The Crown's Entrapment

[Thirteenth night inside Element Forest]

It was already late at night when Xenia finished viewing Nasser's past. Sure, she turned into a walking diary of the Elder's past since it was all just in her memory, but she remembered enough major details that they'd have more than adequate information that they could use against the man. Well, what was important was the magical pearl that was currently in Polo's hands as he put up his finishing spell, not to mention all of the scribes that jotted down everything of note for her.

Once everything had been prepared, the overwhelming amount of evidence she had to carry clearly needed an intervention. As such, they put them all in one sack and saddled it on the mythical horse that Devas had gifted to her.

Truly, the sight of it was something to behold. All of the guardians were present in the Lake of Life, all of them amicably talking to her while having a late dinner.

"It's been a while since everyone gathered around like this just to share a meal together," Saha scoffed. "And with an intruder too? Now that's never going to happen again!"

"Indeed. Isn't it great that we're all here to say our farewells to Xenia?" Devas proudly pointed out. "Here is the mighty Princess who first passed all the trials the guardians threw at her!"

"She's not the first though," Polo reminded. "You should consider the pirate who got out of this realm alive to be the first to do so..."

"That one's special though," Saha scoffed. "It's no wonder then that he's able to su-"

Saha suddenly halted, and Xenia quickly noticed the look that Helena was giving her fellow guardian.

Under the Fairy Queen's gaze, Saha suddenly chuckled as she awkwardly added, "Oh, right. I've been lenient with him as well, even more lenient than to you, princess Xenia." She couldn't help but smirk, "After all, Helena traded away more years of her lifespan for-"

Once again, Saha stopped talking because of how sharply Helena looked at her. Seeing the clear animosity, Devas burst out in a fit of laughter. It would seem that Saha just didn't know when to shut her mouth.

Meanwhile, Xenia found herself turning to Helena as she murmured, "You traded away years of your lifespan just to help me?"

She couldn't help but tear up because of Helena's kindness. It was too much since Helena had also helped her out on the trial she gave to her.

"Oh, please don't cry on us. Helena's just naturally like that, and she always does that whenever she sees the good in an intruder's heart," Saha nonchalantly remarked. "One of them always gets in our realm, whether by accident or as a contender brought by Cordon for the trials to become Queen..."

Xenia could only nod. "Still... I feel so grateful. And I'm so i-indebted..." she started to stutter.

"Seriously, this should just be a good gathering filled with laughter since you're finally getting out of this realm safe and sound," Helena warmly smiled "Our dear Xenia, like Saha said, it's nothing to me. I like doing things like that. Besides, I don't want to live for such a long time. I'm already old, so deducting away years of my lifespan doesn't matter to me."

Saha scoffed upon hearing Helena's words as she mumbled, "You make it sound like I'm being greedy for wanting to live longer by accepting your lifespan..."

Devas laughed and said, "But you are, Saha."

Shaking away the tears, Xenia looked at all of them one by one and murmured, "Thank you to all of you. I honestly feel really lucky to have come this far."

"But you also worked hard for you to come this far, Xenia," Devas pointed out. "You deserve this. Besides, didn't you say it yourself? There's a reason for everything, and one of those reasons is probably because of that magical pearl..."

Seeing his fellow guardian point at the pearl in his hand, Polo decided to continue the line of thought. "The pearl inside this shell will play all of the visions regarding Nasser's past once you open it, Princess Xenia," he explained as he handed it over to the princess. "I also took the liberty of casting a protective spell on the shell so that no one will be able to open nor destroy it except for you..."

"Thank you so much, Lord Polo," Xenia genuinely murmured. "I'll make it up to you somehow. You guys should tell me everything you might want from the outside world. Once I'm able, I'll definitely try and supply them all to you for as long as I live... My husband and I will provide everything the four of you could ever want coming from outside this realm.

"Oh? I want a human wife then," Devas shamelessly declared.

"That one will be quite hard, Lord Devas," Xenia chuckled. "Although... Hmm... Will you promise me the life of any female humans who would voluntarily enter this realm going forward?"

It was a decent thought. After having her vision played out not only at Cordon but also in Ebodia, she was sure that some female Ebodians might try their luck and enter the realm. However, since the borders of Cordon were heavily guarded, none of them would be able to enter without Darius's permission.

"But no one can leave this place alive unless we vouch for them," Devas pointed out with a shrug and a mumble. "Then again, what if the one who entered is someone I don't like? Huh... Never mind then."

"That's why you should simply look around your realm, Lord Devas," Xenia encouraged with a smile. "There are so many attractive women around. I'm sure you'll find someone you like."

"Like me, right?" Saha jokingly asked with her golden glowing eyes.

"Of course, Lady Saha," Xenia quickly nodded. Saha was a beautiful woman too, with her curly long dark hair and distinct features that any woman would be jealous of.

"This Princess really knows how to interact well," Saha chuckled. "Anyway... Good luck with your future. We'll watch your fight here from the lake. Hopefully, every hardship you encountered here was all worth it for whatever it is you're fighting for."

Xenia opened her palm, revealing the magical pearl. "I'd say it's all worth it..."

"Good," Helena sagely nodded. "Anyway, you should be leaving now, Princess Xenia. And can you also do me a favor?"

"Of course, Fairy Queen, anything..." Xenia nodded.

Seeing the princess agree, Helena then handed her a small purse. "Can you hand this over to Osman once you see him?"

"Of course. I'll give it to him. I'm sure he'll be delighted," Xenia warmly smiled. Seeing the Queen, she couldn't help but tease, "Although, he might just enter this realm again once he finds out that you're still single."

She knew that Osman thought Helena was already married and with a family of her own. While it was far from the truth, there's still a chance it might happen.

Helena chuckled and confidently stated, "He won't step back inside this realm anymore, Princess. Like I said before, Osman's destiny is far from being inside this realm." She sagely added, "You'll soon find out how things have turned out once you come out of our realm and go back to Cordon."

"Alright, let's not delay the Princess's departure," Polo plainly reminded.

Xenia nodded as she climbed the mythical horse that she had given a name, Pluto. "Let's all keep in touch!" she remarked with a wide and bright before commanding Pluto

to move.

The three guardians stood frozen in their place as they watched the Princess leave. As much as they didn't say otherwise, they'll miss her presence in their realm.

*****

A/N: I will post the AI-Generated visual for Saha in the comment section for your reference...

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