Chapter 209 - A Gift

"So this is how it will be," Lina said to herself. She watched everything play out like a scenic movie.

A powerful gust of wind blew past Lina.

Many people were approaching Kaden and the Princess. His eyes simply landed on the red thread that didn't lead to him.? Kaden let out a chuckle that was colder than death and darker than sins.

"So this is how it will be," Kaden muttered.

"Please wait!" the Princess sobbed out, running as fast as she could. "I beg of you, Kaden, please—"

"Goodbye, my lovely dove," Kaden whispered. He presented her with a soft smile and leaped..

Instantly, the mysterious whirlpool changed color.? A bright light shot out of the vortex, which was a marble well covered with white limestone. Dead branches hung over it, reminding Lina that this wasn't a place one should lightly tread on. Especially when the other surroundings were of vibrant trees.

"NOOO!" The Princess screamed, her voice so powerful, it sent the sky shaking and trembling. Thunder roared in the distance, but Lina knew it wasn't caused by the Princess.

As Lina turned, she observed the scene like an outsider. Her heart was aching with pain, for she knew this was a memory. How long ago did this happen? She didn't remember. This was a recurring dream of hers, since the beginning of her childhood.

"Princess, you can't!" Isabelle shouted from afar, quickly running after the daring woman.

In the near distance, Sebastian and Priscilla were attempting to catch up to the two women. It was impossible. The Princess was the first to reach the well.

Lina couldn't help but stare. Not at the Princess, but at a crowd of people who were approaching from behind; Sebastian and Priscilla were in pursuit. Atlantis was accompanied by his own group of people and amidst the crowd, she saw two more familiar faces.

"Impossible," Lina gasped out loud, but no one heard her.

The faces stunned her to the core. Lina saw the striking resemblances. She was so shocked that she could barely speak. Standing beside Atlantis were her father, Linden, and her grandfather, Lawrence. What was the meaning of this?

"Someone stop the Princess!" Atlantis roared, his voice like an almighty lion in the savannah.

Everything was frantic. People were chasing after the Princess. Soldiers dressed in metal armor dashed towards the bright well that had a mysterious purple whirlpool swirling within it.

"You must halt, Princess!" Atlantis demanded, rushing faster than ever.

Lina couldn't look away from him. She couldn't help but stare with anguish at the red string of fate connected to his hand. The other end was on the Princess. Lina knew what this meant. She knew the consequences.

Atlantis was the man of her destiny.

But why was Kaden her destruction?

"Princess, you must listen to me!" Atlantis growled. "If you jump now, your soul will be shredded. You may never enter the Heavenly realm again! It is not your time for the Three Trials of Mortality. Your life will be ruined if you follow the God of War!"

The Princess didn't even look back. She simply climbed the steps leading to the well. Without any hesitation, the Princess dived straight into the well.

Loud wails were heard from behind. Shortly afterward, a frantic voice called out for the Princess again.

"LINA!" Atlantis refused to accept the truth. His destined partner was willing to die rather than be with him. Her fate was willing to have her soul shredded for eternity.

The Princess was gone.

Lina was blinded. Another white light shot up from the whirlpool. This time, a single red string floated in the air. It glowed the color of rubies and burned with passion.

Now, Lina knew what it meant. In a single motion, the Princess had connected her red strings of fate with two men. When she entered the whirlpool, it changed her destiny, for it wasn't her time to begin the trial. And in skipping the queue, she ruined the order of life.

Lina saw it. Atlantis still had his string attached, but it was leading to the well. Meanwhile, Lina felt both of her hands burn. She winced in pain and glanced down in shock. On either hand were red strings. One led to Atlantis, the other to the well.

"How could you?" Isabelle pitifully wept by the well. "This is not a trial meant for you, Princess. You're already His Majesty's favorite! You don't need to go through the three trials of the mortal realm to become a Goddess!"

Lina staggered backward. She felt like she was intruding on something she shouldn't have. Trial? His Majesty's favorite? Three trials? Her eyes trembled. Although she had seen this scene before, it still baffled her. What is going on right now?

Lina opened her mouth, but it was too late. The next thing Lina knew, Isabelle was gone. A woman had shoved her into the whirlpool as well. This time, there was no reaction. No blinding white light. No red strings of fate.

historical

Lina knew who did it. Priscilla. She had reached the platform too.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Sebastian roared, grabbing Priscilla by her arms. "Why did you do that? How could you do such a thing!"

Priscilla's voice was blank of emotion, but her eyes said everything. Her tear-rimmed eyes, oozing with hatred, spoke volumes.

"If I suffer, you'll suffer with me," Priscilla coldly whispered. "If the God of War will not love me in this life, then I wish for your sister to serve me in my next. It is your punishment for letting him meet the young goddess."

"You're crazy!" Sebastian roared, but it was far too late.

Priscilla yanked Sebastian and together, they tumbled into the whirlpool. The vortex finally changed color again, going from purple to blue and to white. Finally, another red thread came shooting out of it.

Now, Lina understood. Once a couple entered the well, their destinies were entwined. If Isabelle was Sebastian's sister in the Heavenly realm, then it only meant one thing. Priscilla was destined to be Sebastian's woman.

With the turmoil of things, the crowd was thrown into a frenzy.

"Your Majesty!" Atlantis exasperated, dropping to his knees before a regal old man.

The old man was dressed in the finest of gold and silver silk. He wore a beaded crown with gold orbs, splendid jade, and pearls dangling from it. She had never seen someone look so wealthy in her entire life.

"Patience, child," the old man demanded. "She is my daughter. I know what is meant for her."

Lina could feel herself growing dizzy with disbelief. This old man, she knew him! His Majesty was none other than her father, Linden! But how was this possible? Did the entire royal family get reincarnated?

"She is spoiled by birth," Linden seethed, but it wasn't from anger. It was from disappointment.

"No, Your Majesty," Atlantis softly said. "She has been tricked by the War God. She's far too young, too innocent, to understand the consequences of her actions. Please, you must forgive her—"

"You do not tell me what I must or must not do!" Linden growled, his dark eyes flashing golden with warning.

Atlantis quickly dropped his gaze and looked away. He wanted to plead her case. Wanted to beg for her mercy in her stead. What she should've been doing, he was doing for her. Why? Because he loved her.

He loved that free-spirited Princess whose laughter lit up the hallways. He wanted her, a bright light filled with endless joy. She was so beautiful. So endearing. So happy.. she was everything he wasn't. Everything he did not have. And he couldn't help but want to do everything for her. Anything for her. He was willing to die for her if he must.

"You will go with her," the Emperor said after a long, prolonged silence. "You will bring my daughter back."

Lina's breath hitched. Now, she knew why Atlantis was present in her life.

"Screaming and kicking, you will bring my daughter back," the Emperor emphasized.

"I will bring her back, but of her free will," Atlantis crudely said, not because he was bold, but because he knew Lina wouldn't go with anyone else.

Once Lina entered the mortal realm, she would not remember him, but her soul would. And neither would he remember her, but his soul will. They were soulmates and soulmates always recognized each other.

"You will bring her back," the Emperor emphasized for the last time, almost as if he was tired of the argument. He was always tired of talking to people that didn't make him happy.

Atlantis said nothing. He simply placed a hand to his heart, bowed his head, and pledged his loyalty. But in the corner of his eyes, he saw the magic of the Goddess of Fertility and Family.

"A gift," the woman said to him in her soft, singsong voice that resembled Lina.

Afterall, this Goddess was the Empress's voice, therefore, Lina's mother.

"A gift of infertility."