By noon, Ceillie's home beside the castle had settled down. The large room was quiet; Josephine, Tess, Callum, and Piere all rested under Ceillie's care. Peace lingered in that house, even if only briefly.
Far away, in the vampire kingdom of Crimson Hollow, Queen Victoria was in the throes of labor. Her husband, King Nereon, stood anxiously outside, knowing something no one else dared to whisper—his unborn child carried half of Hetragon's soul. The other half still belonged to Oliver.
Moments later, a piercing cry filled the chamber.
"Congratulations! It's a baby girl," the midwife said warmly.
Nereon entered quickly. Victoria cradled the tiny child, her face soft with love.
"She's so precious," she whispered.
"Yeah… she is," Nereon replied, his voice heavy with meaning.
"What should we name her?" Victoria asked.
"How about… Kara. Queen Kara," Nereon said firmly.
Victoria's eyes softened. "She's reborn, isn't she?"
"Yes," Nereon nodded. "And we will reunite her with Oliver one day. But for now, let her grow."
"This is why I love you so much," Victoria murmured as they kissed, sealing a promise over their newborn child.
Meanwhile, Josephine sat alone in the castle garden, near the cascading waterfalls. She closed her eyes, her body glowing faintly until she began to float into the air. With a thought, she summoned her guardians.
"Greetings, Queen Josephine," they said in unison, bowing.
She glared at them sharply.
"Sorry, Jojo…" they mumbled.
Josephine pointed at the rushing water, signing with her hands: Let us all have a great day, now come on.
"Wait—you really mean it?" Seliora gasped.
"Wow… you're not like the others we served for years," Eryndor added.
She smiled faintly, hugging each one in turn before they all leapt into the lake, splashing, swimming, and laughing. Josephine swam faster than all of them, her movements graceful like water itself.
Elsewhere, Anesthesia was on a date with Xoni.
"You know, I actually thought you'd reject me," Xoni admitted.
"Why would I?" Anesthesia asked with a soft smile.
Xoni smirked. "You know I could be a futa and get you pregnant."
Anesthesia blinked, caught off guard, then teased, "Wait until the wedding night."
Xoni pulled her close, kissing her deeply before pulling away with a grin. "Guess we'll have to wait then, baby girl." Her hand lingered on Anesthesia's neck as her eyes glowed. Xoni wasn't just a werewolf—she wielded witchcraft too, with a wand passed down from her grandmother, her late mentor.
At the academy, Josephine walked the bustling hallways. Students whispered, watching her closely. Theron and Theodore flanked her, discussing outfits for the wedding.
"I want a blue dress. Don't you think, Jojo?" Theodore asked.
Josephine only smiled faintly, holding Theron's arm.
"It's okay, let's get you to class," Theron said warmly, while Theodore held her other hand. The students parted, making way for her as though she were already a queen.
She entered her classroom.
"Bye, Jojo!" the twins called.
She waved as Ms. Ruby walked in.
"Josephine, you'll be transferred into another class. King Xavi, your soon-to-be husband, will no longer be teaching, and you won't face any more problems," Ruby said gently, holding her hand.
Josephine nodded, following her. They arrived at Class 4A, the elite toppers' class. Ruby opened the door. Inside, an owl teacher lectured thirty students. All eyes widened when they saw her.
"Queen Josephine…" they whispered among themselves.
"Josephine, your seat is there, by the window. Xavi said you love looking at the views," Ruby whispered in her ear.
Josephine smiled, making a small sign: Thank you. She sat down, pulling out her book and pen.
For hours, she endured lessons—five teachers, endless stares. By lunch, she quietly sketched a wedding dress in her drawing book.
"She can't speak, but she's dangerous… does she even remember what she did?" a student muttered.
Therodora entered and tugged Josephine's hand. "Let's go, Jojo."
In the student yard, Josephine clung tightly to Therodora's arm. Anesthesia brought her food, and she ate quietly while others stared.
"Congratulations, Anesthesia," Madison said, approaching with her gang.
"Thanks," Anesthesia replied.
"Hello, Josephine," Eryss added as Deus smirked behind her.
"What do you want?" Callum asked coldly.
"Just a little battle," Deus sneered. "To test Josephine's new powers."
Whispers filled Josephine's head, tormenting her. She grew anxious, angry, but kept eating. Tess held her hand.
"Where the fuck are your shoes?" Madison mocked.
Deus's tail whipped across the table, knocking Josephine's food aside. She froze. The crowd gasped.
"Everyone move back!" Piere shouted.
"No!" Tess begged, holding Josephine tighter.
Madison's spells flared. Deus's six tails lashed. Eryss's eyes glowed, unleashing eight tails.
