《Crunaboul: The second prince》 Chapter 1: Audience The sun shines through rose-tinted glasses, patting my back in encouragement. My eyes stare at the image of a revered basilisk. It protects the gate of the throne room just like these majestic creatures have always protected our Rising Basilisk Empire. It is said that the creatures¡¯ haughty eyes can intimidate those seeking for an audience even before they get to see his majesty. But I never felt this way. For my entire life I never had to fear a basilisk. They were always close to me, a naturally formed bond connecting us. No. Compared to my scaled friends I feel more fear towards those waiting for me behind the door. But simultaneously I am looking forward to appearing in their view. I have worked hard for this day. I still remember the disappointed eyes when it was confirmed that I had low magic potential. I was three at the time. I didn¡¯t understand why my family treated me differently from that day on. Only when my teacher retold the heroic deeds of the royal family did it dawn on me. I understood what responsibilities came with my birth. Those glorious ancestors who built the empire had power a normal human can¡¯t fathom. I wanted to be like them. To protect our citizens, protect humanity. Thus, I began to train. The first time I carried a sword was when I was three years old and since then I have never let it go. All for that fateful day when I would be called to serve the empire. All for today! I straighten my mind and push the heavy door open. A familiar spacious hall comes into my view, with lavish pillars supporting a roof majestic like a second sky. The best warriors the world has to offer are standing at the side, wearing silver-golden armor made from Streenuum. Their spears gleaming in the sun amaze me every time even though I have seen it dozens of times. But I don''t dare to appear absentminded. I quickly direct my eyes on the most prominent figures in the room. Up ahead, seated on a glamorous, wide throne adorned with the images of fierce basilisks sits the emperor of our Rising Basilisk Empire, Emperor Jondal Yntheno, my father! His authoritative eyes, profound like the two suns in the sky, emit a vast might which puts unbearable pressure on every visitor, not differentiating between friend or foe. Despite the few strands of grey hair my father radiates the kind of strength I will be striving for for all my life. A hero in his youth, an emperor in his later years. The mix of personal might and unshakable influence sculpted one of the most powerful humans alive. No. The most powerful! I find it impossible to draw my eyes away, causing me to ignore the middle-aged man sitting on a smaller throne below. But compared to the emperor, my brother the crown prince has a gentle temperament, easily forgiving my small blunder. As I approach the throne it feels as if advancing against a violent storm. I forcefully suppress the trembling of my limbs until I finally manage to reach within five steps of the throne, where I kneel down in respect of the emperor, speaking solemnly: ¡°I pay my respects to your majesty the emperor!¡± The emperor doesn''t speak, and the room falls silent. I don''t know if this is his way to test me? Test my resolve? But I''m willing to prove myself! Just give me a chance! ¡°Endal.¡± Finally! ¡°Yes, your majesty.¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I have seen your efforts.¡± These few words cause me to tremble in exhilaration. Isn''t this what I have been training for? Swinging my sword day and night only for this moment! But I dare not show it, waiting for the emperor to continue. ¡°You will follow the crown prince on a punishment expedition. Set off tomorrow. In acknowledgment of your position, I will bestow ''Flame of the South'' upon you!¡± Hearing footsteps coming closer I can''t contain my excitement anymore. I need to raise my head, need to draw strength from everyone''s expressions. I first saw my brother''s kind face. Handsome with a heroic aura befitting of the crown prince. His kind nod is not unexpected. He has always been known to treat those around him well and his enemies harshly. Carefully moving my head more, the emperor''s body enters my eyes. But I don''t dare to linger as someone else steps before me. Wearing an armor similar to the emperor''s guards, his friendly smile evokes positive feelings in everyone. This hero goes by the name of Golden Blade named after his signature magical spell. Despite our good relationship I don''t know his real name. Only my father knows it, having traveled the world together. Golden Blade is probably my father''s only friend. It is considered a luxury for the emperor to hold a friend this close, pronouncing him as the empire''s guardian. But no one would dare to accuse the emperor of nepotism. Golden Blade''s name alone is enough to strike fear into the hearts of the surrounding kingdoms. I am not afraid to call him my idol. Now seeing Golden Blade stopping before me, holding a sheath in his hands, I find it difficult to suppress my excitement. But I am a prince after all. I can''t show my joy in the throne room. Too unbefitting. ¡°Endal. This is Flame of the south. Take it. You deserve to.¡± A sunny smile creeps on my face. Alright. I will allow it once. With shaking hands, I reach out and take the sheath from Golden Blade''s hands. I immediately feel an unnatural weight. For a second it feels as if the sun weighs down on my hands. The illusion of a blazing flame enters my eyes. It was as if only the sheath stopped the sword from burning down the entire palace. A strange magic surges through my body, leaving my arms trembling in pain. But I endure. I don''t know how much time has passed. Be it one second or one hour. Finally, the magic returns to the sword as the beast in my hands cools down. I can hear my own strained breath. Sweat drenched my long golden hair, causing it to stick to my body. I slowly raise my head afraid of finding disappointment. But I am pleasantly surprised. Golden Blade nods kindly. Maybe the flash in his eyes is even a sign of appreciation. I can''t be sure. The crown prince shows a similar reaction, caring as always. And even the emperor keeps an indifferent face. What a great honor. My chest threatens to swell with pride, but I suppress it waiting for someone to speak. ¡°Well done. You have proven your ability to wield Flame of the South. I am looking forward to your accomplishment.¡± Golden Blade''s encouragement creates warmth in my heart as I watch him retreat to the side, where he quietly watches the throne hall like an unshakable pillar. But I quickly avert my eyes as I notice a faint nod from the emperor, knowing he is about to speak. ¡°Don''t forget to be ready tomorrow. Dismissed.¡± ¡°Your majesty.¡± I bowed one last time before leaving the throne room, accompanied by the heavy gazes bearing on my back. When the towering gate closes behind me, I can finally take a deep breath. I grin, securing Flame of the south to my waste, feeling emboldened by this famous sword''s power. Suddenly steps reach my ears, attracting my attention. I find a man approach me from the side, clad in luxurious red robes, each strand of black hair perfectly kept in place, embodying the word ''noble''. It is my third brother, whose voice rings through the air: ¡°Second brother. It seems congratulations are in order. Good luck on your upcoming journey.¡± Third brother''s demeanor is impeccable as always, but this is exactly the reason why I have always felt a certain distance. Although third brother''s face looks kind like older brother''s, he lacks a certain sincerity. This doesn''t mean I dislike my third brother though. It just makes it difficult to feel close. I am still grateful for his words, answering with a polite smile: ¡°Thank you, third brother. But I am merely assisting the crown prince. With first brother''s strength this trip will surely be blessed with success.¡± ¡°Haha of course. I look forward to the safe return of my two brothers. Let us reminisce with a glass of wine afterward.¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Third brother nods, polite as always, before turning around. Seeing this I don''t linger much longer, returning to my room eagerly. I walk briskly through the palace''s long hallways, breaking through all the doors in my way until I reach my own room. My eyes, now openly showing great joy, ignore the luxurious furnishing and magnificent windows. Those are only good for highlighting the astonishing beauty of the celestial maiden fixing her hair in front of a large mirror. Yet even the mirror can¡¯t do her tall, gorgeous body justice. Chapter 2: Expedition A faint giggle, teasing to the ears, echoes through the room. My beloved fixes her hair with a last clip before turning towards me with a smile somehow both innocent and seductive. ¡°Is my look pleasing you, my prince?