In the stillness of the night, the Nethridge castle grounds were eerily silent. Only a faint crackle of static electricity in the air could be heard in the garden. Suddenly, a space within the garden split open with a crack, a jagged tear forming in the fabric of reality itself. Lightning leapt from the fissure, streaking across the darkness like veins of molten silver. The rift widened, until it stood as tall as a grown man, its edges rippling like disturbed water with streaks of lightenin around it.From within the space, a figure emerged. Cloaked in robes as dark as midnight, every inch of the being was concealed except for its hands. The exposed fingers were blackened, the colour of charred wood, and thin, writhing lines coiled and twisted beneath the translucent skin, like snakes moving around.The portal snapped shut after the figure stepped out. The lush grass beneath its feet turned brittle and brown, the vibrant flowers shriveling and collapsing into ash. With every step he t
That very morning, Ashenmore and Netheridge went to war.The battlefield was a cacophony of chaos. Spells lit the gray skies with flashes of brilliant colour, the arcane energy sizzled and hissed, sending shockwaves rippling through the snow-covered ground. The clash of steel and bone was deafening as swords met claws and shields, splinters flying as they struggled to withstand the monstrous strength of one another.The once-pristine snow was now a canvas of war, painted in streaks of vivid crimson and dark ichor. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood, the acrid stench of burning flesh, and the bitter chill of winter.Rose's army fought desperately, their voices ringing out as they unleashed torrents of fire, ice, and lightning. Opposite them, the undead surged forward relentlessly, like a tide of rotting flesh.Her forces pushed hard, their coordinated spells destroying a few undead soldiers but as soon as the undead fell, they began to regenerate, bones snapping back int
Slowly, her savior descended, their landing so gentle it felt like stepping onto a cloud.Rose opened her tear-streaked eyes, gasping as she took in the face before her. It was one she never expected to see.Long silver hair cascaded like molten moonlight down his back and his sharp violet eyes glowed like gems in darkness. He stood in his black robes, cold and regal, like a deity that descended from heaven.“Z-Zedekiel…” she whispered, crying. “Y-You came for me. You saved me…”Without a word, Zedekiel loosened his hold, letting her fall unceremoniously to the ground. Rose gasped in pain, stunned by his behaviour. "What do you think yo-"“Make no mistake,” he said, coldly cutting her off as he stepped over her without hesitation. “I only saved you because you’re Ron’s blood.”Before she could respond, his form flickered, vanishing as though he had never been there.Rose sat frozen, unable to believe what had just happened. How could he save her then abandon her like that? Even if the
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
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 th
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
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
Slowly, her savior descended, their landing so gentle it felt like stepping onto a cloud.Rose opened her tear-streaked eyes, gasping as she took in the face before her. It was one she never expected to see.Long silver hair cascaded like molten moonlight down his back and his sharp violet eyes glowed like gems in darkness. He stood in his black robes, cold and regal, like a deity that descended from heaven.“Z-Zedekiel…” she whispered, crying. “Y-You came for me. You saved me…”Without a word, Zedekiel loosened his hold, letting her fall unceremoniously to the ground. Rose gasped in pain, stunned by his behaviour. "What do you think yo-"“Make no mistake,” he said, coldly cutting her off as he stepped over her without hesitation. “I only saved you because you’re Ron’s blood.”Before she could respond, his form flickered, vanishing as though he had never been there.Rose sat frozen, unable to believe what had just happened. How could he save her then abandon her like that? Even if the
That very morning, Ashenmore and Netheridge went to war.The battlefield was a cacophony of chaos. Spells lit the gray skies with flashes of brilliant colour, the arcane energy sizzled and hissed, sending shockwaves rippling through the snow-covered ground. The clash of steel and bone was deafening as swords met claws and shields, splinters flying as they struggled to withstand the monstrous strength of one another.The once-pristine snow was now a canvas of war, painted in streaks of vivid crimson and dark ichor. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood, the acrid stench of burning flesh, and the bitter chill of winter.Rose's army fought desperately, their voices ringing out as they unleashed torrents of fire, ice, and lightning. Opposite them, the undead surged forward relentlessly, like a tide of rotting flesh.Her forces pushed hard, their coordinated spells destroying a few undead soldiers but as soon as the undead fell, they began to regenerate, bones snapping back int
