A/N
This story is unedited, so I apologise for grammatical and spelling errors.
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Samragyi Amba (POV)
"So, she''s not coming back?" Ziwa asked, her voice tinged with worry, her eyes flickering with anxiety.
"Not anytime soon," I replied, feeling the weight of the situation as I ended the call, a knot tightening in my stomach.
Arnica sighed, deftly peeling apples. "This is why we don''t reveal our identities to non-Etherean partners. It''s too complicated."
Ethan, ever the defender, spoke up. "Hey, we''re naturally protective! You can''t hold that against us." His eyes met mine, pleading for understanding.
I settled onto the bed with a playful smile, trying to lighten the mood. "We know that, Ethan. That''s why the rule about hiding our identities hasn''t been lifted." My tone was teasing, but the underlying truth was evident.
Laughter bubbled up among us, a brief respite from the tension. Just then, a knock interrupted our mirth. Marcus entered, bowing with his usual grace.
"How are you feeling, little one?" His voice was a gentle caress, filled with genuine concern.
Ziwa squared her shoulders, trying to appear firmer than she felt. "I''m not that little, and I''m fine. Don''t worry—I''m much stronger than I look." Her bravado was commendable, but I could see the exhaustion in her eyes.
Marcus chuckled, his affection clear. "Still, I brought you something to eat and drink." He began unpacking the food, each item carefully chosen. Watching him, memories of the past flooded back. Marcus had always been great with kids. My eldest son adored him, and I still hadn''t told him about Marcus''s return. But I would—once this Ebon issue was behind us.
Ethan leaned over, peering at the food. "You''ve always been so great, Marcus—humble, caring, and calm. Just perfect. How do you do it?" His voice was light, but his eyes conveyed the deep gratitude we all felt.
Marcus shrugged modestly. "Years of practice, I suppose. And a bit of intuition. Though I''m flattered by all the compliments, I''m far from perfect. I just try my best." He handed Ziwa a bowl of soup, some vegetable upma, and herbal tea, his warm smile reassuring.
While he went to fetch a table for Ziwa to eat in bed, her face lit up—until she saw the herbal tea. Her doe eyes darted towards me, pleading, but I shook my head. She then turned to Arnica and Ethan, hoping for an ally, but her charm didn''t work on them either.
We all exchanged a knowing smile, stifling our laughter.
Arnica looked up at Marcus, her eyes softening with genuine appreciation. "We''re lucky to have you, Marcus. Truly."
Marcus''s expression softened, touched by her words. "Thank you, Arnica and It''s good to be back."
We all settled into a comfortable silence, the camaraderie among us a soothing balm for the worries that lay ahead.
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I returned to my palace after a long session of chit-chat. I gazed out the window of the mirror room, the fragrance of fresh flowers mingling with the light breeze—a bittersweet reminder of tranquillity amidst chaos. The scene outside was serene, but my mind churned with turmoil.
I empathized deeply with the two women in Ebon, and with every other woman in this world fighting unseen battles. But a dark truth gnawed at me: power-hungry predators lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And when they do strike, they would annihilate these women''s existences without a trace, their sacrifices forgotten, their voices silenced as if they had never mattered. The thought was suffocating, a harsh reminder of the cruel world we inhabited.
I sensed someone behind me and turned slowly my heart racing. The figure was unmistakable—Samragyi Afna. I bowed deeply out of respect, and she returned the gesture with equal grace.
"I''m not a queen anymore," she said, her voice melodious yet tinged with bitterness. "There''s no need for formalities. I''ve become a destroyer." She walked closer, stopping at a distance, her eyes fixed on the horizon outside.
I forced a smile, masking my unease. "So, why don''t you attack us? If you can be here, you must have the power to destroy us. Go ahead, do it. You know every nook and cranny of this palace, as does your Ebon partner."
Her eyes narrowed—an elegant yet piercing glare. "Because that''s not our motive. We fight to give women and children a safe space to live and express themselves freely. And you..."
I interrupted her, my voice sharp and accusing. "A... aa... aaa. That''s your motive, and maybe the girl''s. But that Ebon? He''s using your rage, your power, your knowledge to fuel his selfish ambitions."
Her face twisted with anger, her voice rising. "What do you know? He''s not like that! He was the one who sheltered us when your so-called Samrath didn''t even leave my dead body in peace. My body was violated even after death!" Her voice broke, raw pain and fury cutting through the air.
I flinched, her anguish shaking me. But I stood my ground. "You said I didn''t need to respect you, but you never asked why we respect you." I paused, taking a deep breath as Samragyi Afna regained her composure.
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"It''s because you''re our strength. You''re the reason I''m respected as a queen and why many queens after you have been. You single-handedly solved sixty per cent of our problems. You made us realize what we''re capable of. You made us believe in ourselves. We still remember you as our saviour. It''s because of you that women dared to come forward and fight for their rights. It all started with you. We don''t remember you as a weak showpiece of a palace. We remember you as a fighter who fought for herself—even after her death."
I met her eyes, my voice steady and sincere. "And it''s painful to watch our idol being used by a lunatic, power-hungry, corrupt soul."
"At least he didn''t discriminate between rulers based on gender," she snapped, her voice laced with spite.
"Samragyi, you''re blinded by your rage! You can''t see past your emotions. He''s using you—he always has been. He channels your anger into his power. Why don''t you understand?" I pleaded, my frustration mounting as I tried to break through her fury.
