The room felt frozen, as if time itself had stilled in the presence of Lady Marcelline. No one dared to move, not even to breathe too loudly. The unspoken tension weighed on them all. Paola’s mind raced, piecing together what must have happened. Selene had done her best to stay hidden, but it wasn’t difficult to tail one of the few demons in the city—especially one as notorious as Selene. Of course, she had been followed.
Lady Marcelline’s smile remained, gentle and patient, as though she already knew Paola wouldn’t refuse her. There was no way Paola could refuse her. She nodded, still in shock, and followed the Lady out of the small inn. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat an echo of her racing thoughts.
As they walked through the quiet streets of Valarian, Lady Marcelline spoke with ease, as if this were nothing more than a casual stroll. “You know, Paola,” she began, her voice calm and warm, “we have something in common. Both of us are Void Borne.”
Paola’s ears twitched, and her tail flicked wildly behind her, betraying her unease. She hadn’t expected this—Lady Marcelline speaking so freely, casually even, about something so dangerous. The nobility was infamous for keeping their cards close, yet here was one of the most powerful women in Udanara, speaking like they were old acquaintances. Paola glanced at her, wary of what was coming next.
Lady Marcelline chuckled, noticing Paola’s discomfort. “Oh, don’t be so tense, dear. You’d be surprised how many Void Borne I’ve met in my time. Rising to power in this world is never easy, you know. Even for someone with... our kind of talents.” Her tone was jovial, as if discussing something as simple as the weather.
Paola’s mind reeled, trying to process the confession. Lady Marcelline was Void Borne, too? Her tail flicked again, this time betraying her shock. “You’re... Void Borne?” she managed to ask, her voice quieter than she intended.
“Indeed,” Lady Marcelline replied, a faint smile playing at her lips. “I was summoned here many, many years ago. I lived in Victorian England, under the reign of Queen Victoria. Quite a different time from yours, I imagine.”
Paola blinked, struggling to reconcile the image of Lady Marcelline—so composed, so powerful—with the idea of her being a young girl from a time Paola only read about in history books. “Victorian England?”
“Yes,” Marcelline said with a nod. “I died when I was eleven. I don’t remember much of my life there, to be honest. I was summoned to Udanara not long after my death. Funny how things like that work out.”
Paola couldn’t hide her surprise. “Eleven?” she asked, her voice carrying more disbelief than she intended.
Lady Marcelline chuckled again. “Oh, yes. Quite young, I know. It wasn’t exactly an easy transition, but when you’ve lived as long as I have here, you tend to forget the details of your past life. It all fades eventually.” She glanced at Paola with a glint of curiosity in her eyes. “What about you? What year was it on Earth when you were summoned to Udanara?”
Paola hesitated for a moment. She hadn’t wanted to talk about her life on Earth—it still felt too raw, too recent. But something about Marcelline’s casual demeanor coaxed the answer out of her. “It was the year two thousand and twenty-two.”
“Ah,” Lady Marcelline said, nodding thoughtfully. “So, about two hundred years have passed between us. Fascinating. The world must be so different from the one I remember. Tell me, how much has changed?”
Paola shifted uncomfortably. “A lot,” she muttered, her voice clipped. “Technology, society... everything, really. I don’t even know where to start.”
Marcelline smiled softly, her tone sympathetic but distant. “I imagine it must be overwhelming to think about. I, too, was shocked by how different things were when I arrived. But we adapt, don’t we? That’s the beauty of being Void Borne. We’re survivors, after all.”
Paola stayed silent, her thoughts swirling. The conversation was far more revealing than she expected. Lady Marcelline was a mystery, but now Paola was seeing fragments of the woman behind the power. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this lighthearted exchange was leading somewhere darker.
As if reading her mind, Lady Marcelline’s tone shifted, becoming more serious, more deliberate. “Do you know why you were summoned to this world, Paola?”
Paola blinked, caught off guard by the question. “I... I thought it had something to do with the war between the gods and titans,” she admitted. “But beyond that, I don’t really know.”
A devilish smile curled at the corners of Lady Marcelline’s lips. Her icy blue eyes gleamed with something dark, something dangerous. “Oh, my dear,” she said softly, her voice dripping with amusement. “That’s only the beginning.”
Paola’s heart pounded in her chest as Lady Marcelline’s smile lingered, her words hanging in the air like a storm cloud about to burst.
The streets of Valarian were quiet, still blanketed by the early morning light. The festival had not yet stirred to life, and for a brief moment, the city felt like it belonged to just the two of them. Lady Marcelline walked with an almost ethereal grace, her icy blue eyes scanning the preparations being made for the final day of the Festival of Breath. Paola followed, her tail flicking nervously, every instinct in her body telling her to remain on guard. Yet, the calm demeanor of the Lady, her effortless control, forced Paola to keep her emotions in check.
