My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 74: Iselia 2

"Iselia, where did you run off to?" Elowyn's voice echoed through the clearing.

The young princess, Iselia, turned to face her sister, her expression filled with a mixture of innocence and determination. "I was visiting one of the camps."

Elowyn's eyes widened with a mix of shock and worry. "What!? I told you not to go there!" She glanced at the two guards standing beside Iselia, who averted their eyes under the weight of the princess's pressure.

Iselia, undeterred, spoke up, "Don't blame them, older sister. It was I who wanted to go and visit."

"Haah…" Elowyn sighed, her concern deepening as she realized the stubbornness of her younger sister. She reached out to lift Iselia off her feet, cradling her in her arms.

"For now, just go back to your room" she said with a gentle yet firm tone.

Iselia attempted to pout, her small face scrunching up in dissatisfaction. She found it highly unfair to be cooped up in her room, unable to play or have any fun.

She knew something terrible had happened to their home, but the complex adult world and its troubles remained beyond her grasp.

She just wanted to feel a sense of normalcy again, to run and play with the other children, free from the worries that now seemed to plague her family.

She understands that things are complicated right now but why was she not allowed to help them?

Iselia's heart was filled with a desire to help.

She couldn't stand seeing the small children and even some of her friends be afflicted by the miasma disease and took it upon herself to offer them the healing flowers that bloomed directly under the world tree.

She was convinced that her sister had always emphasized the importance of protecting and aiding their people, so Iselia couldn't understand why the flowers weren't being distributed to the public.

The last time she took ten of those precious blooms, the guards had sternly reprimanded her. Her longing to assist and play, to venture outside, was undeniable, but the restrictions placed on her left her feeling utterly frustrated and trapped.

'I wish brother Adrian was here'

...

Elowyn felt overwhelmed as she gazed upon the ever-growing stack of paperwork in front of her.

The papers contained numerous appeals, each vying for attention regarding which sector should receive aid first.

There were pleas from people seeking help, suggestions for the possible abandonment of certain camps, news regarding the status of the barrier, and updates on the overall situation in the forest. In addition, messages from other elven kingdoms hidden from the human world had found their way to her desk.

The sheer volume of work and responsibility weighed heavily on Elowyn, making her yearn for some relief from the burden she carried.

"Princess, here's the next batch of letters"

Elowyn's expression soured as she gazed upon the overwhelming pile of paperwork.

The weight of her responsibilities threatened to overwhelm her, and she could feel nausea building within her. She turned to her assistant, Risa, with a desperate look in her eyes.

"Wait, Risa, maybe you could help me out here—"

Bam! The door shut close.

Before she could finish her sentence, Risa hurriedly retreated from the room, leaving Elowyn behind. The door slammed shut, echoing her assistant's hasty exit.

The act might have seemed disrespectful, but Risa understood that Elowyn was unlikely to dismiss her, given the current dire circumstances and the history they shared as childhood friends.

Now, Elowyn faced the daunting mountain of letters, each one demanding her attention and decision.

Elowyn couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment towards her mother for passing on this overwhelming burden to her.

Throughout her life, she had admired and respected her mother's strength and wisdom as the queen of the elves.

She had always imagined that she would have more time to learn and grow before taking on such immense responsibilities.

….

Huff….! Huff...!

Elaniel's heart was pounding in her chest as she woke up from another dreadful nightmare, her breaths heavy and erratic.

This recurring dream had been haunting her for some time now, and it left her in a state of unease and anxiety.

She couldn't remember any details from the nightmare, just an overwhelming sense of fear and dread that lingered long after she awoke.

To make matters worse, upon waking up, Elaniel found herself unreasonably afraid of dolls, even though she couldn't recall any connection between the dream and her fear of those inanimate figures.

Her throbbing headache only added to her discomfort, and she was at a loss to explain the origin of these unsettling experiences.

Elaniel arose from her bed, feeling the remnants of her nightmare still clawing at her thoughts. In an attempt to shake off the lingering unease, she moved to the window and gazed out at the moonlit night. The serene beauty of the shimmering moon and the cool night air calmed her racing heart.

With a sigh, she decided to go outside to clear her head.

She slipped into her nearly transparent nightgown and wrapped herself in a warm, white cardigan.

She knew her way around the castle's highest tower, and without hesitation, she jumped out of the window. Her room's location gave her a great view, but it was a long way down.

However, before she could hit the ground, a massive wolf, its silvery-white fur resembling swirling winds, materialized beneath her. With powerful grace, the wolf carried her safely on its back.

"Thank you, North," Elaniel whispered her gratitude to her high-ranking contracted spirit, who had come to her aid once again.

"You're welcome, Your Majesty," North replied, his presence a reassuring comfort in the dark of the night.

North soared through the night sky, ascending to a vantage point high above the elven city. From this elevated position, they could oversee the entire cityscape below.

Elaniel couldn't help but tear up as she looked down and observed the ominous presence of dark miasma, an ever-encroaching threat.

Her vision extended beyond the barrier that protected their city, and her heart sank at the sight of the surrounding darkness.

