go, Zoran will have to come too.”

“That’s no problem for me. I’m practically a dead man already if not for our King and Queen, so I have to make sure King Nikolai succeeds in his purpose,” Zoran firmly declared. “I have to deliver him to the Queen in one piece anyway.”

Mineah turned to Tarah and whispered with a frown, “Did they really succeed in your vision?”

Tarah gave her a reassuring smile. “In my vision, some unexpected things could happen, but one thing I can assure you of is that I saw you standing strong and firm in your decision to do what you think is best and right,” she told her. “I see you succeeding, Your Majesty. Everything will fall into the right place…”

As Ezekiel bid Mineah farewell, their embrace lingered for a moment, conveying the depth of their bond. Tarah observed quietly from the sidelines, her attention drawn to Zoran, who was discreetly stealing glances in her direction. This time, she offered him a warm smile before redirecting her gaze to Ezekiel, who was in the midst of saying his goodbyes to Mineah.

“They’ll all be furious if they ever find out,” Mineah lamented to Ezekiel. His parents were aware of his intentions, but they adamantly opposed them, leading Ezekiel to choose not to keep them updated on the matter.

“They won’t get mad, my little sister,” Ezekiel chuckled. “I’ll come back safe and sound. They won’t even notice that I was away for too long.”

“You’ll hopefully give them a believable alibi,” she remarked with a frown as she tried to convince him again. “You should really share this burden with the whole family and not just with me, you know.”

“Hmm… But Xenia’s pregnant right now, and you know how mother isn’t in good health at the moment,” Ezekiel reminded her. “You know how those two ladies could get once they find out about this. They won’t stay idle…”

“And do you think that I will?” she retorted with a dim face.

“Your husband’s assistance is enough, Mineah,” he chuckled back. “Let’s just stop this discussion already, please?”

As Lurio swiftly conjured the portal, Ezekiel prepared to step through. But just before Tarah followed suit, she turned back and enveloped Mineah in a tender embrace. Leaning in close, she whispered softly, “No matter what lies ahead, you must remain steadfast. Believe that you will triumph over your own curse, and trust in the choices you must make in the days to come, Your Majesty.” With a reassuring smile, she added, “I will endeavor to stand by your side through it all.”

With a quick step, Tarah entered the portal, knowing that Queen Mineah would likely ask her for more explanation later. She was certain they would meet again, especially since Queen Mineah would end up saving King Nikolai and Ezekiel if things didn’t go as planned.