Reborn

PROLOGUE The ritual

PROLOGUE

The ritual

The door behind the throne opened, and two women entered the hidden chamber—one carrying a baby in a cradle. Queen Gertrude placed the child in the center of the pentagram drawn on the floor and stepped back toward her sister Clara.

“Don’t worry, dear. We will protect our girl, I swear!” Clara stated, making the queen glance at her. Gertrude smiled in response, but her smile did not reach her eyes. However, for her daughter, she took a few long breaths to ease her mind.

Meanwhile, five representatives from different realms arranged themselves on the pentagram following the star’s beam sequence.

“What is her name?” asked the young woman, preparing the potion.

“Zoe,” replied Gertrude.

“Zoe means life,” said the woman, smiling.

The queen studied the guest without looking away. She was petite with beautiful facial features. Sharp cheekbones, blue eyes, and snow-white hair make her look like an angel. Her clothing resembled a warrior’s attire, but she had no weapons.

“My name is Freya—priestess of the Temple of Gaia, a magister, and a battle master of the Fai Kingdom,” she introduced herself, feeling the queen’s gaze.

“Nice to meet you, Freya. I am glad Nova sent you.” Her Majesty welcomed the battle master.

“Shall we begin?” the young man questioned, glancing around.

Standing over seven feet tall, he had shoulders broader than Her Majesty had ever seen. He stood like a mountain on the pentagram’s slender beam, barely fitting between the lines. “Definitely a deadly warrior,” she thought as she kept looking at the man.

His head was clean-shaven, except for a patch of wavy hair on the crown. A scar from a wild animal’s claws marred his face. His mustache curls at the tips, framing a powerful jaw. The warrior’s clothes also piqued the queen’s genuine interest. He wore loose red trousers, a white linen shirt embroidered with unique patterns, a leather vest over a vast black fabric belt, a small bag, a saber in a sheath, and black boots. His left ear held a horseshoe-shaped golden earring, and a wooden cross adorned his chest.

“He terrifies me,” Gertrude muttered.

“Look into the boy’s eyes,” protested Clara. “He is as harmless as a kitten! A person’s eyes reveal their essence.”

Indeed, the giant’s gaze was gentle, loving, and caring.

Meanwhile, Freya handed the group a mug with a potion, and everyone in the circle took a sip. Then she cast a spell, and a protective barrier rose around the pentagram.

“It has begun!” said Clara, grasping her sister’s hand.

“I am Freya, a magister of the Fai Kingdom and priestess of the Temple of Gaia, and I pledge my undying devotion and protection to you, Zoe, the Goddess of Life. My magic is your magic; my warriors are your warriors. Forever and ever, down to the last drop of blood and breath.”

Her voice boomed throughout the room, and a pillar of light shaped like a tree rose from where she stood.

“I am Cossack Characternik Buryi, and I pledge my undying devotion to you, young Zoe. My magic, my saber, and my brothers belong to you. To the last drop of blood, to the last breath, forever!”

A tremendous burst of light emanated from the young man’s position, and his words echoed throughout the room like the roar of an untamed beast.

“I am Wu, the dragon warrior, and I swear to Zoe to do faithful and eternal service. My dragon is your dragon; my sword is your sword. This bond will endure until the very end of my existence.”

Responding to his words, a luminous dragon rose from the darkness, hovered above the cradle, and took flight.

“I am the Tan Lake Kingdom water mage named Philip, and I swear to serve you, Princess Zoe. My magic and wisdom are yours. I promise to protect you until my last breath.”

With a loving smile, Philip looked at his princess, the long-awaited heiress to the throne. Following his words, the light in the shape of water droplets soared in vertical flight.

“I am Benjamin, a warrior from the Land of Wolves; with my beast, Shin, we swear allegiance to Princess Zoe. We pledge our souls to you and promise to protect you until the last drop of blood, forever!”

The werewolf’s oath sealed the circle, and a big white wolf ran through the air before disappearing at the top of the barrier.

The star shone with a bright glow that gradually crept toward the cradle, covering it entirely until the princess’s body absorbed every drop, causing the baby’s eyes to glow.

“He’s still a child!” Gertrude sent a narrowed gaze at Benjamin as she spoke with her sister. “He should play with cars instead of taking the protection oath.”

“Benji may be just ten years old, but he is already our pack’s top tracker,” Clara said, “and Mother Selene approached him with a blessing to assist Zoe. King George trusts a kid’s nose more than his own, and for the record, we are lycans.”

“If you’re confident in a boy, then I have no reason to worry.” The queen nodded in agreement.

After the ritual, Freya gathered everyone around the princess. “When the time comes, the call will bring us together. Our duty as guardians is to transfer the Goddess of Life to the Fai Kingdom for training. We are placing the young goddess in your care.” She looked at Philip. “Make sure she’s protected.”

