Shadows and Stones
"What's wrong, Sushie?" Aimee asked, concerned as she watched her friend clutch her chest and lean against the stone wall of the corridor.
Sushie's lips trembled, her eyes blinking rapidly as if to hold something back. It's like something is piercing my heart into pieces… my power is draining fast… she thought to herself. The stone… Shiya... I need to find her, now.
"Sushie?" Aimee called again.
"Huh?" She looked up quickly, blinking as if trying to shake something off.
"Are you alright? You're pale… what's bothering you?"
"Nothing. I'm alright, don't mind me," Sushie replied with a forced smile, masking the storm inside her. Aimee didn't push further, only sighed and walked away, glancing back with worry.
Meanwhile, in the dim-lit room, Xyon stood beside the sleeping Shiya, who looked fragile and far from the vibrant girl he once knew. His gaze lingered on her pale face, and his fingers trembled slightly as he reached to gently brush her hair aside. The memory of changing her clothes flashed in his mind, and his cheeks turned red.
"There's… nothing wrong with it. I had to. I didn't want her to get sick," he mumbled to himself, trying to justify it.
He sat down beside her bed, exhaling slowly. "I'm sorry for everything, Shiya," he whispered. "You didn't deserve to be pulled into this mess. I never meant to involve you in this… vengeance. This fight for what was taken from my family."
He bit his lower lip, tears forming. "Your father's selfishness… and my own. I don't even know who I've become. But through all of it… I do love you, Shiya. I always have. I just... I'm not worth it anymore."
His hand found hers and gently held it, tears now freely falling onto their intertwined fingers.
"I'm so sorry…"
ERI KINGDOM – UNDER SIEGE
"Yon Zue!" Chipi cried out as she rushed to his side. Blood streamed from the gashes on his back where his wings had been torn. "You're bleeding too much! Your wings—!"
"Help me find… Shiya…" Yon Zue gasped, his voice weak, his vision blurred from the blood covering his face.
"I will! But you need to find shelter! The dreuls are still storming the castle! You can't fight like this!" Chipi urged.
"Don't… worry… I can still fight." He forced himself upright, shakily drawing an arrow. With a final burst of strength, he released it at an oncoming dreul, dropping it—but the effort sent him collapsing to his knees.
"She's hurt too…" he murmured, fading. "I… I can't protect her…"
"Yon Zue…" Chipi whispered, her voice trembling.
Before she could move him, a ring of dreuls and vile creatures surrounded them, their snarls piercing the air. Chipi took a frightened step back, her body frozen in fear. Yon Zue struggled to stand again.
Suddenly, a beam of light burst from the sky and struck the ground in front of them.
"Shin Fairy…" Yon Zue whispered, eyes fluttering closed.
Chipi turned toward the shining figure, a woman radiating calm yet fierce power. Shin Fairy—the mentor of both Yon Zue and Prince Liu—had returned. Once bearer of the Stone, she had passed it on long ago when the magic deemed her unworthy after her heart was betrayed.
"Take him somewhere safe," she ordered softly. Chipi nodded and gently pulled Yon Zue from the battlefield.
Shin Fairy's expression hardened. The curse that had once bound her still echoed in her body, a curse that chained souls between Eriland and the Spirit World. Ten enchanted beings, once cursed, were locked into her beaded bracelet—now it was time to free them.
With a commanding tone, she raised her arm. "Rise, my warriors! Protect the Erilians! Defend our Kingdom!"
Ten beads glowed and burst into light, taking human form as they knelt before her.
"Jana Lee, with the power of healing—go. Help those in pain."
Jana Lee took off at once.
"Luthor, burn them down with your flame! Jaya and Sofia, gather the lost and lead them to safety. Lorraine will open the path for you."
Each received their orders and vanished.
"Trina, freeze them with your frost. Grey, crush them with your force. Kaium, release your storm."
The battlefield transformed. Kaium's thunderbolts rained down like fury. Grey's quake split the earth, swallowing creatures whole. Trina's icy blasts froze them mid-attack, and Shin Fairy struck, shattering the frozen beasts like glass.
Inside the castle, Queen Krystle trembled in her chamber, staring at the weakening barrier outside.
"Queen!" Erica cried. "You were watching again, weren't you? You can't… You'll get swayed!"
"I couldn't help it…" Krystle whispered, tears brimming. "It's tearing me apart…"
A sudden burst of rage flared. Her scream echoed, and objects shattered around the room. A shard of glass flew and cut Erica's face.
"Why do I have to suffer like this?" Krystle cried. "Curse that Ornaphendreul!"
"Your Majesty…" Erica said softly, blood on her cheek. "I know you're in pain… but the people need your strength. The barrier—without it, we're doomed."
Krystle stared at her friend, guilt dawning. "Erica… I did this to you?"
"I'm alright, my Queen," Erica said, embracing her. "I'm sorry for not understanding your pain."
As they held each other, the barrier slowly began to restore its strength.
Xyon gasped, jolted into another vision—or was it a dream?
He looked around. Glowing diamonds floated in midair, the ground shimmered beneath his feet. "What… is this place?"
He reached for one of the diamonds and tucked it into his pocket. A strange creature passed nearby, forcing him to hide.
"Shiya?" he muttered, spotting a figure running ahead. He followed, heart pounding, but she vanished into the trees. He entered a glowing cave of gemstones—when suddenly a sword touched his neck.
"Who are you?"
A voice suddenly called out behind him with a sword pointing to his neck. He ordered him to turn around so he did yet both were left unspoken after seeing each other
"Prince Liu...", called the guards from far
Xyon tried to pull the sword from the prince yet he was not yet skilled enough to fight him so he just easily dodge him and kick Xyon from behind
"Arrest him. He's an impostor!", ordered the Prince yet no one moved so Xyon took the scene
"No... he's the impostor! take him", Xyon babbled and the Prince looked at him badly then spread his wings and the glow from it that only those with royal blood can have proves his identity so the royal guards held Xyon
"Let go of me!", Xyon ranted
"Keep quiet!", said the Prince. "You're such a noisy one to be a real man"
After hearing those words~ Xyon become aggressive and took the chance to punch the prince in the face yet one guard suddenly slash him from the back and he slowly disappears
"He got away...", the Prince assumed. "Such a coward"
~~~~~~
Xyon is dripping a lot and can feel the pain. He found himself beside Shiya's bed.
"She's still sleeping...", he whispered then felt the pain again as he stand up.
"I hate nightmares…"
He reached into his pocket, feeling something rough.
He slowly opened his hand and looked at Shiya.
"Diamonds?...wait what?"
"What… does this mean?"