The Forgotten Queen

Surprise

After Isla's return to the Mist Voyagers' Camp, the members celebrated without knowing that Isla did not have magic. Edward sent word to the Temple Palace about the situation.

Kai and Aiden prepared for their journey back to the kingdom. Sara helped Isla relax after her adventure within the Black Mist.

Isla remained silent, even though Sara tried to brighten up Isla's mood. Sare thought Isla was upset about the failed mission, but Isla was deep in thought. She ignored Sara's rumbles as she thought of Wolf's statement.

Why would anyone from the Aurora Kingdom want to cause harm to its own nation?

The following morning, Edward, Aiden, Sara, and Isla are ready to leave, with Kai joining them. Also, Wolf was following closely beside Isla.

Edward had not said a word to Isla since the other day. Isla wishes they could discuss everything. She wondered if he worried that talking about her not being blessed with her power would make her sad. But she just needed to reassure him.

It has already been five hours into the Shadow Forest. Both Wolf and Sara were chatting. Of course, only Isla could Wolf rumbling on and on about the each Shadow Beast that kept him company. The worry of Edward and the two chatter of Sara and Wolf filled Isla's mind.

Isla groaned in annoyance and clicked her tongue to encourage her horse to run. "Isla!?"

Isla heard Sara call out as she raced away from the party. She passed Edward and continued to run ahead of the group. More calling echoed behind her, but she ignored them and tapped her horse to increase its pace.

"Where are you going?" Wolf asked. His voice echoed in her head, but she shook her head and ignored him. "Isla!"

Isla continued to ignore him. Her breathing increased, her eyes burning with tears and an ache in her throat.

Suddenly, a wall of shadow appeared in front of Isla. A gasp escaped her lips as her horse jumped. Isla slipped off the horse and landed on her back.

Isla's wide gaze watched her horse kick and neigh. She rolled away from her horse as it ran around into the woods. "Isla, get back!" Aiden said, riding towards her with his sword drawn.

The shadow wall fell, and the roaring of people clashed with Aiden. Isla held her breath, stumbling back, and pushed herself up. Edward and Kai ran past her, helping Aiden fight the surprise.

Armed troops attacked with swords drawn. Isla's hand reached for her sword. However, her hand met emptiness, and she glanced to her side, realizing her sword was on her horse.

"Isla, stay back!" Sara said, grabbing Isla's arm and pulling her back. Isla watched in fear behind Sara, seeing Veritas' troops.

Her mind flashed back to her past as she clenched Sara's sleeve. Her heart raced, watching Aiden and Kai up front, fighting a dozen and more knights. Isla's eyes lifted, meeting dark grey eyes and a chilling shiver ran down her spine.

"Isla?"

Wolf placed his hand on Isla's shoulder, causing her to flinch and snapping her frightened gaze to a confused Wolf. "Are you okay?" he asked, frowning his brows.

"Sara, take Isla back to the camp!" Aiden yelled as he kicked a man down.

Sara did not argue, turned to grab Isla, and dragged her towards her horse. Isla glanced over her shoulder, feeling history was repeating itself. "I need to help," she murmured her breath, and her gaze landed on one of the dead soldiers.

Isla pulled her arm away from Sara's grasp, dashing towards the battlefield. She grabbed the sword that lay on the ground, and she pushed herself into the fight.

Kai and Aiden glanced at each other as Isla lunged, attacking the soldiers. Aiden groaned in annoyance, waving his hand, and his shadows emerged from the ground. The shadow wrapped itself around the soldiers before Isla, then lifted them and threw them far across the forest.

More stepped forward, and Edward approached Isla. He grabbed Isla, dragging her away. "Edward, stop! I must fight!" Isla said, struggling against his grasp.

"You stop this nonsense!" Edward said, forcefully turning Isla to face him.

Isla's eyes widen, seeing Edward's frightful gaze at her. He lifted his fist, opened it, and blew a white powder. She inhaled the white smoke, and her eyes flickered close, then her body fell onto Edward.

Aiden glanced over, seeing Edward carrying Isla into his arms. "Sara, help Edward!" Aiden said.

However, Edward did give Aiden any glance. Aiden's senses were alarmingly high, and his gaze met Edward's. Edward smirked, then snapped his finger, and a bright white light engulfed Edward.

Once the light faded, both Edward and Isla were gone. Kai knocked a soldier down and gasped. "What just happened?" he asked, glancing at Aiden.

Aiden's shocked expression turned to an emotionless expression, then he glanced over to see more troops approaching. Aiden lifted his sword, ready to fight, and sighed. "Stand your ground!" he said.

Roars of battle echoed through the Shadow Forest.

A groan rumbled from the back of Isla's throat. Her eyes clenched closed, and her memories flashed before her eyes. Veritas' sigil attacks the group at Shadow Forest.

Her eyes snapped open, remembering Edward blowing a white powder on her face. Another groan slipped Isla's lips, feeling like her head aching and tightening.

Isla tried pushing herself up, but her body felt paralyzed. Her eyebrows frowned in confusion, and she glanced around, seeing a familiar white marble ceiling.

"What's going on?" Isla asked.

She glanced at her tied-down wrist, then gazed at her fingers. Isla screamed in her head, commanding her fingers to move. However, they stayed still, and she glanced over to the other.

Still the same.

"Why do you stand in my way?"

An angry voice filled the room, and Isla felt chills running down her spine. Her ears peeked, hearing the person's footsteps approaching her. "What's wrong?" they asked.

A nervous gulp went down Isla's throat as she hesitantly turned her gaze. Isla's eyes wetted, and she shook her head 'no.'

