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TYSON’S POV
“We are here looking for something. I was wondering if you could help us…” I said leaning forward.
“Paranoid and impatient as ever… You didn’t even ask how this grandma is… How rude…”
Clenching my fists I gritted out, “How are you grandma?”
She chuckled and replied, “Now that the great king of dragons has called me ‘grandma’ I should be fine, shouldn’t I?”
My eyes widened in surprise as I hadn’t expected her to know my identity. She didn’t seem as ordinary as she looked.
“Please don’t mind him, grandma. He is helpless by nature..” Aurora said, flashing her a wide smile. Ah! That smile… it could drain you of all anger and pain.
“Why would I take offense to my grandson’s behavior?”
“Thank you so much, grandma. We are here to look for…”
“I know, Aurora. You are here for the Heart of magic…”
I couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you?”
She exhaled deeply and said, “I am the creator of the Mystic Land. Everything here is controlled by my will…”
“You let us in, does that mean you are willing to give us the ‘The Heart of Magic.’” Aurora chirped excitedly.
Her face turned pale and for a moment anger flashed in her eyes but she was quick to control her emotions.
“I didn’t let you in… I haven’t let anyone get to this cottage in the past century!”
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as I asked, “Didn’t you say Mystical Land worked according to your will.”
Her eyes clouded over with sorrow and she said, “I created this land using my magic centuries ago. This place was abounding with mystical creatures. Its beauty was unparalleled in this universe.”
Her voice choked up with emotions and she couldn’t speak any further…
Even the greatest powers on the earth were rendered helpless by emotions. The reason I had kept my heart enclosed within an impenetrable wall but now…
ASLAN’S POV
“Zizi, it has been a week since I met Tiara…Can you just let me see her once…” I asked her for the umpteenth time.
“Oh! Come on, Aslan. A few days ago you didn’t even care about her… why are you worried now…” Zarina said, shaking her head.
“I just wanted to see her once… don’t you trust me, sister…” I asked with a hurt expression.
She placed her hands on my shoulders and said, Tsk… tsk…tsk… Is that what you are worried about, Aslan? That you have fallen from my grace. Don’t worry brother… Once I have risen to power, I will help you become the king of dragons.”
“You won’t go back on your words, will you…” I asked skeptically.
“Of course NOT, brother. You are the only one I have left for family…”
“What about Tiara? What do you plan to do with her?”
Exhaling deeply, she said, “She is my leverage to get The Heart of Magic. Once I get it… I might kill her but if you are too interested in keeping her alive, I can give her to you…”
“Thank…” Zarina interrupted before I could say thank you. “Don’t get too hopeful, Aslan. It all depends on how well the negotiations go…
My plan is very clear, Use Tiara as leverage and get the stone; use the stone to kill Aurora and Tyson; bring witches back to power! I will destroy anything that comes in my way… even you!”
Her words kept reeling in my mind for a long time. I had known this all along. Zarina was capable of doing the most heinous crimes if she believed they were worth it.
My heart raced in the apprehension of the day Tyson and Aurora would return. God knows how the game of destiny was about to unfurl…
AURORA’S POV
“Grandma, please have some water,” I said rubbing her back.
She looked at me with conflicting emotions before accepting the glass. When she didn’t speak for a very long time, I said, “Grandma, if you are not comfortable talking about it, you don’t have to. We can always go back…”
She raised her and looked at me. Her clouded eyes cleared and she said, “Sorry, I just got lost in some memories… I forgot that I had company.
Like I was saying, this place was teeming with mystical creatures but… good things don’t last long, do they?
The Dark Queen found out about this place and stole The Heart of Magic.” She let out a long, deep sigh and continued, “Those were dark times, Aurora… even now, I get goosebumps just by thinking about it…”
This wasn’t the first time, I had heard about the Dark Queen… Who exactly was she?
“With her newly obtained power, she drained all the creatures of their life force until they faded into oblivion. When she was killed… ‘The Heart of Magic’ was destroyed…”
“You are lying, ” Tyson spoke up suddenly. My head snapped towards him. His face was red with anger and the confidence with which he accused the old woman startled me. It was as if he was present there.
Surprisingly, the old lady didn’t angry at Tyson. She said in a soft voice, “It wasn't destroyed during the war, son. Years later, I joined hands with Celeste and another powerful witch to destroy it.”
“Holy F***! Dang, it!” Tyson exclaimed tearing his hair “That was the reason Celeste was willing to kill Tiara to bring The Dark Queen back rather than trying to get the stone… she knew that the stone didn’t exist anymore…”
“Please tell me, she is dead. Till even a single supporter of Dark Queen is alive, we can’t be safe.”
Tyson started narrating the story of how Celeste captured me in detail. But, I wasn’t paying attention.
I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. I didn’t know what to say anymore. All this struggle… all the dangers were in vain. There was no ‘Heart of Magic’ to find…
.