Chapter Two Twenty-Two Years Earlier
1520 Words
Twenty-Two Years Earlier
Long before prophecies were broken...
Long before a woman named Mwansa fought for her life inside a hospital...
Long before Michael stood outside an operating theatre waiting for fate to decide the future...
There was Earth Z.
The Kingdom of Earth Z was unlike any place known to humankind. It was hidden beyond the borders of the human world, it was a land where magic breathed through the air and every sunrise painted the mountains in shades of gold and crimson. Crystal rivers flowed through ancient forests, while towering waterfalls disappeared into valleys untouched by human eyes.
Creatures of every kind called Earth Z home.
Werewolves hunted beneath the full moon without fear.
Witches practiced their craft openly.
Fairies danced through the forests, their wings shimmering like scattered diamonds.
Oracles guarded the future.
Mermaids ruled the deepest lakes.
Shapeshifters, vampires, elves, and countless other beings lived under one kingdom.
Despite their differences, peace had ruled Earth Z for generations.
Not because there was no evil...
But because there was balance.
At the heart of that balance stood the Royal Palace.
Built from white stone that glowed beneath the moonlight, it overlooked every region of the kingdom.
From there, King Nando and Queen Natacha ruled with wisdom and fairness.
The kingdom was too vast for one family to govern alone.
So they appointed noble families to oversee each region.
These families became known as the Royal Council.
Each council member swore an oath to protect the kingdom before themselves.
For many...
It was an honour.
For others...
It was power.
And power had a way of changing people.
•••
Several miles from the capital stood the Phiri Estate.
Rolling fields stretched as far as the eye could see.
Workers moved through endless rows of crops while enchanted sprinklers watered the fields without human hands.
Beyond the crops lay greenhouses filled with rare herbs found nowhere else in either world.
Some healed disease.
Some strengthened magic.
Others...
Were so dangerous that only members of the Royal Council were permitted to grow them.
Lady Chansa Phiri smiled proudly as she walked between the rows of herbs.
She gently brushed her fingertips across the glowing leaves.
"They're growing beautifully."
A tiny fairy no bigger than her hand fluttered onto her shoulder.
"The Moon Lilies are ready for harvesting."
Chansa smiled.
"Thank you."
The little fairy bowed before flying away.
To anyone watching, Chansa looked like an ordinary woman tending her garden.
Only those who truly knew her understood how powerful she really was.
Born into one of the oldest witch bloodlines in Earth Z, Chansa possessed abilities few could rival.
And yet...
The title she treasured most wasn't Council Member.
It was simply...
Wife.
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind.
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
She laughed without turning around.
"I wondered how long it would take before my wolf found me."
Choolwe rested his chin on her shoulder.
"I always find you."
"You say that every day."
"And every day I'm right."
She turned in his arms and smiled.
Five years of marriage hadn't changed the way he looked at her.
If anything...
He loved her more now than he had on their wedding day.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I just wanted to see my wife."
"You left me less than an hour ago."
"I know."
"And you missed me already?"
"Terribly."
She laughed and shook her head.
"My handsome, dramatic husband."
"I prefer romantic."
She reached up and kissed his cheek.
"I know you do."
For a moment, the rest of the world disappeared.
No council meetings.
No responsibilities.
No expectations.
Just them.
Just as it had always been.
Or...
As they wished it could always be.
A voice echoed across the fields.
"My Lord!"
"My Lady!"
One of the workers came running towards them.
He stopped several feet away before bowing respectfully.
"The Council requests your presence tomorrow morning."
Choolwe exchanged a glance with his wife.
"They've called another meeting?"
The worker nodded.
"They said it concerns the future of the Council."
Silence settled between the couple.
Neither of them needed to ask what that meant.
Five years.
Five years of marriage.
Five years without a child.
In Earth Z, council seats were passed down through bloodlines.
Without an heir...
Their family's position would pass to another branch of the Phiri family.
One that neither of them trusted.
Chansa slipped her hand into her husband's.
"We'll face it together."
"As we always do."
Choolwe smiled softly.
"As we always do."
Neither of them noticed the tiny fairy watching from the roof of the greenhouse.
