Chapter 186: The Midnight Maiden

Asher had a baffled look, not expecting that this woman was sacrificing herself to the Kraken willingly. He also didn't know the Kraken was a 'she'. He shook his head and asked with a blinking expression, "I don't understand. The Kraken is supposed to be your people's guardian. Why would you have to sacrifice yourself for it to help you?" An air of somberness enveloped her as she explained, "Right before I was born..." As Isola began to explain, her eyes began to lose focus as memories of the past flashed in her mind. 25 years ago, in the deepest abyss of the northern seas, The elders spoke with urgency, their voices heavy with concern as they impressed upon King Moraxor and Queen Narissara the gravity of the situation, "Your Majesties, the Kraken requires a sacrifice of the purest and most powerful bloodline among us. Only then will it grant us the favor and protection we need to survive. This must be what the prophecy of the Ancients foretold," one elder said, his voice strained with desperation. "The devils have bestowed upon us a miraculous chance by lifting the seal after thousands of years, allowing us a glimmer of hope for our future. Yet, we remain trapped in this darkness, facing the constant threat of the Cursed Wraiths from the Forbidden Waters that tear our people apart every day," another elder added, her voice barely more than a whisper, "There will come a time soon when none of us will be left alive, just like how the Ravager wanted. We must gain the favor of our guardian if we are to survive even if...it comes at a difficult and huge cost. As the prophecy says...only the child born during the Age of the 5th Baleful Moon can save us." King Moraxor's hands trembled as he held a baby in his hands with sapphire blue eyes while his eyes filled with an unspoken pain. His expression suddenly contorted and struck his scepter on the floor as he got up and roared, making the water intensely ripple, "My child was born just yesterday and you all have the audacity to come here, telling me to sacrifice my only child? Don't any one of you have the slightest decency despite being so old?" Moraxor had always prayed for a son for he knew the prophecy mentioned a maiden. However, once his little girl was born, Moraxor felt like he was holding a part of his soul in his hands. This made him not want to accept the prophecy despite it being passed down for generations. Queen Narissara glanced at him as she gestured to him to sit down, her eyes still stony. All the elders lowered their heads with downward gazes when the oldest elder among them spoke up with a sigh, "Please do not get angry at us, my king. We understand your pain, but we also know you understand that everyone, including our ancestors, have been praying for the Midnight Maiden to be born for generations. And now, with her auspicious birth, the people have never been more hopeful. She is their beacon of hope. "And even if...it will be painful for all of us, she would receive the highest honor and respect for her sacrifice. She is the chosen one. She is the Midnight Maiden who can save us from eternal darkness. She will be remembered for generations to come and nobody would ever forget her sacrifice. She will be immortal...a goddess among us. Isn't that something Your Majesties and we all can be proud of?" King Moraxor's expression became calmer, but he still had a disgruntled look and refused to answer. He exchanged a glance with his wife, who had an inscrutable face as she answered plainly, "We will discuss this matter within a few days. You all may leave," she told the elders, her voice steady but laced with a quiet determination. The moment the elders left the room, King Moraxor rose from his throne, anguish etched upon his face. He turned to his wife, his voice heavy, "We cannot be so cruel as to do this to our own daughter. There must be another way. I will find another solution." Queen Narissara sighed deeply, her own heart heavy with the weight of their people's fate. She rose from her throne and looked briefly at the baby before speaking, "Things are not that simple as you know, husband. We have a responsibility to our people and our ancestors, to save us all even if it comes at a painful price. I have long since prepared for this. So why are you acting like you never knew about the prophecy? Did you not really think of the possibility it revealed?" Moraxor's eyes widened, taken aback by his wife's unwavering stance, "Even if the prophecy is true...How can you be so cold-hearted towards our own child? She is just a new born child who doesn't even know what her birth means yet." Narissara's lips pressed together firmly, her voice strained as she responded, "It is equally painful for me. I wish I could take her place. But the reality is different. As king and queen, we cannot sit idly by while our people suffer and die in great numbers every day. We should fulfill our duties instead of hiding from it because of how difficult is is." She paused for a moment, continuing, "Our people are sacrificing themselves to keep all of us alive by going out into the Forbidden Waters, knowing full well they may not return. Now that the Midnight Maiden has been born and we prevent the prophecy from getting fulfilled, won't they question why we cannot make the same sacrifices? Things will only worsen if our people begin to question our ability to lead and care for them. Even if we ignore that...do you think we will survive beyond a hundred