In the stillness of the night, the Nethridge castle grounds were eerily silent. Only a faint crackle of static electricity in the air could be heard in the garden. Suddenly, a space within the garden split open with a crack, a jagged tear forming in the fabric of reality itself. Lightning leapt from the fissure, streaking across the darkness like veins of molten silver. The rift widened, until it stood as tall as a grown man, its edges rippling like disturbed water with streaks of lightenin around it.From within the space, a figure emerged. Cloaked in robes as dark as midnight, every inch of the being was concealed except for its hands. The exposed fingers were blackened, the colour of charred wood, and thin, writhing lines coiled and twisted beneath the translucent skin, like snakes moving around.The portal snapped shut after the figure stepped out. The lush grass beneath its feet turned brittle and brown, the vibrant flowers shriveling and collapsing into ash. With every step he t
Zedekiel froze, the words echoing in his mind like a deafening roar. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.Pregnant? Ron was pregnant?His violet eyes widened in disbelief. “B-But how is that even possible?” he asked. “You’re telling me that Ron is not only fighting for his soul but also carrying my child?”"Uh...children, Your Majesty." Cordin corrected hesitantly. "Prince Ron is pregnant with not just one child Your Majesty, but… four.”The mirror trembled in Zedekiel’s hand as he staggered backward, but Ludiciel instinctively reached out, steadying his brother.“Are you sure about this, Cordin?” Ludiciel asked, unable to believe what he was hearing too.“I swear on the Earth Spirit, Your Highness,” Cordin said earnestly. “The royal physician sensed four distinct breaths. Prince Ron is pregnant with quadruplets.”Zedekiel’s knees buckled. “I-I need to sit down,” he muttered, unable to comprehend the news.Ludiciel guided him to a nearby stone bench in the moonlit garden. He sank onto
The moonlight bathed the castle gardens in a soft silver glow, illuminating the vibrant flowers and neatly trimmed hedges. Zedekiel and Ludiciel strolled along the cobblestone path, the quiet hum of nature surrounded them.“How are you holding up?” Prince Ludiciel asked gently, breaking the silence.Zedekiel glanced at his brother, understanding the true intent behind the question. Prince Ludiciel wasn’t asking about his health. He was asking about Ron.“Bad,” Zedekiel admitted sighing heavily. “I can’t concentrate much on anything because he’s all I can think of. I keep thinking about what he's doing, how he's doing, whether he's eating or sleeping well. What I worry about the most is if he's at peace being sealed within his own body or if he's being tormented and if whoever possessed him is treating his body like the treasure it is."He came to a stop before a bush of wild roses swaying gently in the night wind. They reminded him of Prince Ron's soft curls which he loved to touch. H
Her teeth clenched, rivulets of sweat running down her face and back as she absorbed Zedekiel’s pain until she couldn't anymore and spat out a mouthful of blood, stumbling backwards."Mother!" Elliot panicked, rushing towards her.Thankfully, she was caught in time by Sera who gently lowered her unto a nearby chair. "Are you okay?"Elliot held his mother's hands, worried. Sometimes she transfers more pain that she can handle unto herself. "Mother, are you okay?" He asked. "Can you hear us?""Oh my God," She gasped, shuddering as she stared at Zedekiel in disbelief. "how can you deal with all of that pain? I took only a fraction away, but I feel like I’m being melted from the inside out. How can you even walk? Or talk?"Everyone gazed at Zedekiel, shocked. They hadn't thought that he was carrying so much pain and he never said anything.“I only need to think about my little husband." Zedekiel said softly, his voice tinged with sadness as he thought about Ron. "I imagine the kind of pai
Alaric cried because of him. And then the despair and loathing in Alaric’s voice broke his heart.Zedekiel was right. Despite what happened years ago, his feelings for Alaric never diminished. They were just covered by hate and anger.When they finally broke apart, gasping for air, Talon pressed their foreheads together, his ragged breaths brushing against Alaric’s face. His crimson eyes burned with a mix of fury and pure possessiveness that sent a shiver through Alaric’s body.“You—” Alaric started, but his voice faltered when he saw the raw emotion in Talon’s gaze. He was confused. He had said all those things to push Talon away, to make him hate him. Yet here they were, locked in this breathless moment. It made him wonder if Talon had heard his conversation with Lyca from the beginning.Finally, after some seconds, Talon pulled away, his hand dropping from Alaric’s neck.“You say such fucking hateful words but whenever I look into your eyes, all I see is a longing so deep you canno
The gates swung fully open, revealing a breathtaking sight. A fleet of pure white horses stretching as far as the eye could see and at the forefront sat Prince Ludiciel, his short silver locks catching the sunlight, a broad grin splitting his face the second he sighted Zedekiel."Brother!" Ludiciel shouted and without hesitation, he leapt off his horse, striding toward him.Zedekiel met him halfway, gripping the back of Ludiciel’s head and pressing their foreheads together.They both dropped their barriers entirely and their minds linked. Memories and experiences rushed into Zedekiel’s consciousness and likewise Ludiciel’s. In the blink of an eye, they both saw everything that they had been through in the entire 3 months they'd been apart."You idiot," Zedekiel muttered, his tone a mixture of fondness and exasperation. A small smile tugged at his lips as he pulled back, ruffling Ludiciel’s hair. "Well done brother."Ludiciel chuckled, engulfing Zedekiel in a tight embrace. "You too, b