THE DEAD QUEEN
Property of:
Rapid Fire Enterprises
Created By:
David Tyrel Little
CHAPTER 1 Training Room
CHAPTER 1 Training Room [https://img.wattpad.com/c1872e2538b44d482c2e5fdf7bfd392dca9a6124/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f58726346704171636955687052413d3d2d313530343231353438392e313831333131386131336664623730653335353637353737363130312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
The sharp clang of wooden swords echoed through the crystalline halls of the sparring arena. Enixia winced as yet another strike connected with her side, sending her staggering backward. Her grip faltered on the hilt of her weapon-a polished rod tipped with faintly glowing crystalline edges, the same material that powered the great airships above.
The other Temeri girls circled her like predators, their movements fluid and deliberate, their eyes glinting with superiority. Each of them wore the intricate combat attire of the First Class, with ornate crests marking their lineages. Enixia's own garments, though finely made, seemed muted in comparison, a silent reminder of her status as an outsider.
Breathe, she thought, forcing herself to focus. You've trained for this. You can win.
But as she straightened, Lysera-the strongest of them-struck again. Her blade whistled through the air, connecting with Enixia's shoulder and sending a searing jolt through her arm. The impact knocked the rod from her hands, and it clattered uselessly to the ground.
"Is that all you've got, Enixia?" Lysera sneered, twirling her weapon with practiced ease. Her voice was full of mockery, and the others chuckled, their laughter like cruel music ringing through the air. "Pathetic."
Enixia sank to her knees, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. She felt the crystalline walls of the arena closing in, amplifying her failure. Weak, they had called her. An anomaly. The daughter of the great Dr. Stado, who was expected to embody Temeri perfection-but who had been born flawed, according to them.
But as the laughter swelled, something inside her refused to break. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, and a faint shimmer began to ripple across her skin. Her Temeri markings, delicate and intricate, pulsed faintly in response to her rising anger.
Lysera tilted her head, noticing the change. "Oh, what's this? A little spark left in you after all?"
Enixia met her gaze, her pale blue eyes burning with quiet defiance. She pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the protests of her aching body. "I may not be as strong as you," she said, her voice steady, "but that doesn't mean I'll stop fighting."
For the first time, the laughter faltered. The girls exchanged uncertain glances, their smiles slipping as the faint glow around Enixia's markings intensified. Before Lysera could respond, the chime of the arena bell rang out, signaling the end of the match.
The girls turned away, their interest in mocking her fading. One by one, they filed out of the arena, their footsteps echoing down the crystal corridors. Lysera paused only once, looking back at Enixia with an unreadable expression before disappearing through the archway.
Left alone, Enixia retrieved her fallen blade. Her fingers brushed over its cool surface as she stared at her faint reflection in the polished crystal. Weak, they had called her. An anomaly. But as she stood there, bruised and trembling, she made a silent vow.
One day, they will see me not as a failure, but as something greater.
One day, they will see me not as a failure, but as something greater [https://img.wattpad.com/ad093a9f45191d94d85659dee8b0e44c09d085ab/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f34444c65483636307755707344673d3d2d313530343231353438392e313831333131393530636662316362363637313637383634383435312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Chapter 2: A Father's Disdain
The laboratory was as cold and unwelcoming as Enixia remembered. Towering machines hummed softly, their crystalline cores glowing faintly in shades of blue and white. The walls shimmered like frost, refracting light into ghostly patterns that danced across the floor. The air was sharp with the sterile tang of chemicals and machinery-a reminder of her father's relentless pursuit of perfection.
She hesitated at the doorway, her hand brushing against the cold metal frame. Inside, Dr. Stado stood at the far end of the room, his back to her as he worked at a glowing console. The light from the monitors illuminated his tall, rigid silhouette, casting long, angular shadows that made him seem even less human.
Summoning her courage, Enixia stepped inside. Her boots clicked softly against the polished floor, the sound swallowed by the whir of machines. She stopped a few paces behind him, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Father... I've returned."
