The Bride and the Beast

: Dreams

. Damien, still by the dying bonfire, felt a heavy weariness settle over him. His thought

dre

by flickering torches. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting fierce battles and maje

isdom. Beside him stood his queen, Lysandra, a vision of beauty and grace with a fierce spirit that matche

in the gardens, the sun casting a golden hue over the vibrant flowers. Lysandra, who looked re

king," she teased, her e

d, pulling her

most beautiful and fierce

ound of pure joy and love. But the memory fad

their once peaceful kingdom. Each victim was found with strange markings and signs that pointed to dark magic. Whispers spr

the body of his closest friend and beta, the markings fresh and accusing. The pain

urt, demanding answers. He arrived, a figure cloake

summoned by my mother's murderer?" he

s footsteps?" The king roared, not taking the insult h

ed and worshipped your queen!" Jeremiah roared back, his eyes full of

divide us. Accusing our clan from the very begin

nnot believe her now, not after everything that has happened!" he conc

age, and the cries for vengeance from his people, Aelric ordered Jeremiah's impr

e Lycans fought bravely, but the witches' magic wrought havoc on their forces. Amid the chaos, a devastating blow struck

as taken everything from me," he growled, his voice thick with rage a

oed through the hall. Suddenly a blinding light followed by a gush of shimmering fog and lightning came crashing in the hal

elodious but laced with sadness for her child.

t hear anything as if his ears were covered

ne started her voice full of grief an

rror that comes during its visit, visions of the past will invade their lives driving them to madness, and they will seek wha

He saw himself standing among the ruins of Aelric's kingdom, feeling the weight of the curse that had b

filled with a mix of sorrow and hope. "The answers you seek are buried in the past, Damien," she said, her voice echoin

mbers. He sat up, running a hand through his hair, trying to shake the vivid images from his mind. The dream had f

eam's details were seared into his mind, and he knew he needed to act. He sought ou

finding him in the library

d, bowing his head in res

Please do not unnecessarily strain yourself with nonsense b

used at the young king's actions. Such a loving child, he thought to himself. "What has warranted your visit

ndra, the war with the witches, and the goddess's curse. Can you tell m

," he said, gesturing for Damien to sit. "His reign ended in turmoil, and the curse has plagued our line

intently. "Eristhea's words suggest that the key to breaki

th danger, but you will have someone who

ind, giving him comfort, warmth, and awakening unbri

texts that detailed the events of Aelric's time. The more he read, the more he realized how complex the situation had be

dreams became more frequent, each one revealing fragments of the past. He saw glimpses of a shado

s thick with tension, and the scent of magic lingered. He followed the shadowy figure, his heart po

d with ancient artifacts and scrolls. The shadowy

he figure said, their voic

er. The truth lies

his way back to the pack's archive. When he entered, he saw Jobadiah with Meriam discussing seriously with worry painted a

g is changing...but" Elder Job whispered a

ng and kind. I believe he will end this curse

" Elder Job hissed, his voice la

help our Alpha figure it out!" M

the half that makes a whole!" Elder

e could finish her words, several books fell

listening to their conversation. Moments passed before they came back to their senses a

ive us," they

..sorry..." He trailed, unsure how to react to what had just transpired. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you guys. I w

ed at what you do!" Jobadiah quipp

as you wish, and we would never

e elders' reaction, said, "Okay, enough of tha

rs exchanged glances, render

u are missing your half. The half that

retorted, his voice laced with annoyance at t

oying you, but what Elder Job is trying to say is that just like the late king Aelric had Queen

n his face, his heart full of fondness for this lovely beauty. But as soon as he remembered the da

on the task at hand. "I'm looking for an old map from King Aelric's time. Is there such a thing? I wa

e that exist anymore!" M

an you help me with this? We have the largest archive that ever existed second to the witch

w their heads and agree. "Yes, Alpha. We will order the scholars right

ry ancient book and tome that they have inside their massive archive. They went through rows and rows of ancie

"Alpha, I think I've found something!" Damien rushed over, his heart pounding with a

from Aelric's time. It's written in an old dia

was no name to identify the owner. But as he flipped through the pages, he knew he had found something significant. T