The humans have been at war with Elves for thousands of years. The hatred they had for each other runs deep into the depths of their souls, buried right into their bone marrows, to the extent that no human could stand the sight of an Elf and if one is caught, the worst kinds of torture were implemented.
Their favourite was cutting off the long pointy ears and nailing them to the walls of their borders. Some even competed on how many ears they’ve nailed.On the other hand, no Elf wanted to hear the word 'human'. In fact, if an Elf should mistakenly pronounce the word 'human', he is immediately executed and if a human is caught, he is turned into a slave and treated like a dog till he dies from exhaustion. The Elves weren't normally this brutal. In fact, they are naturally peaceful creatures and had proposed peace to the humans which was accepted but the human King breached the treaty. He lured the Elf King into his castle under the guise of a feast to celebrate six months of peace then he poisoned the Elf King and his guards and beheaded his only heir.This treachery blackened the hearts of the Elves and another war broke out.Thus, the war went on and on and on. Huge amounts of blood was shed, many many precious lives were lost and soon enough, the Elves got tired. Fighting wasn't their forte. They were better inclined with nurturing nature and healing so they lost a lot of battles. When they noticed their numbers were dwindling drastically, they stopped fighting and fled to a part of the world, where the humans couldn't find them. As time went on and the world continued to evolve, the humans soon forgot about war. Within a few years, they believed the Elves were extinct. People began to fabricate stories about them for entertainment. They acted plays and wrote novels that even described their coexistence as harmonious. Only a handful of people knew the truth. These handful of people still hated the Elves with passion and believed they still existed. Thus, they created an organization and operated in the shadows, executing missions to find out where the Elves were hiding.Prince Ron was currently reading a book called Fighting Destiny. He especially liked the character Theo who was a handsome elf with the air of nobility and a pro with a bow. Yes, poor Prince Ron had a huge crush on this character. He had already read the book hundreds of times but he always loved to re-read Theo's parts. In fact, he knew some dialogues by heart.Ron was about to read his favourite part of all when the large doors to his room swung open and his sister rushed in with her train of servants who had their heads bowed and quickly stood at corners to avoid the wrath of the youngest Prince. Everyone knew Ron didn't like to be disturbed especially when he was reading. Whoever disturbs him will be sent to pack horse shit from the stables or perform so other worse punishment so they closed their eyes and silently prayed to any diety to save them from the Prince's wrath. As expected, Ron was deeply displeased. He slammed his book shut then turned to face his elder sister with a frown that was enough to give a person wrinkles for life."What are you doing here?!" he spat. "You know I don't like to be disturbed when I'm reading. You did this on purpose!". He then turned to the guards standing outside. "And why did you let her in? You're all useless! You should have stopped her!"The guards began to sweat. How could they stop the crown princess from going into her own brother's room? That's the same thing as courting death!Princess Rose rolled her eyes at her brother's complains. "If you're done with your childish tantrum, mum and dad want to see you"Ron's face wrinkled even more. How could she call him a child? In front of the servants and guards?!Said servants and guards acted as if they were deaf, dumb and blind. "I'm not going. Leave me alone" he said just to anger his sister. He knew he would have to go. His dad, the king, doesn't entertain tardiness nor disrespect. He won't hesitate to seize Ron's books and ban him from the library then subject him to harsh training for weeks.Rose knew that she had actually hurt her brother so she decided to coax him. Besides, she was in a good mood. She was getting married soon! What Princess wouldn't be happy?"Dear brother" she said in a sweet voice. "Don't be mad okay. I know you don't like to be disturbed when reading but what father and mother want to discuss with us is very important. Don't take this matter to heart. Let's go. Afterwards, I'll persuade dad to let you go out"Ron's mood immediately did a 360 degree turn. A bright smile replaced the darkness on his face and the guards breathed sighs of relief. Princess Rose is truly a lifesaver!Ever since Ron turned 18, his father put him on house arrest and hired different teachers to educate him in matters of the state