A/N

This story is unedited so apologies for grammatical and spelling errors if any.

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Fiora (POV)

Here I am, surrounded by Samragyi and her trusted companions—my Aunt, Mr. Ethan, Miss Ziwa, and, of course, the ever-dramatic Zachary Theo Crystal. How could we possibly forget this gentleman, the very mastermind behind this grand assembly of what I can only describe as an overprotective army?

I could have confronted Ebon alone, but apparently, every soul in this cave views me as a helpless child in need of constant guardianship—Mr. Ethan and Miss Ziwa included. Their collective decision to tag along was evidently driven by a profound belief in my utter incompetence. So now, here we all are, crammed into this dim cave, earnestly trying to forge a connection with Ebon. Oh, the sheer magnitude of trust they must have in me is truly overwhelming.

The circle of figures tightened around me as Samragyi's eyes fluttered shut, her focus intense and unwavering. My fireballs floated serenely above, casting a warm glow that danced across the cave's rugged walls.

From the heart of Samragyi, a radiant sphere began to take shape, its brilliance growing with each passing moment until it bathed the cavern in an ethereal light. Recognizing the need for my flames had passed, I let my fireballs dissipate into the shadows.

Aunt and the others wove a shimmering barrier around us, a protective bubble that enveloped our group, leaving a narrow opening. Samragyi floated gracefully above, her entire being aglow with a celestial light that seemed to pulse with ancient magic. Her gaze was locked onto the sphere of light.

Suddenly, a dark, pulsating orb of blue-black energy appeared, defying the bubble's barrier with an almost tangible resistance. As it breached the protective sphere, Aunt and the comrades swiftly sealed the gap, their movements synchronized with practised precision

Everyone braced for the impending confrontation, their stances reflecting a readiness to battle whatever dark force lay beyond the bubble's shimmering surface.

Slowly and swiftly, the dark orb lowered itself to the ground, transforming into the form of a girl who appeared no older than fifteen or sixteen. Without hesitation, she hurled a burning nebula straight at me. Before I could even attempt to defend myself, the nebula halted mid-air, surprising everyone. Another form emerged from her—it was Glamma, who had stopped the nebula and obliterated it with a flick of her wrist.

As Samragyi and her comrades, including my aunt, lowered themselves in a respectful bow, Glamma returned the gesture with a graceful bow. The cave's magical glow flickered over their reverent forms.

"Why have you summoned me?" Glamma's voice was a cold, commanding presence.

"To persuade you to cease your killing," I answered, trying to keep my tone steady.

"Child, when adults engage in serious discourse, it's expected that children remain silent," Glamma replied with an icy edge.

"I am the one tasked with addressing you," I retorted, my irritation barely concealed.

Glamma's gaze shifted to Samragyi, her eyes clouded with disapproval, before settling back on me. "Give me one compelling reason to halt."

Zack stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I don't care who you are or your motives. What matters is the fear you're instilling in the people, and that's something I won't condone."

"And how long have you held your position?" Glamma's question was sharp.

"Eight years," Zack replied curtly. Glamma then turned her piercing gaze to Samragyi.

"And you?"

"A little over a century," Samragyi answered, her eyes fixed resolutely on Glamma.

Glamma's expression hardened as she absorbed their responses. "Were you both aware of the rampant abuses—rape, sexual harassment, human trafficking, forced prostitution, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, eve teasing, coerced labour, stalking, physical assault, emotional abuse, .........?"

Before Glamma could list more, Samragyi interjected. "Yes, we are aware," she said, her gaze never meeting Glamma's.

"Oh, so you were aware," Glamma said with chilling calmness before turning to Zack. "And you?"

Zack nodded solemnly.

"Can you explain why neither of you have taken decisive action against these atrocities?" Glamma's voice echoed with a haunting intensity.

"There are strict laws against most of them," Zack replied curtly, though his discomfort was palpable.

"Then why am I not seeing any tangible results?" Glamma challenged, her voice sharp. "Why are women still terrified to walk freely at night or even stay safe within their own homes?"

"Crafting effective laws isn't straightforward," Zack retorted, his frustration seeping through his words. "It demands painstaking detail—ensuring no infringement on rights, using precise language to close every loophole, and reflecting public opinion. We can't just issue decrees as kings did in your era, without regard for broader implications."

"Eight years and a little over a century—how much longer must the innocent suffer?" Glamma's voice rose with fury and despair, her patience clearly wearing thin.

"That doesn't give you the right to kill people," I interjected, my voice quivering with a mix of fear and determination.

"I agree," Glamma answered with a chilling smile, her gaze locking onto mine.

