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8.

As Alex emerged from the royal quarters, the weight of what lay ahead pressed down on him. His thoughts were clouded with the image of Aeryn, still unconscious in her chamber. But there was no time to dwell on his conflicted feelings; his kingdom needed him. He made his way through the grand halls of his palace, the opulence of the surroundings doing little to ease the turmoil in his mind.

The council chamber was already full when he arrived, the tension in the air palpable. His ministers and advisors had gathered, their faces set in varying degrees of concern, fear, and suspicion. As Alex entered, all eyes turned toward him, the murmurs of the room dying down into a heavy silence.

"Your Majesty," one of the senior ministers began, his voice trembling slightly with the gravity of the situation, "we have heard... unsettling rumors. A human, they say. A human has been brought to our world. Is this true?"

Alex’s gaze swept across the room, taking in the anxious faces of his most trusted advisors. These were the individuals who had stood by him through wars, crises, and political upheaval, yet now they seemed shaken, uncertain. The prophecy had always been a distant legend, something discussed in hushed tones but never truly believed to come to fruition. Until now.

"It is true," Alex confirmed, his voice firm and unwavering. "A human has been brought to our world."

The reaction was immediate—a wave of gasps, whispers, and shocked exclamations rippled through the chamber. The senior minister, regaining his composure, pressed on, "Your Majesty, the prophecy... Do you truly believe this human is the one who will fulfill it? The one who will secure the future of our kingdom?"

"She is the key," Alex stated, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "The prophecy speaks of a union that will unlock the power we need to save our world. She is that human."

"But, Your Majesty," another advisor spoke up, his voice laced with skepticism, "how can we be sure? The prophecy is vague, and this human... she is fragile, unlike anything we have seen. What if she is not the one? What if this only brings further peril to our kingdom?"

Alex’s eyes narrowed as he regarded the advisor. "Doubt and fear will not save us," he said sharply. "We are on the brink of destruction, and this is the only path left to us. The human will be treated with respect and care, and we will prepare for the union as foretold."

"But Your Majesty," another voice, one of the generals, interjected, "how can we trust a being from Earth? They are primitive, unpredictable. What if she turns against us? What if she is not willing?"

Alex’s expression darkened. "She has no choice. This is her destiny as much as it is ours."

The room fell into an uneasy silence, the ministers exchanging worried glances. The weight of the situation was sinking in, and the reality of what Alex had done—bringing a human to their world—was becoming all too clear.

One of the younger ministers, his voice steady but his eyes filled with apprehension, spoke up. "And what of the people, Your Majesty? They will be frightened, confused. How do we explain this to them?"

"We will tell them the truth," Alex said, his voice firm. "The human has been brought here to save our kingdom. She will become our queen, and together we will unlock the power needed to secure our future."

The room erupted into murmurs once again, the ministers clearly uneasy with the decision. But Alex had made up his mind. This was the only way forward, and he would not allow fear or doubt to derail the course of fate.

"You will all do your part to ensure the smooth transition," Alex commanded, his tone brooking no argument. "The human will be treated as befits her station. We will begin preparations for the union immediately."

The ministers, though still clearly unsettled, nodded in agreement. They knew better than to question their king’s resolve. With that, Alex turned and left the chamber, the weight of his responsibilities feeling heavier than ever.

As he walked back toward the royal quarters, his thoughts returned to Aeryn. He had made his decision, but the unease in his heart remained. She was not just a tool, not just a key to unlocking power. She was... different. And he knew that whatever came next would change everything.


Meanwhile, in the depths of the palace, Aeryn was slowly regaining consciousness. Her head throbbed, and her vision was blurry as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. The last thing she remembered was the chaos of the explosion and then... nothing. Now, as her vision cleared, she realized she was no longer on Earth.

The room she found herself in was dark and cold, the walls made of some strange, metallic material that pulsed with a faint, eerie glow. The bed she lay on was hard and unfamiliar, nothing like the soft, warm comfort of her bed back home. Panic began to rise in her chest as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

She sat up, her movements slow and cautious, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was small, almost claustrophobic, with no windows and only a single door. It didn’t feel like a bedroom or a hospital room more like a cell. She felt caged. Fear gripped her as she realized she was trapped.

Aeryn stumbled out of the bed, her legs shaky as she crossed the small room to the door. She pressed her hand against it, hoping it would open, but it remained firmly shut. Desperation clawed at her as she banged on the door, shouting for help.

"Hello? Is anyone there? Please, let me out!"

There was no response. The only sound was the echo of her own voice, bouncing off the cold, metallic walls. Aeryn’s heart raced as she tried to make sense of her situation. Where was she? What had happened? Why was she locked in this strange room?

Tears welled up in her eyes as the reality of her situation began to sink in. She was alone, trapped in a place she didn’t understand, surrounded by technology and materials she had never seen before. It was nothing like Earth—nothing like anything she had ever experienced.

She backed away from the door, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, and she sank to the floor, her hands trembling as she wrapped her arms around herself. The fear was overwhelming, threatening to consume her as she tried to hold on to some semblance of calm.

But how could she stay calm when everything was so wrong? She was supposed to be on Earth, supposed to be with her team, working on the experiment. But now she was... where? Somewhere alien, somewhere terrifying. And she had no idea why.

The door remained firmly shut, and there was no sign of anyone coming to help her. She was completely alone, left to grapple with the confusion and terror that consumed her. And as the minutes ticked by, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched—that something or someone was observing her, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

The fear was paralyzing, and as the tears finally began to fall, Aeryn realized that whatever was happening to her, it was far beyond anything she had ever imagined. She was no longer in control of her fate

someone else was. And that thought, more than anything, filled her with a dread unlike anything she had ever known.

In the cold, metallic cell that was now her prison, Aeryn curled up on the floor, her body trembling with fear and uncertainty. And as the darkness closed in around her, she knew one thing for certain,nothing would ever be the same again.

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