and about ruling a kingdom for when Rose gets married and becomes the queen of another Kingdom, he'd be the crown prince. Next in line for the throne. Ron wasn't really interested in becoming the future King. He'd rather go on a world tour and experience different things but he had no choice. This was his life whether he liked it or not. Sometimes he wished he really wasn't a prince. Since his sister had already apologized, he decided to let it go. "Okay. Let's go see them but you must uphold your promise""Of course brother" Princess Rose said, wearing a large smile. Both of them proceeded to the throne room, where their parents awaited. Prince Ron and Princess Rose look exactly alike. In fact, everyone who didn't know them thinks they're twins. The only difference was the length of hair, gender and their personalities. Where Rose was calm, sweet, smart and elegant, Ron was wild, brash, mischievous and easily angered. Not a drop of elegance was in his blood.In fact, some people question -in their own hearts of course- if he's really royalty. Maybe he was found in a ditch somewhere but the resemblance to the rest of the members of the royal family keeps them puzzled. The siblings had curly auburn hair softer than cotton, skin as creamy as milk and smooth as silk, cat like eyes with pupils the colour of emeralds and long lashes the colour of their hair. Their noses were straight and pointed and beneath that were small plump lips as red as blood. The siblings of the Kingdom of Ashenmore were just exquisite.Princess Rose has the figure of a supermodel and she loved to flaunt it. There wasn't a single type of cloth in the world she couldn't rock and there was no colour that didn't suit her. Coupled with her easygoing temperament, she was loved both within and outside the Kingdom. There was no man in the world that didn't want to marry her. Prince Ron on the other hand was quite short for his age. Even at 18, he looked 16 and this fact annoys him because people look down on him thinking he was still a child. He was glad his sister wasn't too tall so they were almost the same height. She was just an inch or two taller and she's four years older than him.Though he's quite lazy, his father still made him go through some exercises so he had a full six pack and nice muscles. It made any clothes he wears look like it was tailored just for him. Though his temperament was quite wild, he still had a lot of females dying to be with him. No matter what, they couldn't deny that he was a handsome young man.As they approached the throne room, the guards standing on either side of the large golden double doors pushed them open for the siblings and they they bowed. The siblings found their parents sitting on their thrones. They were the spitting image of their mother while the only thing they got from their dad was their eyes. A few other people Ron recognized were there. Like the Royal Advisor, Physician, members of the royal court and so many others.King Cain was dressed in a golden and maroon attire. He was holding the royal golden scepter which was passed down from generation to generation. He will also pass it down to Ron when it was time. His dark hair was streaked with silvery grey hair which was covered a bit by the golden crown on his head.One look at King Cain would tell anyone he wasn't to be messed with. He had a stoic expression and the hard look in his eyes commanded respect. Ron was most especially afraid of him. Queen Lilian was the epitome of elegance. She was dressed
Ron sneaked out of the castle through his secret route. It was a dark murky pathway underneath his grandfather’s bedroom which led to a cave at a riverside not far from town.His grandfather had showed it to him before he passed away. They used to go on so many escapades together. Witness festivals, celebrations, annual games and competitions and so much more. But after his grandfather died, his father became more strict on him which left barely any time for him to go out and have fun. He didn't like to be indoors all the time like some housewife. He preferred to go out, interact and see what the world was like. Reading from novels wasn't enough. This time, he took one of his grandfather's disguises. It was a black wig and crappy mustache. After he reached the cave, he took off his royal clothes, folded them neatly then stuffed them in a bag. He then put on the wig and mustache, coupled with a dirty brown robe. He looked like a beggar. Exactly what he was going for. As long as he mi
