The Crown's Entrapment

[Day four inside the Element Forest]

Xenia felt like she was having a heart attack just a while ago upon seeing the group of piranhas feasting on her while she was unconscious in the water. Before she could even manage to make a spell to protect herself, some of the piranhas had managed to tear off the protection on Jayra's suit, inflicting bruises on her arms while she was unconscious in the real world. Thankfully, she was now back to wearing the armor dress Jayra had made for her. If she hadn't, the bruises on her arms would've been deep enough to prevent her from using them for a while.

She was panting hard as she winced from the pain in her arms. She had just gotten out of the water as she looked at her surroundings. Seeing no immediate threat, she then stood up and started walking…

Recalling what had happened to her, she had clearly been pushed into a lake, so how did she end up out at sea? Then again, Polo did have power over the waters, so she shouldn't really question the rationality of her situation. This guardian could've easily transported her wherever he wanted so long as there was water in it.

She also shouldn't forget that she currently wasn't inside a forest, but in fact, a realm disguised as one to the outside world. And really, this realm was huge, being almost twice as large compared to the Kingdom of Cordon on a map. There were so many things untouched and undiscovered here… a realm too isolated from the outside world.

Xenia let out a deep sigh as she continued to walk through the vast forest, her eyes looking for some herbs that could help her heal some of her bruises quicker than usual. Her injuries stung, and she didn't want them to get infected.

Searching, she inevitably found one of the herbs she was looking for and quickly picked out its leaves. She then did what was needed to address her wounds. Then, she made an improvised weapon that she could use to protect herself, grabbing her usual necessities along the way like food and coconuts to replenish her body.

"I should look for something that can serve as a decent shelter," she mumbled to herself when she noticed the dark sky approaching. It wasn't a good sign, and she found herself wondering if this Polo had something to do with it. From afar, she could see flashes of lightning streaking across the sky. And soon enough, a loud roar of thunder filled the surrounding area.

Xenia quickly moved as she looked for a safer location, but unfortunately, she couldn't find a place safe enough for her to take shelter, knowing that a heavy downpour would soon ensue. Sticks and twigs won't do. She needed to find a cave.

'What's that?' Xenia murmured when she saw a bunch of birds flying ahead of her in great numbers. The winds also felt a bit weird. Turning her head, her eyes widened when she saw the giant waves from the sea approaching her way.

Xenia's heart started thumping wildly as she ran as fast as she could.

'He wants me dead!' she inwardly panicked, pertaining to the guardian of the waters as she continued running while looking for higher ground. As much as she tried, however, the giant waves coming for her had been way too fast. This guardian was truly ruthless, having her face his trials the moment she entered his realm. It seemed as if he really didn't want her to rest at all.

Before Xenia knew it, the waters had already started swallowing her whole.

She swam upward, trying her best to get more air inside her lungs against the heavy currents battering her body. Alongside this, she also had to make sure she wouldn't hit anything while doing so.

"Oh heavens!" she gasped when another giant wave approached her way. She knew that if this continued for longer, she would drown soon before she could do anything. Thinking quickly, she began casting a spell that would grant her some temporary protection. But before she could finish it, something hit her hard enough to cause her to lose consciousness beneath the waters.

...…

....

Back in Cordon Castle, Gideon, Bartos, and Osman didn't know what to do as their king gasped for air before them. They could see that Xenia was losing consciousness through the vision and they knew that this wasn't a good thing… She could die of suffocation if she wouldn't make herself wake up, and so would their king die along with her.

"What should we do?!" Gideon burst out, crying as he started pacing while looking at the vision. "Come on, Princess! Wake up! Wake up! Bartos, do something!"

Gideon was hysterical as they watched Darius gasp for air. And before he could panic even further, the door swung open. Turning to the newcomer, everyone inside was shocked to see the Queen Mother barge in. Her face paled as she saw Darius's current state.

"Son… Please…" the Queen Mother begged on her knees as she held Darius's arms. She was sobbing hard as she gasped, "Break the Mate Bond. You mustn't suffer like this. I beg you, break your Mate Bond with Princess Xenia. Once she return back to safe and sound, then you can just simply reform the Bond with her."

Darius shook his head and painfully murmured, "N-no! W-what d-do you all take me for? Y-you want me to a-abandon my wife in t-this crucial moment while she's suffering? I can't do that to her!"

Darius coughed as he gasped for more air. His eyes darted towards the vision of Xenia's trials. Smiling, he weakly uttered, "She'll wake up. I can feel how much she wants to fight. I can still feel her strength and will to go on."

More coughs came to Darius as he fought for air.

"She wanted me to trust her, and I will do exactly that no matter what," Darius whispered, somehow managing to keep himself together as he spoke. "I will not let her suffer alone. I'll be here with you, my love… So please wake up…"

It was then that a white glow suddenly covered Xenia's body. It was so bright that nobody could see what was happening. At that moment, a bright smile carved itself onto Darius's face.

"That's it, my love… You can do it," Darius whispered out. "I know you can feel me... You're doing great..."

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he watched his wife ascending from the water, a bright white sphere of light blinding all onlookers as it carried her to safety.