Morning broke cold and bright over Zephyria. Inside the royal chambers, Josephine sat serenely as little Adris rubbed oil over her rounded belly, his small fingers tracing gentle circles while humming the tune she used to hum for him when he was restless. Her silence was soft, maternal; the room glowed faintly with her aura. Xavi stood by the window, already dressed in his black battle armor — sleek obsidian metal laced with crimson veins that pulsed faintly with enchantment.
Josephine's eyes followed him. She reached out, her hand trembling, and caught his. Don't worry, sweetheart, she signed gently with her free hand, eyes searching his face.
Xavi smiled, though his eyes betrayed him. "Everything will be fine," he said, pressing her hand to his chest. "All guards are in both our kingdoms — mine and yours. We're protected."
Their foreheads touched, a quiet exchange of promise passing between them. He kissed her softly, a brief moment of peace before chaos.
Adris hugged his father's leg. "Papa…" he said, his voice small but brave.
"It's fine, child," Xavi murmured, stroking his son's hair. "Papa will be back soon."
"Everything is ready, Your Highness," a guard called from the door.
Xavi hesitated. His eyes lingered on Josephine — his wife, his queen, his silent strength. Then, with one final glance, he turned and walked away, hiding the tears that slipped down his cheek.
Outside, the war drums rolled across the sky. The Blood Reign Syndicate, Zephyria's fiercest warriors, stood like living shadows behind their king. From the opposing valley came the gleaming ranks of the Kingdom of Erevale. At their head sat King Noctar of Erevale, his smile twisted and venomous.
"King Xavi," Noctar called, his voice carrying over the wind. "You should join me in overthrowing your wife. You should've kept her beside you — not above you! I've lost fortunes and power because of her meddling!"
Xavi tilted his head, an incredulous smile tugging at his lips. Then he laughed — loud, clear, cutting. The Blood Reign Syndicate joined him in chorus until their laughter shook the valley.
"SHUT UP!" Noctar shouted, enraged.
He charged, sword high — but Xavi was faster. His fist met Noctar's face in a single, brutal motion. Blood splattered across the soil as Noctar staggered back.
And then the war began.
Far from the battlefield, Kara kissed her infant son, Thane, who rested in Oliver's arms. "Mama will be back, my boy," she whispered, pressing her forehead to his. Then she kissed Oliver — a swift, desperate promise.
"Come back safely," Oliver said, voice trembling.
"I will," Kara said, smiling faintly. "I love you."
Then she was gone — a streak of stormlight vanishing into the crimson sky.
Back in the palace, thunder rumbled. Josephine sat still, her head bowed, Adris clinging to her arm. The clash of battle echoed in the distance.
"Papa…" Adris whimpered, tears gathering.
Josephine's eyes flashed — a dangerous, ancient light. The sky outside bled red as her power responded to her grief. She handed Adris quickly to Queen Kendra, who stepped forward without hesitation.
Then Josephine flew outside.
Kara appeared midair beside her, the wind howling. "Feel the wrath of the Queen of Zephyria!" Kara declared, her voice booming across the battlefield.
Xavi turned just as the horizon split. His wife hovered above them — her hair white as frostfire, her eyes blackened to pits of power. The entire field froze to silence.
"Josephine!" Piere shouted from afar, standing beside Raden, Callum, Nyx, Tess, Nora, Ruby, and Therodora as they all arrived through portals of light.
The Guardians appeared in a blaze of power. Their voices thundered as one:
"YOU DARE ATTACK ZEPHYRIA?
NOW FEEL THE WRATH!"
Then they began to chant, their magic shaking the heavens:
"From storm to stone, from flame to bone,
Rise, Zephyria — awaken your throne.
Blood of dragons, wind of might,
We call the dawn to end this night.
Swords that burn, hearts that roar,
Echo through the fields of war.
Sky shall tremble, earth shall wail,
Zephyria's fury shall prevail!
By moon of crimson, sun of gold,
Our will unbroken, our spirits bold.
Rise, rise, O land of flame,
Let none forget Zephyria's name!"
The ground split. The winds screamed. Josephine raised her right hand — and the Nightmare Sovereign inside her awoke.
"Jojo, NO!" Tess screamed.
But it was too late.
Josephine dove from the sky, her sword a streak of black fire. King Noctar barely lifted his weapon before Josephine's blade sliced clean through his neck. His crown rolled through the mud. She caught his severed head by the hair, her face unreadable, her eyes a storm of endless night.
Every soldier dropped to their knees.
"THIS IS A WARNING," a voice roared through the air — Aradia's, carried by Josephine's power.
"TO ANY WHO DARE ATTACK ZEPHYRIA —
YOU WILL BE BEHEADED AND DESTROYED!"
Every kingdom across the realm heard her.
But then Josephine's eyes flickered — glitching between colors, her aura spiraling out of control.
"JOSEPHINE, GET DOWN!" Xavi shouted, voice breaking.
"She's losing control!" Kara yelled.
Josephine turned her gaze to them, smiling faintly — calm amid chaos.
"She's going to die!" Kara screamed.
The diamond mark on Josephine's forehead blazed with unbearable light.
"JOSEPHINE!" Xavi cried, tears streaking his face. "Please, I don't want to lose you!"
"MAMA! PLEASE COME DOWN!" Adris screamed from below, sobbing in Queen Kendra's arms.