Her eyes blazed with anger. "Why don''t YOU understand? I don''t want to understand anything anymore! I''ve been understanding for centuries! All I want is one thing: safety!"
I realized then that no argument would sway her. Samragyi''s demand was valid, and it was high time we made our laws stricter and enforced them rigorously. Changing the world overnight was impossible, but we could start at home.
After several minutes of intense thinking, wrestling with my emotions, and giving Samragyi''s temper a chance to cool, I finally spoke. "I agree, Samragyi. Will you give us six months to draft, revise, and implement the law? That''s the minimum time we need," I proposed, hoping to strike a deal.
"And what do you want in return?" she asked sceptically, her eyes narrowing.
"You won''t harm anyone in the meantime. If I find any harm caused by you, the deal is off the table," I stated firmly, meeting her unwavering gaze.
"And if the law isn''t implemented after six months?" she challenged, her confidence unwavering.
"Then you can kill as many accusers as you want, and we won''t interfere," I replied, the weight of my words pressing down on me.
She nodded in agreement, her gaze sharp as she warned, "You''ve landed yourself a deal. But remember—six months. Not a day more."
And with that, she vanished into thin air.
I sat there, the gravity of our agreement settling heavily upon me.
I lingered there for hours, my mind a tempest of thoughts, the enormity of my decision weighing heavily on my shoulders. Finally, determination solidified within me. I summoned a servant and instructed, "Please, fetch my comrades and bring them to my study. Also, see if Arnica and Fiora can join us as well."
As the servant hurried off, I took a deep breath and called upon Samragyi once more, hoping she would respond. Moments later, she materialized, her demeanour calm and composed.
"May I know why you summoned me?" she inquired, her tone detached.
"Why should I trust you?" I challenged, scepticism lacing my voice.
"Why would I betray you?" she retorted, her brows knitting together in mild irritation.
"You might not, but what about the other two with you?" I pressed, my concern evident.
She paused, contemplating my words before suggesting, "Let''s tie a blood knot regarding our agreement. My importance within our group means they wouldn''t risk my soul for whatever you think they''re planning."
"Blood knots are forbidden magic. I can''t bind myself to you in that way," I declared, my tone resolute.
She regarded me thoughtfully before asking, "Then what do you propose?"
"I have a few questions I need answers to. But since you''re a spirit, I can''t compel you to speak the truth. So, why should I trust you?"
Her expression shifted from confusion to understanding, a slight smile playing on her lips as if impressed. "Now I see why you''re known as the sagacious one," she remarked, her smile widening.
She closed her eyes and began to chant softly. Silver threads emerged from her chest and heart, weaving their way toward me. As they touched my skin, I felt an immediate surge of strength. When the threads retracted, Samragyi opened her eyes, revealing a brief silver glow before it faded.
"The energy I''ve transferred to you will allow you to detect lies, no matter who or what the person is," she explained, her voice carrying a hint of caution.
I nodded in agreement, but before I could speak, Samragyi continued, "Remember, this power may seem like a blessing, but it''s more of a curse. It will remain with you until our agreement expires. I hope this gift brings you some peace."
I looked at her, my hesitation and guilt evident. Sensing my unease, Samragyi stepped closer and gently placed her hand on my head. "Don''t worry, child. As a protector of something dear to me, I understand that sometimes we must do what is necessary."
We stood in silence for a moment before I asked, "Why are there so many varieties of moonflowers? From what I know, only white ones grow naturally. What is your connection to them?"
She sighed, her expression thoughtful. "I had assumed royals were familiar with these matters, but perhaps I was mistaken. Listen carefully. None of the moonflowers grow naturally on Earth or Ethera. They don''t draw energy from Mother Earth or our realm. Instead, they can only flourish where magic thrives. The type of energy surrounding them determines the colour of the flower. So far, I have encountered only five types of moonflowers."
She gestured gracefully with her hand, illustrating the flowers she spoke of, her fingers dancing in the air as if summoning their beauty.
White: These can grow even with the faintest amount of magic.
Black: These appear where souls unable to cross over linger. The number of flowers indicates the intensity of the magic that spirits are using.
Red: These signify the brutality with which a magical being''s life was taken. The darker the shade of red, the more horrific the acts committed. If there''s only a slight distinction between red and black flowers, and the person is not guilty, they gain an invincible strength within their soul—enough to wreak havoc on Earth or Ethera. This immense power can only be subdued by the sacrifice of an equally innocent individual.
Lavender: These indicate the number of magical beings who left the world peacefully. They often grow near cemeteries or at my cave, though I don''t know why they appear there.
Crystal-like: I know little about these. They are rare and hard like crystals. I can count on my fingers how many I''ve seen.
I nodded, absorbing all the information. Then, gathering a bit of confidence, I asked, "What''s the deal with Fiora and Zachary?"
"Who''s Zachary? And what''s wrong with Fiora?" Samragyi asked, concern flashing across her face.
I hesitated for a moment before deciding not to reveal anything. "She''s fine, don''t worry. I just thought that since she''s protecting you, maybe you both know something I don''t."
Samragyi nodded in understanding before speaking. "The time when one of your people sacrificed herself to control us... there were two babies in the cave."
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A/N
Word count:- 2000
Hello, my lovely readers, I hope you all are doing well
Here, is the 47th chapter of my book
I hope you all liked it and have a great day ahead
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Date:- 15/03/2025