¡± Her ethereal voice sends a shiver down my spine, drawing me back to realitiy. I quickly step forward to gently hold her hand looking deeply into her sparkling, emerald-green eyes. ¡°You are the most beautiful existence in the world, Lady Somme. And I¡¯m not getting tired telling you even after the one thousandth time.¡± I try to sound serious. I want to convey my earnest feelings although it seems impossible to voice my adoration and love with mere words. My eyes, mirroring my soul, prove more able to express the truth. Lady Somme reads in them, answering with a gentle smile: ¡°Yet I won¡¯t get tired listening to your praise. I wish to hear it forever, my prince.¡± ¡°And you will! Soon I will ask my father to organize our marriage. Then nothing will ever tear us apart!¡± My heart warms noticing the delight in my beloved¡¯s eyes. Oh, how we both are looking forward to that day. The wait is both sweet and torturous. Lady Somme grips my hands tightly as she asks the question which must be burning on her mind: ¡°My prince, Endal, will this day really come? When will you be ready to confront the emperor?¡± ¡°I am sorry. I have made you wait too long. I know it. But everything is about to change! My efforts have paid off. The emperor has entrusted me with a mission. I shall immediately request our marriage upon my successful return!¡± ¡°Really? Congratulations! Haha, I¡¯m so happy for you! And me! And¡­ and¡­¡± I can see the emotions overcoming Lady Somme. She is just as exhilarated as I am. But I also notice the hint of worry in her eyes, mixed into the joy, causing my heart to melt. I tightly embrace my beloved, calming her trembling body, enjoying the synchronized beating of our hearts. At this moment I feel that the world is perfect. What more can I ever wish for? Feeling the soft body in my arms I know I am the luckiest man alive. ¡°Ah!¡± Suddenly a scream sounds close to my ear. I immediately take a step back, looking at my beloved with endless worry. ¡°What? What happened?!¡± I watch the huffing Lady Somme holding her hand. Her face appears to be struggling as she calms herself down, smiling at me reassuringly: ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s¡­ not that bad. I touched that sword of yours.¡± ¡°Flame of the South? I am sorry. I had no idea that it could be this dangerous. I¡­¡± I stare at the sheathed sword, my thoughts moving wildly. Is it really¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, my prince. Don¡¯t worry. I think it might react to my magic.¡± ¡°Your magic? Perhaps¡­ Let me put the sword away for now.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Laying Flame of the South aside I once again melt into Lady Somme¡¯s arms. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. *** Spending the day celebrating with Lady Somme time passes in a flash and the next morning arrives. Stepping out of the palace we are greeted by the rising sun, my body and mind invigorated and full of spirit. Lady Somme asked to come with me, and I didn¡¯t reject that request. She is a proficient mage, skilled in combat. I don¡¯t know the extent of her powers, but I do know that I couldn¡¯t win against her the last time we had a mock battle. Naturally I still feel worried about her just as she feels worried about me. But so is the nature of the world. Born with responsibility we can¡¯t stay in the safety of the palace forever. My eyes harden drifting towards the horizon as we jump on the dragonhorses waiting for us outside the palace. These noble beings with their mostly scaled, dark red skin are some of the strongest, most enduring mounts in the world. Even our empire doesn¡¯t use them often. As we ride through the streets of Svebrial, flanked by my personal guard and a dozen arrogant basilisks, the citizens come to the street to pray for our success. I look at the many faces, reminding myself that this is the reason why we have to fight. So these people, our people, can live a life of happiness and peace. I take great pride in the empire¡¯s power which deters not only the neighboring kingdoms but even other races or infernals from causing trouble. Our cities have been unperturbed for generations. Only the border regions are in danger of being raided by our jealous neighbors or the troublesome orcs of the Red Steppe. All of this runs through my mind, strengthening my conviction as I leave through the towering city gate. We continue for a few minutes until meeting up with the crown prince at Fort Skyguard. The towering walls built for eternity impress me every time I come here. Coming closer, one can hear large banners carrying the empire''s crest move in the wind. Horns suddenly sound out, their imposing noise traveling far and wide, even reaching Svebrial. A pleasant shiver runs through my body. Although I have heard these horns before this is the first time that they are used solely to welcome my ¨C or our - arrival. The massive gate which exists to stop entire armies opens slowly, revealing the elite soldiers standing in rows to welcome us. My eyes wander along their armors sparkling under the sun drinking the imposing aura. At the end stands the crown prince, looking at us with a stern expression. In front of his soldiers my brother doesn¡¯t show his kind smile, radiating a commanding aura befitting of an accomplished general. Getting off my mount, chin raised and chest sticking out, I keep my eyes straight, approaching the crown prince. I come to a stop before him, our eyes meeting, faces indifferent. ¡°Prince Endal Yntheno. Take command of the second centhura! Follow me into battle!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± My voice resounds through Fort Skyguard. The strength I put into it hopefully convinces the soldiers. I am mostly unknown to them. Perhaps they have more respect for the sword around my waist than for myself. But this will change soon! With brightly shining eyes I watch as my brother takes an insignia from an attendant by his side. It shows the number 100 gleaming in a majestic red in front of a pair of crossed swords. This insignia officially gives one the right to command the second centhura! One hundred mighty elite soldiers! Taking the insignia from my brother I feel its immeasurable weight in my hand. The weight of responsibility, of trust! When I manage to tear my eyes away from the beautiful object, focusing back on the crown prince, he nods calmly, letting his voice echo through the fort: ¡°Soldiers of the empire! Follow me into battle!¡± The soldiers salute in perfect unison, punching their own chests, a sound which can bring despair to any army in the world. I take a step to the side, letting the crown prince take the lead, approaching the gate together with him. My brother¡¯s own personal guard waits at the gate, having his majestic dragonhorse prepared. He swings himself into the saddle. His mount raises its front hooves, fire coming out of its nostrils. Its beautiful, flowing, red mane and muscular body are portraying incredible strength. My brother sitting on top in heavy golden armor raises his fist to the sky, grasping towards the sun, the very image of a hero! My eyes betray my admiration as I follow him outside where my own dragonhorse waits. Jumping on its robust back I meet the eyes of my beloved Lady Somme. The unspoken encouragement reflected in those beautiful gemstones means a lot to me. I, too, can become a hero like my brother and father! Burning with confidence I lead my personal guard to follow behind the crown prince. Quickly the rhythmic steps of a marching army shake the mountains. Soldiers surge out of Fort Skyguard, following behind us. Although they are only three hundred in number, I don''t doubt for a second that they could block an army of thousands. Riding at the tip of such a mighty force gives one an incredible feeling. I am granted a few minutes of enjoyment before my brother waves me towards him. Leading my mighty steed to walk half a step behind the crown prince I listen to his explanation: ¡°Endal. It is time I tell you the purpose of our mission.¡± ¡°I''m listening!