Dr. Stado did not turn. His hands moved swiftly over the controls, adjusting settings and reviewing data. He spoke without looking at her, his voice cold and clinical. "You're late. Again."
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Enixia straightened, though the reprimand cut deep. "The sparring session ran longer than expected."
That made him pause. Slowly, he turned to face her. His sharp, piercing gaze swept over her, lingering on the faint bruises marking her arms and the slight tremor in her stance. His expression hardened, his lips curling into a faint sneer.
"Let me guess," he said, his tone laced with disdain. "You lost."
She looked away, unable to hold his gaze. Her silence was answer enough.
"Typical," he muttered, shaking his head. He turned back to his console, dismissing her with the casual indifference he always reserved for failures. "You're supposed to represent the pinnacle of our bloodline, Enixia. The perfect synthesis of strength, intelligence, and power. And yet, you continue to embarrass me. Do you have any idea what the others say about you? About me?"
Her heart clenched at his words, each one a dagger aimed straight at her chest. She took a step forward, her voice trembling but steady. "I'm trying, Father. I'm doing everything I can to improve."
Dr. Stado's hands froze mid-motion. Slowly, he turned again, his expression colder than the frost-covered walls. "Trying isn't enough. Effort means nothing without results. Results, Enixia, are what define us as Temeri. And you..." His eyes narrowed, his voice darkening. "...you are weak. Unfocused. A waste of potential."
The words hit her harder than any blow she had taken in the arena. She flinched as though struck, her chest tightening as tears threatened to spill. Her hands curled into fists at her sides, her nails biting into her palms.
"I didn't ask for this, Father," she said quietly, her voice trembling but firm.
A heavy silence fell over the lab. Dr. Stado's eyes flickered, just for a moment, with something unrecognizable-surprise, perhaps, or even guilt. But the moment passed as quickly as it came. His expression hardened once more, and he turned back to his console, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.
"I don't have time for your excuses. Perhaps you should stop wasting my time. I will see you tomorrow."
Enixia stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. She wanted to argue, to scream at him, to demand that he see her-truly see her. But no words came. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked toward the exit, her footsteps echoing in the cavernous lab. She didn't look back.
The door hissed shut behind her, sealing her in silence. She exhaled shakily, her breath fogging in the cold air. Her hand rested briefly on the hilt of her blade, the crystalline weapon pulsing faintly beneath her fingers.
"You may not believe in me now, Father," she whispered to the empty corridor, her voice trembling with both anger and resolve. "But one day, you'll have no choice."
In the lab, Dr. Stado stood motionless, his gaze fixed on the glowing console. The faint hum of machinery filled the silence, but his hands didn't move. For the briefest moment, his face softened, his jaw tightening as if suppressing an unspoken thought. Then, as if rejecting it entirely, he shook his head and returned to his work.
Then, as if rejecting it entirely, he shook his head and returned to his work [https://img.wattpad.com/8c06c4b9972c66a1b1f3685109d631f5addaa55a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f644c7541736b61556e594d5851413d3d2d313530343231353438392e313831333131393765666237393537343237323831393737333336352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Chapter 3: A Mother's Comfort
The hallway outside the lab was as cold and lifeless as the space within. Enixia's footsteps echoed against the crystalline walls, each step heavier than the last. The air felt sharp, biting at her skin as if even the structure itself sought to remind her of her place within it. Her father's words still lingered in her mind, each one cutting deeper than any blade.
She stopped in front of a wide window overlooking the grand expanse of the Temeri city. The view was breathtaking-a floating metropolis suspended among the clouds, its spires glistening in the golden light of the sun. Crystalline airships drifted lazily in the sky, their engines powered by the same glowing crystals that pulsed faintly in the architecture around her. The city, a marvel of Temeri ingenuity, had always seemed so far out of reach for her. Even as a child, she had felt like an outsider looking in. And now, after her father's cold dismissal, the distance between her and the rest of the world felt even greater.
