319 IN DARK LANDS

THIS IS THE FIRST CHAPTER OF VOLUME 5: THE QUEEN OF TERRA. I'M SORRY FOR THE MIXED UP VOLUMES. I CAN'T EDIT THEM IN INKSTONE. :(

Zoe's previously curved up lips slowly dragged downwards as she felt fear bolted into her heart like lightning.

She was excited to see her family again and tell them the news about how she got her revenge for her parents. Since she already memorized the secret cavern that they often use as a passageway to get in and out of Terra, her feet normally set foot on the soil of Terra.

However, as she got out of the tunnel, she did not expect to see snarling wolves that were waiting for her to come out of it. 

"W-what are you?" 

Despite her horrified state, she managed to see the difference of the wolves that she encountered before with today. 

They were more gigantic and their eyes were exhibiting a red light as if they are magically cursed animals who were out to take their revenge.

Zoe tried to look for a rock that he could throw at her. But it was too late. The moment that she turned back to throw one at them, its odious breath was already warming her face.

Zoe closed her eyes as she readied herself for death. But to her surprise, the monster suddenly whimpered and lay unconscious to the ground as the necklace that she was wearing exhibited a powerful energy that struck him dead.

"W-what is happening here?" 

Her eyes glanced up expecting to see the other wolves. But she could only catch a glimpse of their bloody red eyes that scampered back to the depth of the forest. 

Zoe immediately went out of the forest, still bewildered by what just happened. She was expecting that Terra would somehow be in trouble. But what she saw was beyond her wildest imagination. 

"Is - Is this still Terra?"

Darkness hovered over the previously sparkling and enchanted land. It was so horrible that one cannot imagine that the place is once a picturesque land where no one would want to leave.

She walked through the Capital that is now like a haunted town with no one in sight. The winds swept the now dusty streets, making Zoe cough as she inhaled the polluted fog.

"Should I be glad that I am able to walk freely now in public?"

Zoe tried to make light of the situation by making a funny remark to herself as she removed her cloak. 

"It seems that you're not needed anymore. Thank you for your help." She patted her cloak as she walked straight to the Castle. 

She was not planning to do so. Her initial plan was to get a horse so she could go to Hengcheng Mountains where her grandmother and bestfriend is.

She can get a hold of the situation, if she has found a way for her to stay in Terra not as a fugitive but as a free woman. Even without the Crown Princess title. As long as she could be with them. And Raigon.

But seeing Terra in this state, her focus dimmed its range as her heart raced to know the condition of the person she holds the most dearly in her life.

Because she has lived in the Castle for some time, she knows a secret passageway that would take her inside even without her passing through the Castle Gate. 

However to her surprise, it was guarded heavily and the people that were guarding it don't look familiar to her.

"Sssh!"

A buzz pierced her ears at the same time that a hand cupped her mouth and took her aside. Zoe was about to flip her over when she spoke up after letting her go.

"It's me, Princess Taia."

Zoe's eyes widened as she swiveled and gazed at her. She doesn't look like a princess as she was also wearing a cloak like her.

"I knew you would come back." She smiled at her and hugged her.

"H-how did you know?" Zoe's lips curled into an awkward smile. "And wait, what is happening here?"

Princess Taia's face saddened but she answered her. "I really don't know. I heard the adults talking and they said it's connected to a tree. But the people think other wise."

She then bit her lips as if she didn't want to continue talking. But Zoe prodded her on. 

"What do they think?"

Princess Taia darted her eyes to the other side before she replied. "T-they think it's because of the curse of the prophesied queen."

"I see."

Zo answered nonchalantly though deep inside it was as if a big boulder fell on her at that moment. 

'How ironic that they were the words that first welcome me.' 

She thought as they were the last ones that she heard them talk about her before she left the land. Thankfully, Princess Taia continued on with her story to distract her from thinking ill of herself again.

"Come. I'll take you to my older brother. He badly needs you right now."

Zoe's eyes widened as she heard of his name. Her pulse quickened as if her blood was pumped with adrenaline 

"Is he in trouble? And who are those people?" 

Zoe peeked again at them to check whether they were still in position or they already have an idea where they are. Fortunately, they seemed to be not moving in place as Princess Taia told her about the situation.

"They were the intruders from the outside world. The Crowned Prince tried to mobilize the royal guards against them but they seemed to be swayed by the hearsays and the supernatural changes in Terra that they lost confidence in him. He was now locked inside the Castle together with the other members of the family. Older sister helped me escape before they imprisoned them."

Princess Taia's voice quivered as she retold what happened. 

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It's easy to blame others for your situation. It's much more productive to search your fault so you can change it and thereby, not be repeated again.