CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 323 BIRTH OF THE CHOSEN

"Aarghhh."

A painful scream tore through the room, maids running with clean bowls of water into the room, bumping into the maids carrying bowls of water that had turned red.

Elowyn stood by her sister’s side, although she was displeased by Liora’s actions and decisions, there was nothing she could do except to accept her.

Another scream tore from Liora’s lips, her fingers clutching the sheets tightly that they turned white.

"Healer, what is happening to her?" Elowyn’s alarmed voice rang through the room, her usual cold and calm eyes held fear and worry.

The healer shook her head. "I have never birthed a hybrid before."

The healer turned to Liora who was already turning pale. "Hold on your highness, the child is coming out."

Liora saw her life fleeting through her eyes. She never knew giving birth was this painful, it felt like her body was being torn apart. Her eyes watered as memories of Caelen flickered through her mind. She wished he were there with her... but she also knew that was impossible.

"I can’t... I can’t push... Aarggghhh." Liora screamed, her magic blinding the room in blue light.

Her back arched forward, but then, she slumped onto the bed again, weaker than she was before, yet the baby wasn’t out.

Cold beads of sweat dripped from her body.

"Liora, push one more time please!" Elowyn cried out in panic as she saw her sister’s eyes closing.

"Push, your highness!"

Mustering all her strength, she gave one final push. The room spun in her eyes, her screams faded to ragged gasps. For a heartbeat all she could hear was her weak pulse, almost fading, like a whisper against the roar of pain. And then the cry came.

Golden light burst through the room, it was blinding, the light shot up into the sky, and the sky trembled.

Everyone in the room shielded their eyes from the light, they had never seen anything that pure and powerful.

The healer fell on her knees, then the maids followed one after the other, as if they were compelled to do so.

"The Chosen is born." The healer shouted at the top of her lungs.

At the healer’s word, Liora felt her heart shattered in her chest... She gave birth to a Chosen? Which means she is the seed, who would die once she turned eighteen?

Her body trembled from the sorrow that shot through her. She sobbed as she reached for her baby. She wanted her daughter to live a life of freedom, she wanted her to have all the things she couldn’t have.

But learning she had only eighteen years to live, she didn’t know what to feel, compassion, pity, or regret?

She held her baby in her hand, her hair was white as snow, unlike their silver-white hair, hers was pure and as white as the first drop of snow. Her eyes were violet with golden rings that burned like fire.

She felt shivers run down her spine, her lips quivered... her baby... she didn’t know what to call her, a half-werewolf and half fae, a Chosen, and the seed that would restore the Sacred tree.

But she didn’t want any of these, she just wanted her daughter to be normal. She knows how being different can bring prejudice, even if she were the most beautiful, she would always be a misfit and an abomination in the eyes of every creature.

She brought her baby closer to her chest, her face red from crying, but her eyes held the pain and regret that no words could convey.

"Free as the wind, calm and serene as the water and forest, mystical that it can command the heavens... Aeris." Liora whispered as tears rushed down her cheeks.

"Aeris. You’ll be named Aeris... my little star." A smile formed on Liora’s lips, but it couldn’t hide the pain in her eyes.

A few days had passed since Liora had given birth to Aeris, yet she couldn’t help but bury herself in books. She had read all the books in the library, both new and old, yet she couldn’t find the one she was searching for.

The one that would help her rewrite Aeris’ destiny.

"What are you looking for, Liora?" Zeir’s voice rang out from behind her, which made her tremble in shock.

"Zeir," she muttered weakly.

When she turned around, her eyes widened in surprise as her eyes landed on the man beside Zeir, it was none other than Sylven. The man who loved her so much.

Sylven was loved deeply by Elowyn, Liora knew how her sister loved this man, and she too once loved him, and that was before she met Caelen.

Her face burned with embarrassment as his hazel eyes were the most beautiful she had seen, his short honey blonde hair made him more dazzling.

Suddenly, she felt small in his presence. She believed he saw her as nothing but a disgrace.

"Liora, are you still up searching through the books?" Zeir asked with concern.

"Yes," Liora answered with her hair covering her face like a curtain.

"Let me help you." Sylven moved to her side. His warm voice reminded her of what they could have had. But she had promised herself not to drag Sylven with Elowyn, after all Elowyn was the first person to have met him and fell in love with him.

"No, you don’t have to," Liora muttered under her breath in shame.

Zeir cleared his throat. "I have a way to help you Liora..." he paused as his voice carried a hint of reluctance.

Hearing his words, Liora rushed to her feet, holding Zeir’s hand. "Brother, please tell me, I’ll do anything if it means I can take this curse from her." She sobbed.

Zeir held her at arm’s length. "This is very dangerous..."

"I’ll do it." She said with conviction burning in her eyes.

Zeir hesitated. He had sworn never to let Liora know about it, the magic was forbidden and had cost the lives of the first royals who attempted to change fate.