Ron entered two more taverns and even an inn but the information they had wasn't even close to Old Jack's. He was already tired so he decided to go back. Besides, someone might notice he was missing which will raise a lot of trouble for him.When he was halfway out of town, a group of goons appeared on the road. They were big and burly, all holding sharp looking daggers.The leader stepped forward, holding a sword which he pointed at Ron. "Hand over your money. Every bit of it and I'll think about you letting you leave this place alive"Fear crept into Ron's heart. He had never been in this kind of situation before. Worst of all, he didn't carry any weapon. He didn't think there would be any reason to.Sweat dropped the side of his face. He decided to use flattery and some sweet words to see if he could escape with everything he had intact. "Good, kind, handsome man, you look very reasonable. Can't we talk about this?"The goons snickered. It seemed like this guy didn't get the severi
Fear made Ron nearly fall to his knees. Nearly, for the silver haired man caught him before his body made contact with the floor.Ron fell into a warm gentle embrace. He raised his head, parting his long lashes to look at the man holding him. Cold violet eyes stared straight at the running man. Ron felt that there such a huge contrast between being in his arms and those beautiful eyes. "Don't chase him" he said, making those plum coloured orbs stare down at him. "He has never killed a person. I could tell, believe me. If he had, he wouldn't have hesitated so much to kill me. I doubt he would even hurt a fly after what he has witnessed today so please, don't go after him"The fear he initially felt disappeared without a trace. Something told him that the man would not hurt him. The man nodded. "You're injured" he said, eyes sweeping down to look at the bleeding wound on Ron's neck. His voice was deep, alluring and magnetic, tugging at Ron's heartstrings. Perfect. Just perfect!Ron wa
Queen Lilian pulled Ron and squished his face into her bosom. Ron struggled and struggled, trying not to get suffocated by the large mounds on her chest but her hold only went tighter and tighter so he gave up and went limp like a wet noodle. "My baby is going so far away" she sobbed, completely shattering her elegance in the face of her family. Ron knew exactly where he got his personality from.His mother might be cool, calm and collected in front of outsiders but with her family, she was just an ordinary person. She behaved exactly the way she wanted to behave. Ron's only problem was that he couldn't act like that. To him, it was like splitting his personality. He'd rather just be himself.King Cain and Princess Rose stood at the side, watching the mother and son. "Mum come on, I'll be back in at least a week or two. You've seen me every single day since I was born. Don't you think you should take a break? Besides, I'm an adult now so stop treating me like a child" Ron complaine
Ron talked and talked. He talked about the novels he read and the wonderful creatures within. He talked about how the brain works and how fun it is to imagine so many things. How amazing it is to just conjure stuff up and make it real in fiction. Everyone felt bored and wished they could just shut him up. It didn't matter if they didn't reply to what he was saying. Prince Ron was very skilled in the arts of talking to oneself. He cracked bad jokes and laughed at them himself. When he felt laughing alone was too boring, he forced the servants to laugh by threatening to punish them by packing horse shit when they return to Ashenmore. Next, he forced them to sing.Poor servants. After two hours, the prince still wasn't done so Leo thought of the only thing that would make him shut up. To put him in the carriage with the princess. If everyone cooperated, the King would not even know. "Prince Ron" he called. "I think you can enter the carriage now. I'll let you come out after a few hour
After a week's journey, Princess Rose, Prince Ron, the guards and the servants that went with them, arrived at the North's main gate. It was very cold so the siblings remained hidden in the carriage while the rest had thick coats on. Their faces were pale. They never knew the North was so cold. How could people survive in such a place?To get to the castle, they had to go through the town. The townspeople all came out to see their soon to be queen but all they saw where half frozen faces and one exquisitely handsome face. It was that of a young man, peeking out of the carriage window. He had soft looking russet curls, brilliant green eyes and a radiant smile. The women who saw this face were swooning. Some men were jealous while others felt it would be nice to have such a beauty to themselves. Prince Ron smiled at every person he made eye contact with. He even winked at some of the women. He felt that Netheridge was full of pretty faces. He hasn't seen a single ugly one. Even the men
