Memories flooded his mind like a torrential downpour, each one a bittersweet reminder of the happiness he had once known. He missed their conversations, filled with laughter and whispered confessions. He missed their kisses and intimate moments and he longed to see Zedekiel's smile, a radiant beacon of joy that never failed to brighten his darkest days. He missed Zedekiel with an ache that seemed to penetrate his very soul. Being away from him hurt so much that he wanted to cry. Tears brimmed in his eyes, threatening to fall but he bit his lip, sniffling, trying to hold them back. With each passing moment, the ache of separation grew more unbearable, and Prince Ron found himself yearning with every fiber of his being to be reunited with his beloved who had captured his heart completely. He never knew he could miss Zedekiel so much. It was at that moment that he realised the depth of his feelings for Zedekiel. He wished he had answered quickly back at the bridge. He wished he had po
"Haven't you noticed? She's in love with him." Zedekiel said. "I think it all started the day he saved her during the feast but let's talk about this some other time. We have to find Ron."He was going crazy just by not having Ron by his side. In a way, he felt Mariel was right. It was due to his incompetence that Prince Ron was taken by Fredrick. He didn't protect him like he promised to. His heart hurt at the thought of what Prince Ron might be going through. Especially after the things Fredrick said to him the first time. If Frederick dared to hurt Ron in any way, he would give him the worst kind of death imaginable."What are we going to do?" Prince Ludiciel asked. "I have men combing through every inch of this Kingdom and the neighbouring ones. Should we wait for their feedback?"Zedekiel shook his head immediately. He was restless. "I can't wait that long. It has already been a day. If he was anywhere close, we would have found him by now. Fredrick knows that so he wouldn't keep
As Zedekiel dared to step further into the village, a booming voice reverberated through the forest, causing the very trees to tremble."Who dares to trespass into the witches' coven?"In response to the commanding voice, the witches emerged one by one, encircling the Elf Brothers with an ominous presence that sent chills down Ludiciel's spine.Zedekiel on the other hand, kept walking. As if he didn't see or hear anything."Hey! I'm talking to you!" The witch who had spoken earlier shouted at Zedekiel. "Stop! Come back here!""Brother don't leave me!" Prince Ludiciel exclaimed, running after Zedekiel."I said stop!" The witch shouted once more but it fell on deaf ears for Zedekiel just kept on walking. Furious, she commanded her fellow witches. "Stop him!"They sprung to action, wands in hands as they all moved to attack Zedekiel at the same time.Zedekiel, already seething with pent-up anger, unleashed a torrent of raw power that surged forth like a tidal wave, crashing into the witc
In the middle of the room sat a large black pot with thin white smoke emanating from it. The crow on Alaric's shoulder flew to it's small black cage while Alaric went to the pot, adding a few sprinkles of what seemed to be seeds. "So, how exactly am I supposed to help you?" He asked."I want you to find him." Zedekiel stated. "We have a feeling he might be at the Echoing Isle but we need you to confirm it."Alaric hummed, thinking about Zedekiel's request as he stirred the bubbling liquid in the pot. "By him, you mean your human lover right?" He didn't wait for Zedekiel to answer and continued; "I don't know why you're going through all this trouble for one tiny powerless human. I mean, you're the King of the Elves. An extremely powerful creature. Why not be with someone on your level? Someone worthy of you."Zedekiel's eyes blazed with fury especially after hearing the last sentence. The intensity of his anger seemed to fill the room with an electric charge. His jaw clenched tightly,
To say Zedekiel was shocked from the information was an understatement. He was completely flabbergasted. He couldn't even bear to see Ron hurt in any way. How could he kill him with his own hands? What the hell was Alaric talking about?"You coward." Alaric grumbled, adding a few more ingredients to his pot. "I've been so mad about it for years now. I even had half the mind to curse you in an endless limbo of emotional torture. For you to find true love but never have it but then, you helped me with Talon so I decided not to interfere with your fate. Besides, cursing you would be like cursing Ron since his fate is intertwined with yours and I can't do that to him.""You talk like you knew him." Zedekiel said, still confused. He didn't understand a single thing. "What exactly are you trying to tell me? I can never hurt Ron. I love him.""Yet you ended his life with your own hands." Alaric said, adding his final ingredient to the pot. A drop of water from the lake of memories. The green
He gazed down at himself and realized he was in a ghost-like form, ethereal and weightless, allowing him to glide silently through the dimly lit space. It was at that moment his memories flooded back to him—Ron being taken, him trespassing into the Witches Coven and drinking Alaric's potion, a concoction meant to unveil his forgotten past. He gazed around once more, wondering, was this his past? When did this happen? Why was his room in such a mess?His ears caught a faint sound of crying. He immediately followed the sorrowful echoes and found himself floating before his bathroom. He raised a hand to turn the handle but his ghostlike form went through it. He then realised that he could not touch anything in his past. He was just meant to see what he had begged the Mother Tree to erase.On one hand, he was dreading what he would find in the bathroom and on the other, he was curious to know. He could rememberbhis Mother begging him to leave his past in the past and not try to remember.
