Chapter 370 Sanctum of the Defiant Bond
Valeora → Court of Veyric
Day 10 After the Crack
Joanna was shackled.
Her hands and feet were bound by chains of magic that shimmered with anti-flux glyphs.
On her back, the wounds from the Crack of Chronos still throbbed, never fully healed, causing a constant ache, a haunting reminder of time's cruel passage. Each passing second felt like an increasingly heavy burden, painful, as if time itself danced around them, teasing with a vanishing hope. Doubt enveloped Joanna, deep in the recesses of her heart, fostering a persistent contemplation of whether they could alter her fate.
Jeanne walked beside her, flanked by royal guards, acutely aware of the tension that seemed to fill the air like an electric charge. In those heavy steps, she felt the pulse of magic vibrating, resonating their inner turmoil. Looking deep into Joanna's eyes, she sensed the helplessness yearning to be transformed into courage, a flicker of determination ready to spark.
"I won't leave you," Jeanne whispered.
"I will speak in court. I will demand your rights as a human, not a relic of the past." Her voice quivered, echoing in Joanna's mind like a spell, fortifying the chains that bound her.
"Kak..." Joanna whispered, "You've sacrificed enough. Don't confront the kingdom for my sake." A tremor of fear enveloped her, yet a faint hope urged her to believe that perhaps, just perhaps, a miracle could happen. Nevertheless, doubt lingered in her heart, refusing to fade.
"I am your sister. That is my only reason. And that is enough." Jeanne stared straight ahead, her gaze as strong as the magic flowing between them, vowing to protect what remained of their family. Every word she spoke was her promise, a mystery she would never forget, regardless of the price the world demanded.
The Veyric courthouse loomed majestically, its black stone walls adorned with the emblem of the Gaia-Earth kingdom.