¡± ¡°Infernals are causing chaos at the western border of our beautiful empire. This is nothing new and our soldiers can handle it. But recently we found out that the Tewnstar Kingdom has colluded with these creatures of chaos, providing them with a path of retreat. This action has severely enraged the emperor. This time we will move to eradicate one of their military camps which we suspect of aiding infernals. Are you ready to reveal the might of your ''Flame of the South'', letting it bath in infernal blood?¡± Chapter 3: Ambush After the crown prince explained the plan to me, we travelled for two more days. Having my beloved by my side the days were never dull. During rest I either talked to Lady Somme or tried to get to know the soldiers of the second centhura. I deem it necessary to forge a strong bond between commander and soldiers, ensuring that everyone is willing to follow the commander into battle. I think I did a good job. Especially since I sparred with some of the more stubborn soldiers, I can feel everyone''s respect for me has increased. Now that we are closing in on Waving Orc Mountain the tension in the air slowly becomes palpable. Even the most battle-hardened veterans don''t dare to approach a fight with the wrong mindset. The crown prince knows this as well. He stops at the foot of the mountain, turning around to give the soldiers a reminder: ¡°Brothers and sisters! We have reached Waving Orc Mountain. It is this place where infernals have managed to slip out of our grasp multiple times. Our scouts have revealed that the neighbouring Twenstar Kingdom assists the creatures of chaos in escaping! Such a grave skin is condemned by the whole continent, condemned by the gods! We must never forget what infernals are! Minions of devils, bringers of chaos, enemies of all races! In their short presence at our borders, they have killed dozens honest, innocent citizens. Men, women, and children alike. Infernals don''t stop at anything! Thus, it is our righteous, yes, even sacred, mission to kill the infernals and punish those traitors of humanity!¡± ¡°Kill the infernals, punish the traitors!¡± ¡°Kill the infernals, punish the traitors!¡± I fervently join in the soldiers'' deafening shouts. Our voices echo through plains and hills, giving us as well as the surrounding villages the necessary courage. It is important for the citizens to know that we, the royal family, care! Our coming has been propagated for a few days now, causing the citizens to see hope and the infernals to flee in fear. It doesn''t matter that the infernals might escape as long as the citizens are safe. After our punishment mission the infernals won''t have anywhere to go. This is the conviction we hold as the crown prince begins to lead us up the mountain. The paths are rugged, but no one complains. Our well-trained soldiers advance in an orderly manner, heavy metal boots digging into the rocky floor, resounding through the mountains like a giant. We pass by multiple checkpoints, receiving the salute of the stationed soldiers. Despite them trying to remain indifferent I can read on their faces that everyone hopes we will be successful, so that peace can return to the border. Soon we pass a massive gate officially leaving the empire. From now on we are in enemy territory. The crown prince signals us to slow down, sending out scouts. Even Lady Somme, wishing to participate, summons some magical figures to scour the surroundings. I smile at my beloved. There is no need to speak words of praise. She knows how much I admire her magical abilities. And we have more powerful assistance. The basilisks accompanying us take to the air, spreading their leathern wings wide. In flight they are ethereal and mystical, nearly impossible to discover. They are natural born hunters with a high affinity for magic. Although the basilisks travelling with us as are still young, each one of them might be able to dismantle a group of 50 enemy soldiers under the right circumstances. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. We continue, moving slow and steady, trekking the mountain for days. Sometimes we encounter fierce beasts but even the most daring ones flee in horror when laying eyes on us. If they are too slow our basilisks will swoop from the skies, enjoying a feast. For a while I guessed the infernals wouldn''t dare to get in our path until one day I feel a strange movement at my waist. Reaching out with my hand I feel Flame of the South trembling. I am startled for a moment before remembering one of the abilities of this magical artifact. This sacred sword forged to eliminate evil was extremely sensitive to dark magic. A strong shock freezes my body for a moment. I immediately push my dragonhorse to speed up, close the distance to the crown prince, and warn him: ¡°Brother, there might be infernals nearby!¡± The crown prince frowns. He instantly relays orders to put the soldiers on high alert. I feel gratified by the trust he shows me vowing to assist him to the best of my abilities. A few seconds later more warning signs appear. The basilisks signal approaching enemies, Lady Somme agrees, and the scouts return reporting movements. Even if someone doubted my judgement, they would definitely be convinced now. Our troop slows down, carefully scanning our immediate surroundings. Not far ahead begins a valley with steep cliffs. The perfect place for an ambush. Yet the crown prince remains sceptical, and rightfully so. The valley is too obvious. Thus, we come to a stop outside, pondering our next move. An oppressive air spreads. The wind rustling the trees suddenly sounds ominous. Were insects always this quiet? Why would a cloud hide the sun right now? Coincidence? Breathing heavily, I slowly draw my weapon. Flame of the South glows faintly, radiating a comfortable warmth, shielding me from evil. I immediately feel relieved. I look around tentatively, fearing I might have overreacted. But glancing at the crown prince I notice his stern expression. Obviously, he feels a bad premonition as well, as he orders the troops to prepare. The crown prince doesn¡¯t shirk a possible ambush. This is in line with the feelings of our soldiers. A few infernals, only able to scurry like rats are not to be feared! If they dare to attack, they won¡¯t return alive! Our soldiers take formation. Shield bearers enclose the rest for protection, building a moving wall. In the second row stand fierce soldiers wielding murderous, silver spears, their tips gleaming dangerously under the sun. A few elites with various equipment and abilities are scattered throughout, defending against special skills and sinister methods. And at the very centre stand dozens of experienced mages. These aren¡¯t scholars single-mindedly searching for the biggest spell, but trained battle mages, disciplined and adept at working together. On the crown prince¡¯s order, they begin to chant, their voices fusing together to unleash a single spell. Suddenly the leader of our basilisks, Tumbly, whom I was close to since I was a child, let out a warning shout. I understand that he discovered movement. Obviously the infernals grow restless but they don¡¯t dare to attack. After a few seconds the mages finish their cast. A powerful blueish barrier engulfs us all rippling like waves. The crown prince waves his hand, and we begin moving accompanied by the barrier, fearless yet not unprepared. The tension in the air almost solidifies as we enter the valley. We don¡¯t know where the infernals will appear from. The surrounding walls are steep but not unassailable. A faint breeze pushes from our backs. Basilisks circle above our heads. Everyone knows that a fight is imminent. But nothing happens. A couple of minutes later we leave the valley through the other end. A common army might let their guard down at this point. But not the empire¡¯s elite! Suddenly a large, black magic circle activates below our feet! Silent and oppressive like a pouncing predator. The infernals finally start their ambush. I grip my sword tightly as it erupts in flames. My heart threatens to jump out of my chest. But glancing at the soldiers I only meet hardened eyes without any panic, which helps me to adjust my mind. My tumultuous emotions give me the illusion as if a long time had passed, but in reality, everything happens in a flash. The dark magic circle suddenly erupts with an immense amount of mana. A black hell engulfs our troop. Winds rise towards heaven carrying all kinds of ghostly monsters. Their wails attempt to sow a seed of terror in our hearts. All light gets