Zedekiel didn't know exactly how it happened but he also didn't know how long it would last. He could already feel his energy depleting. Not wanting to waste any more time, he switched his position with Prince Ron, sandwiching himself between Mariel and the human Prince.Now he would see how she would confess. He was about to release time when his eyes landed on the human Prince's rosy lips.He recalled the time he stole a kiss when the human Prince was asleep. Now that he had stopped time, it wouldn't hurt to steal one more right?Zedekiel nodded to himself. Yes. It wouldn't hurt at all. Besides, he was going to successfully woo the human Prince and marry him. Kissing him now was like getting kisses in advance. He was just taking what he would still have in the future. There was no need to fret about it. The human Prince would be his eventually."You brought this upon yourself, little Prince" Zedekiel whispered, caressing Prince Ron's cheek.Prince Ron was frozen along with time so h
"Oh Your Majesty, I did not mean to hurt anyone with my poisonous tongue. I am your future Queen so I'm just trying to assert my dominance by insulting everyone around me. Oh, do you not care about my feelings? Oh poor me, poor innocent me, blah blah blah blah blah!"Prince Ron stood in front of the full-length mirror in the King's chambers, acting like his sister while mimicking her voice.The white and red Snow Fox was sitting on the bed, watching her owner with wide eyes, wondering what exactly he was doing.Prince Ron picked up a brush and started angrily brushing his red curls. His sister had totally aimed to humiliate him yesterday. If it weren't for his beloved who offered to teach him how to shoot arrows thereby curtailing the situation before it could escalate, his sister would have made him out to be a laughing stock.Just like in Ashenmore!He could remember the day their father made him join the Huntingdon. It was a Scavenger hunt in Ashenmore. A grand event which many Kin
"An Elf. Not of noble blood."Prince Ron gasped. This meant Frederick was born out of wedlock! He could recall that Fredrick called his beloved 'cousin' and that he was banished. Could he have been banished for being a bastard? And again, was his mother male or female? He had to pry further! This was for his future with his beloved!"How did it happen?" Prince Ron asked, confused. "I thought you were in love with a human. Nathan.""Before him, during the war, I met an Elf" Prince Kayziel answered. "Her name was Myra."Prince Ron's excitement deflated like a balloon. So Frederick's mother was a 'she'. He sighed. So much for male pregnancy."How did it happen though?" He asked. "You and Myra."Prince Kayziel proceeded to explain. "During the war with the humans, I had sustained grave injuries. I was also poisoned and I would have died if it weren't for her. Myra was a healer and she saved my life. She took care of me for weeks until I could stand again. During those weeks, I felt undeni
Prince Kayziel still thought Prince Ron's beloved was an Elf soldier so being saved by one wasn't impossible. Frederick wasn't that strong anyway. An Elf soldier could fatally injure him."What do you think he wanted from me though?" Prince Ron questioned. He wanted to know if the Elf spirit would have some ideas and if the ideas were related to reincarnation so he could squash them right away."Maybe he wanted to kidnap you to create a war between Ashenmore and Netheridge. That's the only reasonable thing I could think of." Prince Kayziel said. "If he is still angry about what happened in the past which I know he is, that would be the best way to get revenge on Zedekiel. How he survived for so long is beyond me. Most banished Elves end up dying at the hands of humans. I'm surprised he lasted so long. The coward must have found a way to disguise himself."Prince Ron shrugged. That wasn't any of his business though. As long as Prince Kayziel had no thoughts related to reincarnation, al
"But this is not fair, Mother," he complained. He stood up and went to her side, helping her sit back on the chair. He then held her hand and knelt beside her. "It has been on my mind all night and day, Mother. I just accepted these feelings I have for Prince Ron and Frederick comes in and says that when I understand everything, I should imagine what he had done to Prince Ron in every single lifetime of his. Just knowing they were together is driving me insane, Mother. I need to know my past. I need to know exactly who Prince Ron is."The Queen Mother looked down at her son with tears in her pretty blue eyes. She reached out and gently stroked his shoulder-length silver-coloured hair. "Oh my son, you have no idea what awaits you if you regain your memories. I know what I'm saying Zedekiel. Things are fine as they are. You do not need to know about Prince Ron's past lives. This one right here, the current Prince is all that you need. Live in this moment Zedekiel. Do not dwell on the pa
The King's look did not go unnoticed by his Mother. She sighed and shook her head. It seemed like her son needed some help. He couldn't even get the human Prince's attention by himself."Oh, I just remembered." She said to Prince Ron, acting as if she had forgotten something important. "Mariel and I have plans this afternoon. Why don't you spend some time with Zedekiel? We can chat some other day."Time with his beloved? Alone? That was basically a date! Could he even say no to such an opportunity?Prince Ron was thrilled but pretended to be sad. He couldn't have his Mother-in-law thinking he preferred his beloved's company to hers. He held her hand, acting as if he didn't want her to go. "But Mother, I just got here. We haven't even done anything and I have so many things to tell you."Queen Mother smiled. Such a sweet boy. But if she stayed, how would she get him to turn into her daughter-in-law? She needed to allow her son to work his magic because it seemed that sharing one room w
