Just as his words settled in the room, a magical signal pulsed against Raven's skin. His face paled instantly. His mother's condition had deteriorated sharply. He might lose her at any moment, the signal conveyed, and he was desperately needed home. Raven sank to the ground, the weight of the world crashing down on him.
Shu, shocked to see the normally stoic Raven crumble, watched in concern.
"Brother," Raven whispered to Jihu, his voice thick with tears, "It's like… like the roof over my head is about to fall too. I might lose my mother too. She's been sick for so long, but I could still see her. Now… I might not even have that. I'm so unlucky. There's no fixing her."
A spark of hope ignited in Fang's eyes. "Why not?" he said sharply. "There is a way." All eyes turned to him in surprise. "Remember Shu? She healed Raven when he was poisoned by the trolls. Maybe she can heal Raven's mother! It's troll poison, isn't it?"
Hope flickered in Raven's eyes. He scrambled to his feet and turned to Shu, his voice pleading. "Shu, please, just try. See if you can save my mother."
Jihu, pulling himself together with a visible effort, said, "It's okay. We're on a mission. We can't all go now. Raven, you go with Shu. We'll continue our work here."
Without another word, Raven and Shu, a fragile hope clinging to them, vanished in a flash of light, leaving the remaining members to face the daunting task ahead, knowing they carried not only the weight of their mission but also the hopes and fears of their broken hearts.
The air crackled with displaced energy as Raven, followed closely by Shu, stepped through the shimmering portal. They emerged into a grand chamber, the walls adorned with intricate carvings that seemed to pulse with an inner light. Seated on a plush velvet throne, his dark regal presence dominating the room, was Raven's father, the Vampire King. A woman, pale and frail, lay on a nearby chaise lounge, her eyes closed. This was Raven's mother.
Relief washed over the King's face at the sight of his son, but the arrival of Shu, a human, brought a frown to his brow. "Raven," he began, his voice a low rumble, "why have you brought a human into Freedonia?"
Raven held up a hand, a gesture that belied his urgency. "First," he said, "let me do one thing." He turned to Shu. "Go to my mother, please."
Shu nodded, her eyes already assessing. She moved to the chaise, not with timidity, but with the focus of a skilled healer. She placed her hand gently, but firmly, on the Queen's arm, closing her eyes. As she delved into the Queen's energy, she could feel the insidious tendrils of troll poison, a deep-seated corruption that had spread throughout her body. She knew that a full cleansing would take days, but the Queen didn't have that kind of time. Shu made a quick decision. She would draw out some of the poison, transferring it into her own body to give the Queen immediate relief.
While Shu worked, Raven approached his father. "Father," he began, bowing his head slightly, "Shu is not just any human. She possesses spiritual power." He paused, anticipating his father's reaction, "And she's not the only one. Two other girls, Ri and Ash, also possess it."
The King's eyes widened in disbelief. "Spiritual power? In humans? I have never heard of such a thing."
"They acquired it from an African tribe," Raven explained. "the girls aided them, and in return, they gifted us with their knowledge. And I," he continued, his voice gaining a serious edge, "I was also afflicted with troll poison, and Shu saved me. That's why I brought her. I hoped she could do the same for Mother." He ended with a pleading look, "It couldn't hurt to try, right?"
The King's face hardened, something akin to fear swirling in his normally impassive eyes. "Bobelu Aye," he muttered, the words sounding foreign and ancient on his tongue.
"What?" Raven asked, confused. "What's that about?"
His father sighed, a weary sound. "They… they are still alive? The descendants of that African tribe, the ones who wielded potent healing magic? I thought they had vanished centuries ago. This is… unexpected."
"They taught the girls I think they are very much alive," Raven affirmed. "And the girls has saved our lives. If it weren't for those three, Jihu, Fang, and I might not be here. We owe them much."
He shifted, a dark seriousness deepening his gaze. "While we were investigating, we uncovered a far more disturbing truth. The trolls and Minotaurs are not acting alone. There's a mastermind behind them, someone orchestrating their attacks." Raven's voice was tight. "We found out that the Minotaur leader was speaking to someone through a magic mirror. Shu and Ash couldn't see them, but her words… they were filled with a cold, cruel hatred, like she was driven by a desire for revenge."
The King staggered back, his voice trembling, "This cannot be! No, it can't be, not again." The fear was raw, palpable.
Raven, concerned by his father's reaction, laid a hand on his arm. "Father, tell me what's happening?"
His father took a deep breath, composing himself, "The voice you heard… It can only be her. One of the banished ones. It's… it's a long story."
Raven listened in shocked silence as his father revealed a history of betrayal, of a powerful sorceress driven to darkness, a creature they thought long gone from their world.
He felt a wave of despair wash over him, the gravity of the situation bearing down. "Then how do we fight this?"
His father nodded slowly, "Give me time. I need to speak with the rest of the council. I will gather you all. We will make a plan. I have an idea, but I will not reveal it until everyone is gathered. Tell Jihu and Fang to prepare." He turned his gaze to his son, "And bring the three girls. Their knowledge is critical now, not just for your world, but for theirs as well."
Raven had been so focused on his father that he had barely noticed the strain on Shu's face, the tight clenching of her jaw. As she continued to extract the poison, drawing it into herself, a low moan escaped her lips.
Raven's attention snapped back to Shu, and a cold fear gripped his heart. He rushed to her side just as her knees buckled, catching her before she fell.
"Shu!" His voice was thick with concern.
Shu managed a faint smile, weakly, "The poison… it's gone… from your mother…" Then, her eyes rolled back and she collapsed against Raven.
Panic surged through him. He had never felt this level of concern for anyone else, not even Jihu or Fang. He knew Shu needed medical attention, and there was no time to waste. He turned to the King, but all he could say was, "I have to go, Father. It's too late if I'm here any longer."
Without waiting for a reply, Raven swiftly opened another portal, scooped Shu into his arms, and disappeared through it.
The Vampire King stood alone in the chamber, his gaze fixed on the spot where his son had vanished. He was surprised to see such worry, so much care from raven. He hadn't expected that from his son. He whispered to himself, "He cares for someone? For a human?" It was, he admitted, a hopeful sign, but the threat looming over them all made him quickly forget the odd behaviour. The fate of both worlds was at stake, and the time for pleasant surprises was over.