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’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
"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
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
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,
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 struggled to move, his muscles were heavy and his breath came in short gasps. Still, he forced himself onto his knees, his entire frame trembling with the effort as he crawled towards 'Prince Ron'. He clutched 'Prince Ron’s' robes, his fingers trembling as he tugged weakly, gazing up into those familiar yet now cold emerald coloured eyes.You don’t have to do this, Ron," Zedekiel pleaded. "If you want the Kingdom, I'll give it to you. If you want me to never use my powers again, I swear I’ll stop. Just… you don’t need to do this. Please, stop this madness. Let my family go." His eyes searched ‘Prince Ron’s’ face for any sign of the human he loved."Brother no!" Prince Ludiciel shouted. "Don't do this! Don't beg him!"He lunged forward, only for a soldier to kick the sword from his hand with a metallic clatter. A couple more soldiers grabbed his arms, forcing him down to his knees. His teeth gritted in frustration, and he cursed beneath his breath.The twins, Princess Mariel,
Prince Kayziel already guessed what the human Prince was angry about. He scoffed. "What's it to you what I do? We've already made our deal. Whatever I do now should not concern you. Just stay there and sleep!"Prince Ron began to struggle even harder. Each chain around him was the weight of a boulder, pressing him down, but the anger he felt was tremendous. Prince Kayziel wasn't honouring their agreement. His beloved was the mighty Elf King of Netheridge. Manipulating Zedekiel into thinking he didn't love him was one thing but making him kneel and beg was unforgivable.To Prince Kayziel’s horror, the chains began to loosen around Prince Ron’s body, the air charging with unnatural energy and as the bars of the cage began to twist and bend. He stumbled backwards in fright. The spell worked so he didn't understand how Prince Ron’s soul was able to stay awake. He began to panic. He didn't want to die. "Fuck! Calm down okay. You're going to destroy us both!" He shoutedBut Prince Ron didn'
"Zedekiel," he whispered shyly as he took Zedekiel’s hands in his.Zedekiel’s brows furrowed slightly in concern. "What is it? Did that thing do anything to you?" he whispered back, brushing a soft kiss against Ron’s temple. "Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"Prince Ron shook his head, biting his lip nervously. "No, it’s not that. It’s just... there’s something you need to know."Zedekiel frowned, concerned. "What is it, love? You can tell me anything."Prince Ron took a deep shaky breath, about to tell his beloved about their babies when his gaze landed on his belly and his eyes widened in utter disbelief. He completely froze as he tried to process what he was seeing.There, protruding before him, was his enormous, round belly. It was so large that he couldn’t even see his own feet.He suddenly let out a tiny squeak of horror, his face going pale and before anyone could say anything, Ron’s eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.Zedekiel looked at everyone and they all began to
Even in his ghost-like form, Kayziel was completely red in anger. "Again, NOBODY ASKED YOU TO!!!"The hands however, did not want to face their Lord's wrath. The Lord never tells his name to ordinary creatures and for the small beautiful prince to mention it, they knew there had to be truth to his words.The hands immediately sped up their work, yanking Kayziel toward the circle with urgency.Kayziel howled, his voice cracking in desperation. "STOP THIS MADNESS! I CAN FIX EVERYTHING! I SWEAR! PLEASE STOP!!!"Prince Ron let go, dusting off his hands as though he’d just finished a hard day’s work. "Say hello to your Lord for me!""YOU ARE INSANE!" Kayziel shrieked. He was already half-dragged into the glowing circle. “THIS ISN'T OVER RON!!! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!! YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS!!!”Prince Ron just smiled sweetly and waved. "Have a safe trip!"With a final, desperate cry, Kayziel disappeared into the gate, the circle sealing itself shut with a faint hum.********At
Prince Ron just sat on the floor and tucked his arms to his chest, turning his face away. Hmph! The Elf spirit wanted his help but was calling him a bastard. Was that even how to ask for help? Besides, his beloved was working hard to get them back together. Who was he to interrupt his beloved's work? Whatever was happening to Kayziel was exactly what he deserved."Do you think I'll help you after what you subjected us to for three whole months?" He scoffed, glaring at Kayziel. "Shoo, hurry and go to wherever those hands are taking you."Kayziel gasped in pain, rivulets of tears and mucus running down his face. He screamed as the smoke-like arms pulled him closer to the circle. He could feel the heat of hell singe his feet. "I'm sorry" He began to cry. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry Ron. I'm sorry for everything. I just- I just wanted to live my dream for once. Your husband snatched that from me when I was alive and trapped me underground for centuries. I just wanted to live. I just wanted to l