devoured ruthlessly. Only the barrier illuminates our faces, painting them in a magical blue. The barrier ripples and billows as the ghosts slam into it, gnawing with ugly maws, and scratching with monstrous claws. Yet the spell counters hardness with softness, cushioning the blows without showing any signs of faltering. For a few seconds we keep defending against the dark magic until it slowly fizzles out. The trap ends in failure. I would have expected the infernals to give up but my still burning sword tells me otherwise. When the darkness recedes, a different world reveals itself. The fresh mountain grass has withered and greyed. Even the rocks are permeated with cracks as if hundreds of ghosts clawed at them. And surrounding us are more than two hundred fierce infernals. Skeleton soldiers, zombies, and various demons gather. Their eyes are brimming with malice, their bodies engulfed by dark magic. I take a deep breath and adjust my mind. The fight is about to begin. Chapter 4: Demon Cries reach my ears. I look over the rows of infernals, my eyes finding the basilisks. Our loyal partners had already initiated the fight. Firing magic from the air and performing swift dive attacks they pose enormous danger to the enemy¡¯s mages. The infernals realize this as well. They begin their charge. ¡°ROOARR!¡± ¡°Kill! Rip them apart!¡± ¡°More skeletons for our army hehehe!¡± Under inhuman roars and ghastly chackles the infernals clash against our soldiers. The barrier doesn¡¯t survive for more than a couple of seconds. As powerful as it was against the enemy¡¯s magic, the frailer it proved against spears and swords. I have seen battles against infernals before but never personally experienced them. Now that I stand so close I clearly understand how their chaotic nature reflects on their fighting styles. They have no formation to speak of. Undead skeletons try to overwhelm their enemies with numbers. Powerful demons have both pure physical strength and attacks accompanied by magic. It was mostly flames, ice, or dark magic which barrels down on our soldiers, putting the shield bearers to the test. Our elite army on the contrary fights with great discipline. Comrades have each other¡¯s backs. Shield bearers block before spears shoot through the gaps like vicious snakes, aiming for the enemy¡¯s weak spots. Meanwhile mages lend their support, aiming either for dense crowds or concentrate their attacks on troublesome opponents. Yet the infernals do have fighters who can pose a threat to our formation. The earth trembles as a demon twice my height makes his way through the crowd. His appearance proofs how disorganized the enemies really are as he shoves away his own alleys without a care. Both his thick arms carry great swords like those popular among the barbarians in the east. ¡°Endal! Stop him!¡± Finally! Finally, my brother gives the order. My time to participate in the battle has come. I salute the crown prince before exchanging a fleeting look with my beloved, feeling her encouragement. Flame of the South shares my emotions, fanning the flames, causing the temperature in the surroundings to rise. I adjust my mind as I dig my heels into the ground. With a powerful push I jump. I sail above everyone¡¯s heads. I notice some of the infernals looking at me warily, but my target is clear. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Letting out a liberating shout I swing my sword, aiming right for the big demon¡¯s head. His grey face turns stern. He seemingly didn¡¯t expect someone to dare face him directly. His movements are hasty as he crosses his swords before his head, blocking my blow. The towering demon with a body sculpted from pure muscles is forced to tumble backwards. Meanwhile I land amidst the infernals. Flame of the South burns brightly, its magical power intimidating the enemies, holding them of for now. My eyes find the demon¡¯s. He lowers his swords, speaking in a deep, echoing voice, his ugly maw revealing sharp fangs: ¡°Who are you?! I have never seen someone like you among the empire¡¯s soldiers.¡± ¡°Demon! I am Endal! Soon, this name will bring horror to any infernal who hears it!¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. ¡°HAHAHA how ambitious, little chick! Do you think you are the emperor?!¡± Indeed, even among infernals father was a feared figure. The demon¡¯s mocking words have no effect. On the contrary, I take them as a motivation. I narrow my eyes, lowering my posture. In a flash I appear before my opponent. Although I have low magic potential, I have found a way to leverage mana in the most efficient way by taking my body as the medium. By filling my body with mana, it not only nurtures my body¡¯s strength over time, but it also gives me the ability to unleash it in combat. Our soldiers train in a similar manner but for some reason my body seems to be naturally aligned to such a method. Thus, after my magical potential has initially been deemed inferior, I took the route of harsh training day and night. And now I can finally prove that I am not one bit less powerful than my peers! My eyes blazing, I swing my sword with both hands. The demon is tall and sturdy with thick skin. If I had any other sword I would need to aim carefully. But not with Flame of the South. The crisp sound of metal colliding can be heard as I and the demon clash. His wide swings carry a lot of force which surges through my body. My arms tremble but the demon suffers as well. Sparks separate from Flame of the South, falling on the demon¡¯s skin. This was no ordinary fire magic but one with a vicious suppressive effect against evil. The demon growls as flames latch onto his skin, causing burn wounds. Dark magic washes over his body shaking off the fire. Yet despite his pain the demon never stops moving. His two swords cause the air to shake as he roars maliciously: ¡°Give me your neck, little warrior!¡± I don¡¯t answer. My sword moves faster and faster as I hold off the demon¡¯s assault. The flame intensifies the more we clash. I think I see a hint of fear in the demon¡¯s eyes. I grin as I suddenly feel the connection between me and Flame of the south reach another level. Flames roar towards the sky like the most gorgeous phoenix. A blazing inferno engulfs my body. Weaker infernals surrounding us flee in fear and those which move too slow are burned to ash. In my eyes only the grey-skinned demon remains. As I stare at him, I can see the faintest movements of his body. His legs look weak, shaking. He loses his confidence. I decide to attack! I rush towards the enemy like a god of fire. The clashing of metal resumes. Now I take the advantage. With every attack, flames latch onto the demon¡¯s swords, threatening to burn off his arms. The demon can only hold on by producing more and more dark magic. Yet this won¡¯t save him forever. ¡°I refuse to die¡­ to a little chick!¡± The demon¡¯s enraged roar barely reaches my ears over the sounds of the battlefield. But even so I notice an obvious change in him. Runic patterns begin to surface on his skin like a dense, black net. His formerly red eyes turn complete white making him look lifeless and eerie. Suddenly the demon¡¯s attack patterns change. The rhythm of the battle is broken. Each of his moves becomes highly efficient, using just the perfect amount of strength and targeting the weaknesses in my defence. For a moment I am suppressed by a heavy pressure. My arms are strained trying to keep up with the demon¡¯s assault. However, if something like this could stump me, my years of gruelling training with the empire¡¯s best warriors would have been a waste! Fighting by instinct is something which has long been ingrained in my bones. I switch up my fighting style. My sword moves more randomly yet somehow always manages to block the demon. The melody of our fight changes. If it was a rhythmic like a metronome earlier, it is now chaotic mixing long and short notes. It immediately becomes apparent that the demon finds it difficult to cope. The blazing flames continue to melt his defence. Finally, I notice a mistake. The sword in the demon¡¯s left builds up momentum for a moment too long. But in battles of this level a moment can be deadly. I immediately throw my body weight into my next attack. A deafening noise erupts as I push the demon¡¯s right sword away. This move leaves me wide open for a counter, but I know the left sword will be too slow. I fiercely stab forward. Flame of the South pierces through the demon¡¯s lower chest. Blood splashes but is directly evaporated by the flames. The flesh around the demon¡¯s wound begins to burn, the sickening smell barely discernible on the battlefield. ¡°AHHH!