Tale of the two Thrones

CHAPTER SEVEN

Early the next morning, Pandora and Flora went to the garden to meet Laron after breakfast. The sun was shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the lush green grass and vibrant flowers. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the trees, carrying the sweet scent of blooming roses through the air. The atmosphere was peaceful, with only the occasional chirp of a bird breaking the silence. Pandora and Flora walked along the winding path, their footsteps quiet on the soft grass. They had been waiting for this moment for what felt like an eternity, and their anticipation was palpable. As they approached the apple tree, they saw Laron sitting on the grass, his back against the trunk, his legs stretched out in front of him. Laron was completely absorbed in the small book he was reading, his brow furrowed in concentration. He didn't even notice the girls approach until they sat down on either side of him, their presence announced by the soft rustle of their dresses. He looked up, startled, and then smiled as he saw Pandora and Flora gazing at him expectantly.
"Ah, good morning, girls," he said, closing his book and setting it aside. "I'm glad you're here. I've found the solution we've been searching for."
Pandora's eyes lit up with excitement. "Really? What is it?" Laron took a deep breath, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I have found your solution as promised, I know it may seem weird but it is true," he paused, looking at his sister, who indicated that he'd continue. "The kingdom of Nefaria is a kingdom bounded by peace and love," he began, his voice filled with conviction. "For years, the kingdom has been in tranquility, thus attracting merchants from different localities, which boosts their economic system, keeping them stable. Unquestionably, the kingdom is ever blessed with food, water, animals, and other things that every human needs to thrive." Laron paused, his eyes locked on Pandora's, as if daring her to doubt his words. Pandora's gaze was unwavering, her eyes shining with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "Go on," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. Laron's eyes sparkled with excitement as he continued the tale, his voice filled with wonder. "The secret to the tranquility of the kingdom of Nefaria is magic. There is a legend in rare books of history, THE TALE OF THE TWO THRONES, legend has it that Nefaria is a kingdom with magic and it is only in Nefaria that one can summon the demon king to have one wish fulfilled." He paused, taking a deep breath, the princesses's eyes glued to his every word. "The tale of the two thrones is about a princess who will rule  the demon world, a princess with unimaginable power and wisdom. She was offered the human throne, but she refused, choosing something more powerful, something that would change the course of history forever."
Laron's voice dropped to a whisper, his words dripping with intrigue. "She is the only one who could help bring back the human and demon worlds together, for they were once one, living in perfect harmony. But the selfishness of humans led to betrayal, and the two worlds were torn apart, leaving only a faint memory of their once-peaceful coexistence." Pandora's eyes widened, her mind racing with the implications. "A curse was placed, a curse that can only be broken by a human princess, some books say from Nefaria, but none have confirmed it yet." Laron's words hung in the air, leaving the girls to ponder the magnitude of the legend. Laron continued, "However, some people say the demon king can be summoned because he was once a human. I don't know if this is true, but I trust this book of legends as it never lies." He held the book close to his chest, his eyes shining with conviction.
Pandora looked at him skeptically, her disbelief evident on her face. She took Flora's hand, ready to leave, disappointed by Laron's fantastical tale. "Laron, we've heard enough," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "This is just a silly legend, a mere fantasy." But Laron called out, "I know you won't believe me, but the book contains this," and he brought out an item of gold, more like a symbol. It glimmered in the sunlight, its intricate design seeming to dance in the air. As soon as Flora saw it, she was surprised. "This... I've seen this somewhere," she said, her eyes scanning her memory. "Oh, I remember. I saw it in my father's study, but when I asked him, he said it's nothing important." Her voice trailed off, her eyes fixed on the symbol. Laron smiled, a triumphant glint in his eye. "This item, the Amulet of Light, is used by the ancient Royals of Nefaria to protect the people from the evils that might try to lurk them. And for generations, it has been passed down." He held the amulet up, its golden surface reflecting the sun's rays. He looked at Pandora, his gaze piercing. "You still don't believe me?" he asked, his voice soft but persuasive. "Even with the proof right here?" Pandora wore a skeptical face, but finally, she sat down, her curiosity piqued despite her reservations. "Fine," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Tell me more."
And Laron smiled, his eyes shining with excitement. "Ah, sister, where do I even begin?"
"To help Flora, we will need to summon the demon king to grant her only one wish. But to summon him, we need to gather the items to do so." Laron's eyes sparkled with determination, his voice filled with a sense of purpose.
Pandora asked, her curiosity piqued, "What are the items?" She leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on Laron's face. Laron opened the small book and began to list them, his voice filled with conviction. "First, we will need an imperial amazon parrot that can only be found in the far Sharikza kingdom. They say the bird only comes out once every fortnight, and only at dawn, when the sun's rays touch the horizon." He paused, his eyes locked onto Flora's, his gaze intense. "Secondly, we will need bismuth crystals which could only be found in the northern Rimanzan sea, deep within the ocean's depths, where the pressure is extreme and the darkness is absolute." His voice continued, steady and strong. "Thirdly, we need to pick up the corpse flower in the glowing forest of Shikuku, where the trees shine like lanterns in the dark, and the air is thick with an otherworldly scent." Next, he spoke of the dragon blood tree, its leaves as red as blood, and the golden tiger, its fur as golden as the sun. "And finally, we will need a single hair from its mane, a hair that shines like gold in the sunlight." As Laron finished listing the items, Pandora's eyes widened in disbelief. "How are we supposed to get all of those?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "It seems impossible, like a wild goose chase." But Flora's determination was unwavering. "I don't care how impossible it seems," she said, her voice firm. "I will get those items, no matter what. I owe it to myself, to my family, and to my kingdom."
Laron smiled, his eyes shining with admiration. "I knew you had the spirit, Flora. And I'm not going to let you do it alone. I'll escort and help you find the items, every step of the way." Pandora nodded in agreement, her expression softening. "I'm in too. We'll do it together, as siblings, as friends." Flora's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, both. I won't forget this. I need to go back to Nefaria to my parents and will be back in two weeks to start the quest." The three of them nodded, their hearts filled with determination and their spirits soaring with the promise of adventure.