“I swear with my life to keep her safe,” Philip promised.

The battle master nodded and walked over to the crib. “You are too cute,” she said, gently picking up Zoe. With the princess in her arms, she made her way around the room, her gaze fixed on the infant wrapped in an embroidered blanket. The child mesmerized the magister. Looking like a porcelain doll, her bow-shaped lips released drooling bubbles, while large emerald eyes peered into the guardian’s soul. “You are so defenseless,” whispered Freya. “I shouldn’t be doing this, but who can blame me?” With her back turned, the magister drew the Gaia Tree symbol on the child’s forehead and cast a Protective Spell. “Now my heart is at peace; you’re safe from curses, potions, and darkness.” She kissed the princess’s eyes and handed her over to Buryi.

Even though he was careful, Gertrude shivered when the Cossack’s massive hands held her daughter.

“Calm down! The gods chose him to be Zuzu’s guardian for a reason; there’s no need to panic,” Clara stated, trying to calm the queen.

“It’s easy for you to say!” Gertrude dismissed her sister as she watched Buryi gently cradling the baby and making silly faces.

“My lady, I cannot protect you from birth, but I will give you my magic. You will tell no one, will you?” The Cossack hid Zoe from the others with his back, draped ashes on the baby’s head, and chanted a spell.

“No arrow, knife, or bullet will kill my little Zoe; they will neither harm her body nor touch her soul. With the help of sacred ashes, I call upon the Great Mother to shield you from any weapon in this world.”

The giant, pleased with his work, announced, “Well, it seems like you’re immune to death now.”

He kissed the baby’s forehead and handed it to Wu, a short man around twenty-five years old wearing a long brown caftan with an embroidered fireball ornament. He carried a black cloth backpack, and a sword slung over his shoulder. The warrior was beaming with pride because the Great Nüwa had trusted him with an important mission, and he was ready to sacrifice his life to see it through.

“You are a gift from the gods.” Wu swayed the baby back and forth, admiring how she wrinkled her nose. “I present you with the dragon’s seal; it will help me find you wherever you are.” He placed a piece of paper with a red dragon drawing next to the princess, and the baby’s skin absorbed it. “Happy birthday, Lady Zoe!” Wu said as he handed the baby to Benjamin.

Despite his young age, the boy acted responsibly, like an adult, taking ownership of his duties. After the Mother of Werewolves picked him to protect the princess, the ten-year-old rascal vanished from view.

“Little Zoe, your sister has a gift for you. Selene gave me this talisman; with its help, she can speak to you.” The boy pulled a parchment from his pocket and pressed it to the child’s chest. The letters written on it crawled over Zoe and dissolved, hiding under her skin.

Afterward, it was Philip’s turn. A tall, slender man in his thirties, with kind green eyes, gently cradled the baby. Zoe swiftly grabbed his curly, dark brown hair and squeezed her fist. Philip smiled as he released himself from the princess’s grip.

“Our precious child! We’ve been waiting for your birth for so long! The monks from the Water Temple have requested me to give you a special gift for the occasion.” After casting a spell over the newborn, Philip sprinkled her with water from the holy spring, washing her forehead, palms, and feet. “This will shield you from all diseases and poisons, and injuries will heal quickly,” the mage said, and, hiding the evidence of his magic, he passed the heiress to the queen.

Freya looked at Gertrude and spoke in a warning tone. “Be careful, Your Majesty; I feel evil has made this castle its home. Do not trust anyone; only those with pure love in their hearts will be safe for you to be around. Because if the heart is full of love, no one can fill it with darkness.” The sisters exchanged glances in response to fai’s warning. “Guardians, we will meet in eighteen years when our oath of protection comes into force,” Freya said, exiting through the portal to the Fai Kingdom.

“I wish you all well!” Buryi messed up Benjamin’s hair and jumped into his realm.

“See you soon!” Wu promised and, with a bow, disappeared into thin air.

“It’s time, Luna,” Benjamin said to Clara while fixing his hair.

She nodded, taking her niece in her arms, and smiled at the baby’s angelic face. Red hair emerged beneath the little hat, and stunning emerald green eyes studied the aunt. Clara kissed the infant on the nose before returning the bundle to Gertrude. “We’ll return in a month; just be careful, sweetie. If s**t hits the fan, I’ll move you and Zoe to Victoria,” she promised her sister.

“I hope it won’t come to that.” Her Majesty smiled, trying to convince her sister that everything was under control. But in reality, she felt her anxiety, like a storm raging in her heart.

Clara smiled back at Gertrude and wrapped her in a comforting embrace. The women kissed each other on the cheeks and said goodbye.

Gertrude lifted the cradle and, accompanied by Philip, left the secret room.