Everyone had finally arrived in Noctyra, inside Xavi's castle. The air was tense, thick with dread and anticipation. Josephine was asleep, her breathing soft but uneasy.
With a heavy heart, Xavi sat beside her, feeding her gently, cleaning her body, and tucking her in with the utmost care. He stared at her face for a long moment — peaceful, innocent, yet dangerous beyond words. His hands trembled as he lifted her and carefully placed her inside the ancient cage, the one forged centuries ago to contain divine power.
Xavi hesitated before locking it. His heart cracked under the weight of it. Maelkor stepped forward, lifting his staff as ancient glyphs burned into the air. "Let the bonds of eternity hold her," he said, and cast an ancient sealing spell over the cage. The metal glowed a deep crimson before turning black again.
Josephine, even in her sleep, smiled faintly at them all. The sight broke Kara's heart. Tears slid down her cheeks as she whispered, "I remember when I wiped out a whole kingdom during the Red Moon… it was so scary."
Oliver took her trembling hand and pressed a kiss to it. "It's okay, sweetie," he murmured, even as his eyes were filled with fear.
Xavi looked down at Josephine again. Her soft smile was like a knife twisting in his chest.
By 3:09 PM, the sky turned blood red. Darkness fell across Noctyra.
Adris was fast asleep in his room, unaware of the storm about to break. Xoni and Kael stood guard outside, casting a soundproofing spell around the room to protect him.
Inside the hall, Josephine stirred. Her body trembled, her veins pulsed black and red, and when her eyes snapped open — they burned with both colors, swirling violently.
Xavi swallowed hard. Everyone in the room froze, their eyes fixed on her.
Josephine smirked.
The Guardians descended from the high towers, their robes fluttering as they formed a circle and began chanting in unison:
"By the blood that binds the moon to flame,
By the silence that bears my name,
O Red Sky, split and call my soul,
For the Queen has come to claim her role.
Rise, O moon of crimson breath,
Unchain my light from shadowed death.
Let fear bend and stars retreat,
For the Silent Queen shall not know defeat.
Blood to fire, fire to grace,
Echo the will through time and space.
In every heart, my voice shall bloom,
She is Josephine, Queen of Zephyria's womb.
So let the night remember the reign,
Let every drop of sorrow feed the flame.
Rise, O power ancient and true,
By crimson light, the world renew."
As the chant echoed, Josephine shook violently, grabbing the cage bars. The cage burned her palms, but she didn't stop. Flames sparked under her fingertips.
"She's trying to break it!" Maelkor shouted.
"Just one more hour," Kara said desperately.
But then Josephine stopped. Her eyes flicked upward — and Kara's blood ran cold.
"She's… summoning spirits!" Kara gasped. "Past rulers… and Chosen Ones!"
Spectral figures began to appear — one after another — until even Queen Selen, the first Queen of Zephyria, descended among them.
Queen Selen's spirit raised her hand and declared, her voice thundering:
"Let destiny be fulfilled! O they who dare to stop her… shall die!"
The air filled with chanting spirits, circling Josephine. Her eyes were closed, her power surging like a storm.
Xavi's breath caught. "Kara," he whispered, "can you… can you summon Nana's ghost?"
"Yes," Kara said quickly. "Maelkor, can you?"
"I can — but do you have anything that belonged to her?" Maelkor asked.
Without hesitation, Xavi vanished in a blur of speed and returned seconds later, clutching a worn cookbook. "Her cookbook. She gave it to me before Josephine and I married."
Maelkor took the book. His eyes glowed as memories of Ceillie flooded him. Then — a loud crack split the air. The cage shattered.
All the ancient rulers wrapped themselves around Josephine's aura as she rose into the air, the Aetherstarved claws wrapping around her arms like armor.
She smirked.
Xavi's heart sank. Everyone drew their swords.
Lightning struck again — louder, brighter — and the shockwave woke Adris.
"Mama!?" he cried, stumbling to the window. His small eyes widened at the sight of Josephine in the air, surrounded by red lightning.
"Mamaaa!"
He began to cry, terrified. Anya rushed in, pulling him back. "Don't worry, okay? Mama will be fine, little baby," she said softly.
But Josephine's energy flared again. Maelkor finished his chant and opened the cookbook toward her — it began to glow gold, flooding the room with light.
