The sound of wheels on stone echoed as King Nereon's carriage pulled into Hendrick's castle. The doors opened, and out stepped Nereon, Queen Victoria, and with them—Kara.
"Hello, Kara," King Hendrick greeted warmly.
"Hi, King Hendrick," Kara replied politely. Then her eyes searched, and when she found the face she longed for, her voice rang out.
"JOSEPHINE!!!!!!!!!"
Everyone turned as Josephine stepped forward, her long hair bouncing lightly as she ran. She leapt into Kara's arms, hugging her tightly.
"Thank youuuu," Kara whispered, smiling wide. "Now you have a lot of work to do."
Her eyes flicked toward Oliver. He froze, stunned. Her beauty hit him like lightning—green hair, red eyes, a radiant glow that made his heart ache. She smiled at him, and he could only stare.
"You must go into the Dark Forest to recover the ancient weapons," Kara explained, her voice serious. "Weapons needed to restore Zephyria and claim the Throne of Bones."
"When can she go?" Hendrick asked cautiously.
"One minute," Kara said, lifting her chin. She turned suddenly, raising her voice.
"XAVI!!!!!!!!!!!"
The sound thundered through the halls.
And in an instant, he was there. Xavi blurred with incredible speed, materializing in front of Josephine, hands in his pockets, his presence suffocating.
"Yeah?" he said coolly.
"Good, you're here," Kara continued. "Josephine will go alone to the Dark Forest for nine days. She must recover weapons passed down for ages. I hid them before I died."
"The Dark Forest!?" Sophina and Hendrick exclaimed in unison.
"Kara, are you crazy?" King Nereon demanded.
"Why the fuck did you even put them in the Dark Forest!?" Tess snapped.
"Uhmm… safe keeping," Kara muttered, half-smiling.
Then her tone hardened.
"The Guardians will be with her. Six rulers of the realms. First, the Queen of the Deep Sea—she holds both the Indomitable, the Sword of Fallen Angels, and the Concerto of Waves. Second, the Verdant Spirit—keeper of the Emerald Leaf and the Silent Night. Third, the Queen of the Night—she carries the Pendant of the Moonveil, and with her is a dragon. Pure white. Small, but deadly."
She continued, her words dropping like thunder.
"Fourth, the Whip of the Golden Sand. Fifth, the Nightmare Sovereign and the steps of order, the weapon I used to wipe out kings and their kingdoms. And last, the Twin Blades. Guarded by the Umbral Seraph. A towering six-winged monster. Wings black as obsidian glass, feathers dripping molten shadow. Its face masked by cracked porcelain leaking violet fire where eyes should be. Its body shifts—skeletal angel above, serpent coils below. Stronger than all the others combined."
The hall fell silent. Shock froze every face.
"So… when do we go?" Oliver asked, breaking the silence.
"We?" Kara's gaze sharpened. "No, Oliver love. There is no we. Only Josephine. The Queen of Zephyria goes alone."
"Are you fucking mad!?" Xavi roared, fury rolling off him like a storm. "The Dark Forest!? You couldn't hide them anywhere else? Not even your own kingdom!?"
"Uhmm… yeah, sorry," Kara muttered, sheepish.
"Where's Jojo?" Tess asked suddenly.
They looked around—Josephine was gone. She had already slipped into her chambers, quietly packing a camping bag. Shorts. A top. Food. A blanket. Determination filled her every move.
Xavi blurred into her room, his shadow filling the space.
"The fuck do you think you're doing?" he barked.
Packing, she signed with her hands, calm but firm.
He snatched the bag from her.
"You're not going, Ms. Josephine."
"Yeah, you're not, Jojo," Noah said from the doorway.
Josephine only smiled faintly.
"You're grounded, Jojo. You're not going anywhere," Ceillie added, her voice shaking.
Josephine's eyes met Kara's. She nodded once—an unspoken promise. Kara's eyes softened. She understood.
Xavi stared at Josephine. He read her face, her silence, and he knew. He knew she would go, no matter what.
Later, outside, he cornered Kara.
"Where is the exit of the Dark Forest?" he demanded.
"At the front of your kingdom," Kara admitted. "The road to the right."
"She's going, isn't she?" he said, his jaw tight.
Kara nodded sadly.
Xavi sighed heavily, his chest burning with a mix of anger and dread. He returned to Josephine's room. She looked up at him, smiling softly.
"Ms. Josephine…" his voice was low, almost pained.
She hugged him tightly, her straight teeth showing in her sweet smile. He breathed her in, hands buried deep in his pockets.
I'll be back. Take care of Adris. Feed him. Bathe him. Change him too, okay? she signed.
"…Fine," Xavi muttered.
She kissed him. He kissed her back, lingering, savoring the softness of her lips.
Her lips… so soft, he thought, melting for a moment.
"Jojo!?"
Noah's voice cut in, sharp. Callum stood beside him, glaring.
"I said no kissing, did I not?" Callum scolded.
Josephine hugged him gently.
"I know you, very, very much," Callum said, his tone softening. "I know you'll go. That's why I packed food for you."
Tess entered, placing a knife in her hands.
"Here. Take this."
"And here's a blanket," Piere added.
"Here's more food," Noah said, pressing the bundle into her arms.
They all hugged her tightly.
Meanwhile, Kara explained the truth to Hendrick, Ceillie, and Sophina.
Later, Josephine sat cross-legged on the floor. Kara knelt opposite her, hands glowing faintly. Witchcraft stirred—the ancient bond of mind to mind. Victoria's bloodline allowed it.
Suddenly, Josephine heard Kara's voice in her mind.
Kara!!!!!!!
Ready? Kara asked, her mental tone steady.
Josephine nodded.
Far away, in Noctyra, Xavi returned to his throne. He rubbed his face in frustration.
"What's wrong, brother?" Xoni asked.
"Josephine is going into the Dark Forest. By morning. 9 days to come out… and she's going alone," Xavi muttered.
"WHAT!?" Anesthesia gasped. "Jojo is still a kid! How the fuck is she doing that alone!?"
"Calm down, love," Xoni whispered, pulling her close.
"I'll wait," Xavi growled. "I'll sit at the Dark Forest exit myself."
Kara's voice echoed faintly in his thoughts.
I am Hetragon reborn.
Xavi stiffened.
"Jojo…" Anesthesia whispered, eyes wet.
That night, Oliver and Kara were together again. In his room, he held her close, pressing kisses to her lips.
"I missed you so much, my love," he murmured.
"I missed you more, baby," Kara whispered back, her arms wrapped tight around him.
Their lips melted into each other slowly, bodies curled together as if time itself had rewound.
By morning, the air was thick with grief.
Ceillie held Josephine close, kissing her forehead.
"My baby girl…"
Hendrick's voice cracked.
"Josephine…"
She hugged them all one by one, then raised her hands in calm signs.
I will be back in four days. You will all see.
"No," Kara warned softly. "It will take longer than that."
Four days, Josephine signed again firmly. You will all see.
"Bye!!" she added, with one last wave.
She turned and skipped toward the forest entrance.
"JOSEPHINE!!" Ceillie cried, her voice breaking.
Josephine's heart clenched. Tears stung her eyes, but she wiped them away, forcing a smile at her family before running. Her feet moved faster than the wind.
The Guardians flanked her, and together they disappeared into the shadows of the Dark Forest.
At the farthest exit, Xavi sat alone on a black stone. His eyes fixed on the trees, his voice low and sharp as a blade.
"Good luck, Ms. Josephine."
Deep inside the forest, Josephine ran. Her heart raced. Her breath steadied. The first challenge awaited her.