Page 47 of Prince of Blaze and Embers (Emberveil Empire #1)

Cade approached the mystic with a stern and resolute expression, his eyes never leaving the ancient figure.

"There's only one question I have and need the answer to.

Here it goes..." He placed his hand on the mystic's, his jaw set firmly as he asked his question.

After receiving his answer, Cade looked at me with a stern and knowing glance, a nod of understanding passing between us.

The curiosity of the what the others asked was brimming inside me like a soapy bubble ready to burst. But there would be time for that later. I took a deep breath, looking beside me to Bella's kind eyes. She wiped her tears away. "Go ahead, Ash."

Finally, it was my turn. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding as I approached the mystic.

I placed my hand on his, feeling the warmth of his touch and the ancient power that seemed to radiate from his very being.

I closed my eyes, my mind racing as I thought carefully about the question I wanted to ask.

There were many answers I yearned for, but I could only pick one.

I wanted to know about my parents, but now that I knew my real family name, and was no longer a Mist, I may get answers later.

I wanted to know the secret of life, where we came from, and what our purpose was.

But... There was only one question that I truly needed an answer to. ..

"How do I defeat the queen so that no one may ever be born into the life of slavery I was forced into?" I asked in my mind, my voice filled with a mix of hope and desperation.

The mystic's voice echoed through my thoughts, his words filled with a profound wisdom and truth.

"You may or may not defeat the queen. That much has many variables I cannot see.

But to defeat the queen, you must reach deep into yourself and your ancestry.

She is Cinderyn, and you are Aqualorian.

Cinderyn has always held the position of top predator in this world, so for you to defeat the queen, you must be prepared to suffer, to get close, and when the time comes, to search your soul for the one strength you have over her.

In that moment, I hope you find what you need.

But remember, you are far more than a mere slave girl, Ashlyn Moonriver.

You are the Gold-Marked. You command the Gilded Radiance, the finest gift of Odiun.

You must persevere and find a way. For if you can't defeat the queen, then I fear no one else can.

Cade will die, Bella will die, and your dragons will die.

Where there is courage, there is hope, and while you cannot change who you are, you can plant a seed there and from it will grow a tree of mighty roots, roots so deep, legends will be told of it for ages.

Farewell. Be true to yourself, and trust in your friends. We will not meet again."

I opened my eyes wide with a newfound energy and a warm smile as I looked at the old man. "Thank you." He nodded back. With a groan, he shifted in his throne and fell into a deep sleep. He looked as if he were a part of his throne.

I stepped back beside the others as his eyes closed as he returned to his never-ending, magic slumber.

Bella put her arms around me, and Cade's burning gaze fixed onto me. Hunter stood beside us all, still pale, but looking better.

There was so much to do, so much yet to fight for.

The Stormscales had arrived. We were all determined to take the fight to the Blaze Queen's doorstep. No longer would we passively wait for her to make her next move.

A deep breath settled my heart and mind, and I looked around the room.

The friends I'd made along this journey were here, together with me.

The sacrifices we'd made had brought us closer than I ever imagined possible.

And Cornelius... The old tortoise who had been my guide for almost as long as I could remember.

I know he still had secrets to share, and I hoped that one day, I'd have the time to learn them all.

As we walked out of the sanctuary, I could feel the power within me growing stronger. The magic that had once seemed so foreign and frightening now felt like a part of me. Like an extension of my soul.

Errax was waiting outside, her emerald eyes shimmering in the sunlight. As I approached her, she lowered her head to my hand, allowing me to stroke the scales behind her horns. Her presence was comforting, a reminder of the bond we shared and the battles we'd fought together.

"We did it, girl," I whispered to her, a smile creeping onto my lips. "We fought the Blaze Queen, and we're still alive."

Errax growled in response, her wings rustling in the breeze. She knew the war was far from over, but she also knew that we were ready to face whatever lay ahead.

Cade, Bella, Hunter, and I looked out over the vast forest that stretched out before us. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden glow over the treetops. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature, the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves filling the air.

"We'll need to rest before we set out again," Cade said, his voice filled with determination. "But we can't stay in one place for too long. The queen won't give up so easily. She'll be back, and she'll be coming for us with all she has."

"Let's gather the Stormscales that have come to aid us," I added, scanning the horizon. "We're on the same side now, against the queen. The queen is wounded, but she's far from defeated."

Bella nodded, her blue eyes filled with conviction. "We need to find the others who share our cause. The ones who have been hidden and forgotten, the ones who have been waiting for a chance to rise up against the queen. We need to gather our allies and prepare for the final battle. "

I turned to face them, my heart filled with a renewed sense of purpose.

"We can't give up now. Not when we've come so far.

We've fought the queen, we've learned the truth about who we are, and we've found hope in the midst of darkness.

We can do this. We can defeat the queen and bring an end to this war. "

Cade met my gaze, a smile playing on his lips. "Together, we can. Together, we will."

The future was uncertain, the road ahead filled with challenges and dangers we had yet to face.

But with the help of my friends, the strength of our bond, and the wisdom of the mystic, I knew that we had a chance to change the world.

A chance to create a future where love and hope could flourish, where the bonds of slavery could be broken, and where the tyranny of the Blaze Queen could be brought to an end.

"This time though..." the words seethed in anger and determination as they left my lips, "...we take the fight to her."

The End