The Crown's Fire - Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Temporary Freedom
As Tarah watched the sun dip below the horizon, she felt a sense of determination wash over her. With the first quarter moon of the month ascending into the sky, she knew that the time had come to begin the ritual. Tarah had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first quarter moon, and she was relieved when it appeared just in time.

“It is time,” Tarah murmured, her voice steady as she began to chant the spell. Before her, the vial containing an angel’s blood, Dana’s blood, began to shimmer, forming a thread that slowly wound its way toward Tarah’s forehead.

As the thread of Dana’s blood made contact with her forehead, Tarah felt a sharp, burning pain shoot through her veins. But she held firm, understanding that this discomfort was a necessary part of her journey towards temporary freedom from Devon’s spell.

She had learned about this ritual from Dana’s journal, which detailed how to temporarily break free from the punishment of the Tophet Bloodchain Spell. According to the journal, performing the spell under the first quarter moon phase provided maximum effectiveness. Tonight, with the moon at its quarter phase, was the perfect time to enact the ritual.

With each pulse of pain, she felt the angel’s blood merge with her own, creating a protective barrier around her mind. Slowly, the mixture traveled through her veins, making its way to the mark on her back.

As it reached its destination, Tarah felt a surge of energy radiate from the mark, its previous black glow replaced by a brilliant white light. At that moment, she knew that she was one step closer to breaking free from the darkness that had held her captive for so long.

According to the journal, the temporary freedom granted by the ritual could last up to a year, or perhaps even less. But for Tarah, this duration was more than sufficient. She knew that Ezekiel’s mission to eliminate Devon was nearing success, and once he achieved that, she and Levi would be completely free from the Demon King’s spell.

Tarah’s tears flowed freely as she finished the ritual, overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through her. “Finally, I can curse that damn monster!” she exclaimed through gritted teeth. The weight of her temporary freedom filled her with joy, knowing that she had achieved it through the guidance of the journal and her own diligent practice.

But there was no time to dwell on her emotions. “I have to get ready now,” she reminded herself, quickly rising to her feet to attend to the remaining tasks at hand.

The first thing Tarah did was grab her personal journal and carefully place it on the bedside table, ensuring it was in plain sight for Ezekiel to find. Taking a moment to collect herself, she released a long, deep sigh, her emotions a turbulent mix of anticipation and anxiety.

Turning her attention next to Queen Dana’s journal, Tarah methodically scanned its pages once more, absorbing every detail about demons and spells to break their curses that might come in handy. Each word was etched into her memory as she prepared herself for the task ahead.

With a determined whisper, “Levi, I’m coming soon to get you.” Despite the nerves fluttering in her stomach, she knew she couldn’t afford to falter now.

As she gathered her belongings, Tarah’s resolve hardened. After three years of waiting, the time had come for her and Levi to finally escape together from Devon’s clutches.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a knock on the door interrupted her. “Milady,” Cora’s voice called out.

“Come in, Cora,” Tarah replied. Cora entered, bearing their dinner, and served the dishes before sitting opposite Tarah, her gaze drifting to the journal on the table.

“It belongs to Duchess Dana. King Ezekiel lent it to me. Once you go out, can you please give it back to the duchess?” Tarah requested.

“Of course, Milady,” Cora responded dutifully.

While they ate, Cora couldn’t help but ask, “Where did His Majesty go?”

“He went to Valcrez to discuss things with King Nikolai,” Tarah replied simply. She knew that only she and Queen Mineah were aware of Ezekiel’s true whereabouts in Helion.

After they finished their meal, before Cora left, Tarah retrieved a box of jewelry pieces from her purse and handed it to Cora. “Cora, please take this.”

Cora’s eyes widened as she opened the box. “Milady… This… Isn’t this expensive? Why are you giving me these?” she asked, clearly taken aback.

Tarah chuckled softly. “It’s a token of my gratitude for having a genuine friend like you.”

Cora’s forehead creased with suspicion as she looked at Tarah keenly. “Milady, what’s going on? Why do I feel like something is off?” she murmured, her intuition alerting her to a shift in the atmosphere.

“You don’t want them?” Tarah teased, pretending to reach for the box, but Cora quickly hugged it protectively, indicating her acceptance of the gift.

Tarah smiled warmly at Cora’s delighted response. “I’m glad you like them, Cora. You deserve all the beauty in the world,” she said sincerely.

Cora’s eyes sparkled with appreciation as she carefully admired the jewelry pieces. “Thank you, Milady. I’ll treasure them always,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Tarah soon bid Cora goodnight, her heart feeling lighter knowing that she had brought joy to her friend. As she settled into bed, thoughts of Ezekiel and their mission in Helion filled her mind.

As Tarah waited, she occupied herself by meticulously recalling the spells she had learned, visualizing each step and ensuring she was prepared for what lay ahead. Time seemed to slip away quickly as she immersed herself in her thoughts and preparations.

Before she knew it, the faint light of dawn began to filter through the windows, signaling the imminent arrival of Wizard Lurio. Just as her vision had foretold, a portal materialized within her bedchamber, heralding his arrival.

“Your Grace, I apologize for this sudden intrusion, but we need to hurry now. Queen Mineah requires your assistance,” Lurio informed her urgently.

Tarah nodded, her heart racing with anticipation as she gathered her belongings and prepared to step through the portal.