CHAPTER 234: AWOKEN

Lucas was about to speak, his lips parting in haste as he raised a hand and bowed his head low. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice soft but sincere, "I did not mean to intrude..."

Before he could finish his hurried promise, the earth beneath them quivered violently. The sound came like thunder splitting the heavens, a guttural growl so deep that it felt as though the mountain itself had come alive. The tents trembled under the force, the wind howled through the cliffs, and the very ground seemed to shift beneath their feet.

Lucas froze instantly, his heart slamming against his chest. The Empress straightened where she stood, her bare shoulders catching the dim glow of the campfire before she quickly drew her robe tighter. Behind her, the two Divas scrambled to dress themselves, their faces drained of color.

The growl came again, longer this time, echoing through the frozen peaks until it seemed to bounce from one end of the mountain to the other. It was so fierce that snow cascaded down from the cliffs in thick waves, dusting the campsite with white.

Lucas turned sharply, his instincts screaming that the sound came from somewhere above. "What in the heavens was that?" he asked aloud, his voice tense and rough.

The Empress gave no reply, her gaze fixed toward the dark ridges beyond their campsite. Her eyes gleamed faintly beneath the silver light of the moon, and her aura, calm but potent, began to ripple across the air.

The Divas stepped out fully now, their weapons drawn, their breaths fogging in the cold. One of them spoke sharply, "Your Majesty, that sound...it’s no ordinary beast. It carries a powerful resonance."

Before the Empress could respond, the tents behind them rustled in panic. Lira burst out first, her cloak hastily thrown over her nightdress, her face pale with fear. "Master, what’s happening?" she called, her voice trembling.

Nyx followed closely, her usually calm demeanor shaken, though her hands already glowed faintly with frost energy. Selene and Mirielle came next, huddled together, their wide eyes darting in every direction.

Then the old guide stumbled out from his tent, "It’s awake," he whispered hoarsely, his breath visible in the frigid air. "By the gods, I prayed this wouldn’t happen. It’s awake."

Lucas frowned, stepping toward him. "You mean you know what that thing is?"

The guide shook his head, his eyes darting toward the cliffs. "No one knows for sure," he said in a trembling voice. "The guardian that sleeps deep within the mountain. When it stirs, it means death is near."

Lira clutched her arms tightly, her body shaking from the cold and fear alike. "A guardian? Of what?"

"The mountain itself," the guide said quietly. "It protects the core of the range...the sacred heart where no mortal dares to tread. Those who have gone seeking it never returned."

Nyx looked toward the darkness above, her eyes glowing faintly blue as she tried to pierce the shadows. "It feels enormous," she said.

Another growl tore through the air, this one so powerful that Lucas stumbled backward a step. The snow under his feet cracked and shifted as a wave of energy rushed past.

"Stay together!" one of the Divas commanded, her voice sharp enough to cut through the chaos. "Do not separate no matter what happens!"

Selene pressed closer to Lucas, her breathing shallow. "Xavier, what do we do if it comes down here?"

He didn’t answer immediately. He could feel the Empress’s Qi flaring beside him, her power like a calm storm preparing to break. Finally, he said in a low voice, "We stand behind her. She’s the only one who doesn’t seem afraid."

The Empress’s eyes flicked briefly toward him behind the veil, and though her face showed no emotion, there was a quiet fire in her gaze. "You’re correct," she said softly, her tone cold yet commanding. "It knows I’m here. It can sense my power...and yours."

Lucas frowned at her words. "Mine?"

She gave a slight nod. "You carry something powerful and strange within you. Even this creature can feel it."

The old guide turned in shock. "Your Majesty, if it senses foreign energy...."

"It already has," she interrupted calmly, cutting him off with a lift of her hand. "There’s no use hiding anymore."

The group fell silent again as another tremor rolled through the mountain. The rumble grew louder, closer, until even the stones beneath their boots began to crack from the vibration. Snow poured down from the upper slopes, and a faint crimson light flickered high above, illuminating the distant ridges for a brief instant.

Mirielle’s voice broke the silence, trembling. "It’s coming closer, isn’t it?"

Lucas nodded slowly, his face pale but steady. "Yes," he said, his tone grim. "And I think it’s not happy we’re here."

The Empress finally stepped forward, her cloak billowing slightly in the wind. "Let it come," she said quietly, her eyes narrowing at the horizon.

But as the echo of the beast’s roar faded into the howling wind, Lucas felt a strange unease coil inside his chest.

He turned slightly, his gaze falling on the Empress’s back as she stood unmoving before the roaring cliffs, her aura pulsing like a steady flame amidst the storm. Something about her calmness...her readiness...didn’t sit right with him.

He clenched his jaw, thoughts racing. She’s not surprised, he realized. Not even a little.

His breath misted in the cold air as his eyes narrowed. Could it be... she knew this would happen?

His heartbeat quickened. The guide had spoken of the guardian, a creature that awoke only when disturbed by something foreign...something that didn’t belong to this environment.

His mind drifted back to her earlier words. "It knows I’m here. It can sense my power...and yours."

A sharp shiver crawled down his spine.

Mine?

He swallowed hard, his pulse thudding in his ears. No... that can’t be coincidence.

He remembered how she had insisted that he accompany her up the mountain. How strangely persistent she’d been, even when her advisors questioned it. How she’d smiled faintly when he’d agreed to join her.

What if that wasn’t kindness or test as she claimed to be.

He looked at her again, really looked this time. The way she stood...serene, poised, unflinching...wasn’t courage alone. It was anticipation.

The thought struck him like ice. Did she bring me here on purpose?

His fingers curled unconsciously at his side. Is this why she wanted me close? Because of my soul... because of whatever makes me different?

The mountain groaned again, a low rumble spreading beneath their feet. Lucas barely noticed this time; his thoughts were louder.

Lira glanced toward him, noticing his distant stare. "Master?" she whispered. "What’s wrong?"

He didn’t answer immediately. His eyes stayed fixed on the Empress. "Nothing," he murmured finally, though his voice was tight. "Just... thinking."

But in his mind, the question kept echoing like a whisper he couldn’t silence...

Did she lure me here?

Am I the bait?

Then, as if in answer, the snow ahead exploded.

A column of ice and rock shot into the air, and from its heart came a deep, thundering snarl that made every torch in the camp flicker. The Divas shouted warnings with a fighting stance.

Lucas took a step back, his pulse pounding, and his suspicion burned even stronger. The creature...whatever it was...was coming straight toward them.

And the Empress... didn’t move.

Her calm smile returned. "It’s awake," she said softly, almost with satisfaction.

Lucas’s blood ran cold immediately he heard that....not only him...the rest of them too.