Tamara folded her hands together.
Her golden wings shimmered in the afternoon sunlight.
A worried expression crossed her delicate face.
The winds of magic had begun to change.
And whenever the winds changed...
Destiny wasn't far behind.
The worker excused himself, leaving Choolwe and Chansa standing in silence.
The cheerful atmosphere that had filled the herb gardens only moments before had vanished.
Choolwe gently squeezed his wife's hand.
"They've finally run out of patience."
Chansa looked away.
"I knew this day would come."
Neither of them spoke for a while.
There was nothing left to say.
They had spent the last five years visiting every healer in Earth Z.
Every potion master.
Every fertility witch.
Every oracle who claimed to see the future.
Nothing had worked.
Their home was filled with empty nurseries, unopened toys and dreams that seemed further away with every passing year.
"I've failed you," Choolwe said quietly.
Chansa immediately turned towards him.
"Don't ever say that."
"It's true."
She cupped his face with both hands.
"No."
"We made vows."
"We promised to stand together in happiness and in sorrow."
She smiled through the sadness in her eyes.
"I didn't marry you because I wanted a council seat."
"I married you because I fell in love with the kindest man in Earth Z."
His eyes softened.
"And I'd choose you again."
"Every lifetime."
A small smile finally appeared on Choolwe's face.
"You always know how to silence me."
"That's one of my many talents."
He laughed.
"There she is."
"My wife."
"My troublemaker."
"I prefer favourite wife."
"My only wife."
She stood on her toes and kissed him.
Behind them, several workers smiled quietly before returning to their duties.
Everyone on the estate knew how much Lord and Lady Phiri loved one another.
It was one of the reasons the people remained loyal to them.
They weren't rulers who demanded respect.
They earned it.
•••
As the afternoon sun began to set, the estate slowly grew quieter.
Workers returned to their homes.
The greenhouses were sealed for the evening.
The wolves assigned to patrol the property prepared for the night watch.
Inside the manor, Chansa walked into the nursery.
The room had remained untouched for years.
Soft cream-coloured walls.
A beautifully carved crib.
Tiny blankets folded neatly on a rocking chair.
A shelf filled with storybooks waiting for a child who had never come.
She slowly traced her fingers across the crib.
A tear escaped before she could stop it.
"I still believe," she whispered.
"I know you'll find us one day."
A familiar pair of arms wrapped around her waist.
"I've been looking everywhere."
She leaned back against her husband.
"I just needed a moment."
He followed her gaze around the room.
His heart broke all over again.
Every few months they packed the room away.
Every few months Chansa decorated it all over again.
Hope refused to leave her heart.
And he loved her for it.
"I'll never stop trying," he whispered.
She turned to face him.
"I know."
"Promise me something."
"Anything."
"If the Council takes our seat..."
He shook his head before she could finish.
"They won't take us."
She smiled sadly.
"No."
"They can't."
He rested his forehead against hers.
"No title."
"No crown."
"No Council."
"Nothing could ever make me love you less."
She closed her eyes.
"I love you, Choolwe."
"I love you more."
The peace was interrupted by a sudden gust of wind that swept through the open window.
Candles flickered.
The curtains danced wildly.
Even the flowers outside seemed to bow.
Both of them frowned.
"Did you feel that?" Chansa asked.
Choolwe nodded.
"Magic."
"Powerful magic."
Not dark.
Not light.
Ancient.
The hairs on the back of Choolwe's neck stood upright.
His wolf stirred restlessly.
Something's coming.
Chova's deep voice echoed inside his mind.
I know.
No...
The wolf sounded unusually serious.
Not something.
Someone.
Before Choolwe could respond, a baby's cry echoed faintly across the estate.
Both he and Chansa froze.
They looked at each other.
"Did you hear that?" Chansa whispered.
Another cry drifted through the evening air.
This time...
There was no mistaking it.
It was a child.
A child crying somewhere beyond the herb fields.
Without another word, Chansa was already running.
"Chansa!" Choolwe shouted as he chased after her.
Neither of them knew...
That with every step they took...
Destiny was leading them towards the little girl who would change both Earth and Earth Z forever.
- Writer
