, Chapter 12: "The Queen has awakened"

  [Scene 1 – The Forgotten Mansion]

  Charlotte reached the threshold of her old home.

  A castle in ruins. Stone by stone, it was the shadow of what was once a home...

  ...Or a prison.

  He walked through the dust-covered corridors.

  Each room, every corner, brought an echo of the past:

  "A place where he used to run with his brother."

  —The dining room, still with remains of fine crockery.

  "The party rooms, where the nobility danced with laughter... while she pretended to smile.

  Her steps took her to a room.

  He stumbled on something on the floor: an old photo.

  A family portrait.

  Her father, her mother, her brother... and her.

  He knelt slowly, taking the frame between his trembling fingers.

  He watched him with a mixture of nostalgia and fury.

  His face hardened.

  "How... how do you come up with it?" he whispered, his voice broken.

  His eyes filled with tears, his body began to tremble.

  "HOW DO YOU THINK OF LEAVING ME IN THAT DAMN CONTAINER!?" he shouted, with a heartbreaking rage.

  His trembling hands threw the photograph to the ground with force.

  A second later...

  FWHOOOM!

  Stolen novel; please report.

  An explosion of dark flames consumed the portrait.

  The fire danced as if it felt its pain.

  "More than two thousand years!" TWO THOUSAND YEARS! -his scream was agonizing, torn, hurt-.

  How could you do that... to your daughter?

  He fell to his knees.

  He cried.

  He cried as if his soul was escaping him.

  ?

  [Scene 2 – The vision]

  And then... a voice interrupted her, soft and powerful:

  "You were always special, Charlotte."

  She raised her head. Tears kept running down her cheeks.

  "Who...?" he murmured.

  In front of her...

  Juan appeared.

  But he wasn't the current Juan.

  It was the Juan of the past.

  The one of his memories.

  The one who carried her in his arms when she was released.

  "Juan!" Charlotte exclaimed, excited, running towards him.

  But Juan didn't turn around.

  The scenario changed.

  Now I was watching from behind... as if I was reliving that moment.

  Juan carried his body in his arms.

  Valterion walked next to him.

  "Wow... this girl really weighs," Juan joked.

  "Sir, please be respectful." We don't know how long she was locked up. - Valterion replied with a stern tone.

  "I know, I know..." Juan sighed. Only... when I saw her, I didn't see someone dangerous. I saw... someone broken.

  I don't know why, Val, but I felt that... she had something special. As if I shouldn't be alone.

  "What if they locked her up for a reason?" Valterion asked, doubtful. What if releasing her was a mistake?

  Juan smiled.

  With that same look that Charlotte remembered.

  "Then... we'll help her get better." We will show you that you can trust us.

  "Because she's more than a mistake."

  She's a queen.

  Charlotte put her hands to her face.

  His body was shaking.

  The tears were no longer of rage...

  They were grateful.

  Juan kept walking.

  And then... he stopped.

  He turned his head back.

  For a second... Charlotte felt that he was looking at her.

  Juan smiled.

  And then, he continued on his way next to Valterion... disappearing on the horizon.

  ?

  [Scene 3 – The Queen's Rebirth]

  Charlotte stood still.

  But she was no longer the same.

  "I don't need your approval anymore...

  —...Because I've already found my real family.

  He got up.

  The energy that surrounded her began to throb.

  The manna became dense, as if the world was holding its breath.

  WHOOOSH!

  The wind whipped the ruins.

  The castle shook.

  Charlotte raised her arms.

  The ground broke at his feet.

  He remembered every moment with his new companions.

  The jokes of Lightning.

  Valterion's respect.

  Elizabeth's support.

  And Juan's voice... his savior. His light in the dark.

  A black flame emerged from his chest.

  "I'm not a shadow anymore...

  With a heartbreaking and solemn cry, like a reborn goddess of chaos, she exclaimed:

  "DARK QUEEN!"

  His eyes widened.

  They were completely black, but a beautiful glow danced in them.

  In his pupils... an ancestral rune shone with intensity.

  His hair was floating.

  Her dress was transforming.

  His aura was majestic and dark, like a starry night about to devour the sun.

  Charlotte had woken up.

  And from his lips, an elegant and malicious laugh escaped.

  "Heh... This will be a lot of fun."

  End of Chapter 12.