Josephine crossed her legs, sat calmly, and floated into the air.
"Ooohhh…" Eryss mocked, mimicking her.
The ground trembled. Air spiraled violently around Josephine.
"Josephine, stop!" Ruby cried as teachers rushed out.
But Deus struck first—Josephine flung him back without opening her eyes. She rose higher, upside down, her power boiling over.
Theron and Callum cast a spell cage around her. She snapped her fingers; it shattered instantly.
Then—she grew. Larger, larger, until her body towered over the academy. Her form expanded to giant-size, visible across kingdoms.
"Isn't that King Hendrick's daughter!?" Queen Zylia gasped.
"Yes… it's her! What the hell!?" King Azul exclaimed.
Kings and queens across the lands stopped to stare. Xavi and Xoni, with their mother, watched in awe.
"What now?" Xoni muttered.
Hendrick and Sophina rushed out, Ceillie in tow. Carriages of kings arrived, gathering in fear.
"We're sorry!" Eryss cried, trembling.
The guardians appeared, their voices rising in eerie harmony:
Pray for me now, pray for me now, dies irae illa…
Pray for me now, pray for me now, vos solve in favillam…
Pray for Zephyria now, bow for Zephyria now, maledictus erus…
Pray for me now, throne of bones, in flammas aeternum…
Bow! Queen Josephine, Queen Josephine!
Josephine shrank slowly, still floating in the sky.
As Xavi held his sister hand and he used his ultra sharp speed and they arrived at the academy
Then—Xavi rose to meet her. Hands in his pockets, calm as ever, he stopped before her.
"Hello, Queen Josephine," he said, bowing.
The kings below gasped.
"Did he just bow!?" Xoni exclaimed.
"I think… he's showing her respect," Anesthesia murmured.
"They bullied you again, right?" Xavi asked.
Josephine nodded, furious tears in her eyes.
"Look down," he said softly. "Your nana, papa, mother, everyone is here. You became more
Than a giant before all kingdoms. They'll all come to our wedding too, you know." His accent laced each word with command.
Josephine signed furiously: You just want to marry me because of Adris. You won't treat me well, like everyone else.
"What if I do?" Xavi countered, floating closer until his eyes locked with hers. "Meet me tonight, by the waterfall. Ten o'clock."
She nodded reluctantly.
"Good girl. Now go back down. Your family's worried," he said before descending.
Josephine backflipped, kicking wind so powerful it caused earthquakes across the kingdoms and lightning to split the skies. She landed, her eyes glowing dark blue, her clothes shifting into ancient battle attire and back to her normal clothes with every step she took her clothes changed and she stood in front Ceillie.
She strode past Ceillie, winds howling, then snapped her fingers—silence. She bowed to Ruby in apology.
"It's fine, Josephine," Ruby said softly.
Later, classes resumed. Eryss, Madison, and Deus faced furious punishment.
"You three are fucking stupid!" King Freddie shouted.
Josephine ignored it all. She sat by the window, sketching, her mind elsewhere.
After school, Therodora held her hand, guiding her home. Josephine collapsed into a deep nap at Ceillie's.
The masked king watched over his son, patting little Adris as he drifted to sleep peacefully.
By 9:58 p.m., Josephine woke, remembering Xavi's words. She ate dinner quickly, then slipped out. But Noah saw her. Confused, he told Tess, and together they followed her quietly.
At the waterfall, an aura appeared—Xavi.
"You're early, Ms. Josephine," he said with a smile.
She nodded, signing: I am fine.
He sat beside her, dipping his feet in the water. Smoke hissed from his skin.
"Why is there smoke?" she asked with her hands.
"Because I ran across the kingdoms today… to you," Xavi replied.
In his mind, he cursed himself. What am I doing? She's still a kid, Xavi… Yet when he looked at her face, his thoughts betrayed him. But she's absolutely gorgeous… such a damsel.
Josephine snapped her fingers to pull him from his trance.
"Do you think I can care for you?" he asked.
She shook her head no, signing: You want to marry me for Adris, I don't mind.
"Not that," he chuckled. "But when we're married, you'll see for yourself."
"No kissing till her wedding," Tess whispered from the shadows.
Xavi smirked, having overheard. He leaned close, brushing a kiss against Josephine's cheek instead.
"Bye, Ms. Josephine," he said, vanishing with speed.
Josephine's cheeks burned. He kissed me… she thought shyly.
"Jojo!" Noah barked. "What the hell are you doing out here at midnight!?"
She signed innocently: I was going for a walk.
"Oh really? Then who just left?" he pressed.
Josephine blinked, then ran off with a silent giggle, curling into bed.
I like King Xavi. He is nice… but will he love me? she thought before sleep claimed her.