¡± The demon screams in pain. It is the power of Flame of the South which deals way more damage than what can be seen on the surface. Blinded by pain the demon finally brings down his left sword. I can feel the wind from his attack stirring the flames around me. But with such a serious injury his fate is already decided, his movements inhibited. The sword moves too slow, allowing me to dodge easily. As I draw back Flame of the South more blood streams from the demon¡¯s injury, burning from the lingering fire magic. Sluggish in movement the demon isn¡¯t prepared for the rain of attacks I unleash on him. With a swing of my sword his left arm gets severed, the sword falling to the floor. His right arm quickly follows. The demon sways, barely able to keep on his feet. His eyes return to normal. They betray his unwillingness as my sword gets bigger in his view. With a flash of flames the demon¡¯s head separates from his body, flying high into the sky, burning to ash before it hits the ground. Chapter 5: Chase Flames blaze around me as I stand amidst the infernals. Some try to get close but are swiftly deterred by the magical fire. Mages try to focus me but their attacks don¡¯t reach me. I have waited for this moment for so long. Finally, I can offer my strength to the empire. I will be the horror of infernals! The earth trembles from the fierce battle. The demon I killed wasn¡¯t the only one with the power to threaten our formation. Now finally warmed up, my connection to Flame of the South deepens by the second. I can feel its conviction. Its will to eradicate evil. And I certainly won¡¯t hold it back! Brimming with power I dash through the battlefield, slaying every infernal in my way. Some more powerful opponents manage to delay me for a few seconds but eventually their heads turn to ashes as well. I enter an almost trance-like state. My body moves on its own. Dozens of infernals die under my blade. Suddenly roars echo through the battlefield, shaking me awake. I notice how the infernals begin to escape. They are retreating! As expected, they are selfish even in escape. They show none of the discipline of an army. Several infernals are pushed aside by others, falling to the floor, making for easy prey for our mages. ¡°Endal! Take half a centhura and give chase! Kill as many as possible but beware of traps!¡± Immediately my eyes light up. I am still in a peak fighting stance. It would be a waste not to decimate those scattered infernals now! ¡°Yes, sir!¡± I salute the crown prince hastily as I wave at the leader of the second centhura. The man, sceptic over the last few days, now doesn¡¯t dare to show any negligence. He instantly chooses half of his troops to follow me. A cry rings through the air. Tumbly communicates with the other basilisks, following me with a group of five. As I begin to sprint, I hear the rhythmic melody of hooves coming closer. A sweet smell of roses reaches my nose. I smile knowing that my beloved came to assist me. With such loyal friends by my side how could I not be elated? I increase my speed, soon catching up to a small group of skeletons. The other infernals, instead of trying to outnumber me, scatter in all directions. But the valley is surrounded by rocks and sparse foliage. How could the infernals escape us here? I quickly dispose of the first group before chasing after others. Out of the corner of my eyes I notice the crown prince continuing to march with the army. Only the troops following me are left behind, chasing down enemies. However, something strange happens. After killing only about 20 infernals we are suddenly unable to find any more. I come to a stop on top of a large boulder, scanning the rocky mountain flank. Tumbly circles above my head, scanning the land. Lady Somme stands on another boulder, frowning. At this moment the leader of the centhura approaches me. ¡°Sir. Perhaps we should catch up with the crown prince. If we can¡¯t eliminate all enemies right now, so be it.¡± I feel somewhat reluctant. Not because I am out for blood. But because Flame of the South still trembles faintly. The enemies can¡¯t have gone far! Nevertheless, I am slowly nodding my head. But suddenly I am interrupted by Lady Somme¡¯s exclamation: ¡°It is illusion magic!¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Everyone stares at my beloved in surprise. Illusion magic is extremely rare and usually associated with holy or water magic. Can infernals use it? My question gets answered swiftly as my beloved conjures a large sphere of fire and shoots it at one of the rocks. Flame and rock collide and for the untrained eye nothing looks suspicious. But I see it clearly. The minute differences. The flame which scatters into the surroundings upon shattering on top of the rock is not the same which Lady Somme used! ¡°Amazing, my beloved!¡± I can¡¯t help but praise my gorgeous lady. I don¡¯t care for the strange looks the soldiers are giving me. Lady Somme has captured my heart, and I won¡¯t hide it! Eventually the centhura leader coughs and orders his soldiers to destroy the illusion. Under the rain of swords and magic it can¡¯t hold on for long. The rock suddenly disappears and reveals a spacious tunnel. Multiple infernals fall into our eyes, all of them wearing shocked expressions. I can see that the infernals are trembling, traces of magic lingering around them. This was clearly the sign of a backlash. They must have infused mana into something or someone. And my conjectures are quickly proven correct as the infernals scold a black-hooded mage standing in front of them. ¡°How did they see through the illusion?!¡± ¡°How is this possible?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say this artifact was of the highest quality?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it handed down from a devil?¡± ¡°How could mortals see through devilish magic?¡± My heart throbs with pride. How could my beloved be considered a mere magician? She is a genius without peers! I would love to let her know but now is not the time. I raise my sword and wordlessly dash into the group of enemies. The soldiers follow me and within second the infernals lay at our feet. We search for the aforementioned artifact for a few seconds but without success. It must have been destroyed by the backlash. I look deeply into the tunnel scanning the dark silence with my eyes. My instinct tells me that we aren¡¯t alone. I turn towards the soldiers. ¡°Let us cleanse these tunnels. There shouldn¡¯t be many infernals left. But be careful, we might meet soldiers of the Twenstar kingdom.¡± ¡°You think these are the tunnels the infernals used to harass our border?¡± ¡°Highly likely.¡± I notice everyone nodding, agreeing to my conjecture. If this is the case, it is worth it to scour these tunnels and gather more information. I signal the soldiers to advance slowly. Our steps echo between the rocky walls. Like this it would be surprising if we don¡¯t alert the enemies minutes in advance. Luckily, we have Lady Somme. With a swing of her staff all the noise is suppressed to an area of a few feet around us. This allows us to strike down another group of infernals after a while. But then we are met with another obstacle as the tunnels begin to fork out. Pondering briefly, I decide to split up the soldiers. Our priority changes from eliminating enemies to gathering information. Especially if other humans reveal themselves there is no need to fight but rather to bring the information back. The soldiers nod seriously. I know that they won¡¯t act against my order. Their discipline is unquestionable. Thus, I can be reassured as my beloved and I follow the main tunnel. Despite being only two fighters our group is the most powerful. We stride confidently. Soon, another group of five infernals falls below my blade. We slowly reveal more and more of the tunnels. It becomes apparent how extensive of a network has been created here. ¡°This must have taken years¡­ Is it really only for the purpose of harassing our borders?¡± My worried voice echoes through the tunnels, prompting my beloved to reassure me: ¡°We will find out!¡± Just as I am about to answer, the situation changes. The flames, which had previously shrunk back to the sword, begin to blaze fiercely. The entire tunnel is immediately engulfed in flames. Lady Somme let¡¯s out a piercing shriek as she dodges. I instantly jerk my head around. My heart hurts as I see flames latching onto her robe. ¡°I¡­ I am sorry, my beloved. I¡­¡± ¡°Alright. I know, I know. You should rather figure out what caused your sword to react.