Older brother? Zedekiel was stunned. Alaric was Ron's older brother?Ron pouted cutely and turned his back to Alaric. "Go away. I don't want to talk to you.""Oh I'm not here to talk." Alaric said. He stomped forward and grabbed Ron by the back of his collar and yanked. "I'm here to drag your naughty ass back home."Alarmed, Ron scurried to his knees and stretched out his hands. "Maelda!"Maelda immediately responded, sending her vines out to Ron. He grabbed them and pulled himself back. "I'm not going home! Not now!"Alaric groaned still tugging on his collar. "Ugh, why do you have to be so stubborn?""Let go!" Ron shouted, holding on to the vines of the Mother Tree. "I'm not going home! Not until I see him!"Alaric huffed angrily; "Come on, Ral. We have to go back! Mum and dad are worried sick. You've been here since yesterday.""Go back and tell them to not worry." Ron said, hugging the tree tighter. "I'm fine, Alaric. I just need to see him."Zedekiel watched the entire exchange,
In the end, he sighed and stood up. “Fine. You’re right. You’re your own person. I have no right to dictate what you should and not do. I don’t want you to ever feel like that’s what I’m doing. You’re my baby brother Ral, and you mean the world to me so I’m just trying to protect you. I’m sorry if I came off as a dictator. You don’t have to come back with me. You can stay here and wait for him. I’ll figure out what to tell mum and dad.” Not expecting his headstrong brother to agree with him and even apologise, Ron was stunned. He stood up and gazed at his brother with a kind of look that was a mixture of shock and joy. “Really? You mean that?” “Of course.” Alaric nodded, smiling. “Would I ever lie to you?” Ron knew his brother always meant what he says and always kept his word so he broke into a large grin and engulfed his brother in a big hug. “Thank you thank you thank you thank you! Gosh brother you’re the best!” Zedekiel couldn’t help but smile at the entire scene. He was g
"So if the Dark Lord were to appear now and command you to kill Fredrick, would you.”“Yes.”“Hmmm, what does the Dark Lord look like?”“We do not know.”Prince Ron was surprised. “You do not know what your own Lord looks like?”“Yes.”Prince Ron shrugged and they continued to walk. Oh well, it didn’t matter what the Dark Lord looks like anyway. He won’t need the information for his plan. He trusted that his beloved was searching for him but he didn’t want to sit and wait for the wedding preparations were almost done. He felt that he’d rather turn into a Darkling than marry the lunatic.“Oh darling, why do you choose to hurt me this way?” He heard that annoying voice ask as they stepped into the room. “Why are you always trying to escape?”Fredrick sat at the edge of the bed, his dark blue robes billowing around him like a shroud. His blonde hair was a dishevelled mess, as if he'd been running his fingers through it repeatedly. His eyes seemed to dance with an inner storm, the pupils
Zedekiel wanted to take out the pin from his hair which was a gift Ron had given him the day he was kidnapped but then, he realised that the pin would not work for Ron only had it for a short while. It wasn’t even up to a day. Just when he was thinking he’d have to go back and get something, he suddenly remembered that he had an object that might work. He quickly fished out a tiny bell from an opening in his belt.“Will this work?” He asked, holding up the bell for Alaric to see.Prince Ludiciel's eyes narrowed as he furrowed his brow, his mind racing to recall the exact memory that was tantalizingly out of reach. “I think I’ve seen that before…”“I found it after the masked dancer ran away during the talent show.” Zedekiel said, a small smile gracing his lips as he recalled the night he found the bell. The thought that Prince Ron was the masked dancer never crossed his mind until he traced the scent back to his room. Then, he was quite angry and confused after knowing the truth but n
As the wind howled, Alaric gazed at Zedekiel's face one last time, his expression a mix of sadness and resolve. With a heavy heart, he slowly lowered the spear, its point hovering just above Zedekiel's chest before withdrawing it completely. He turned away from Zedekiel and vanished into the swirling wind.********“Oh my God.” Prince Ludiciel sobbed, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. “I can’t believe Ron sacrificed so much for my brother.”“He did.” Alaric smiled, handing him a white handkerchief which he used to wipe his tears and blow his nose. “And I’m sure he’d do the exact same thing or more if time were reversed.”“You know, I won’t be surprised.” Prince Ludiciel sniffled. “Ron took an arrow for my brother some weeks back. Fredrick attacked them in the castle and he protected my brother with his own body. Brother didn’t trust Ron from the beginning. He always thought Ron had some ulterior motive for following his sister to our Kingdom but that day changed it all. Ron
