Queen Kohra

"Are you ready for this Kohra?"

"As ready as I'll ever be" Kohra responded after a deep sigh.

"Okay. Britta would prepare the ingredients and give them to you. You consumed the petal already?"

"Yes"

That was how she was able to defeat Aairon without it having too much effect on her body. She remembered the huge serpent and what happened when she got the flower.

"Kohra, why did you bring twice the quantity of what I asked?"

"I would tell you later. For now, prepare two portions. Get Sephira's blood in the first one and my blood in the second. Don't mix up the one you're giving me; the one with Sephira's blood is mine"

"Fine. I'll do as you ask. Don't do anything rash"

"Isn't it too late for that warning, Anak?"

"Tch, you're so stubborn"

"Right back at you, old monster"

Anak just shook his head and began the ritual. He drew a spell circle around her with his blood while Britta gently prepared the ingredients with Jowe's help. Jeir and Sephira guarded the door.

Kohra sat cross-legged in the middle of the temple and unleashed her magi bit by bit. It unfurled like a blooming flower in spring.

She cleared her mind and made sure her magi was rising at a steady pace. Her clothes melted off, causing everyone to turn from her. Her skin was also melting, starting from her right leg.

"Kohra, are you at a middle ground yet?" Anak asked. She nodded and stopped.

He floated into the circle with a jar in hand. He tipped the jar into her mouth and poured the liquid.

"Very few survive ascension. Don't fail" his voice flitted into her mind. She stared at him and closed her eyes. He floated out of the circle and started chanting.

The circle lit with a hum and a bright light. They covered their eyes and when the light subsided, Kohra was in the middle of the circle, getting slowly surrounded by pure chaos.

"Don't worry too much about her, she has begun her ascension. However, be on guard, they're coming. No matter what, we have to prevent them from halting her ascension" Anak warned and all of them became alert.

Outside the temple, some of the palace guards, the knights, the shadow guards, and a whole division of the army stood, blocking the war. They were mostly women, armed to the teeth, and very well trained.

In front of the temple gates were Kitari, Atu, the general, and the other commanders. Anor was close to clawing at the door to get to her master but she refrained. She wouldn't let anyone pass unless it was over her dead body.

Atu was finishing up a barrier spell. It was a large scale spell in which most of the magix is concentrated in the middle of the temple where the others were.

Kitari, on the other hand was doing what she knew how to do best; enhance the magix of others. Kitari's magi was very unique. She had the power to control other people's magix, enhance it, and take it away. For someone with no magix, they were easier to control like puppets to her.

"You're expending a lot of magix like you never done before. Are you going to be alright?" Atu asked, worried about her.

"Don't ask such a hypocritical question Atu. Your magix is draining at an unbelievable rate. When did you invent this spell?"

"About two years ago. It's one of my best"

"Honestly, you're still so careless" Kitari said with a sigh.

She directed her magix at him, replenishing his magi.

"Don't do something so stupid Kitari. You'll..." she collapsed on the floor before he finished his statement.

Thankfully, he was finished with the spell so he could attend to her. She was very pale and she looked like she had aged a decade.

"See you talking about careless, you collapsed at the start of the battle. Always protecting me. I can take care of myself"

"For once, I didn't do this for you or me. I did it for Kohra. Protect our daughter"

"Kitari...you can rest now" he said, laying her gently on the floor. He placed a barrier over her frail body and assigned a very unwilling Anor to watch over her.

"How heartwarming" they hear a sarcastic voice above them. Muni and the gods were floating above them. Muni gave a derisive smirk when she saw them.

"Such a strong defense and valuable protection for such a weak and empty vessel. Anyways, as your goddess, I'll put you all in shape. It's such a shame I have to use a man but he's my descendant so I'll allow it"

They heard the sound of marching on the horizon and saw an army of men approach. Leading them, was Jayar.

The heart of the army was shaken, especially one of his spouse, the general.

"Jayar, how could you do this? How could you betray your queen? How could you betray me?"

"This matriarchy has gone on for far too long. We have been suppressed for so long while our counterparts thrived in other kingdoms. We would not stand for it anymore"

"You fool. If a kingdom ruled by men was so prosperous, how come we, the only nation ruled by women, are the most powerful? I don't know who planted such delusions in your head but as your wife, I will beat it out of you"

"Join me my love. You can rule by my side as the Queen"

"Shut your filthy mouth! What abomination do you speak of? Even though our goddess has let us down and everything seems to be against us, I will never betray Kohra because unlike you, she understands what it means to be both a follower and a great leader. That is something you could never get. You aren't fit to be king. You are a disgrace.

I know all of you are scared because the gods are against us. You can call this blasphemy. However, inside the halls of this temple, our very own Queen is ascending. Defeating the odds to make sure our kingdom doesn't fall. She's our god now. The least we can do is let her ascend in peace"

The general's voice echoed all around and the morale of the soldiers returned. They brandished their weapons, ready to lay down their lives for Kohra.

"Don't do this Eri. You can still join me"

"Forgive me Jayar. Duty is more important to me than Love. I may have to kill you but always know, that I love you"

"Very well. May the best general win" Jayar said with resignation and a smile blossomed on Eri's face.

"Still think it was a bad idea to tell her, Kitari?"

"Eri's very emotional but that's what makes her a great general. Kohra has a lot of faith in her and with that faith, comes hope. It's crazy but I have hope now"

"Me too" Atu said with a smile.

"Ahh, this brings back memories. I too remember when people were willing to die for me. It was foolish but admirable. Let's leave these mortals to their petty fights and go on with what we came for" Muni said and they moved into the temple, negating Atu's barriers with ease.

"Kitari, that thing I said about hope.....?"

"Ehn? What?"

"Forget about it. We're going to die"