As they stepped out of the cave mouth, an unexpected sight greeted them. The gray miasma that had long shrouded the dead lands had vanished.

  "The miasma is gone..." Ghazi said in awe while feeling the air grow cleaner and lighter.

  Now, the soldiers could feel the warmth of the afternoon sun. A massive wave of relief washed over the group. The men cheered, releasing the tension they had just endured.

  Entya pulled on Nashr’s sleeve, an impulsive habit from when her body was still small. Nashr tensed and turned toward her. "Nashr, I want to try to restore this land," she said as if seeking his approval. Her smile widened. "I think I am capable now."

  Nashr remained silent for a moment and then nodded. "Try it."

  Wrapped in Nashr’s long cloak, Entya stepped lightly with sparkling eyes toward the center of the barren land. She knelt and touched the cracked earth with her fingers. A soft bluish-green light radiated from her hands and flowed into the ground. Slowly, like a miracle, the soil began to heal. The cracks closed and green sprouts began to poke through. The once barren area now showed signs of new life.

  Everyone felt a surge of relief followed by joyous cheers that echoed throughout the valley. The King of Talrakia and his future queen had brought a blessing.

  After returning to the palace, the joy spread among the staff, but Nashr’s mind drifted elsewhere. He tried to return to his routine by piling reports on his desk, yet his concentration failed.

  Entya’s transformed body and her words in the cave swirled in his mind, creating a restlessness and curiosity he could not contain.

  Though he possessed spiritual power, he was a ruler who always sought the best solutions based on facts. However, the newly revealed facts about Entya regarding her body frozen in time, her unexpected power, and her dramatic growth... it tore through his logical thinking.

  His curiosity regarding the girl was now far greater than ever before.

  Nashr could not sit still. It was unlike him to rush, especially regarding personal matters. But this time, his inner self urged him forward. He felt unable to wait until tomorrow to settle the unease in his heart and fully understand what had occurred.

  He had to know. He had to speak with Entya.

  Nashr rose from his chair and left the untouched parchments behind. His footsteps led him out of the study and through the quiet palace corridors. He headed straight for Entya’s room.

  Meanwhile, Entya’s room was filled with emotion.

  Wearing Gerel’s red deel for the time being, Entya spun in front of the mirror with a happy smile. She admired her taller and more mature figure.

  "Look at me, Gerel. I truly look like a woman now," she exclaimed.

  Gerel’s eyes grew misty as she hugged her friend tightly. "Oh... I am so grateful you could grow, En. I truly am."

  "You don't have to be gloomy anymore, and you don't have to limit yourself..." Gerel said emotionally. Entya’s eyes also filled with tears as she hugged the friend who was always there through joy and sorrow. "Thank you, Gerel... I stayed strong because you were with me."

  Entya released the hug and looked at Gerel playfully. "I wonder how Yul will react when he sees me now. I cannot wait to show him. Perhaps... I don't need to feel inferior anymore," Entya said with a smirk.

  A soft knock at the door startled them. Gerel, with eyes still slightly puffy, opened the door. Nashr stood at the threshold. His aura was powerful and his gaze was focused entirely on Entya.

  "Can we speak for a moment, Entya?" Nashr asked. His voice was calm but held an underlying urgency.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  It did not take long for Entya to nod. The two of them soon rode out of the palace without any guards. They were accompanied only by the silence of the night and the stars scattered across the desert sky.

  Entya felt a distinct difference. With her new body, she felt more free and confident. The tiny frame that caused her such insecurity in Salkha village was gone.

  Entya’s horse moved forward a few steps. She rode a bit awkwardly while adjusting to her new proportions.

  Nashr stared intently at the young woman before him. Entya started the conversation as if reading his thoughts. "I think I know what you want to discuss. Our talk in the cave was cut short."

  She looked at her fingers, which were now slender and mature. She turned them over before continuing her story with restrained emotion.

  "When I was twelve years old, my physical growth stopped."

  "I began to feel fevers and unbearable pain throughout my body every three full moons. Each time the fever returned, the pain increased as if a growing storm of energy lived inside my heart. Aunt Beihe concluded that my body was not strong enough to hold this power."

