The Fae King's Chosen

Chapter 4 - Into the Unknown

Alessia paced the grand chamber, her thoughts racing. The more she learned about this world, the more questions it stirred in her. How had she been swept into something so monumental, so life-altering? Every time she thought she understood, something new unraveled before her.

She had barely slept the night before. Oberon’s words kept replaying in her mind: The curse is killing our world. You are the key to breaking it.

But how? She was just Alessia, a regular woman from a regular world. How could she possibly be the answer to a problem that had plagued an entire realm for centuries?

The sound of footsteps broke her thoughts, and she looked up to see Caelorn entering the room, followed closely by Oberon. Their expressions were calm but purposeful, as though they had made some kind of decision.

“Alessia,” Oberon greeted, his voice steady as always. “We need to talk.”

She nodded slowly, though anxiety stirred in her chest. “About the curse?”

“Yes,” Caelorn said, standing at her side. “And the prophecy.”

Oberon gestured for her to sit, and Alessia reluctantly complied, sinking into one of the ornate chairs near the window. The city of Silvaris glittered outside, a stark contrast to the weighty conversation she knew was about to unfold.

“We explained the basics of the curse yesterday,” Oberon began, his deep voice resonating through the room. “But you need to understand more. Our curse is not something that can be undone by force, or even by magic alone.”

Caelorn stepped forward, his golden eyes fixed on her. “For centuries, we have tried to break it. Many fae have devoted their lives to finding a way to restore our women, to restore balance. But none have succeeded.”

Alessia’s heart sank. “Why not? You’re powerful, aren’t you? Shouldn’t your magic be able to break something like this?”

Oberon shook his head slowly. “Our magic doesn’t work that way. Fae magic is tied to connection—to balance between the two halves of our kind. Without women, our magic withers. It becomes incomplete, fragile. Every attempt to break the curse has failed because, without the other half of our magic, we cannot access the full power needed to undo it.”

Alessia frowned, trying to process what he was saying. “So, the curse can’t be broken because your magic doesn’t work properly without... women?”

“Exactly,” Caelorn said. “Our power was always meant to be shared between fae men and fae women. With only half of us here, our magic is incomplete, weakened.”

She leaned back in her chair, feeling the weight of their words settling over her. “And that’s why you need me? Because I’m a woman?”

Oberon nodded, his gaze never wavering. “You, and others like you. The prophecy speaks of women who will come through the portal from other worlds, bringing with them the magic that has been lost to us.”

Alessia’s pulse quickened. “Others? You mean... I’m not the only one?”

“No,” Caelorn said. “You are the first. But the prophecy foretells that more women will come. Each one will be connected to a fae, and through that bond, our magic will be restored.”

The enormity of the situation hit her like a punch to the gut. More women would follow her, all brought to this strange world to help save it. And they were relying on her, of all people, to be the first. To set the example.

“This is... a lot,” Alessia said, her voice trembling slightly. “But I still don’t understand what you need me to do. You said the portal chose me, but what does that mean? What am I supposed to do to help?”

Oberon exchanged a glance with Caelorn before answering. “The portal chooses women who are meant to bond with fae. To break the curse, you will need to form a connection with one of us—a deep connection. A bond that will allow your magic to awaken and merge with ours.”

Alessia blinked, her heart skipping a beat. “A bond? What kind of bond?”

Oberon’s gaze held hers, steady and unflinching. “A mate bond.”

Her stomach dropped. “A mate? You mean... you expect me to... to choose a mate?”

Caelorn stepped in, his tone gentle but firm. “It may seem overwhelming, but to us, it’s not unreasonable. Fae magic works through intimacy, through trust. The mate bond is sacred. It’s not something we take lightly.”

Alessia stared at them, her mind reeling. They were serious. They actually expected her to choose a mate—to bind herself to one of them in order to restore magic to the realm. It felt absurd. Ridiculous, even. She barely knew these people. How could they expect her to form such a deep connection so quickly?

“I can’t just... choose someone,” she said, her voice trembling. “This isn’t how it works in my world. You don’t just... pick a person and bond with them.”

“We understand,” Oberon said, his voice calm but resolute. “We are not asking you to rush into anything. The bond must form naturally. But it is the only way to restore balance. Without that connection, your magic will remain dormant, and the curse will continue.”

Alessia felt her chest tighten with anxiety. “What if I don’t want to choose a mate? What if I don’t want to be part of this?”

Oberon’s gaze softened, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. “You are here because you were chosen. I know it’s difficult to accept, but this is the reality we face. Without you, without women like you, our world has no future.”

She wanted to argue, wanted to tell them that she didn’t want this responsibility, but the look in Oberon’s eyes stopped her. There was a weight there—a burden he carried that she could barely comprehend. This wasn’t just about magic or prophecy. This was about survival. About an entire realm teetering on the brink of collapse.

“We won’t force you,” Caelorn added, his tone gentle. “But understand that your bond, when it forms, will be the key to unlocking the magic that can save us all.”

Alessia’s heart pounded in her chest. She couldn’t deny the gravity of their words. She was their hope. The women who came after her would be part of this, too, but she was the first. And if she couldn’t figure out how to awaken her magic, to bond with one of them... then everything would fall apart.

“I... I need time to think,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Oberon nodded, his expression understanding. “Take all the time you need. We are not asking you to decide anything today. But know that when the time comes, you won’t face this alone.”

Alessia nodded slowly, her thoughts spinning. She had been pulled into a world she didn’t understand, tasked with saving a realm she didn’t belong to. And now, she had to figure out not only how to awaken magic she didn’t know she had—but also how to form a bond that would save the fae.

As Oberon and Caelorn left her alone in the chamber, Alessia stood by the window once more, staring out at the city below. The weight of the prophecy, the curse, the fate of this world—it all pressed down on her, suffocating her with its enormity.

And yet, somewhere deep inside, she felt the smallest flicker of something. A connection. A spark of magic she didn’t yet understand.

Maybe, just maybe, they were right.