The next morning…
Soft sunlight creeps through the palace windows.
The kingdom is calm.
Quiet.
Peaceful.
(Inside the royal chambers…)
King Madura slowly rises from his bed, stretching his arms.
King Madura (yawning):Ahh… fresh morning… a blessed day…
(A faint smile forms.)
Time to go see my sweet angel… see how she's doing…
(He pauses mid-step.)
The smile fades.
His expression darkens.
King Madura (low, heavy voice):…If only… there was a way…
(His hands slowly clench.)
To cure my daughter… from that demonic disease…
(He looks down at his hands… frustration building.)
King Madura: I can't even go near her… can't even speak to her directly…
(His voice cracks slightly.)
"Damn it… why is this happening to me… of all people…?"
(He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself… but fails.)
King Madura (pained): I can't afford to lose her…If we don't find a cure soon…
(Silence.)
…she will die…
(Suddenly—his eyes widen slightly.)
King Madura:…Wait… wait…
(He straightens up, hope flickering.)
"What if…"
(His tone shifts—urgent now.)
King Madura:What if I ask Lady Soral for help…?
(He begins pacing slowly.)
King Madura (thinking aloud): She's strong… beyond reason…
If anyone could know a cure… it's her…
(He stops.)
King Madura:But… how do I contact her…?
(A name leaves his lips instantly.)
King Madura:Leo.
WHOOSH
Darkness bends.
A figure emerges from the shadows.
Leo (kneeling slightly, calm):Your Majesty… you called for me?
King Madura (composed, but urgent beneath): Yes… Leo.
(He steps closer.)
Please… go and ask our friends for help.
(A pause.)
King Madura (softer): Pass along a message for me…it concerns my daughter.
(Leo's eyes narrow slightly—he already understands the weight of this.)
Leo (calmly): You need not worry, Your Majesty.
(He bows his head slightly.)
I will deliver the message quickly.
(A brief pause.)
Leo: I will return.
WHOOSH
Leo vanishes into the shadows instantly.
(Silence fills the room again.)
King Madura (quietly, almost a whisper):…Please…Save my daughter…
(He slowly looks toward the direction of her chamber… eyes filled with helplessness.)
In the mansion where Dranexx and the rest lived Leo had already been there…Before anyone in the mansion could react, Leo's figure blurred not forward, but downward.
His body sank into the floor's shadow like it was liquid…A second later, he stepped out from the darkness behind them…as if distance never existed at all.
Soral (noticing):Oh… Leo, wasn't it? What brings you here?
Leo immediately dropped to one knee.
Leo (Knee):My apologies for arriving unannounced… but His Majesty has sent me with a message.
Soral tilted her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
Soral:The king? What message? Let me see.
Leo stepped forward and handed her the note.
Leo: Here, ma'am.
Silence filled the room as Soral read.
Her expression shifted subtle, but noticeable.
Soral: I see… so his daughter is sick, enh?
She lowered the letter slightly, unimpressed.
And he needs my help?
A faint scoff escaped her lips.
What does he think I am… some goddess of miracles?
A voice echoed directly into her mind.
Dranexx (telepathy): Not like you can't cure her. Why complain?
Soral's lips curved faintly, amused.
Soral (telepathy):Oh, I can, baby…
A pause.
But do I have to?
Another voice cut in firm, leaving no room for debate.
Lisa (telepathy):Yes… you do, Lady Soral.
A brief silence followed Lisa's words.
Soral's fingers paused on the letter.
Her eyes didn't lift immediately.
Instead, a slow smile crept onto her lips sharp, amused… dangerous.
She let out a soft breath through her nose.
Soral (tilting her head, lightly amused): …Ara… you're all making decisions for me now?
She finally looked up.
Her gaze swept across the room landing on no one in particular, yet somehow on everyone at once.
The atmosphere tightened.
Leo swallowed subtly, still on one knee.
Even without understanding the telepathic exchange, he could feel the shift.
Soral (telepathy, voice smooth, teasing): You say I have to… but who exactly is forcing me?
A faint chuckle echoed in her mind.
Lisa (telepathy, calm but firm):No one is forcing you.
A pause.
Then, sharper
"But you already know this isn't something to ignore."
Soral's smile thinned slightly.
Her eyes flicked to the side.
Dranexx (telepathy, relaxed tone):If you're hesitating… then it's already caught your interest.
Soral clicked her tongue softly.
Soral (telepathy, rolling her eyes):Tch… don't act like you know me so well.
But she didn't deny it.
She lifted the letter again, glancing over it one more time.
Then
her eyes shifted to Leo.
Sharp.
Focused.
Soral (calm, but probing): The king… did he tell you what is wrong with his daughter?
Leo stiffened slightly.
His fingers tightened against the floor.
A brief hesitation.
Leo (lowering his gaze): No, Lady Soral.
He inhaled carefully before continuing.
"His Majesty only said… that no healer in the kingdom could identify the illness."
Soral's brow lifted slightly.
Not shocked
but intrigued.
Soral (soft murmur, almost to herself): Not identified?
Her lips curled again this time slower.
More genuine.
She took a step forward.
Her heels echoed faintly against the floor.
Soral (quiet, thoughtful): So it's not a common disease…
Another step.
not poison either, or someone would've noticed…
She stopped.
Eyes narrowing slightly.
…which means…
A faint spark lit in her gaze.
Soral (low voice, with interest): something unusual.
Dranexx (telepathy, faint smirk in his tone): There it is.
Soral exhaled softly, closing her eyes for a brief second.
Then opened them
decision made.
Soral (casual, waving her hand slightly): …Fine.
Leo's shoulders loosened instantly.
Relief flickered across his face.
Leo (bowing deeper, grateful): Thank you, Lady S—
Soral (cuts him off, raising a finger without looking at him): Don't misunderstand.
Her voice wasn't harsh
but it carried weight.
She turned slightly, glancing over her shoulder.
Eyes gleaming with curiosity.
Soral (faint smirk): I'm not doing this for the king.
A pause.
…I'm doing this because I want to see it.
She folded the letter and flicked it lightly it vanished into thin air.
Soral (stretching her arms slightly, relaxed): Something that none of the kingdom's healers could understand?
A quiet chuckle.
…that sounds interesting.
Lisa (telepathy, satisfied):I knew you'd agree.
Soral (telepathy, playful sigh):Don't sound so proud…
She began walking toward the exit.
Slow. Confident.
Every step controlled.
Soral (without turning back): Get ready.
A slight pause.
Then
Soral (smiling faintly): We're going to the palace.
Leo immediately stood, placing a hand over his chest.
Leo (serious, respectful): Yes, ma'am.
Just as he turned
Soral (voice suddenly colder):Oh… and Leo?
He froze.
Turned back instantly.
Leo:Yes?
Soral looked at him directly now.
Her eyes held no amusement this time.
Only quiet intensity.
Soral: Next time…
A small pause.
don't sneak into my mansion like that.
Leo's expression tightened.
Leo (bowing quickly): My apologies!
A faint smirk returned to her lips.
Soral: Good
Behind her
a subtle ripple of energy passed through the room.
Almost unnoticed.
Dranexx (telepathy, low and thoughtful): This might not be just a sickness.
Lisa (telepathy): You think so too?
A brief pause.
Dranexx (telepathy): We'll know soon.
Soral stopped at the doorway.
Just for a second.
Her smile widened slightly.
Soral (soft, almost excited): I hope it's not boring.
She stepped out.
And just like that
the calm in the mansion was gone.
Replaced by something else.
Something waiting.
To be continued....