The air outside was crisp and biting, We waited in the shadows, Ariel clinging to my arm as Lucius reappeared, this time in disguise. His regal aura was subdued, hidden beneath plain clothes that made him look more like a common traveler than a king. But his eyes—sharp and calculating—betrayed his true nature.Beside him stood Gideon, the general assigned to accompany us. He had introduced himself earlier, his presence steady but unassuming, a balance of strength and subtlety. A handful of mages lingered in the distance, their presence more felt than seen, their energy humming faintly in the air.Lucius gestured toward the waiting horses. "We're not taking a carriage," he said. "We'll travel faster this way."I nodded, though my grip on Ariel tightened instinctively. She looked up at me, her eyes wide with excitement and a hint of fear. "Are we really going to ride a horse together?""Yes, sweetheart," I replied softly. "Stay close to me."Lucius mounted his horse with practiced ease,
Kiara's Point of ViewThe forest, once alive with whispers of nature, had fallen silent, as though it too was holding its breath. The tension was unbearable, every fiber of my being screaming to run, but my feet stayed rooted. Lucius held my hand tightly, his grip a lifeline amidst the chaos."Gideon," Lucius's voice was steady, but there was an edge of pleading to it. "You don't want to do this."Gideon raised his hand, his darkened features twisting into an expression of mockery. "Why wouldn't I? Why shouldn't I?" His voice carried the weight of bitterness, each word laced with venom.Lucius's face tightened, his usual composure slipping. "How did you become this?"Gideon tilted his head, his smirk deepening. "I became this the day I brought my wife back."Those words hung in the air, their meaning sinking into the pit of my stomach like a stone. Lucius's gaze flickered, a rare crack in his unshakeable demeanor. "You… brought her back?" he said, his voice low, almost disbelieving."
The clash between Lucius and Gideon turned ferocious, a whirlwind of flashing blades and raw energy that seemed to tear through the forest itself. Each strike echoed like thunder, shaking the ground beneath us. Lucius, now a blazing figure of light and fury, moved with an intensity that left even Gideon struggling to keep up.Their blades met in a shower of sparks, each impact more brutal than the last. Lucius's strength seemed endless, his strikes relentless as he drove Gideon further and further back. The once-smug general now fought desperately, his dark energy faltering against Lucius's sheer willpower.Then, with a roar, Lucius hurled Gideon upward with a surge of force, sending him crashing through the treetops. The canopy split open as Gideon's body was flung skyward, the impact so powerful it seemed to split the heavens. A heartbeat later, Lucius leapt after him, his form a streak of light against the darkened sky.High above the forest, they collided again. The fight was vici
Lucius remained on the floor, his breathing steady but shallow, as I knelt beside him. The tension in the air was palpable when Kael, Asher, and the other generals arrived, their faces tight with urgency. Leading them was a man I didn't recognize, but my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.He looked exactly like Lucius.The resemblance was uncanny, down to the sharp jawline and the proud stature. However, there were differences—his eyes were a piercing yellow instead of Lucius's striking green, and faint moles trailed from his left cheek to his neck. His energy was familiar, almost like an echo of Lucius's, but less intimidating, less powerful.The moment he stepped forward, Lucius stirred faintly as if sensing the man's presence. A surge of renewed energy seemed to flow into him, though his body remained weak."This way," Kael said urgently, gesturing for us to move. "We need to get him inside."With their help, we carried Lucius back to his cabin. Ariel clung to me tightly, he
Kiara sat down, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and dread. Ariel's fragile state haunted her, and the memories of what had transpired left an unshakable heaviness in her chest.She knew she had to see Ariel, despite the girl's trauma. Ariel had been bleeding, and though her injuries were tended to, the emotional scars were deeper. Kiara sighed, her mother's words echoing in her mind: "Be careful what you wish for." Ariel had been so eager to fulfill what she called her last switch on her bucket list, but the cost was far greater than Kiara could have imagined.With a deep breath, she stood, signaling Maidservant Tae and the other amicus who trailed behind her. Together, they made their way down the dimly lit corridors of the palace until they reached Ariel's quarters.Inside, Ariel lay on a plush bed, pale and visibly shaken. Her eyes darted around the room, unable to settle on any single point. Maidservant Tae fussed over her, ensuring she was comfortable, while another maid wh
Kiara stared at the woman before her, noting the way her hands trembled as she clutched the fabric of her gown. The woman's eyes darted around, wide and filled with fear."I'm not supposed to be here," the woman stammered, her voice shaking. "I'm... I'm human. This doesn't make sense. One moment, I was on stage, and then everything went dark. I woke up here—wherever this is."Kiara's brows furrowed as she tried to make sense of the woman's words. "You're human?""Yes!" the woman cried, her voice laced with desperation. "I was just about to accept an award for my work, and now... now, I'm in this place. This body feels like mine, but it's not. It's so strange."Kiara's heart skipped a beat. She leaned forward, her mind racing. "Wait... are you saying you're from the future?"The woman blinked in confusion. "The future? I... I don't know. Maybe? Everything feels so wrong. Please, I don't belong here. You have to help me get back!"The realization hit Kiara like a lightning bolt. This wo
