The grove had returned to an uneasy calm after Selene's duel with the Serpent King. The jungle bordering the Verdant Wetlands now stretched silently into the distance, the scattered remnants of the Serpent King’s forces vanishing deeper into the dense foliage. Yet the echoes of the battle lingered, not in the land, but in Selene herself.

  She sat alone in the grand hall of her castle, her fingers drumming softly against the armrest of her throne. The crystalline enhancements of the castle shimmered faintly, casting shifting patterns of light across the walls. Normally, the hum of the castle’s magic comforted her, but now it felt like an accusation.

  What have you become? The Serpent King’s question reverberated in her mind.

  For the first time since her ascension, Selene allowed herself to reflect. Her power—the power of Balance—was absolute, a force so precise that even her Fae Lords, paragons of elemental might, could only follow her because they recognized she was stronger. But strength wasn’t all it took to rule. The question was whether she had begun to believe her own myth—whether her role as Queen of Balance had started to erode her humanity.

  Her thoughts were interrupted as the Fae Lord of Harmony entered the hall. Their crystalline form shimmered faintly, the harmonic resonance they carried with them filling the room with a soothing melody.

  “My Queen,” Harmony said, their voice both steady and gentle, “the Fae Lords have gathered for your counsel. Shall I summon them?”

  Selene nodded, rising from her throne. “Yes. It’s time we discussed our next steps.”

  Harmony bowed slightly, and moments later, the other Fae Lords entered the hall, their presences filling the space with a palpable energy. Eternity stood silently at her right, his starlit form steady and unyielding. Radiance’s golden aura glowed faintly beside him, while Dreams and Echoes lingered near the edges of the room, their movements subtle and spectral. Verdure, Snow, and the others formed a semicircle before her, awaiting her command.

  Selene began without preamble. “The Serpent King is defeated, and his forces have scattered. We’ve secured our borders, but this victory has put us on the map. Other native lords—and perhaps even the transmigrated ones—will see us as a threat. We must prepare for what’s coming.”

  The Fae Lord of Radiance stepped forward, their golden light flickering like a flame. “Our forces are strong, my Queen, but we must continue to grow. The jungle left behind by the Serpent King is rich with resources, but it remains wild and untamed. If we claim it, we strengthen both our borders and our supply lines.”

  “Agreed,” Verdure added, their voice calm. “The jungle’s natural defenses will also serve us well. Once cleansed of lingering corruption, it can become a bastion of life.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Selene nodded, but her gaze turned to Eternity. “And the whispers? The presence you sensed during the duel—what of it?”

  Eternity’s glowing eyes narrowed. “It remains distant, but it is watching. Whatever this force is, it grows stronger with every move we make. The duel has drawn its attention.”

  Selene’s grip tightened on the armrest of her throne. “Then it’s only a matter of time before it acts. We need to be ready.”

  As the council continued, Dreams approached Selene, her form flickering like a fading mirage. “If I may, my Queen,” she said softly, “you’ve carried this burden alone for too long. Even your power has its limits.”

  Selene’s gaze flicked to Dreams, her expression unreadable. “You think I doubt my strength?”

  Dreams shook her head. “No. But I sense the weight of your position. You are the Queen of Balance, but balance must exist within you as well. Otherwise, you risk becoming what you seek to control.”

  The words stung, not because they were false, but because they were true. Selene had felt the cracks forming, the moments when she wondered if her choices were truly her own or dictated by the role she had assumed.

  She exhaled slowly, her voice softer than before. “I will consider your words, Dreams.”

  Later that day, Selene walked the borders of the jungle with a small retinue of Fae Lords. The remnants of the Serpent King’s reign were still evident: twisted trees, stagnant pools of water, and an oppressive silence that spoke of old horrors.

  As they moved deeper into the jungle, one of Verdure’s grove guardians paused, its vine-covered form pointing toward a cluster of withered plants. Nestled among the decay was a strange, blackened artifact—a shard of obsidian that pulsed faintly with dark energy.

  《System Alert: Corrupted Artifact Discovered!》

  《Contents: Unknown》

  《Warning: Interaction may draw attention from hostile forces.》

  Selene hesitated, her instincts warring with her curiosity. The artifact radiated a familiar energy, similar to the relic wielded by the Serpent King. She knelt, her hand hovering over the shard.

  “My Queen,” Eternity said, his tone cautious, “this may be a remnant of whatever force empowered the Serpent King. It could be dangerous.”

  “I know,” Selene replied, her voice steady. “But knowledge is power.”

  She grasped the shard, and the world around her blurred.

  Visions flooded her mind. She saw a vast, shadowy figure, its form stretching across the Boundless Continent like a storm. It was ancient, predating even the oldest of the native lords. Its voice was a whisper and a roar, its presence suffocating.

  “You rise, but you are nothing. Your balance is a fleeting illusion. I will show you true power.”

  Selene gasped as the vision ended, her body trembling. She staggered to her feet, the shard now crumbling into dust in her hand.

  Harmony stepped forward, their harmonic resonance calming the air. “What did you see, my Queen?”

  Selene’s gaze was distant, her voice quieter than usual. “A storm. A force greater than anything we’ve faced. It’s coming.”

  That night, Selene stood atop her castle, gazing out over her domain. The jungle stretched into the darkness, and the stars above seemed dimmer than usual. The vision had shaken her, but it had also steeled her resolve.

  Her voice was quiet, but firm. “If the storm comes, we will weather it. If it seeks to destroy us, we will bring it to heel.”

  The Queen of Balance had no room for doubt. The Continent’s whispers had grown louder, and she intended to answer them—not with fear, but with strength.