The conversation they’d just had in the room lingered in Paola’s mind. A riot tonight? A full-scale uprising that could tear the city apart. And Ayla—her mind kept drifting to Ayla. Was that why she hadn’t wanted Paola near her? To protect her from this chaos? Anger bubbled beneath the surface, but Paola forced herself to push it down. This wasn’t the time. She needed to focus.
Lady Marcelline’s calm voice broke the silence, pulling Paola from her thoughts. “You seem tense, Paola. Is it the coming events or simply the fact that you’re walking beside me?”
Paola stiffened at the question, her golden-flecked eyes flicking toward Lady Marcelline. “A bit of both, I guess,” she admitted, her voice betraying the conflict brewing inside her. “You don’t exactly make people feel at ease, you know.”
Marcelline’s smile was soft, almost playful. “I’ve been told that before,” she said with a knowing nod. “But I assure you, my intention is not to cause discomfort. It’s simply... the nature of things when you’ve seen what I’ve seen.”
Paola didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she let her eyes wander across the street, where vendors were beginning to set up their stalls, the faint smell of fresh bread and spices drifting through the cool morning air. The final day of the festival was always the most intense, the most politically charged. Even without the looming threat of a riot, today was going to be a turning point for Valarian.
Lady Marcelline, ever perceptive, continued, her tone shifting to one of intrigue. “I suppose you have questions. You’re a Void Borne, after all. You’ve likely heard the whispers, the legends, but I’m certain there are gaps in your understanding. It’s only natural.”
Paola swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. There were so many questions, but she wasn’t sure where to start. And yet, before she could ask anything, Lady Marcelline seemed to anticipate her thoughts, continuing smoothly as they walked along the cobblestone street.
“You and I, Paola, are part of a legacy far older than most realize. Our worlds, Earth and Udanara, are bound together by threads that span millennia. Most people see the connection as mysterious, perhaps even accidental, but the truth is far more deliberate.” Lady Marcelline’s voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension to it, as if every word she spoke held weight.
Paola’s brow furrowed, and despite herself, she found her curiosity bubbling to the surface. “What do you mean? I know there’s something going on between Earth and Udanara, but... no one’s ever really explained it.”
Marcelline nodded approvingly, as if she had expected this. “Few people truly understand it. But allow me to fill in the gaps.” Her tone was eerily casual as she continued, her gaze fixed ahead. “Long ago, before you or I were ever summoned here, Udanara was a battleground. The gods and titans fought for control of this world’s abundant magic, each seeking to bend it to their will. But not all gods were interested in endless war.”
Paola blinked, her tail flicking in surprise. She hadn’t expected Marcelline to dive so deeply, so quickly. “The gods... some of them left?”
“Yes,” Marcelline said, her voice soft but sure. “Many of the older gods—the ones from pantheons you might recognize—decided to leave Udanara behind. They sought refuge somewhere less... chaotic. And so, they fled to Earth.”
Paola’s ears perked at this revelation. Earth? The gods from Udanara fled to Earth? That... made sense, but it was still hard to wrap her mind around it. “And... what happened when they got there?”
Marcelline’s eyes gleamed with a mix of amusement and nostalgia. “They were welcomed as deities, of course. They settled among early human civilizations—Aztecs, Egyptians, Babylonians. They became the gods of those people, guiding their development and subtly influencing humanity’s path.”
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Paola’s mind reeled. It all sounded too big, too far-reaching. But there was something about the way Marcelline spoke, the certainty in her voice, that made it impossible to dismiss.
“They brought with them their magic, their knowledge,” Marcelline continued, “and over time, they began to experiment. They saw potential in humanity—potential to carry their divine legacy forward. And so, they selectively bred certain humans, granting them divine blessings, creating bloodlines with latent power.”
“Bloodlines?” Paola echoed, her voice a whisper. She had heard rumors of powerful families on Earth, legends of demigods and heroes, but this...
“Indeed,” Marcelline said. “Over centuries, these bloodlines gave rise to individuals with extraordinary abilities. Some of them became the demigods of myth—Hercules, Perseus, Achilles—but their descendants continued to exist in secrecy, scattered across the world. These bloodlines, Paola, are the ancestors of the Fallen Stars.”
Paola’s steps faltered slightly as the weight of Marcelline’s words sank in. Fallen Stars. She was a Fallen Star. And now she was learning that her power, her very existence, was the result of some divine experiment? Her chest tightened. “So... I’m descended from gods?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Marcelline replied with a smile. “Your lineage is tied to those ancient bloodlines, just as mine is. When Udanara is in danger, the Tree of Life reaches out to Earth, summoning individuals with the most potential to act as champions. You, Paola, were called here because of your divine heritage. You are part of the gods’ final plan to protect this world—and theirs.”