years? The Cursed Wraiths will only keep getting stronger by feeding on us, and the Elixir of the Ancients has already dried up." She looked at her husband with unwavering seriousness, "As king, you must decide what is more important: our daughter's life or the survival of our race." Moraxor's breath caught in his throat as the reality of their situation settled upon him. He stared down at his daughter, her innocent smile and tiny fingers grasping at his own. He knew his wife's words held truth, but he couldn't bear the thought of sacrificing his own child. With a shake of his head, he walked away, his voice barely audible as he said, "I won't decide anything now." ... Isola and her young maid, whom she affectionately called Lira, shared a bond that went beyond that of a simple servant and her charge. Lira had been with Isola since her birth, and over the years, their relationship had blossomed into a deep and genuine one. One day, as they sat together in Isola's chamber, Lira was singing something that sounded like a prophecy, "From the heart of the eternal midnight, during the Age of the 5th Baleful Moon, a beacon shall rise, Born of shadow and strife, with fate in their eyes. A maiden of the deep, both revered and reviled, Shall lead her people, through trials reconciled. In life or in death, their sacrifice will unfold, A story of courage and might, for ages retold. By the maiden's hand, her people shall be free, Their chains unbound, their hearts filled with glee. Embrace the coming tide, for the time draws near, The savior will rise, bringing hope to quell fear. Through triumph or sorrow, their path shall be worn, For the fate of her people lies with this Midnight Maiden." "Lira, I want you to sing something better. I am tired of listening to the prophecy of the Ancients. Mother already makes you read it to me every day, telling me to remember it, for it is my duty. But it's so boring and tiring. So can you pleeeasee sing a beautiful one for me?" A 4 year old Isola asked with a pout, her big round sapphire eyes staring at Lira. Lira softly looked at her and patted her head, "I know, princess. But I can't ignore your mother's orders. That is why I thought of singing it instead of making you read so that it won't be that boring. But...now that it is over, I will sing a new song which you might like." "YAY!" Isola's eyes lit up like a star as she clapped her hands in excitement. Lira began to gently sing a melancholic song, her voice filling the room with a sense of longing and wonder. Isola listened, enraptured, as Lira's music painted pictures of sunlit forests and rolling meadows in her mind. "How did you learn to sing like that, Lira?" Isola asked in awe. Lira smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with memories. "My mother taught me when I was a young girl, just like you. Music is a precious gift that transcends time and space, allowing us to share our emotions and stories with others. And I believe you can truly bring out the power of music since you have a magical voice, princess." Isola's eyes sparkled as she smiled and asked, "I had no idea! And, and, were you singing about the outside world? What is it really like? The codices only have scary stories about the outside world." Lira softly chuckled and said, "It's not always scary. Imagine, my dear princess, a sky as vast as the ocean, but instead of water, it's filled with air. And when night falls, the darkness is illuminated by a moon painted in red while the stars twinkling like the eyes of a thousand ancestors watching over us." Isola's eyes grew wide with amazement as her mouth formed an 'O', "Waaahhh, I wish all of us could see it someday, Lira. I would like you to show me around the outside world once I help our people regain our lands!" Lira's expression flickered as her smile stifled momentarily. She took a deep breath and hugged Isola, whispering, "I hope with all my heart that we can one day, my princess." ... The day Isola turned 7, Lira surprised her with a beautifully crafted bracelet, its elegant design adorned with delicate carvings of sea creatures and plants. As Isola admired the exquisite bracelet, Lira smiled gently and placed it in her hands. "Today is your 2nd initiation, my dear princess," she said, her voice filled with warmth and affection, "This bracelet has been in my family for generations, and I want you to have it. It might be presumptuous of me, but you have become like a little sister to me, and there is no one else I would rather pass this heirloom down to." Isola's eyes welled up with tears as she clutched the bracelet to her chest, "Really?? Lira, thank you! I promise to cherish it and keep it safe." Lira's expression grew solemn, and for a brief moment, a flicker of sadness passed through her eyes. She leaned in and hugged Isola tightly, her voice barely above a whisper, "I know you will, princess. I couldn't be happier getting to spend time with you and I wish..." Lira was unable to complete her sentence as her voice trailed off. Isola hugged her back with a wide smile, "Me too! You are the best sister I could ask for, hehe." Lira smiled through her own tears, quickly wiping it away before Isola could see, "I will see you tomorrow, okay?" Isola had a confused look as she asked, "Eh, why? You only came just now. I want to listen to your songs and stories." Lira softly smiled and patted her head as she said, "I am sorry, princess. I have something very important to do. But if I get free earlier, I will be back