Kayziel’s laughter softened into something darker, more insidious, as he stepped closer. “Yes, Ron,” he murmured, his voice a low, chilling caress. “Think about it. Think about it well.” He began circling Ron like a predator stalking its prey, his ghost like form slithering around Ron’s form. “If you take your body, Zedekiel will lose all hope. The rest of your family? They’ll perish, one by one and Netheridge will eventually fall into ruin. The Elves, your kind, might even face extinction. And Zedekiel? Your beloved Zedekiel will live in a world of agony. A world without love..."He paused by Ron’s ear. "A world without you.”His words slithered through Ron’s ear like whispers of a devil, laced with a cruel, hypnotic allure. He moved closer, his hands ghosting over Ron’s trembling shoulders. “Can you truly take your body back, knowing you will be the cause of Zedekiel’s undoing?" He whispered. "Of his suffering for all eternity?”Ron’s breath hitched. His body tensed and his heart be
Alaric nodded, his expression understanding. “Of course.” He turned to the others and gestured toward the cave’s entrance. “Outside, everyone. Give them some space.”The group shuffled out quietly, leaving Zedekiel alone with Ron. As the echoes of their footsteps faded, the cave grew eerily silent.Zedekiel knelt beside the bed, his silver hair falling like a curtain around his face as he rested his hand on Ron’s swollen belly. His other hand found its way to Ron’s chest, where he could feel the faint, steady rhythm of his heartbeat.He lowered his head, pressing it against Ron’s chest. At first, there was only the sound of his own breathing, but then it broke. A small, ragged sob escaped his lips, followed by another then another. Tears spilled down his cheeks, slowly wetting Ron’s robes.“I'm sorry, love,” Zedekiel whispered, his voice breaking. “I'm so so sorry. I left you alone even after I promised to protect you. I let you shoulder the responsibilities that I should have. I-I'm
Elliot knelt beside Rose, his hands glowing faintly as his magic coursed through her twisted arm while she stared at him in awe.Zedekiel had left her on the floor and in pain. Those undead creatures were almost closing in on her and just when she thought she was really going to die on the battlefield, a dark haired man with pointy ears descended from the sky, blowing them all away and in the process, stealing her heart.She gazed up at him with tears and admirations in her eyes. His features looked almost otherworldly among the all chaos happening on the battlefield. He had smooth skin the colour of chocolate milk, dark hair like spun silk that fell in soft waves around his face, and eyes like molten amber, flecked with gold and crimson, which contrasted perfectly with his shimmering silver armour.Rose kept staring, momentarily forgetting her pain for Elliot looked just like the Princes in fairytales she had read to Ron about before bedtime."Okay, you have to stop," Elliot sighed,
Hugh paled and before he could react, Prince Ludiciel moved first, his fist connecting with Hugh’s jaw in a bone-shattering punch. The force sent him flying across the field like a ragdoll.But it didn’t stop there. Talon vanished in a flash and reappeared ahead of Hugh’s trajectory, slamming a powerful kick into his ribs midair. The impact hurled Hugh back toward Ludiciel, who with both hands gripping his sword, brought the hilt down, slamming Hugh into the ground with a resounding crash.Dust and debris erupted around them as Hugh’s body sank into the earth, the necromancer groaning in pain.He coughed, chanting some ancient words and his body shimmered with a sickly green light before dissolving into the soil like water into sand.“Stay alert.” Ludiciel warned, his grip on his sword tightening, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield."Ugh, necromancers are fucking disgusting." Talon grimaced, his nose wrinkling in revulsion as the stench of rotten corpses filled the air around the
He gasped, unable to believe it. A tear slipped down his cheek, landing softly on the fabric of Ron’s robes. His violet eyes flickered with emotion as he turned to the royal physician and whispered, “It’s true.”The physician nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face. He held hands with Welyn, happy to see their King alive and well again. Never did they think a day will come when they would see their king so emotional and so in love.With a human at that.Zedekiel gazed back at Ron, his expression softening further. “It’s really true,” he whispered. “We’re going to be parents.”Cordin, and the others smiled, their hearts swelling at the sight of their King’s rare happiness.However, Kayziel, still slumped on the floor, went even paler. His jaw tightened, and his wide, disbelieving eyes darted between his big belly and Zedekiel. “P-Parents?” he stammered, confused and horrified.What was Zedekiel saying? How was that even possible? Prince Ron was pregnant? But the body belonged to
A deep, cold chuckle echoed through the throne room, silencing all other noise.“Is that so?”Before anyone could react, a crushing pressure descended upon the room like a tidal wave. It was suffocating, all-encompassing, and merciless.Elves dropped to their knees, their eyes wide and red as they coughed up mouthfuls blood. Their hands clawed at their throats, desperate for air and fear twisted their faces, bodies trembling as they panicked.Official 3 tumbled from the throne and down the stairs, writhing on the cold marble floor as if his very life was being ripped away. His hands gripped his neck, his mouth opening and closing in silent agony."What...what is this?" someone choked out between gasps of bloodied breaths.The pressure carried a bloodlust so intense it felt as though death itself had entered the room. They all felt ice cold, as if their lives were about to be stripped in that moment.Then, slow and deliberate, came the sound of footsteps. Each step reverberated through