"Glamma, whatever you're doing is also instilling fear in people. What's the difference between you and those who break the law for their own ends?" I tried to reason with her, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing," she replied, her smile turning sinister. "You know what's truly ironic?" She whispered, her voice dripping with malice. "I don't even want to be different."

"Glamma, you yourself have been in Samragyi's position. You should understand how arduous it is to enforce laws. If we permit you to act unilaterally, how can we prevent others from following suit?" I implored, hoping to penetrate her hardened exterior.

"You're right, Fiora. I was once a Samragyi," Glamma's voice trembled with barely contained fury. "But do you know I was sold to that monster your citizens call 'Samrath'?" Her voice seethed with rage. I glanced around; only Zack mirrored her anger, while the others' faces were inscrutable. "I was violated on my wedding night and every night thereafter. He didn't even spare me during my menstrual days," she continued her voice a haunting blend of sorrow and fury. "Until he found a new victim. I thought my torment was over, but every night I heard another woman's screams."

"Is this the difficult enforcement of the law you're referring to?" Her voice grew more menacing with each word, sending chills down my spine.

"You all should have fought back," I said, my own fury igniting.

Glamma laughed, a sound devoid of joy. "One did. Do you know what became of her?"

I shook my head, fear gripping my heart.

I didn't dare to respond, but she continued, "She—or rather, they—were reduced to playthings for criminals. They were tormented until death, and even then, their bodies were desecrated," she said, her voice a mixture of sorrow and seething anger.

I somehow contained my anger and tried to reason with her. "Things have changed since then..."

She cut me off mid-sentence. "Oh, have they? Or have things merely become more, what's the word..." Her voice oscillated between biting sarcasm and a syrupy tone laced with venom as if she were relishing a darkly humorous secret.

"...More... more... organized. In this so-called modern world, the methods of tormenting women have evolved and become more insidious. You now manipulate women's emotions, burdening them with the dual responsibilities of being the breadwinner and raising children alone. And if they don't comply, you penalize them further, extracting more for their basic needs."

She clapped her hands slowly, a gesture dripping with disdain. "Bravo to your organized modern system."

I couldn't think of a rebuttal. She was armed with cold, hard facts, and against that, I had no defence.

Zack retaliated, "Do you think men's lives are easy?"

Before he could finish, Glamma cut him off. "No, not at all. But if we're comparing struggles, do you think their lives are as fraught as women's?... Still, I would say, even in our era, I encountered men who were far more compassionate and respectful than any ideal could convey. They knew how to honour women and make them feel secure. But this isn't about whose existence is harder. We're grappling with the relentless atrocities against women that remain unchanged across the ages. In this so-called modern world, where everyone claims to abhor such acts, why do they persist?.... My ears bleed blood with the haunting screams of women being violated and the desperate cries of young boys unable to defend themselves." Her voice increased with every sentence

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Zack fell silent, his gaze dropping to the ground as his hands raked through his hair in frustration and anger. Glamma stepped closer, her presence commanding attention and heightening our vigilance. We braced ourselves, ready to act if she made any sudden movements.

Glamma fixed her eyes on Zack and, with a sombre, pained smile, began, "Have you ever heard those screams?" She paused, her smile fading into a shadow of sorrow. "I have heard them—those agonizing cries. They haunt me every moment of my existence. Imagine having immense power and still being powerless to help those children and women because their suffering is so widespread. I can't even pinpoint where they are."

Her voice wavered, laden with both sorrow and fury. Turning to the group, she asked, "What were their mistakes? What was her mistake?" She gestured towards the girl who had thrown the nebula at me.

"She was kidnapped and sold, forced into prostitution. When she tried to escape, she met the same fate as the women who resisted in my Era," Glamma said, turning towards the girl. Then, suddenly, she snapped at all of us, "Is this your idea of 'strict laws'?"

"But there are men who are victims as well," one of the comrades interjected calmly. "False accusations against innocent men have shattered lives, making it increasingly challenging to draft laws that effectively protect women. Moreover, the problem is not just one-sided. Men, too, suffer from injustices inflicted by women—false accusations of abuse, fabricated claims of violence, and other deceitful acts. These actions can lead to wrongful imprisonment, social ostracism, and emotional distress. The reality is that creating laws in such a complex and emotionally charged landscape is fraught with difficulties. We have to balance protecting genuine victims while ensuring that the legal system does not become a tool for personal vendettas or injustice against the accused."