Letting people out also meant letting people in. Some humans learned of the Kingdom in the North and travelled all the way for business. Some found the place nice and decided to stay. Others used the opportunity to introduce intoxicants to their Kingdom. Pubs, pleasure houses, underground fight arenas and so on were also introduced. It then became like a basic human community for thugs, dealers and smugglers.It also became a marketplace for rare items. Long lost relics, stolen valuables, and things that men had thought were extinct, all could be found in the slums.Including Everlily.Prince Ludiciel wasn't surprised to have arrived there. He pulled on his hood and kept his head down as he walked so as not to arouse suspicion.It was the kind of area where everybody knew everybody. Fresh meat could be recognised from a mile away. He didn't want to draw attention and risk letting the person he was following know that they were being followed.After getting used to the smell for a whil
He didn't want to waste time explaining anything to the man about how he wasn't there for sex. He just wanted his information then he'd leave.However, Elliot didn't seem fazed at all. In fact, he was unusually calm, like he had faced many swords before. "I knew this wasn't your real appearance." He said with a smirk. "Who I see before me must be an illusion. I bet you're very handsome, aren't you?"Prince Ludiciel gasped. The man saw through his disguise! He kicked Elliot's leg, making him fall then pinned him down with knees on each hand and a sword to his neck. "Who are you?"He knew it! The man was far too strong and handsome to be a whore. Was he a spy?Elliot just smiled. "You're after the woman with red hair, aren't you? Me too. She's right next door. I can smell her.""You're an Elf?" Prince Ludiciel asked, not loosening his hold at all. How couldn't he tell? If he were an Elf, what kind of magic did he use to disguise himself? Was it so strong that even Prince Ludiciel didn't
Prince Ludiciel’s chest heaved as he fought, his sword a blur as he cut down another soldier. His muscles ached, and sweat dripped down his face. It seemed like there was no end to the soldiers and each one was stronger than a bull. He didn't know how it was possible but he knew that Prince Ron was behind everything. "Brother! Get up and fight! We need your help!" he shouted, turning to look at Zedekiel who was still on his knees.Zedekiel didn't seem to hear him though. He remained on his knees, lost in a daze as he stared at Ron. He still couldn't wrap his head around what was happening. Wasn't it just yesterday that they were kissing and saying the words 'I love you' to each other? What went wrong? What did he miss?Prince Ludiciel’s frustration boiled over. With a roar, he shoved the soldier in front of him, sending the man stumbling backward before slashing his throat with a quick, brutal strike. Blood sprayed across the floor as he roared, "ZEDEKIEL!!!"The force of his shout sn
Zedekiel felt his blood run cold. How did he not know they were there? Were his senses dulled because of his weakened state? But why did he feel so weak in the first place? He couldn't take a single step without his body aching. What was happening?Not to forget about Prince Ron who had never spoken so harshly before. In fact, he had never heard Prince Ron curse before. If it weren't for the pain he was currently experiencing, he would think he was having a nightmare.“What… what is happening?” Zedekiel rasped, directing the question at Prince Ludiciel.Prince Ludiciel gritted his teeth in anger, glaring at Prince Ron. "You were right all along brother. Prince Ron played us from the start. We should have killed him long ago. I can't believe we've been so blind.""What?..." Zedekiel whispered, unable to believe Prince Ludiciel's words. "What are you talking about?"Prince Kayziel suddenly burst out laughing. What a bunch of fools. To think they couldn't even recognize his soul.Crying,
Hugh and the soldiers stood in a tense semi-circle around Prince Ron’s body, their eyes flicking nervously between each other and the still form on the stone slab. The wind had died down, and the chilling wails of the dead had faded, leaving behind an eerie silence. Hugh’s brow furrowed as he glanced at the unmoving Prince. Did the soul transfer not work? Did he make a mistake?“It’s been ten minutes. Are you sure it worked?” one of the soldiers asked, his voice edged with panic. If it didn't work and Zedekiel wakes up, they'd all be in deep trouble.“We followed the instructions in the book to the letter,” Hugh replied, though his own voice betrayed his worry. He bit his lip, staring intently at Prince Ron’s closed eyes. “I recited the words clearly. We made all the sacrifices. Prince Ron gave his body willingly. It should have worked.”“Fuck.” another soldier cursed under his breath, pacing anxiously. “If this doesn’t work, the King will have our heads when he wakes up and there’s n
