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Chapter Four: The First Unfold

Star

I continue my ranting about the lack of concern Eclipsa has for the kingdom's artefacts-expecting Tom and Marco to be listening. I lose focus on them and only notice they're gone when I've asked a question. I gasp to myself surprisingly when I see their empty seats and the door swinging back and forth, wide open.

I take a breath, I don't really care. My first priority should be figuring out what's happening to the missing objects-such as the royal tapestries from the Grandma room. It surprises me how much Eclipsa doesn't care, but she does have important duties to attend to so it's not too surprising-I guess.

I shake my head and decide to investigate the Grandma room. This is where I started noticing things were disappearing. I had asked Eclipsa about this, and she wasn't misplacing anything-so it wasn't her. Although as more pictures and statues started disappearing more, I was getting more suspicious. Eclipsa was too, but she's always focused on baby Meteora, so I can hardly ask her for help on this anymore.

I lock eyes on the empty space where Solaria's tapestry is meant to be. This won't help-I say to myself. I sigh before turning away, only to turn back around and notice something. I place my finger on the small droplet of dark liquid that fell in a trail sourced from the ceiling. I recognise this liquid, it's the corrupted magic. This is what the liquid looked like when Toffee trapped me in the wand. All my memories feel as if they're being reborn as I anxiously play out each interaction with him in my mind and all the damage he did to the kingdom. I gasp and take a step back. I need to tell Eclipsa.

I grab my phone, almost dropping it because of my shaking fingers. Slowly, I type out an urgent message to Tom and Marco and shut my phone once it's been sent. I head out of the Grandma room hoping to locate Eclipsa quickly.