Chapter 9: Her Name Was Elira
By Joy Daud
Prince Kimo stood in the center of the grand hall, fists clenched so tightly that the veins in his arms glowed faint blue.
The court had erupted into chaos behind him, but he didn't move.
His breath was heavy.
His eyes burned.
And then—the wind came.
Not ordinary wind. But wind that howled like a wounded beast. That swept through the stone palace like it mourned. The tapestries flapped violently. The torches flickered out. And outside, the forest cried.
Leaves twisted through the sky. The very air groaned beneath the weight of Kimo's rising power.
"Your Majesty," a guard shouted, shielding the king. "We must get you to safety!"
King Ryon, unsettled, waved them forward. "Dismiss the court. Protect the queen!"
The guards surrounded the king and rushed him from the hall.
All the while, Kimo didn't flinch. His icy blue eyes were brighter than ever, glowing like stars drowned in frost. Yet the wind was so strong, no one could truly see him.
And then—a voice.
Ancient. Gentle. Not from the hall.
> "That's what she wants…"
It echoed directly in his mind.
> "She wants you to lose control. To make you the villain. Don't give her that power. Don't become what she's crafting."
Kimo's hands trembled.
> "You are not what they say. You never were…"
And then, silence.
The wind died.
And everything went black.
---
He gasped awake.
The room was dim, moonlight casting silver patterns across the walls.
His heart thundered in his chest. He was in his chamber—but had no memory of walking here. No guards. No servants. Just… sudden stillness.
Kimo stumbled to the mirror.
He looked at himself. He barely recognized the reflection—hair disheveled, breath ragged, eyes wide and hollow.
He pressed both hands to the cold glass, trying to contain the swirl inside.
Then, his legs gave out.
He fell to his knees, head bowed, fists in his hair.
"Is this power… good or cursed?" he whispered, trembling.
His voice cracked.
"Why can't I just be normal?"
The tears came—slow at first, then sharp, like ice breaking.
"Why won't those happy days come back? Why did she leave me? Did she hate me? Was it Father? Was he the reason? Am I… am I really the evil one?"
He sobbed, raw and desperate, the sound muffled by his shaking hands.
A soft hand touched his shoulder.
He froze.
Then slowly turned—and there she was.
Oki.
Silent, gentle, kneeling beside him.
She said nothing at first. Just kept her hand on his shoulder.
His voice was hoarse. "I… I'm not crying."
Her lips curled in a small smile. "It's okay, Kimo. Even the strongest cry sometimes."
He turned his face away, ashamed. "You shouldn't be here."
"Maybe," she said. "But maybe I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be."
He looked at her, confused. "How did you even get in?"
Oki blinked… then looked around the room, as if noticing it for the first time.
"I… I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I was in the forest and—"
She paused. Her eyes narrowed, as if remembering something that didn't quite make sense. "I just felt like I needed to come."
Kimo stood slowly, his breath slowing.
"You keep appearing when I'm at my worst."
"Or maybe when you need me most," she replied, voice soft as moonlight.
He looked at her, really looked.
There was something different about her tonight. A faint shimmer in her hair. A flicker of green behind her eyes. He couldn't explain it.
And for the first time in years, Prince Kimo didn't feel completely alone.
But neither of them noticed the small wisp of smoke curling out from the mirror behind them. A crack that wasn't there before, splitting the reflection from reality.
Something… had entered with her.
And it had seen everything.
---
To be continued…
In Chapter 10: Through the Mirror's Veil
Where shadows speak, secrets unravel, and Kimo and Oki discover that their powers are more connected than they ever imagined.