Lucius's POVAfter she had collapsed, Kiara knelt beside her, holding her hand gently, an expression of pity softening her features. Perhaps she felt the weight of her pain, the anguish that had brought the woman to this state. I stood silently, my gaze flickering with frustration and uncertainty.Turning to Maidservant Tae and Maidservant Raya, I ordered, "Take her to one of the chambers. Make sure she doesn't wake up, not for a while."The maids exchanged a brief glance before nodding, moving swiftly to lift the unconscious figure from the ground."Be careful," I added, my voice firm. "Right now, we can't afford to deal with this."The truth was that the palace was already drowning in chaos. Veryon's looming presence was a threat to my kingship, a shadow circling my throne. He had always been cunning, but now his ambitions were glaring, and my patience with him was wearing thin. On top of that, there was the growing menace of the spirits.Spirits. The very thought of them made my bl
Kiara's povAs we descended the grand staircase, the hall was a sea of murmurs and whispers, the sound swelling like a tide as all eyes turned to us. I tried to keep my gaze steady, but it was impossible not to notice the aura of dominance that filled the room. These people are so full of grace.The men were dressed in ancient, regal clothing that seemed to hum with an air of history, and the women were adorned in exquisite ball gowns that shimmered under the golden lights. The beauty of it all was mesmerizing.Lucius held out his hand, a silent invitation I couldn't refuse. I placed my hand in his, and we stepped onto the dance floor as the music began a slow, haunting tune that was as foreign to me as everything else in this place.As we started to dance, I quickly realized how out of place I was. The rhythm was unlike anything I'd ever encountered, and my feet moved clumsily, stepping on his more than once. Every time I faltered, Lucius would flash a reassuring smile, his dimple ap
Veryon's POVShe didn't understand.Kiara sat there, watching the fire, her body exhausted but still tense, still defiant. She thought she could fight this—them. That she could stay in that palace, surrounded by guards, by mages, by walls that would crumble the moment the spirits decided to take them.She thought she was safe.I knew better.The spirits took everything from me. My throne. My people. Athena.And now they wanted her.I couldn't let that happen.My fists clenched at my sides, my body a storm of tension as I looked at her. She was still so full of fire, still fighting even after she had nearly collapsed from exhaustion. She was too stubborn for her own good. But I admired that stubbornness far more than I should.Far more than I had any right to.She turned her head slightly, her gaze catching mine. "You're staring."I didn't deny it."Sleep," I told her. It was more of an order than a request.She huffed, leaning back against the cold stone wall, rubbing her arms as if s
Kiara POV.I stood there, my breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps, my body trembling with exhaustion. My arms ached from the strain of pulling water from thin air, and my hands stung where the energy had burned against my skin. I had pushed myself too far, but I didn't care. I had done it. I had fought. I had proven, if only to myself, that I wasn't weak.But my victory was short-lived.Pain flared in my side, sharp and unrelenting, and I gritted my teeth, refusing to acknowledge it. I was fine. I had to be fine.Veryon, however, wasn't fooled."You're hurt," he said, stepping toward me."I'm fine," I snapped, trying to straighten, but the moment I moved, a fresh wave of pain shot through me. Damn it. I must have strained something—or worse.Veryon sighed, shaking his head. "You're as stubborn as ever."I tried to glare at him, but the effect was probably ruined by the way I was swaying on my feet. Before I could protest, he was already beside me, his hands firm but careful as he guid
Lucius stepped out of the bathroom, water still dripping from his hair, his eyes narrowing as he wiped his face with a towel. The warm glow of the early morning sun filtered through the thick curtains, but there was something off in the air, something that made the usual peace of the palace feel unsettling.Kiara should have been here by now.His thoughts immediately shifted to the training session. She was always prompt, always eager to push herself. But today, there was no sign of her.He tossed the towel aside and walked toward the door, his movements brisk, his mind already racing. Something wasn't right. He had felt it the moment he stepped out of the bathroom—the absence of her presence.He moved quickly, striding down the hallway, his boots clicking against the marble floor. His eyes scanned every corner, every empty room he passed, his heart starting to quicken with a sense of urgency."Kiara?"The name slipped from his lips almost involuntarily, but the silence that followed
Veryon's breathing was labored, his eyes darting around as though he expected an attack at any moment. His gaze finally landed on me, softening for a fleeting second before the sharp edge of distrust returned."Kiara," he rasped, his voice hoarse. "I don't have time to explain everything, but you need to listen to me."I stepped back, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my sword. "Veryon, you're hurt—what happened? Let me call Lucius, he can—""No!" he snapped, the desperation in his tone stopping me mid-sentence. He clenched his fists, his entire body trembling. "I don’t trust him. I don’t trust anyone here, Kiara. The only person I trust is you."His words struck me like a blow, and I struggled to process the weight of them. "Me? Veryon, what are you saying? Lucius and the others have been helping me—protecting me—""You don’t understand," he interrupted, his voice breaking slightly. "These walls, this place… they’re suffocating you. The spirits… they will come for you, Kiara.
