"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
The urgency in the guard's voice echoed through the halls as they burst into the room, their breaths heavy with adrenaline. As the guard's words pierced the air, the throne room was engulfed in a sudden eruption of emotion. Gasps and murmurs swept through the gathered courtiers like a gust of wind. The Officials rose from their seats, their voices overlapping in a cacophony of concern and urgency. Servants scurried to relay the news throughout the castle.Zedekiel’s younger self, seated upon the throne, stood swiftly, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face: worry, relief and determination. “Is he alive?” he asked as the guards gently laid Prince Kayziel’s body on the floor. The body was motionless, skin wet, matted with blood and dirt.The current Zedekiel watched quietly for he could remember everything that had happened concerning his betrayer of an uncle. If he had known everything his uncle had planned, he would have made sure he died right on the floor.The air hummed w
Zedekiel nodded, his voice softening further. "He means everything to me Talon. Absolutely everything. I love him with all my heart. Everything about him makes me feel giddy. His laugh, his touch, the way he looks at me... Talon, if don't get him back, I'll-""Hey, don't fucking say that." Talon quickly cut him off. " Don't even think it.""I can't help it." Zedekiel replied. "Once again, I've been shown how incompetent I am. I cannot even protect the one I love. I let my guard down and allowed him to be possessed by only the Gods know what. I failed him Talon and it kills me to think about what he's going through right now. That is, if he's even still there.""Hey, I'm sure he is." Talon reassured him, patting him gently on the shoulder. "From the way you described him, he sounds like a fighter. He may be a human in this life but don't forget that he comes from a long line of Witches. You mentioned yourself that there are things he has done that you cannot explain. Like breaking your
"Shut the fuck up Zedekiel!" Talon shouted as he parried each stirke with his claws. "I'm only going easy on you because you're injured! Recover first and see how I'll beat you to a fucking pulp!""Oh really?" Zedekiel chuckled as Talon used his claws to deflect the sword again and again but Zedekiel decided to take things more seriously. He increased his strength and speed, making his strikes too sharp and too swift, forcing Talon to focus purely on defense. He gave him no chance to attack at all."Hey what the fuck!" Talon shouted, gritting his teeth as he tried to find an opening but Zedekiel didn't give him even a second to breathe. "You fucking Elfman! Fight properly you fuc-"With a final powerful swing, Zedekiel slashed Talon across his chest then punched him square on the jaw, sending him crashing to the ground with a resounding BOOM. Dust and debris flew around them, and when it settled, Zedekiel stood over Talon, his sword held just inches from Talon’s throat.“You lose,” he
Kayziel shook his head. "None whatsoever. The spell you used to suppress him worked. He hasn't budged an inch since that day so I wonder why the physician said I'm dying."Hugh sighed. "Initially, the soul transfer was supposed to weaken the human Prince and make him sleep for eternity but he ended up not only staying awake but also trying to force his way out. Could this be the reason you're dying?"Kayziel remained silent, not knowing what to say. He felt angry and frustrated. He had spent centuries as a spirit trapped underground and now that he has gotten a body, he was told that he was dying.What sort of life was this? He balled his fists and gritted his teeth. It was all due to that damned nephew of his. If only Zedekiel hadn't destroyed his body, he wouldn't be facing such problems today.Damn it. He wished he had just killed Zedekiel before making that stupid deal with Prince Ron."Do not worry, Your Majesty." Hugh said, trying to cheer Kayziel up. "I will find a stronger spe
The babies nodded.Prince Ron stared at his babies, his mouth slightly open as he tried to absorb their words. 'F-Four?' He stuttered, beginning to panic. 'You’re kidding right?'But his babies looked absolutely serious. The definitely would not joke about the existence of their siblings.'No way… there’s four of you.' Prince Ron muttered, still trying to comprehend the news. 'I mean... do you even know what that means? That's a whole squad! Four blankets, four little outfits, four... four times the crying!'He stared at them, half-exasperated, half-amused, trying to let it all sink. 'How am I supposed to keep track of four little people? I mean, I can barely keep myself in line, and now I’m supposed to be responsible for a whole mini-army? What if I accidentally mix you up?' He gasped, looking at them in horror. 'What if you all look identical and I end up calling you the wrong names?'The babies watched him, little smiles on their faces, and something softened in Prince Ron’s chest.