A voice broke through her thoughts, warm and gentle. "Enixia?"
She turned sharply, startled, and saw her mother standing a few feet away. Amaira, as beautiful as the first dawn, wore a long, flowing gown of soft white fabric trimmed with faintly glowing crystal threads. Her jwelry, delicate and intricate, shimmered faintly in the dim hallway. Unlike her father's cold, unyielding gaze, her mother's blue eyes radiated warmth.
Amaira stepped forward, her brow furrowed in concern. "I saw you leaving your father's lab. You look... troubled."
Enixia didn't reply at first. She simply stood there, unsure of what to say. Her hands trembled slightly, and when her mother noticed, she immediately closed the gap between them, pulling her daughter into a firm embrace. The warmth of her mother's arms, the softness of her voice as she murmured comforting words, was enough to crack the fragile walls Enixia had built around herself.
Her voice was barely a whisper. "Why does he hate me?"
Amaira pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her daughter's eyes. "Oh, my sweet girl," she said softly, cupping Enixia's face with both hands. "Your father doesn't hate you."
"Yes, he does." Enixia's voice wavered, and the words spilled out before she could stop them. "He looks at me like I'm a failure. Like I'm some... mistake. And it's not just him. Everyone else does too. The other girls, the entire city... They look at me and see someone who doesn't belong."
Amaira's expression twisted with both sorrow and anger. She brushed a stray strand of hair from Enixia's face, her touch as light as a feather. "They're wrong. Every single one of them. You're not a failure, and you're certainly not a mistake."
"Then why?" Enixia's voice broke, her words coming out in a rush. "Why am I so different? Why am I not as strong, as fast, as perfect as the others? I try so hard, Mother, but no matter what I do, I can never be what they want me to be."
Amaira's hands slid down to hold Enixia's trembling ones. She led her to a nearby bench by the window and sat beside her, never letting go. For a moment, she was silent, as though choosing her words carefully.
"Do you remember what I told you when you were little?" Amaira asked gently. "About the crystals that power our world?"
Enixia nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on the floor. "You said they're not born perfect. That they're shaped by pressure and time."
"That's right," Amaira said, her voice soft but steady. "And you, my darling, are no different. The others might think they've reached perfection, but perfection isn't something that happens overnight. It's forged, piece by piece, through every trial and every hardship. You may not see it yet, but I do. You're stronger than you think."
Enixia finally looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But Father doesn't see it. All he sees is what I'm not."
Amaira's face darkened for a moment, a flicker of anger passing through her features before she forced it down. "Your father..." She hesitated, then sighed. "Your father has always been consumed by his work, by his need to create something flawless, to improve and leave his legacy. But that doesn't mean he's right. And it certainly doesn't mean you should measure your worth by his impossible standards."
Enixia bit her lip, her hands tightening around her mother's. "Sometimes I feel like I'll never be good enough. Like I'll never be anything more than a disappointment."
Amaira's grip on her hands tightened. "You are not a disappointment, Enixia. You are my daughter, and I am proud of you. Not because of how fast you are, or how strong, or how skilled with a blade. I'm proud of you because of your heart, because of your courage, because you keep fighting even when the world tries to push you down."
Enixia blinked, tears spilling over despite her best efforts to hold them back. Amaira pulled her into another embrace, stroking her hair as she whispered softly.
"You are stronger than you know, my love. And one day, the world will see it too."
The two of them sat there for a long time, the light from the window casting a warm glow around them. For the first time that day, Enixia allowed herself to feel the comfort of her mother's love, a reminder that no matter how harsh the world-or her father-might be, she wasn't entirely alone.
For the first time that day, Enixia allowed herself to feel the comfort of her mother's love, a reminder that no matter how harsh the world-or her father-might be, she wasn't entirely alone [https://img.wattpad.com/71e7a0e9bf5bb400fa2b2bd711de18bab6293e6a/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f705052527169445056595f5a33413d3d2d313530343231353438392e313831333131396232306465353164303234303730323538303433332e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]