The tainted miasma had continued to spread, despite the apparent demise of Kaksan, its malevolent source.

It corrupted and devoured life in the once-lush forest, relentlessly eroding the vibrant, pristine landscape they cherished.

Tweet!

In the midst of the serene elven skies, a small sparrow fluttered determinedly, aspiring to reach the lofty heights above. Her ever-loyal guardian spirit, North, gracefully adjusted its flight, allowing the tiny bird to draw near.

With a gentle landing on Elaniel's hand, the avian messenger became a conduit of mana, a bridge of energy between the queen and spirit.

The mana transfer was accompanied by more than just raw energy. It carried with it a unique gift: a collection of memories seen through the sparrow's eyes. As the bird's experiences flowed into Elaniel's consciousness, Elaniel was presented with an intimate glimpse of her daughter, Elowyn, laboring tirelessly under the burden of responsibilities. Amid the stream of images, a soft chuckle graced Elaniel's lips.

"Thank you, little one," she whispered with a tender smile. The gentle pat she offered the sparrow conveyed her appreciation, before she released it once more to soar freely in the boundless sky.

Elaniel turned her gaze towards the imposing castle. Her heart held a bittersweet twinge, the burden of guilt over having delegated most of her duties to Elowyn.

While her earnest desire was to take on those responsibilities herself, she knew that her ongoing recovery was of utmost importance.

As much as she longed to be the queen she aspired to be, she recognized that it was vital for her to regain her strength and vitality.

"North, take me to the camps," Elaniel requested, a sense of determination underlining her words.

"As you wish," North acknowledged, his voice resonating with a mixture of grace and unwavering loyalty. He guided Elaniel through the skies with ethereal prowess, traversing the cool night air with ease.

As they approached the elven camps, North's form was like a silent whisper, undetectable by both sight and sound, concealed in a shroud of silvery luminescence.

Elaniel benefited from North's unique blessing known as "Cries of the Wind." When this blessing was activated, they became an entity apart from the world, their actions and words veiled in silence.

Only they, the recipients of North's divine power, could perceive the existence of each other, rendering their presence entirely concealed from others.

It was a measure of discretion and secrecy, a sanctuary in which they could converse and act without leaving a trace of sound.

Touching down gently on the ground, about half a kilometer away from the campsite, Elaniel couldn't help but be deeply affected by the remnants of destruction that surrounded her.

The once-thriving infrastructures had been ravaged by the harrowing battle, and the scars of conflict remained in the form of shattered buildings and broken lives.

As she surveyed the scene, Elaniel was overwhelmed by a profound sadness. The scent of blood lingered in the air, stubbornly resisting any attempts to mask or erase it through magical means.

Despite the concerted efforts to clean and rebuild, the memories of the battle and its aftermath were etched into the very soil and structures around her.

The scale of loss and devastation was impossible to ignore, and Elaniel's heart ached for all those who had suffered and perished in the conflict.

Swoosh….!

A sudden and deafening swoosh cut through the air, propelling Elaniel with a jolt of unexpected force.

She tumbled to the ground, disoriented and struggling to regain her bearings, her ears filled with the ringing noises that followed the abrupt movement.

As she attempted to stand, she realized that she was drenched in a strange, bluish liquid that seemed to rain down upon her.

Confusion and fear gripped her. 'What is happening?' she thought, trying to make sense of the bizarre circumstances.

The ground beneath her quaked, and an explosive blast shattered the quiet of the surroundings, mere meters away from her.

Turning her gaze, Elaniel's heart sank as she witnessed her contracted spirit, North's head, whose eyes had lost their usual vibrancy.

She looked back and a chill ran down her spine as she saw a torrent of bluish blood gushing from his severed neck, forming a macabre and ghastly rain around her.

"Hmm, that dog was pretty weak, huh? It couldn't even react, but I did get a bit stronger since the last time, hehe" a voice resonated from her side. Elaniel swiftly turned her head towards the source of the sound, only to be met by the sight of a blue-haired elven child. The child bore an eerie, sinister smile, and her tongue licked her lips in an unsettling manner.

"Wh--?"

Before Elaniel could utter a word, her voice was abruptly muffled as black tentacles coiled around her mouth, with one of them intruding into her throat.

"Shhh..!!" The child held her finger to her lips, signaling Elaniel to stay silent.

The queen's eyes widened in terror and confusion as she grappled with the strange and horrifying situation that was unfolding before her.

"Ahh! I wanted to make you suffer first, but time's running out, you see," the child exclaimed, her gaze darting towards the approaching sound of guards. Panic surged through Elaniel as she realized that their arrival might be her only hope of salvation.

The sinister child took a step forward, summoning even darker and more menacing black tentacles that oozed with dark miasma.

Fear and desperation welled up within Elaniel as she attempted to rise, but the tentacles around her throat tightened their grip, making it impossible for her to move.

The queen could feel the ominous threat of her impending doom, and a cold chill ran down her spine, she would die the moment she resisted.

The dark tentacles, gnashing with countless teeth, coiled around Elaniel's body, and her world became a nightmarish symphony of agony.