Paola’s head spun, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place in a way she had never expected. The gods, the titans, the war... it all made sense now. She wasn’t just some random person plucked from Earth. She was chosen—because of who she was, because of the blood running through her veins. But it didn’t make it any easier to understand.
“But... why me?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why now?”
Marcelline’s gaze softened slightly as she turned to Paola. “Because the war is not over, dear. It never was. The gods who fled to Earth? Some of them are still watching, still waiting. And here in Udanara, the conflict between gods and titans continues in subtle ways. The titans, like the Leviathan, still hold influence, and the gods... well, they have their own plans. You are part of that plan.”
Paola shook her head, her mind buzzing with the enormity of what she was hearing. “And what about you?” she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion. “What’s your role in all of this?”
Marcelline’s smile returned, colder now, as if she had been waiting for that question. “I, like you, am a product of this divine legacy. My family was descended from Hades and the Leviathan, giving me access to powers that most could never comprehend. I was summoned here when I was young—just a girl, really. And I’ve spent my life learning, understanding, and mastering the magic of this world.”
She paused, her gaze drifting toward the distant horizon where the sun was beginning to rise. “I’ve done what I must to survive, Paola. To thrive in a world where gods and titans pull the strings. And now, with the threat of this riot, with the tensions boiling beneath the surface, I must act.”
Paola’s stomach twisted as she remembered Damion’s words, the riot that was coming. “The riot tonight... that’s what you’re worried about, isn’t it?”
Marcelline’s smile was unreadable as she met Paola’s gaze. “Oh, I’m not worried, dear. I’m prepared. The question is... are you?”
Paola swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. “I—”
But before she could finish, Marcelline’s icy blue eyes gleamed with something dark, something dangerous. “The reason you were summoned here, Paola,” she said, her voice soft but deadly serious, “is because this world is on the brink of destruction. The war between gods and titans is far from over. And tonight... that war will rear its head once more.”
Paola’s breath caught in her throat as Marcelline’s words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of impending doom.
A devilish smile curled at the corners of Lady Marcelline’s lips. “And you, my dear, are right in the middle of it.”
Paola’s ears instinctively pulled back, her tail whipping sharply behind her. Her heart pounded, and she could feel the weight of every word Lady Marcelline spoke hanging in the air between them. They had been walking, weaving through the quiet, narrow streets of Valarian, and without Paola even noticing, they were rounding the corner back to the inn. Lady Marcelline’s calm demeanor was unnerving—too calm. There was no urgency, no fear, just a slow, deliberate pace as though they were merely discussing the weather and not matters that could tear the world apart.
Paola’s brow furrowed. Her cloak billowed slightly in the morning breeze, strands of her hair catching on the edge of her lips as she turned toward Marcelline, the weight of her confusion and suspicion growing heavier. “Why are you telling me this?” Paola asked, her voice low, laced with a tension she could no longer hide. “What do you expect me to do with this information?”
Marcelline’s smile remained soft, almost motherly, as she nodded in understanding, as though she anticipated the question. “Ah, Paola,” she said gently, her icy blue eyes gleaming with something unreadable, “I’m telling you because soon, you’re going to have to make a decision. And I’d rather you make it with all the facts in front of you.”
Paola’s tail flicked again, whipping back and forth as they continued to walk, their steps slow and deliberate. She felt the weight of Marcelline’s words sinking in, but it still didn’t make sense. “What decision?” Paola pressed, her voice wavering with uncertainty. “What are you asking me to do?”
The calm breeze rustled the edges of their cloaks, and Paola’s hair fell into her face again. She brushed it away, only to find Lady Marcelline’s eyes watching her carefully, as if reading the turmoil written in every line of her body. Her next words came soft, but there was an underlying sharpness to them.
“I’m asking you to think about where you stand,” Marcelline said. “You carry the same divine bloodline, Paola. You and I—we’re not so different. You’re bound to something greater than yourself, as am I. We’re supposed to save this world. That’s our purpose.”
Paola’s heart stuttered at the word save. What exactly did Marcelline mean? Her mind flashed back to everything she’d heard from Ayla, from Selene... the talk of riots, of destruction, of chaos brewing beneath the surface of this grand festival. And now this? Lady Marcelline was saying they were supposed to save the world, but the way she said it made Paola feel more uneasy than ever.
Marcelline’s voice continued, smooth and assured. “I’ve spent my entire life gaining power in Valarian, building alliances, ensuring that when the time comes, I’ll be ready to fulfill my purpose. It’s all coming to fruition now, Paola. The pieces are finally aligning.”