¡± ¡°Right!¡± I am relieved as my beloved doesn¡¯t blame me. I heed her advice, looking down on my sword which vibrats like never before. Some terrifying dark magic must have been used somewhere. But where? Is it the tunnels? I focus intensely on Flame of the South, tracing this ethereal feeling of our connection. I perceive a faint will. Information slowly becomes clear in my mind. Large-scale magic had been used. And it was outside! My blood freezes immediately. Who could warrant the use of such magic? It was naturally the crown prince! ¡°My brother is in danger!¡±, I shout in shock. I exchange a look with my beloved. My thoughts race but she helps me to calm down. I take a deep breath before shouting: ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Together with Lady Somme we rush out of the tunnels. Forgoing all caution, we are swift as the wind, leaving the dungeon in minutes. ¡°Tumbly!¡± It only takes one shout. Tumbly feels my anxiousness. He descends from the skies, landing before me. I quickly jump onto his back. After I suppress my sword¡¯s flames, Lady Somme follows me, holding tightly onto my body. I feel gratified as I know Tumbly usually wouldn¡¯t let anyone ride him but me. However, in this tense situation he makes an exception. The proud basilisks flaps his wings and carries us into the sky. Chapter 6: Assassin Fierce winds whip against our skin as we travel on Tumbly''s back. The mountainous landscape recedes below us. I frantically stare ahead looking for any signs of a fight. Flame of the South trembles violently. Someone must be using a huge amount of dark magic! ¡°Don''t worry. Your brother is powerful. He won''t fall that easily.¡± Lady Somme hugs me tightly. Even though I can feel her perfect figure pressing against my back I can''t focus on her right now. Still, I appreciate her comforting words. I nod lightly while keeping my eyes towards the front. Tumbly soars at a breakneck speed. Soon I find the source of the dark magic. It comes from within an old stronghold. This place is not unknown to us. But according to the information we have, it should already lie in ruins. Yet someone apparently patched up its walls enough, so they offered some protection. They even manned the walls with battle ready soldiers. I don''t even need to think about it. It can only be the Twenstar Kingdom! I spot our own soldiers climbing the mountain, still some distance from the stronghold. But... my brother is not among them! ¡°How can this be...¡± My voice shakes. Lady Somme holds me tightly as she points towards an enormous, dark sphere suspended above the stronghold, saying with a grave tone: ¡°He... should be in there.¡± I shudder. Just looking at the sphere, its sinister, black surface moving continuously, causes my blood to grow cold. Fortunately a warm energy comes from Flame of the South, aiding me to recover swiftly. Yet my heart keeps fluttering. The very presence of the sphere seems to taint the mana in its surroundings. I can also feel Lady Somme moving uneasily behind my back. My mind races as I analyse the scene. Dozens of mages are working together to uphold the sphere. Since they know that our soldiers are on the way they should be confident to achieve whatever purpose they are working on before they get overrun. ¡°Thus, I need to save him!¡± ¡°I will help you!¡± I nod gently, squeezing my beloved''s hand as I prepare myself. ¡°I will attack this sphere directly. You ride on Tumbly''s back and harass those mages. Alright?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± I don''t know how I am deserving of Lady Somme. Would any other woman agree so readily in her stead? I caress the hands around my waist again before slowly loosening them and standing up. My eyes find Lady Somme''s. My gentle expression delivers a million words. For a moment I get lost in her eyes profound as the night sky. Only thanks to her reminder do I manage to extract myself. My expression turns stern as I look below. Tumbly sails high above the dark sphere. From here the mages look like ants. Yet these ants working together managed to trap a lion. But the lion is not alone! I grit my teeth as I jump from Tumbly''s back diving headfirst towards the black sphere. I put Flame of the South before me releasing the suppression on it. Flames immediately blaze with unprecedented fierceness. The soldiers on the floor point towards the sky, shocked by the meteor which had suddenly appeared. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. In their view the sky has become died in orange flames. They immediately call for reinforcements. More mages come out of the dilapidated stronghold. Some rush to reinforce the black sphere while others try to attack me. Ridiculous! Without casting for some time what attacks could they conjure? All of them disappear as soon as they touch the flames surrounding me. The brightly shining fire roars in my ears as I become faster and faster. Soon they collide with the dark sphere. For a moment it is engulfed in flames, hiding the sinister dark magic. The tip of my sword presses against the dark sphere''s surface. In my eyes I clearly see the constantly moving surface. My sword advances slowly. I gather all my strength, shouting loudly, giving it a final push: ¡°BREAK!¡± Finally, the sphere''s surface breaks with a crisp sound like glass. The mages on the ground spit out blood, enduring a heavy backlash. They give it their all to somehow prevent the sphere from falling apart. Unfortunately, they succeed. I am still not strong enough... The sphere doesn''t break apart and instead swallows me as well. Before I know it, I am trapped in a dark world. Everywhere around me swims a terrifying dark magic. I have never experienced something like this. An unsettling feeling clings to my bones. It takes me a second to figure out what its purpose is. It seems this strange... aura... has the effect of suppressing all magic other than dark magic. Even Flame of the South seems affected, but it resists fiercely. The flames slowly form a thin layer around my body, spending some light in this dark world. Suddenly I feel the air stir to my right. It can only be my brother! It takes me a second to figure out how to move without a solid ground under my feet. But I realize that under the strange rules here, the dark air solidifies under my feet when I intend to step on it. Thus, I swiftly rush towards my brother. Soon I come across some boulders floating around. I know it must be the handiwork of the crown prince. He has always been incredibly gifted in the four elements! Hurry up! One step after another. A moment later the black fog before me gets lifted and I finally find the crown prince! Suddenly a sword made from ice shoots at my face. I barely manage to deflect it. ¡°Brother, it''s me!¡± My words echo in the dark world and the attacks about to rain down on me stop abruptly. The stern voice of my brother reaches my ears: ¡°Endal?! What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I came to your rescue!¡± ¡°This is too dangerous! Why didn¡¯t you stay outside?¡± ¡°I tried to destroy this magic from outside but... failed. Yet there is no need to worry. Someone is taking care of the mages as we speak. But say, how did you end up here?¡± ¡°It was a tr... careful!¡± A chill runs down my spine as I feel an intense danger. However, the trembling Flame of the South warns me early. Reacting quickly, I turn around and deflect the inconspicuous tip of a dagger piercing out of the dark fog. Instantly after colliding with me the dagger retreats. The fog churns making it look as if everything was but an illusion. ¡°What was this?¡± ¡°We are not alone. An assassin is stalking in the shadows. I guess he originally wanted to wait until I used up my magic, but your arrival made him impatient.¡± I squint my eyes, briefly scanning the surroundings. My brother stands on a platform made out of ice. Towards its edges it is constantly being corroded by the dark fog only to be replenished by his magic. If this goes on for too long my brother would indeed use up his mana, leaving him greatly weakened. It was the right decision to come here. Now we only need to delay until the mages outside fall. I take a few steps away from the darkness, raising my sword in vigilance. The world falls silent. Only the breathing of me and my brother could be heard. Suddenly something shoots out of the fog. To my left! I instantly strike with my sword. However, I don''t get the feeling of hitting anything. An illusion? My instincts scream. Something comes for my back. I hear the sound of freezing water as a barrier of ice protects me. With a crisp sound the ice shatters, sizzling as it is directly turned into steam by the flames surrounding me. I move my head noticing movement out of the corner of my eyes. ¡°Careful!