The blades caught him full force, tearing at his skin and clothing, sending him crashing to the ground. He landed hard on his back, the wind knocked out of him. He struggled to catch his breath as he coughed out blood. His entire body was burning but it was nothing compared to the ache in his heart. The regret, guilt, and shame.He had been thinking of Ral since the day he broke up with him. He missed him so much and he wanted him back. After much thinking, he had decided to find him and apologise. He wanted to get back together with him but when he saw him with Fredrick, he lost his mind. He couldn’t stand it. He thought everything Ral had said to him were lies. He thought Ral had played with his feelings.But all along…. He was the one misunderstanding.He laid there, helpless and battered, unable to move or defend himself. He didn't even try. The pain was nothing compared to the weight of his guilt, the crushing burden of knowing what he had done. He closed his eyes, feeling the te
"Why did I do that?" Zedekiel cried. "I should have calmed down and listened to you. I let my anger and jealousy overcome my reason. I did this to you with my own hands. The hands I swore to protect you with. Oh I’m sorry. I’m so so sorry.”"I'm so sorry," he cried again and again, each time the words more anguished than the last. "Fuck, I'm so sorry."He didn’t leave the place until Alaric found Ron’s body a few hours after and judging by the look he saw on Alaric’s face, he knew that there would be hell to pay.He was right.That same night, an attack was launched on the Elf Kingdom which was led by Alaric and his parents. Normally, the Nightshades were a reclusive and peaceful coven of Witches. They never got involved in the affairs of the world and focused on healing but that night, they unleashed their full fury against the Elves.Zedekiel’s ethereal form floated in the sky, watching as the Nightshades wreaked havoc on his kind. He didn’t remember ever fighting Alaric’s coven whi
He then gazed at his younger self, unsurprised to see the exact look of shock and confusion on his face. Even in his ghostly form, just the sight of Ron with Fredrick made him feel like his heart was ripped out of his chest. If he could feel like that, he knew what his younger self was feeling was way worse."Why did you ask to meet here? I could have gone to the garden as usual," Ron said, a soft smile gracing his lips."I didn't want to stress you, my love," Fredrick said, taking Ron's hand and planting a kiss on it. “This place is much closer to your home, isn’t it?”“It is.” The sweet action made Ron blush but he quickly retracted his hand and frowned. "But why are you doing this? I thought you didn't want to see me again. The things you said to me that day...""...were all a mistake," Fredrick quickly interjected. "I didn’t mean any of it, my love. I was blinded by anger and took it out on you. I'm deeply sorry for my thoughtless words." He wrapped his arms around Ron's waist, pu
Prince Kayziel's mind reeled as he tried to comprehend the implications. The whispered tales of Soulflaying, a punishment so heinous it sent shivers down the spines of even the bravest warriors, now seemed all too real. He thought back to the ancient chronicles of the Nordor Elves, Evil Elves that had ravaged the lands with their insidious machinations. Their ruthless leader, Nordor, was said to have inflicted this unspeakable torture on any Elf who dared defy him.According to the ancient lore, Soulflaying was a fate worse than death itself, for it left the victim's soul trapped in the earth, forever deprived of rebirth. He knew that once the process began, there was no going back. The soul would be painfully torn from his body and trapped in the earth forever, never to be reincarnated.‘No...please,’ he begged, his voice barely above a whisper. ‘Don't do this to me. I'll do anything...I'll do anything you want.’Zedekiel's laughter echoed through the garden, sending shivers down Kay
Zedekiel raised his sword again, about to cut off the second arm when Prince Kayziel screamed in the link; ‘Wait Zedekiel! Wait! I’m sorry! Forgive me my dear nephew! Please! Your Father and Berthiel would never want you to treat me this way!’SLASH!!The second arm was sliced off and blood sprayed out like rain, dying the green grass below. The arm fell to the ground followed by a horrid shriek from Prince Kayziel.Zedekiel scoffed and shook his head. “I only took your arms but look at you screaming and shaking like it is the most painful thing to experience in this world. You better endure it for it is nothing compared to the agony you put my family through. I will show you real pain, uncle.”He recalled Berthiel’s cries. The way he had described the feeling of iron melting his organs. The way he kept saying he couldn’t breathe and how he felt like he was dying. He remembered holding his father and brother’s heads, burying them with his own hands. He remembered the feeling of being
The Elves that had gathered for the wedding began to whisper and murmur within themselves.‘Didn’t he say Prince Zedekiel was killed by Prince John?’‘He said they were ambushed on their way to the human Kingdom.’‘Yes, and he said the Prince gave his life to protect them.’‘I knew he was lying! The bastard! If anyone should give their life, shouldn’t it be him? Why would he let our Prince sacrifice himself?’‘Did you hear what he said? He stabbed our Prince with iron. He just confessed.’‘The traitor!’‘He deserves to die!’Prince Kayziel's face went as white as a corpse, his complexion drained of all colour as if the very life had been sucked out of him. He stared at the figure before him, his eyes wide with horror, mind reeling with the implications of his own foolishness. He had just revealed his own secret to the entire Kingdom!With lightening speed, the Queen Mother appeared before Prince Kayziel and gave him an ear splitting slap. Blood spurted from his mouth as his head whipp