A brief silence fell over the cave as Glamma sank to the ground, her once fiery demeanour softened. "I have encountered and killed many such women as well," she said, her voice now tinged with a deeper, more poignant sorrow. "And that's the most agonizing irony of this so-called modern world. Here we are, having fought fiercely and sacrificed so much to establish laws designed to protect the vulnerable, only to see some individuals exploit these very protections for their own gain."

She paused, gathering her thoughts as her gaze swept over the assembled group. "These women, driven by their own agendas, manipulate the legal system to their advantage. They fabricate stories of abuse or exaggerate claims to secure personal benefits—be it financial compensation, social leverage, or revenge. Their actions undermine the integrity of the very laws we fought to put in place.

"Those women are just as culpable as the men for the suffering endured by others," Glamma continued, her voice laden with bitter resignation. "Their actions taint the very essence of our struggle and sacrifice. They exploit the system, turning it into a weapon for their own selfish purposes.

Because of them, our sacrifices and the immense pain we endured have been diminished. Our efforts to secure justice and protection have been undermined by those who use the laws we fought so hard......"

Before Glamma could finish her sentence, her companion, the other spirit, began screaming. We turned towards her, still on high alert. Glamma rushed to her, holding her hands, which began to burn with blue-black flames as the other spirit was absorbed into her taking her place. The spirit tried to escape the protective bubble but couldn't.

"Let me go!" she screamed, her voice a chilling blend of multiple tones.

The air in the cave crackled with tension as Glamma's companion, now engulfed in dark energy, hurled a nebula at us. The nebula, a swirling mass of cosmic fire and shadow, tore through the air with a menacing hiss. Samragyi was the first to react, summoning a shield of light that shimmered like a celestial barrier. The nebula collided with it, exploding into a shower of sparks that illuminated the cave in an otherworldly glow.

Malay, with his formidable strength, leapt forward, his fists glowing with an intense energy. He struck at the dark spirit with a series of rapid blows, each one leaving trails of light in the air. The spirit retaliated, its form twisting and morphing to evade his attacks. It lashed out with tendrils of darkness that wrapped around Malay's arms, trying to drag him down. With a fierce roar, he broke free, the energy in his fists dispersing the tendrils into nothingness.

Marma's eyes glowing with a serene blue light, raised her hands and began to chant in an ancient tongue. The air around her shimmered as water droplets materialized, coalescing into sharp, crystalline spears. With a graceful motion, she sent the spears hurtling towards the spirit. They struck true, each one embedding itself into the dark form with a sizzling hiss. The spirit howled in pain, its body flickering and wavering as it struggled to maintain its form.

Aunt's movements swift and precise, moved in with deadly intent. Her hands crackled with electric energy, and with a swift motion, she launched bolts of lightning at the spirit. The cave was filled with the blinding light of the strikes, and the smell of ozone permeated the air. The spirit convulsed with each hit, its form destabilizing further. Aunts's attacks were relentless, each bolt striking with pinpoint accuracy.

Jihaan summoned his own brand of magic. His hands glowed with a dark red aura as he conjured flames that danced with an almost sentient life. With a flourish, he sent a wave of fire crashing towards the spirit. The flames engulfed the dark form, causing it to screech in agony. Jihaan's eyes burned with intensity as he continued to channel the fire, pushing the spirit back with sheer force.

Meanwhile, Ruup moved with a calm and collected grace, her presence a stark contrast to the chaos around her. She drew intricate symbols in the air, each one glowing with a soft, golden light. These symbols formed a barrier that slowly began to close in on the spirit, restricting its movements. The spirit thrashed and writhed, trying to break free from the encroaching barrier, but Ruup's magic held firm.

Samragyi's face a mask of steely determination, floated above the battle. Her hands moved in intricate patterns, weaving spells that combined light and darkness. She sent blasts of energy at the spirit, each one hitting with devastating precision. Her voice rang out, commanding and powerful, as she chanted incantations that bolstered the efforts of the others and weakened the spirit further.

Despite the ferocity of the assault, the dark spirit fought back with terrifying vigour. It sent out waves of dark energy that slammed into the cave walls, causing the ground to tremble. Tendrils of shadow lashed out at everyone, forcing them to dodge and weave to avoid being caught. The spirit's screams of rage and pain echoed through the cave, creating an eerie symphony of chaos.

After what felt like an eternity, Samragyi finally managed to create a binding spell. A shimmering net of light and energy descended upon the spirit, wrapping around it and tightening with each passing second. The spirit struggled violently, but the net held fast. With a final, deafening scream, the spirit was forced into a bubble of glowing energy.

The cave fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of those who had fought. The bubble hovered in the centre of the cave, containing the writhing form of the spirit. Its dark energy crackled and pulsed within the confines, but it could not escape.