¡± A dark figure jumps out of the fog, shooting towards the crown prince. He raises the shield in his hand, stably deflecting another dagger. With a stomp of his foot ice grows around the assassin''s legs. But that snake moves elusively like a shadow. Before the ice can catch him, he is already on the other side of my brother. ¡°Die!¡± I shout hoarsely as I feel the deep connection with Flame of the South. With a swing of my arms flames separate from the blade, reaching the assassin in almost an instant. Obviously, he wasn''t prepared for my attack. The assassin lets out a pained shout before stifling it instantly. He lunges back into the dark fog with flames burning from his neck down his back. ¡°Good job!¡± I only nod as my brother praises me. Now is not the time to lose vigilance. We keep our eyes on the darkness waiting for any movement. The seconds tick by. I am not anxious. Time is on our side. Finally, the assassin launches another assault. Yet he retreats after a short exchange. This repeats for a few times. But the gaps between the attacks are narrowing. He must be getting impatient, nervous. Soon the assassin will make a mistake. And this will be when I take his head! Chapter 7: Murder Deafening silence surrounds me and my brother. It has only been less than ten seconds before the fog stirs again. A shadow darts out rushing straight for the crown prince. There must be a catch. Why would an assassin not play any tricks? The crown prince retaliates with violent flames which almost match the ferocity of Flame of the South. He is indeed greatly talented in magic! Yet the assassin manages to break through the flames. He is engulfed in a layer of dark magic. His dagger aims for my brother, targeting the weak spot at the armpit. But the crown prince is skilled with sword and shield as well. After a short exchange he manages to push the assassin away. Just then the dark fog to my right and left moves slowly. It begins to creep along my brother''s ice platform. Judging from its movements it has difficulties invading this domain which my brother made his own. The assassin is forced to attack frantically in order to distract the crown prince. But I''m not afraid! I grip my sword tightly, pushing the flames to burn brighter. Some form of suppression still affects Flame of the South, but it has weakened. Flames latch onto my clothes. As the dark fog comes into contact with them it sizzles being slowly burned away. Yet the fog remains stubborn. An increasing amount surges towards me. Small, black, foggy arms reach out from the sinister dark magic, clawing at my body. I have to focus to uphold the protective layer of flames as the fog slowly climbs up my body. A struggle between light and darkness ensues. My body slowly disappears within the fog. My vision gets obstructed. But Flame of the South isn''t so easily defeated! Light will triumph over darkness! I hear the clanging of weapons. It tells me that my brother needs me. Now is not the time to consider anything else. I pour my will into Flame of the South. The sword trembles, resonating with the fire in my heart. Suddenly the flames erupt. The fog falls apart, dissolving under the brightly burning flames. ¡°AH!¡± I let out a liberating shout as I free myself of those devilish claws. My brother is still fighting! I swiftly turn around. ¡°What?!¡± My heart skips a beat as the one who stands behind me is not my brother but the assassin! I instinctively swing my sword. The flames burn brightly. With a squelching sound Flame of the South cuts deeply into the assassin¡¯s body, almost cleaving him into two parts. The world stands still. The flames around my sword dissolve. Blood runs down its blade, dying my gloves red. The assassin slowly turns his head. It must take a lot of effort. He is dying after all. Slowly his facial features fall into my eyes. Blond hair, a sharp profile. Kind, blue eyes. A... beardless chin. Tanned skin... Why... does it look like the crown prince?! Why?! What?! I don''t understand!!! My hands tremble. I let go of Flame of the South. The face in front of me opens its mouth but only blood streams out. This can''t be real! Make it stop! My head spins. My thoughts... chaos. ¡°Endal!¡± This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Endal!¡± Her voice? How? I slowly turn my head, my vision shaking. I find a bright spot in this chaotic world. It is her face. ¡°My beloved...¡± Such a hoarse voice, is it mine? ¡°Endal, what happened?¡± ¡°What... happened?¡± ¡°Look ahead!¡± I comply instinctively. I look ahead. Look at the body now lying by my feet on a slowly melting ice platform. It is not the assassin. ¡°Brother... did I kill him?¡± Lady Somme lands next to me. I can read the answer on her face. I feel two strong arms embrace me. Tears stream down my face. From this point on everything becomes a blur. I hear the sounds of battle. The fight below us is coming to an end. We emerge victorious. The mages are all slaughtered. Is this the reason for the black sphere''s disappearance? Did everyone see me kill the crown prince? They did... Someone suggests I should run away. But I''m still clear enough to refuse. I don''t want the life of a fugitive. Someone shackles my arms. A soldier takes away Flame of the South. I don''t struggle. I barely even feel it. The only thing I feel is Lady Somme''s care. Everything else is a void. Noises barely register. The world moves past me. Suddenly someone pushes my back. I groan, kneeling down. I raise my head not knowing what was happening. A snort echoes through the room. It rings like a thunderous bell in my head clearing up the clouds. Finally, I recognize the situation. I carefully raise my head. As soon as I see the familiar throne I don''t dare to move any more. A sigh rings out, containing a hint of pity. It is the familiar voice of Golden Blade. ¡°Endal Yntheno. Rising Basilisk Empire''s second prince. You are accused of having killed the crown prince. What do you have to say for yourself?¡± I remain silent. What can I say? Even now I am not sure what happened. At least Golden Blade hasn''t condemned me yet. He continues: ¡°The soldiers saw you enter a sphere constructed from dark magic. What happened inside?¡± ¡°Yes. The sphere. I found brother fighting...¡± ¡°Hmpf. Still daring to call him brother?!¡± A snort interrupts me. I recognize it as my third brother¡¯s voice. Is he here as well? Does he look down on me for killing the crown prince? Maybe he even fears me... His voice sounds like it. But he is not wrong. How dare I still call others brother? ¡°... I found the crown prince fighting someone. An assassin. He moved like a shadow and fused with the dark fog. But he was no match for us working together. Eventually I was engulfed by the fog. When I freed myself, I saw the assassin standing behind me. I... I don''t know. I moved instinctively. I killed the assassin! But it... was my brother!¡± My throat clocks up. Tears threaten to come from my eyes. But I hold them back. The emperor doesn''t like weakness. ¡°This... barely counts as an explanation.¡±, says Golden Blade. ¡°I don''t know. Maybe it was an illusion? Right! The infernals used illusions before! On the mountain!¡± ¡°Illusions?¡±, asked the third prince. ¡°And how did you see through these illusions?¡± ¡°It was Lady Somme who discovered them.¡± ¡°Tz. Are you aware that illusions belong to the most difficult sorts of magic? Instead of pure destructive power you also need a certain advantage in will to confuse others. This is the reason why illusions are often used by devils to confuse lesser creatures.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°So how can it be that Lady Somme can see through illusions?¡± A heavy frown forms on my face. I glance over my shoulder to stare at the third prince. He shivers under my stare. Serves him right! He can say what he wants about me, but he shouldn''t discredit my beloved! Suddenly the third prince grins as he opens his mouth: ¡°Guards, bring in Lady Somme!