"What are you doing?" Isla asked with a cracked voice.

"What does it look like?"

"Please... Edward..."

A sob escaped from Isla's lips as the tears burned, rolling down her side. Edward smirked devilishly and sighed, stepping forward and caressing her hair back. "You failed, and I cannot let you ruin my powers," he said.

Tears streamed from Isla's tears, screaming in her mind to command her body. Her body did not move, and Edward shook his head again.

"You cannot do this! What are you doing?"

"I cannot?"

He scoffed, stepping backward. Edward turned on his heels and walked towards the only window in the room. "I gave you this gift, and I can take it back. I should kill you before history repeats itself. If you die, then my powers will break."

"What are you talking about?" Isla cried, rolling her eyes away from Edward. She could not look at him or believe this was happening.

Edward shrugged his shoulders, sighed, and then put his hands on his back. He does not glance over at Isla. "I was a young wizard with no skill in magic. Trivia was a hero and my friend..." He said, then scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"However, I do have a mind for knowledge and discovery... Since I had no skills in magic, I spent my days in libraries and temples. That was when I discovered a way to get power for our kingdom. Spirit World has infinite energy, and we can connect this magic with all four elements... Also, close to death experience."

Isla slowly turned her gaze, staring at Edward's back. Quiet tears continued to flow from her eyes. Isla did not know what was happening, and she could not believe this was happening.

"It was clear and straightforward. However, the elders did not want this new power to be given to me. I knew the element leaders would agree to this idea as we were at war..." Edward said, turning on his heels and smirking devilishly at Isla. "... But I also knew there was one person who could bridge the gap between the elementals and the elders..."

"Trivia..." both Isla and Edward said.

He hummed, strolling towards Isla. Edward nods his head, "a friend to trust. He agreed to help as this was to bring honor and greatness to our nation. It may sound joyish, but I could not let this power slipe my hands and added a link to the first Guardian."

"Is that why there is a Black Mist?" Isla asked.

"The Black Mist!? I do not know why and where it came from, but I do not care. I have lived this long for this power I made."

The tears in my eyes continued to stream down Isla's eyes, but her eyes were filled with anger. Isla's heart pounded against her chest as she expressed an unemotional facial. She remained silent, glaring at the man she once looked up to.

She forced a gulp and stared straight into his eyes. "Are you telling me this because you are going to kill me?" she asked.

"It must be done to get my powers back and move to a new plan. I will use you to tap into the four elements and put an end to those flies. Thank you for failing," Edward said, caressing Isla's wet cheek.

Isla closed her eyes and sighed, feeling her breathing shake. Everything was a lie.

"Who knows?" she asked.

"I would never that the chance. So, what do you think?"

Isla's jaw clenched, and her lips remained shut. She thought about everything, this timeline and the past timeline. Voices filled her head, and her eyes slowly opened, turning her gaze and seeing Wolf standing behind Edward.

Wolf had a straight face, staring over Edward's shoulder and down at Isla. He clearly tells Isla had close feelings for Edward. Isla knew deep inside that she pushed her feelings for Edward aside, then nodded slightly.

Wolf nods, glaring at the back of Edward's neck, and extends his hand, summoning a dagger. Isla felt the scene slowing down, glancing at Edward and then closing her eyes.

A deal was a deal, and this broke her heart. The fact the person she cared closely about was betraying the very people she vowed to protect. She could not watch Edward die, but she needed it.

Suddenly, a thundering c***k echoed in Isla's ears. She snapped her eyes open and glanced over at Edward and Wolf. Edward and Wolf glared heated daggers into each other's eyes, face to face with their blades pushing against each other.

Edward grinned ear to ear, and Wolf gave him a sly smirk. They pushed their blades but proved they were evenly matched.

"I sensed something was off with Isla after returning from the mission..." Edward said, narrowing his gaze at Wolf.

"And I knew something was off about you," Wolf said, tilting his head to the side.

Silence engulfed the tense atmosphere. Isla watched frightfully, paralyzed on the table. "Is Edward even your name?" Wolf asked, then pushed them apart.

Edward stumbled back, bumping the edge of the Isla. His gaze never left Wolf as Wolf jumped across. Edward and Wolf kept their heated glare on each other.

Wolf summoned another dagger, and Edward lifted his sword. "Why are you not dead?" Edward asked.

"Maybe because the gods got tired of your cruelty and greed," Wolf said, shrugging his shoulders.

Edward scoffed, and both lunged toward each other. A gush of wind blew from their impact, and sparkle twinkled as their blades clashed and danced with each other. Edward moved gracefully and quick, but Wolf's aggressive approach matched Edward's.

Wolf's one dagger blocked Edward's attack while the other swept under. Edward pushed back, then Wolf and himself stumbled backward before lunging another attack.

Isla watched in horror as they moved at speed, hearing their blades clash. She glanced down at her fingers, trying to get them to move. "Please, please, please..." she whispered, screaming in her mind the command.

Suddenly, Wolf stumbled to Isla's side, causing her to gasp in surprise and snap her gaze at him. Wolf smirked at her. "Are you good?" he asked.

She glanced over at his shoulders, seeing Edward still standing and looking to be summoning a spell. "Get me out of this!" Isla said.

Wolf glanced over his shoulder and groaned under his breath. "You get yourself out," he said, breaking one of the stone bands around her wrist before attacking Edward.

Once the band scattered away from her wrist, Isla tested out her fingers, and they moved. "Hurry! We may have company!"

Wolf exclaimed, pushing Edward back; it looked like magic was coming out.