Beyond the Stars

Chapter 20: Cassiopeia's Ring

"You know Amelia?!" Blessica gasped, eyes widening at Carmen.

"Yes—wait a minute. You know her?!" Carmen's jaw tightened, her confusion mirroring Blessica's.

The air thickened between them, and I found myself holding my breath.

Danilo broke in, his fists clenching. "Amelia said that her mother died giving birth to her."

"That's not what she told us," Cedric countered immediately, his voice sharp. "She said her father deserted her and her mother. That's why she hates Caspians."

The words clashed like swords. My chest tightened. These weren't just contradictions — they were opposite lies.

"Wait..." Carmen's eyes narrowed, recalling something. "That's why she never joins us during daytime sparring. She always makes excuses — headaches, sudden errands, some fake injuries."

Alon's eyes widened in realization. "And that's why in Therondia, she only ever shows up in the mornings! We've never seen her past noon. Always some reason to vanish."

The group fell silent, the weight of it settling in.

It wasn't just odd. It was calculated.

The image of Amelia's constant glare, her sharp words, her persistence in making me feel unwanted — all of it snapped into place with a sickening click.

Amelia Agassi. Daughter of the queen's right-hand woman and the king's right-hand man. Living a double life between two kingdoms.

And manipulating us all.

I swallowed hard. "We've been out here for days. The royals must be worried... and the Agassis must be moving."

The panic rippled through all of us. We couldn't afford to waste another second.

But then — as if the goddess herself answered — an enormous shadow passed overhead.

We looked up, stunned, as a creature descended from the sky. An eagle's head and wings, a lion's body, eyes glowing faint gold.

"A griffin!" Baron gasped. "It'll get us home faster than days of walking!"

I hesitated — but only for a heartbeat. The faint flicker of a halo above its head sealed it. The goddess had sent this.

We climbed aboard. The griffin crouched, wings spreading wide, then leapt into the air with a powerful thrust.

The wind whipped against us, fierce and wild. My hair lashed my face, but I couldn't help staring in awe. Cassiopeia stretched beneath us — mountains, forests, rivers, all stitched together like a living map.

Behind me, chaos.

"STOP PUSHING ME!" Danilo screamed, gripping the griffin's feathers. "I'M AT THE EDGE, I'LL FALL!"

"No one's pushing you, idiot!" Baron laughed, deliberately shifting his weight.

"AAAAAAAAH!" the girls shrieked in unison, half fear, half exhilaration.

For a fleeting moment, I laughed too. But then I saw it.

Below, at the base of the mountain we had hiked days ago, two queens stood — screaming, furious, about to tear each other apart.

"Down," I whispered to the griffin. It obeyed, circling and landing gracefully.

We dismounted, rushing forward just as Queen Marikit pointed accusingly.

"YOU KIDNAPPED MY STUDENTS AGAIN!"

Queen Barbara's eyes blazed. "I GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR STUDENTS — BUT YOU KIDNAPPED OURS, DIDN'T YOU? SEEKING REVENGE BECAUSE WE HELPED ANGELINE?!"