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
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
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
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
"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
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 Pheo
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
True to their word, within minutes of him returning to his quarters, a knock sounded on the door. When Alaric opened it, a servant wheeled in a cart laden with food. The aromas of roasted meats, fresh bread, and a rich stew filled the room, making his stomach rumble even more. "Thank you," Alaric said as the servant set the tray on a table. The warmth of the meal seemed to chase away any lingering discomfort from the journey. He sat down, eagerly digging in, all the while thinking about how much smoother things had gone than he expected. No Talon, good food, Zedekiel was getting treated, and a chance to rest. It wasn’t so bad after all. After finishing his meal, Alaric sat back in his chair, letting out a contented sigh. There was no fruit salad but the food was good. He reached into his robes and pulled out a shard of the contact mirror. It was a mirror that enabled one to contact anyone from anywhere. The enchanted piece shimmered faintly as he whispered a spell, summoning the ref
"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