As the others stood, catching their breath and nursing their wounds, the sense of relief was palpable. They had managed to contain the threat, at least for now. The cave, once filled with the sounds of battle, now echoed with the quiet hum of residual magic.

But then the spirit started laughing menacingly and easily broke free from the bubble. "You can never destroy me," she taunted, her voice now a malevolent male tone. "I draw power from the agony of those children and women."

The voice laughed and attempted to breach the protective bubble but was unable to.

Summoning all my strength, I opened the protection bubble. The spirit's eyes widened in shock, disbelief etched on her face, but she quickly seized the opportunity to escape.

Everyone stared at me, their eyes filled with shock and a multitude of questions.

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Back at the palace, the healer worked meticulously, tending to everyone's injuries. The atmosphere was heavy with unspoken accusations, their disappointment in me palpable. But I knew exactly what I wanted and what I did.

As the healer left, I found myself surrounded by the others. Samragyi broke the silence, her tone calm but firm. "Why, Fiora?" she asked.

I kept my head down, unable to meet their eyes. Zachary's voice followed, sharp and demanding. "Before that, how do you know Ebon?"

"Yes, I have the same question too. You called her Glamma," Aunt added, her voice laced with concern and confusion.

I remained silent, my gaze fixed on the floor. The pressure of their questions was overwhelming.

Miss Ziwa's frustration boiled over. "For God's sake, Fiora, speak! You put all of our lives in danger," she shouted.

"Ziwa," Mr Ethan interjected, trying to calm her, but my continued silence pushed Zachary to his limits.

"Fiora, tell me," he demanded, his voice a mix of hurt and anger. "Fiora, were you involved in this from the very beginning? I asked you one thing—to not break my trust, Please Fiora tell me, you didn't"

When I still didn't reply, his frustration erupted. "Answer me, damn it, Fiora! Was this all your plan from the start? You knew there were three of them, didn't you? And you left Ziwa's house without any explanation. Where did you go?" He tried to piece together the puzzle, his anger growing with each word.

"Brineberry is an extinct fruit. No one has it," Zachary said, his voice a mix of disbelief and suspicion. "And this Ebon, she's ancient. Was the woman who gave you those berries 'Ebon'?" His patience wore thin, and he roared, "Answer me, Fiora!"

"Are you trying to destroy us?" His voice grew louder, each word dripping with anguish. "Why? What have we done to you? Is it because we hid facts from you?" His grip tightened on my shoulders, his eyes red with tears. Seeing him in that state, I couldn't stay silent any longer. I broke down, shaking my head vigorously.

"No, I have never thought of harming you or anyone! I care for you all..." I started, but Zack's tears flowed even more freely.

"Then why, Fiora?" he pleaded.

I tried to find the words, but before I could speak, Theo changed his position with Zack, wiping his tears. "Theo," I reached out to hug him.

"Stay away, Fiora," he said, his tone filled with disappointment. "Before anything else, I am a king. My responsibilities won't allow me to be with you. Zachary cared for you, and you're choosing silence over him...... It's your choice, and you're on your own in this"

Samragyi interjected, her voice cold. "We thought you were the spitting image of Arna—brave, courageous, and kind. We were wrong. We shouldn't have trusted your upbringing. After all, you've stayed with those manipulators. How could it be that you didn't inherit their traits—their art of betrayal, their hunger for power and money?"

Her words cut deep, and I felt a pang of regret and sorrow. "I didn't inherit those traits," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I just... I thought I could handle it alone. I didn't want to put anyone else at risk." I thought to myself.

"Your silence today screamed louder than your words, Fiora," Aunt said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

"Not you, Aunt. At least, not you," I replied, my voice breaking.

Ruup spoke calmly, "Then tell us, Fiora. Why do you know Ebon? What's your relation with it? And above all, why did you let it escape? You have no idea, Fiora. The longer Ebon is out there, the more its energy will increase. Because of you, it's now nearly impossible to catch it again." Their eyes were filled with a mix of hope and fear, silently pleading that I hadn't betrayed them and that I had a good reason for my actions.

Suddenly, the weight of my decisions hit me. The act I had committed in the cave had put everyone in danger. Before I could explain, a strong male voice cut through the tension.

"I heard Ebon escaped."

I turned to see my old man standing there with a neutral expression. Upon seeing him, all my emotions broke free. I started crying uncontrollably and ran to hug him.

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A/N

Word count:- 3400

Hello, my lovely readers, I hope you all are doing well

Here, is the 41st chapter of my book

I hope you all liked it and have a great day ahead

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Date:- 29/07/2024