Chapter 5 A baby at the gate

Creek... I opened the door to check on Queen Andewi. After giving her the potion earlier, she still seemed weak, lying in her bed.

"Please hold on, Your Majesty," I whispered as I poured a little more of the potion into her mouth, hoping that this time she would wake up.

After taking care of the queen, I headed to the king's chamber. His condition was much worse. He still showed no signs of waking, but I prayed that he would pull through, at least until Nyai returned to the palace.

"King, I know you're strong. You can get through this," I said softly, closing the door to let him rest.

I stepped outside to check on the state of the kingdom. Besides protecting the palace, I had to ensure the well-being of the remaining white wolves. From outside, I could see that most of them were slowly recovering, though some were still injured. I began distributing the potion Nyai had prepared to them.

"Do you still have any magic left?" I asked, observing their tired yet determined faces.

"We still have some magic left, Yuzi. But how is the kingdom itself?" one of the white wolves asked.

"Bad. Many soldiers are injured, some critically, and the king himself is in serious condition, just like the queen."

"Poor them, we hope both of them recover soon," the soldiers around me expressed their concern, their faces filled with worry.

"I can't stay out here for long," I said, letting out a deep sigh. "The kingdom is in a very weak state right now. I need to be extra vigilant and protect the palace. I fear the enemy might take this chance to seize control." I quickly made my way back into the palace. Some of the soldiers had already regained consciousness, though they weren't fully recovered. They were trying to stand, even though their bodies were still weak.

"Yuzi, how are the Queen and the King?" asked a soldier who had just woken up, his face still pale.

"They're still in their chambers, both in critical condition," I replied with a worried tone. "I need to make sure all of you are safe as well. Here, drink this, it will help restore some of your strength." I handed him a potion, hoping it would speed up his recovery.

"We lost, Yuzi. There's nothing we could do," he said, his voice filled with resignation, eyes cast down in defeat.

"Yes, I know. But you all did your best for the White Wolf Kingdom," I replied, trying to uplift his spirit. "No one can blame you. You fought bravely, and that's what matters most. Now, we need to hold on, recover, and wait for the right moment to rise again."

The soldier nodded slowly, though his eyes still reflected sorrow. I understood they were not just physically wounded, but mentally as well. This defeat had left a deep mark, but the hope of seeing the kingdom strong again must remain. I had to keep their spirits alive, like embers waiting to blaze into flames once more.

"I need to check on the King first. Rest here for now," I said as I left the room.

The King's condition remained the same-there was no significant change. His face was still pale, and his breathing labored. Carefully, I placed my hand on his chest and tried to transfer some of my magic to him, hoping it would help, though I could only give a small amount. My strength was nearly depleted.

After a few moments, I stepped out and headed to the Queen's chambers. I had to check on her as well.

"Queen," I called softly, noticing that her eyes were open. A glimmer of hope flickered within me. But when Andewi tried to sit up, her face twisted in pain. Her wounds were still too severe.

"Easy, Queen. Don't push yourself," I quickly supported her, gently laying her back down.

"You're not fully healed yet. Drink this," I said, offering her the potion again, hoping it would ease her pain or at least make her feel a little better.

"Yuzi, where is my son?" Queen Andewi asked weakly, her voice laced with worry.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I've done as you commanded," I replied, trying to soothe her troubled heart.

"Is he in a safe place?"

"I'm certain, Your Majesty. The Prince will be safe in that world."

But Queen Andewi's eyes still reflected deep concern. "What if... what if he can't survive there? What if..."

"There's no need to worry, Queen," I gently interrupted. "I've shared part of my magic with the Prince. He will always be connected to the white wolves. We will always be able to protect him, even from afar."

Queen Andewi looked at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, but a hint of calm began to surface. "Yuzi, you've done everything perfectly. You truly are my loyal follower."

I offered her a faint smile, proud of the trust she had placed in me. "It's my duty, Queen," I responded, bowing my head respectfully.

My emotions were mixed. Although I had done everything I could, the thought of the young Prince being alone in another world still weighed heavily on my mind. I could only hope that the magic I had given him would be strong enough to protect him until the day he could be brought back to this kingdom.

***

I wasn't sure if my ears were playing tricks on me, but I had been hearing the sound of a baby crying from outside for a while now.

"Honey, wake up," I whispered as I gently shook my husband's shoulder, who was still fast asleep.

"Hmm," he grumbled, still half-asleep.

"Honey, I hear a baby crying," I said again, more seriously this time.

"Oh, come on, you're imagining things," he replied lazily.

"I'm serious, I'm not imagining it. Come on, wake up," I urged him.

"I'm still sleepy, my love," he muttered, turning over and burying his face in the pillow.

"Ugh, you're impossible," I muttered in frustration. Finally giving up, I got out of bed and started walking toward the door, curiosity pulling me forward.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?" a few palace guards quickly approached me as soon as they saw me stepping out of the room, their faces filled with concern.

"You all..."