The sharp, serrated teeth bit into her flesh, tearing it apart with every cruel bite.

It felt as if her very essence was being devoured, inch by agonizing inch. She wanted to scream, but her voice was muffled by the tentacle clamped over her mouth.

Desperate and in excruciating pain, she tried to channel her mana to defend herself, to escape the nightmarish feast the tentacles had embarked upon, but her magic was mysteriously sealed.

The frustration and helplessness only added to her torment.

The child's chilling laughter echoed in her ears as she brought Elaniel closer, her icy fingers brushing against the queen's tortured face. The young child's touch was both chilling and invasive. Her voice dripped with sadistic pleasure as she reveled in Elaniel's suffering.

"Ah!... that's it, that's exactly it, how beautiful!" the child purred, her crimson eyes filled with a sinister delight. She relished every ounce of fear and pain that coursed through Elaniel's body.

The child paused for a moment, savoring the torment she was inflicting upon her helpless victim before leaning closer.

"If I have to take you quickly, it's better to do it this way, right?" The child's voice was a dark, lilting melody, each word laced with malevolence.

She brought her tongue to Elaniel's face, licking away the tears that streamed down her tormented expression.

"Every inch of fear and pain you're feeling right now is truly..." She paused, savoring the moment, then whispered, "Delicious"

Elaniel couldn't even respond as there were no lights on her majestic green eyes yet before the child even realized it was only her head that was left.

"She was too good; I ate her too quickly!" the child complained, her voice a disturbing blend of innocence and malevolence.

With Elaniel's head cradled in her grotesque, outstretched hand, the child's wicked desire for transformation welled up inside her. Her once childlike features twisted and contorted, shrouding her face in complete darkness. The innocent child was gone, replaced by an entity of malevolence.

As her face morphed, her sharp teeth manifested, forming a ghastly grin.

But her disappointment was short-lived. A realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. She recognized the presence of another energy within the queen – her father's energy. Without hesitation, the child engulfed Elaniel's head with a single voracious gulp. Her once-beautiful features were now lost to the ravenous darkness that consumed her.

'No, a similar one?'

This unexpected revelation filled her with intrigue, momentarily overshadowing her hunger.

'Why can I feel father's energy on her?' The child's crimson eyes widened in curiosity. She wasn't sure how her father's energy had become intertwined with this woman, but it piqued her interest.

Before she could fully digest Elaniel, she decided to act on this newfound discovery. With a sinister grin, she sealed the queen's soul deep within her stomach.

The queen's consciousness was preserved, temporarily safe from the impending darkness that threatened to consume her.

As the child devoured Elaniel's head, her transformation was rapid and complete. In the blink of an eye, her form shifted from that of a young, innocent elven child to a fully grown woman. A shroud of darkness enveloped her naked, voluptuous body, and she marveled at the incredible power this body held.

"This woman is quite powerful for a mere elf!" Fael, or rather Elaniel now, couldn't help but smile widely as she examined her new body. With a wave of her hand, water manifested in front of her, creating a reflective surface that allowed her to view her new self.

She gazed at her reflection, admiring the golden hair, emerald green eyes, ample breasts, and a face and body that could rival the Goddess of Light herself.

She felt like she had struck gold by absorbing this body, grateful for the powerful mana presence that had drawn her to it high above in the air.

'This body is powerful but it lacks the potential of that princess I saw earlier'

With a loud rustle, the guards arrived, their armor clanking as they knelt before her.

"Y-your majesty!" one of them stammered, their voices filled with reverence.

Fael was taken aback by the sudden arrival of the guards. While she had known they were coming, her focus had been preoccupied with her newly acquired form.

As she watched them in a mix of surprise and curiosity, a thought dawned on her: Did they mistake her for the queen?

The guards' unwavering loyalty and respect puzzled her. 'Wait she was the queen?'

In the silence that followed their arrival, the guards exchanged puzzled glances and shifted uncomfortably, uncertain about the purpose of this late-night rendezvous.

The queen's seductive smile and her alluring appearance were a stark departure from their expectations. Bathed in the silvery glow of the moon, she exuded a magnetic charm that held them spellbound.

The dark dress she wore seemed almost like a second skin, accentuating every contour and curve of her body, adding to her mystique and allure.

The four guards couldn't help but fix their gaze upon her, captivated by the enigmatic queen who had suddenly become a seductive temptress.

Time seemed to slow down, and for a brief three seconds, they savored the forbidden sight before them. It was as if they were under a bewitching spell, unable to resist the allure she projected.

But their enchantment was brutally interrupted. In the blink of an eye, their heads tumbled from their shoulders, rolling on the ground.

"You dare lust over me! only father has that privilege!"

Ignoring their lifeless corpses, she couldn't help but laugh hysterically. She didn't know why the queen had suddenly ventured out at night like this, but she didn't care.

All that mattered was that she was now the queen, and with this newfound authority, she had a way to access the child's untapped potential.

She looked toward the castle and licked her watery lips, contemplating the most painful and dreadful methods she could employ before ultimately devouring the child.

"Wait for me, Iselia. Mommy's coming, hahaha."