"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
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
Official 4 shook his head in disappointment. "You know what, cousin, you're the most two faced Elf I've seen. You were the one who suggested to His Majesty to marry the human Prince. You gave all sorts of reasons and advantages of the marriage and now that they are married, you want to kill him? If you've always hated the human Prince, why suggest that to our King? Why allow them to fall in love and bond?" He then gasped as it dawned on him. "Unless... you only said all that to win against me that day. Your hatred for the humans never diminished. You just wanted to be the one to win His Majesty's favour.""And I wish I didn't." Official 3 gritted out, not bothering to deny it. He had never liked humans. He also didn't like the human Prince. He just suggested all that to beat Official 4 that day. "Now look where that has gotten us. Living underneath the Kingdom in order to hide from that tyrant and eating nothing but scraps for three months. We can barely get clean water. He makes our
"Hello," he said to the royal physician, his husband and Official 4. "My name is Cordin. This is Porsha and Leo." He gestured at the humans.Official 4's eyes went to them and his brows shot up in surprise. "Humans? Underground?"Cordin nodded. "I brought them inside. I am Prince Ron’s personal servant. Porsha is one his servants from Ashenmore and Leo is his bodyguard.""I recognise the big man." The royal physician said. "I'm truly sorry about what has happened to the Prince. We're going to try everything we can to get him back to normal."Leo sighed and nodded. "Thank you. But it was also due to my negligence. I wonder if Prince Ron will have it in his heart to forgive me.""Of course he will." Porsha assured, patting him on the shoulder. "The worst thing he will do is send you to the stables or make you guard that garden again."Everyone chuckled, recalling Prince Ron’s favourite ways of punishing people.Leo groaned slightly but he wasn't mad about it. If he got sent to the stabl
They all gazed at him, stunned. How could a servant possibly have access to the King's private library? Prince Ron, they could believe but Cordin???"Wait, you said your name is Cordin, right?" Welyn said, looking at him thoughtfully.Cordin nodded, smiling. "Yes." They better remember it too. If he managed to get he transmission mirror and contact His Majesty, they must speak his name so that he will be rewarded. First thing he would ask for was to leave Prince Ron and be the Head of Servants!"Aha! I knew I've heard that name before." Welyn said. "You're the gossip Elf! Hasn't Prince Ludiciel punished you for eavesdropping on his conversations before?"Official 4 gasped. "That's true! I remember now! So you're the gossip Elf!"Cordin's smile disappeared instantly and his brows twitched in annoyance. Why were they suddenly bringing out his dirty underwear? That too in front of the lovely Porsha? They were going to ruin her image of him!The royal physician clicked his tongue disappro
Cordin let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “You need me to do something for you? If you think I’ll ever help you do anything, then you’re stupid. If you want to kill me, just do it now. I won’t help you do anything.”“Oh, really?” 'Prince Ron' grinned. "We'll see about that.""Hugh!" he called out, sharply. "Get in here!"The doors creaked open immediately and Hugh entered, together with two undead guards that flanked him. Between them, a bloodied and struggling Porsha was dragged forward, her face pale from pain.Cordin felt like a bucket of ice had been poured unto him, freezing him to the bones. "Porsha!" He cried as he scrambled to his feet and rushed toward her.Before he could reach her, more undead guards shuffled in, dragging others behind them. Welyn, the Royal Physician, Official 4, and Leo. Each of them bruised, bloodied, and utterly defeated.Cordin froze mid-step, his breath hitching.“No.” he whispered, shaking his head as tears streamed down his face. How could this have
Hugh chuckled, his lips curving into a proud grin. “I told you the spell would work, Your Majesty. They see what they most fear, and their minds fill in the rest. Now we know the identities of those conspiring against us."“To think I trusted that physician,” Kayziel mused, his tone turning icy. “Find him, Hugh. Bring him to me alive.”Hugh gave a short bow. “And the others, Your Majesty?”Kayziel waved a hand dismissively. “I don’t care. Kill them all. I have no use for traitors.”“As you wish,” Hugh said. He turned to the undead at his side. “Begin the hunt. Bring the physician. No other survivors.”********Cordin began to search the library as fast as he could, his hands trembling as he ran them over shelves. Time was slipping away, and every second felt like a hammer pounding against his chest. Porsha's life was on the line and so was Prince Ron’s. He couldn't afford to mess up.At that moment, his fingers brushed against something cold and smooth at the very back of the shelf. R
Zedekiel frowned, his violet eyes fixed on the transmission mirror resting in his palm. Its glow had dimmed, leaving only a faint shimmer across its surface. “That’s… strange,” he murmured. “No one’s answering.”“Maybe they can’t,” Talon said from his place near the hearth, where he was meditating to replenish his energy. He had expended a lot to burn the last fragment of Murrowbane in Zedekiel’s heart and the rest of the Dark magic in his bloodstream. His scarlet eyes flicked to the mirror before narrowing. “For all you know, you could be calling at the worst possible time. Fucking turn it off before you get someone killed.”Zedekiel sighed, his grip on the mirror tightening. Talon was probably right. Whoever sent the mirror had likely stolen it from his library and he could only think of one person who would do that.Cordin.He was the only one besides Ron who had access to the library. If Cordin had managed to get in and send the mirror, it meant they urgently needed to contact him
"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