"Just shut up!" Prince Kayziel snapped, irritated "Must you know everything?!"Prince Ron frowned. Wasn't it just a question? Why was the Elf spirit so agitated? Before could retort, Hugh gazed at him with unexpected kindness, his eyes soft beneath the shadow of his hood. "The line guides the soul to its home," he explained quietly, ignoring Prince Kayziel’s glare. "Without it, there'll be no path for the soul to follow and both your souls may cease to exist. The line is necessary.""Hugh!" Prince Kayziel shouted, his voice sharp as he shot the man a warning look."There’s no harm in telling him, Your Highness," Hugh responded calmly. "After all, his soul is about to be put to slumber forever."Prince Kayziel scoffed, rolling his eyes, but didn’t argue further. "Just hurry up. Zedekiel must not wake up before we finish." He wanted no interruptions. He had been looking forward to this day for a long long time. The day he would have a body and be free to do as he wishes.Prince Ron wond
Prince Kayziel’s grin went even wider. "With pleasure."The night deepened as they arrived at the area of the glade where the hunting competition had taken place four days ago. Now, it had transformed into something far more sinister.In the center of the clearing was a massive circle drawn into the earth, marked with ancient symbols and runes. At its heart were two large stone tombs, their surfaces flat, smooth and cold. The ground around the circle was stained a deep, sickening red, the earth saturated with dried blood. A pungent, rancid smell filled the air, thick and choking.Prince Ron instinctively covered his nose, grimacing. "Ugh why does it stink so much?" he asked, his voice muffled through his hand."It’s blood," Prince Kayziel replied nonchalantly as his pearl rolled into the bloodstained circle. "How do you expect it to smell after being here for four days? I planned this on the day of the hunting competition but you and Zedekiel just had to disappear. It’s alright, thoug
After Hugh drew the last symbol on the ground and went back to his post, Prince Kayziel raised an eyebrow, looking at Prince Ron. "Are you sure you want to do this?" "Yes." Prince Ron’s replied, his voice firm. "You start first." Prince Kayziel sighed, shaking his head slightly. He placed his hand over his chest and looked up into the sky, taking a deep breath then began reciting the oath; "I, Prince Kayziel, swear upon the Earth Spirit, keeper of nature, that I will uphold my end of this deal. I will spare the lives of Zedekiel’s family and cure them of the poison that afflicts them. I will not harm any of them before or after the transfer of the soul. In return, Prince Ron will willingly give me his body to inhabit. And if Prince Ron breaks the oath and refuses to give me his body, may his soul remain in the underworld for eternity after his death." Prince Kayziel’s words hung in the air like a curse. The faint glow of the fairy dust intensified as the Earth Spirit bore witness
Prince Kayziel raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Prince Ron’s sudden show of defiance. He circled the human Prince slowly, his dark energy swirling around him like a cloak of shadow. "All or nothing?" he repeated, his voice dripping with amusement. "Do you really think you’re in a position to make such demands, Ron? You have nothing to bargain with. You’re just a human—powerless, weak and yet, here you are, thinking you can dictate the terms.""Oh I believe I can." Prince Ron said as he stood up, staring him square in the eyes. "I'm not as weak and powerless as you paint me to be, Kayziel. The way I see it, I'm the crux of your entire plan. You need me to give up my body. If I don't, you will remain a powerless spirit for eternity."Prince Kayziel scoffed. "You're not that important. I can just get another body.""Then why go through all the trouble of poisoning Zedekiel’s entire family?" Prince Ron asked, watching the way Prince Kayziel’s form tensed. Knowing he was right, he f
Prince Ron’s heart began to pound, his body trembling as he took a shaky step towards his beloved. It was if the whole world was plunged in darkness and he couldn't hear anything but his own rapidly beating heart.He walked slowly, recalling the way Zedekiel used to be. Everything, right from the very first day they met to their wonderful short honeymoon flashed before his eyes. He let out a choked sob as his knees gave out and he collapsed by his beloved's side. His trembling hands grabbed Zedekiel’s hands just to find them cold. They felt like ice in his palms, like holding the hands of a corpse which were frozen solid.“What did you do?!” He screamed, tears streaming down his face as he turned to look at the Elf spirit with pure horror.Prince Kayziel smiled, a sickening grin of pride and satisfaction. “Beautiful, aren’t they?” He gestured lazily toward Zedekiel’s family. “They’ve all been poisoned by iron, but with a little twist. I used dark magic to control the poison’s potency.
"P-Poison?" Prince Ron stuttered, shocked. "What are you talking about? How did that happen?"Prince Kayziel shook his head in mild exasperation, his ghostly form flickering as he observed Prince Ron. For all his occasional cleverness, the human could still be rather dense at times. Before he could even respond to Ron's question, the flap of the tent opened, and a man wearing a dark cloak entered, bowing respectfully."Your Highness, everything is ready," the man announced.Prince Ron blinked, confused. "What is ready? I didn’t ask you to get anything ready."Prince Kayziel let out a small chuckle. "He's talking to me," he clarified before turning to the man. "Good. Carry the vessel to the altar. And remember, do not dispel the spell. I don't want it running away.""Yes, Your Highness," the cloaked man answered. He walked over to where Prince Ron sat, his steely frightening gaze locked onto him.Panic surged through Prince Ron. "Vessel? What vessel? What are you—" But his words were c