5
A profound silence fell over the great hall. The Hundred Clan chiefs exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what to do.
Archon Gabriel knelt beside me and Jasper, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
“My King, the situation is far worse than we imagined.”
His voice trembled:
“Transfer‘ pact is an ancient, forbidden magic.”
“Her Royal Majesty forcibly transferred her life–link with the Royal Heir to Lady Lyra.”
Rhys held the lifeless Jasper, and for the first time, true terror etched his face.
“What does that mean? Explain yourself!”
“Now, Lady Lyra has become the new ‘Host‘”
Archon Gabriel pointed to Lyra, whose face was equally pale.
“The Royal Heir’s life is now entirely dependent on her soul’s power!”
“If she dies, the Royal Heir will surely die.”
Lyra’s face instantly went deathly pale.
She felt a powerful pull, draining her soul.
“No! This is impossible! I don’t want to be a Host!”
Her ‘doll‘ body began to show tiny cracks.
Like exquisite porcelain on the verge of shattering.
“My King, save me! Please, save me!”
Rhys frantically poured all his life force into my body.
Warm energy flooded me, but with little effect.
My core life force was gone, like a bucket with a shattered bottom.
“Is there another way?”
He looked at Archon Gabriel, desperation in his eyes.
“There is only one way.”
Archon Gabriel spoke with difficulty.
“To save the Royal Heir, you must first save the Queen Mother.”
“Once she is stable again, the pact can function correctly.”
Elder Brennus of the Tiger Clan seized the opportunity to step forward.
“My King, your actions have endangered the Royal Heir’s life.”
“This is a sign of incompetence and treason.”
Elder Kael of the Eagle Clan also chimed in.
“We demand the Elder Council intervene and co–govern the kingdom.”
“Until this crisis is completely resolved.”
Other tribal chiefs nodded in agreement.
They had long been discontent with Rhys’s authoritarian rule.
Now, they finally had their chance.
Rhys gritted his teeth, but for his son’s life, he had no choice but to compromise.
“Very well. I agree to the Elder Council’s demands.”
“But you must spare no effort in healing the Royal Heir.”
Archon Gabriel immediately began casting spells.
Ancient healing incantations shimmered in the air.
Lyra was forcibly imprisoned in the temple dungeons.
Special arrays continuously drew her soul power, day and night, to sustain Jasper’s life.
“Let me out! I don’t want to be here!”
She frantically hammered on the cell door.
“I want to see the King! I want to return to my body!”
But no one paid her cries any mind.
Rhys, at the cost of half his cultivation, finally pulled me back from the brink of death.
But I sank into a deep coma, a living corpse, able only to breathe.
“Has the Queen Mother awakened?”
He’d ask Healer Silas every day.
“Not yet, My King.”
Healer Silas shook his head, sighing.
“Her soul is severely damaged. We don’t know when she’ll awaken.”
Jasper’s condition had stabilized slightly, but he remained weak, still requiring nourishment from Lyra’s soul power.
The Elder Council began to take over kingdom affairs, and Rhys’s power was drastically curtailed.
For the first time, he tasted the bitter reality of losing control.
Days turned into weeks, and /ed in my slumber. Rhys began to feel an unprecedented emptiness and regret.
