Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water - Chapter 326: Sleep Deprived?

“In the depths of eternity, where darkness and light entwined, the universe was born from the dreams of the gods. From the celestial harmonies of creation to the discordant melodies of destruction, the cosmic symphony echoed across the expanse.Within this grand tapestry, a world emerged, forged from the essence of duality. Earth, a terrestrial haven, became the stage for an epic drama, as forces of creation and destruction converged. The fate of the universe hung in the balance, as two goddesses, Stella and Khaos, wove a narrative of light and darkness, life and death.Their story, a testament to the eternal dance between opposites, would give rise to a new era, one where humanity would inherit the earth, and the delicate balance of the cosmos. Join us on a journey through the ages, as we explore the celestial ballet, the birth of life, and the eternal struggle between creation and destruction.”

Japan – National News BroadcastThe polished news anchor sat upright, her gaze sharp as she adjusted the stack of papers before her. The newsroom behind her hummed with quiet urgency, the weight of the moment settling over the broadcast.“Authorities are baffled by a sudden and unexplained surge in sleep-related deaths across Japan,” she began, her voice steady yet tense. “More and more citizens are passing away in their sleep without any prior health concerns. Experts are working tirelessly to determine the cause, but no clear explanation has emerged. Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual symptoms before bedtime.”A graphic appeared, displaying the spike in fatalities over the past month. Behind her, unsettling photographs flickered across the screen—blurred images of individuals found in their beds, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.The anchor’s tone shifted. “Health officials recommend citizens avoid excessive fatigue and maintain healthy sleep habits. More updates will follow as investigations continue.”---United States – Paranormal PodcastIn a dimly lit podcast studio, the host leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. Across from him, a rugged man in a worn flannel shirt, gripping a faded photograph in one hand and a beer can in the other, leaned back in his chair.“So, you're telling me you saw this creature firsthand?” the host asked, clearly intrigued.The man scoffed, shaking his head. “Damn right, I did. Ugly thing had wings bigger than my body—slow but sneaky. Thought it could steal my pigs again, but I was ready this time—camera in one hand, shotgun in the other.”He slammed the table for emphasis, then shoved the blurry image toward the host. The photograph depicted a small, red-skinned humanoid figure with large, bat-like wings, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.“Spit, the thing didn’t know what hit it when I fired!” the man chuckled, his voice full of excitement.The host held up the picture to the live chat. “Alright, what do you think? Mothman? Demon? Or is our friend here just seeing things?”The chat exploded with theories—some skeptical, others eager for the investigation to continue.---China – Liangyuan Street MarketSurveillance footage from a bustling night market in China captured a chilling scene. A woman in a red qipao walked gracefully through the crowd, her figure striking in the soft glow of lanterns.Suddenly, she paused. Her body flickered—like a glitch in a video—before vanishing completely, as though she had never existed.The footage zoomed in, replaying in slow motion. In the final frame before she disappeared, her face distorted unnaturally, her eyes hollow and empty.The screen cut abruptly to black.

Theodora is the Queen of Polis, a city-state that lost the war against the most powerful empire in the continent.

She is sure that they'll execute her immediately but, somehow, she survives the meeting with the Emperor, and she finds herself... Married?

Tossed in a new world without connections and allies, she has to either accept her fate or lose the chance to help her people once again.

She soon finds out that her new husband knows more about her than she does herself, and that his purposes are often far from what she expects.

A fallen queen that doesn't know how to be anything else. A handsome Duke who's the cause of her ruin. And their efforts to find some happiness in a marriage that's been forced on them.

WARNING: there are contents not suitable for a sensitive audience.

The smut scenes are half-censored at the beginning, but the amount and details will increase after a few dozen chapters (according to the Queen's mood .-. )

***

«I'm sorry for lying to you, your grace...»

«You're a Duchess. No one will dare to consider your words a lie: if you say that you were painting souls, then it's the truth.»

«I will remember it.»

«No, you have to understand it, Theodora. You're not a prisoner, but my wife. I'll protect you when you need it, and I'll help you with any issue you have. You're not just a Duchess in the name. You're my Duchess.»

«It's hard to believe in such a short amount of time.»

«For now, stop shaking like a chicken. I won't hurt you.»

***

He is the genuine diamond bachelor of G City, ranking first in terms of net worth,Everyone knows that he had a deep and unforgettable love,But no one knows that, five years ago, he had a nominal marriage;She is the super nurse of G City People Hospital, with neither wealth nor high education,Everyone knows that she is divorced and has a child in tow,But no one knows that her ex-husband, the father of her child, is the man at the very top of the pyramid.Scene One:On the day she was diagnosed to be pregnant, her husband registered on the marriage certificate came back.The next day, at the breakfast table, an A4 sheet of paper appeared very abruptly by his right hand.“This is a divorce agreement, please sign it.” She said, her internal organs trembling.“...Is there someone else?” He put down his chopsticks, looked at her, and asked calmly, his eyebrows almost imperceptibly twitching.He came back because there was something he wanted to talk to her, but now it seemed unnecessary.“...Yes.” Having a child should count as having someone else, because from now on, she would love her child.When they got married back then, he had said that if she had a lover, she could ask him for a divorce.“Alright, I understand.” He nodded, picked up the agreement on the table, and left.“...”Scene Two:“What's your name?”“Axel Hawkins.”“Your last name is Hawkins?” The mother's name is Carolline Ruiz, his ex-wife, and the father's column is left blank, isn't it?“Yes, my dad's name is Bryan Hawkins, he's a Sky Walker.”“...”At five in the afternoon, Carolline Ruiz picked up her son from school and saw him standing next to her son; she instinctively turned around and ran.Bryan Hawkins left Axel Hawkins in the Guard Room, warned him not to run around, and then chased after her with his long legs.“Carolline Ruiz, stop.”“..” Almost instinctively, she really stopped.He slowly walked over and stood in front of her, a tall and imposing figure blocking all the setting sun.Carolline Ruiz couldn't help but look up, the afterglow of the setting sun illuminating his face, she couldn't see his features clearly at all.“What are you running for? If you dare to secretly love for eight years, do you dare to openly love for a lifetime?”“...”