¡± I open my mouth wide. My head abruptly turns towards the door. It opens slowly. And it is indeed my beloved who appears. Dishevelled and in chains! I can''t care about anything else. I jump up and seek for the emperor''s face. I don''t shrink back as I meet his unfathomable eyes. ¡°Stop! Let her go! You can''t do this! She has done nothing!¡± My voice sounds hoarse and frantic. But I don''t understand why they are treating her like this! Just because my beloved is talented in magic?! ¡°A prisoner should kneel!¡± The third prince hisses into my ears as he viciously kicks my knee form behind. I groan in pain, but I won''t fall! My eyes remain on the emperor! Muscles in my entire body grow tense. The shackles binding me let out strained noises. I notice something in the emperor''s gaze. Did I move him? I have no time to find out as Golden Blade steps forward. The hand he puts on my shoulder appears gentle but is filled with an inevitable force. I have no choice but let him press me onto the floor. Meanwhile Lady Somme reaches my side. I turn towards her, exchanging a tender gaze. ¡°Don''t worry. We will get through this.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± I turn back towards Golden Blade, my calm voice masking the fire burning in my chest: ¡°Tell me. Why did you lay my beloved in chains?¡± ¡°Endal... ok. After your return we naturally made large-scale investigations. We also searched Lady Somme, her father Duke Somme, and everything belonging to the Somme family. And we found... evidence of collusion with infernals. This is treason, Endal.¡± ¡°IMPOSSIBLE!¡± I can''t hold back anymore. All my emotions erupt at this moment. I push away Golden Blade''s hand, jumping up. My arms fill with strength. With a crisp sound the magic-supressing shackles binding my wrists snap easily. Chapter 8: Jail Instantly a ripple rings through the room. The elite guards standing on both sides move at once. Golden Blade also readies himself. But I only stare at the emperor''s eyes. I demand an explanation! I see it clearly. A flash runs through those unfathomably deep eyes. A bright light like a judgement from heaven. ¡°Stop!¡± This is the first time the emperor speaks. All movement halts. No one dares to defy the emperor''s prestige. ¡°Send the second prince and Lady Somme to jail. Further investigations are in order.¡± I can feel by body shiver. I can''t read the emperor''s mind. But his majesty didn''t order our execution. Is this a good sign? I don''t resist further. Golden Bell personally leads me away. Lady Somme stays by my side. With a glance I spot the third prince standing to the side. His face is strangely pale. And his eyes, why are they so... ruthless? I don''t have much time to think about it. We leave the throne room and soon enter jail. I am once more separated from my beloved. Golden Blade shackles me again. Chains bind me to the wall, limiting my movement. With a click the gate shuts. Runes light up on the sturdy metal. The security they offer can cause even the most heinous criminals to despair. I know I won''t be able leave. With the cold wall against my back, I watch the days pass by. Light, dark, light, dark. My only interaction with others is getting a meal once a day. Sometimes I am not sure if it is worth eating. But then I think of Lady Somme. I need to know how my beloved is doing! It should be about a week later. Everything is covered by darkness. Even the moon doesn''t show its face. I notice something. Steps. Extremely covert yet not quiet enough. Suddenly everything happens in a flash. Dark fog seeps through the little ''window'' into my cell. A figure darts towards me, a dagger targeting my heart. ¡°You!¡± I shout in surprise. Anger burns in my heart. I recognize him. The assassin! How did he infiltrate this place?! There is no time to think. The dagger is about to reach me. I hastily turn my body away. Pain. Pain clouds my mind as the dagger enters my chest. Did it hit my heart? Am I about to die? Blood streams down my chest but I can''t even see it. I also don''t notice the sinister black energy spreading in my body. The dagger didn''t hit my heart but if the dark magic reaches it, I will die anyways. This might be the end. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. A face flashes before my mind. Lady Somme. Right! I can''t give up! If I kill the assassin here, we have all the evidence! I will be able to free my beloved! The fire in my heart, which was almost about to die out blazes more ferocious than ever. It resembles the flame cultivated by Flame of the South. After forging a connection with the sword, I have comprehended its secrets. The important part about Flame of the South is not the magical flame on the outside. But the intent hiding within. The intent to slay all evil. My will moves. I invoke the same intent, drawing power from it. If I don¡¯t do so now, I might never see my beloved again! As the fire in my heart blazes brightly I feel a certain connection. I instinctively tug on it. ¡°AHHH!¡± An anguished cry echoed through the silent prison. I slowly recover, my eyes finding the assassin. Bright, white flames burn down from the man¡¯s neck to his back. It is exactly the place where I wounded him before. The flames are relentless. Soon his armor begins to burn as well. The assassin thrashes, trying to get rid of the flames. The fibres of his hood snap one by one. Finally, the black cloth falls to the ground. I stare at the face which enters my vision. I can¡¯t even describe my emotions at this moment. Pain, shock, disbelief¡­ Everything coalesces into two questioning words: ¡°Thid brother¡­?¡± The flames affecting the assassin dwindle as my will wanes. I still can¡¯t believe it. I can¡¯t get myself to see my third brother as evil. Although his ugly grimace right now surely looks the part. His gaze at me. The bloodshot eyes. His mouth twitched before crazy laugher pours out of his throat. ¡°Second brother. I didn¡¯t want to reveal this to you before your death. But alright, you asked for it!¡± ¡°Third brother! Stop this craziness! What happened to you?!¡± ¡°Craziness? Yes, this might indeed be crazy. But I am only doing what is expected of me!¡± ¡°What do you mean? Why are you¡­ why are you trying to kill me? If you have been bewitched by a devil we can help you! At least father can! Just confess to him!¡± ¡°Confess?! HAHAHA! How na?ve of you, second brother! Do you think anything happens in this castle without father knowing of it?! Yet he lets it happen. He lets my entire plot happen. And why? Because only strength matters to him! If I am capable of getting rid of both my brothers, then nothing stands between me and the throne! NOTHING! But¡­ even though I played all my cards perfectly, even though I delivered him the perfect reason¡­ He. Did. Not. Execute. You! That b*¡­ he gave you a last chance! Why?! Just because you showed some strength? He never cared! He never, once, cared! Why does he do so now?! I always knew of your potential! I should have acted much sooner! This was my own mistake! But now I am about to correct it!¡± I don¡¯t recognize this monster pretending to be my brother. Its face is so ugly. So, so ugly. It gets another dagger from somewhere. It slowly walks towards me step by step. But I am ready. The monster is seriously injured and so am I. But I can use the chains as weapons. If it gets closer, I will strangle it. Almost. Almost. One more step¡­ Suddenly the cell trembles. The metal gate bursts open. Brilliant runes flash but they die out quickly. A person enters the cell. It is Lady Somme! I can¡¯t believe my eyes. The monster turns around in shock. Lady Somme waves her hand. The door slams into the monster, pushing it against the wall and burrying it beneath itself. I don¡¯t know if the monster survived but I doesn¡¯t matter. All that matters is that my beloved stands in front of me. Alive and unharmed. ¡°You¡­ how¡­?¡± An incredibly soft finger lands on my lips. Lady Somme speaks gently: ¡°Don¡¯t talk. You are injured. Let¡¯s first get out of here.¡± I nod in agreement. Lady Somme takes her finger away moving swiftly. I don¡¯t even see how she does it but all my chains break. Standing on my own feet, I suddenly become dizzy. I look down on my body, vaguely recognizing the dagger sticking out of my chest. Lady Somme moves hastily. She mumbles something as she draws a magic circle under our feet. It looks so complicated. My head is so heavy. I hear a voice. The emperor? Did he come? A bright light flashes. Teleportation? I have to ask. After waking up.