Ron nodded and he and Ludiciel started to walk side by side. Ludiciel remained quiet so Ron used the time to look around. His face was straight, devoid of any emotion but his green eyes showed it all. The hidden excitement, the amazement, the joy. He felt like bursting. The Netheridge castle was awesome! It was so large he could hardly see the ceiling but there were lights glowing everywhere, making it look so magical. The walls were painted an icy blue which looked cold to the touch. He wanted to know if it was really cold but that would destroy his princely character so he retracted his hand. He also realized that since they stepped inside, it wasn't cold anymore.Ah pretending was so tiring. He didn't think he could keep up. His back was starting to hurt and his face was feeling a bit stiff. He wondered how his parents could retain such an expression for years. Leo gazed at Ron from time to time. His heart softened at the prince's antics. He knew Ron was a type of person that did
She guided the griffin to a hover, her hands gently pulling the reins as she saw three men approaching from the distance. Their fiery wings glowed like bursts of sunlight against the clear sky. She recognised the the lead figure and her lips curled into a smile.The griffin’s flapping slowed as the men stopped before them, their wings gently stirring the air."Oh Dorian," she called out. "You didn’t have to come all the way out here to receive us."Dorian, the royal physician of the Infernal Mountain Kingdom, let out a hearty laugh. He was quite tall and a little chubby with curly grey hair and a bushy mustache."Nonsense, Sera. We go way back." He chuckled. "Of course I’d come receive you myself and the King of the Elves." His eyes shifted to Zedekiel, lying still on the griffin and his expression darkened. "Oh my, this is serious. We need to get him inside right away. Follow me."Without further delay, Dorian turned, swiftly flying downward, back toward the Kingdom and Sera nudged t
In seconds, memories of their past flooded Alaric's mind. Talon’s handsome face, their beautiful shared moments, and then, when things turned sour, the haunting vision of Talon in his true Phoenix form, terrifying flames blazing as he attacked Alaric without mercy.Alaric's hand flew to his neck as he recalled the way Talon nearly choked him to death. His pure flames burning his skin. It took Alaric years to heal the burn caused by one of the purest and most lethal forms of fire in the world.His heart pounded, and he stumbled backward, whispering "no" over and over again. He had gone to great lengths to hide from Talon. He even had to seek Zedekiel’s help back then. There was no way he was going to the Infernal Mountain. That was like flying himself to his own death."No." He said firmly. "I... I can't go there. Take the twins. Let them go with you. I'll stay here and watch that necromancer’s movements.""I'm sorry, Alaric." Sera replied. "I am aware of your past with the Pheonix Kin
"Go down the cliff. Find their bodies and bring them back." Hugh ordered his army who had returned without a single person. They needed to be sure that everyone was dead or else, they'll keep living in fear, thinking the family will come back one day for revenge. "What should we do if we cannot find their bodies?" He asked, turning to Prince Kayziel who was squatting before the dead bodies of the Queen Mother and Princess Mariel."We keep searching." Prince Kayziel replied. "They must be found no matter what."Hugh nodded. He then looked at Prince Kayziel’s hand, where the mark of the oath still remained. "Are you sure you'll be fine? Two of them died before our eyes. It's possible that the others are dead too. What if the Earth Spirit takes your soul and sends you to the underworld?"Prince Kayziel chuckled. "Oh Hugh, you're so gullible. Just like the naive human Prince. There is always a loophole in everything. Every spell, every deal, even oaths. Prince Ron required that I do not h
Sera climbed out of the carriage, her robes flapping in the wind as she joined Prince Ludiciel at the front. "The Griffin is on it's way." She said, her voice strained. "What's the rest of your plan?" Prince Ludiciel kept his gaze ahead, eyes fixed on the road. "I’ll create an illusion," he said. "I'll hide the Griffin from the necromancer’s sight. You’ll all climb on and leave. I'll stay here and keep driving the carriage to distract them." "No!" Sera immediately snapped. "What is wrong with you? You want to sacrifice yourself just like your mother and sister?" She looked at her nephew, unable to believe how he could just make such a decision. Ludiciel’s expression hardened when he recalled the way his mother and sister were killed. He snapped the whip, pushing the horses faster. "I will if I have to, aunt Sera." He had to protect Zedekiel and the twins. "Then let me be the one to drive the carriage." Sera said as she grabbed the reins, trying to wrench them from his hands. "I wo