The people — tens of thousands — all cried out, voices trembling.
"QUEEN JOSEPHINE, THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US!"
"JOSEPHINE!" the Guardians shouted.
For a moment, she snapped out of it. Her eyes softened as she looked down at her family.
"Mama…" Adris whispered.
Josephine smiled.
Then her bump — glowing, pulsing — shone like the sun breaking through storm clouds. Kara gasped. "She's… she's saving the babies."
Two glowing orbs emerged from her stomach — one blue, one pink — drifting toward Xavi, who caught them with trembling hands. They pulsed once and transformed into newborns — a crying boy and girl.
Xavi fell to his knees, holding them close, tears dripping onto their tiny faces.
Josephine's voice — faint but clear in everyone's minds — whispered, Always protect them. I free the four of you all.
She snapped her fingers.
The Guardians fell to their knees as their immortal forms shimmered and softened into mortal flesh. "She… freed us," Minote whispered, stunned. "She made us like other creatures."
Then Maelkor and Melantha arrived.
"Do something!" Kara cried.
Maelkor's eyes glowed blood-red. He flew upward and hurled a radiant orb into Josephine's chest. She gasped, inhaling the magic.
And then — Ceillie's voice filled her mind.
"You are a Queen.
The Queen of Zephyria.
Control yourself."
Josephine screamed silently, the pain racking her body as luminous lines and divine symbols lit up her skin. Her tears fell like crystals.
Down below, Queen Kendra and Queen Oliyda cradled the newborns.
"Xavi…" Josephine whispered in his mind. Please name them both. Orion and Ophelia. I love everyone… and I really love you, Xavi. I love Adris… and my babies.
Her body erupted in light — a burst so fierce it illuminated the skies of every kingdom. When it cleared, Josephine hovered motionless.
Xavi flew up and caught her in his arms. Her body was cold, numb — but breathing.
"JOSEPHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" His scream echoed across mountains and seas.
"Mama!" Adris cried — and fainted from exhaustion.
"Adris!?" Xoni called, slapping his cheeks gently. "Wake up, baby!"
Lyra checked his pulse. "He's alive," she whispered.
"She's not… dead, right? RIGHT!?" Piere shouted, trembling. Raden caught him, holding him close. "Calm down, love."
Tess fell to her knees. The people of Zephyria gathered in the palace square as Xavi descended, Josephine limp in his arms.
"Josephine… please," he begged. "Open your eyes. Look at Adris. Look at the twins. Just once."
Queen Kendra wept openly. Yora took the baby boy from her arms. "Xavi…" she whispered, touching his shoulder.
"Please tell her to get up. She always listens to you…" he said, voice broken.
Assia dropped to her knees, crying. She saw the memories flash — the day Josephine made her a duchess from a mere maid, the laughter, the kindness.
The babies' cries filled the hall.
It was November 8th — the day they were born, and the day their mother fell silent.
"She's not dead," Maelkor finally said, stepping forward. "She's in a coma. To protect her people and her family, she combined all her divine powers into one — controlled them. It was too strong. She fell into a deep slumber."
Xavi closed his eyes, broken beyond words.
Xoni poured water over Adris's face until the boy stirred. "Mama?" he whispered weakly.
"Shh," Xoni soothed.
"Mama, come on now," Adris said softly, patting Josephine's cold face. "Stop this game. I don't like it anymore. Wake up, mama. Please…"
He sank to his knees, sobbing. "Mama, I promise to be good. I'll cook for you. Please…"
Xavi gathered Josephine's body in his arms. The crowd bowed low as he carried her through the streets.
"ALL HAIL QUEEN JOSEPHINE!" Assia cried, voice trembling.
"HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!" the people shouted in unison.
By nightfall, Xavi arrived in Noctyra. The people knelt as he passed, his face pale and cold. Hendrick and Sophia stood waiting, sorrow heavy in their eyes. Caius had already prepared the moonlit garden.
Xavi laid Josephine on a bed of white petals beneath the open sky. The moonlight touched her face, serene and still.
He dressed her in a white gown and braided her hair himself, his tears dampening each strand.
"Adris," he said softly.
The little boy waddled forward, clutching his father's cloak.
"Your mama said you must promise to protect your brother and sister," Xavi said, cupping his cheek. "Will you make her proud?"
Adris nodded, tears streaking his face. "I promise, mama. I'll protect them. I'll love them… like you love me."
Xavi hugged him tightly, pressing a kiss to his head.
"Be strong, Xavi," Xoni whispered behind him.
"My darling wife…" Xavi said hoarsely.
"Be stronger for your children," Severin added quietly.
Yora and Queen Oliyda handed him the twins. The Guardians stepped forward, heads bowed.
"She freed you?" Kara asked.
"Yes," Minote said. "She made us mortal — but we swore an oath. We will protect the royal children and family till our last breath."
Xavi stood, his expression hardening. "Both Zephyria and Noctyra will be ruled by me until she awakens from her slumber," he declared. "There is only one ruler of Zephyria — Queen Josephine."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Assia said, tears falling.
"Papa?" Adris said softly. "What are the babies' names?"
Xavi smiled faintly through his grief. "Your mother named them," he said. "Orion and Ophelia."
He looked at Josephine — the still queen beneath the moonlight — and whispered, voice breaking,
"My Queen… my heart… my Josephine."
He was now a broken king.