They ran to the opalescent glow from the castle as the rain poured once again. “Come on!,” Rose shouted over her shoulder. As they all reached the doors, the effect on Mare’s body wore off, nearly dropping her body mercilessly. “Queen Stellina! It’s Rose! QUEEN STELLINA!!!”, Rose shouted banging on the doors. The doors opened rapidly, revealing Queen Stellina with watery red eyes. “Rose! Oh stars, you were gone longer than planned,” she said, her eyes darting between her and the girls behind her. 

What- what happened?” she asked puzzled. Rose turned and gulped hard. “Uh… we lo…”, Rose tried, her voice shaky. “Come in”, Queen Stellina said breathing deeply. As she closed the doors, they all flinched at the loud bang. “We fought her, and most of us got injured, but one was, um, fatal”, Rose explained with her eyes glued to her feet. Queen Stellina’s eyes twitched in disbelief, tears falling gracefully. Mila and Celeste gently placed Mare’s body on the abalone floor. Bending down, Queen Stellina placed a hand on her face. “Oh, Mare… I’m so terribly sor… I’m sorry”. She then dropped her head, sobbing. They all silently cried, watching her sob over Mare’s body. Queen Stellina looked up unpredictably. “Celeste, can’t you heal her?”, she asked desperately. Celeste wiped her eye, and nodded. “I can try. I’ve healed before but not someone who’s passed”, she answered going down on her knees. 

Celeste steadied her breathing as her magic poured from her palms, the magic seeping through Mare’s heart. They all watched anxiously, intensity filling the room. Celeste’s eyes lit up, then got off her knees. “I think she’s breathing again-yes, her heart is beating”. The all smiled gratefully, but Rose didn’t miss Celeste swipe at a falling tear. Rose kneeled next to Celeste, holding her shoulder. “Celeste, you did it! She’s alive again. What you did is a miracle”. Celeste moved Rose’s hand and glanced down at her hands, leading Rose to knit her eyebrows. “What’s wrong?” Celeste glanced up and took a short breath. “No, I didn’t save her. The spell I did isn’t permanent”.

Rose chuckled lightly. “Well, of course it’s not permanent. Nothing is”.

“No, you don’t get it! The spell I put on Mare will only last exactly seven days. So in exactly this time in seven days, she dies again. But there is no next time to save her”, Celeste explained, sobbing, her pale blue eyes glassy, her face flushed ice blue. Rose’s heartbeat slowed as she stood up. “No. Undo the spell”. Celeste looked up bewildered. “What? No, we need her for the battle. I can’t undo the spell unless I end her new life right now”. Rose paced nervously. “Then do it before she wakes up”. Celeste stood up, standing in front of Rose. “I said no! We. Need. Her. Without her, we lose. Like Queen Stellina explained before, we need as many allies as possible”. “I don’t want her to die again. But at least she can go again without feeling it”.

“Rose, just listen plea -” “NO! I am the queen and you will obey my orders. I want to go through with this because it’s the best option”. Celeste stared at her blankly, but in pure shock. Celeste nodded as she went to kneel down again, but a voice interrupted. “You’re not queen yet”. They all swiveled in unison and gasped. “Amos!”

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