Chapter 269

The Light Fae realm remained quiet.

Blood had been spilled across its sacred grounds, and the Dark Fae had finally been driven back beyond the borders they had crossed.

The battlefield was still.

Broken trees stood at strange angles, with their branches stripped bare. Pieces of weapons lay scattered across the silver grass. The once-bright flowers that covered the valley had been trampled into the earth.

Smoke still drifted through the air.

Somewhere in the distance, a wounded Light Fae cried out. Another voice answered, and then silence returned.

Beatrice stood near the edge of the battlefield. Her yellow dress was stained with dirt, but there was no blood on her.

She looked around slowly.

The war had ended, but it didn’t feel like a victory. The war lasted almost a year.

Her eyes searched the battlefield. “King Asterion?”

There was no answer.

Baetrice turned. “King Asterion?”

This time, a Light Fae looked toward her. “Baetrice.”

Beatrice’s expression tightened. “Are you alright?” Her voice softened.

The young fae hesitated.

“Where is the king?” she asked again.

“He was near the portal.”

Beatrice’s face changed. “The portal?” She asked, her eyes widened. Just one portal was opened all through the war and she almost wished she had gone through.

The fae nodded. “He hasn’t returned.”

Beatrice immediately turned. She started walking, then she stopped. Something was wrong. She could feel it in her heart.

For a brief second, she felt as if her heart had been ripped forcefully out of her chest.

The light fae around her immediately continued searching. They could not leave Asterion laying around. Asterion’s magic had always been different.

It had existed long before the current generation of Light Fae had been born.

He was one of the few faes who could open a passage between realms without destroying himself.

And he had used that gift for Aire.

Beatrice began moving faster with hopes she might find the portal.

The Light Fae around her followed.

Beatrice continued alone. She paid no attention to the light fae behind her. She followed the faint trail of silver magic through the trees.

The farther she went, the colder the air became. After a few minutes, she saw him.

Asterion was kneeling on the ground. One hand was pressed against the earth. His head hung low.

For a moment, Baetrice thought he was resting. Then she saw his hair.

Her breath caught. “King Asterion.”

He slowly lifted his head.

His face was pale. Too pale.

And his hair… It was changing. The silver-white strands around his face had begun to darken.

Not all at once. Slowly. One strand at a time. Like ink spreading through water.

Beatrice stopped. She stepped toward him. “You can barely stand.”

Asterion looked at her. “Return to the castle.” he ordered

Her brows furrowed. She bowed slightly. “King—”

“You are not part of this.” His voice was calm, but there was no room for argument.

Baetrice stopped.

He turned away from her.

Asterion tried to stand. His knees buckled. Another strand of his hair darkened.

Beatrice rushed toward him. “Asterion!”

His eyes opened. “Stay back.” he snapped.

“You’re losing your magic.” She pointed out in horror. “Let me help.”

Asterion’s expression remained cold. “You are a prisoner in this realm, Queen Beatrice. Whatever kindness has been shown to you does not make you one of us.”

Beatrice went still.

“Go.”

She stared at him for a moment before stepping back.

Eleanor, a light fae rushed towards him urgently. “Asterion…”

He closed his eyes. “I made the portal.” He told Eleanor.

Eleanor’s expression changed. “For Aire.”

He nodded. “I sent her through.”

“And?”

“I closed it after she passed but I wasn’t quick to stop what followed her.” Asterion swallowed. “I should have been able to recover.”

“Then why is your magic leaving you?” Eleanor asked.

Asterion didn’t answer.

Eleanor’s eyes widened.

“Your magic…” She placed her hand against his chest. Her face immediately changed. There was almost nothing there.

Asterion’s magic was fading.

Not weakening. It was leaving slowly, piece by piece.

Eleanor pulled her hand away. “Call the healers.” She told Beatrice. “Quick.”

Several Light Fae immediately ran toward them.

Asterion shook his head. “No.”

Eleanor glared at him. “Do not tell me no.”

“They won’t be able to stop it.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do.”

“Asterion.”

He looked at her. For the first time, fear appeared in his eyes. “I can feel it.”

Beatrice’s expression softened.

“What can you feel?” Eleanor asked.

Asterion looked down at his hands. “They’re taking it.”

His voice dropped. “It’s leaving. My brother is taking it through the portal.”

The first healer arrived. Then another. Then three more. They immediately surrounded him.

“Move him.”

“Carefully.”

“Don’t touch his chest.”

“His pulse is dropping.”

Beatrice stepped back. “What happened to him?” She asked quietly.

One of the healers looked at Asterion. “We don’t know.”

“Lay him down.”

The Light Fae lowered Asterion onto the grass. His body trembled. His hair continued darkening.

Baetrice watched helplessly.

His breathing became harder.

The healers began chanting. A circle of Light Fae formed around him. Their hands lifted, and silver light spread across the grass.

The chant grew louder.

Ancient words filled the battlefield.

Beatrice stood outside the circle. She watched the magic gather above Asterion.

It descended slowly like rain.

The silver light touched his chest. For one second, nothing happened. Then Asterion screamed.

Beatrice flinched.

“Stop!” He yelled.

The healers continued.

“Asterion!” Eleanor called him sternly.

His body arched against the ground. The silver light around him became brighter. His hair darkened further.

Beatrice stared in horror. “You’re making it worse!” She yelled.

The eldest healer shook his head. “We are trying to hold his magic inside him.”

Asterion’s fingers dug into the earth. His scream faded into a strangled breath.

The chant continued.

“Hold the light.”

“Hold the blood.”

“Hold the spirit.”

“Hold the magic.”

The words echoed across the battlefield ahain and again. Beatrice could feel the magic vibrating beneath her feet.

Asterion’s body began glowing, but the light wasn’t staying inside him. It was escaping through his skin.