this evening. Okay?" Isola pouted but she nodded, "Okaaay...But you have to be back this evening as promised." It was past evening and Lira didn't show up, leaving Isola confused and sad, though she felt maybe Lira was really busy. But the next day also, Lira didn't make an appearance, making Isola feel sadder since Lira never missed a single day. She didn't want to wait any longer and questioned her parents. Her father was about to say something when her mother motioned him to let her handle this before stating that Lira would no longer be looking after her. This made Isola feel heartbroken as she couldn't think of any reason why Lira would stop coming to her. She pestered her parents for the reason but they remained tight lipped. But she didn't give up and kept asking around until one servant felt pity for her and told her he would show her where Lira was. Isola's heart raced as the servant led her through the dark seas before coming upon a sea bed with a chilling and heavy atmosphere. She was surprised to see that the area was teeming with people, each of them huddled around a lifeless covered figure, their faces etched with grief and sorrow. The dim light that filtered through the water above cast eerie shadows on the scene, emphasizing the despair that hung heavy in the air. The sound of heart-wrenching sobs and soft whispers of farewell echoed throughout the area, a heart clenching symphony of loss that seemed to reverberate in the very depths of Isola's soul. She had never before been in such a place filled with sadness and heartache. As her wide, innocent eyes took in the harrowing sight before her, she felt an overwhelming mixture of shock, sadness, and fear. Dozens of lifeless bodies, each covered with a black sheet, were meticulously arranged in rows, awaiting their final journey to the burial grounds. The sheer number of corpses of her people shocked Isola as she never expected to see a sight like this. "W-Why are there so many dead?" Isola asked, her voice trembling. The servant replied with a heavy heart, "These people die every day at the hands of the Cursed Wraiths, as they venture out, mainly for resources. The only reason we could even collect some of the corpses is because of the current that floats the bodies towards us. But most of the corpses are forever lost. What we are seeing is only a part of the hundreds that died." Isola's gaze darted from one body to the next, her heart aching with each name inscribed on the sheets. She could barely comprehend the scale of the tragedy, the weight of the loss pressing down on her tiny shoulders. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes fell upon the name she had been dreading to see - Lira. At that moment, she felt like the world around was crumbling down. As she struggled to steady her breath, she couldn't help but notice the stark contrast to the surrounding scenes of grief. While families clung to each other, mourning the loss of their loved ones, Lira's corpse lay alone, untouched and abandoned. It was a jarring sight, making Isola realize what Lira meant when she said she had no one else to hand down her heirloom. The image of Lira's unattended body amidst the sea of grieving people struck a deep chord within Isola. "Lira!!" Her heart heavy with grief, she broke free from the servant's grasp and rushed towards the sheet-covered corpse while shouting out her name. "Princess, don't!" The servant shouted from behind but he didn't take a single step forward to stop her. As she reached it, she hesitated for a moment before slowly lifting the black sheet, her trembling hands betraying her fear of what she might find. Nothing could have prepared Isola for the sight that met her eyes. The once kind and gentle features of Lira, which had been a source of comfort and guidance throughout her life, were gone, replaced by a horrifying, mutilated visage. Her face was a ghastly, twisted mess of barely remaining flesh, with gaping wounds and dark, oozing gashes that spoke of the torment she had suffered in her final moments. She could see almost all the bloody bones sticking out, with parts of torn flesh still sticking to them. It was as if she was eaten alive and thrown away. Isola stared in horror at the remains of the woman she had loved as a big sister, her breath hitching as she tried to reconcile the image before her with the memories of Lira's warm smile and tender embrace. Her eyes widened, and her vision blurred as tears streamed down her face, each one a testament to the unbearable pain she felt in her heart, "L-Lira...Come back...Please...You haven't shown me the outside world like you promised...*sob*...*sob*..." Her knees trembled, and she collapsed to the cold stone floor, her small body wracked with sobs. The grief and pain were almost too much for her young heart to handle, and she struggled to find the words to express the depth of her anguish. The gory scene left an indelible mark on Isola's soul, searing itself into her memory as a haunting realization of the cruelty and brutality that pervaded the world she inhabited. She knew they lived in a world surrounded with dangers but she never knew the reality was this cruel and terrifying. The magnitude of the situation began to dawn on her as she realized that the people grieving around her had families and friends who loved and cared for them just like she cared for Lira. It was a heavy burden for a child to bear, and the emotion and confusion that swirled within her threatened to consume her.