Well, it was no surprise considering the way they went at it like bunnies for four days. But still, Prince Ron was overjoyed. Tears spilled down his face like a waterfall as he stared at them, unable to express his joy.He got pregnant! He really got pregnant!Seeing his mother cry, the little baby with green eyes started bawling too. "Wah, brother made mummy cry, wah wah"Startled, the baby with violet eyes stared at both his mother and brother, at loss for what to do. What did he even do wrong? He had already apologized for hitting their mother. Why was their mother crying then?He began to panic. Unable to handle the sight of his mother and brother's tears, and also thinking it was his fault, he moved closer and rubbed the spot on Prince Ron's forehead. "Mother I'm sorry. Does it hurt? Look, I'm rubbing the place now so it won't hurt anymore. Please stop crying okay? I won't do it again."Prince Ron’s heart turned to mush. What a sweet child. He struggled against the chains, wishin
Hugh nodded. "That's the only reason I can come up with. I don't see why else they'd want to control the Mother Tree.""Fucking hell." Kayziel cursed. "They want to wipe us all out of existence. Do you know what will happen if the Dark Lord gets released?""I am aware, Your Majesty." Hugh replied."Then you know that we cannot let that happen." Kayziel said firmly. "I am not strong enough to fight the Dark Lord. Neither are you and I have already killed the one strong enough to do so. If he isn't dead then he's surely a vegetable. Put your undead army to use. Secure the Mother Tree and the tighten the security outside and around the Kingdom. Increase the number of guards at the gate. No one enters or leaves without thorough inspection.Hugh immediately stood, bowing. "Yes, Your Majesty."Kayziel was about to add something when a sudden wave of nausea hit him. He barely managed to jump from his seat, rushing to the nearest window before heaving violently.Alarmed, Hugh grabbed a jug of
He wanted to take off the sheet covering his body but then, he hesitated, fear gripping him as he recalled what he had seen last time. All the blood and the missing limbs. Had they grown back or was he a cripple now? He was afraid to lift the covers and see for himself.“You can look, you know.” A light-hearted chuckle broke the silence. “Everything grew back a week ago.”Startled, Prince Ludiciel lifted his head to see a familiar figure standing by the door. A tall, elegant man with broad shoulders clad in blue robes that fit him perfectly, as if tailored just for him.The man leaned casually against the doorframe, his warm, dark skin the colour of rich chocolate milk, and his eyes a shimmering golden-brown, flecked with hints of red that sparkled in the light.But it was the playful grin that struck Prince Ludiciel the most. A grin that was beautiful, mischievous, and all too familiar.Prince Ludiciel knew that he had definitely seen the man before. “Do I know you?” he asked. “Have
The air was thick with smoke and the acrid scent of charred stone as the flames in the west wing of the castle raged out of control. The fire roared, devouring walls and licking up toward the sky. A thunderous crack echoed through the night as the western tower groaned, teetering on the edge of collapse.Talon was suddenly hurled through a window but a powerful gust of air. His body twisting unnaturally before crashing heavily to the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the charred remains of the courtyard.From the fiery ruins, Alaric emerged, leaping through the shattered stone and billowing smoke. He soared through the air and landed squarely on Talon, pinning him to the ground while holding a spear of swirling wind.He raised the spear, aiming to drive it into Talon’s shoulder but as his eyes met Talon’s, something in those fierce, crimson orbs madr him hesitate. Talon's gaze was hardened, blazing with anger but also laced with an intensity Alaric couldn’t ignore.Talon lay
Whispers surrounded Prince Ludiciel, unfamiliar words fading in and out as he floated in darkness. Slowly, he drifted back to consciousness, his senses emerging one by one.His eyelids felt like lead, but he managed to open them, only to be met with foggy shapes and colours.Then, pain.Raw, unbearable pain surged through his body, and he screamed out, feeling as if his entire body was burning.“Shhh, it’s going to be okay,” a soft voice said. He couldn’t see clearly, but a gentle hand touched his hair, stroking it tenderly. The touch was warm, comforting, easing his mind as if drawing the pain away bit by bit. His breathing slowed, and he began to calm down, lulled by the soft, rhythmic strokes.When his vision cleared slightly, he looked down and his eyes widened in shock. His body was a broken mess. Blood covered the sheets. One of his legs was gone, ending abruptly at his thigh. And there was a gaping wound on the side of his stomach, leaving a hole large enough to fit a small bal