Sera climbed out of the carriage, her robes flapping in the wind as she joined Prince Ludiciel at the front. "The Griffin is on it's way." She said, her voice strained. "What's the rest of your plan?" Prince Ludiciel kept his gaze ahead, eyes fixed on the road. "I’ll create an illusion," he said. "I'll hide the Griffin from the necromancer’s sight. You’ll all climb on and leave. I'll stay here and keep driving the carriage to distract them." "No!" Sera immediately snapped. "What is wrong with you? You want to sacrifice yourself just like your mother and sister?" She looked at her nephew, unable to believe how he could just make such a decision. Ludiciel’s expression hardened when he recalled the way his mother and sister were killed. He snapped the whip, pushing the horses faster. "I will if I have to, aunt Sera." He had to protect Zedekiel and the twins. "Then let me be the one to drive the carriage." Sera said as she grabbed the reins, trying to wrench them from his hands. "I wo
The carriage rattled violently as they tore through the forest, the horses galloping at full speed, their breath visible in the cold night air. Prince Ludiciel gripped the reins tightly, tears still stinging his eyes. His mother and sister were gone, killed right before his eyes and there was nothing he could do. He wanted to shout, to scream into the night but he had no time to grieve. Not now. They had to make it out alive first or his mother's and sister's sacrifice would be in vain."Hyah!" he cried, snapping the whip again as the horses surged forward.Inside the carriage, the others huddled in tense silence, their faces pale with shock and grief. The twins could not stop crying while Zedekiel leaned against Sera, his body getting colder with each minute. They could hear the thunderous footsteps of the undead gaining on them, growing louder with each passing moment.Alaric stood up and peeked from the window, gasping when he saw a skeleton close by. He quickly jumped out the carr
To their horror, just the soldiers were swept up in the hurricane while the skeletons continued marching on. With each step they took, the ground shook, as if they weighed tons."Fuck! It didn’t work!" Prince Ludiciel shouted, watching as the skeletons began to close in on them. "What do we do now?!"Everyone began to panic.Princess Mariel quickly stepped up. "Leave this to me. Grab big brother and get ready to leave.""No Mariel." Prince Ludiciel refused. "You can't handle them alone. I won't let you do this.""Then who can get all of you out of here?" She asked. "Your ability is to create illusions. Mother uses blood magic and the twins use fire and ice. Aunt Sera can only make weapons and Alaric has already tried and failed. If I push myself to the limit, I can suppress them with my powers while you all escape."Prince Ludiciel wasn't convinced. He shook his head. "There has to be another way. I can't let you stay here.""He's right, Mariel. You can't do this." The Queen Mother sa
Many of the soldiers surrounded the Queen Mother but they didn't know that she was a force to be reckoned with. Her strength and speed allowed her to move through the battlefield like a whirlwind. With a flick of her wrist, the blood within her enemies’ veins twisted and turned against them. One soldier lunged at her, but before he could even swing his sword, his body seized up, his veins bulging grotesquely as she manipulated his blood. He let out a strangled cry before collapsing into a lifeless heap."Your mistake was thinking I was helpless," the Queen Mother said coldly. Another soldier charged from her side, only for his blood to boil under her control, his body bursting apart as he disintegrated into a fine red mist.Alaric continued casting his spells, summoning gusts of wind, hurling soldiers back and slicing through them like invisible blades. He raised his staff and chanted a longer spell. A massive whirlwind erupted, lifting soldiers into the air before throwing them back
Prince Ludiciel and Princess Mariel stood sides by side, eyes narrowed, ready to fight while the Queen Mother placed herself beside the twins and her sister. Each person braced for the massive fight to come."You stupid witch!" Prince Kayziel spat, glaring at Alaric. "How dare you appear and ruin my plans!"He was pissed. First it was Prince Ron trying to destroy them both and now, people he didn't even know appeared to help Zedekiel and the rest. He was extremely furious. Why couldn't things just go his way for once?!"You think I'd sit back and watch you use my brother’s body however you like?" Alaric sneered. "I don't know who you are or what you want but you better get out right now."Prince Kayziel was stunned. Prince Ron had a brother? A Nightshade witch at that? Just what kind of connections did the fucking human make? Even after taking his body, he couldn't find peace. People he never knew existed were just popping left and right."I have no idea what you're talking about." He