The morning light filtered through the curtains, painting soft streaks of gold across the stone walls of my room. I lay still, staring at the ceiling, my body aching from the weight of emotions and responsibilities that had piled up over the past few days.Maidservant Tae's death still lingered in my thoughts, a dull ache in my chest that refused to fade. It wasn't just his loss—it was the ripple effect it caused, the reminder of how fragile everything was. I had been trying to find my footing, trying to recover, but it felt like every step forward was met with another obstacle.Lucius, ever the dutiful protector, had brought Yuva and Layla to my side. They were capable, sharp, and intimidating in their own right, but their constant vigilance only added to the tension surrounding me. They barely spoke, their focus always on their duties, and the awkwardness between us hung in the air like an invisible wall.Elena, on the other hand, was my saving grace. Her sarcastic jokes and infecti
The room was heavy with tension as the duke who spoke placed the lantern on the table. It sat there, unassuming yet brimming with the weight of history. I stared at the object, my green eyes narrowing as unease settled over me."This is one of the lanterns Athena used to trap spirits," the duke declared, his voice steady yet charged with excitement. "After her death, they were believed to be lost or destroyed. But here it is—an artifact of unimaginable power, Your Majesty."I reached forward, running my fingers over the intricate carvings etched into its surface. The faint glow emanating from it was almost imperceptible, like the dying embers of a once roaring fire."It's powerless," I said, placing the lantern back down with a decisive thud."Yes," the duke admitted reluctantly. "Its power has faded, but it can be reawakened—if the goddess, Athena, wills it."My jaw tightened at their words. "She's not ready," I replied flatly, meeting their expectant gazes with a firm, unyielding st
Lucuis POVAfter carefully tucking Kiara into bed, I quietly left her chambers. The hallway was still and dimly lit, the silence a welcome reprieve from her drunken ramblings. I shook my head, a small smile pulling at my lips as I thought about her antics. She'd be nursing quite the hangover in the morning.By the time I reached my own chamber, exhaustion tugged at me. The alcohol I'd consumed on the rooftop added a slight haze to my senses, though I'd been careful not to drink too much. As I closed the door behind me, ready to collapse into bed, I froze. Kael was standing in the middle of the room, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable."Don't you ever sleep?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.He smiled faintly, brushing off the remark. "Your Highness, the Dukes of Decresh have suddenly called for an impromptu meeting tomorrow morning," he said, his tone serious.I frowned, already uninterested. "Tell them to wait," I said dismissively, moving toward my bed.Before I could
The burial of Tae was silent, too silent. I couldn't shake the emptiness that settled deep within me, the heavy sadness that clung to my every step. We had laid her to rest, but it didn't feel like enough. Nothing would ever feel like enough. I stood there, barely able to hold myself together, watching as they covered her with earth. There was something so final about it, something that made the weight on my chest even heavier.When we finally returned to the palace, I didn't even notice the halls as I walked past them. My feet seemed to move on their own, dragging me toward my chambers. I needed to be alone, to breathe, to think—though I wasn't sure what there was left to think about.I closed the door behind me softly, the silence almost suffocating. The space felt too big, too empty, even though it was filled with everything I would need. I dropped onto the bed, feeling the exhaustion catch up to me in waves. Everything felt off, like my mind was scattered, torn between grief, conf
Wrath wasted no time as he hauled Veryon's unconscious body over his shoulder, his movements swift and methodical."Where do we hide him?" Gluttony muttered, gnawing on his nails anxiously. "We can't leave him out in the open!""Over there." Wrath gestured sharply to a shadowed corner where jagged rocks jutted out like teeth. Without hesitation, he tossed Veryon's limp body into the crevice, covering him with nearby debris to obscure him from sight. The others exchanged nervous glances, their usual bravado replaced by a growing fear.And then it happened. The air shifted, heavy and oppressive. A cold, dark energy seeped into the room, making the already dim surroundings feel suffocating. Pride straightened immediately, his usual arrogance faltering as he muttered, "He's here."The room fell silent as Nihil's presence grew stronger. A figure emerged from the shadows—a towering being, cloaked in an aura of malevolence that made even Wrath take a step back. His eyes glowed with an otherw