Chapter 2_What worries you my child

"The crown was given to him because his heart is a hundred times bigger than every one of us.'

an abrupt reply from nowhere was heard.

"Queen Mother Liliane!' Queen Tomika the leader of the shapeshifter's kind called out in fear.

Everyone was so taken aback by the beautiful blue eye aged woman. even with her dark hair now full of gray hairs from aging, she looks so stunningly beautiful in her dark blue dress. The king's Herald that had been so engrossed in the exchange of words earlier just realized he didn't notice the Queen mother's arrival. and because of that, he couldn't announce her presence.

"Mother"

Lucian whisper more to himself, but he knew his mother heard him, as she look at his son lovingly.

Turning her gaze to Empusa, with an irritating stare she said.

"Akaldama is so disappointed in you, You are ten times my son's age but you act ten times more like a child. taking her seat that is a bit farther away gesturing to his son by slightly nodding her head she added.

''Let's all get to the point, shall we?

As a response to his dear mother.

Lucian said, "it seems your memories had begun to fade away with your age, Lady Empusa. let me brainstorm you a bit". with a wide smirk on his face, Lucian explained.

'Witches are creatures specialized in curses, spells, and formations. they are beings who understand the underlying rules of the world beyond the natural elements. thus, can somewhat peer into the truth of the world and gain control over them. Lucian took a pause and glance around him making sure he had their full attention.

"We are all very much aware of what happened millennia years ago, the stories were written in tales, down to history scrolls.

After the incident that laid waste to our realm due to the practice of black magic by the Thornhill warlocks, The Goddess Diana made your ancestors pledge never to practice black magic ever again, and it was sealed. "

"Why then did you decide to go back to the dark ways of your forefathers? he asked calmly.

Everyone in Akaldama heard how their young king was soft and had never lost his self-control regardless of how frustrating the situation was this was his first time handling the state matter, and also the first time for the ministers and other rulers present there too.

with a sharp tongue came her unremorseful reply. "the time when we the black witches had to settle for less is over, The Goddess gave the power and authority over to your kinds blindly for thousands of years, why should we care for the other kinds the Goddess choose over us. tsk, tsk, tsk, the Goddess loves us equally they said, but the throne of the superior stays here, and never, not even for a year was it ruled by another kind. and you all seat there to lecture me about the type of magic me and my people practice. oh please humor yourselves first! she screamed abruptly standing up from her seat. the palace shook from her screams there was a crack in the window an impact from it.

"What impudence! those were murmurs from the people.

her indifferent reply made everyone present there boil with rage.

Everyone expected the queen's mother to retort back at her for what this vine witch had just vomited, unlike her son that was already fuming. she sat down there with a little disappointed look on her face as she stare at Empusa, she knew her son can handle this well, with or without her.

Lucian had been putting up with her nonsense for a while now his calm blue-gray eyes flicker red. with a deep aggressive voice, he said.

"I will no seat and watch my people suffer the same fate." with an air of finality he added.

"I will let the court decide what to do with you before passing out my judgment."

The ministers of the alpha king's palace and the rulers of other kinds deliberate the punishment to be ruled out.

The first was serving a considerable number of years of a prison sentence, some agreed on the death sentence,

while others agreed on banishment which was not a proper solution.

as witches can cast spells that include teleporting and no prison could hold them unless you turn a witch against a witch. the death sentence can never be ruled out as the book of principalities warn against killing supernatural beings except only during the war, after lots of confirmation from the goddess to the priest of her temple.

Without much Ado, the young king stood up from his throne and walk staidly towards Empusa, all eyes followed him.

he was standing so very close to her and staring daggers down at her as he spooked.

"by the power and authority bestowed on me by the moon Goddess Diana, I declare your coven dissolved, onward there's no coven of the willows, your coven is forbidden to perform any form of magic spells and if you or any members of your coven are caught practicing any form of magic your souls shall all be banished to the netherworld."

They all grasp with fear of uncertainty as this came as a surprise to all of them.

Empusa was visibly shaking from shock and anger. "How dare you Lucian, You can't do this to my people! you devil spawn!! she screamed again this time, the well-decorated lamp on the wall broke into pieces.

not even an iota of pity, Lucian instructed the palace guard. "get her out of my sight!" he said coldly.

"I shall pay you all dearly for this, you all shall witness my vengeance," she swore as she was led out of the palace.

with a satisfied smile on his lips, Lucian turned almost immediately after his final verdict.

"I would like to be left alone," Lucian said.

"the meeting is over" the king's herald announced.

only Liliane remained glued to her seat staring at her son. the once dangerous confident looking king that was ready to rip out anyone's throat that dared lay any harm to his people was gone now, now sitted on his throne with his hand on his head a young fragile looking man afraid of what the future had in store for him and his kingdom.

After some moment of silence, she decided to cut into his thoughts, he walked up to him and stroked his hair gently "Cian, What worries you, my child".