Master Faizar's brow furrowed in confusion when he saw the grin on Naomi's face that made her look maniacal and downright terrifying.Naomi didn't know where strength came from or even understand what she was about to do but she just knew it was what she was destined to do.She slowly rose to her feet with her hands clamped over Faizar's. She stared deep into his hazel eyes and uttered the words that struck fear into his heart for the first time in his life."This is your end and my beginning, Faizar."She threw his hands down and then pressed her fingers against his forehead. Her eyes shone a bright white light as she threw her head back and opened the part of her mind where she had locked her dream-walking magic in.Fueled by hate, revenge, and anger, Naomi threw herself into his dark, twisted mind. She didn't pay attention to his screams of anguish but only focused on what she realized she had to do.Her magic rippled across the clearing and beyond but the airtight shield around th
"Are you just going to stand there gawking?" Naomi asked, her voice hoarse. Daegal was immediately by her side with water.After she took a few sips, she sighed and with Daegal's help, sat up against some pillows. "What? Why are you both staring at me like that?"Daegal only smiled at her in response. Love and adoration shone in his eyes in such a way that made Naomi's heart melt from the display.As he brushed her hair back, Naomi reached up to tuck a strand behind her ear but midway into the motion, she caught the color of her hand.Naomi blinked once. Then blinked again. She shook her head from side to side and looked at her hand again."Daegal? Azriel? Am I dreaming?"Azriel laughed and pinched her calf. Naomi let out a small yelp and glared at him."No, you are not dreaming."Naomi returned her gaze to her hand and then lifted her other hand too. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she took in the rich, cocoa color."Can you get me a mirror, please?" she said to Daegal and pro
Naomi smiled sheepishly when Daegal praised her and laid her head against his shoulder. Suddenly, a chief threw a question at Daegal. "What happened to Empress Nerina? Where is she?" Everyone else in attendance nodded in agreement and began to murmur the question too. Naomi's eyes monitored everyone and made her observations about them. When they quieted down, Daegal took his time to explain every single event from the beginning till date with Naomi occasionally chipping in. And when he was done, the entire hall bowed down to Naomi and called her their empress. Naomi wiped the tears that formed under her eye. She didn't think she would garner such a support system from people who did not know her well enough but after Daegal's information, they looked at her and saw her. Her true self. A few days before, Naomi had Delia released from the dungeons and she was also very surprised to see the transformation but also knew that something was fish ever since Nerina started to be very ni
PrologueThe light of the many fireflies outside illuminated the darkness of Empress Naomi and Emperor Daegal’s tent as they flitted about.For the first time in months, they managed to sneak some time off of the ongoing war and make camp in the Melorian Valley.Naomi had personally picked out the site flanked by two towering mountains. Along with her husband, Emperor Daegal, they pitched their tent some distance away from a beautiful, sparkling waterfall and its rushing sound drowned out the worries in her mind and filled her with a sense of peace.On a closer listen, she could hear the soft hum of the beetles and the chirping of the crickets as she waited for Daegal to return from scouting.The war against the invaders had been going on for two long years, exhausting resources, and the fighting population, and destroying the kingdoms and civilians under her care.Naomi sighed deeply, the weight of the world bearing down heavily on her shoulders. She was the key to the invader's plan
August 21st, 2020. (Present day) San Francisco, California. Naomi woke up with a start in her dark, luxury apartment, her heart pounding feverishly against her ribcage. She didn't know what to make of the dream she just had. Did she see all those events and imagine all the conversations because of how much she had been reading her favorite novel? She couldn't be sure. She inhaled the lingering sweet scent of sandalwood from the burned out candles on her nightstand and stretched out her body. The time on her alarm clock read six a.m. If she didn't leave soon, she would be late for work. Rubbing her face and pushing the weird, fantastical dream, she got out of bed and started getting ready. ... "Breathe. Hit. Breathe. Hit. Breathe. Hit." At the Olympic gym on a sunny afternoon after closing early from work, those were the words Naomi Walker kept repeating in her head, over and over as she delivered blow after blow to the punching bag, in front of her. Sweat dripped from her
The sixth month of the year of the creator, 2,020. (Two months before the blood moon) Asghavia, Volcaris. The roar of a dragon pierced the moonlit evening sky as its powerful wings beat the air. The rider on its back dug its heels into the dragon's left flank causing it to screech and veer sharply to the left. Folding its large wings, it swooped downward, flying straight to the ground below. The rider atop its back did not panic but confidently held on to the large horns protruding from the dragon's scaled back. Just as it seemed like it was going to crash to the ground, it opened up its wings and sailed through the air, over the heads of the people of the city who didn't pay much mind to it as they had been used to the sight of dragons for over a millennium. It flew over the street of Shayr, past its stalls, taverns, and brothels as it headed east, to the arena of dragons. Beating its wings against the wind, it began its descent to the grounds of the arena. The arena was a mas
The sixth month of the year of the creator, 2,020. (Two months before the blood moon) Asghavia, Volcaris.Lolo Nerina's smirk grew as she sat in front of her dressing mirror while her maid brushed her pin-straight hair, dark as the eventide that flowed glossily to her waist and began styling it into a single, elegant braid.Centuries of planning and waiting were finally coming to an end. Today, she would be officially betrothed to the imperial prince and in the tenth month of the year, be formally engaged and married to him; able to live in the Unity Rock until the day of their wedding.It all lay on her shoulders now to bring the reign of the Estors to an end. From the day she was born, her dear father and mother saw great potential in her that they did not see in her elder brother, Orion.Her mastery of magic grew as she advanced in age, surpassing the understanding of her Nebulosi teachers to the point where she began to practice magic on her own. Neither her parents nor her brot
On the 21st day of the eighth month of the year of the creator, 2,020.(Present day)Vishwum, Aesos."You have come a long way, Child."A white-haired old woman draped in simple white robes made of cotton sat on a low stool, counting the brown, glass beads on a necklace with fingers that were weathered and crooked, and had seen better days.However, the aura of power that exuded from her in waves convinced Nerina that she was no ordinary old lady."And yet, Indah is afraid you have journeyed all this way for nothing," She continued, shaking her head as her attention was focused on the necklace in her palm.Nerina hoped that she had suddenly developed a hearing impairment and perhaps had misunderstood what the old woman had said.Plastering a fake smile on her face, she asked. "W-what do you mean by that? How could I have come all this way for nothing?" The journey by sea had taken more than a fortnight and had been extremely tiring. There was no way she could have come all this way f