A figure appeared within the light.
"Nana…" Xavi whispered.
Ceillie's spirit opened her gentle ghostly eyes. "Hello, King Xavi… how are you?" she asked sweetly, smiling faintly. But when she saw Josephine in the air, her smile faded. "What's happening?"
"She's losing control," Xavi said. "She's going to kill us all."
Ceillie turned toward Josephine just as Josephine unleashed a blast — massive power orbs flew in every direction, throwing soldiers and Blood Regin Syndicate members to the ground.
"JOSEPHINE!" Tess shouted, appearing with Noah, Nyx, Callum, Raden, and Piere.
Josephine had Kester by the hair — she hurled him into a massive rock with terrifying strength.
"JOJO!" Ceillie screamed.
Everyone froze when they realized who had spoken.
"NANA!" Tess, Callum, and Piere cried out together, their eyes filling with tears.
"My sweet, sweet babies…" Ceillie smiled sadly, turning to Josephine.
Then her voice hardened — motherly, commanding, divine.
"Josephine Lilith Onyx Alexandra Aurora Hendrick Roland! You come down RIGHT NOW!"
The entire hall went silent.
"That's her full name!?" everyone exclaimed, shocked.
"Yes," Ceillie said, smiling faintly. "Hendrick gave her both Onyx and Lilith. And I gave her Alexandra and Aurora."
Josephine's power wavered. She stared down at Ceillie — her eyes flickering between red and blue.
"Jojo, my sweet child… it's me, Nana…" Ceillie said softly.
Josephine hesitated, her breathing sharp, her head pounding from the screaming voices in her mind. She clutched her head in pain.
At that same moment, Adris escaped the guards and Anya, using a small invisibility spell he had learned at school.
He ran straight outside.
"MAMA! CALM DOWN! CONTROL YOURSELF, PLEASE MAMA!"
Everyone turned in shock.
"Adris, get back inside!" Xavi shouted.
But it was too late. In a flash, Josephine appeared in front of him — her red eyes glowing as she stared down at her son.
Adris trembled but looked up bravely, touching her cheek softly.
"Mama, pretty please… look. You gave everyone a boo-boo, Mama. They all have ouches."
Josephine froze. Her body went still. The red in her eyes flickered and dimmed.
She turned her gaze toward everyone else — and in that instant, she regained control.
She flew backward, raising her hands to the heavens. Her forehead began to glow, the mark cracking open into a diamond shape. She screamed silently — no sound came out — as spirits began vanishing one by one.
"Kara…" someone whispered.
Kara's eyes widened — she saw her father's spirit smiling at her.
"Dad…"
"Goodbye, my wonderful child," he said warmly before fading.
The energy around Josephine exploded upward — a blinding burst of crimson light shot into the sky. Her forehead absorbed it all, forming a diamond gem that settled perfectly into her skin.
The red sky cleared. The wind stilled.
Josephine slowly descended, trembling, barely conscious.
"My darling baby girl," Ceillie whispered, floating close and pressing a kiss to Josephine's forehead.
Tess, Piere, and Callum wept. "Nana, please don't go…"
"I'm sorry, my babies," Ceillie said softly. "The afterlife is peaceful. As much as I wanted to stay and live a hundred years more… I can't."
Josephine sobbed, shaking her head.
"I bid you all farewell," Ceillie said gently. She began to rise, her form dissolving into golden mist.
"Goodbye, my babies…" she whispered as she vanished completely.
Josephine reached out helplessly.
Then — her body went limp.
"Josephine!" Xavi rushed forward and caught her before she fell. Her body was burning hot. He carried her quickly and lowered her into the cool healing pool.
"Well… what a long-ass day," Bernard muttered, blood dripping from his forehead.
"Yep," Xantha and Agana said in unison, both slumped against the wall.
Adris floated in, clutching his teddy bear. "Mama?"
Sienna placed her hand over Josephine's stomach, checking carefully. "The baby is safe," she said softly.
Adris smiled in relief.
Josephine's forehead glowed faintly — the newly formed diamond gem shining softly under the moonlight.
Xavi brushed her hair away from her face and kissed her cheek tenderly.
"Rest well, my darling," he whispered.