The Crown's Fire - Chapter 288

Chapter 288: A Charm
Floria visited her Master’s secret hideout, her footsteps echoing in the dimly lit chamber. Her gaze softened as she approached the secluded area where her real physical body was being kept—preserved and untouched, just as Merlot had promised.

She released a deep sigh, her eyes drifting toward the magical bottle that contained Floria’s soul. Inside, her essence was slowly weakening, held captive until she could manage the transfer to yet another lotus flower, just as she had done with the other souls whose bodies she had taken over in the past.

“It’s exhausting,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

She had agreed to Merlot’s soul-swapping scheme in exchange for maintaining her existence. And though she had played her role dutifully, guilt gnawed at her conscience. She pitied the souls of the bodies she had overtaken. The least she could do was ensure their souls didn’t wander the world as tormented spirits, lost and corrupted.

Standing over the lotus flower, Floria steeled herself. “It’s time,” she hummed quietly, setting the stage for the ritual. Her fingers moved with practiced precision, preparing the magical components to transfer Floria’s soul into the waiting flower.

“You’re ready now,” she whispered, beginning the incantation that would seal the transfer, hoping that, in some small way, this would offer a semblance of peace to the souls whose lives she had altered.

She took a deep breath and began the incantation. As her words echoed through the chamber, the air grew thick with magic. The lotus flower before her began to glow, its petals shimmering with a faint, ethereal light. Slowly, she extended her hand toward the magical bottle where Floria’s soul was stored.

The bottle vibrated in her grasp, and with a soft pop, the stopper flew open. A wisp of silvery light emerged, swirling in the air like a delicate thread of mist. Her eyes narrowed in concentration as she guided the soul toward the lotus flower. The flower’s glow intensified, pulsing in rhythm with the soft chanting that filled the room.

The wisp of light hesitated for a moment, then, as if drawn by an invisible force, it drifted toward the lotus. With a final word of command, the soul fully entered the flower, which responded by closing its petals gently around it. The soft glow faded, leaving the lotus still and serene.

The real Floria’s soul was now safely housed within the lotus flower, its power temporarily subdued. She knelt by the flower, brushing her fingers lightly over its delicate petals.

“There, it’s done,” she whispered. “I’ll find you a nice resting place, just like the others…”

Without wasting any time, she made her way to the perfect spot for Floria’s soul: the pond at her family’s manor, a place where Floria had always loved to spend time with her family.

She began to cast a teleportation spell, creating a portal that would take her directly to the manor. It would have taken her half a day to travel there by horse, but she didn’t have that kind of time. One thing she appreciated about Floria’s body was its powerful energy—she truly was one of the best mage healers of Ebodia.

Stepping through the portal, she quickly arrived at the pond. Gently, she set the lotus flower afloat on the water’s surface and whispered, “This is the perfect place for your soul; it will keep you from becoming a dark spirit. I’m so sorry—this is the least I can do for you.”

******

Meanwhile, Katelina gently nudged Ezekiel to get him moving. “You need to get back to work, or else you’ll end up lazing around in bed with me all day.”

He chuckled, stretching out lazily.

“It’s tempting, but we can’t afford to let our guard down. We need to find that man soon. If we don’t, he could create chaos, and our people would suffer if we engage in battle involving dragons. You need to eliminate that black dragon under his spell, and we still have two eggs to check on. We don’t know if they’ve hatched successfully or if they’ve been drained of energy like the last baby dragon you found.”

Ezekiel quickly sat up, the seriousness of her words snapping him to attention. “Right. I’ll get to work and wrap this up quickly,” he said with a wink before heading to the private bath area to clean up and get dressed.

After a quick wash, he returned to her, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on her lips. “Just remember not to tire yourself out with whatever activities you have planned for today. I’ll see you later, and we’ll have dinner together.”

Katelina smiled as she watched her husband finally leave. She would have loved to stay in bed with him a little longer, but they couldn’t afford such luxuries—not with the danger still lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.

She quickly got up, cleaned herself, and dressed.

Once she was ready, she summoned Floria to join her for tea in the garden. It took a bit of time, but eventually, a servant returned with Floria.

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” Floria said, bowing respectfully. “I stepped out briefly to visit my family.”

Katelina smiled warmly at Floria as she settled into her seat in the garden. “No need to apologize; I’m just glad you’re back. I was hoping to enjoy some tea and catch up with you.”

Floria smiled as she began pouring tea for both of them. Katelina then said, “Give me your hand.” Though confused, Floria extended her hand, and Katelina gently took hold of her wrist.

“Open your palm. I have something for you,” Katelina instructed.

Following her lead, Floria opened her palm, and Katelina handed her a beautifully crafted necklace. “It’s a gift from me,” she said warmly. “I heard you’re the best mage healer in your class and that you topped the last trial. I hope you’ll wear this always—it’s a charm I made myself.”

Floria’s eyes widened in surprise and gratitude. “Thank you, Your Majesty. This means so much to me.”

It was a custom in Ebodia for Floria to automatically accept a gift from the queen, using it as the queen intended. Just as Katelina was about to let go of Floria’s hand, a vision of Floria’s past suddenly flooded her mind…