Paola could feel a knot forming in her chest, something cold and tight, as if her body knew what her mind hadn’t fully accepted yet. Her steps slowed, her golden-flecked eyes narrowing as she tried to grasp what Marcelline was really saying. “Your purpose?” Paola echoed, her voice hoarse with disbelief.
Lady Marcelline stopped walking, turning fully to face Paola now, and for the first time, Paola could see the intensity behind those icy eyes. Marcelline’s smile had faded, replaced by something colder, sharper. She spoke with a calm assurance that sent a chill down Paola’s spine.
“Yes, my purpose,” Marcelline said, her voice almost reverent now. “I’m bound to the soul of the Leviathan, just as you are bound to your own god or titan—whoever it is that runs through your blood. It’s all connected, Paola. You were summoned here for a reason, just as I was. And that reason... is to bring the Leviathan back.”
Paola’s breath hitched in her throat. Her entire body stiffened. Bring the Leviathan back?
She stared at Marcelline, the words crashing into her mind like a wave, dragging her under. “You want to... resurrect the Leviathan?” Paola could barely get the words out, her voice trembling with a mixture of shock and disbelief. Her mind raced, trying to piece together what Marcelline was saying, what this would mean.
Marcelline’s smile returned, softer now, almost gentle, as if she were speaking to a child. “Of course,” she said, her tone infuriatingly calm. “The Leviathan’s sacrifice gave life to this world, but its power was never truly lost. Its soul remains tethered, waiting. And when it returns, Paola... when I bring it back, Udanara will be reborn.”
Paola’s stomach churned. The Leviathan... the very creature whose sacrifice had given life and magic to the desolate lands of Udanara. She had heard the stories, the legends. The Festival of Breath was a celebration of that very sacrifice, honoring the Leviathan’s final act of salvation. But to resurrect it? The implications were staggering.
“You can’t be serious,” Paola muttered, her voice low, almost pleading. “The Leviathan... it’s gone. Its time has passed.” Paola wasn't sure if that was true, but from she had gather so far it was.
Marcelline’s eyes gleamed, her calm exterior never faltering. “That’s where you’re wrong, dear. The Leviathan’s power is still here, dormant, waiting for the right moment to awaken. And that moment is coming—soon.”
Paola felt the ground beneath her shift, as if the very foundations of her world were crumbling. Her heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. She wanted to scream, to yell at Marcelline, to demand why she would do something so reckless, so dangerous. But the words wouldn’t come.
Marcelline stepped closer, her voice soft and soothing, as if she were comforting Paola. “You should really consider spending more time in the grove,” she said with a knowing smile. “It might help you understand yourself better, your connection to this world, to your god... or titan. The answers you seek are there, Paola. You just need to look.”
Paola’s fists clenched at her sides. She didn’t want to understand this. She didn’t want to be a part of this... this madness. But before she could respond, they had arrived back at the inn. Lady Marcelline stopped just outside the entrance, turning to face Paola one last time.
Her icy blue eyes softened, but there was still that edge to her smile, that subtle hint of control. “I would love it if you came to the masquerade tonight,” she said, her voice dripping with invitation. “It would be... enlightening.”
Paola swallowed hard, her mouth dry. She didn’t trust herself to speak, so she simply nodded, though every fiber of her being screamed in protest. She didn’t want to be part of this, but she didn’t know how to walk away either.
Marcelline’s eyes lingered on Paola for a moment longer, that cold, knowing smile never wavering. Then, with a curt nod, she turned and walked away, her robes trailing behind her like the tail of some great, terrible beast.
Paola stood there, frozen in place, her heart pounding in her chest. The words resurrect the Leviathan echoed in her mind, each repetition sending a fresh wave of dread crashing through her. She could feel her toes curling into the sandstone beneath her, grounding her in the present, but her mind was a storm of chaos and confusion.
She watched as Lady Marcelline’s figure disappeared down the street, her silver hair glinting in the morning light. Paola’s golden-flecked brown eyes narrowed as she stared after her, trying to make sense of everything. What Marcelline had said, what she was planning... it was world-shattering.
Paola’s heart raced, her tail twitching anxiously behind her. She had come to Valarian for the festival, for a chance to be with her friends, to understand her place in this strange world. But now... now everything had changed. The Leviathan. Marcelline. The masquerade tonight. It was too much. Too fast.
Her breath hitched as she took a step back toward the inn, her mind swirling with doubt and fear. She didn’t know what to do, but one thing was certain: Lady Marcelline’s calm smile hid something far more dangerous than Paola could have ever imagined.
The Leviathan was coming back.
And Paola... had no idea what to do about it.