  Entya paused for a moment then continued.

  "While all my peers grew up and changed, I was trapped as a child. I watched them grow, get engaged, and marry. I watched the people I loved grow up... through those small eyes." There was a faint bitterness in her voice.

  Nashr listened closely. He did not interrupt and simply let the girl pour out her feelings.

  "I will be nineteen soon," Entya continued with a bright smile. "I thought I would never receive such a blessing. Perhaps there will be a time when my body fully develops." Entya turned to Nashr, her hopeful gaze meeting the king's eyes.

  Nashr returned her smile with a thin one of his own, but his eyes showed a sense of being proud. "You have been through a lot, Entya, and you will continue to grow," Nashr said with conviction.

  'It is as if your potential is limitless,' he thought.

  Under the vast desert stars, Nashr viewed Entya in a different light. The energy bond he felt in the cave now seemed even stronger.

  He stopped his horse and looked at Entya deeply. "Entya, I want you to try something."

  "What?" Entya asked curiously.

  "Call your power. Call Enki," Nashr commanded with quiet authority. "I want you to communicate with him. Now is the time."

  Entya grew quiet. This was the first time Nashr had asked her to talk to Enki. After what happened in the cave, she felt her connection with the great stag spirit was clearer. They dismounted and walked to a stable patch of sand.

  Entya closed her eyes and focused her consciousness to call the stag spirit in her mind.

  Slowly, the air beside her began to move. A bluish-green light appeared and swirled into the silhouette of a stag with towering antlers adorned with leaves and forest flowers. His eyes held infinite wisdom.

  Enki.

  "Greetings, my daughter, Entya," Enki’s voice echoed in her mind like an ancient melody. "And greetings to you, Sun King." He gave a respectful nod to Nashr, who was amazed to see Enki physically. It was the first time he had seen her spirit so clearly.

  Furthermore, Nashr was surprised that Enki recognized his own spiritual power.

  Entya bowed respectfully. "Enki," she said with a trembling voice. "I don't know what to say."

  "You may express whatever you question, my daughter," Enki echoed.

  "In that case, what is the connection between my power and the restoration of the dead lands?"

  Enki stepped closer and touched his nose to Entya’s cheek. "My little daughter, this power is the essence of life itself. I am the seed planted by nature within you. Within you flows the essence of creation and healing. The dead land is a sickness and you are the cure. The core of the sick earth has been poisoned, and my soul within you purifies it."

  "This is only the beginning, Entya," Enki continued while looking at Nashr and then back to her. "You are on the right path. For now, you must open the shackles of your soul deeper, listen to the whispers of nature, and train your power alongside the Sun King."

  Nashr heard every word. He noticed something unusual in Enki’s tone when mentioning him, it was an emphasis that made his heart race.

  "Your fates are intertwined, oh chosen souls," Enki said solemnly. "The world will heal in your hands. Balance will return and life will bloom in the dry places."

  After those words, Enki’s body faded back into bluish-green light and vanished.

  Nashr’s eyes were wide. He stared at the spot where Enki stood and then turned to Entya. "Fate," he murmured.

  He looked at Entya with a mix of unreadable emotions. He felt a strong energy bond that confirmed Enki’s words.

  Fate was a concept he usually ignored or denied because he believed in human choice. Yet here, under the desert sky, he felt an undeniable truth.

  He moved closer to Entya. His hand hesitating for a fraction of a second before he took hers. He traced the back of her hand with his thumb, a slow, deliberate caress that made the air between them vibrate.

  "Is this about the world, Entya," Nashr whispered.

  "Or is this about the two of us?"

  Entya felt his touch while Enki’s words still rang in her ears. Nashr’s intense gaze and the warmth of his hand sent strange waves through her body. It was a sensation far stronger than mere duty. She felt an invisible thread binding them together. The surge of emotion made Entya’s face flush.

  Nashr was stunned. Perhaps this was the soulmate he had been searching for. He did not know for sure, but his heart stirred as he embraced the unspoken feeling in the silence of the desert.