The Veil of Darkness
Chapter 381: Mystery of Annalise’s Origin (Part Two)

Chapter 381: Mystery of Annalise’s Origin (Part Two)

The Seelie Realm, bathed in ethereal light, stood on the brink of darkness as the malevolent force devoured everything in its path. It seemed unstoppable and ready to end everything it encountered.

The Light Fae Queen surveyed the impending doom with a heavy heart. Her eyes, pools of fiery amber, reflected the chaos unfolding before her. The very place she held close to her heart was sinking into the dark abyss in front of her eyes, and for the very first time in her life, she felt helpless.

In the midst of the swirling darkness, her gaze returned to the man with hauntingly purple eyes. His sinister intent was palpable, and she could sense the impending danger. A deathly blow was being forged within the confines of his malevolent magic. The air crackled with an ominous energy as he prepared to unleash it upon her.

As she looked at his familiar face, she regretted her decision of showing him mercy five years ago when she first found out about his involvement with dark magic. If she hadn’t acted soft in punishing him because of his identity, the current situation wouldn’t have arrived. But there was no point in regretting the past which couldn’t be changed.

"Go ahead, Your Majesty, make your choice." He challenged as he continued to cast the spell that was meant to kill her.

The Queen’s resolve wavered as she faced the stark reality of the choices laid out before her. On one side, the imminent threat of the dark energy that sought to spill beyond the borders of the Seelie Realm, wreaking havoc on the entire world. On the other, the immediate danger posed by the purple-eyed man, whose spell was nearing completion.

Caught in the crossroads of morality and self-preservation, the Light Fae Queen knew she had to make a choice – a choice that would echo through the tapestry of fate. With the weight of responsibility and the burden of leadership, she took a deep breath and steeled herself for the decision that would define her legacy.

In an instant, without allowing the seconds to stretch into an eternity of contemplation, the Queen’s choice crystallized. She turned away from the impending strike of the purple-eyed man, abandoning the pursuit of personal safety.

Her powers unfurled with determined grace as she soared into the sky and toward the encroaching darkness. Her gaze locating the twelve shadows that her enemy brought back from death - known as the Shadowlords.

Her luminous energy clashed against the malevolent force, a cosmic battle between light and dark energy. The Seelie Realm quivered under the strain of their clash, the very fabric of reality trembling as the Queen fought to contain the darkness. Her hands glowed with a radiant intensity, weaving protective spells to stave off the impending catastrophe.

Meanwhile, the purple-eyed man, taken aback by the Queen’s unexpected choice, spat his disdain. "Stupid woman!" he hissed, a venomous retort echoing through the chaos. His eyes glowed with resentment and frustration as he unleashed his deadly spell, not toward the Queen who defied him but toward the vulnerable heart of the Seelie Realm itself.

The Queen’s heart pounded with a mixture of fear and determination. She knew the consequences of her choice, the personal sacrifice for the greater good. The dark energy recoiled under the onslaught of her light, pushed back momentarily as she held the line against the impending doom.

The Seelie Realm quivered under the dual onslaught of internal strife and external menace. The Queen’s loyal subjects, witnessing her valiant stand, rallied to her side, channeling their own light to reinforce the weakening barriers. Together, they formed an unyielding front against the encroaching darkness.

In the midst of the chaos, the purple-eyed man, frustrated by the unexpected resistance, intensified his assault. His spell collided with the Queen’s protective aura, creating shockwaves that reverberated through the very essence of the Seelie Realm. The air crackled with magic as the two opposing forces clashed in a symphony of cosmic proportions.

As the battle raged on, the Light Fae Queen felt the strain on her being, the toll of confronting such overwhelming darkness. Yet, her resolve remained unbroken. She cast a glance toward her subjects, a silent acknowledgment of their shared sacrifice.

The fate of the Seelie Realm hung in the balance, a delicate dance between the forces of light and the encroaching shadows. The Queen, once faced with a choice that could have been selfishly simple, had embraced the responsibility of leadership. In the crucible of that moment, she embodied the essence of sacrifice for the greater good, a beacon of hope against the tide of despair.

She watched as her fellow faes, who could no longer stand against the dark energy, succumbed to the forever darkness and lost their lives for protecting their land. She watched as the dark energy protested against her powers and tried to seep into the ground to destroy the realm from its very depth. But what she failed to notice among all this choas was the deadly spell that the purple-eyed man launched at her and by the time she did, it was already too late.

The spell hit her right across her heart, sending her flying across the area to hit one of the towers before she fell harshly on the cold ground.

She coughed up blood - a clear sign of internal injuries, as she regained her balance and stood up. Her eyes took in the view in front of her and the sad realization hit her hard - she wasn’t strong enough to win this battle.

A single tear rolled down her left cheek before falling onto her dress as she watched her kingdom die in front of her very eyes.

"Your Majesty..."

The Queen turned toward the source of voice and found Sir Niles standing behind her. "It’s time." That’s all she said to him but the immediate nod from him confirmed that he understood exactly what she was implying.

On his summon, all the Light Guardians and the council members arrived there, waiting for whatever orders their Queen was going to deliver.